What a fantastic weekend! On Saturday, Dona, Dalyn, and I had the privilege of going down to Lancaster, Ohio, for Paul Bishop's 50th surprise birthday celebration. Paul and his wife, Paula, are precious people and have an absolutely POWERFUL ministry.... Love 'em to pieces.



Part of Paul's surpise was the unexpected visit from musical artist, David Huff (from David and The Giants). He played a short, little concert in honor of Paul... it was great!



I just had to get a picture with the guy.... we look like bros, don't we? (Eric Steiner, I know you're jealous... lol)



The best part of the weekend, though, was today... it was Dalyn's FOURTH birthday!! Wow. He had a rockin' birthday from beginning to end...

He got a new bike - with TRAINING WHEELS!! He couldn't even wait to get out of his pajamas to try it out.....



You didn't think he was going to get a normal pancake for breakfast, did you?



Dalyn got to bring his best buddy, Dawson, home after church. They had a blast spending the day together.

Yikes!

Quick trip to McDonald's....



They ruled the playground area....



....and the video games, too.



We ended the day with a fun-filled birthday celebration with family. Dalyn is so full of life.... and he's growing up to be an awesome little dude.

Minds are like parachutes; they work best when they are open.

-Thomas Dewar

What determines a Fool. Simple:

1. They don't believe in God - Psalm 14:1
2. They despise wisdom - Proverbs 1:7
3. They hate knowlege - Proverbs 1:22,32
4. They slander and gossip - Proverbs 10:14,18
5. They do mischief - Proverbs 10:23, 11:29
6. They are quick with their anger and temper - Proverbs 12:15-16
7. They despise a father's instruction - Proverbs 15:5
8. They do not plan ahead, and live only for the moment - Proverbs 21:20

William James wrote, "The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be." (Proverbs 23:7)

Don't be a fool.

God called Abraham, friend. He called Gideon, mighty man of valour. He also called Jacob, Israel. It doesn't matter what the world calls you, it only matters what your Father calls you.

Can't remember where this list came from, but I wanted to share. If only I could get really good at applying it every day.

1. How you think is everything.
   Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Decide upon your true dreams and goals.
   Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them.
3. Take action.
   Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning.
   Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard.
   Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Learn to analyze details.
   Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus on your time and money.
   Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't be afraid to innovate; be different.
   Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively.
   No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility.
    Otherwise, numbers 1-9 won't matter.

Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:1-4

Teach Us To Pray

1. Our Father which art in Heaven....

• Realize who God is - Your Father
• Realize that your Father in Heaven knows all about You

2. Hallowed by Thy Name....

• Hallowed means above everything - Put God above relationships, sports, hobbies, money, school, etc.

3. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done

• Submit your will to God

4. Give us this day our daily bread....

• You can't worry about your past or your future, you must focus on recieving your Daily Bread right now

5. Forgive us our debts AS we forgive our debtors....

• God will forgive us if we forgive each other - so hard as it may seem, FORGIVE!
• God wants to forgive you! He loves you!

6. Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil....

• Pray for God's grace and mercy to help you

7. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory....

• Everything I have is yours, my relationship, my future, my job, my friends, my family, my education, MY LIFE

8. Amen.

• So be it... I claim the Spirit, the Blood, the Grace, and the Power of God.
  

Mark Johnston preaches on the thought "I would rather be a hero than a celebrity." I am convicted to the core....

I'm prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward.

-David Livingston

In America, 1 out of every 3 children live without their father (http://www.fatherhood.org/father_factor.asp). This is a devastating statistic, and one that has been moving in the wrong direction for far too long. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, kids with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use and criminal activity than children who have uninvolved or absent fathers.

Why then do so many fathers today fail to grasp the import of their role? Why are so many opting out of their God-given responsibility? Why are so many dads casting a blind eye to their neglect and laxness, oblivious to the painful and long-term consequences of their delinquency? Why? Why? Why?

We have a dilemma in America right now. Too many men do not know how to be men. Too many fathers do not know how to be fathers. Understand, this is not a self-righteous statement to elevate my own manhood or esteem my own fathering abilities. I, too, have great opportunities for improvement! My point is simply this.... it is becoming a traumatic rarity these days that children are given the fair and deserved chance to succeed because of a father who is present and engaged in their life.

Psalms 82:3 instructs us to "defend the cause of the weak and fatherless." (NIV) My heart's cry is that more men in our laissez-faire society would stand up and start being MEN. I understand that some children lose their fathers because of death and not always due to neglect, abandonment, or indifference. For those children who have lost their father due to death, we (us other fathers) should defend their cause and fill in the gap in their life. And for those children who have been robbed from their father because of delinquency, we should, likewise, bear the responsibility of their predicament in our hearts and actions. If you don't stand up for them, then who will? Our children need mentors. They need consistency. They need attention. They need stability. A generation - or at least one third of a generation - depends on it.

If you have a moment, take a listen to a song written by T.D. Jakes and sung by Israel Houghton that begs the question, "Where are the fathers?.... The responsible ones.... Where are the fathers? Have they helped to raise their sons?.... " (click here to listen). It is a great song... powerful.

Fathers, be blessed! I know how hard it can be sometimes. I lift you up in prayer. Please lift me up, as well.

Only dead fish go with the flow.

- Sarah Palin