Lead Me

One of the most tall and challenging tasks I face as a man is leading my family. The Bible says to love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. We are also to teach our children His ways, when we lie down, when we walk, when we are about doing life together. I am the example of the Father heart of God to my kids.

This task is too tall for me. To grand for me to accomplish... on my own.

I woke up this morning with the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real in my head. It's another reminder of the great task that lies before us as men, and the fact that we need God's help to accomplish it.

If you haven't heard the song, or even if you have, give it a listen today and be reminded and encouraged as I was.

Weather

One of my secret fetishes is maps. I blogged about it a while back. Closely related to that is my interest in weather, including of course weather maps.

I almost forgot what a chilly, rainy November evening felt like until tonight when I was abruptly reminded. I guess is about time to get out the winter jacket.

To celebrate the shivering occasion, here is a current radar image of our region, complete with snow flurries (though we are still waiting for our first snow here).

So a toast: to radar maps, white flurries, cold winter nights and a cup of hot chocolate (or icecream, like I just finished). Or maybe a toast to completely random blog posts :)

Keep warm!

Time... for Repentance

I am a horrible time manager.

I mean it. If I step out of the shower with 5 minutes left before I need to be somewhere, and it takes 5 minutes to get there, I think I'm OK. I must subconsciously think I will be translated from the bathroom to the vehicle immediately. It's like I become oblivious to how long it really takes to get myself ready to go!

5 minutes to drive + 15 minutes to get ready + 4 minutes in and out of the vehicle = 5 minutes. And I was a math major in college.

I got a problem. A tardy problem. A time problem. A selfish problem.

I had a great conversation with my Dad the other night. My family was down from NY visiting for Thanksgiving, and somehow in the midst of a late night conversation, we got on the topic of time. Being punctual.

My Dad retired from the military several years back now. He was trained at the Air Force Academy and spent his career as a pilot in the Air Force. One of the things that he said he learned is punctuality. Being late is unacceptable. In the military, being late can cost lives.

We got to talking about the message we send to people when we are late - "My time is more valuable than yours." When we are late for appointments, for getting home at night to see our family, for work (which is the same as stealing as my Dad kindly told me), we are saying, "What I was doing is more important than your time." And ultimately we are saying, "I am more important than you." I value me over valuing you.

It's not right. It's selfish, and like my Dad said, down right arrogant.

As a Christian, we are to love others as we love ourselves, we are to lay our lives down for one another, and to consider the needs of others as more important than our own. If I consider someone more important than me, I will consider their time more important than mine. I will be punctual out of love.

I have tried to make changes to my time habits in the past, but to no avail. I think in many ways I was dealing with the symptom and not the root problem. Our actions are preceded by our thoughts. I am late because of inner beliefs and convictions. I must change my beliefs, my thought patterns, my convictions, in order to change my actions, in order to be punctual.

So what is it that I believe that causes me to be late? Ultimately, I believe my time and what I am doing is more important than others' time and obligations. I am more important than you.

How selfish and arrogant of me. And that's not all. Add hypocrite to that list. I've realized that I demand the very thing I don't give to others - punctuality and respect of my time. I'll get bent out of shape if others are late, while holding myself to a different standard. I can be late, because what I was doing was more important than what you need to do.

Ouch. Talk about a need for repentance, a complete shift in thinking.

Honoring someones time is honoring them. It's treating them the way you would want to be treated, which is simply being a Christian.

Arrows in the Quiver

If you have been following my blog at all, I have been doing regular posts on my wife and my relationship, spanning the last decade and more. Next month, we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary, and it's definitely been fun looking back on our marriage and how things have changed over the years.

The Bible says in Psalm 127:3-5,

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
   the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
   are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
   who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
   when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.


In 2003, we were blessed with our first baby, Lauren. Since then, God has also blessed us with Josiah, Carson, Judah and Caleb. Five arrows in our quiver!


For fun, I thought I'd upload a baby pic of each of our kids and see if you could guess which picture belongs to who...


Give it a shot, and let me know who's who!

The Chapel

If you are searching for a church home in the Somerset area, please come join us for worship at The Chapel.

We'd love to have yah.

Punctual

Just finished a great conversation with my Dad... a great end to a great day. Convicted about punctuality.

Whose time is more valuable? Yours or others?

More to come...

Portraits of Thankfulness

My family is in from out of town this week to celebrate Thanksgiving together. It is a wonderful thing to have this moment: grandchildren with their grandparents, moms and dads, bothers and sisters, aunts and uncles... all together to share this time with one another.

For a few days, hours really, time stops. The business of life halts, and the world turns slower as we are able to reconnect with each other. I'm so thankful today for these moments. Another marble in our hand...

Enjoy a few of the moments we have shared together so far below.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and those you love.

Turkey Time!

It's Turkey Time at the Follman house... Family is in, Daddy is home, time for fun, food and festivities!

Off the Shelf (What I am Reading)

I have taken one Biblical Studies class in my life, officially. I also took a couple of "religion" classes while working on my undergraduate years ago, which, I'm not sure if I'd count those...

Most of my growth and what I have learned in my Christian walk has come from sermons, conferences, prayer, times in His presence, mentors, books, Bible study groups, close friendships and life in general (or the "School of Hard Knocks" as they say).

I recently picked up a more doctrinal book, "The Life of Christ," by Ralph M. Riggs. It is actually from the only Bible class I have taken, though, not needed to pass the course. I have begun to read through its pages and am truly enjoying it. There is so much life and revelation surrounding the life of Christ.

I'm glad I took this book off the shelf (more like, out of the box) and am enjoying the greater understanding of His Word I am gaining. I also look forward to gaining a better understanding of the Person of Jesus Christ, and cultivating a more intimate relationship with Him, my God, as a result.

That's what's officially off the shelf and in my hands at the moment. What about you?

Tebowing

Our country in many ways revolves around football this time of year. Families and friends structure their weekly schedules around games that are played. It's easy to see that football is the most popular sport to follow and watch in our nation.

I'm not sure when the last time was that I saw a complete NFL game; it has been a little while though. I do however follow from a distance as a sports fan in general. As such, it's hard to miss all that media that has been focused on Tim Tebow.

As his name has popped up more and more, I have taken the time to look into his football talent, and his character that I have heard a lot about. I can strongly say that at least from watching his life from a distance, he seems to be the real deal.

In the few interviews I have seen, and some of the football highlights of his games that I have watched, his faith quickly rises to the surface. This young man is I am sure all over national news and radio, and clearly, his faith is all over him. Because of that, he is a tremendous example to the world about what it means to be a believer in Christ.

So, if you haven't taken the time to look into Tim Tebow's life, if you haven't witnessed his winning personality, his faith in Christ, I would encourage you to do so. And I would I also encourage you to pray for him when you think of it.

And, by the way, he has done a pretty good job of taking a losing Broncos team, and turning the team into a .500 ball club with a starting record of 4-1. Not too shabby.

As for "Tebowing," you don't know?! Kidding... Google it :)

Final Act

Yesterday, we were able to travel a little ways down the road to Columbia, KY, to watch my younger (bigger) brother Andy play soccer. This was the beginning of the championship rounds for their division. "Uncle" Andy is in his senior year of college in Rochester, NY, and his team was playing Lindsey Wilson College. Of all the places he could've been playing in the US, he happened to be just down the road from us, so it worked out great for us to see him play.

Even though we were rooting for his team to win, it ended being Uncle Andy's last soccer game at the college level. They were beaten by a very talented Lindsey Wilson squad.

The nice thing for us though was that we were able to be there to support Andy and to see him finish out his college career.

And, we were able to get a pretty cute picture under the lights of the soccer field of Uncle Andy with his niece and nephews. :)

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage: a journey of a pilgrim; especially : one to a shrine or a sacred place. [merriam-webster.com]


I think it would do us good this Thanksgiving season to take a pilgrimage. Not to any place in particular, nor to any shrine, but to take a journey back in time to the days when the Pilgrims landed here in America. I believe we have a lot to learn from these fathers and mothers, the founders of our nation, but more importantly fathers and mothers of the faith.


The Bible says that we are "sojourners and pilgrims" on this earth...


Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12 NKJV


I read an article today by Billy Graham. It was his reflection on what we can learn from the courageous Pilgrims who ventured to this land many years ago. This article takes us on that pilgrimage to learn from our fathers and mothers of the faith.


Please read through Mr. Graham's thoughts below, I think you will find that they will help you on your own journey as a pilgrim on this earth...

Six Things We Can Learn from the Pilgrims
A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE FROM BILLY GRAHAM

(Read this article in its original form online here.)


The Mayflower's voyage to the new world was a "survival test" on a huge scale. The passengers had sold their possessions and had to work for years to pay for their passage. The ship had no heat or plumbing. Storms raged, and a main beam cracked in mid-ocean.

But after more than two months on the Atlantic Ocean, this band of 102 people arrived before Christmas, 1620. William Bradford wrote in his journal, "Being thus arrived at a good harbor, and brought safely to land, they fell on their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof." What a celebration that must have been!

But just after Christmas a serious sickness broke out, and in the next three months nearly half the Pilgrims died. Hunger and illness stalked them, but they never wavered in their purpose.

Today, if these Pilgrims could observe our troubled world with its disillusioned outlook, its rebelliousness and its erosion of traditional values, they would be not only dismayed but also shocked. However, since their time, certain things have not changed. There is still lust, greed, hatred and prejudice in the human heart. There is still persecution and war in the world. 

With all of the world's churches and universities, we would do well to go back to the church and the school of early Plymouth to see what those pioneers can teach us.

(1.) Be Strong in Your Faith
First, the Pilgrims have left us an example of their deep, unwavering religious convictions. What were these convictions? They believed in Christ and in His Kingdom. They found fulfillment in Him. They had purpose in their lives. They had encountered the living Christ and they knew it. They feared neither monarch nor people, only God. 

Because they belonged to God, they had a deep faith and confidence in themselves. They believed in their own dignity, were confident that their cause was just, and walked with an uprightness that only fearless and free people can display.

In our day agnosticism, anxiety, emptiness, meaninglessness, have gripped much of our world—and even the Church. People are broad but shallow. Our youth are desperately searching for purpose and meaning and fulfillment in their lives. 

By contrast, these Pilgrim forebears stand as shining examples of people who were narrow but deep, certain of what they believed, unswerving in their loyalty, and passionately dedicated to God whom they trusted and for whom they willingly would have died. I sincerely believe that a return to biblical faith and conviction would have a great impact at this hour.

(2.) Practice Discipline
Second, the Pilgrims left us an example of disciplined living. They were Puritans who were ready to order everything—personal life, worship, the church, business affairs, political views, and even recreation—according to the commandments of God. The word "Puritan" itself in the contemporary mind identifies those who followed a strict and closely regulated life. 

The ethic of self-mastery and spiritual discipline falls strangely on the ears of today's generation. What a contrast between the conduct of the Pilgrims and the permissiveness and hedonism of today!

(3.) Enjoy Freedom Under the Law
Third, the Pilgrims have left us the example of freedom under law. The Mayflower Compact forged before the Pilgrims left the ship was the wedge that opened the door to a government controlled by the people, a government that has endured in the United States for centuries. Most historians agree that the Mayflower Compact was the forerunner of the Constitution of the United States.

This little band of people searched for an equitable manner of earning a living and for a way of survival. They tried living a communal lifestyle, but, according to Governor Bradford: "This communal system conceived by Plato was found to breed much confusion." When communal living failed, they assigned a parcel of land to every family; with individual enterprise, prosperity came to the colony.

In some parts of the world rebellious young people live, enjoying what they call "absolute freedom." They are free to take narcotics, free to experiment with sex, free to go unwashed, free to dress as they please and do what they like. 

They remind me of a man in a hospital who had to be fed through a tube. Having tired of the tube with its discomfort, the man tore the tube from his body and declared that he was free. Free? He was free only to die, because he had removed himself from his hope of life.

The freedom exercised by the Pilgrims didn't degenerate into license. Theirs was a liberty under law. The lawbreakers, malcontents, dissidents and criminals of our day would have been rejected by the Pilgrims. To them freedom under the law meant judgment for the lawless. 

(4.) Care about Others
Fourth, the Pilgrims left us an example of a people who had keen social concern. They believed that every person was made in the image of God, that each one was of infinite value and worth in the sight of God. They lived with Native Americans who had a different religion, a different skin color and a different culture. 

In March of 1621 Chief Samoset visited the Pilgrims' village and signed a peace treaty that lasted for many years. It was a treaty with high social and ethical content, showing a deep concern for the social, political and spiritual needs of neighbors.

Though the Pilgrims knew that they were citizens of another world, they sought to improve the world they were passing through. The Pilgrims made their new world better, not by tearing down the old, but by constructive toil and fair dealings with their neighbors.

(5.) Share Your Faith
Fifth, the Pilgrims were evangelists who set us an example in sharing their spiritual and material blessings with others. In the Mayflower Compact the Pilgrims committed themselves to the "advancement of the Christian faith." 

The Pilgrims at Plymouth were followed by the Puritans at Massachusetts Bay. Together they built churches and schools. In 1636 Harvard College was founded to train men for the ministry. By 1663 the first Bible was printed (the Algonquin Bible) for the Native Americans in their own tongue.

These settlers came to the new world not only to find freedom for themselves but also to tell others of their faith.

(6.) Dream Great Dreams
For "where there is no vision, the people perish," says the Bible. The Pilgrims dreamed great dreams. They dreamed of a haven for themselves and for their children. They dreamed of religious freedom. They dreamed of a world where God would rule the hearts of men. 

They lived and died with these hopes. The Pilgrims' strength of spirit was forged by a personal faith in Christ, by tough discipline and by regular habits of devotion.

Today it seems that many of us have neither vision nor hope. But if we so chose, we too could become like the Pilgrims. We could regain hope. We could recover the spiritual and the moral strength that we have lost. 

But we would have to be willing to take up the same cross of Christ that they bore. We would have to put our faith in the same Christ that they did. We would have to make the same kind of lifetime commitments that they made. We would have to discipline ourselves as they did.

And, like the Pilgrims, we need to dream great dreams, embrace great principles, renew our hope, and above all, believe in the Christ who alone can give total meaning and an ultimate goal to our lives: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being."

Perfect Peace

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

You keep him in perfect peace
   whose mind is stayed on you,
   because he trusts in you.
   Isaiah 26:3 ESV

It's one thing in life to stop being afraid. To root out the causes of fear in our life. But what then do we dwell on when we remove the fears that have gripped our thoughts on a daily basis?

Stay our minds on Him.

The Bible says, "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Not only do we need to turn from the thought patterns that produce sin in our lives (fear is one of many), we need to replace those former, earthly thoughts with heavenly thoughts that produce life.


Repentance is not just turning from something, but turning towards something. In this case, a new way of thinking.


This verse is a great reminder for me. I desire that perfect peace the Lord promises to those who "stay" their minds on Him.

I encourage you to desire and do the same.

IDOP

Last Sunday was International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church. At our church, Tom Zurowski shared on his encounters with the persecuted church through the years, and what they have taught him, and how they can teach all of us. Their lives and stories of faith and courage in the midst of persecution remind us of the cost of following Christ, and they encourage us to follow Him by life or by death.

The persecuted church has had a great impact on my life. They are our brothers and sisters. The Bible says to "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."


We must remember our brothers and sisters around the world, who we are very much connected to, and pray for them, be a voice for them, and be bold and courageous for Jesus ourselves through their courage and inspiration.


The video below is powerful. It will help us understand what people like Pastor Youcef and others face in a nation like Iran that is hostile toward Christianity. Please pray for Pastor Youcef and learn more about his current imprisonment here.


Other resources that will help you to learn about persecuted Christians can be found at The Voice of the Martyrs, Global Response Network, reading books like Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and reading the Bible, of which we forget that many of the writers of the books in the Bible were martyrs for Christ themselves.


Be encouraged and strengthened today through the video below, and remember our family around the world.

Church Bless God

God Bless America.

This is a common phrase in our nation. We desire God's blessings, and that we should.

Some have turned the saying around recently, recognizing the state of affairs in our nation, and instead are exhorting, "America Bless God." There is a recognition that America has left her founding faith and roots, and so the call is for a nation to return to her loyalty to Almighty God.

Though it is most definitely desirable for a nation to turn to the Lord, I believe we have a much deeper issue than America needing to return to the Lord.

I believe the Church needs to return to the Lord. Church Bless God.

The church is and always will be God's agent of affecting the world. We, as the church, are God's holy nation. Our loyalty is to the King of kings and a heavenly home before any earthly leader or country. So when we point to the fact that the U.S. is leaving her founding faith, I believe it's much worse, the Church has left her only good and necessary faith in Christ.

America was influenced by founding fathers with biblical standards and principals they lived by. That is why our fathers left the shores of Europe - for religious freedom - a deep commitment to God. In other words their commitment was to Christ before a nation, and a godly nation sprung up as a result. Again, the nation itself wasn't godly, but the people who governed her and protected her were.

Their ultimate loyalty was to God alone.

If we are not careful, we think America has been chosen as God's unique vessel through which He does His work on earth. America is not, the church is. And because of that, our nation sprang up with a godly heritage.

So, our answer as a nation is not for the nation of America to return to God. Our answer is in the Church, God's holy nation, returning to God himself.

As the church, we have fallen more in love with the world than with Jesus. We think the world is in shambles, but it would be better for us first to judge ourselves - there isn't much difference between the world and followers of Christ.

Many have heard the stats regarding the church. One in particular I recently read was that the divorce rate among Christians was highest in the "Bible Belt" of the U.S. (The Jesus Letters, Chap. 3, by David Ravenhill). I have heard too that divorce rates are around 50% more or less for those who are pastors in a church! And those are our leaders!

Yes, America is slipping away from her roots as a nation. However, I would venture to say that the Church, the Bride of Christ, has left her heavenly Groom. If there is to be hope for a nation, if there is to be hope for godly leadership in the world, the only hope comes from Christ and His work through His body, the Church.

Let's (the church) return to our roots. Let's repent of the sins we have committed. We must rededicate ourselves to living and serving by the commands of heaven. To live by the statutes of God's holy nation as revealed in His word. Let's turn from our other idols and loves, and fall headlong in love with our Master Jesus Christ once again.

Before a nation can be changed, the change must first exist in the church, God's agent of change, hope, and life to the world.

Church Bless God.

Idol

There seems to be a growing faction of people who believe that God approves of what they do with their life as long as they are doing what makes them happy. God would want them to be happy, they reason. God is where I am. As long as I am satisfied in this moment or with the decisions I am making, God must be satisfied as well.

God is love, and I love this (whatever this is), so of course God loves me and this!

It's almost hip to have this unnamed, undefined spirituality. God is in the now, God is all about me, and God wants me to be happy.

It sounds good. It almost sounds right.

This sort of unbounded spirituality is en vogue right now it seems. It's a universal spirituality that anyone can participate it. All are accepted, as long as you adopt the rules of the unnamed spirituality. Even the Hollywood "star's" of our day participate and promote its beliefs. Two of the unwritten rules is that truth is relevant, and tolerance is essential, except of course tolerance of those who are intolerant of their tolerance.

Question I'd like to ask is, what "God" are you referring to? Where is this so-called spirituality founded?

Any theology that isn't founded on the Scriptures is bound for ruin at the judgment seat of Christ. The Scripture makes it clear we were created through Him and for Him. This universal "God" is very much love, and, He is also Lord and Master of the universe. He dictates how we come to Him and what pleases Him, not the other way around. God isn't a universal generality, rather, He is a meaningful specific. He isn't an unnamed blob, His name is Jesus.

Unfortunately, I believe the church isn't too far behind the thinking and beliefs of this "spiritual chi" of our day. We like the "God" being referenced in this movement. And in the process we subtly exchange the truth of the Scripture for the lies of hell. Instead of getting our understanding of God from the Scriptures and biblical teachers, we too learn from the actors and media all around us.

I believe in many ways that the Church is so interconnected with the world that we cannot tell the difference between some Hollywood "star's" theology and the truth of the Scripture.

Like I have said before, we better make sure our the-ology isn't a me-ology.

The next time we claim God approves of our lifestyles or the decisions we make, we better have the sense enough to inquire of the One who created us and set the world in motion. It would be wise of us to seek the Scriptures and ask the One God what pleases Him, instead of assuming my temporal happiness is the source and fountain of truth for my life, and whether or not He approves.

If you or I have been guilty of following our own man-made doctrine or the false spirit of the age, it would behoove us to heed the advice of the Jesus-follower Jason Upton, "Better trash our idols if we're gonna be, in the army of the Lord."

Jesus himself put it it a little more simply and succinctly by saying, "Repent."

He couldn't have said anything more loving than that to a lost and rebellious world.

Emoticon

"All learning has an emotional base." Plato

I know very little of Plato, nor is that the point of my writing, but this random quote I came across made me think. It made me think, if anything, on the place of emotion in my life.

I believe I have a low EQ, that is to say, emotional intelligence (Google it for some interesting background on the topic). I struggle with determining and assessing my emotions. Just ask my wife.

However, I believe blogging is helping me improve on my emotional intelligence. At least I hope so. When I so often can be disconnected from the very emotions and feelings inside of me, blogging requires me to look inside and evaluate what I am really thinking and going through... what I am really feeling.

My wife, Liz, is opposite. Where I struggle to connect with my inner feelings, my wife can recognize hers quickly - not only hers, but mine too in many ways :)

Many times when I think I or we are doing well, her scoreboard says something quite different. I have learned over the years that she has a better gauge on those things than I do, and to pay attention when she is feeling something regarding such.

So, here's to emotion. Hopefully this blogging stuff will help me better my EQ.

Back Home

South Beach Babies

Back home....

After a crazy day of traveling, I pulled into the house last night a little after 12:30 am. The day started in Palm Beach Gardens, on to South Beach, Miami, to the Miami Airport, to Charlotte, then Knoxville, Corbin, and then finally back to Somerset, KY. After a busy time in Florida for work and the travel home, I'm whooped.

It was so good to be back home and with my family. When the kids woke up this morning, I had the chance to give them big hugs and then pull some goodies out of my bag that I brought home for them. Fun moments for sure...

Below are a few more photos from my trip to southern Florida, including South Beach as well as a great place for seafood there - CJ's Crab Shack on Ocean Drive.

Enjoy!

South Beach

PGA National Resort & Spa

View of the Atlantic from the Westin

Fisherman's Platter, delish!

Looking Across Ocean Drive toward South Beach, eating at CJ's Crab Shack

Ocean view from South Beach

Almost Home

The journey is almost complete...

Shots from the Sunshine State [Pic 1]

Missing mí familia, but the scenery is nice. Check out some more pics from the road...

[By the way, I haven't figured out a way to post multiple pictures to one post yet on my Android, so the pics are spread across multiple entries, enjoy!]

Palmed [Pic 2]

Blue Sky [Pic 3]

Pool Side [Pic 4]

Balcony View [Pic 5]

Florida Sunset [Pic 6]

Who Didn't Tell?

To finish out this week, I am doing some traveling for work along with other members of our team. We have been working hard to prepare for a conference where we will be showcasing our product and vision.

The conference is being held at the beautiful PGA National Resort in Florida. This is actually my first trip to Florida and I am loving the weather and scenery here.

What I want to know is who didn't tell me just how beautiful Florida is?!

Just kidding. Sort of.

The state is beautiful, at least I can say that about this area. Down here in southern Florida it seems it's an endless summer.

Not a bad gig I must say.

Praise

There is something about praising the Lord. There seems to be several occasions in the Scripture to praise Him.

Praise Him for the blessings.

Praise Him for the trials.

Praise Him in the morning and in the evening.

Praise Him because He is worthy.

He is enthroned on the praises of His people.

It's funny. There's something about praising the Lord that puts me in my place. It reminds me who I am next to Him, the Creator of the universe.

When I am going through a trial of some sort, there is nothing like praising Him that can lift my countenance and encourage my spirit.

Problem is, praising Him in a trial is easier said than done. It's a nice idea, but when it comes down to it, I'm usually too caught up with what I am going through to praise Him.

The book of James says to count it all joy when we face trials and temptations. Praise Him in the storm - as the popular Christian song says.

Easier said than done. But better done than not.

Let's praise Him today.

Thank you Jesus.

Early Years

I was preparing this morning to write another post on my wife and my marriage together as we lead up to our 10th anniversary. I picked up an old photo album that I haven't viewed for a while and perused through the pictures. How fun!

The pictures were of the time before we had our first child, before the days of digital cameras, before my gray hairs showed up on the scene. I noticed that my face seemed to be a little thinner back then, it's gotta be something to do with the lighting...

So, from deep in the vault of our family photos, here are some favorite "couple" shots of our early years together. Each one painstakingly scanned in for your viewing pleasure. And of course, my wife made me sign a contract that no pictures would be placed on my blog of her without her approval, so each picture has been given her official stamp of approval (I may have had to persuade her to allow one or two to go up :)

Enjoy!

First Dinner Date! (just started seeing each other, we're not excited at all lol)

It's Official! This was soon after I asked Liz to marry me... she said yes!

Shortly after our engagement

Yes, I had red hair

One of our favorite pics, taken on a NYC trip. Riding the Staten Island Ferry,
Statue of Liberty in background

Whale watching in Massachusetts, more like freezing cold water watching

Caught me a good one :)

Yes we did.

Uhh, not sure...

Another fav, camera on a timer, NYC in the background,
Liz pregnant with our first baby, Lauren.