The Blog of Hadley Baker

Caris Flying High

2011-12-26T20:32:00.000-06:00

2011-12-25T14:52:00.001-06:00

Caris by the Christmas Tree

2011-12-22T09:52:00.002-06:00

Thankful for Friends

2011-12-20T21:23:00.001-06:00

Delirious | Inside Outside (Live)

2011-11-22T22:06:00.003-06:00

Remember Who You Were

2011-11-10T21:10:00.001-06:00

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.

She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,'Now that you can see the world,will you marry me?'
The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Family Photo Shoot

2011-11-07T20:41:00.006-06:00

Click HERE to see the photos.

Hillsong "The Lost Are Found"

2011-11-07T20:39:00.001-06:00

2011-10-28T06:34:00.001-05:00

Hammock: Breathturn

2011-10-11T21:56:00.009-05:00

Someday I will make a video as moving as this. So unbelievably creative. Hammock is quickly becoming one of my favorite instrumental bands of all time. These guys make music that I can totally chill out to. This video on top of this song has to be one of my favorite creative pieces. Brilliant.

Caris Eisley is Three Years Old

2011-10-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Rain Storm By Candle Light

2011-09-19T22:07:00.001-05:00

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T01:34:00.000-05:00

Kari Jobe

2011-09-05T10:08:00.001-05:00

Women's Ministry Promo

2011-09-02T00:37:00.000-05:00

How Blessed Am I?

2011-08-25T22:42:00.005-05:00

Didn't See This One Coming

2011-08-16T21:13:00.003-05:00

I have lived in my home for more than five years now. I have mowed my grass countless times. I have found wrappers, cans, bottles, etc. when mowing. I live on a corner and sometimes people throw their trash out as they drive by. But nothing could prepare me for what I found in my grass yesterday--a used condom. What the heck?

Subway Sandwich

2011-08-05T00:20:00.003-05:00

Tonight (I guess technically last night since midnight just passed) Caris and I went to Collin Creek mall in Plano. I would take her to Firewheel but the playland is outdoors. I am pretty sure the high here today was 157. So we went to the mall for a little daddy - daughter time. As we sat there in the food court sharing a Subway sandwich all I could think about it how happy just being with her makes me. We could be laying in my bed on a Saturday morning watching Dora. Or in the van for the two hour drive to my parents' home in Wichita Falls. Or going for a walk in our neighborhood. It doesn't take much of anything. Just being with her brings me so much joy. Seeing her smile, hearing her make out new words. It adds a depth of beauty to my life that words cannot contain. In a world filled with people who pursue "more" to be happy, it is joyous relief to know that people are what give our lives fulfillment. As I sat there tonight watching her eat her sandwich all I could think about is how blessed I am.

What The Church Can Learn from Gangs

2011-08-02T15:24:00.004-05:00

“A while back a former gang member came to our church. He was heavily tattooed and rough around the edges, but he was curious to see what church was like. He had a relationship with Jesus and seemed to get fairly involved with the church. After a few months, I found out the guy was no longer coming to the church. When asked why he didn’t come anymore, he gave the following explanation: “I had the wrong idea of what church was going to be like. When I joined the church, I thought it was going to be like joining a gang. You see, in the gangs we weren’t just nice to each other once a week—we were family.” That killed me because I knew that what he expected is what the church is intended to be. It saddened me to think that a gang could paint a better picture of commitment, loyalty, and family than the local church body. The church is intended to be a beautiful place of community. A place where wealth is shared and when one suffers, everyone suffers. A place where when one rejoices, everyone rejoices. A place where everyone experiences real love and acceptance in the midst of great honesty about our brokenness. Yet most of the time this is not even close to how we would describe our churches.”

From Francis Chan's Crazy Love

Kathryn Scott: At The Foot of the Cross

2011-07-23T23:36:00.002-05:00

This Is What Worship Sounds Like

2011-07-22T00:33:00.000-05:00

The Joy of Serving Others

2011-07-21T22:59:00.003-05:00

Today I spent an "unplanned" four hours working in the yard. My initial plan was to just mow the grass like always. But as I inspected the trees in my front yard I realized some of the branches needed to be pruned. That took WAY longer than I had planned, but I got it done. So when I finally got started mowing, I realized that my neighbors (who live behind me) have not mowed their lawn since they moved in a few weeks ago. They came to the US from Vietnam less than a year ago. When they first moved in I was out mowing. I met them and visited with them a little (they are still learning English). I asked them if I could mow their lawn as a "welcome to the neighborhood" present. They reluctantly allowed me to, but were very appreciative (they even brought me authentic Vietnamese food later to say thank you). In the weeks following I have noticed that they seem to be gone a lot. I know they work long hours. So today when I was mowing I thought, "I should really mow their lawn again." And so I did. And I have to say it felt really good. There is a joy that comes in doing things for others. We live in such a self-centered, egocentric society. People are consumed with themselves. But true joy comes in serving others. Jesus said this is what makes us great (Matthew 23:11). It was a small thing to do, but I pray it lets my neighbors see something different in me, Someone different in me.

Launch of New Service

2011-07-17T15:31:00.003-05:00

This morning we launched our brand new contemporary service at my church. We had an incredible time together. There were 75ish people in attendance and there was such an excitement in the air. Spencer and the worship band did an incredible job leading us in worship. I shared the first message of our new teaching series called The Church the Spirit Built. Our theme for today was empowerment. Click HERE to listen to the message. Only God knows what the future holds for this new service, but if today is an indication of things to come, I am very excited.

New Contemporary Service

2011-07-09T18:37:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is a big day for me. A huge day. My CHURCH is launching a new service next Sunday, July 17th. Tomorrow is the "preview" service. I will be overseeing this new service which will be much more contemporary than our present model.

I am unbelievably excited. But I am also level-headed going into this. Ministry--when done with excellence--is very challenging. But I love the thrill of meeting the challenge. As I sit here my mind is pondering all the great things that will happen in this new service. I believe marriages will be restored, addictions broken, emotions healed. I am believing and praying for the impossible to happen right before our eyes.

I will be starting a brand new series next Sunday entitled The Church That the Spirit Built:A Study of the New Testament Church. Gonna be solid stuff. The New Testament church got it right. We have a lot to learn from them. Pray for me and our leaders as we do our part to spread the Gospel.

Wish I Could Sing Like This

2011-07-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Cousins Playing In The Front Yard

2011-07-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

June 30, 1992

2011-06-30T21:31:00.005-05:00

Do you remember where you were 19 years ago today? Some of you may be thinking, "Bro I wasn't even alive nineteen years ago." Go ahead. Try and make me feel old. I remember vividly where I was. June 30, 1992 was a Tuesday. I was in the small southern town of Comanche, Oklahoma. The only dad I had as a child (my grandfather) had passed away only three days before. He was my dad. My grandfather. My spiritual leader. He was everything. When my family walked into that little country church was when it hit me. This was for real. I remember the shirt I was wearing. The shoes I had on. The people who were there. I remember it all so vividly. It's a day I will never forget. But not for the reasons you might be thinking.

June 30, 1992 is a special day for me because it is the day I surrendered my life to Christ. Undoubtedly, the memories are bittersweet. I was saying goodbye to the man that I owed my life to. And at the same time I was saying goodbye to an old way of living. Death is never more real than when you stand beside a coffin. You see someone who once talked to you, laughed with you, prayed for you, and hugged you laying there lifeless. In that moment death sinks in. But, fortunately, for me so did life. As a fourteen year old young man God, in His grace, opened my eyes to the reality of my need for Him. I held the hand of my grandfather and spoke these words through my tears: "Grandpa, I don't know what all I'm going to have to do, but I promise I will see you in heaven someday." That moment changed my life. My grandfather wasn't the only one who died that day. I died, too. And I was born again. There is one Way to heaven. His name is Jesus. I love Him more today than I ever have. This love started nineteen years ago today thanks to a man named Richard Morgan. Who I am now is because of him. Because of that day. What I believe, what I am doing with my life, who I married, how I raise my daughter, why I pray. It's all because of that day and that man. Time hasn't put out this fire. Nor has it caused me to forget how much my grandfather meant to me and means to me today.

So yes, I remember where I was nineteen years ago today. How about you? Do you remember when you came to the knowledge of your need for the Savior? Maybe your June 30th is happening as you read this. Maybe you need to surrender as well. Can I lovingly invite you to experience the life you were created for? Can I invite you to the cross?

Ice Cream Truck / Summer Time in Texas

2011-06-28T14:30:00.000-05:00

Rangers Game

2011-06-25T11:52:00.006-05:00

Daddy Daughter Date Night at Chick-Fil-A

2011-06-19T21:08:00.010-05:00

Yesterday Caris and I went to Chick-Fil-A's Daddy Daughter Date Night. It was so much fun. I think I enjoyed it as much as she did (maybe more). Being a Dad is something I take very, very seriously. I only get one chance at this. I better do it right the first time. When I learned about this event I knew I had to be a part of it. Chick-Fil-A is such a top-notch organization. They do everything with excellence. This event is proof that they exist to do more than serve chicken sandwiches.

They thought of everything. We drove to the local Wal-Mart where Chick-Fil-A had a tent set up. They were passing out free bottled water and giving all the daughters a carnation. We waited there until the limo came to shuttle us to the restaurant. When we got inside the limo Caris went nuts. She was laughing and having so much fun. Too cute. Then when we got to Chick-Fil-A they had red carpet from the limo to the door. The workers took a picture of Caris and me with the Chick-Fil-A cow. They printed it up in record time, framed it, and had the it on our table while we were eating. Amazing. They had live music, free dessert, and so much more. I was thoroughly impressed and blown away. It made for an awesome night with the little girl that I love more than anything. Caris' favorite part? Getting to dance with the Chick-Fil-A cows!

Dirk Nowitzki: Picture of Perseverance

2011-06-16T20:21:00.010-05:00

In the fall of 1999 my college roommate Ryan Higgins and I went to a Dallas Mavericks game. Even though we were in our early twenties we joined all the middle school and high school kids and waited for the Mavericks to leave the players parking garage. When one of the players would leave, this group of 25 plus guys would swarm their car begging for an autograph. We hadn't been there long when a Porsche made its way up the ramp. The windows were tinted so dark we could not make out who it was. Then the windows rolled down. Dirk Nowitzki was driving and Steve Nash was riding shotgun.

I had no idea that the 7 footer from Germany who was signing my ticket stub was going to become a legendary player in the NBA. At that time Dirk was only in his second season with the Mavs.

I love to watch Dirk play. He always gives it his best. Even on his "off nights" he plays like a true champion. He is a team player, a leader, and a man who understands what it means to persevere. In an age when players switch their teams like Hollywood actors switch wives, I love how Dirk has stayed put right here in Dallas. His thirteen years as a Maverick have been filled with ups and down, highs and lows. He almost won a ring in 2006. But the momentum switched and a better Miami team took home the trophy. He has battled injuries, coaching changes, and seeing some of his closest friends (Nash) be traded to other teams. But despite it all, Dirk has stayed put and has been a living example of what it means to persevere.

I have to believe that the taste of victory is sweeter for someone who has overcome so much adversity as opposed to someone who got "traded" so they could win a ring. A true champion doesn't switch teams so he can win a championship. Instead he stays and makes his team a championship team. That's what Dirk did.

Even if Lebron had won, Dirk is still the true champion. Commitment, dedication, and perseverance. That's what made the difference. Makes me want to approach the things that challenge me this way. How about you--what's challenging you? A class, a friendship, your marriage, your job? It's easy to "trade" and go to something new. It's much harder to stay put and persevere. But in the end, the taste of victory will be sweet and well worth it.

Trip to Wichita Falls

2011-06-14T15:27:00.014-05:00

Diaper and Rain Boots

2011-05-26T22:39:00.005-05:00

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T20:50:00.006-05:00

Michael Irvin at Pappadeaux

2011-03-10T20:31:00.001-06:00

I swear I can't go anywhere these days without people wanting a picture with me. It gets embarrassing sometimes. If you are clueless to the things that are obvious, I have not been missing any meals lately.

Caris Playing in the Snow

2011-02-04T11:31:00.003-06:00

Sunday Afternoons at the Baker House

2011-01-23T18:33:00.000-06:00

Christmas Angels

2010-12-29T21:42:00.006-06:00

The Caris Chronicles

2010-12-06T20:50:00.001-06:00

The Best $1.29 You Will Spend this Christmas

2010-11-27T22:00:00.005-06:00

I don't usually promote other people's music. I think this might be the first time I've ever done this, literally. But when I heard "Little Drummer Boy" off of Luke Huch's new Christmas record, I was truly blown away and told myself "I've got to share this with other music lovers". If you don't get the whole record, at least download this single. It is without a doubt the best version of this song I have ever heard. Absolutely brilliant. Visit Luke's website HERE to get the single.

Are You Thankful This Thanksgiving?

2010-11-24T14:56:00.012-06:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a love-hate relationship with fastfood. I love how it tastes. I hate what is doing to my body (especially my waste line). On most days I leave the high school and go eat on my conference period. Wendy's is a pretty regular stop for me. I go there enough that the manager knows I am a teacher and the hispanic ladies behind the counter let me practice my spanish with them.

A few months back I was in there and noticed a homeless man who walked in. His beard and hair were way long and unkempt. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled. But perhaps the most noticeable thing about this man was the fact that he could hardly walk. He had obviously been injured. It took all he had to stand up. I remember seeing him and thinking how rough his life must be. I felt for him. But that's all I did. I did not speak to him, offer to buy him food, etc.

Fast forward a few months. Christie texts me during the day and says "Call me, I have something really awesome to tell you." So I call her and she tells me that earlier that day she was driving through our community and saw a homeless man walking down the street. She said the Lord prompted her to go and talk to him. She was initially reluctant since she had Caris with her and was unsure how safe this would be. But she followed the Lord's leading and stopped to talk to the man. She asked him if he was homeless, did he need help, etc. He instantly opened up to her and said he was homeless and needed help getting his life back together. Through tears and sobs he talked about how much he has struggled in life. He buried his mom when he was only 8 years old. In 1992 he buried his 11 week old daughter. This past Easter he buried his older brother. His life has been marked with tragedy and sorrow. He has done what many people do in their grief...turned to alcohol. So here he is now, a wounded and broken 49 year old man who lives on the streets in this middle class suburban community. His name is Chris. He is the same man I saw in Wendy's a few months before. I (the pastor) did nothing when I saw him. But my stay at home wife did something. She reached out to him.

I met Chris that next day. We talked and got to know each other. I heard him share his heart and his need to get his life back together. I found out that he sleeps behind the Kohl's store in the Firewheel area. He literally sleeps on the steps behind the store. My wife and I instantly began looking for help for Chris. We are in the process of getting him enrolled in the Life Challenge program. We want to see him get a new chance at life. To be free from alcohol. To get off the streets and live a normal, healthy life.

Tomorrow Chris will be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner. Today as I was visiting with him I was reminded of all that I have and all that I take for granted. I sometimes complain about my house not being bigger. Chris does not have a house. I complain that my wardrobe needs to be updated. Chris' wardrobe consists of a dirty pair of pants and 2-3 shirts. I wish I had a cooler car than a Honda Civic. Chris has to walk everywhere he goes. I have a beautiful wife. Chris has no family. I have a beautiful daughter. Chris buried his daughter. I am SO BLESSED in my life. This whole experience of meeting Chris has helped me to realize two things: 1) I am blessed and 2) I am blessed to be a blessing to others.

If you are reading this, take an inventory of all the blessings in your life. Let this Thanksgiving be about more than just turkey and the Cowboys. Truly thank God for all that you have. And take it a step further--this holiday season find someone in need and help them. You will see how blessed you really are.

A Dose Of Your Own Medicine

2010-11-04T21:15:00.001-05:00

As a teacher at a large high school (Sachse High School has almost 2,700 students in case you're wondering) I am constantly at risk for the latest round of sickness. The common cold, a stomach bug, a 24 hour virus...they all are frequent fliers in the public school system. So since I gotta be here 40 hours a week, I take pretty drastic measures to stay germ free. I have enough hand sanitizer in my classroom to disinfect the western hemisphere. The swine flu is not welcome in Mr. Baker's class!

A few days ago I was standing outside my door in between classes. I had a smile on my face and a bottle of sanitizer in my hand. As the students entered my room, I gave them a squirt of sanitizer. "Kill those germs!" I said as they walked into room 279. Some of them gave me strange looks but were compliant nonetheless. I am sure they think I am going overboard. But I figure I cannot be too careful when it comes to staying well. If I get sick then my wife and daughter will probably get sick. A housefull of sick people is no fun, so I have to be aggressive in my "germ warfare" (yes that was a joke...a lame one, but a joke nonetheless. I have now used the word "nonetheless" twice.)

It's funny how the Lord speaks to us in the day-to-day things of our life. As I stood there pumping out the sanitizer, it occurred to me that I had not used any of the sanitizer on my own hands. Here I was trying to disinfect everyone else, and I had not even killed my own germs. In that moment I was reminded of what the Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 9:27: "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Paul understood that it was possible for him to help others with their germs of sin without disinfecting the sin in his own life. He was pretty strong in his language. He said he "beat his body" so that he would not be disqualified himself. The Gospel is strange in that we can know the Truth, share the Truth with others, and yet still live our lives apart from that Truth. Paul got that. And he said after sharing with others how they should live, he took a hard look at his own life to make sure he was doing the same thing. Sometimes we need a good dose of our own medicine.

All of us have experienced that sick feeling in our stomach when we learned the news that another big name preacher has fallen. Jimmy Swaggart. Jim Bakker. Ted Haggard. Paul Sheppard. Todd Bentley. Eddie Long. All of these men were taken hostage by the very things they preached against. How is that possible? It's quite simple. They were so busy fixing everyone else that they forgot to take a look at their own life. They failed to "beat their body" into submission and in doing so became "disqualified." For the record, I am not condemning these men. It is our duty as fellow believers in Christ to pray for these men and their families. But I think we should also learn from them. It is not enough to know the Truth, or to share that Truth with others. We must be diligent in the practice of applying the Truth to our own lives.

When was the last time you disinfected the germs in your spiritual life? Today, take a good hard look at your relationship with Christ. Has your faith become polluted, toxic? Are lust, anger, greed, and pride taking up residence in your life? If so, you know it's time to disinfect. Repent of those things and allow the Lord to cleanse you from them (I John 1:9). Don't be too quick to disinfect others and their spiritual germs. First, sanitize the sin in your own life.

Party Pics

2010-10-17T21:53:00.019-05:00

Caris is Two Years Old!!!

2010-10-10T17:24:00.002-05:00

I Love This Girl

2010-09-25T22:28:00.006-05:00

Caris Eisley is 23 Months

2010-09-08T23:17:00.008-05:00

Caris Eisley is 22 Months

2010-08-10T22:13:00.005-05:00

Billie Jean on Acoustic Guitar. Epic.

2010-08-01T21:11:00.001-05:00

Nap Hair

2010-07-24T22:31:00.003-05:00

Richie Would Have Been 30 Today

2010-07-15T20:49:00.004-05:00

My little brother would have been 30 today. This September will mark seven years since he left us. My life is busy and I often get caught up in the rat race of life. I keep myself busy so I don't have to feel or think or remember. But today I cannot escape the emotions that fill my heart. I miss my brother. His sarcasm. His love for music. His genious with computers. His friendship.

If you are reading this and you have your friends or family close by, you need to go and give them a hug right now. You need to tell them how much they mean to you. Never assume that you will do it later. Do it now. Say the words that you need to say.

Richie, I love you. I miss you. See you soon.

Your Brother,
Hadley

Caris is 20 Months Old (June 7, 2010)

2010-06-06T20:12:00.016-05:00

Pickin' home grown potatoes with PeePaw from the garden

Watching videos with MeeMaw

19 Months | Performing "Jesus Freak"

2010-05-08T15:14:00.000-05:00

Caris 18 Months

2010-04-27T20:30:00.001-05:00

5 Year Anniversary

2010-03-12T20:48:00.004-06:00

Today is five years that Christie and I have been married. We celebrated the same way we have the last three years. There is a restaurant in Firewheel called Master Grill. She likes it because it is a nice atmosphere. I like it because it's all you can eat. We had a great time. I ate way too much of course. I am so blessed to be married to this woman. Seems like no time ago we were walking down the aisle of that church. I love her more today than ever. God is good.

Caris Eisley is 17 Months

2010-03-12T20:42:00.008-06:00

Future American Idol? I hope so. I wanna retire early.

The Latest of the Greatest

2010-02-22T20:13:00.009-06:00

Hard to believe those pics of snow were taken here in Texas. We never get snow!!! Talk about a treat. I think all the global warming crowd has some 'splainin to do. Anyway, life here is good. Caris is gonna roll 17 months on March 7th. Can't believe it. She has really been cracking us up lately. So funny, so cute. We love her so much. Hope you and yours are well. God Bless...Hadley and Christie.

Daddy Doing the Fruit Dance

2010-01-28T22:03:00.001-06:00

Break Through Hair Products

2010-01-02T01:41:00.002-06:00

Christmas 2009: Friends and Family

2010-01-01T23:17:00.011-06:00

Here's some pics of the last couple weeks (Christmas break)...friends, family, and of course plenty of Caris pics!

Caris Eisley is 14 Months Old

2009-12-08T18:16:00.005-06:00

Yesterday marked Care Bear's 14 month birthday. She has really started to crack us up around the house. She has such a funny personality. She LOVES her new Dora The Explorer chair, and is also quite fond of her pink fuzzy house slippers that Aunt Karen got her. Her vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds...she understands so much. Christie has been teaching her to use sign language to communicate with us, and boy has she taken to that! She is especially good at letting us know when she wants to eat (she has her daddy's appetite). She loves to play hide-and-go-seek and she is actually really good at finding places to hide. Christie and I feel so blessed. God is good.

Last Night's Verve Service....I Am Speechless

2009-12-03T21:36:00.002-06:00

It has been exactly 24 hours since last night’s Verve service ended. And I am still smiling ear to ear. Last night may have very been the greatest night Verve has ever had. I am almost speechless as I think about it all. But words like “awesome”, “amazing”, or “incredible” just don’t do justice. For starters, our worship time was so beautiful. God’s presence was so thick in the room. A friend of mine, Eric Jenkins, came out to lead us in worship. And man did He…we came face to face with the Savior.

I preached a message last night called The Center of the Universe. I talked about how many of us are the center of our own little universe. It all revolves around us. But as believers in Christ, we are called to let Him be the center of our universe. We revolve around Him. I asked the students to check their hearts and lives. I left them with two questions: Who is at the center of your universe? Are you living in your world or His world? I gave it all I had and knew the results would rest with God. Were there any….?

I prayed with a young man who is hooked on drugs and recently found out that his “dad” is not his real dad. Through his sobs and tears he told me about how messed up his life was. He prayed to receive the Savior. I found out today that last night he went home and through tears apologized to his mom. He told her about his drug use. He went to his room and got the drugs and gave them to her. Isn’t our God amazing?

Another young man prayed to receive Christ. His dad is in prison and he feels like he has no “father figure” in his life. His uncles are living bad lives as well…one of them died as a result. I prayed with him and he wept through the whole prayer. He was broken and humbled in the presence of God. Steve Black helped me pray for him. It was beautiful. He told one of our youth sponsors that he knows he has a father figure at Verve (Steve Black).

Another young man lost his dad three years ago. After a life of his dad not being there, he finally felt like his relationship with his dad was making progress. But then, unexpectedly, his dad passed away. This young man is hurting so bad. He is fifteen years old and wants his dad back. As he told me his story I was speechless. What do you say to someone who has gone through that? There was nothing I could do except pray for him. And I know God is going to heal his broken heart.

A young lady asked for prayer. She shared with me how she has been in the depths of depression. She then removed her jacket and showed me her arms. They were covered in marks. She has been cutting herself. She was crying so hard and said, “Please don’t judge me.” Even in her pleas for help she was afraid of being rejected. I just prayed with her and let her know she has a family at Verve who cares about her. She does not have to fight all of this alone. She sent me a text last night and said that after church she told her mom about her cutting and that she is going to stop. And she said the best thing ever. She said “thank you…I know I can trust you.”

All of this in one night. Can God blow my mind any more? It was so amazing. And the best part is that our students are catching the vision. They are bringing their friends. God is raising up students–especially at Rowlett High School–who are keeping Christ at the center of their universe. I am so honored to be their youth pastor.

My Music Is In Australia?

2009-11-22T22:39:00.002-06:00

Someone from Australia downloaded "If I Was A Girl" this past week. Does this mean I am famous? I didn't think so either.

Family Photo Shoot

2009-11-02T21:02:00.002-06:00

We recently did a photo shoot courtesy of Christie's best friend Allison Rocker. Check out some of the family highlights HERE, photos of Caris HERE, and photos of Christie and Caris HERE

Trip to MeeMaw and PeePaw's New House

2009-11-02T20:45:00.005-06:00

One Year Old!!!!

2009-10-08T20:27:00.011-05:00

There are really no words to describe how amazing the last year of my life has been. I am still getting used to the fact that I am a dad...there is no way my baby girl can be a year old. It is true what they say, they do grow up fast. As I sit here typing this I cannot help the emotions that overtake me. How can you love someone this much? I never knew love like this existed. Being the father of this little girl is the highest calling and greatest privilege of my life. I am humbled, honored, and so blessed. God is good.

Major koodos to my incredible wife Christie. She planned a perfect first birthday party for Caris. The invitations, decorations, cake, balloons, meal, etc. It was absolutely perfect. We just stayed here at the house and had only our immediate family come over (our house is small, ha). It was a great celebration. To all of you who take time to read my blog (which has really become Caris' blog) thank you for sharing this past year with Christie and me. God Bless.

Almost a Year Old???

2009-10-05T15:35:00.003-05:00

Caris will be a year old this Wednesday. Pics and video of her party coming soon. Thought I would share this precious pic taken by Christie's friend Allison Rocker. Adorable.

The Simple Things

2009-09-26T20:21:00.005-05:00

I may not have learned everything my dad tried to teach me, but one value he passed onto me is this: you have to learn to be content with what you have. Some people are motivated by expensive cars, large houses, designer threads. I am not one of them. I have learned from my parents that "things" don't make you happy. Some of the most miserable people on the earth are wealthy. Money and stuff can never be the source for true joy and fulfillment. When your happiness comes from having the newest and the best, you are constantly frustrated. Because there is always something newer and better out there. It's a vicious cycle that leads to constant disappointment. I have discovered that some of the best things in my life are the simple things.

- Having my weekly dinner date with Christie and Caris every Friday night at Chiloso

- Sitting in bed eating cereal and watching a movie late night with Christie

- Going for a walk with my girls right before the sun sets and the sky is gold and pink

- Loving my 1,418 square foot house--the perfect size for our family

- The feeling I have when my grass is just mowed and looks amazing

- Staying up a little later on Monday night to watch the Cowboys play (even though they will probably lose)

- Passing out on Sunday afternoons after a good church service and some Mexican food

- Feeling my heart melt when Caris gives me a big sloppy kiss

- Having an early morning breakfast with my good friend Mike McMillan

These are all simple things. And yet they bring so much joy to my world. I cannot put a price tag on them--they are invaluable. How about you? What are some of the "simple" things you enjoy in your life right now?

Bathtime Belly Laughs

2009-09-20T21:10:00.002-05:00

Why Crawl When You Can Walk????

2009-09-17T22:06:00.001-05:00

Caris Eisley is 11 Months Old

2009-09-08T20:41:00.009-05:00

"Far Away" | Nickelback | iBlog 16/30

2009-09-03T21:34:00.011-05:00

Okay the Back 2 School Mix was a HUGE Success...79 in attendance with 14 decisions for Christ. Travis Taylor was incredible, and the whole night was truly inspirational. So all that to say with the big night behind me, I am back in the swing of bloggin.

Listen to the song HERE

I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
And you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

Have you ever had your heart broken? I remember my first heart break...it scarred me for life. I was in 3rd grade. Her name was Stacey Reed. She was an older, more mature woman (she was in the 4th grade). Our love affair was special. We would hold hands at recess while we sat on the merry-go-round. We would pass each other notes in the hallway. I would call her every afternoon after school--after I had my snack and watched Star-Trek of course. And on Friday nights we would couple skate at D&K Skateland. She was my woman. I was her man. That was until...

Heath Hinsley came along. Everyone called him Bubba...which is a fitting name when you live in Southern Oklahoma. So "Bubba" and I were good friends. I am not sure what it was that he had that I didn't, but he stole Stacey from me. I was devastated. How could this happen? What about all our special moments on the monkey-bars? Was she gonna just throw it all away? Sadly, yes. It was over for us.

Of course as a grown man I look back on this and laugh. I am sure Stacey and Bubba do, too. Love and romance and crushes are so surreal when you are a child. But what about when you grow up and experience the pain of heartbreak? Not so funny any more is it? If you have ever had your heart broken, I mean really broken, you know the pain it causes.

If you currently find yourself in this situation, I want to encourage with something. Back in Janaury 2001 I was engaged to a girl who ended our relationship. It crushed me. I had felt so certain that she was "the one" that it just did not seem possible. At the time I was so angry. I was mad at her, at life, and especially at God. I felt like He had hung me out to dry. I felt like I would never find anyone as good. I cursed at God and swore to never trust Him again. When I say I was mad at Him, I mean it. Looking back now I see how loving God really is. Because He took away something good to give me something great.

Fast forward to May 15, 2002. I walked into the office of Stoneleigh on Spring Creek Apartments and met Christie Dobbs. We talked a little while and I asked her to dinner. Went to Landry's Seafood in West End on Friday. Went to church with her on Sunday. And the rest...as they say...is history. She is my beautiful bride since March 12, 2005. She is also the mother of my beautiful baby girl. I have no regrets. I know 100% that she is the one God hand picked for me. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

God does not take people out of our life to harm us. He only wants us to have His very best. I have found it and I am thankful for unanswered prayers. So if someone really special has been taken from you, just imagine how special the one God has for you will be.

I'll Be Back

2009-08-31T20:50:00.001-05:00

I will resume the iBlog next Monday. The Back to School Mix at VERVE has required a tremendous amount of time and planning...so once it's over I will be back on the bloggin.

HB

"Under the Bridge" | Red Hot Chili Peppers | iBlog 15/30

2009-08-27T20:30:00.010-05:00

Went back to work teaching this week. It has been a butt kicker and a time zapper! Sorry for missing a couple days of blogging. I know your lives have been put on hold without my daily blurbs of wisdom! So anyway, I am back on track.

Listen to the song HERE

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angels
Lonely as I am, together we cry

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

Last night at VERVE I talked about living a life of No Regrets. Have you ever done something you regret? Maybe you look back on a relationship and think "Why in the world did I go out with them???" Maybe you see old photos and wonder why you wore that outfit (I mean seriously, a turtleneck?). We all have those things we laugh about and wish we could re-do. But what about serious regrets?

Words spoken that can never be taken back
Giving away your innocence for someone you thought would always be there
Betraying those you love the most
Letting your fears keep you from your dreams
Blowing off a great opportunity you wish you could now get back

Regrets. We all have them. We all wish we could travel back in time and redo some things. But the reality of life is that we cannot. We are forced to live with the life our choices have created. I have a list of things I regret. Things I wish had never happened. People I wish I hadn't hurt. Friends I wish I had been there for. Regrets. But as much as I wish I make right the things I have done wrong over the years, I am determined not to let those things haunt me. As I shared with the students at Verve last night:

OUR PAST IS MEANT TO TEACH US, NOT TO TORMENT US

Think about it. Failure, mistakes, regrets...these are the tools that God uses to mold us and shape us. Moses murdered. Abraham lied. Peter denied. Mark wimped out. They had things they regretted. But their messups catapulted them to a new place of commitment. God used their weakness to make them strong. He does the same in us. So when you, in your mind, revisit your past and look back over your life, don't be tormented. Make up your mind that you "never wanna feel like you did that day." And you will be surprised to find that your regrets are actually friends you did not know you had.

"Mighty To Save" | Hillsong United | iBlog 14/30

2009-08-23T21:12:00.008-05:00

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite worship songs. The message is so simple and yet so profound. If you have grown up in church like I have, you can sometime lose the "awe factor" of your faith. The things that should move you sometimes don't because you have heard them a thousand times. Sad but often true. And yet there is no greater miracle in the world than when someone is saved from their sin and trusts Christ as Savior.

June 30, 1992. For many people, this date bears no significance. But it is a day I will never forget. I sat in a tiny little church in Comanche, Oklahoma. Tears flooded my face as I sat through the funeral of my grandfather. When he died, it was like I died. As a young boy growing up, I never knew my real dad. My grandpa had been my only dad. Losing him was a defining moment in my life. I was only 14 at the time but I knew that I needed something real in my life. I need hope and peace. I needed strength. I needed a Friend who would always be there. I needed God.

I suppose some think a funeral is a weird place to find your faith. But for me it was a beautiful, bitter-sweet moment. I stood beside the coffin of a man that I loved dearly, my life was shattered. And yet in that moment I made him this promise: "Grandpa, I don't know what all I am gonna have to do in my life...but I promise you I will see you in heaven someday." As I spoke the words I knew I would have to change some things in my life. There were people that I couldn't hang with anymore. There were places I could not go. But let me tell you that in that moment my life changed. And so did my eternity. As I stood beside the empty shell that for 79 years had embodied the soul of Richard Morgan, my grandfather, my soul was re-born. The presence of Christ flooded my life in a way words will never describe. It was like I truly alive for the first time. I walked out of that church completely transformed.

Nothing is more miraculous than God's power to save. Red seas parting are great. The sun standing still is impressive. But nothing is greater than a lost soul finding their way home to the Savior? Have you experienced it? Do you know what I am talking about when I share my story of what God did in my life? I would love to hear your story. As followers of Christ, there is nothing we can talk about more than the day we found that God was Mighty To Save.

"Quality Time" | Hi-Five | iBlog 13/30

2009-08-22T22:01:00.011-05:00

Thanks to those of you who have either commented on the iBlog posts or have texted me telling you that these encourage you. I cannot lie...doing these everyday has been a butt kicker, but knowing you guys are getting something out of it has made it worth it. So thanks for reading them--it means a lot to me.

Back in the early 90s I was all into R&B music. Those of you who are old enough will remember all the big groups of that time period...BoyzIIMen, Shai, Jodeci, Silk. One of my favorite groups was called Hi-Five. I liked them for two reasons: 1) They are from Texas (Waco in case you're wondering) and 2) Their songs were clean. One of their biggest jams was called Quality Time. It was a smooth, smooth slow jam. Listen to it HERE

Wasn't that great? I travel back to ninth grade every time I hear it LOL. I always told girls I liked that song so they would think I was sensitive. As you figured out, the song is about a guy who is telling his girl that he is sorry for being so busy and never spending "Quality Time" with her. The song is his pledge to her to change:

I know you're tired of the same old line
Me sayin' I have something to do
I'm here to say that I made up my mind
'Cause I really wanna be with you
So when my pager goes off
I'll ignore it, baby
'Cause I really wanna be with you
From now on I'll spend quality time with you
I'll be right there for you

I don't know about you, but I often feel overwhelmed by all the things I have going on in my life. I am a husband, a father, a youth pastor, a school teacher, a guitar instructor, and a website developer. On top of all of those really big things I also have to maintain all the little junk--mowing the lawn, getting to the gym, folding laundry, etc. Life can get super busy. In the midst of all of the running around like a headless chicken, sometimes I find myself missing my intimacy with God. It's like my relationship with him is on cruise control, and I am just going through the motions. In a literal way, the words to this song have often been my prayer to God, telling him I've made up my mind and want to be with Him. I give everyone else and everything else time...why not Him????

Can you relate? Do you find yourself knowing that you need to be spending more time in prayer, Bible study, worship, etc. but you never seem to get around to it? I can relate. One of my goals for the 09-10 school year is to really shift my schedule around to keep first things first. My schedule may get crazy, but I want Christ to know that He will always be my first love. It has been said that love is spelled T-I-M-E. I think that is true. If you love someone, you will spend time with them, Quality Time. I am gonna work on it. How bout you?

"Stand By Me" | Ben E. King | iBlog 12/30

2009-08-21T20:39:00.011-05:00

Do you remember when you and your best friend first met? Was it at school? Church? Prison? Hopefully not prison, LOL. But think about that moment for a just a second. Isn't it crazy to think about how far you have come since you first met? I will never forget when my best friend, Byron, and I met. The year was 1992...some of you reading this weren't even born yet. I was on my way to two-a-days for football practice. I saw this tall red-headed kid walking to the school. I told my mom, "I think that guy has a locker close to me in the locker room. Should we give him a ride?" Looking back on it, our vehicle was not very well suited for giving people a ride. It was a two seater Toyota pickup. The next thing I know I am practically sitting in my mom's lap while Byron is in the passenger seat. So from that awkward moment, a friendship began. I had no idea on that day that I was picking up the best friend I would ever have.

I could write all day about all the stuff we have been through. Friendship is cool like that. You think about all the good times in your life, and all the bad times, too. And right beside you through it all are your true friends. The ones who stand by you--no matter what. I remember Byron knocking on my window at 2:00 am one time when his girlfriend had dumped him. By the way he and that girl got married a few years later. They have three kids. There were times when he and I would stay up late talking about absolutely nothing. We even cried together when we lost a football game our senior year. Sounds silly now, but at that time it was a big deal. I was the best man in his wedding. He was the best man in mine. He was there beside me when I buried my brother. I preached at the funeral when he buried his mother. We have been through a lot, good times and bad.

I don't know about you, but there is nothing more important to me in this life than friends. Lee Iacocca was once quoted saying, "My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, you've had a great life." I think that is true. Money. Cars. Houses. Blah, blah, blah. Who cares about all that junk? Friendship is the sweet spot of life. So let me ask you two questions:

1) Do you have true friends in your life?
2) Are you a true friend to someone in your life?

In John 15:13 when Jesus spoke of himself to his disciples, He said a man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. We all want someone to stand by us. In good times, bad times. When we look good, when we look bad. When we have it all together, when we fall flat on our face. When we're on the mountain top, and when we're in the valley. We want to know there is someone who will always stand by us, no matter what.

Christ's example on friendship should be our goal. We should be there for our friends to the point of laying down our life for them. And I have found, that when you are that kind of friend to others, God will bring those kind of friends into your life.

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

"I Can Only Imagine" | MercyMe | iBlog 11/30

2009-08-20T21:59:00.017-05:00

I once had a job as a waiter at Pappadeaux. I was horrible. To be a good waiter or waitress you have to be able to multitask like crazy. I am a one track thinker. Wasn't the job for me. I remember one time being in the break room when a conversation about religion broke out. Some one asked a general question like, "What do you guys think about the afterlife...you know heaven and hell?" No sooner had the question been asked when one of the head waiters sternly said, "None of it is real...religion is a bunch of lies made up by humans who can't accept the fact that when they die they just become dirt." I remember hearing him speak those words and thinking that what he said was not nearly as scary as the fact that he really believed that. It bothered me greatly to think that someone could be so calloused and cold in their heart to not believe that there might be a God, and heaven and hell might be real. A few months ago I learned that that young man died. He was only 35.

The world lives without the hope of something better after this life. That is why they try to get all they can out of this life. Buy the fastest cars, the biggest houses, the nicest clothes. Party all you can. Sex. Drugs. Rock-n-roll. If this life is all there is, why not right? Well the reality is that this life is not all there is. Our life is only a temporary little speck in light of eternity. And as believers in Christ we have the hope that one day we will live in eternity with Christ. Not only with Christ, but also with all those who have died and trusted Christ as Savior. We will all be reunited. How awesome will that be??? I will see my Grandpa again. I said goodbye to him on June 30, 1992. I will see my brother again. I said goodbye to him on September 18, 2003. I will see them again. I will hug them, kiss them, and tell them how much I have missed them. Heaven will be so amazing, so incredible. It will be so great that I truly cannot imagine how great.

In the 21st Chapter of Revelation John wrote about heaven:
"1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Did you see that??? No more crying. No more pain. No more death. This is the hope that we have as believers. And when we have this hope, it gives us strength to deal with the pain and struggles of this life. If you have been in a season of difficulty or depression, know that this life is not all there is. There is a glorious home God has prepared for those who have trusted in His Son as Savior. We will live with him forever. Life can be tough, but we overcome because we have hope.

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. I Thessalonians 4:13.

So be encouraged. Maybe life stinks right now. A bad job. A broken relationship. A recurring illness. An annoying roommate. A depressing existence. Just think about the day when you will finally be home.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

"Nutshell" | Alice In Chains | IBlog 10/30

2009-08-19T22:30:00.008-05:00

When I was in college I went through a weird musical phase. I got real into the alternative sound coming out of Seattle, especially Alice In Chains. Looking back on it I find it almost humorous. Now I am into the whole mellow acoustic sound. But in college it was all about the distorted guitars and depressing lyrics. Funny how we change in our tastes.

The frontman for Alice in Chains was a guy named Layne Staley. He had an incredible voice. He also battled an incredible addiction. His on-again, off-again relationship with heroin was the battle of his life. In the AIC song "Nutshell" he opens up a little about his take on life and the demons he faced:

We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home

As I think about the life of Layne Staley it breaks my heart. Only a few years after recording this album, he overdosed on heroin. A sad ending to a sad life. But the part of the song that crushes me is when he says he had "No one to cry to, no place to call home." I think of all the people in this world who are lost and empty and living without the hope of Christ. How sad it is when they feel that they have no one to turn to, no place to call home. My prayer is that the lost and hurting in my life will know the hope of Christ that lives in me. I don't want anyone in my life to live without this hope.

The other day I was driving to speak at a church function. As I drove down one street in my community I must have passed 4 or 5 churches within a mile. And the thought came to me: "How is it that we have so many churches but are making so little impact?" The Layne Staleys of this world need us. They need someone to turn to. They need some place to call home. Let's be the church again. Let's get past the stain glassed windows and the staunch traditions that presently define us. Let's be a people who cares about the lost and hurting in our world.

"Sweet Home Alabama" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | iBlog 9/30

2009-08-18T23:37:00.006-05:00

Have you ever been away from home for a long time and become homesick? Maybe you were a kid and got to sent to stay with your grandparents for what seemed like the whole summer. Maybe you were away on a mission trip. Maybe your job took you away. All of us can relate at some level to wanting to go home.

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Jesus told the disciples that when he left this earth He would go to prepare a place for us. Our final home, ultimately, is with the One who made us, saved us, and now prepares a place for us. Check out John 14:1-4:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

I don't know about you, but I wanna go home. This earth is okay, but it is not my home. I am just passing through. As I type, and as you read, our real home is being prepared. So next time you have a day from you know where, be encouraged. We are not yet home.

"Madly" | Passion | iBlog 8/30

2009-08-17T20:05:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been crazy in love with someone? The kind of love where you go on a date, take them home, stay at their house till 3:00 in the morning, and then call them when you're driving home because you are already missing them? Some of you know what I am talking about. If you have never been in love then you think this is crazy. But to the person who has been bitten by the love bug, it all makes sense. When you fall in love, sometimes you lose your mind. You do things, say things, and think things that you never would otherwise. You don't care what anyone thinks about you...you're in love and you want the world to know it.

That's what I like about this worship song by Passion. Check out the verse and chorus:

We are madly in love with you
We are madly in love with you
We are madly in love with you
We are madly in love with you

And what we do in here
Will fill the streets out there
Let us dance for you
We wanna dance for you
And what we do in here
Will fill the streets out there
Let us dance for you
We wanna dance for you

To the person who does not know Christ personally, they might think that a believer who is madly in love with God is crazy. But if your heart has been filled with the love and hope that only God can offer through Christ, you don't care what the world thinks. Like the song says, you want what happens in the church to overflow into the streets so that others can "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). I like how John described it in I John 3:1:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

If you are in love with Jesus, don't hide it. Be madly in love with Him. Let it overflow into your friendships, into your workplace, into the classroom, the football field, the bandhall, etc. Be madly in love with Him. And know that He is madly in love with you.

"Apologize" | One Republic | iBlog 7/30

2009-08-16T22:15:00.007-05:00

I'm holdin' on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground.
And I'm hearin' what you say,
But I just can't make a sound.
You tell me that you need me,
Then you go and cut me down...
But wait...
You tell me that you're sorry,
Didn't think I'd turn around...
And say...

That it's too late to apologize.
It's too late...
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late.

I spoke at a Disciple Now Conference a few years back in Mesquite, TX. I remember speaking with an old man there who shared a painful story with me. This man and his son had not spoken in 17 years. They had a falling out with one another, said some hateful things, and the son left. No phone calls. No emails. No letters. He just vanished. As this father spoke to me I could hear the devastation in his voice. His son, whom he loved, had walked away from him and would probably never come back. As a father now, it crushes my heart to even ponder the thought of a day when Caris and I would not speak. For whatever reason, neither one of these men were willing to apologize. And now, it is too late. The years have gone by and it is as though each of them are dead to the other one. Makes you wonder if a simple apology made early on could have spared 17 years of pain.

Apologies are ironic. We love to get them, but hate dishing them out. Nothing is more satisfying than having someone who wronged us have to humble themselves and ask for our forgiveness. It strokes our pride a little doesn't it? But flip the scenario around. When you have wronged someone, are you willing to humble yourself, go to that person, own your mistake, and ask them to forgive you? It's tough, huh? But the Bible has much to say about apologies and forgiveness.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Colossians 3:13

It is a sad thing when a relationship is damaged or lost because someone is unwilling to apologize or unwilling to accept an apology. Is there someone out there who has sought your forgiveness but you have refused to grant it to them? Or maybe you have done someone wrong and need to make things right by apologizing to them? Are you willing? This is where our Christianity gets tough. The same God who showed us so much mercy, now tells us to extend that mercy to others. He also tells us to make it right when we wrong our brother or sister.

So it's simple. If you need to accept an apology, do it. If you need to make one, do it. Do it before it's too late.

"Belly Button" | Veggie Tales | iBlog 6/30

2009-08-15T10:52:00.008-05:00

Let's get one thing straight...I downloaded this song for my daughter. But I must confess that it is one hilarious song, one that we sing a lot here at the Baker casa. If you have never heard the song or seen the video, click HERE

But there's a secret I've been hidin' I can't keep it no more
There's this thing about himself he's never told you before
He needs to tell you something
I don't got a bellybutton

Did you watch it? Is it not stinkin' hilarious?!?! I thought so, too. Trust me when you become a parent you will get your fill of Veggie Tales, Dora the Explorer, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, etc. If you are already a parent, then you know what I am talking about.

The sock is a light hearted anthem about how we as people try to hide the things about us that we don't want others to know. We fear that if they know the real us they might distance themselves, or maybe even walk away. So we try to cover up our weaknesses, struggles, imperfections. We cover up our past, our true feelings. We mask ourselves so no one will see the real us. Some of us are pretty good at it. We go for years and years with people never knowing the real us. You can fool a lot of people, but you can't fool God.

Jesus had a conversation with a woman in the 4th chapter of John. They were standing at a well. The conversation had become spiritual. They were talking about eternal life. Then Jesus tells the woman to get her husband and bring him back. Her response:

17"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

The woman was freaked out! How did He know? How did he see right through her mask? Jesus called her out on a lie she had been living. He got to the heart of who she REALLY was. And this allowed her to come face to face with God himself. And so the result of this conversation is her belief in Christ:

25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

You see, unlike people, Jesus sees the REAL us, but He doesn't turn away. On the contrary, He seeks us out to get face to face with us. Why? So we can live in the truth. And the truth (according to John 8:32) will set us free. Wouldn't it be be nice to live one life, not two? To be the real you? To not have to hide anything? With Jesus, you can. He sees the real you, loves the real you, just like you are. But He will never leave you just like you are. He comes to bring freedom, joy, hope, life, and peace.

So whether it's a belly button, a hairy back, an ugly past, a haunting sin...Jesus sees it. You don't have to cover it up. Just come face to face with Him and be yourself.

"Dust In The Wind" | Kansas | iBlog 5/30

2009-08-14T16:07:00.011-05:00

Kansas hit one out of the park with "Dust in the Wind". More than 30 years later this song still has a home on most iPods. Let's drop in on the second verse and chorus:

Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind

Kind of depressing isn't it? We think we're immortal. Most of us do not sit around pondering the day when we will die. If you do you might want to look into getting some counseling, LOL. But seriously who thinks about death and mortality? Most of us are just carrying on like we are going to live forever. I am not old, but I have lived long enough to learn this one truth: life goes by fast. It seems like yesterday I was starting high school. That was 17 years ago. I remember as a freshmen thinking I would be in high school forever. I blinked and it was gone. College went by even faster. It seems like Christie and I just said "I do"...that was almost five years ago. And the craziest thing is watching my daughter grow up. She is almost a year old!!! I swear it was just yesterday that the doctor handed her to me. Where did the time go?

The crazy reality is that life does not wait for us. And the morbid part sets in when you realize all of us have one destiny--death. Some will find it sooner than others, but eventually it will find all of us. Death doesn't care if you're rich, poor, black, white, famous, common. Death is no respecter of persons.

Michael Jackson
Farrah Fawcett
Steve McNair
Billy Mays
Ed McMahon

2009 has shown us that they're no different than us. These "larger than life" icons are not exempt from the inevitable reality of death. I think the death of Michael Jackson, in particular, really shook the world up. As much as we want to think we will live forever, in light of eternity we are just dust in the wind. Here today, gone tomorrow. Isaiah said it this way in chapter 40:

6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."

So the question must be raised--what are you doing with the time you have? Since only God's Word will stand forever, are you living out that word? Is your life consumed with the empty, temporal things of this life, or are you pursuing the eternal things? I once heard someone ask this powerful question--"Is what you're living for worth dying for?" There are no guarantees of a tomorrow. The time we have now is a precious gift. Make it count.

"Everybody Wants to Rule The World" | Tears For Fears | iBlog 4/30

2009-08-13T20:34:00.010-05:00

Okay so I love 80s music. What can I say. The 80s was my childhood. He-Man. GI Joe. Transformers. And some very weird music. This song is a super rad (that's an 80s word for cool) tune from that decade. Tears For Fears had some big hits, and this one was right at the top. Verse two says this:

It's my own design
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the
Most of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

Be honest. Are you a control freak? Maybe a little bit? Most of us at some level do not like the feeling out being out of control. We like to call the shots for our own life. The thought of some other thing or some other person getting to have the final say for us...well it just doesn't sit too well with most people. We want to be in charge. We want to answer to ourselves and no one else.

But what happens in those times when life doesn't let us be in control? Those moments where nothing we do can change how things are and how they will always be? Point in case--Tuesday of this week I traveled with my good friend Richard Norris back to my home town of Wichita Falls. Some good friends of ours, Greg and Courtney Gilmore, had to say a final goodbye to a loved one. Courtney's mom Glenda lost her year long battle with cancer. As I watched the family walk into the church I was reminded of a harsh, cold reality--life will hand us things we cannot change. We can kick and scream and fight all we want, but nothing will change. We are not in control. We don't rule our world after all.

It is a crucial intersection between this reality (mentioned in the last paragraph) and faith in God that causes most people to stumble. How can a "good God" let "bad things" happen? It is difficult to reconcile this in our thinking. And yet the journey of faith calls us to trust even when trusting is illogical, irrational. We find ourselves wanting so bad to control our destiny and yet we cannot. So what do we do?

The Bible tells in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the story of the Apostle Paul asking God three times to take away what he called a "thorn in my flesh." We don't know exactly what Paul was struggling with, but whatever it was must have been a big deal. The guy had faced ship wrecks, stonings, beatings, and prison. He never complained about those things or asked God to deliver him. But whatever this thorn was, it was a big deal for Paul. And yet God doesn't give him an answer or even promise to take away the thorn. He simply tells Paul that His grace is sufficient.

In this life we will have moments where we cannot rule our own world. We will not always be in control. But we can always know that God is always with us Matthew 28:20, and that He is always working out good on our behalf Romans 8:28.

"Can't Stay Away From You" | Gloria Estefan | iBlog 3/30

2009-08-12T10:32:00.001-05:00

Okay so this is one of those songs that (as a guy) I am not supposed to have in my music collection. This song is chock full of estrogen. Total chick tune. But I have no shame. I will download chick tunes until the day I die. Now that I have confession out of the way, let's proceed.

This song was a huge hit for Gloria Estefan back in the 1980s. The 80s were awesome. I remember being a punk kid and staying up late on Friday nights and watching TBS on my 13" black and white TV. They had a show called "Night Tracks" where they played different music videos. This one got played a lot. The song tells the story of a lady who is pleading with the man she loves to not end their relationship. And even though she knows he has made up his mind, she continues to appeal to him not to throw their love away:

And I don't wanna be your second choice
Don't wanna be just your friend
You keep telling me that you're not in love
You wanna throw it all away
But I can't stay away from you
I don't wanna let you go
And though it's killing me that's true
There's just some things I can't control
Your love is slipping through my hands
And though I've heard it all before
I know you're telling me the truth
I know it's just no use but I can't stay away from you

This song is a dichotomy. On the one hand you have to admire the woman's determination to win back her man's heart. On the other hand you want to tell her to get over it and move on...more fish in the sea right? I mean after all, who would keep chasing someone who has deliberately walked away from them? I'll tell you who. Christ.

Chapters 18-21 in the Gospel of John tell the story of Simon Peter walking away from Christ. After pledging to die for Jesus, he blatantly denied him three times. He turned his back on the Savior. He walked away from his Lord. Knowing that he had blown it big time and that he and Jesus were surely over, Peter returns to his former career as a fisherman. He was prepared to go back to the life that Jesus had called him away from.

And yet in Chapter 21 we see the Savior pursuing Simon Peter. He walks beside the sea where Peter is fishing. He invites him to eat breakfast with Him. Somewhere over the meal, Jesus speaks to Simon: "Simon...do you love me?" Peter responds with a humble "yes." But Jesus asks him again. And Jesus asks him a third time. Each time Peter grows more emotional, finally exclaiming "Lord you know all things...you know I love you." Jesus reassured Peter that He had forgiven him. That Peter was still His man despite the denying Him. Christ sought him out and loved him.

The Savior does the same thing to us. We blow it. We mess up. We deny. We walk away. And yet He says "I can't stay away from you, I don't wanna let you go." If you have ever turned your back on God in a big way, you know the incredible love I am talking about. Have you been there? I have. When the Savior calls you back to Himself when you blew it big time, AGAIN. It's like no matter how many times you blow it or how far you walk away, He always seeks you out. He can't stay away. His love compels Him.

But, ultimately, the choice is ours to make. We must respond to the love that God has extended us through Christ. Have you blown it? The Bible says we all have (Romans 3:23). The Savior won't stay away from you. He will pursue you. Will you give into Him? Say "yes" when he asks you, "Do you love me?" And like Simon Peter you, too, will find that there is forgiveness and a second chance.

"Slow Fade" | Casting Crowns | iBlog 2/30

2009-08-11T09:24:00.002-05:00

This song has been huge on the Christian air waves over the last few months. The message in the lyrics is simple but yet profound. It is a wake-up call to the people of faith to be on guard against compromise and the "slow fade" into sin. Listen to the words in the first verse and chorus:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade

This song is very timely for the church. I heard a preacher say recently hat "The Church has not been influencing the world, but rather we have allowed the world to influence us." We live in a world that is becoming increasingly secular and post-modern. What was considered wrong and sinful 20 years ago is openly accepted today. Many people--and I am talking about church people--have become lukewarm and complacent, tolerating things in their lives that they would not have just a few years ago. I must admit that I am convicted as I type this. I have to look inward and inspect myself. I can remember a day when my heart was more sensitive to the things of God. A day when tears would fill my eyes when I had sinned against my Savior. How did my heart get so comfortable? When did I lose that sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? It didn't happen overnight. It was a gradual process. It was a slow fade.

So I am excited about a new chapter and season in my walk with Christ. One that will be filled with challenge and conviction. One where I learn to say no living in the gray, and return to the black and white. You can rest assured that I am going to be challenging the students at Verve to do the same thing.

In high school I had a close friend who challenged me immensely in my faith. He made me want to be a better Christian. He brought that out of me. In 1996 he was a strong believer. Fast forward to the present day. He is divorced, out of church, living a life filled with sex and parties, and struggling to find his faith. I do not say this to rip on him. I love him dearly and we have had some deep conversations in recent months. I mention his story to remind all of us that we must stay on guard against the compromises that will, over time, lead us away from God. It won't happen over night. It will be a slow fade. So take a hard look. You are gradually moving closer to God or further from Him. Where will you be a month from now? A year from now?

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
I Corinthians 10:12

"Take A Picture" | Filter | iBlog 1/30

2009-08-10T12:08:00.004-05:00

For the next 30 days I am going to blogging everyday. The topics of my blogs will come from my iPod. With the play back mode on shuffle, I am gonna hit play and whatever song comes on will be what I blog about. So here's the first of 30 blogs.

Depending on your age, you might not have a clue about this song or band. Filter burst onto music scene with a vengeance in the mid 1990s during the peak of the industrial rock sound. Their run was short-lived, but they definitely established a presence that will not be forgotten any time soon. Somewhat ironic is the fact that their most popular song, Take a Picture, was not at all representative of their overall sound. But with a catchy acoustic vibe and a melody line that gets stuck in your head, it became a huge hit at the turn of the millennium.

Lead singer Richard Patrick has claimed that this song was inspired by real life events, crazy ones at that. The story goes that Patrick was intoxicated on an airplane and began to remove his clothing. In the midst of this ordeal he began to scream and mock his father saying, "Hey dad...what do you think about your son now?". The song has obvious tones of Patrick's cynical views on faith and those who practice it. The second verse says...

I don't believe in
I don't believe in
In your sanctity
Your privacy
I don't believe in
I don't believe in
Sanctity
A hypocrisy

Now for many in the church it would be easy to dismiss these attacks on their faith, especially from someone like Richard Patrick. I mean, come on, the dude is an alcoholic streaker who likes tickin off his ole man...is this guy really qualified to criticize those inside the church? A simple answer would be no. But should we--those in the body of Christ--ever listen to the criticisms the world has of us? When they look at us as we truly are and not as we claim to be, can their opinions tell us something about ourselves. I say a definite yes.

During his time on earth there were many who hated Jesus. They didn't believe in his miracles, his words, and certainly not his Deity. They wanted him dead. But guess who hated him? The religious crowd. Those "outside" the religious circles loved Jesus. His enemies were those claiming to be followers of God. Now fast forward 2000 years...man how the times have changed. Now religious people love the church and those outside it cannot stand it. How did we as Christ's representatives stray so far from him that the world only sees us as fake, phony, judgmental, and hypocritical? Where did we stray? Maybe it is the church who should , as the song title says, Take a Picture. Would we like what we see?

So how about you? Are you guilty of hypocrisy? Do you claim to be one with Christ but deny him by your life? If I am honest, I am guilty at times. But I am striving to look more like Christ everyday. The truth is that the world is watching us. The Apostle Paul explained it this way in 2 Corinthians 3:

Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives.

Our lives are a letter from Christ to this world. Every day you are being read. What does your "life letter" say? The challenge for all of us, myself especially included, is to live a life that reflects Christ. I hope you are. I hope I am.

10 Months Old

2009-08-09T20:30:00.012-05:00

Caris is really growing up fast. In two months she will be a year old. Seems like we just left the hospital. She is reaching some real milestones. She is crawling really, really fast. She has been pulling up a lot and she has learned how to pull up and walk. She will get at one end of the couch, pull up on it, and then hold onto it and walk down to the other end. She should be walking any time now. She has also learned to understand a lot of words. She knows a lot of what we are saying to her...it has made things really fun around here. Probably the funniest thing is playing "peek-a-boo" with her. She loves that and has actually been the one to start the game. Too cute.

So That's Where My Money Has Gone

2009-08-06T15:56:00.003-05:00

Lately I have noticed that money has been tighter. Leave it to the internet to explain this mystery to me. Where is all my hard-earned cash disappearing to? Find out here.

2009 Summer Camp at the Mount

2009-08-02T00:49:00.002-05:00

Camp was incredible. Tiring, exhausting, and at times frightening, but incredible. The video pretty much says it all, so this is the part where I quit typing.

A Campin' We Will Go....

2009-07-26T00:46:00.004-05:00

How would you like to spend a week with this kid? Scary, right?
It has been a long time since I have been to youth camp (as a youth pastor that is). But tomorrow (technically today now) I am heading out for a week full of hot Texas sun, no sleep, crazy games, late night pranks, unidentifiable food, and awesome services. I am nervously excited. I will update you on the flip side. On a lighter note, I shaved my chest today and used the clippings to stuff a body pillow.

Caris Eisley is 9 Months Old

2009-07-11T10:38:00.011-05:00

Thoughts On Running

2009-07-06T21:15:00.007-05:00

So this summer I have been trying to get in shape for real. I can talk a big game when it comes to working out and fitness. But when it comes down to it, I usually just talk. At least until this summer. I decided enough is enough. I want to get back into decent shape for real, no more talking. So since June 8th I have jogged almost 70 miles. No treadmills, I am an open road kind of guy. 3-4 days a week I've been meeting my friend Steve Black at 6:00 am to run the Hwy 66 bridge from Rowlett to Rockwall. Two miles over, two miles back. The bridge travels over the top of Lake Ray Hubbard. Believe it or not it has become something I really look forward to and enjoy. I have found that there are a lot of similarities between running and our spiritual journey of faith.

1) Running is easier with a friend. Having someone beside you to push you and challenge you makes running easier. Not to mention the good conversations. On days when I am weak and wanna stop, Steve pushes me to keep going. We all need someone beside us in our spiritual journey as well (Proverbs 27:17). Someone who can push us and challenge us. But also just someone to enjoy the journey with.

2) Running is easier with a slow and steady pace. When I was in high school there was a kid name Wesley. He ran the two mile. He always sprinted the first lap and was in first place. But seven laps later (at the end of the race) he was in dead last. I know a lot of spiritual "Weslies"...people who started out hard but got burnt out. The key is all in the pace. If you never stop, you will achieve your goal every time. The same is true in a spiritual sense. Following Christ is a lifelong process. So many Christ followers start strong but then burn out. Pace yourself.

3) Running is easier when you see the end in site. The cool thing about the bridge is that it goes directly across the lake. When we're running we can see the finish line. Our legs are hurting and our lungs are gasping, but we gain strength knowing the end is within reach. It's the same with faith. Jesus was able to endure the cross because he saw the finish line (Hebrews 12:2). When we focus on the finish line of heaven, the pains and sadness of this life become more bearable and we find that next dose of strength.

Hope your running a good race.

Chapter One: Stumbling or Building...What Kind of Block Are You?

2009-06-28T21:52:00.010-05:00

So this blog is for all the dads who have daughters (or will have daughters, ha). I am reading this short and sweet book, and man it is packed full of good info. Michael Farris has incredible wisdom on raising girls. Chapter one highlights:
Every dad is either a building block or a stumbling block to his daughter. There are 6 types of stumbling block fathers:

- Mr. Success: this is the dad who is so consumed with his career that his daughter gets the "leftover" portions of his time.

- Father Knows Best: this is the dad who cannot admit when he makes mistakes. "My way or the highway" is his motto.

- Sugar Daddy: this is the dad who lavishes his children with gifts to compensate for not spending time with them.

- Father Figure: this is the dad who is a father in name only. His name is on the birth certificate but he is emotionally absent.

- The All-Male Dad: this is the dad who really wanted a son. He can't relate to ballet or tea parties...so he is distant, not spending any time with his daughter.

- Pushover Papa: this is the dad who lets his daughter get away with just about anything. She is the apple of his eye, his cute little girl, and she can do no wrong.

When I look at all these, I sum it up like this. My daughter needs "me", not money or gifts. I need to be firm but loving and delight in all her "girly" things. I need to be quick to admit when I am wrong. My career and ministry but take a back seat to my real calling--being Caris' daddy.

My First Father's Day

2009-06-22T15:53:00.008-05:00

I celebrated my first Father's Day this past weekend. It was truly incredible...still hard to believe that I am a dad. Scary, LOL! My first Father's Day will definitely be memorable. Christie and Caris took me to Razzoos for some good cajun eatin! We actually went on Saturday so we wouldn't have to fight the Sunday crowds. It was so much fun. It is an honor to be a dad...it is also a huge responsibility, one that many men don't take seriously. I once heard it said that "Anyone can be your child's friend, but only you can be their parent." I pledge to be the best dad I can be to Caris. I am reading a book right now called What A Daughter Needs from Her Dad. If you are a father and you're reading this, step up to the plate. Spend time with your kids. Pray for them. Be available for them. And most of all be their example. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there--hope you had a good one.

The Gospel According to My iPod

2009-06-18T00:07:00.005-05:00

So I'm jogging the other day (you can't tell from looking at me) and my iPod dies. Not good considering I had two miles left, and some tunage could have helped keep my mind off the fact that my legs and lungs were in agony. So I get in the car in read the display screen: CONNECT TO POWER SOURCE. In the moment of reading that, I felt a sweet nudge from the Lord. How often do I "die out" because I do not connect with the Father, my power source. As a part of my time off this summer, I am striving to be more committed to prayer and spending time in God's Word. I know that these are my sources of strength. We all need recharging sometimes--even Jesus did (check out Mark 6:46). So plug into your power source, He's waiting.

Caris Eisley is 8 Months Old

2009-06-13T22:28:00.008-05:00

I am about a week behind as I type this...it's hard to believe that last Sunday Caris turned 8 months old. Crazy stuff. She is really starting to hit some real milestones. She is sitting up extremely well (which she has been for a couple of weeks now). She has started pulling up on different things. She has discovered that she can move all around her crib. Christie walked in the other day and found her standing up holding on to the edge of the crib. It's funny...she won't crawl but she will roll from one side of the room to the other--hilarious!!! She is understanding certain words, too. Especially "milk" and "water". Growing up too fast. I am off for summer break...THANK YOU JESUS. After 9 months of hanging out with freshmen, some downtime was a must. This summer is all about hanging with my girls. I hope the time crawls by ever so slowly.

Verve Shout Out

2009-06-07T16:55:00.005-05:00

Verve is full of some incredible students--students who shine in their faith and on their campus. One such student is TJ Quiggle. TJ just graduated the 8th grade from Hudson Middle School. At the awards banquet a couple of weeks ago, he was honored with the Hawk Award (in other words, Mr. Hudson 2009). I have known TJ since he was in the 5th grade. He is turning into a fine young man, a man that I am very proud of. He lettered in football in both 7th and 8th grade and was also the treasurer of Hudson's FCA program. My prayer for TJ (and all the students at Verve) is that God would allow him to shine in all he does so that he can give God the glory. Way to go TJ.

Summer Road Trip

2009-06-02T22:52:00.007-05:00

Road trips. Have you ever been on one? I remember when I was growing up my parents and I would go on vacation every summer. At the time I thought the trips were so lame. Like we would go to these national parks and my dad would try and tell me all the historical significance and all that. He would point out things like trees and get all excited. I was like "Dad those are trees! We drove 14 hours to look at trees???" It's pretty funny to look back on it all now as an adult. Man we logged some hours in that old Lincoln Town Car.

If you've ever been on a road trip you know there is nothing like getting in the car and heading out to places you've never been. There are the looming thoughts all travelers have:

"Did I pack enough stuff?"
"What if I get lost?"
"Do I have enough money?"
"What if the car breaks down?"

Still there is something exciting about leaving "comfortable" behind and venturing out into the unknown. This summer I am gonna do just that--spiritually. I feel a stirring inside of me to go some place I've never been. A deeper deep. A higher high. More of Him, less of me. I wanna see things I've never seen. Do things I've never done. Just me and Jesus--on a road trip.

I am challenging all the students at Verve to join me on this journey. The invitation is extended to you as well. Pack your bags. We leave next Wednesday.

BFF - Verve's First Ever Friend Night

2009-05-28T22:20:00.011-05:00

Wow. That's the only word that comes to mind when I think last night's BFF Service. It was an incredible night from the word go. We had 89 students in attendance. 15 students stepped out in front of their peers unashamedly to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. We had a hilarious skit featuring everyone's new "soul sista" Aquanetta McJackson. It was just one of those nights where you walk away amazed at how awesome God really is. When the night was all said and done, it was about Him.

I spoke with one girl who talked about feeling unwelcome in the church. She knows she needs to change some things, but she feels like her past haunts her. A young man asked for prayer for his parents who might be divorcing.

Christie prayed with one girl whose mother is in prison. Another girl is battling epilepsy.

I received an email last night from another young lady who said "I should have been in the altars...I am living an awful life of sin...can you help me?"

I am so weary of youth ministry that promises iPods to whoever brings the most friends. What message does that send to students about sharing their faith--that they should do it when there is a "prize" involved? At Verve, our students bring their friends because they know the Truth is what their friends need. They didn't do it for prizes or gimmicks--they did it because they really do care about their friends knowing Christ. I cannot begin to say how proud I am of the Verve students--you guys are amazing and I am loving getting to work with you.

To everyone who was our guest--THANK YOU for hanging out with us. We were honored to have you spend last night with us. We hope you will be back this coming Wednesday. It's gonna be another awesome night as we prepare to kick off our 2009 Summer. We hope to see you there.

A big thanks to everyone who helped make our first BFF Night a huge success...especially:

My wife Christie (for your love, encouragement, and sacrifice)
Jerran Duty (setting up the room, being Aquanetta, worship, room teardown)
Steve Black (hanging banners, tearing down )
Cheryl Black (altars and follow up)
Tom Campbell (getting pizza, collecting follow up info)
Pat Campbell (getting pizza and follow up)
Jennifer Bearden (getting door prizes)
TJ Quiggle (helping set up room, skit)
Josh "Bigman" Beardsley (running the media)
Justin Campbell (for letting Aquanetta love on you)
Chadd Dearen (for being a stud)
Pastor Ken Morrill (for icing drinks, setting up tables)
Pastor Kyle Felts (for making the computer cooperate)
Gary "Rudy" Morgan (for being an awesome sound guy)
Pastor Russell Rogers (for encouragement and freedom to do what God has called me to do)

I love and appreciate all of you. Thanks again!