keep givin’ him the mic.

Tonight I, like many others I’m sure, watched the Home Run Derby on ESPN. There were some stars missing (ARod) but this was pretty good. The obvious highlight, even though he didn’t win, was Josh Hamilton’s first round performance. He hit 28 home runs…28 bombs, 28 bombskis, 28 blasts, 28…well, you get it. You can get a complete rundown of the derby here. However, that really wasn’t the best part.

First of all, you need to really understand this guy’s story. Josh Hamilton was the 1st player taken in the 1999 draft which was my senior year in high school so I had heard his name a little bit because of my involvement in baseball. He was advertised as the best 5 tool player out of high school since Alex Rodriquez. Sadly, Josh fell into drug addiction and at one time was out of baseball. But, thanks to the prayers of his wife and family, Josh turned his life over to Christ and has given Him all the glory ever since and is now a different man because of it….and he has been telling everybody about it. You can read a little more in detail about his story here and here.

Josh didn’t disappoint tonight…he was quick to give all glory to God and to quote him was “just amazed about where God has brought his life in the last few years.” I love stories like this and I have to applaud ESPN for continuing to give him the mic!

it’s getting close.

Please Lord, let this be the year.

class act.

While I was in Fort Payne, I got to see the newly unveiled Alabama monument that the city of Fort Payne built.

I just love stuff like this…you know, when somebody or a group (in this case the city) does something that is just classy…the right thing. These guys still live up there and have always been great to and for their community. Not to mention, they are country music royalty. I am glad to say that I saw the Alabama Farewell Tour which was phenomenal! They played for 3+ hours…no opening act…hit after hit after hit. If your ever up that way, go give it a look…absolutely awesome, long overdue and well deserved!

order my steps.

I had an awesome thing happen to me yesterday that I just have to share. I was up in Fort Payne, Alabama yesterday working and was riding through town and saw The DeKalb Theatre. We are scheduled to play at this theatre in September and I thought maybe I could go in and check it out. So, I walked in and walked by the office where there were two men talking. One was the obvious building manager and the other appeared to possibly be the maintenance guy there. I said hello and asked if it was ok to look around…the manager said “sure.”

After walking around the theatre (which is beautiful by the way…gonna be a good show), I start to head out and stick my head in the office to say thank you. The manager guy says “So, who are you with that’s going to be playing here?”…”Four Days Late,” I replied.

“Oh, OK, I’ve heard of you guys”…kinda cool.

Here comes the good part…He then just out of the blue looks at me and says “Hey Joel, this is William and he and I have been talking a while and he is having some marital and family problems…would you pray with us?”

I just about swallowed my tongue but said sure and we both started praying for William. Now, I don’t know this man but I just thanked God for bringing me there and prayed that William would give up and turn his life and situation over to God. William was obviously emotional and moved by both of us praying for us and very humbly thanked us. I also happened to have a cd that I had made of some worship songs (none of us) and gave it to him. The first song was “Healer” which I wrote about here. I thought the song would speak to him and I’m sure it did.

NOW…the moral of my story. Why did I go to Fort Payne?…I hadn’t originally planned to. Why did I stop by at that exact moment in time?…I got in my car and was just blown away at how God had ordered my steps to be there to pray for this man. I will probably never see him again but I hope that he allows God to be Lord of his life and things begin to change. How great and wonderful at planning God is that all this would line up just as it did. I am so grateful that God obviously sent me to Fort Payne yesterday and pray that He continues to order my steps.

The next time your plans are changed or something doesn’t work out that you did plan, just know that God may have a very good reason for disrupting your day.

i know an author.

How adult does that sound? A good friend of ours, Reid Ward, has recently released his first book entitled, “Legacy Leadership: Principles for leaving a spiritual legacy.” You can purchase it here. “Legacy Leadership” teaches us how to be what God created and called us to be and to lead, to influence, and to impact those who follow us so they in turn will be able to reflect Christ and pass on those principles to those who follow them.

Reid has been a big friend and backer of FDL and we are so excited for him and his book. We are actually selling them at our shows as well. I haven’t actually read it yet because it is making it’s way through the band but hear it is typical “Reid”…educated, knowledgable and insightful.

this ain’t no recession.

Here is a quote from John Stossel of ABC News’ “20/20″ concerning our current economic state:

America is not in recession, and who knows - maybe we’ll be less likely to have one if my compatriots would just chill. A recession is defined as two quarters of negative economic growth. We haven’t even had one quarter of negative growth.

The more people hear such inappropriate comparisons, the more apt they are to believe them and change their behavior accordingly - investing less and taking fewer economic risks - thereby aggravating bad economic conditions.

Good point…all you media tyrants need to settle down and quit scaring John Q. American.

Remember John Q…that was a good movie.

healer.

I absolutely love being moved by a new powerful song. This is a new song by Hillsong Church that I wanted to share with you guys. Sometimes the best and most effective songs are spoken through the most simplest words and ideas…this is definitely one of those. The lyrics just rang so true to me and some situations that I am seeing in lives close to me as well as mine.

**I also encourage you to go to youtube and find the video of the story behind this song.

happy 4th of july!!

Happy Fourth, everyone!

We are about to head to go play tonight but NOT outside…Praise the Lord!! So, have a great day and as one church sign said and I quote…”Happy Birthday AMERCIA!” That’s right, that’s A-M-E-R-C-I-A…Amercia.

uga vi laid to rest.

Anyone who is not a Georgia fan will think this is silly and won’t understand why this is a big deal but, UGA VI, who passed away last week, was buried on Monday at Sanford Stadium. We Georgia fans simply go wild over these dogs and love to love them. I have heard Mark Richt say before that on “fan photo day” he and the players have the 2nd longest line next to UGA. Everyone wants to get their picture with UGA. Georgia enjoyed great success during UGA VI’s tenure. Here is a little piece of the press release on Georgia’s website about UGA VI’s burial….I love the last line of this.

ATHENS, Ga. — Private burial services for Uga VI, the mascot for University of Georgia athletic teams, were held Monday afternoon in Sanford Stadium.

Uga VI died in his hometown of Savannah, Ga., on Friday from congestive heart failure. He was buried in a marble vault in the Southwest corner of Sanford Stadium with his five predecessors. Speaking at the services were UGA President Dr. Michael F. Adams and former Georgia team chaplain Claude McBride.

All of Georgia’s athletic teams enjoyed remarkable success during Uga VI’s reign. All told, 19 of Georgia’s 35 national championships were secured under Uga VI, and Bulldog athletic teams won 35 SEC Championships. In addition, Georgia recorded six top-10 finishes in the Director’s Cup, the annual all-sports competition ranking the nation’s top athletic programs.

A successor to Uga VI will be announced by the Seilers and the Athletic Association at a later date; however, the Seilers have stated that the lineage is secure.

addition to post below.

I was listening to a song today and was reminded of a very good line that applies to the previous topic:

“But the thing I find most amazing in amazing grace
is the chance to give it out.
Maybe that’s what love is all about.”

grace.

Things are quickly becoming all about the baby (still to be named)…and I am totally right in the middle of it myself. We are wrapped up in the nursery, getting prepared, registering and…getting used to idea of being parents. We have had many conversations about our son who is on the way and how we already love it and have since we first saw that little dot with a flashing heart beat.

I remember one time having a youth minister speak to us about grace and what it meant and how “amazing” it actually was. Grace is defined as freely given, unmerited favor and love. The key word there is unmerited or undeserving. He told a story of a man holding his first born and “gracing” the child. You see, at the time of birth, that child had done nothing…not one action or gesture to deserve to be loved…other than being born and being that person’s child. That’s where we are right now.

how it went down.

Here are the photos I promised. This was such a neat experience to see the ultrasound and find out what was on the way. We went back and she got Ashley on the table and put the “goop” on there and started looking. Then she said, “OK, I’m going to see if I can tell what it is….It’s a boy!” Wow. It was such a wonderful feeling. I was going to honestly be happy with whatever we found out but there was just something special about thinking about my son. Ashley was happy too and has wrote a little about it our our family blog.

All the family is very happy…now, I get to start painting and getting the nursery room ready….should be fun.

great news!

We found out yesterday that we are having a BOY!! We are very excited…I should be able to post some ultrasound pics soon.