Johnny Cash kissed my Great-Grandmother on the Cheek!

If you don't know who Johnny Cash is then stop reading this now, turn off the computer, get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness, go buy The Essential Johnny Cash CD's, listen to them 5-10 times, and then come back to finish reading this.

"Call me buddy"

The most read post from my blog this year so far as been when I wrote about Baylee not wanting to grow up.  This is another one of those "out of the mouth of babes" stories.

Yesterday I went out back to the garage to load the car with some things for work.  Coming back I heard a kid's voice calling me, "Are you Baylee's dad?"

The voice was coming from the second story of our next door neighbor's building.  I hadn't met our new neighbors yet, but this was one of their little boys.

"I am Baylee's dad.  My name is Bobby, what's your name?"

Peace from pieces

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  

- Romans 8:26-27

Loving what I get to do

Working with the Ministry Development team at Logos, I get to travel all over the country helping people study the Bible better.  It's an incredibly awesome and rewarding job.  

My colleague Joe Miller shared this story with our team about the conference he was at this weekend:

Me presenting Logos at the Equip conference in Minnesota

Today, a guy cam to my booth after the Logos demo.  He said his mother recently died and left him some money.  Mike wanted to buy something that would have lasting value and make her proud.  He thought about buying another musical instrument, but after seeing my Logos demo, Mike felt that a tool for meaningful Bible study was the legacy his mom would want to leave him.  He bought the Scholars Library.

Simple story but so cool.  

Awesome to know what we are doing is equipping people in their walk with the Lord, empowering them in their ministries, and building into their legacies.  

Pastor Troyer

When I was in 6th grade my family started attending Bethel Baptist church in Merrillville, Ind.  We had floated around other places for awhile, but didn't really feel at home anywhere. The fact we moved about a 1/2 mile from Bethel and that many of my classmates attended the church made the decision to be there rather easy.  It quickly and easily became our church "home." 

The pastor at Bethel was Marv Troyer.  

I am honored to be able to say that he was and always will be my pastor.

A week ago today Pastor Troyer past away.  He was 77.  Today in Ohio is a memorial service for him, and it is killing me that I am unable to be there.  I would love to be able to add my voice to the many people I know will be sharing stories and words of appreciation for this great man of God.

Someone will mention his huge smile and laugh.  

Someone will mention his Amish stories.

Someone will mention his preaching.

Someone will mention his heart for people and his leadership.

So many stories, so many words that can be shared.  

I hung out at the church a lot with my youth pastor and did my college internship at Bethel, so I was able to interact with Pastor Troyer a lot outside of Sundays.  And I do have fond memories.

What else could go wrong?

It's already been a pretty horrible day:

• I lost my job
• Jeannette is leaving me
• Baylee is running off with the boy next door
• Jaxon is joining the Marines
• And Stitch got the dog down the street pregnant. 

And the day has only just begun.  I would appreciate your prayers.