Father's Day News of a Fourth!

OK, the news is out: Michele and I are having another baby. (Whew! It's hard to keep something like that in...) Although we actually found out on the day before Mother's Day (ironic, huh?), we didn't share the news with the church family until this past Sunday, Father's Day. Wanting to wait until after the "official" doctor's visit, seeing the heartbeat, and telling our daughters the news...NOW I'm ready to let the whole world know! Praise the Lord!

In case you don't know our "story," Michele and I consider ourselves so blessed to be parents. After our first 2 daughters were born (2 1/2 years apart), we thought we wanted one more. (Maybe a son?) But what followed was 5 years of unexpected disappointment, as we struggled with infertility. Then during a season of prayer & fasting in early 2006, God spoke to my heart that we were going to have another child. (Long story...much too long for this blog, but still really cool!) Sure enough, in October of that year, Mackenzie Faith was born.

And now...she will have a little "something" of her own (brother or sister yet to be determined, or maybe I should say yet to be revealed, since actually the baby's gender is obviously already determined, well, you know what I mean...). At any rate, our new baby will arrive around Christmas time. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us, and thank you for sharing our joy at this exciting news. Isn't God awesome?!

June 15th is coming...

Just a little reminder that Father's Day will be here "Sooner" than you think.

(NOTE: This hint is directly intended to spark creative and expensive gift ideas in the hearts of wives & kids. In case you need suggestions, most men like ice cream, golf clubs, fishing gear, and gift cards to Academy Sports, Home Depot, or Fuddrucker's. Please do NOT attempt to spoil your #1 dad with a surprise Chuck-E-Cheese's pizza party or a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift basket. Just trying to help...)

Pot of Gold at End of Rainbow

My apologies to those for whom this image forever ruins their love for the classic song, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." But hey, you've got to admit it's a pretty cool picture...

Headlines of Healing

A woman with a severely damaged knee is told she may never walk again...but later takes up mountain-climbing in Colorado. Another woman with a wounded wrist regains full strength and movement. A young diabetic begins to lose his vision due to complications from the disease...but returns to the doctor for more tests and is completely cleared. A young woman tells of a time when she collapsed and fell, was believed to be dying...but she awoke 3 days later to find her family making funeral arrangements(...which they immediately called off!).

Cool, huh?

These were just a few of the stories shared during our worship service Sunday. In all, there were 7 changed lives who testified of experiencing miracles of healing--and more surprisingly, nearly 50% of the congregation who stood, indicating they, too, had been healed at some time in their life.

What made the difference? In every case, people prayed in faith for God to heal...and He did! I still believe in divine healing--and even though I don't understand why ALL people aren't healed immediately when we pray, I will keep praying. God is faithful and I know He answers every prayer of faith--so just believe!

Back to Sunday, at the end of our service, the altars were filled with those in need of healing. And so we prayed! If you are one of those who came forward, please let us know when your miracle comes--because I want to be the first to celebrate with you! I am waiting expectantly, and I believe the miracles are on the way! (read Luke, chapters 8-9 for more of the miracles of Jesus; your faith will be increased, so be careful...)