Life & Breath

Indulge us

2011-02-01T18:22:00.000-08:00

2011 has already been filled with joy and sadness, celebration and mourning. We are walking through new seasons, in several areas of our lives. My dad has gone to be with Jesus. And Kelsey, Zach and Charis have just moved to Israel. Zach will be working on his Masters at Hebrew University in a 2 year program. Can we say that God is teaching us, on several levels, what it means to "let go"?

Before they headed across the pond, we were blessed to spend some wonderful time with the Bohler family. Mind if we share a few photos?

Poppy and Charis

Mimi and Charis

Aunt Whitney and Uncle Shawn bring a smile to a sweet little face!

The Bohler family, beginning a new chapter of life

Okay, someone tell us that 2 years will go by quickly . . .

A life well-lived

2011-01-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

"I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight. I have finished the race.
I have kept (firmly held) the faith."

(2 Timothy 4:7, Amplified)

This past Thursday, we celebrated the home-going of my precious Dad. He fought the fight well, and finished the race on January 14th. Over the last 8 days, I have processed many things about my Dad . . . memories I have with him . . . and the over-riding thoughts are of a man who lived life well. I picture him running a life-long race, and sprinting to the finish line! His contentment and joy increased through his final days, even in the midst of tremendous physical difficulties. What an example to me and to all who knew John Broadman Ware!

The memorial celebration of my Dad's life was held on Thursday morning, January 20th at 11:00 a.m. in Fayetteville, NC at his beloved place of worship, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. Many family members traveled from Texas, Tennessee, Maryland, and North Carolina to honor Dad and their relationship with him. My Dad was one of 4 brothers. Two of the brothers have been with Jesus for many years. His brother, Weston Ware, drove 20+ hours from Dallas to Fayetteville, along with his wife, Charlotte and their son, Cameron. Weston and Charlotte's daughter, Keren, also flew in from Maryland to be with us. What a gift to have their family there! Weston spoke at the service and gave a heart-felt tribute, as he shared Dad's favorite psalm, Psalm 8. My aunt, Allison, flew in from Texas and beautifully sang a perfect song for the day, "Finally Home". Allison is the wife of Dad's younger brother, Connie. Dad's older brother, Browning, was also represented by the presence of Suzanne, his oldest daughter.

My brother, Todd, and his wife Julie flew in from Texas. My sister, Missy and her husband Jonathan flew in from Nashville. Our brother, Jeffrey, who lives in a state school in Goldsboro, NC was brought in to be with us. Kelsey, Zach, and Charis came over from Georgia, where they were visiting with Zach's family. And Dick and I drove from Nashville, accompanied by two dear friends who graciously came to love and support us, Jan Hayes and LeAnn Simmerman. (We affectionately called them "Bildad" and "Eliphaz", naming them after two of Job's friends who cared for him in his sorrow). We all joined together with Nancy, Dad's loving wife of 30 years, to remember a man who had touched each of us in ways we will hold on to forever.

The service consisted of several other components that painted a wonderful picture of Dad's life. We sang 3 hymns he had chosen for the day ~ "Great is Thy Faithfulness", "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" and "How Great Thou Art". My dad had requested that Dick play the piano for the memorial, and Dick opened with a beautiful prelude of hymns, accompanied the congregational singing, and played for Allison's solo. I was privileged to share one of the eulogies, focussing on my Dad as a songwriter. His music defined who he was. From out of the abundance of his heart, he wrote lyrics and melodies that spoke of his desire for others to know the Lord, God's faithfulness, and his longing for heaven. Before Dad passed away, he had given copies of all his lyrics to my sister and brother and I. I drew from these words to share a glimpse of who I knew I my Dad to be. Dad's pastor and friend, John Cook, continued that theme and eloquently gave one of the best memorial sermons I think I've ever heard. It was such a snapshot of the man who we knew as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Dick was complimenting Pastor John on how he truly captured Dad's life and John said, "Some people's lives just preach their own sermon." So true.

Here are some of the precious moments from this day . . .

The family, joined by Pastor John Cook

Dick and Mel, Kelsey, Zach and Charis (sleeping soundly)

Mel and her sister, Missy

Mel and her brother, Jeffrey

LeAnn Simmerman and Jan Hayes (Bildad and Eliphaz)

Mel and cousin Suzanne

Nancy and Charis, sharing some sweet time together

Precious baby Charis

4 generations

So much of God's word came alive that day . . .

". . . we do not grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." (1 Thes. 4:13-14)

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." (Psalm 30:11-12)

How precious are God's promises! There is such comfort in knowing that He has ordered every day of Dad's life and that now Dad will spend eternity in Jesus' presence. One insight that God showed me through this was that when we say or sing the words "I will praise you forever", that doesn't mean we praise the Lord until we take our final breath on earth. After that breath, we begin a new chapter. In heaven. How much more will we praise the Lord then!

We grieve with hope, because we know that we will not only see Dad again, but we will spend FOREVER with him. Can't wait to hear him singing with all his heart in the bass section of the heavenly choir!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Let it Snow!

2011-01-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

As the Worship Leader for First Family of Columbia, one thing that I enjoy doing is writing a weekly column for our Worship Ministry newsletter. Today, I'd like to share this column on our blog . . .

I’m sitting here looking out the window at the newly fallen snow. 4-5 inches have fallen overnight and it is untouched, un-walked on, unblemished. A white blanket is covering our backyard. Many of you have been to our house. It is a white house with black shutters, surrounded by a white fence. When you look at the snow settled on the roof of the house, or piling on the fence posts, you see the stark contrast of what the color “white” really is! Our house looks more creamy or dull in comparison to the vibrant brightness of the snow.

So what can we learn from the snow today? That is what I’m asking the Lord this peaceful morning. As I begin to dig into God’s Word and find references to this weather beauty, here are some gleanings . . .

First of all, snow falls at God’s command. Period. No other explanation. After Job’s three friends have tried to inform him of the “whys and hows” of his situation, God finally speaks. He presents one unexplainable phenomenon after another, calling Job to truly understand His sovereignty. How would you like God asking this of you?

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen

the storehouses of the hail?” (Job 38:22)

Dick and I always marvel at the wording we hear come out of the mouths of local weathermen. When we’re expecting sunny weather, they may utter something like, “We’ve got a great day ahead for you today!” or when it’s going to be stormy, you may hear, “Sorry, but we’ve got a day of rain planned for you today!” THEY have the weather lined up? Um, I don’t think so. God alone is in control, watching over the “storehouses of snow” and allowing “rain in its season” (Deuteronomy 28:12).

“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’, and to the rain

shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour’.” (Job 37:6)

“You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down.  Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up,  let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8)

I mentioned how white the snow looks. It is a color unlike any other! Pure, bright, crisp. What a stark comparison to the blackness of sin that David felt in his heart after the events concerning Bathsheba and Uriah. He prayed this:

“Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

David’s desire was for the Lord to thoroughly cleanse Him. His deep yearning was to be washed through and through. I just did a quick side trip digging into the significance of hyssop, which was an herb used for a variety of things ~ it was used to dip in the basin of blood to apply to the doorposts during Passover, it was a part of the ceremonial cleansing of lepers (Lev. 14:1-8), and it was even used to raise up the sponge of sour wine to Jesus’ lips during the crucifixion (John 19:29). Here’s a commentary I just read: In this passage, David is asking for deep heart cleansing and uses hyssop to symbolize that since it is a common cleaning agent. It is interesting that when he says "wash me" he is talking about the way clothes were washed in his time, with beating and pounding. He is so deeply sorry; he wants more than a quick wash up. He wants the very desire for sin to be washed out of him. Do we ever feel that repentant over our own sin?

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

(Isaiah 1:18)

One more observation. Snow that falls from heaven is both refreshing and nourishing. It is a picture of rebirth, renewal, and rejuvenation.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
 and do not return to it  without watering the earth  and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,

 but will accomplish what I desire  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:10-11)

“ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger
to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.”

(Proverbs 25:13)

I guess that explains why our desire is to play in the snow, take walks in the snow, lay down in the snow and make “snow angels”, watch our dogs run around in the snow . . . perhaps subliminally we recognize that it’s a sign of purity, transformation, and revival?

The creativity of our Heavenly Father should never cease to amaze us! And most days, I fail to be aware and even cognizant of His divine creation. But today, I’m going to intentionally look out the window more . . . maybe take a walk through the neighborhood . . . perhaps even make a snowball and give it a throw (not at my husband, though. He grew up in Ohio and would beat me hands down in a snowball fight!). Bottom line? May we give thanks in this generally desolate winter season for the beauty of a snowy day!

The Snow

(By Edith Willis Linn Forbes, 1865-1945)

Folding the earth in its mantle

Pure and undefiled

Soft in its own clear whiteness

As the cheek of an innocent child

The snow o’er the world is falling

It floats upon the air

Silent, yet ever restless

As a child’s hands crossed in prayer.

Like a benediction descending

O’er the sin-stained weary world

It falls in tender pity

It’s mantle o’er all unfurled

Oh, Father in Heaven above us

Thy goodness and Thy love

Descend like a silent spirit

Like a pure and spotless dove.

This world is a mystery of sorrow

And dark with sin and woe

Over its toil and sadness

Thy mantle of mercy throw

Fold us about, protect us

In Thy garment, spotless white

As the snow in its silent falling

Is shrouding the earth tonight

Christmas

2011-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, we're backtracking here . . .
The holiday season celebrating Christmas and New Year's is always so full, and with our trip to North Carolina in the mix, I haven't had a chance to show off some pictures of Christmas day with Charis. Her first Christmas was spent in our home, with snow falling outside. This was the first "white Christmas" in 17 years for the Nashville area. To say the least, the day was peaceful . . . sweet . . . idyllic.

Let me backtrack to 2 days before Christmas . . . Dec. 23, our family went to visit the newly restored Opryland Hotel, which had been incredibly damaged in the May flood. It was stunning!

Then Christmas arrived. The weather outside invoked a carefree, relaxed morning.
Charis and Mimi had some quality time!

And oh yeah, Mommy and Daddy were there, too!

And Aunt Whitney and Uncle Shawn shared in the love, too!

And Keebler watched over Charis' every move.

Dick was hanging out as well, but somehow didn't make the photo session! No doubt, more photos will be published soon with Charis and Poppy . . .

Celebrating baby Jesus with a baby of our own in the house . . .
definitely a Christmas we'll always remember.

A day to remember

2011-01-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Between Christmas and New Years, some of our family traveled to Fayetteville, NC to spend some time with my Dad and his wife, Nancy. My brother, Todd, and his family came up from Texas. My sister, Missy, and her family made the trek from Nashville along with Dick and Whitney and I. And my other brother, Jeffrey, who is a resident at the O'Berry Center in Goldsboro, NC was brought down with two of his caregivers. We spent an afternoon together enjoying a wonderful meal, exchanging gifts, singing songs, and catching up on life. It was a holy, sacred moment, where God smiled on every part of the day! Here are some highlights:

Whitney and Jeffrey meet again, after several years

Missy and Mel give Dad some lovin'

Dick and Jonathan record the afternoon

Dad and his granddaughters ~ Maddie, Whitney, Jess, McKayla, Hallie, and Abby

Dick plays for a time of Christmas carol singing

Jeff and his wonderful caregivers, Curtis and Jackie.
Curtis has been watching over Jeff for the last 18 years!

One of Jeffrey's favorite things to do has always been to
take his shoes and socks off and then put them back on.
He's been doing this ever since he was a little guy.

Dad and his kids

Nancy joins us

These are my Dad's LP's. The one showing is an album he recorded years ago, with a very appropriate title. A wonderful keepsake!

While the adults were inside, the kids were outside
building a snowman with the newly fallen snow.
They named him "Broadman" (my dad's name).

Me and my Daddy (I love these pictures)

We had a fabulous day.

Because Dad has struggled this past year with esophageal cancer, we treasured every moment together. And we are thankful that God is continuing to give him strength, comfort, hope, and peace during this journey.

Over the river and through the woods . . .

2010-12-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

When I first heard the song
Over the river and through the woods,
To grandmother's house we go . . .
I never really pictured that WE would one day be the grandparents! Now here we are!

We are having a wonderful visit with Kelsey, Zach and baby Charis. Here are some highlights of our grandparenting so far . . .

Christmas will be a special time in the Tunney home. Holding a sweet baby
reminds us of the gift of Jesus, who also came to the world as a little one.
Merry Christmas to you and your families!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
And the government shall be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called "Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".
(Isaiah 9:6)

We give thanks

2010-11-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. We're now headed towards Christmas. I know we ask this question at this point every year . . . where has this year gone?! As we look back on the 2010, we find ourselves thankful for many things. Here are just a few:

We have a new granddaughter. Charis Lynlee Bohler was born July 14, which means that she just celebrated her 4 month birthday! On December 17, she will join her parents, Kelsey and Zach, and come to Franklin for her first visit to Mimi and Poppy's house.

Whitney and Shawn are doing great, living 8 minutes away from us (but who's counting?). It's such a blessing to have them close by ~ perfect for a spontaneous meal or a quick trip to an antique mall or the farmer's market.

Both of our dads have dealt with cancer this year, and we thank the Lord that He is sustaining them day by day. They are beating the odds. Or more accurately, God is working in their bodies, doing more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We are blessed to be involved with some incredible ministries. Dick is still playing for Steve Green, Mel is back at FBC Columbia, Dick and Mel are on the road in between those two things leading worship and doing concert events. Very, very grateful for these wonderful opportunities.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we made a quick trip to Ohio to be with Mom and Dad Tunney. Keebler came along (he's a fabulous traveler!) and we all had a great visit.

Here's Mom, getting ready to serve a delicious meal.

Dick and his dad, enjoying some special time together.

Dad and Keebler hanging out.

Dick's sister, Ginny, and our brother-in-law, Dave, came by to say hello.

With Ginny, Dave, Sara, Becca, and Becca's friend, Ryan.

Hope you and yours had a blessed Thanksgiving. But more than that, we hope that you are thankful for all God has done and is in the process of doing in your life!

Smiles

2010-10-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

Our little Charis is growing up before our very eyes! And since we live in Tennessee and she lives in Oregon, we are extremely grateful for technology ~ photos, videos, skype, cameras on the computer ~ so we can SEE with our eyes how she is growing.

Kelsey just filmed a new little 30 second video that brought smiles to our faces.

Hope it brings one to yours!

"Smile. It is the key that fits the lock of everyone's heart."

Anthony D'Angelo

Poppy meets Charis

2010-09-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

We haven't had a chance to post these fabulous pictures, but on Saturday night, September 11, Poppy met his sweet granddaughter, Charis. Here are some of her thoughts . . .

"Hi Poppy, I'm Charis."

"Want to hold me for a while so I can take a nap?"

"Or we could just go enjoy the beautiful Oregon scenery together?"

"And I'll let you steal a little kiss or two!"

"Mimi needs a little Charis time, too."

"I LOVE my Mimi and Poppy!"

"I love Mommy and Daddy, too."

"Night, night."

Needless to say, we enjoyed every minute of our time getting to know Charis. She is a beautiful blessing God has given not only to Kelsey and Zach, but to Mimi and Poppy, too!
Can't wait till the next time we can see her, hold her, kiss on her, play with her, cuddle her . . . you get the picture!

The simplest toy, one even the youngest child can operate,
is called a grandparent.

Dreams come true

2010-09-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

For all of my life I’ve been a close follower (yes a rabid fan) of Ohio State University football. One of my fondest childhood memories is watching or listening to (it was often a radio broadcast in those days . . . ) games on crisp Saturday afternoons in the fall. The players and coaches were bigger than life . . . Woody Hayes, Rex Kern, Archie Griffin (the only player to win 2 Heisman Trophies), John Brockington, John Hicks, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, etc. The home games are played in Ohio Stadium which is also known as The Horseshoe because of its shape. In recent years the stadium has been renovated and expanded as to where The Shoe has kept its history and legacy in tact and now seats over 105,000. The former open end of The Shoe now houses a grandstand that seats around 17,000 folks.

This past January Mel and I were leading worship at the President’s Conference for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. These good folks, led by president Les Steckel, are on a passionate mission to affect the lives of young people on behalf of the Gospel through camps, coaches and clinics. In our preparation for this conference we found out that one of the speakers was to be Jim Tressel, head football coach at Ohio State. I was eager to meet this man who has risen to the top of his profession by winning a national championship at Ohio State, taking the team to bowl games in each of his 9 years as head coach, and previously winning 4 Division II national championships while the head coach at Youngstown State University. The morning came and as Mel and I were in the vacant ballroom of the hotel finishing up a sound check, Coach Tressel walked in. I immediately walked over to him, introduced myself, struck up some small talk and basically had a nice 10-15 minutes just to chat. Of course I expressed my devotion on that day to Buckeye football by wearing a scarlet shirt with gray slacks, the school colors. As the morning ended Coach Tressel handed me his business card. Later that week we exchanged e-mails and he told me to look at the OSU home schedule and find a time when Mel and I could come to a game as his guest. Oh, my goodness. OH, MY GOODNESS!! Within minutes I was on the Internet searching for just the right game to attend. As it turned out, the only game that worked was opening night, Thursday, September 2. The opponent was Marshall University (you probably saw the movie, “We Are Marshall” that chronicled the 1970’s plane crash that claimed the lives of most of the football team.) Ohio State was ranked #2 in all of the college football polls in the preseason, so the game didn’t look to offer much of a test for the Buckeyes.

Mel and I decided to take a couple of days, visit my parents in Dayton (who strategically live just an hour from the stadium) and go to the game from their house. Mrs. Tressel was gracious to exchange a couple of e-mails giving us directions of how and where to get our tickets and how to handle the protocol of being guests of the football staff. Seems that the NCAA has a lot of rules about coach’s guests at college sporting events. I bought a new shirt for the occasion and Mel also purchased a hoodie, both of which were emblazoned with the Ohio State logo. Game day came and we arrived in Columbus 3 hours before game time only to be part of a 2 mile-long traffic jam heading to the stadium. We parked about a mile away and walked through the campus towards The Shoe, my beloved bride snapping pictures all along the way. Our tickets were available 2 hours before game time and we had about 15 minutes to wait so we pulled up a nice plot of a grassy area at the “bottom” of the Horseshoe where the main tunnel enters the stadium. Just a few minutes into our wait an usher with a blowhorn came out and started clearing folks out of the way because the band was coming through. THE BAND?!?!?!?!? The Pride of Ohio?!? The Best D*** Band in the Land?!?!?!? (Their moniker, not mine!). They had completed their pre-game rehearsal and were marching with military precision in full dress uniform back to the band hall for final instructions. Yep, I teared up. It wouldn’t be the last time.

Back to Will Call, grab the tickets, headed for our seats, and stopped to ask the usher near our section where the seats were specifically. He looked down his nose and said, “Wow, you have to know somebody to get THESE seats.” Yep, we do. Coach himself. Then he said, “You probably should wait about 45 minutes and go get something to eat. The sun will be down below the opposite side of the stadium then and it will be much cooler.” Good advice. We did the obligatory pizza/hot dog/nachos stadium food and browsed around beneath the seats looking at concession stands and merchandise.

As we wandered back into the stadium we found ourselves near where the player entrances were located and saw that 25-30 of the Buckeye players were on the field in t-shirts and shorts warming up, stretching and going through some preliminary drills. These guys were huge. The usher in that particular area was even kind enough to snap a few pictures of us. Soon it was back to our own seats, which, by the way, were adorned with padded stadium seats that had a back. Seems that this is an “upgrade” for some season ticket holders at a nominal fee. You couldn’t have picked out two better seats. Row 16, 50-yardline, seats 1 and 2 on the aisle. Perfect.

About 30 minutes before game time the players cleared the field and it came time for the band to make its’ entrance. This band is widely known for its precision and musicianship. There are 225 in the band, about 35 or so are drummers and percussionists and the rest are all brass players. It’s a massive sound. After their dramatic and high-energy entrance, the stadium announcer informed us (and our 105,000 friends) that the tradition of the Alumni Band was a part of the evening’s festivities and, low and behold, here came the Alumni Band entering the stadium through the exact same tunnel with the exact same energy and precision. There were a little over 800 of them, including about a dozen alumni drum majors. One of these gentlemen was around 90 and marched right down the field with the rest of them. The next 15 minutes were musically electric. Imagine nearly 1,100 brass and percussion players playing the National Anthem!

The game started by OSU kicking off to Marshall. The Marshall player fumbled the kickoff, the Buckeyes recovered and 3 plays later we were ahead 7-0. Two minutes later we were ahead 14-0. Six minutes later we were ahead 21-0. At halftime we were up 35-7, and as announcers sometimes will say, it wasn’t even that close. As the younger and inexperienced players finished up the game, the scoreboard said: Ohio State 45, Marshall 7. Every part of this day for me, the lifelong fan, was charmed. Even the weather . . . half way through the first quarter a light, misty rain began to fall. It lasted about 10 minutes and was just enough to cool things down. Mel gave me great perspective when she said, “The Lord has given you a real gift today.” It was amazing.

As I’ve searched for some spiritual aspect or imagery to take from this experience, a couple of things struck me. When we approached the Will Call office we came to a man with a large clipboard. We gave him our names and he said, “Yes, right here Mr. & Mrs. Tunney. Come right in and head over to that window.“ There will come a day, somewhere in eternity, when we stand at a gate and the “person” with the clipboard will find our names and invite us right in.

And go back to our usher friend who pointed us to our phenomenal seats. Yes, we KNOW somebody. Somebody REALLY important! The head guy! He took great care of us and rewarded us with a place better than we could have ever asked for or imagined. Now I’m not at all comparing a visit to a college football game to the eternity that we’ll spend worshiping around God’s Throne, because eternity in the very presence of Jesus can’t compare to anything that we even perceive as being a tiny slice of heaven on this earth. But isn’t it great to know that no matter how wonderful some experiences are in this life, they will pale in comparison to spending forever at the feet of Jesus, worshiping with heavenly musicians and the saints of the ages? Hmmm, do you think that any of them will be wearing Scarlet and Gray?

Still waiting

2010-08-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

Still no action on our house. And God continues to say, "Wait." The reason we want to move, sooner than later, is because our house is about 80% packed up and ready to go! We're stopped right now ~ not wanting to unpack and not wanting to continue packing until we know we have a buyer for our house.

So God is my teacher, I am the student, and the lesson is . . . waiting.

"Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord."

(Psalm 27:14)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Be strong. Take heart.

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits. and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."

(Psalm 130:5-6)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Put my hope in God's word and pro-actively watch for the Lord to work.

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

(Psalm 5:3)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Lay my requests before the Lord and expect Him to answer ~ not in a presumptuous "Answer me!" kind of way. But knowing God loves me and as a parent knows what is best for a child, He desires to do what is best for me. When the time is just right.

"Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

My soul yearns for You in the night;

in the morning, my spirit longs for You."

(Isaiah 26:8-9a)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Continue to walk closely to Jesus, seeking His glory to be seen through me. Longing for Him, desiring Him, lifting Him up.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

Do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes."

(Psalm 37:7)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Be still and wait with patience. Don't look at what others are doing or not doing (or houses that may be selling when ours isn't :).

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.

May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our hope in You."

(Psalm 33:20-22)

What am I called to do during the waiting time? Wait in hope! Rejoice in the Lord, trusting in who God is ~ Redeemer, Savior, Father, Provider, Rock, Guide, Friend . . .

Okay. It's a sure thing that there will be seasons of "waiting times", or all of these passages wouldn't be in God's word. I'm clinging to every word of every one of these verses right now. Thank you, Lord, for the instructions on HOW to wait. I want to learn the lessons well.

Waiting

2010-08-17T10:27:00.001-07:00

Several weeks ago, we got a contract on our house. It had only been on the market for a short time, so we were obviously very excited. The only hitch was that we needed to be out of the house in about 15 days. We got very busy and our lives began to revolve around packing boxes. God opened the doors for us to put a contract on a new house that is literally across the street from a house we lived in for 16 years. We love the neighborhood and were thrilled to be moving back.

I enlisted the help of some wonderful friends and family to clean and repair and give some much needed TLC to the house we were headed for (it had been sitting empty for over a year). About 20 people gathered last Saturday to clean out cobwebs, put shelf liner in the kitchen, scrub floors, clean bathrooms, pressure wash the outside . . . we worked hard and got it ready to move into.

Later in the afternoon on Saturday as I was getting ready to leave, Carolyn (our agent and the owner of the house) walked in and proceeded to tell me that the buyers of our current house had found a few things in the home inspection that were not to their liking and now wanted out of the contract. Because of the nature of what these issues are (thankfully, they aren't serious issues for us to take care of) they had the right to do that.

Interestingly, in that moment when I should have panicked, I felt extreme peace. And I told Carolyn that. God has not brought us this far to leave us stranded.

So here we are. Our house is about 80% packed and ready to move. The new house, ready for us to move into. But we no longer have a buyer for our current house.

Sunday night, I was pondering what I needed to do. Originally, I had been planning on continuing the packing jobs since we would be potentially moving 4 days later. But now, we were on hold. Did I now need to UNPACK these boxes and get the house ready to show again? I felt like God gently said, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). "Don't take a picture off the wall, but don't put any back on the wall either. Just be still." So I did.

And now we wait. We wait with hope. We wait with the assurance that none of this is a surprise to the Lord.

This morning, I was thinking of some of the "heroes of faith" mentioned in the Bible and thought it would be good to just quote some of these men, learning from their lives that God will ALWAYS be faithful. And He does have a plan for us (Jer. 29:11).

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

(Moses, as he stood before the Red Sea wondering how he would lead the people of Israel with Pharoah's chariots in pursuit).

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

(Job, in the midst of his extreme suffering).

"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.

He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me;

God sends His love and His faithfulness."

(David, when he was fleeing for his life from Saul).

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior."

(Habakkuk, as the Babylonians were about to take over Israel).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

(Paul, writing from a Roman prison).

Even as I write this, I'm very aware that the fact that I'm in limbo in boxes, wondering if our house will sell, wondering if we will still move to the house on our old street . . . those are not life and death issues. We aren't in prison like Paul, being chased down by military enemies like David, or infected with sores all over our bodies like Job. And yet, God cares about everything we're experiencing and He is watching over us, COMPLETELY aware of our circumstances. These seasons are when the Lord shows us His creativity in answering our prayers. He will not leave us hanging. Yes, we may have to learn to wait. But there is purpose in the waiting. And His timing will be perfect.

"Wait for the Lord.

Be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord."

(Psalm 27:14)

Lessons Learned From a Child

2010-07-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've been in Oregon for about 5 days, with several more to go. Enjoying every minute of getting to know sweet Charis. It's amazing how much of her personality is already developing.
She's a very content baby.
She prefers to be swaddled very tightly.
She loves to be kissed all over her cheeks (well, I like to DO the kissing so I'm just blindly assuming she likes it!).
She enjoys soft music (her favorite so far is "Dreamsongs", a lullabye album by Kirk Dearman).
She's a good sleeper, although she seems to sleep more soundly during the day than she does at night. But that will get changed around in time.

We've kind of settled into a routine each morning in the Bohler home that I really love. Around 5:30 a.m. or so, Kelsey brings Charis into me, so that she and Zach can get some more concentrated rest. Charis will have been fed and I try to keep her happy for 2-3 hours, until her next feeding. These several hours have been wonderful bonding times for Charis and her Mimi (at least Mimi thinks so :). We talk about things, sing some songs, talk some more, look around the room as the sun begins to peek through the blinds, then when her eyes start to get heavy, I settle her in to snuggle next to me and sleep. Precious, memorable, sacred time together.

Charis in a little sleeper Mimi bought for her. Note the butterflies . . .

A more awake Charis, during one of our morning talks together

Several years ago, Dick and I wrote a song called "The Lessons Learned From a Child". The chorus went like this:

I want to learn all there is to know

Cause they're small for just a little while

Let me have the faith to see

Through the eyes of a child

Charis is teaching Mimi little lessons in contentment, trust, resting, unconditional love.

She's teaching me that as we spend time together, we not only bond deeper, but we learn more about each other. I love this little girl! And look forward to the day she comes to know her Heavenly Father. He already knows her, of course . . .

"I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born." (Isaiah 46:3b)

And one day, she will know Him.

The last verse of our song went like this (now, I substitute the word "granddaughter" for "daughter" even though it may not sing quite as well). :)

As I hold my daughter close to me

I feel her trust and loyalty

She's taught me what love is supposed to be

Oh, the lessons learned from a child

Mimi meets Charis

2010-07-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon July 20, at approximately 4:40 p.m., I (Mimi) met my first grandchild Charis Lynlee Bohler. Any words I could write to try and describe the feeling of holding her in my arms would fall so short of the deep, actual emotions of my heart.

Amazing.

Marvelous.

Life altering.

Precious.

Tender.

Treasured.

Sweetness.

Priceless.

Unexpected Blessings

2010-07-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable
His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out. (Romans 11:33)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways", declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

For You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb . . .
All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:13, 16)

Many of you have probably heard by now that Kelsey had her baby on Wednesday of this week. 4 weeks early. With an emergency c-section.

Here's the short version of the story: The baby had been incredibly active all through the pregnancy, up until this particular Wednesday morning. Kelsey had gotten acquainted with her movements ~ the timing, the regularity, the intensity. That awareness possibly saved baby Charis' life.

As the morning of July 14 progressed, Kelsey noticed that the baby didn't seem to be moving at all. She called her doctor, who suggested that she drink a full glass of ice water, and if the baby wasn't stimulated by that in about 5 minutes, they should head to the hospital. She drank. Nothing happened. They made their way to Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, Oregon.

As they were checking in, Zach called to tell us the news. The plan would be to see if there was still a heartbeat, and obviously try to figure out what was happening. They hooked Kelsey up to many machines and found that yes, there was a heartbeat, but the doctors weren't sure if the baby was functioning properly.

At this point, prayers began . . .

About 20 minutes later, Zach sent a text saying, "Prepping for a c-section. Will keep you updated. Love you."

Prayers got more regular and fervent . . .

A few minutes later, Zach and I began a text conversation:

"Kels is in there. They won't let me go in yet, but I'll go in a minute. Kels is having a hard time, but no news on Charis yet."
"What kind of a hard time? Physically? Emotionally?"
"Yeah, just emotionally."
"How are you?"
"Okay. I wish they would let me in."
"Me too, Zach. Don't understand that. Hang in there. Cast your cares on Him. Be strong in the Lord. Love you so."

Let me interject this word picture here: you know the time period when a spacecraft re-enters the earth's atmosphere and for whatever reason, they are not able to communicate with the ground crew? It's called "blackout time" and it was portrayed intensely in the movie "Apollo 13". At this point in our day, July 14th, we were experiencing blackout time. We didn't know what was happening on the other side of the USA. We prayed, we committed this family to the Lord, we waited . . .

After an ETERNITY (probably 30 minutes) the phone finally rang. Zach, on the other end, said 6 words that were the greatest words he could have ever uttered.
We have a healthy baby girl!

Charis Lynlee Bohler made her entrance into the world at 12:44 p.m. PST. She weighed 5 lb., 6 oz. and was 18 inches long. They did an emergency c-section and as Charis came out, she uttered the cry that her mom and dad were longing to hear. Zach said that he and Kelsey added their own tears to that moment.

What caused all the drama? We don't really have the answers we'd like, but one thing that was found during the surgery was that it looked as if the umbilical cord was detaching from the placenta for some reason. The baby wasn't getting the full oxygen, nutritional connection that should have been there. But from all indications, God protected her and saved her!

Charis is dealing with a few premie issues, and will have to remain the hospital a few days more than if she had been born closer to her due date. But all in all, she is just what Zach said ~ a healthy baby girl.

Now, it's time for the pictures! You can bet that this blog will continue to display photographs of this precious little one as she grows . . . our online brag book!

Charis Lynlee Bohler

Holding Daddy's hand

Proud Daddy and his girl

Mommy and her baby girl

The Bohler family of 3

Charis, you came a little earlier than we expected! Will this be a sign of things to come? Who knows? We're just thankful you're here. And we can't wait to meet you!

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Travels

2010-07-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

For about 15 years, we were on the road mostly performing concerts in local churches. The girls grew up traveling with us, meeting lots of pastor's kids, staying in hotels. It's a life that definitely has its perks ~ getting to know new people, seeing fun places, and of course, the incredible opportunity of using our God-given talents in music ministry. Through the last several years, our lives have taken a different road . . . we were on staff at FBC, Columbia and Dick has been on the road with Steve Green.

We now find ourselves in this new chapter of life . . . Dick is still playing for Steve, but now our phone is beginning to ring again with opportunities for the two of us to be out and about again. We just got home from about 10 days on the road together ~ first, at the Lifeway Worship Conference in Ridgecrest, NC and from there, to the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center in Alton, NH. Here's a little taste of our trip.

At Ridgecrest, Dennis Jernigan was one of the evening concert artists. A fun connection with Dennis is that his wife, Melinda, and I went to high school together. Melinda and I were both involved in women's choir, mixed choir, PR groups, piano ensembles . . . lots of music connections. Talk about a small world!

This is Dick with Dennis Jernigan, writer of MANY Christian music favorites . . .
"You Are My All in All" . . . "Who Can Satisfy" . . .

Mel and Melinda Jernigan, high school buddies

In Alton Bay, we did a concert on the grounds at an open air church. Talk about quaint and charming!

July 4th was a free day for us, and we tooled around Lake Winnipesaukee (remember "What About Bob?" and "On Golden Pond"?) We stumbled on to a Fourth of July parade in the oldest resort town in the U.S. ~ Wolfeboro, NH. Enjoy some highlights . . .

Beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee

Loved this place for obvious reasons :)

The parade begins

Nothing says America like a Fife and Drum Corps on July 4th

Pretty fun idea! The Flag People

Many of you know about my new love for butterflies . . . I just had to sit in this chair!

We needed this peaceful day to just take a deep breath and be together.

Little did we know that the next day, when we traveled back to Nashville, our trip would not be so relaxing. Up at 4:15 a.m., drove an hour to the airport in Manchester, caught a 7:00 flight to Philadelphia, changed planes and flew to Charlotte, one more flight on to Asheville. We went to pick up our car at a hotel lot and saw that the rear door had been bashed in pretty severely. One of our suitcases didn't make it (until the next flight an hour later). And the final blow came when Dick's travel accordion was inadvertently run over by the shuttle driver as he backed over it. THEN, we had to drive the 5+ hours back to Nashville.

Glad to be home, but enjoyed every minute of our trip (well, except the final day . . . ). Hope you've had happy summer travels, too!

New life

2010-06-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

Kelsey and Zach came to visit and stayed with us for 5 wonderful days. It's always fun to spend time with them, but I have to say that one of the highlights of this particular trip was seeing our sweet daughter very pregnant with our grandbaby. And honestly, not just seeing, but feeling this precious child! This little baby girl that is now about 7 weeks from making her entrance, is active and alive and moving and growing . . . Wow! It's amazing to watch the process of life that God has set into place.

"For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret and intricately and curiously wrought (as if embroidered with various colors) in the depths of the earth (a region of darkness and mystery). Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days of my life were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:13, 15, 16, Amplified)

Dick's parents came down from Ohio to spend some time with us as well. How sweet it was to have us all together.

Mimi and Poppy (Mel and Dick), Aunt Whitney and Uncle Shawn, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, and Mommy and Daddy Bohler

Great grandma-to-be

Great grandpa-to-be

4 generations of women in our family (when you count Baby Bohler)

While Kelsey and Zach were with us, we had a baby shower to celebrate with many friends. God has blessed us with so many godly women who care about and have invested in our family through the years.

The guys also had some time to enjoy each other ~ playing golf and watching the World Cup soccer matches.

Shawn, Dick, and Zach ~ striking their best golfer pose!

7 weeks to go . . .
We're praying for safe, easy-as-possible delivery.
I'm praying I'll get there in time for the birth (flying out 4 days before actual due date).
Mostly, we're trusting God for every detail . . . knowing He is creating and forming and putting the finishing touches on this precious little one! And He has great purpose for her life.

Can't wait to welcome our first grandchild into our world!

New songs

2010-06-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of weeks, we've had some dear friends staying with us. Stan and Sue are like family, making themselves at home and just integrating into our daily lives. The other morning, Sue was making breakfast in the kitchen and said, "I saw something that cracked me up ~ your to-do list". I didn't know what she meant, and she pointed my attention to a little pad of paper next to the phone, where I had scribbled a couple of items that I wanted us to remember to accomplish. The small note simply said "Dick, tonight fix upstairs bathroom, write songs". Sue said, "Only in Nashville would you see those 2 things on the same list!" It made me laugh, too.

I'm definitely a list maker. My lists can include everything from people I need to phone to things I need to pick up at the grocery, and everything in between. Because this has been an extremely stacked week, I was feeling like I needed to document just about everything, or it wouldn't get done!

Dick and I have been prioritizing our songwriting in a way that we really haven't done in 15 years or so. We literally schedule time on our calendars to write, or again, it wouldn't happen. This week, God has blessed us with not one, but two songs! We wrote "The Wonder of the Cross" on Tuesday and "Walk By Faith" on Wednesday. Thursday, we finalized the arrangements, and Friday night, they both made their debut at the first ever Lifeway Songwriter's Showcase.

We're the new kids on the block with Lifeway, signing a publishing agreement earlier this year, joining ranks with several other wonderful writers ~ Paul Marino, Jeremy Johnson, Greg Nelson, Mike Harland, and Phillip Keveren. We're looking forward to writing many songs in the years ahead that will encourage and bless the body of Christ.

So to keep us on track, writing and creating, I'll probably need to make myself other reminding notes in the days ahead. (And by the way, the bathroom got fixed, too).

Our baby is having a baby

2010-05-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

I believe that the Lord places certain “markers” in life that are, kind of, little fluorescent flags remembering special times or reminders of significant events of our journey. One of those happened a couple of nights ago. Our younger daughter, Kelsey, and her husband, Zach, live in southern Oregon and are expecting their first child . . . a daughter. We’ve not seen them for about 5 months, and in that time Kelsey’s pregnancy has progressed swiftly and nicely. This past Friday we traveled to Portland, Oregon where I had a concert commitment with Steve, and Kelsey and Zach made the 3-hour drive up from their home in Roseburg. Kelsey is in her 28th week of pregnancy and when she walked into the room where we were, my eyes went immediately to her very expanded waistline. After greetings and hugs, I took both of my hands and just HAD to feel this basketball-sized belly. Oh, my. Our baby is really having a baby! !

Later in the evening just before Zach, Kelsey and (a very happy grandmother-to-be) Mel were about to head back to Roseburg, I felt this large belly again and this time, the baby moved! Not just a little . . . A LOT! I leaned over and put my face right near my granddaughter and said, “Hello, little one. This is your Grandpa. I was the one at the piano tonight.” (What a silly thing to say . . . like I was hoping that she liked the concert . . . ) In an instant the Lord impressed upon my heart that there is significance to generations – that all of a sudden I’m the patriarch and there are now 2 generations that have come behind me. I never felt this way on behalf of my now 81-year-old father when our first little one was born nearly a quarter-century ago. Our baby is really having a baby!

The following morning I woke up in my hotel room and my thoughts went immediately to our growing family. In about 75 days there will be a new addition, a granddaughter. What do I want her to know? What will she look like? How will her interests and abilities take shape? Such an exciting season for all of us. Those few but significant movements of Kelsey’s belly that I felt with my own hands were indications of a life to come.

Several years ago Mel and I were privileged to be the worship leaders for a series of women’s conferences called “Heritage Keepers”. In pondering the new little August arrival, an additional generation to our family, my mind went to the passage of Scripture that was the over-arching theme of HK, Psalm 78. First, a little parental perspective. This Psalm was written by Asaph, who was by Scriptural account a Levite, church musician and songwriter. He was one of King David’s three chief musicians, authored Psalms 50 and 73 through 83. According to 1 Chronicles 16 he was appointed to “minister before the Ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.” He led the worship by sounding the cymbals and was actually the scribe when King David gave his psalm of thanks to the Lord that begins in 1 Chronicles 16:7. Asaph was the leader of generations, and the authorship of several more Psalms were attributed to his sons.

Back to Psalm 78 – give a listen to these verses penned by Asaph through the eyes of a grandparent-to-be: “I will utter hidden things, things of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He has decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then the would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

We are very excited for the arrival of our new granddaughter. As one of my friends has frequently stated, “Grandchildren open up a piece of your heart that you didn’t even know was there.” I think it’s fair to say that after feeling the little one move in our daughter’s womb, that piece of my heart is beginning to open. Our baby is really having a baby!

Updates

2010-05-18T16:28:00.001-07:00

In recent weeks we've been asked about some of the ongoing scenarios of life, so we thought we'd give a few updates. Many of our friends have prayed with us through some joys and some struggles. The lesson we continue to learn is that God is good, faithful, wise, just, and loving. And He can be trusted, even in the midst of waiting for answers.

Here's a quick rundown:

Dick's dad: Although his doctors have said he will potentially never be "cancer free", he is back to a place of stability and health. All of his "numbers" are good, he's feeling stronger and he came through the radiation treatments well. There are only a couple of additional therapies that will be ongoing. Early next month he'll celebrate his 82nd birthday!

Mel's dad: The struggle continues for Broadman Ware, as he recovers from the chemotherapy and the radiation treatments. He still takes most of his nourishment through a feeding tube, although occasionally he can handle some ice cream or pudding. He's also challenged with some additional repercussions of the treatments. Prayers are still needed and much appreciated.

Mel's brother, Jeff: Jeff is back home at the O'Berry Center, and so far seems to be settling in well. His healing will be slow, but we continue to pray that he will walk again at some point. We're going to try and make a trip to see Mel's dad and Jeff, hopefully sometime in June.

Our first grandchild: Kelsey is now in her third trimester! Unbelievable how fast it has gone (easy for us to say :). She really has had an enjoyable pregnancy and we're so grateful. Friday night of this week, Dick is in concert with Steve Green in Portland and Kelsey and Zach will be there. Mel will then go on to Roseburg to stay with them for a few days. Highlights of that trip? A baby shower on Sunday and a doctor visit with Kelsey on Monday. The baby is due in August. Oh, by the way, it's a girl!

Jobs for Whitney and Shawn: Whitney is taking some prerequisites that will enable her to begin nursing school at Belmont University in January. Because this will be an additional bachelor's degree for her, the nursing program will only be for 16 months. Sixteen intense months, but 16 months nonetheless. Whitney is also working at a wonderful place called Sips and Strokes, where she is teaching painting classes. I (Mel) am one of her favorite students ~ ha! Shawn has 2 jobs these days. His full-time job is with a title insurance company and his part-time job is as the student ministry Worship Leader for FBC Columbia. This past Sunday, since it was Graduation week, Shawn was one of the worship leaders for the morning services. How fun to see him in his element!

Our songwriting: So far in 2010, we've spent a great deal of time writing together, and we're very excited with the new songs God is blessing us with. We're learning to actually schedule writing time as life can get moving a little too quickly.

Our concert/worship leading calendar: Dick continues to enjoy being a part of Steve Green's ministry, traveling many weekends around the country and internationally as well. We were thrilled to be a part of a life-changing trip to Israel earlier this year with Insight for Living. And the two of us have been privileged to lead worship for national events with Community Bible Study, FCA, and Christian Leadership Alliance. The summer and fall have filled up with more exciting conferences. Mel is also excited about doors that are opening for her to teach and lead worship at several women's events next fall and spring.

The end of John 10:10 says "I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly". A pastor friend of ours explained this verse by saying that abundant life isn't just the good stuff. It's high highs and low lows. And it's full and rich and plentiful. A great picture of where we're living these days. Thanks for your prayers and love.

Perspective

2010-05-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

The repercussions for the flood our area experienced this past weekend continue. I heard about one particular family who really didn't have any damage until the following Monday afternoon, a day with no rain, when the river finally reached it's peak and began to fill their home.

Watching the community rally around others has been so inspiring. Several verses have shed new light in my heart:

James 2:15-17 ~ "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Or this one:

Matthew 25:42-45 ~ "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"

Yesterday morning, Dick and I responded to a request from a teacher at Brentwood Academy, where both of our girls went to school from grades 6-12. This teacher's mother-in-law was a victim of the downpours from the weekend. She lived in a condominium and her home and car were a total loss.

I really don't think the severity of the storms had hit me until I walked into where she had lived. Initially, I was so stunned as we waded through mud and began helping to remove her belongings, rip our carpet and pad, pull off wet drywall and insulation, and gather most everything into trash bags. It brought tears to my eyes as I pulled photographs from mud-soaked albums and tried to dry them in the sun. I tried to picture the main floor of our house filled with 9 ft. of water, and it helped me put myself in this homeowner's shoes. (By the way, in this woman's house the refrigerator finally settled on its side after floating around in the floodwaters).

The last week for me has been a bit difficult, and honestly I can't put my finger on all of the whys. Some reasons seem legitimate ~ this will be the first Mother's Day since my mom passed away last June, my Dad and Dick's Dad are still dealing with a lot of health concerns, my brother Jeff has been heavy on my heart . . .

Other reasons are not so legitimate, and I would embarrass myself to share those. Some of them are ridiculously trivial in light of all that's going on around me. So my prayer today is, "Lord, give me perspective. Help me see life through eternal eyes. Help me recognize what really matters, and what really doesn't."

I'm posting some photos I took with my phone of this dear lady's house. May we all view our circumstances through the lens of 2 Cor. 4:16-18 (from the Message). "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

Spring rain

2010-05-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

(photo by Shawn Newby)

"Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn. He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3)

For the past 2 days the rains have come down, in historic amounts, throughout the Nashville area. In fact, it is only May 3rd and this is officially the most rainfall this area has ever had in the month of May ~ ever! There are still people stranded in their homes, power outages, abandoned vehicles . . . everyone is astounded by the severity, intensity, and quickness with which this came. I'm beyond grateful that our house, Whitney and Shawn's house, and my sister's house were basically unaffected.

All of the churches in our town were cancelled (as per the Mayor of Franklin) because of the danger in road travel. For the first time in many, many, MANY years, I stayed home from church yesterday. I began the morning asking the Lord to help me have my own "house church" and speak to me in a new and fresh way in my solitude. Ask and you will receive . . .

God led me to this verse in Hosea 6. What an amazing passage this is! Here in May of 2010, I'm at a place right now where I am so aware of my desperation in wanting to know Him. Really know Him. To know His plans for my life. To know His heart ~ His goodness, mercy, justice, compassion. To just simply know HIM. Let us press on to know Him.

And then comes the amazing part of this verse. HE will come to US like these showers we've experienced. Flooding over us, covering us from head to toe. Watering us, helping us grow.

A favorite song of mine says it this way:

Holy Spirit rain down, rain down

Let Your power fall, let Your voice be heard

Come and change our hearts as we stand on Your word

Holy Spirit rain down

Bring on the rain.

(I want to add here that in this post, it was not my intention to take lightly all of the devastation that has happened, and continues to happen, in our area. There are many who have suffered catastrophic loss because of these storms. Please pray for God's healing, comforting touch in their lives. And pray for those of us who were more fortunate ~ that we would reach out and tangibly meet needs we see around us.)

Give thanks

2010-04-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hanging in our living room is this cute little chalkboard (made by Whitney) and I enjoy writing messages that will encourage us and/or make us smile. For several days now, this has been the message: Give thanks.

It's interesting to note how many times I have been in the middle of something not going so well, and my eyes "happen" to glance at that little sign. 1 Thes. 5:18 tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." All circumstances? Yes, ALL. Amazingly, giving thanks puts a new spin on things. I can be feeling a little blue and begin to thank the Lord for life's blessings, big and small . . . and my heart begins to change.

Give thanks

My brother, Jeff, is recovering from the operation on his broken leg. We still don't know what the final result will be, but we're thankful that he made it through the anesthesia and the trauma of surgery. Thank you, Lord, for protecting and watching over sweet Jeffrey.

Our dads are both dealing with cancer ~ my dad, with esophageal cancer and Dick's dad with prostate cancer. In the past few months, they have both been through intense treatment, and are getting stronger with each day. Thank you, Lord, that you are the Great Physician. You are working in their bodies in ways we cannot see.

Dick and I just attended a benefit for Hope Clinic. What an amazing place. I'm thankful for the work they do and the lives they save. Thank you for being the Father to the Fatherless and for having a purpose and plan for every life born into this world.

We have amazing children. Whitney and Shawn are here in Franklin. Whitney is teaching a painting class and taking science prerequisites to prepare for nursing school she will start in January. And Shawn has a wonderful job. I love having them live 8 minutes away. Kelsey and Zach are in Oregon, both of them teaching at a private Christian school. I'm asking God to move them somewhere at least east of the Mississippi River! (And you think I'm kidding . . . )

"I have no greater joy than knowing my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 4). Thank you, Lord.

We're about to be grandparents! Kelsey is having a wonderful pregnancy and next month, we will get to see her and feel that sweet baby move around in her tummy. In August, we'll meet this new addition to our family. Can't wait! Creator of ALL, thank you for new life.

Thank you, Lord for
Families
Friendships
Our homes
Our churches
Our jobs
Good times
Bad times
Sickness
Health
Flourishing
Struggling

In everything, GIVE THANKS.

Family

2010-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm writing today about a member of our family that many of you will never meet. I (Mel) am the oldest of 4 children. Two years after I was born, my brother Jeff came along. Three years later, my sister, Missy, entered the world. And 7 years after Missy, my "surprise" brother Todd was born. (Todd was an unexpected blessing to our family :)

Jeffrey Shea Ware was born with several handicaps. He has cerebral palsy and is severely mentally retarded. He was a blue baby, somehow not getting enough oxygen to his brain during birth. On one side of his body, he doesn't have a full hip socket, and when he was a young boy he had to have both ankles broken in order to try and align his legs with the rest of his body. (I remember a trip one year where our family drove from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Harlingen, Texas ~ 3 days in a Renault each way. Jeff was in a body cast in the back seat with me and my sister for that long trip. Oh what a memory!) My parents were told that Jeff wouldn't live past the age of 9 years old. In June, my brother will turn 48 years old. In many ways, he is a walking miracle.

Jeff lived in our home until he was about 6 years old, when it became clear that he would better be served and cared for by professionals. We were living in Ft. Lauderdale at the time, and I remember Sunland Center in Miami (only 45 minutes or so away) where Jeff moved in. We would bring him home most weekends to be with us, and our church loved and cared for him with his own private nursery worker!

We later moved to Texas and found another facility that adopted Jeff into their care. This place was about 3 to 4 hours away, which didn't allow us to see him as frequently. But as Jeff grew, we began to notice wonderful characteristics growing into his personality. He loves balls that bounce. Just bounce a ball on the ground or throw it in a basketball hoop and Jeff gets so excited, laughing so hard! Jeff loves root beer. Jeff loves to take off his socks and shoes, have you put them back on, and then mischievously pull them off again.

Jeffrey has only been able to say a handful of words in his lifetime. Not coincidentally, one word he continues to say is "love". When you give him a hug or he just knows you are present, he will utter the word slowly and drawn out ~ "Looovvve". This is so fitting with Jeff's heart. He has always had such a sweet temperament, such a loving spirit. When you are with Jeff, you always receive more than you give.

Several years ago, my dad and his wife moved to North Carolina and had Jeff transferred to another special place, the O'Berry Center in Goldsboro., where he lives now. I've visited the center several times and love, joy and peace permeate every room. It's a pleasure to be there among the residents and the amazing caregivers God is using to serve them.

I'm remembering Jeff today because he will be going into surgery in the morning. His leg has broken, probably just from weakness and age. Through the years, he has lost his sight and other physical capabilities. Having a little mobility is one of the few freedoms he still enjoys. We are praying for a successful surgery, for complete recovery, for peace, for comfort. The O'Berry Center is graciously providing a caregiver to stay with Jeff 24/7 to be his advocate in the hospital. What a blessing to our family!

I was reading Psalm 139 this morning and inserting Jeff's name. "Jeff's frame was not hidden from you when Jeff was made in the secret place. When Jeff was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw Jeffrey's unformed body. All the days ordained for Jeff were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:15-16) This broken leg is not a surprise to God. He is the Great Physician, presiding over this operation in the morning, watching over Jeffrey . . . never slumbering or sleeping (Psalm 121).

I'm privileged to say that Jeff is my brother, my family, my blood. He has taught me much about unconditional love, about being content, about strength in the midst of weakness. It's amazing to me to think that one day, in heaven, I will meet Jeff ~ whole in body and mind. Wow, what a thought that is! But now, since Jeff may not understand praying for himself, will you join us and offer up a prayer on his behalf?

"Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal. 6:2)

Vision

2010-04-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

I’ve worn glasses since second grade. Yes, that calculates to around 43 years of being dependent on some kind of corrective lenses (I started wearing contact lenses when I was 12). Last Wednesday, I had surgery on my right eye to remove cataracts that had formed as a by-product of a detached retina 10 years ago. (Eyes have never been my strong suit). The procedure removed the cataract blockage and also involved removing the actual lens of my eye, replacing it with a perfect lens.

This morning, I had my first official eye exam after the surgery. As I looked at the famous eye chart, I was able to read the whole thing (before the surgery, I could not even make out the huge letter E at the top of the famous chart). After reading "O F L C 3"at the bottom of the chart, I was so excited that I said to the technician, "I need to hug someone!" She was happy to celebrate with me.

I realize how fortunate I am. The technology that is available to us in 2010 is truly amazing. I’m thankful for doctors and researchers and nurses and technicians who study and learn about this vision world. But more than that, I'm thankful to the Lord for creating the eye. Did you know that each of our eyes are connected to the brain by 300,000 nerve fibers? The human eye can receive 1.5 million messages simultaneously.

And then let's consider all that God made for us to look at . . . sunsets, rainbows, butterflies, smiling faces. As I look out on a beautiful Tennessee spring morning, I am stunned at what I am able to view, with my new eye! Blades of grass, feathers on birds, street signs, shadows, light, colors . . . wow! I had thought I was seeing okay before. Now, I'm viewing things in 3D! This Wednesday, I'll have surgery on my left eye After that, I can't imagine how great it will be to look on God's beautiful world.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Your glory is higher than the heavens.

You have taught children and infants

to tell of your strength,

silencing your enemies

and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority—

the flocks and the herds

and all the wild animals,

the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

(Psalm 8, NLV)

Israel - part 4

2010-03-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

We've been home from Israel for about 9 days. Finally getting back on a regular sleep schedule. And still basking in the glow of an amazing adventure. If you have not been to Israel, you need to make it a priority to go. (Have I said that before?) Here are a few more fun memories.

King Hezekiah built a series of underground tunnels to carry the water sources into the city and keep the people safe from their enemies. Now, these tunnels are accessible to walk through! 2 Kings 20:20 ~ "As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?"

This is Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. A little boy was herding goats in the area and one of the goats stumbled into a cave. The boy went in to find the goat, and he stumbled on some parchments. The boy couldn't read, and brought some of them home to his mom, who nearly threw them into the fire she was using to cook their dinner (she didn't read either). When the father came home, he had a feeling they might be something important and took them to those who validated they were ancient copies of the Old Testament! See the cave openings in the rocks? The parchments were found in these caves and others. Fascinating!

En Gedi is the place where David was hiding from King Saul. Saul is trying to find David, to kill him. David is hiding in a cave, and Saul enters that cave. When Saul is not looking, David cuts off a piece of Saul's robe. When Saul leaves the cave, David comes out and shows him the piece of cloth in order to say "I could have killed you, but I didn't". Remember that story? This is us at En Gedi. It is along the Dead Sea, and there are rock formations, trails, waterfalls, etc. A beautiful place. We hiked up the mountain.

View on the climb . . .

"I'm the king of the world!"

View from the top. The Dead Sea.

On this day, we saw a group of Hasidic Jewish boys on a field trip. Note the side curls.

Our final day, we visited the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. A sobering, honoring place. This was one of the statues as you entered the museum. Notice the many stones laid on the sculpture. In Jewish cemeteries you will see stones laid on the graves, rather than flowers. The stones symbolize the rebuilding of the temple one day, and it is honoring to the deceased to have stones laid in their remembrance.

Also on the last day, we had a little free time and wandered around Jerusalem for a few hours. I had one of the best treats in my life. No exaggeration. Gelato! This was a "small" cone, believe it or not. You got to choose 2 flavors. Mine? Dark chocolate and peanut butter. Yum!

On the final evening, Steve Green did a concert. He and Dick are such a great team. It was a wonderful way to end our journey.

The Bible will never read the same for us. Seeing the actual places we've read about . . . connecting the dots of scripture . . . what a privilege to be there!

One of the questions that we had as we visited Jerusalem was this: When Psalm 122 says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem", doesn't that seem like a futile request, in light of the fact that we know until Jesus returns there will be unrest and opposition to this country? And one of the Dallas Seminary professors gave us a "light bulb moment". He said, "We should pray that Jerusalem comes to know the PRINCE OF PEACE, Jesus". Now that's a prayer we can pray! "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you . . . " (Ephesians 1:18)

Israel - part 3

2010-03-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

View of Jerusalem from our hotel room. Unlike any other city we've ever seen.

The Western Wall (Wailing Wall). An amazing place. Note the men's side and the women's side. The protocol here is that you back away from the wall out of reverence when you leave, in order to always be facing it.

The Wall at night.

Loved seeing this bride and attendant walking the streets of old Jerusalem.

And yes, little boys eat popsicles in Israel, too.

Speaking of food, ever seen pink cauliflower? Neither had we. Not sure what the food is on the left . . .

New friends we made on the trip ~ The Moores and the Paarlbergs, both from Indiana.

The beautiful Garden of Gethsemane. This was one of those places where you pinch yourself to see if you are actually there! Our trip was filled with moments like that.

Still more to come . . .

Israel - part 2

2010-03-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

It's hard to decide which pictures of this wonderful trip to show ~ which of the many experiences and memories to include. Have we mentioned that if you have never been to Israel, you NEED TO GO?

Yes, there are still camels in Israel. This one was available for a camel ride (and no, we weren't brave enough to hop on). We also saw camels roaming on the countryside as we traveled.

Here we are in a fishing vessel on the Sea of Galilee. Let that one sink in for a minute (no pun intended) . . .
Each boat held about 75 people, and our group tied about 8 boats together and held a worship service on the water. This was a life moment for Dick, as he got to play keyboards for the service.

Our bus traveled down these meandering roads. Definitely had us alert and praying! The land of Israel is so incredibly beautiful and diverse.

Yes, this is for real. A reminder that we need to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

The ancient city of Beth Shan. In the background is Mount Gilboa, where Saul and Jonathan lost their lives in battle.

We're standing in front of the Jordan River, at the place where it is strongly suggested Jesus was baptized. The river divides the countries of Israel and Jordan. What you don't see in the picture are soldiers that were guarding both sides of the river. While we felt safe overall, there are always reminders of the unrest that continues to hover over this country.

But we definitely want to go back someday.

And if you haven't been . . . well, you know what to do.

Israel - part 1

2010-03-20T16:51:00.001-07:00

For the past 2 weeks, we have been on an incredible journey (and that's an understatement) in the beautiful country of Israel. We were traveling with Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll and Insight for Living. 600+ others joined the tour, filling 14 buses. Each day would begin with breakfast, getting on the bus by 7:15, visiting 4-5 sites a day, back to the hotel for dinner, and then an evening of entertainment of some kind. Are you getting tired just thinking about that? No doubt, our days were full. But we really got to experience everything, and surprisingly, never felt rushed. And when you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this one, you don't want to spend your time doing anything else!

In the next several blogs, we're going to give a pictorial tour of some of the highlights of this trip. Here we go . . .

This is a photo of Caesarea by the Sea. Much of Paul's ministry was here, along with 2 years of imprisonment. A beautiful place on the Mediterranean Sea.

This is the Valley of Armageddon, where the final battles in Revelation will be fought. The valley is next to the city of Megiddo. Interestingly, there were other battles fought here through the Old Testament.

This is an area called Tavga. What makes this special is that tradition strongly suggests this to be the place where Jesus met the disciples after rising from the grave. The disciples had fished all night on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus was grilling fish on these banks when they saw Him. If you remember the story, Jesus asked Peter "do you love me" on this particular morning. While we were there (also early in the morning) some fishermen approached in their boat, doing their early morning fishing. Can we say perfect timing? (Notice the fishermen's net. Remember when Jesus told them to cast it on the other side of the boat? Talk about scripture coming alive!)

Dick playing for Steve Green, with Chuck Swindoll in the background. This was in the coliseum where Paul, while imprisoned, was brought before Herod Agrippa as a prisoner and delivered his amazing defense (Acts 26).

One of the oldest gates to a city that has been found. The Canaanites built this, and it was (very probably) traveled through several times by Abraham.

A column still remaining in the city of Capernaum. Much of Jesus' ministry happened in this city.

These are the head waters of the Jordan River. Yes, THE Jordan River. Isn't this beautiful?

That's all we'll show for part 1. It's hard to really capture everything we saw and learned and experienced. And it's wild to think that just a couple of days ago, we were there! If you EVER get the opportunity to visit Israel, DO IT. It's
heart-changing and inspiring to watch the Bible go from black and white to 3D!

Freedom

2010-03-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

We have the greatest dog in the world. Keebler is a part Golden Retriever/part Yellow Lab who was guide dog trained before he became a part of our family. He is smart, disciplined, gentle, and most of all, a creature of habit. He knows that at certain times of the day there is food coming. He knows when I grab a jacket and a few things from the back porch, it’s time for a walk. He knows that my morning routine includes what we call “the morning rubdown” in which I pet/scratch/love on him vigorously while my bagels are heating up. Once he hears the oven ding, he knows that the “morning rubdown” is over.

We live in a very walking-friendly neighborhood and many of our neighbors have dogs. The property managers here insist that pet owners keep dogs on leashes when walking, but because Keebler is so disciplined, we do let him off the leash from time to time. Most mornings, in fact, once we’ve had breakfast and the day is underway, include a walking time for Mr. Keebs and I, we head outside for a walk. Once we’ve had a little exercise and he’s taken care of his business, I’ll often take the leash off and we’ll sprint back to our home. He senses the freedom and it’s genuinely a pleasure to watch as he runs at full speed . . . tongue wagging, ears flapping . . . with the wind at his back. Obviously he has 4-wheel drive and there’s no way I can keep up with him. He’ll dash 40-50 yards ahead of me then turn around and just run circles around me. He is, at that moment, as uninhibited and completely free of any and all burdens as he’ll ever be. It’s the best and most joyous part of his day. He’s free.

Scripture has a good bit to say about our spiritual freedom. A couple of the biggies:

Psalm 146 – “The Lord sets the prisoners free . . .”

John 8:32 – “ . . . and the truth will set you free . . .”

Romans 6:18 – “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

2 Cor. 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Gal. 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

The same way that freedom is expressed by our dog ~ exuberant joy ~ is the response that we should have in knowing that we’ve been set free from sin, oppression and guilt. May we celebrate God’s gifts to us with abandon!

But let me run loose and free, celebrating God’s great work, every bone in my body laughing, singing, “God, there’s no one like You!” (Psalm 35:9, The Message)

Trails

2010-02-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday morning. The sun is shining. The temperature outside is mildly cool and fresh feeling. Instead of going to the gym to exercise, how about a hike?

We drive about 15 minutes up the road to the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway. Pulling our car into the parking lot near the Garrison Creek trail, we venture out. There are signs for a trail pointing to a "scenic overlook". That sounds perfect.

As we hike up the mountain, we notice that the trail winds around trees and rocks and steep inclines. Though we can clearly see the overlook straight ahead, the path curves around in such a way that, at times, we are actually going the opposite direction of our destination.

Sounds like life, doesn't it? And when you look through spiritual eyes, it is a true picture of God, who sometimes leads us down pathways we don't quite understand or we might not blaze out for ourselves, if we were in charge.

There were several more observations during our time at Garrison Creek. And as you read these, don't miss the parallels of one morning hike to our individual lifelong journeys . . .

Sometimes the trail is steep. It takes more energy and breath to climb. At times, we may need to stop and rest for a moment or two before we continue on.
Sometimes the trail is bumpy. There are branches and rocks and tree roots that we have to step over or walk on top of. It's easy to stumble if you're not careful.
Sometimes the trail is smooth. This is the time you can really relax and enjoy the hike. Could it be smooth because of the many others who have walked this trail before?
Sometimes the trail is downhill. If you're not careful, you'll get to going too fast and stumble when you least expect it.
Always, the trail needs to be a place where we look around us and enjoy the scenery, rather than just staring at our feet with every step. Even with the dormancy of the foliage this time of the year, the Tennessee countryside is beautiful to behold.

We climbed the mountain, stopped to admire the gorgeous view, and headed back down again. It was exhilarating and a great way to spend part of our morning. Our bodies, minds, and spirits were refreshed. We'll go back to Garrison Creek another time ~ I'm sure of it. And maybe we'll take another trail.

Seasons

2010-02-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

Ecclesiastes 3 says it well ~ “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” Solomon’s words have never had as much significance as they have in the past 18 months of our journey. We’ve experienced seasons of joy, loss, faith, struggle and growth.

The biggest joy has been the addition of two new sons, Shawn Newby and Zach Bohler, who have taken the hands of our daughters, Whitney and Kelsey, in marriage. Shawn and Whitney were wed in December, 2008, and Kelsey and Zach exchanged vows in August, 2009. The Newbys have located just a few minutes from us in Franklin, TN, and the Bohlers have landed in southern Oregon. And, our family continues to grow as Kelsey and Zach will welcome baby Bohler (our first grandchild!) this coming August.

The Tunney family of 6

There have been some difficult times with our family as well. This past summer Mel’s mom, Reba Andrae, went to be with the Lord after a series of strokes and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Not long after her passing, both of our dads, Dick Tunney (Sr.) and Broadman Ware, were diagnosed with cancer. We’re continuing to pray for our Dads as they go through treatments and recovery, knowing that God is working in them both.

We’ve also experienced a season of change in ministry. After 4 years as Worship Leaders/Artists in Residence at the First Baptist Church of Columbia, TN, we strongly sensed that the Lord was moving us on to other things. It was a bittersweet decision ~ so difficult to leave our precious church FAMILY and yet knowing, without a doubt, God was taking us in a different direction. As 2010 dawns, we are watching doors open for us to lead worship at events and conferences around the country, and we are also experiencing a fruitful creative time of songwriting.

Which leads us to the reason for this blog in the first place. We want this to be a place where we can keep our family and friends in the loop of the new pathway that God is laying out for us. We hope you'll check in now and then and read about the season ahead.

2010 began with us leading worship for the leadership director’s conference of Community Bible Study in Colorado Springs. It was a fabulous time for us as we engaged with this organization that is filled with such integrity and biblical depth. From Colorado we went straight to Florida, where we boarded a cruise ship for Dr. Kevin Leman’s “Couples of Promise” cruise. Steve Green (with Dick at the piano) and Cheri Keaggy were the guest musical artists for this trip, which included approximately 75 couples. One highlight of our 7 days at sea was a stop in Labadie, Haiti, just weeks after the tragic earthquake. Initially, it felt odd to go to this island and relax, knowing the devastation that was so nearby. But the cruise line encouraged the passengers to invest in the local Haitian merchants, which provided a big boost to the local economy. The night prior to our stop in Labadie, we felt led to invite anyone from our group who wanted to pray to meet us on land at 11:00 a.m. We went on to the island a little earlier and found a secluded place where we could pull away from the crowds and lift up the needs of this country to our Heavenly Father. At 11:00 a.m. sharp, about 25 others joined us to pray prayers for healing, restoration, and salvation. Ultimately we prayed that God would turn Haiti around, from a country of darkness to a country that seeks Him. It was a very powerful time!

Dick and Mel in Haiti

A couple of conferences in February took us first to the Billy Graham Training Center (The Cove) in Asheville, NC for another couples weekend with Dr. Gary Thomas. We led worship for all of the session over 3 days, drank in some marvelous teaching and made some new friends there among the 150 or so couples in attendance. The following week we jetted to south Florida for the President’s Conference of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It has been our privilege to be part of this event in past years, and FCA always puts together a magnificent lineup of speakers and musicians that this year included Dr. Tony Evans, Anne Graham Lotz, Ken Davis, Chip Ingram, Melinda Doolittle and Michael Card. We led corporate worship in each session and reacquainted with some great friends. One particular highlight was spending a few minutes with Jim Tressel, head football coach at Ohio State University. As a lifelong and die-hard Buckeye fan, this was a bit of a dream come true for Dick.

Dick with Coach Jim Tressel

In addition to the wonderful touring with Steve Green ministries as well as our own travels, this is a season of creativity in the world of songwriting. Our new friends at Lifeway Music are starting the process of taking new songs of ours to the church in a variety of ways. We’ll keep you posted as to which new songs are headed where in future blogs. And, perhaps most exciting on the horizon is a 12-day trip to Israel in March. It’s a rare privilege to travel (along with 500+ other folks) with Chuck Swindoll’s Insight For Living ministry to the Holy Land. Dick will be playing for Steve and we’re sure to have photos, stories and vivid memories of walking where Jesus walked.
As we enter this new season, let us encourage you to embrace seasons of change. As a pastor friend of ours has said many times, “God holds all things in the palm of His hands and He does all things well.”
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6 (Amplified)