I've been really getting into this new band called Day of Fire. They have a really good sound. Well I got some info today on the front man for this band. He used to be in a band called Full Devil Jacket. They toured with bands like Coal Chamber, Nickelback and Creed. He OD'd on heroine in 2000 and ended up leaving the band before they finished their sophmore album in the studio. He walked away from a record deal, a publishing deal and all of the fame and fortune that came with it. All to give his life to Christ and start fresh. He said he spent some time trying to live in both worlds and he ended up haveing a nervous breakdown. Part of him was trying to serve his Lord and part of him was still trying to serve the devil. There is a cool article that goes into a little more detail if you want to learn more. http://interlinc-online.com/artists/index.html?p=2&id=158 I am really impressed with this guys heart. He answered the call that so many other artists have gotten but he turned and hasen't looked back. That is really cool! Check this band out because they have a great sound and an awesome message.

Man, I had an awesome time at the retreat. I think that this was my favorite so far. I can think of a couple other really good ones but I think that this one really touched me. Not in a "break down and weep" way, but a way that is even deeper than that. I saw some prayers answered. Some prayers that I have been throwing up to God for some time. I think that the praise and worship went alot better than I had thought it would, because we never had any time to practice before we went. We just let God lead us and it all worked out. My props to Derek for jumping in and playing guitar with the AE band. That was really cool. It allowed me to focus more on vocals and ministry. So thanks Derek...You rock! The mud slide challenge was hillarious. Rob and I about peed our pants when we had Bobby do our test run. Oh my gosh! Just thinking about it makes me laugh. The prayer time during worship was incredible. I saw alot of walls come down. That is awesome. Makes me wonder how it can get any better. Each year amazes me...Good times.

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I have been so busy with the retreat stuff that I haven't taken much time for anything else. It is crunch time getting stuff together for our retreat. Man, it seems like only yesterday we were coming back from last year's trip. How time flies when you're having fun. I am so stoked about this trip. It's a bitter sweet thing. A couple faces are not going to be there that I miss and it is the last trip for others. The face of our ministry continually changes. I guess that is something that I haven't gotten used to yet. I am really expecting God to do some amazing things. I am so ready for this!

Well, here it is. The long awaited way overdue release of the most anticipated, not to mention, the sequel to the greatest game ever made. I was able to play it last night for about an hour. I am speachless! The attention to detail, the amazing gameplay, the incredible physics, brilliant colors, the superb textures, the awesome customizing options, and the all out fun of putting numerous bullets into the Covenant's skulls...well, it brings tears of happiness to my eyes. I haven't even played multi player yet. Josh and I are about to spend our lunch hour blasting each other to kingdom come. Also we are having a Halo 2 release party at my house this Friday...should be an awesome night!

Man I am so relieved that Bush is going to be in office for another 4 years. This election was nerve racking. I stayed up until 1am watching CNN. Then I got back up at 5am and watched some more. I decided to go back to bed and try to get a little more rest before I had to go into work. Josh R. and I watched Kerry's speech. I love how he said "America is not only great...it's good." That was so funny. Then we watched Bush's speech. It was pretty good. Thanks to Ordinary Divergence for the laugh you gave me when Bush said "To those of you who voted for my opponent." That was great! We know where you live! Haha!

I was reading the local paper online today and the headline was "Religion may have swung Clark County" The article started out by saying that "Clark County had long been dubbed the bellwether of the presidential election. Now it can add another title: flip-flopper." Now, I've never had a huge vocabulary so I had to look up the word bellwether. it means:
1. somebody who or something that acts as an indicator of future developments or trends
2. somebody who takes the initiative or leads others
3. a sheep that leads the rest of the flock, usually wearing a bell around its neck (archaic)

I took that as an insult. Like they are referring to people like me as being backward or not caring about the future of Springfield. I think people like me are more caring about our society than most are. We don' want our city to become this filthy place to live. I love the city of Springfield. The reason it is such a good place to live is because we have people that pray for it and we don't let certain things come into here that will create an atmosphere that would make it unsafe. You see, the city of Springfield has the potential of becoming an unsafe immoral city. We have all of the elements needed to become a smaller Detriot. Maybe you can't remember when the crime rate was the same per capita as Detriot was. We have our bad side of town, but even that is safer now than when I was growing up there. The reason Springfield is prosperous is because of the christians who refuse to see it end up in the Devil's hands. I think that our city is growing and becoming a better place that will draw even more people to want to live here. We are growing and it is because of conservatism not liberalism! We have kept our high moral values and ethics and we are still growing. We look to the future while still remembering our past. That is a pretty cool thing. Stupid liberal journalist!!

Well, I voted today and I am pleased to say that it was painless. I was expecting intimdation, opposition, and challenges fromn the opposing parties. It just goes to show you that the media blows things so far out of proportion. I want to know why people have to be so stupid. It's pretty simple if you ask me. You go in, fill out a ballot and then leave. I was listening to WLW this morning and they were making fun of both parties for the stupid things that they are doing. This election is going to be so close. It's kind of nerve racking. It worries me if Kerry becomes President. I think that there is so much at stake here. They are saying that this is supposed to be the largest voter turnout since the Kennedy/Nixon election, even surpassing that. There is more interest than ever. That is awesome. At the same time though, there are alot of ignorant fools who are voting for all the wrong reasons. I think that if you have a sign on you car or truck that says "Redneck" your vote should be challenged. Josh R. said that he encountered a voter this morning that was drunk. (Definately a Kerry supporter) Haha! Now I don't think that all Kerry supporters are ignorant and misinformed, just most of them. If you got mad at that remark...well, check your IQ. Now go vote for Bush!! Don't hate me for believing that it is wrong to murder babies, that marriage is between a man and a women...period, and if you join the military there is a strong possibility that you will go to war(that's in your job description). I joined the military during the first Gulf War. War is hell, it's no fun, but it happens. If you are too much of a pansy to do your part then here is a novel concept. Don't volunteer to go into the military. Sorry about the tangent but I feel very strongly about this topic. The funny thing is that you can't make these anti-war people realize that it is things like the war in Iraq that gives them the freedom to be able to be a pansy and hide behind their protests and signs. So what am I griping about? Praise God that we live in a country that gives us the freedom to speak our mind...No matter what other people think about it. Go vote...make your voice heard.