She said "Yes"

Donna and I celebrate twenty-nine years of marriage today! Twenty-nine wonderful years with the woman I love! I am truly a blessed man.

To celebrate we went to New Orleans for a weekend away. We dined at John Besh's restaurant August. John is a Top Chef Master who is known all over the world! We enjoyed a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. I love the architecture of downtown New Orleans.

After eating, we had tickets to see Brian Regan at The Mahilia Jackson Theater. Brian is one of our family's favorite comedians so needless to say, Robin and Chase were a little sore when they found out we were going to see him without them! Regan did not disappoint - what a funny guy! All of his jokes were new material we had never heard before. I'm thinking Comedy Central has to be doing a new live recording soon. Just a sample: What happens when you have second thoughts about making an appointment to visit with Native Americans? You have reservation, reservation reservations! (LOL!)

This morning we got up and went to the French Quarter. After breakfast we strolled around and enjoyed the work of local artists then went to the National WWII Museum and watched the 4-D Documentary produced by Tom Hanks called Beyond All Boundaries. If you haven't seen it, you should.

It was a great weekend, it's been a great twenty-nine years! I'm so glad that so many years years ago she said "Yes."

Stepping (Back) Up To The Mic

As a teenager, like many, I wanted to be a performer when I grew up. I took up the guitar at age twelve and started writing songs. I had a few bands through the years and thought, "One day I will do this for a living." Needless to say, it's not the path God chose for me. After becoming a Christ-follower, I almost immediately formed a band and started writing Christian songs, performing in youth groups, Detention Centers, Camps, you name it. I assumed it would be my ministry, but God had other ideas. However, music always had a role in the ministry God gave me. For over fifteen years I led worship in the three youth ministries I led and assisted with the music ministries in those churches. When I moved back to Lafayette to become the Lead Pastor here at Crossroads Church I no longer participated in the music presentation of our church. I've been very involved in selection, but hardly ever in performance.

Recently, our Music Pastor started having problems with his voice and needed some help with worship leading. I started taking on more and more of those responsibilities in our mid-week service until Pastor Coy Watson's voice has a chance to heal up. (He actually has a tear on one of his vocal cords, so please keep him in prayer. I miss his singing like crazy!) I must admit I have enjoyed getting back on the mic and I realize there's a satisfaction associated with this aspect of my calling that I have really been missing. This past weekend, I stepped out and did a cover of the Needtobreathe song "Something Beautiful." This is probably only the third or forth time I've actually done a solo at our church in over eleven years. I had a lot of fun doing it. I'm not going to give up my day job, but I might take on an assignment now and again just for old time sake.

The Doctor Is In(sensitive)

Let me say from the onset, I have only heard Dr. Laura's show a couple of times. I actually share many of her conservative convictions. From what I understand, she usually has very practical, many times even biblical advise for her listeners. Yesterday, she got it dead wrong!

If you missed the coverage of what happened, here's a brief explanation: An African American woman called into the show to complain about her Caucasian husband whose friends and family often make racial comments that make the woman really uncomfortable. The doctor immediately suggested that the lady might just be over-sensitive then proceeded to demonstrate some of the greatest insensitivity a person could muster. When the woman (very politely) informed Dr. Laura that they even use the 'N' word sometimes, the radio host pointed out that many in the black community call each other that word all the time and that it bothers her because it seems to be a double standard. She went on to point out that we now have an African American president, implying that people should just get over it and move on.

To her credit, Dr. Laura issued an apology today, but the damage is done. You just can't simply unsay the things she said. The interesting thing is, I think I understand where she's coming from, to a degree. No one should use the 'N' word and if someone is truly against racism, they should never justify the use of it under any circumstances. I also agree that it seems like the election of our first black president should have leveled the playing field a little bit and yet the opposite seems to have actually happened. Now if one doesn't agree with the policies of the president, they're accused of being a racist. There is a frustration rising among whites these days, but it does not give anyone a license to do and say the things Dr. Laura did yesterday. There are deep wounds in the African American community from years of bigoted mistreatment, but that doesn't give anyone the right to slap the 'racist' label on people who aren't.

I suppose racism may be more deeply rooted than ever before in some segments of both the black and white communities, but there are many of us that want it to go away once and for all and never rear it's ugly head again! It's true that some may be over-sensitive, but in my opinion the greater sin would be insensitivity! So instead of peddling bad advice to unsuspecting listeners, I would admonish Dr. Laura, Physician - Heal thyself!

A King Meets His King

R.S. King, a beloved pastor for over forty years here in Acadiana, went home to be with the Lord Monday at 91 years old. What an incredible legacy he leaves behind. This is one of a hand full of men who came into south Louisiana in the early 20th Century and paved the way for Evangelical Pentecostalism in this area. Without guys like Pastor King, Crossroads Church would not exist today and we thank God for this wonderful man and the ministry God gave him. He was a pastor's pastor.  When I first arrived in Lafayette in the mid 80's I rarely visited a hospital without running into the man. He was always there, reaching out to the sick and the needy. The Bible talks about those of whom this fallen world is not worthy and R.S. King would certainly fit in that category. He wore his name well. He was a king among men and now this king has finally met his King at his heavenly home! 

His funeral will be held at First Assembly of God in Youngsville Saturday, August 14 at 1:00 p.m.