Pastor Bob’s (almost) Daily Blog

I’m Blogging On MySpace

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:58:02 -0500

I am not sure if many people read this blog space anymore, but I think I will discontinue it - until I am traveling again. I will just use if for those who want to keep up with my travels. :)

I am blogging weekly on MySpace. My blogs are always in the top 20 out of 250 Million people - so it has become quite a process. It is also interesting to read all the comments there. You may want to be involved!

Daniel - that mean you MAY have to make an appearance on MySpace!

Check it out HERE.

I’ve Been A Christian For 50 Years ... And I’m Disappointed

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:53:01 -0500

This week I celebrated my 50th "spiritual" birthday. I have been a Christian for 50 years. My year of "jubilee." I always imagined what it would be like to have been a Christian for 50 years. I looked up to those who were in my current place when I was growing up. I considered them to be "spiritual giants." I loved their wisdom and insight. I imagined I would be one of them by now. But I'm not.

I really thought I would be further along than this. I didn't think I would still be struggling with some of the same things that I struggled with when I was 20 – but I am. I thought that my prayer life would be amazing – that I would be able to hear God a lot more clearly and more often. But I still struggle way too often to hear his voice. And I thought I would be more of a "spiritual giant," able to have a scripture verse ready for any situation, and just the right formulas to respond to any of life's difficulties. But I don't.

On the other hand, I am closer to the Lord than I have ever been. He has sustained me and gotten me through more than my share of difficulties. He has been VERY faithful. But where I expected to be some kind of spiritual giant, he has kept me humble, and depending on him for everything.

I have come to realize that the spiritual life is not about attaining some sort of "pillar" status. It is, rather, about staying in constant dependence on God. I still need to connect with him every morning. I still need his wisdom when I don't understand. And I still need his consistent unconditional love toward me, as I don't always get it right.

Some people say that our spiritual lives are like walking on the beach with Jesus. Sometimes the footprints represent two people walking, and other times, only one – as he carries us during difficult times. I have always felt like I am not doing any walking. I feel like I have been carried all of the time.

When people tell me that my faith is a crutch, I tell them it is really more like a stretcher – with Christ carrying me. The older I get, the more I realize just how much I need him to carry me.

So now I have been a Christian for 50 years. I have been a Pastor for most of those years. I have done most things wrong at least once, and sometimes even manage to get a few things right. I am not on a pedestal with too many people anymore. They have seen me struggle too many times. It is a relief, honestly. I prefer to be human along with everyone else. But it has left me with this dependence. I know who I am. I know my shortcomings. I know my abilities, and my disabilities. And, I know who carry's me.

I am VERY thankful that God has given me the best life one man could ever ask for. I am truly humbled by it! And I am thankful that he still hears my prayers of confusion and difficulty, as well as the ones with joy and insight. And now, I am ready to be carried for the next 50 years!

Stand Still ... While I Stab You In The Back

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:51:36 -0500

Here is a SERIOUS question for those of you who call yourselves "Christians" …

WHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Honestly. Why? What is it about Christianity that is attractive to you?

After my last blog (An Open Letter To Gay Christians), I realized that so many people seem to miss the whole purpose of their faith – as well as the whole point of the blog! Let me explain …

Here are the conclusions I would draw if I hadn't been around the Christian faith all of my life. In fact, they seem to be the conclusions many had:

Some people become Christians to adopt a cause to live their lives by. We all need a code, something to live our lives by. Some people join the boys scouts, others join service clubs. Some join a church. But for so many, simply adopting a "religion" is as far as they ever get. Just because you belong to a Church, doesn't mean that you are a Christian – just like standing in a garage doesn't mean you're a car!

Some people become Christians to justify their hate and judgment. These people have a strong disposition to find something wrong with everyone else, and sadly, as a Christian, begin the process of condemning everyone around them according to their particular interpretation of the Bible. What they fail to understand is that you can never receive the truth of the Bible unless you read it without your personal agenda. The Bible is all about CHANGING our lives, not justifying our hatred and judgment.

Some people become Christians to justify their prejudices. That is nothing new. A quick history of the Christian church through the ages will prove this to be true. Race, skin color, church denomination, gender, and recently, sexual preference have all been on the list of intolerance. Although the Bible has many things to say about these issues, it NEVER advocates hate and condemnation.

All of those above have missed the point!

It isn't about choosing the correct "religion."
It isn't about judgment and condemnation.

It is ALL about accepting and living in Christ's unconditional love.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. Romans 8:1-3

Some people become Christians because they are in need of forgiveness. Their hearts desire is to live a life filled with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. They realize they have been forgiven of much – and extend that same forgiveness and grace to others around them.

The real test is not how we love each other. Many Christians haven't done a very good job of that either. But it is fairly easy to love the lovable. The real test is how we love those who are not easy to love. Those who are different than we are. Those who make us uncomfortable. Those people who push our buttons.

The Bible tells us that "they will know we are Christians by our love." The way we love God. The way we love each other. The way we love ourselves.

What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." Luke 10:26-28

You see, this is the very reason most of the world defines us as a religion rather than those who are "Christ-like." They make conclusions based on what they see and experience.

Our greatest desire should be that people see us as representatives of Christ's unconditional love. Period. Everything else is simply not as important.

None of us are able to change anything apart from the love of God directed toward us through his power - making us new creations. Anything else is simply agenda on our part.

Are sinners going to Heaven? NO!

That is the whole reason Jesus died on the cross. When you become a Christian, God begins to fine-tune your life. The process, the speed, and the order in which he takes you, is up to him - not you and I. That's why we cannot be a judge of anyone's process. It is also the reason that Jesus asked those who were about to condemn the woman caught in adultery to "cast the first stone."

Are you changed, all at once, when you become a Christian? YES! At least in Gods eyes you are. He removed your sin from damning you for eternity.

Remember. "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."

My position in my Christian life is unconditional love and forgiveness. But the reality of my daily life here on earth is another story. Again – it's the reason Christ died on the Cross. His power continues to be made perfect IN MY WEAKNESS!

What kind of weaknesses? ALL OF THEM! That's the point.

My hearts prayer is that those in and outside the church see Christians as unconditionally loving, accepting others without conditions, and in the process of personal healing - truly experiencing the joy of the Lord.

An Open Letter To Gay Christians

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:40:38 -0500

When the secular community was asked what characteristic of the Christian community came to their minds first, the overwhelming response was, “Christians hate gay people.”

Is that true? Do we hate “gay” people? Yes, probably.

We hate gay people, abortion, not being able to pray in school, and a host of other things. And, oh yeah. Obama.

Oh, we are usually very careful to point out that we only “hate their sin” – at least that’s the spin we usually use – but most Christians hate gay people.

I have listened to the debate for years. I have been on the other side of it. I believed that people who were homosexual were condemned to hell. Then, I began to believe that they simply needed healing, and then they would become heterosexual – and only then could they truly experience God’s love. I preached that for years. I sent all of our “gay” people at Sanctuary to a ministry in California – one that was staffed with “ex-gay” people. Then, a few years ago, the whole staff from that ministry admitted that they were never “healed” and all returned to their gay life style. To this date, I have never met anyone whom I believe is honestly healed. And I am not sure that is the point.

I had an interesting encounter several years ago that really threw me. I was explaining to a friend that he simply needed to trust God for his healing. He said, “Pastor Bob, no offense … but you telling me that I need to become heterosexual is like me telling you that you need to become homosexual.” The light went on. I got it.

I still don’t have all the answers. Are people “born gay?” Do they become gay because of sexual abuse or a domineering mother? I am sure all of those things make a difference – and I have met a number of people who were influenced by those things. But then, I have met a number of heterosexual people who suffered sexual abuse and a domineering mother. Go figure!

So, what is it like to live your life trying to love God, and all the while feeling like he hates you simply because you can’t change your sexual preference? I have, to date, met MANY people who feel this way. And they have tried everything to change – including suicide.

Is there a point where we stop judging and start loving? WWJD?

To the gay Christians reading this: I’m sorry. Sorry for the way we have treated you. Sorry that we made you feel less of a person. Sorry that we forced you to identify yourself by your sexuality – because we have made it so much of an issue. Sorry that we made you feel that “God Hates Fags.” Sorry that you have been the butt of our jokes. I am very sorry that we didn’t truly represent God’s unconditional love for you – and Jesus’ death on the cross for you – whether you “change” or not.

I have some friends who are gay. When I began to see them as “whole” people, I began to realize what a gift they are in my life. I began to celebrate my faith with them … unconditionally. As Jesus would. I am just so sorry I have learned these lessons so late in life!

Youth Group At Bryan’s House

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:41:30 -0500

It was great speaking at Bryan’s College-age youth group meeting. He does it every Wed night - and asked me to come and share this week. I enjoyed the discussion, and the kids that were there. Bryan is doing a wonderful job with them - I am very proud of him!!

Niacin Flush In Concert

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:41:50 -0500

It was great to see Niacin Flush in concert again. They have been playing Monday nights at the Rutledge. Very powerful concert. They did some new songs, and added a bit of an edge to a few of their old ones. Lots of power - and musicianship was great. Below are some pictures of some of us hanging out afterward.

Emo & Goth To Be Made Illegal In Russia

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:13:15 -0500

The Russian government is in the process of drafting a law to make emo and goth music illegal.

Last month a parliamentary committee was convened to discuss a draft proposal of the Russian government's Government Strategy In The Sphere Of Spiritual And Ethical Education bill, the details of which were leaked to The Moscow Times. The newspaper subsequently reported that, among other things, the draft bill dubbed the musical movements a "dangerous teen trend" and called for emo and goth websites to be regulated and young people dressing like emos or goths to be banned from entering schools and government buildings.

The newspaper interviewed one of the bill's authors, Igor Ponkin from the Russian Interior Ministry's Public Oversight Council. Ponkin called emo a "social danger" and "a threat to national stability" and said the bill is a reaction to teen suicides such as the tragic death of British teenager Hannah Bond.

"This type of behaviour is a crucial part of emo ideology," said Ponkin. "Of course there are emo teens who just listen to their music. But our actions are not directed at them but rather at those who also hurt themselves, commit suicide and promote those acts."

The Moscow Times also interviewed psychologist Inna Cherkova who said:

"Suicide is not a symptom of emo culture. I work with other teens too, and every group has emotionally troubled kids."

However, the bill is expected to become law in Russia before the end of the year.

Nathan Lee’s New Video Collection!

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 09:57:27 -0500

I watched Nathan’s rough cut for his new video/DVD set. Wow - it is amazing. He does many songs from his album - live. We spent some time in the studio a couple of weeks ago, and I asked him questions about each song. He used those interviews at the beginning of each song on the video. It really came out great!!!

I can’t take it anymore. I’m getting a divorce.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:37:47 -0500

I hear these words at least once a week. I have now performed well over 200 weddings – and I hate to think how many of them are still together.

Many people consider marriage to be a noun, not a verb. In other words, they feel like once they say “I do,” they can relax and coast. That is not true. Any relationship, whether it is marriage or just a good friendship, is a growing organism. The direction that it grows is totally up to you. If you nurture it – feed it, take care of it – it will live and grow to be healthy. If you ignore the problems and allow it to starve, don’t be too stunned when it simply dies.

I do a lot of marriage counseling. It is usually the same story. Either the husband or the wife has quit nurturing. The wife begins to withhold sex, or the husband becomes a couch potato. Either way, the marriage is usually doomed at that point.

For those who are married, please don’t assume that you can continue to coast and still have a successful marriage. I can’t tell you how many time people have told me their divorce was a “complete surprise” to them. It shouldn’t be. If you are not actively involved in nurturing your marriage, and doing everything you can to show your spouse that you love them unconditionally, then your marriage is in danger. Many people who once told me that divorce was NEVER an option for them are now divorced.

All of this holds true in friendships as well. I am the most guilty of this one. I am fortunate to have friends around me who have been with me 20 and 30 years. But it isn’t because I have always been nurturing. I have learned a lot in the last few years!!

It is never too late to put your relationships in a healthy place. It simply means that you make a decision to love, and to SHOW love to the other person – unconditionally.

My Podcasts ... or ... “What Was I Thinking?”

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:21:16 -0500

I am now doing 5 podcasts. Whew! It really is a labor of love, but it sure takes a lot of time! I am amazed at the response that I get from the listeners. There are a lot of people listening. Thanks if you are one of them. If not, why don’t you check them out? You can click on any of the banners below, and it will take you directly to the podcast. Let me know what you think!

Chinese Food With Abbie :)

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:15:14 -0500

It was great to see Abbie again tonight. We have been having our Sunday night Bible Study group at her home in Nashville. We decided to start it up again the end of August until I have to leave town again the end of October. But that will give us two months! Abbie is busy as ever - working with Nathan Lee and managing some bands MySpace pages. She is VERY good at it - and taught me everything I know about MySpace :) Oh - and you’ll just have to guess what she is eating here! LOL

Fun With The “Other” Pastor Bob!

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:25:49 -0500

Pastor Bob Adams and his wife Tracy invited me to speak in their church “Radiant Fellowship” here in Waupaca, Wisconsin. What a wonderful congregation - with some great people. The biggest surprise of the day was when Jack and Jeanne Haung showed up! I marred them 21 years ago in California. They moved here to this area 17 years ago, and I had not seen them since. They have 4 boys - the oldest is in the Marines. This is a great church in a great community. We had lunch by one of the many lakes.

Which One Of These Are You?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:12:27 -0500

It is interesting to me just how many people try to live a "good" Christian life – without ever knowing much about it! At some point, they either spend time learning who God is, or they give up all together. I have lived long enough to recognize the tell-tale signs. Here are a few observations I have made – which type of person are you?

The Doubter
During every major time of difficulty and trauma, he doubts his faith. He begins his prayers with, "Lord, if you are really there …" He never really seems to grow past this point.

The Depressed
There are certain people who are more susceptible to depression than others. Musicians, for instance! But this person usually writes and talks about the negative sides of Christianity. They see God as largely unfair and silent. Most of these people don't stay with Christianity very long.

Needy And Demanding
This person is always demanding things from God. They "command" God to give them what they want. They see God as more of a Genie than a Savior. It is all about material things and personal happiness than a relationship with God.

Hyper
This is a "cheerleader" for the Lord. They spend a lot of their time hyping people up in their faith, and holding "pep rally's" for Jesus. Youth Pastors are notorious for this. It is more about "fun and games" than it is about seeking the Lord's heart.

The Seeker
This is my favorite person. There is a real sense of honesty here. This is the person who honesty seeks after the Lord, and leaves their personal agenda at the door! Any one of the top four people can become A Seeker, they just have to realize they are on the wrong track.

I have just put together the first of many episodes of a new podcast called "INTENSE STUDIES." It is the fifth podcast series for me. It is not that I needed something else to do, but rather, I see the importance of knowing who God is – according to His Word! You will always find yourself in one of the top four categories until you open up the Bible and learn who God is. And the more you read, the more you fall in love with Him. Just click HERE and get started. I would love to have you study with me! :)

What’s “Christian” About Long Hair & Rock?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:39:48 -0500

Those longhaired Christian rock musicians! They're pumped! They're determined! They're "boldly going where no Church-goin' God-fearin' man has gone before!" They look and act a little differently than most Christians in our society. Many people think they're rebellious, and in some ways they are. They are relating to the younger crowd in a way no one has ever related before in the history of the church, right? Wrong!

I want to talk about some other radical "long hairs" that you may have never heard of. In church history they're called "reformers." They didn't "blend in" with the religious society of their days. They were always in trouble with and misunderstood by the established church.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-175 was a tall skinny guy with long blond hair. He believed that our relationship with the Lord was more important than the "social Christianity" of his day. His first church booted him because he didn't quite fit in. His views were too radical. But he continued to preach. Soon crowds of people gathered to listen to what he had to say. Although I am not personally a strong Calvinist, I appreciate his insights. His sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" is still preached today! Later in his life, Edwards became president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University)

Then there was John Wesley (1703-1791). He was another long hair. Wesley lead a group of "long-haired" students at Oxford University, which included George Whitefield and John's brother Charles. Charles wrote over 6,500 hymns that we still sing today, including, "Hark! The herald angel's sing" and "Jesus, lover of my soul." John Wesley was a strong Arminianist (the other side of Calvinism), and was devoted to the methodical study of the Word of God and its spiritual application. They were called Methodists. The Wesleyan Methodist church was named after john, which became the roots for the United Methodist Church, which today has over 9 million members! John and Charles later began to travel to bring the gospel to the people, much like the Christian bands do when they travel doing concerts from city to city.

But before any of these guys lived, another long-haired guy paved the way for them. This guy had the guts to take one of the popular bar room songs of the day and put Christian words to it. It created quite a stir when he actually brought the song into the church! By the way, it's there on page 40 in your Baptist Hymnal. It's called, "A mighty fortress is our God." That long-haired guy was Martin Luther (1483-1546). He has been called "The father of the Protestant reformation."

These guys were radical. They had a burning message within their hearts that they wanted people to hear. They were committed to personal holiness. They believed in applying the values of the Bible in their personal lives and in their relationships with other people. It was because of their commitment to excellence and to the Bible that the Lord gave them success. Many times they actually fought tradition to bring the Word of God.

Personally, I love many of the traditions of the church today. Although I am one of those long hairs, "A Mighty Fortress" is one of my favorite hymns. I learned to play it on the piano when I became the church pianist at the age of 12. But I have fought long and hard not to let tradition get in the way of ministry. Historically, the Word of God has ridden many a contemporary vehicle, but it remains steadfast in its truth and powerful in its deliverance! I see problems in the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) industry today. Some of these people fall into the same kind of sin that their short haired predecessors did in the gospel quartets. There are still those that need to spend as much time tuning up their lives as they do their guitars!

What about musical style? There is, as you know, a lot of controversy on the subject of Christian rock music. There are people who claim the beat itself is satanic. There are others that suggest it was Satan who wrote the musical style personally. They insist that we, as Christians, cannot use it! There are even those who believe that demons live in the music and are released when you play it!

Some churches have a hard time with the "beat" in music. I wonder if they would have thrown David (the Psalmist) out the door. David loved his music loud! Read psalm 150. There are two different kinds of music spoken of in the Bible. Worship and Celebration. When we talk about music with a "beat," we are usually talking about celebration. Praise and worship is usually a little softer!

I see nothing in the Bible that talks about a musical style being in itself "satanic". If you study the different kinds of music used in the occult, you will find everything from classical to rock. If you believe that a musical style can be satanic, then you would have to conclude that all music is satanic. We know that isn't true!

The Bible tells us that God looks at our hearts. And I believe he also looks at the "heart" of the music! What is the music saying to you? Do the words glorify sin or do they glorify God? The final test, though, comes from the Bible. It says, "... by their fruit you will know them" (Matt. 7:16). Much of Christian rock music has been and continues to be a real ministry to Christians and non-Christians alike.

One of the biggest mistakes we sometimes make is judging something by our own personal tastes. I've always loved good ol' Gospel music like the Goodman's, the Cathedrals, and the Blackwood brothers. I personally own all of the Gaither "Homecoming" videos! You can imagine my surprise when God began to put the rock and roll crowd on my heart. I have always liked rock music, but the more progressive it got, the more I felt like a fish out of water. God began to show me that I didn't have to personally enjoy the vehicle (music style) for him to use it. I'm so glad God isn't limited by my own tastes and narrow-mindedness! I would have missed out on a wonderful blessing these last 30-some years in helping to pioneer the Christian rock movement. I've been called a cult leader because we don't attract too many "average" looking young people. But many churches are doing a wonderful job with them already. My heart has always been with society's throw-aways. Most churches are not equipped to handle them - and for good reason. A church that has a wonderful ministry to the family (like the one I grew up in) is not ready to deal with the addictions and anger of those young people "on the edge" of society. Jesus told us to "go into the highways and bi-ways and compel them to come." as the founder of sanctuary, an international ministry to "the edge" for over 20 years now, I have had the opportunity to see thousands respond to the Gospel message through a contemporary vehicle. We have a wonderful opportunity to answer their questions about Christianity, and help them get grounded in their faith.

Let me encourage those of you who are presently involved in a more contemporary ministry. Let's go back for a moment to those 3 guys I spoke about earlier. How would they have conducted themselves in a contemporary ministry if they were in your shoes today?

First off, they would have put their families first. They would have made sure the bills were paid before they bought that new marshal stack. They would have made sure their wives and families were "fed" spiritually before they went on tour and tried to "feed" anyone else.

Next, they would have preached the word of god without compromise. That doesn't mean they would have changed the way they looked or the clothes they wore. They probably would have related in some way. But people weren't saved because of the way they looked. They were saved because of the "relevant" message they brought to the people. The thing that spoke so loudly about these guys was their personal lives. They were completely sold out to Jesus. Everyone knew it! George Whitefield had 20 thousand people in attendance as he delivered his last sermon. Can you imagine 20 thousand people at your next concert? 20 thousand people showing up just because they want to hear what you have to say? 20 thousand people showing up with a hunger to hear the word of God? Impossible you say? Not at all! The message hasn't changed!

It is the desire of my heart that everyone would come to know the life-changing message of God's Word. Your hair may be short or long, straight or curly, matronly blue or punk bleached. You may enjoy rock, alternative, country, easy listening, or black gospel music. No matter the vehicle used, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ has never and will never lose its power!

Report From Cornerstone

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 14:01:23 -0500

It has been a great year at Cornerstone this year. We still have two days left of the festival. The attendance at the Sanctuary Tent has been exciting. We are usually packed out - to the point that we are considering a larger tent next year! We started serving food and cold water yesterday - and coffee last night. All free. I like the atmosphere. This year we even have a huge air-conditioned trailer parked beside the tent for the bands - with changing rooms, food, etc. All the bands have been great so far, and the worship has been VERY good. Jimbo sayed that it is the best it has been in the past few years. The Worship team has done a great job. I will post a few picture below ...

Holocaust “Button” Memorial

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:48:44 -0500

I came upon this memorial in the middle of a Peoria shopping center today. It was amazing. They had a button collection - each button representing a person who had been murdered in the holocaust. It was unbelievable. Look at these pictures below ...

Perusing Peoria

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 08:31:22 -0500

I have had a great time here in the Peoria area. I had lunch today with Annie and Ravn - and Ravn’s father, before he went back to Norway. We at at this great health food diner, then went to a movie afterward.

Our Amazing Poster Board

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:08:31 -0500

I asked Jeremy (the singer for Strangeland) to make an accordion stand to put the Sanctuary posters and promos on. I had no idea he would come up with this INCREDIBLE piece of art! Jeremy is an amazing guy. He did a photo shoot of me as well, as he is also a professional photographer. He had offered to do a photo session with me in 1999 when he stayed in my home in Nashville. Today we finally got around to it. I think the shots are going to be amazing. Jeremy and his wife are standing in front of the board. I will take more shots at Cornerstone. Afterward, we met Karen Schertz along with Ravn and Annie and friends for Tai food. It was amazing!

Chinese Food In Peoria!

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:00:58 -0500

A whole bunch of us went to a great Chinese restaurant today after church. It was a huge place - lot’s of great food. I would give it an “8” on the Pastor Bob rating scale. So many people traveled a long distance for the wedding and Cornerstone Festival.

Ravn And Annie’s Wedding

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:39:52 -0500

I traveled to Illinois, just outside of Peoria on Thursday for Ravn and Annie’s Wedding. I have known both of them for many years. Ravn is from Norway, and was in the band Antestor several years ago, and today is the singer for Frosthardr. Annie and her family (The Schertz Family) have been special friends for many years. It was a real treat to see the two of them find each other, and VERY special to do their wedding! I will post more pictures below ...

We had the wedding dinner the night before at Schertz’ house. They live in a wonderful place out side of town.

The wedding was held at Rock Church in Peoria. I will also speak there on Sunday morning. It is great to be here in IL. Very relaxing. I will travel to Cornerstone festival on Wednesday.