Christmas Miracle

It's the friday before Christmas and A reminder of what Christmas is really about. What started out as something small with 5 stockings to give away, has turned into a God thing. The stories that have been shared have lead to an out pouring of compassion. Countless Sos listeners have come to the aide of thoses who are hurting this Christmas. Today is really the first day it's felt like Christmas!!!

Toy Packaging

Ok as any parent knows getting the toys out of the box is what makes christmas morning stressful. Here a Song that all of us can relate to!!!

Snow in Las Vegas!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids got to play in the snow yesterday here are some of the pictures!!!!

FOB Konduz

Our Men and Women are fighting for our freedom around the world ... please remember to pray for them and they will make it safe for us to be home for Christmas.

These pictures are from Sargent Danny Ryan, He is severing in Afghanistan, he wanted to she with everyone what its like over there.

Where they live...



The Flag flying over the base


The view looking out from the base


The view of the front of the base

Here are some Christmas tree safety tips:

When buying a tree, make sure its fresh. Needles should be soft not brittle
Only use lights listed by a testing laboratory
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights
Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed
Never use lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections
Never use lit candles near trees
Water trees daily to keep them moist
If you have an artificial tree, make sure it is fire-retardant
Always watch children when they are around the tree
Position trees near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances
Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house

Baking with Point of Grace

We baked "Hello Dollies" with Point of Grace for the holidays and you can watch the video at hearitfirst.com/pointofgrace and check out the recipe below!

1 quarter cup of butter
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup angel flake coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
1 can Eagle Brand milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Melt butter in bottom of 9x13 pan
Coat the bottom of the pan with graham cracker crumbs
Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and shredded coconut evenly across the bottom of the pan
Drizzle with Eagle Brand milk
Layer chopped pecans, lightly pressing them down
Bake for 25 minutes
Allow to cool, then cut into squares.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1726689549/bctid4046882001

Movies tonight

The Santa Clause 2 Disney Dec. 9, 12pm
A Garfield Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 7pm
A Dennis the Menace Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 8pm
A Season for Miracles Hallmark Dec. 9, 9pm
A Garfield Christmas ABC Family Dec. 9, 10:30pm
Angel in the Family Hallmark Dec. 9, 11pm

A Xmas Story

CLEVELAND – If the movie "A Christmas Story" is one of your holiday favorites, consider a visit to the house in Cleveland where many scenes in the film were shot.

The movie, which premiered 25 years ago, featured a kid named Ralphie who pleaded for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

Fans can visit the house used in the filming of the movie, restored to its appearance in the film. There is also a museum displaying movie props and costumes. A Christmas Story House & Museum is located at 3159 W. 11th St. in the Tremont neighborhood. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $5.50 for kids 7-12. Hours are Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, noon-5 p.m. The site is also open Wednesdays Dec. 10, 17 and 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the final tour beginning at 4:30 p.m., but it's closed Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Details at http://www.AChristmasStoryHouse.com

12 days of Christmas

Santa run 2008

In 2007, 7,269 Santas made history as they gathered in downtown LAS VEGAS to help Opportunity Village break the World Record for the Largest Santa Gathering and at the same time, raised much needed funds and awareness for "Las Vegas' Favorite Charity".

Opportunity Village was thrilled to have such a great turnout from our local community, and we were blown away by the national and international support of the event as well! The 2008 Las Vegas Great Santa Run has been represented by 45 states as well as attracted participants from nine countries, including Holland, Japan, the UK and Micronesia. Many of our international participants have already signed up for the 2008 Las Vegas Great Santa Run.

Christmas Friendly Shoppers

We all are watching our wallets alittle bit closer this year and we want to spend our money at stores that are Christmas Friendly.... Here a list from Focus on the Family that shows where most stores stand.

Thanks to Ethel.. who keeps me on my toes... she wrote this:

You know, if you visit stores that are NOT Christmas friendly, you can be the one who wishes the Merry Christmas. Just because a person works there doesn't mean that they approve of the corporate stand on issues. I work for a company - who provides benefits/support to gay couples. I do not approve of the homosexual agenda, but you know what, I'm a Christian right smack in the middle of it. And everyone knows it. In fact, my little Chinese friend came to ME and asked ME to pray for her when her mom was very ill. And she's a Buddhist ... with the little god thing on her desk with fruit and candy in front of it.

Go out and make disciples of men ... if you're not shopping with them, how can you do that??


"Christmas-friendly" retailers — prominent acknowledgment of "Christmas"

Cabela's
Crate&Barrel
Dillard's
Eddie Bauer
JCPenney
Kohl's L.L.Bean
Lands' End
Linens 'n Things
Lowe's
Macy's
Neiman Marcus Nordstrom
Pier 1 Imports
Sears
The Home Depot
Target
Toys "R" Us
Wal-Mart



"Christmas-negligent" retailers — marginalized use of "Christmas"

Barnes & Noble
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Best Buy
Borders
Circuit City Dick's Sporting Goods
GAP
KB Toys
Kmart




"Christmas-offensive" retailers — apparent abandonment of "Christmas"

American Eagle
Banana Republic
Bloomingdale's
Lane Bryant
Old Navy

Black Friday

Before you go out and start shopping...

1. Find the ads: This is where it all begins. You can find scans of advertisements and other information from major retailers on a variety of sites, like bfads.net, blackfriday.info, and blackfriday.gottadeal.com, but my personal favorite Black Friday information source has been SlickDeals.net. SlickDeals.net has a constantly updated page with uploaded scans of all major Black Friday ads (located here), and the website also created a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet (located here) organizing all Black Friday items into one neat place, so getting a quick overview of items and prices won't require having to scan through tons of color ad pages. Once you've gotten a general idea of what you're interested in buying...

2. Prioritize your list: It's probably impossible to get every single thing that you want on Black Friday (I know it is for me), so prioritize your items so you know exactly what you're getting and where you're getting it. Try to have a printed list on hand with model numbers and prices for reference, because it's going to be hard to remember what's going on amidst all of the chaos.

3. Learn the rules: Many stores are having special store hours specifically for Black Friday. For instance, Best Buy, Sears, Circuit City, and Wal-Mart locations will be opening at 5:00am, while Kmart, Target, Meijer, and a few others will be opening at 6:00am. Additionally, some stores will be giving out tickets/vouchers several hours before opening, so be sure you know exactly what to expect before you you head out. Also, knowing the number of units in stock can be helpful—most ads usually print store minimums for reference, or if you're really hot for an item, scope out the store just before closing the night before, find the exact item's location, and remember it or stash it in a secret location.

4. Coordinate with others: If you can, go with at least one friend or family member. Not only will it help pass the time in the wee hours of the night, but having a friend/ally will also help you be able to pick up hot sale items, and they'll also be able to hold your place in line while if you should ever need a bathroom/food/random break. If you want "doorbuster" sale items from multiple locations, coordinate a "Strike Team" with other Black Friday adventurers to divide and conquer. Strength in numbers is always nice to have on your side. Additionally, if you can, try and make friends with others in line. This will not only help pass the time, but it will also keep order and will keep "line-jumping" to a minimum.

5. Pack accordingly: If you're thinking about waiting in line with just a coat, think again. As someone who has done many overnight camp-outs, I have to personally recommend that you bring a fold-out chair, a blanket, something to do (Nintendo DS or PSP is nice, or you can go old school with a book), snacks, and water. Trust me, if you're comfortable, the time will pass much faster, and you'll have a much better experience to remember.

So Thankful....

hey all,

What an amazing week. Sharathon was a huge success!!!! Because of you over 600,000 was raised. Thank you so much!

Watch Out!!!

Last night I got a funny phone call. A credit agency said that I owed one of there clients a couple thousand dollars. Wait a minute stop the truck!!! After getting some details from them I learned that it was a debt I had over 15 years ago. After doing some more research I found that the company had closed down and written off the debt almost ten years ago. How was I able to find out this information .... by knowing what was on my credit report. It's free for any one to get a credit report once a year and here's the site https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Sharathon!!!!

Caedmon's Call has donated an autographed guitar to help us raise money for Sharathon!!!! It's on ebay right now just copy and paste this link!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220313553306

Sharathon Pre Kick off offer

We're making plans for this special on-air event, when we'll thank God for all He's done through the ministry of SOS over the last year, and we'll ask Him to move listeners to give the finances we'll need to go into 2009 strong and ready to follow His great plans.

During the time leading up to Sharathon, we're asking you to be part of the Pre-Sharathon Jumpstart and help us go into this amazing three days with a strong start! Would you think about giving an early gift?

Right now, for a commitment of at least $30/month or a single gift of at least $360, received by November 18th, you'll become a member of the Pre-Sharathon Jumpstart. That's just a dollar a day to impact thousands of listeners every week through SOS! And as our way of saying, “Thanks,” we'll send you the WOW Hits 2009 CD!!

I am such a bad blogger

Hey all, sorry it's been awhile but life has been crazy. God is so amazing, Vanessa and I just bought our first home. We are so excited!!!! Things will be getting back to normal now. Hope all is well in your world and please pray that God's will would be done during Sharathon 2008.

HAWK NELSON AND A PUMPKIN COULD WIN YOU A CONTEST.

The band?s inviting fans to get themselves a pumpkin and either carve or paint some sort of Hawk Nelson image on the gourd. It could be the band's logo, one of the guy's faces,or something else related to the band. Then take a picture of it and e-mail it to a special Hawk Nelson website. They'll choose a winning entry and award them a special Thanksgiving pack of soda, a trophy signed by Hawk Nelson, and a chat with the band.
If you want to enter send your picture to Hawk Nelson Pumpkins-at-BEC Recordings-dot-com.

Voting Registration deadlines in the SOS area's

Get out and Vote!!


Voting In California

Registration Deadlines:
In Person: Monday, October 20, 2008
By Mail: Postmarked by Monday, October 20, 2008

Web: http://www.ss.ca.gov/

Voting In Nevada

Registration Deadlines:
In Person: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Web: http://secretaryofstate.biz/nvelection/

Voting In Utah

Registration Deadlines:
In Person: Monday, October 20, 2008

Web: http://elections.utah.gov/

Words of LIFE: How To Survive A Bad Economy

I love getting email from you guys, it's like a mini Xmas present. Mandi sent this in today and it really spoke to me. As I have shared my Family and I are buying our first home and with all the crazyness going on in the world it can be stressful. This kinda put my focus back where it needs to be. Thanks Mandi!!!

How To Survive A Bad Economy
by Randy Robison

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

There’s a lot of talk about the economy these days. The stock market is taking a beating, homes are being foreclosed and the dollar is losing value. The news is full of doom and gloom, so people are worried. Accusations of thievery and mismanagement abound. But when the blame is set aside and the financial intricacies are stripped away, what is the core issue?

Mark Punzo, a friend of the ministry who works at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, recently asked me, “What is something worth?”

It didn’t take me long to reply, “Whatever somebody will pay for it.”

“So what are you worth?” he asked. I admit my first thought went to life insurance actuary tables. My salary times x number of years before I retire…

But I knew that wasn’t what he was driving at, so I guessed, “Whatever someone will pay me?”

“Whatever someone will pay for you,” he corrected. Then he asked a question that really bent my mind. “What did God pay for you?”

Now I got it. God paid for me with His only Son’s blood. It certainly wasn’t the first time I’d heard that principle, but it was the first time I had heard it put that way. It struck me hard. Is that really the value God places on me? Am I worth the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Why don’t I act like it?

“When God spoke that to me,” Mark continued, “He then said, ‘Look at all the people around you. That’s what they are worth to Me, too.’”

What incredible value! You, your loved ones, your acquaintances and even the people you don’t know are by far the most valuable things ever created, worth more than any company’s stock, assets or investments.

So why is it that we seem to be more concerned about our retirement plans than our relatives? Why do we react to an economic crisis with more urgency than a spiritual crisis? Do we really see the value in ourselves and in other people that God sees?

I confess that I take people for granted. If I spotted a $20 bill in the gutter, I’d stop to pick it up. But I have passed right by a person lying in the gutter without any second thoughts. I think perhaps my sense of value is askew. As a “responsible” husband and father, I spend time laying up treasure on earth for medical bills, college and (hopefully, some day) retirement. But those things will all pass away. My daughter’s car will eventually break down and rust, but her spirit is eternal. My son’s braces will give him a nice smile for a while, but what kind of man will he be when his teeth are falling out and his looks don’t matter any more?

I have decided to not worry about the economy. Good or bad, God is in control. I can only have one response if I want to hold on to anything of value: invest in the things in which God has invested.

You are worth what God paid for you. So is your spouse, your child and your neighbor. If you want to be rich, don’t look to your bank account. It will fail you. Look to the people in your life and invest in them. Then you will be truly prosperous, no matter what the economy does. And unlike the wealth of this world, you can take it with you forever.

This Week
Don’t worry about the economy; just make good investments. Deposit your time and love into someone’s life.

Prayer
“Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporal things of this earth. Help me to see the value in people that You see and lay up treasure in heaven by investing in them.”

Lincoln Brewster interview

Hey all,

I had the chance to sit down with Lincoln and his wife Laura, before he went of stage at Central Christian Church this past wednesday. here are some of the highlights.

Copy and Paste : http://www.box.net/shared/static/09uyit3kfd.mp3

A NEW HALLELUJAH VIDEO

Write a song with Bebo

YOU COULD WIN A CHANCE TO CO-WRITE A SONG WITH BEBO NORMAN. The Christian music site Hear It First-dot-com is sponsoring a song lyrics-writing contest. Contestants don't need to write the music for the song, they can simply go to the Hear It First website and submit their best lyrics. The contest runs through October 17th. The grand prize winner of the lyrics contest will win a trip to Nashville to sit down and co-write a song with Bebo Norman.
The winner will also be able to take a guest along with them on the trip to Nashville.

Great News!!!! Abortion Rate Falls

A new report analyzing 30-year trends in abortion rates finds that fewer and fewer U.S. women are choosing abortion overall

The total number of abortions has dropped over the last two decades, from nearly 1.6 million in 1984 to 1.2 million in 2004. The abortion rate hit its peak in 1980 at 29 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44; in 2004, that number had dropped to 20 per 1,000 women.

If you want to check out a ministry that is doing amazing things to protect life click here. www.savealifeclub.com

Give me your eyes video.

Brandon's songs tell such powerful stories. The song and video are a great reminder that we need to look at each other with God's eyes.

Guitar Praise

A CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVE TO The game titled "Guitar Praise: Solid Rock" comes from the company Digital Praise. It plays on Windows XP or Vista and can accommodate two virtual guitars at a time. Guitar Praise features more than 50 songs with four levels of play per song and lyrics on the screen.
Among the artists and titles on the "Guitar Praise" song list are Casting Crown's "Lifesong", dcTalk's "Jesus Freak", Newsboys' "Something Beautiful", and Superchick's "We Live".
The game is available at Digital Praise-dot-com.

Thought of the day

I saw this this morning when I was leaving for work. I had to look twice. One house out of hundreds that was washed away by IKE. The owners had lost everything a few years ago to another storm. So this time they built it to last. I was thinking about this driving to work today. It reminds me of Matt 7 24-27 24

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Reflecting today: Am I building my life on the rock that will withstand any storm or am I building on sand? What about you ?

www.christiannation.com

A NEW WEBSITE SAYS IT HOPES TO CAPTURE THE PULSE OF THE EMERGING CHRISTIAN CULTURE WITH RELEVANT CONTENT ON SUCH THINGS AS MUSIC, MOVIES, APPAREL, AND BOOKS. Christian Nation-dot-com officially launches today. Members can create social networking pages similar to MySpace and Facebook.

Something to Think about!

God led Jesus to a cross, not a crown, and yet that cross ultimately proved to be the gateway to freedom and forgiveness for every sinner in the world. God also asks us as Jesus' followers to carry a cross. Paradoxically, in carrying that cross, we find liberty and joy and fulfillment.

Bill Hybels

SCC on the Early show.

Hey everyone sorry it's been a couple days, but life is flying by right now. I"ve said it many times on the Mid-Day show, that Vanessa and I look up to the Chapman family. Steven was on the Eary show this morning. If you missed it ... check out the video below. Fyi there is a short spot that plays before the video.



Watch CBS Videos Online

Hands and Feet update

Audio A's Hands and Feet Hit Gustav Territory

From CmCentral

While the U.S. is bracing for Hurricane Gustav, the carribean is just
beginning to clean-up after this massive storm. Audio Adrenaline's Hands &
Feet Project (link: www.handsandfeetproject.org) Children's Village is
located in Jacmel, Haiti -- the city in which Gustav first made landfall.

The Project took quite a blow, as they received more than 25" of rain in 24
hours and were hit by a mudslide. The flooding and mudslide were nothing,
though, compared with the eight feet of rock that proceeded to tumble down
from the mountain, destroying two of the Project's homes as well as it's
main storage depot. Everything stored inside the building --from clothing
and diapers to food and tools-- was a complete loss! Mark Stuart (AA's lead
singer) and his father went down to Haiti this morning with a Civil Engineer
to take inventory and to look at solutions for clean-up and future
preservation.

Fortunately, ALL of our staff and children are safe. Unfortunately, they
--36 children and approx. 10 staff-- are all living in the one remaining
undamaged home. The Project has been devestated, though not beyond
repair. What is needed now is helping hands and prayerful hearts. If you
would like to [b]donate to the Hurricane Gustav Relief Fund, please CHIP-IN
ONLINE (link: http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/d6f9c48d492e24f6) or send
donations to:

Hurricane Gustav Relief Fund
c/o Hands & Feet Project
PO Box 682105
Franklin, TN 37067

Save Money on Textbooks

Are you headed to college this Fall? When you hit the campus bookstore, hang onto your jaw and your wallet! Why? Textbooks are expensive! According to MSNBC, today’s students spend between $500 and $900 per semester on textbooks. Multiply that by 4 years, and we’re talking over $7,000 on textbooks alone! So, here’s how to beat the system this semester, and save a few bucks:

Hit the bookstore the moment you get your list of required books. That way, you might still find used versions of your required textbooks.

Comparison shop. At the campus bookstore, write down every book’s ISBN number – that’s the number at the top of the bar code. Then, pop online to compare prices at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, eBay, and Varsity Books.

Another way to save money on college textbooks: Look into eBooks. They’re significantly cheaper that printed books, and most of the time, you can highlight passages and make notes in the margins – just like real books. eBooks are available at Amazon and CourseSmart.com. At iChapters.com, you can buy individual book chapters for as little as $2.

Another money-saver: Textbook rentals! They’re available at many universities, and online at Chegg .com. You’ll save a lot of money, as long as you return your books on time. Go one day over your due date, and you’ll owe a $25 late fee. If you’re one week late, you just bought the book for the full purchase price.

Look for free downloads. Classics and other books which no longer have copyright protection can be downloaded for free at websites like Project Gutenberg.
Find other people in your major, and start a book-sharing group. Sharing, buying, and selling books among yourselves can save you big bucks.

HURRICANE GUSTAV

CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS ARE PREPARING TO OFFER RELIEF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES TO THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE GUSTAV. One of them is the Salvation Army. It says it has already served more than 100-thousand meals throughout the Gulf Coast to evacuees, volunteers, and first-responders.
World Vision says its staff in Mississippi and Texas have been coordinating with dozens of churches and community groups to make sure they're ready to help.
And the Southern Baptist Convention's Disaster Relief ministry says it's planning for and anticipating the worst.
Just in terms of food, ministries and Christian organizations are prepared to provide hundreds-of-thousands of meals on a daily basis

If you would like to help here is the link to World Vision
: http://donate.wvus.org/OA_HTML/xxwvibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10025&item=394

Billy Graham Movie!!!!!

Most of us know Billy Graham as the self-assured and charismatic preacher who became one of the most important figures of 20th Century Christianity. Now, with the release of Billy: The Early Years, we meet Billy as the earnest and promising young man at the crossroads of faith and doubt, ultimately facing the moment of decision that launched one of history’s most powerful evangelistic careers. for more details log on to www.billytheearlyyears.com

Back to School Bash

Back to School Bash!
Friday, August 22nd, 6 pm @ Stonewater Park

There will be a free school supply give-away...
so come early while supplies last!

There will also be free food, bounce houses,

face painting, balloon animals, mini concert

and a movie in the park.

more details at www.lifesonglasvegas.com

Plumb's little girl

Plumb posted pictures of her new baby girl on her myspace .... check it out at http://www.myspace.com/plumb

Free Music!!!!!!!!!!

More than 8,000 fans have downloaded free copies of Phil Wickham's Singalong, the singer/songwriter's first live worship album. The project—recorded before more than 3,000 worshippers at Solid Rock Church in Portland, Oregon—is available at no charge at Wickham's official website. The popularity of Singalong propelled the artist's first two projects, Phil Wickham and Cannons, to the Top 25 of iTunes' Christian and gospel chart. www.philwickham.com

Our House!!!!!

After years of praying, we have been blessed to be able to buy our first home. I feel like such a geek, because I drive by the house everyother day as it's being built. Here are some of the pictures!



We have 3 bathrooms and they haven't even started yet!!!



Foundation


1st floor framed


This is a picture from today!!

Ok so I have to admit , when I first saw this I laughed. After learning that the young man is in serious condition, it made me think. How many times have I done things that weren't wise? I don't think I can count that high!! I am greatful that I have a God that loves me, despite some of the choices I make!

My Kids!!!!!

Since you hear about them all the time, I thought I should post a picture of them. Abby will be 3 in September. Jeremy turned 3 in June. I have to say that being a Daddy is one of the greatest joys of my life.

After The Storm

After the Storm
A fan at a recent Atlanta concert is profoundly affected by Steven Curtis Chapman's moving testimony, sharing his grief over his daughter's tragic death.
By Mark Geil | posted 08/11/08


There comes a time following unspeakable personal tragedy when one must return to some aspect of normalcy. Simple actions like doing the dishes and driving the car again can be triumphs in the process of grief and recovery. Going back to work seems the ultimate signal to the world that life will go on, even when life is forever changed.

Steven Curtis Chapman is back to work, an act that he thought might never happen following the tragic loss of his five-year-old daughter, Maria Sue. He's performing again, and that's a good thing. It's what he is wired to do, and for him, at this time, is a mixture of celebration, reflection, and catharsis in a strangely public way.

Chapman's August 2nd concert at Turner Field in Atlanta was extraordinary for a number of reasons. His family was in attendance for the first time since the accident. His wife Mary Beth stood on a distant concourse with daughters Emily, Shaohannah, and Stevey Joy. Sons Caleb and Will were supposed to be onstage, performing with Dad, but instead they watched from just offstage, due to another extraordinary circumstance: a massive electrical storm coloring the sky just before the show.

The Braves game ended under clear blue skies, and the stages were quickly assembled just in front of the dugout on the first base line. But as local Christian radio DJs made their introductions and commercial spots aired on the big screen, the sky grew steadily darker as grounds crew rolled out their massive tarp just as opening act Jonny Diaz (brother of Braves player Matt Diaz) took the stage. The show up above became as compelling as the one on stage, as Diaz bravely performed one song before introducing his brother, who bravely gave a three-sentence testimony before introducing Braves pitcher and born-again Christian John Smoltz.

As Smoltz gave a similarly abbreviated message and the band's equipment was covered with heavy tarps, a sudden swirl of wind lifted the post-game debris from the entire upper deck into the air, causing a floating trash heap. Then the rains came as jagged bolts of lightning formed mangled branches of light over the downtown skyline. Smoltz gave way to God and fans retreated to the concourse while the storm raged.

The symbolism was as heavy in the air as the rain. After waiting out the violent storm, Chapman at last took the stage, though under less-than-ideal conditions. The band's gear couldn't be uncovered in the puddle-filled stage, and the show could not go on as originally planned. Still, Steven carried on, because the storm had passed and life was carrying on. His set list was blown away by the storm, both literally and figuratively, yet the sound crew managed to set up for a single microphone and acoustic guitar to be heard.

I wondered along with so many if and how Chapman would address his daughter's death. He could have put his game face on, played his greatest hits without a word, and we would have still cheered with the sympathy and compassion of fellow sojourners. Instead, he performed every single song for Maria, to honor her memory, to allow us to share in his grief, and to somehow use all the suffering for God's glory.

The first song played was also the first that came to Chapman's mind in the emergency room: Matt Redman's "Blessed be Your Name." He paused before the bridge, and his voice cracked ever-so-slightly as he sang, "You give and take away, You give and take away/My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name." The words of unwavering faith took on profound meaning coming from a man from who so much had been taken away so recently.

Chapman was, to some extent, making up the show as he went along. He spoke as much as he sang, if not more. Other old songs took on new meaning, like "Not Home Yet"—"From one who's cried like you/ Wanting so much just to lay down and die/ I offer this, we must remember this/We are not home yet." Also "God Is God"—"And the pain falls like a curtain on the things I once called certain/And I have to say the words I fear the most: 'I just don't know.'" And yes, he also performed "Cinderella," the highlight of the evening, sung as a promise that all who follow Christ will one day get to meet Maria Sue, and that father and daughter will dance again in heaven. The promise was punctuated with a newly written final line: "All too soon, the clock will strike midnight, and the dance will go on."

This was far and away the most funereal-like concert I've ever attended, but it was all remarkably appropriate—for the man, the family, and the audience. Chapman looked older, downright professorial in a goatee and wire-framed glasses, the need for which he explained, "I've been under a lot of stress lately." He was deeply personal throughout, whether singing "I Will Be Here" to Mary Beth (again, with deep new meaning), holding up a picture of him with Maria he had tucked in his Bible, or describing his gradual journey back to the stage. He also performed the new final verse to "Yours" with piercing intensity: "I've walked the valley of death's shadow/So deep and dark that I could barely breathe."

Chapman's vocals and guitar playing were only sometimes imperfect, if only because there was no band offering support. But every ragged chord or strained high note was a reminder of the gift he was offering us simply by performing at all. The concert closed with another vocal testimony, "My Redeemer Is Faithful and True," a corporate chorus of "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever," and a closing dose of frivolity through his signature hit "Dive," suggesting the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

A very different show was planned before that night, but the storm changed all that. As in the lives of the Chapmans, God had something different in mind, just to remind us all of his steadfast love. When the storm had passed, when Chapman had courageously started performing—sharing and grieving with all of us—God painted behind him one of the most beautiful sunsets Atlanta has ever seen. Some questions will never be answered this side of heaven, but God is God, and the show goes on.

Veggie Tales!!!!!

Big Idea Presents

God Made You Special, Live! Tour

VeggieTales Characters Perform Favorite Songs with Singing, Dancing Extravaganza!!!!!


Featuring favorite VeggieTales songs and spectacular singing and dancing, this 80-minute event is perfect for kids of all ages! With ticket prices ranging from $12 to $25, audiences everywhere can expect to see some of their beloved VeggieTales characters come to life right before their very eyes, as well as experience a few really fun surprises as this tour hits the road at a church or theater near you!

Veggie Tales Live will be making two stops in the SOS listening area. Sept 9th in Salt Lake City,UT and Sept 11 in Missoula, MT. For more details log on to www.bigidea.com/live

Saving Gas

Use the cruise, clean the car: Forecast Earth covers the classic tricks, such as using cruise control and maintaining your car. This is a great list to begin with.

Carpool at least once a week: Ask around your office and see whose route meets up with yours. Parents can also arrange carpools for driving kids to school. Alternate who drives, and you'll automatically cut gas costs.

Drive slower: Driving just 10 miles slower can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent. And no, you won't burn more gas because it takes a tiny bit longer to get to your destination.

Don't sit idle: When you let your car idle, you might as well light a dollar bill on fire and toss it out the window. It's been proven that stopping and restarting a car uses the same gas as leaving a car idling for 6 seconds with the air conditioner on. Today's fuel-injected cars don't need to warm up in cold weather either.

Reduce air drag: The Rocky Mountain Institute estimates you can save 15 to 30 gallons of gas per year if you take off a roof rack just half the time. Besides, you only need it for skis when there's actually snow on the ground.

Ditch the drive-thru: One test in Toronto found that you can get a fast-food breakfast faster and burn less gas in your car if you park and go into the restaurant. Considering how much idling cars do in drive-thru lanes, this isn't surprising.

Mortgage help and how to get it

From the A.P.

Questions and answers about the Hope for Homeowners Act of 2008, passed by Congress last weekend to try to steer as many as 400,000 struggling homeowners away from foreclosure:

Q: What exactly will the legislation do?

A: It will allow those who qualify to cancel their old mortgage loans and replace them with 30-year fixed-rate loans for up to 90 percent of the home's current value. The FHA will insure a total of $300 billion of the loans over a three-year period.

But the decision on whether to write such a loan remains up to banks, which would have to be willing to take a loss on the existing loans in exchange for avoiding an often-costly foreclosure.

Q: Who is eligible?

A: Eligible borrowers must have spent more than 31 percent of their monthly incomes on their mortgages as of March 1, 2008. The troubled loan must have originated no later than Jan. 1, 2008, and be on the borrower's primary residence. And the borrower's income must be verified.

Q: When does the program start?

A: It takes effect Oct. 1 and runs through September 2011, although the FHA isn't likely to have it operating at full capacity until next year.

Q: Since lenders can pick and choose which loans to refinance, how can consumers determine if theirs will be selected?

A: Check with the bank or financial company servicing your mortgage, but it may be weeks before they make decisions concerning the new guidelines and assess individual loans.

Even then, keep expectations limited.

"Servicers are going to be reluctant to take the government up on their offer," predicted Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "The earliest they'll start taking them up on it is early next year. And even then it's likely to be modest."

Q: Is there anything a homeowner can do to improve chances of benefiting from the program, such as crunching numbers to make a case for the bank?

A: Not really. The best step is to keep up your payments as best you can.

Q: But doesn't this provide an incentive to NOT pay your mortgage, if you're barely keeping ahead of bills and are underwater on your house, so you can qualify?

A: No. If your situation deteriorates enough, the bank may reject any possible new loan.

"Turning yourself into a financial basket case is not going to work," said Dan Seiver, a finance professor at San Diego State University. "If you turn into a complete deadbeat, the servicer is going to just foreclose and dump it."

Q: So what should I be doing now besides trying to keep up with payments?

A: Talk to a local credit counselor and call the toll-free hot line of the Hope Now alliance — an industry group trying to coordinate a response to the mortgage crisis — at 1-888-995-HOPE. It is available 24 hours a day to provide mortgage counseling in multiple languages.

Mary Thomason, director of resource development for The Impact Group of Atlanta, a housing counseling group, also suggests tracking expenses and income closely in order to be able to forecast your cash flow for the next six months and give yourself better control of your finances.

Q: If the banks and lenders refuse to write these loans, then what?

A: Public and political pressure may prompt them to participate. If not, and more people continue to lose their homes, Zandi says the next White House administration subject them to additional regulations or investigations if they remain unwilling to take on the risks.

Q: What happens if I'm able to sell my home after I refinance?

A: If you sell during the next five years, you must agree to share 50 percent of any profits from the resale with the government. What's more, homeowners can only retain equity gains based on a sliding scale. The homeowner would have zero equity from a sale in the first year, with the amount rising 10 percent in each succeeding year and capping at 50 percent from a sale in year five and thereafter.

The equity must be repaid because the maximum amount on the new loans will be capped at 90 percent of the current market value, which automatically gives the previously troubled homeowner 10 percent equity in the home.

Q: Where can consumers find more detailed information about the plan?

A: There is a six-page summary of the housing act at

http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/HousingandEconomicRecoveryActSummary.pdf

and the FHA's Web site at http://www.fha.gov is a place to watch for updated information. The entire 694-page bill is at http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/hr3221_bill_text.pdf