Thankful

Today was a tough day. We decided about a week ago that it was time to let our little dog Penelope go. She's been battling symptoms of what we think is a brain tumor since March of this year. We had a wonderful night with her Sunday night as we celebrated her doggie brother's first birthday. Penelope and Cocoa had fun, pouch food (a treat) and I even made a doggie cake with two of their favorite foods - peanut butter and carrots. It was a great night! Penelope walked around and let everyone who wanted to pet her. That's something she has not been doing. Then Sunday night and Monday she was back to her previous tired and seemingly painful self.

I am so thankful that we had her in our life for a little less than 8 years. She would have turned 8, or 48 in human years (small dogs age slower), on Christmas. Years ago I really wanted a dog. Michael Norwood's family's dog got pregnant and they graciously gave me a puppy. Penelope was a cute little hedgehog looking puppy who had the bossy, opinionated attitude of a classic Pom. She was an easy little dog to spoil. She loved to go for walks and "talk" to the neighbors dogs. She would stand at the fence and sniff and bark at the big dogs next door - a german shepherd and a golden retreiver. She always knew she was bigger than her 10 lbs. She even bossed around our new puppy who ended up being TWICE her size. That didn't matter. Neither did the fact that she couldn't see well. She still held her own.

She loved to play fetch and hide and seek. We would throw the toy then run hide. She would grab the toy and come find us. You could see her looking and sniffing the room to see where you were. She brightened our lives and gave us a reason to be home.

Even though today has been one of the toughest days, I am glad to have had her in my life. I'm thankful that God has allowed us to have pets - they bring so much love and comfort to our lives. Penelope will always be in our hearts and we love her very much!

Hillsong at the Orpheum

What an incredible night we had last night! We hosted Hillsong United, Reuban Morgan and Pastor Brian Houston at the Orpheum. These guys are from an incredible church in Australia - Hillsong Church. This is the church is making an impact in the world and we were honored to have them here in Memphis. It was incredible! Thank you God!

Pictures by Kristi Shack

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass is a new movie that will come out in December. Commercials and trailers are beginning now. While the movie looks like it's along the lines of the Chronicles of Narnia, there is a deep darkness to this movie that should motivate Christian families to stay away. The movie is based on a series of books called His Dark Materials and is supposed to be much worse than the film. Creators of the film are hoping to release the movies, have kids see it and then be enticed to read the books. But the author is an atheist who is promoting his atheistic world view. Along with a whole host of troubling concepts, the final book has the heroine killing God. For more info about the movie, the author and themes of these books, please check out this article by Truthquest.net.

While I am never into boycotting a movie or anything, I am concerned that parents know what their child is watching and reading. Everything may be permissible, but not everything is profitable for training a child in the way he should go. Please pass this information on to parents you know!

Live the Dream

Sonja (my sis) and I had the opportunity to accompany Leslie (our senior pastor's wife) on a great trip to Baton Rouge to the Live the Dream women's conference at Healing Place Church. It was an incredible time! Great speakers - Holly Wagner, Christine Caine, and Tammy Trent - made the conference full of spiritual meat. The church was all dolled up in pink and glitery stuff, but the things the speakers were challenging us with were far from the normal girly fluff. It was all about rising up and fighting in the spiritual. We are called to fight for our lives, our children, our marriages, our churches. We are in this moment in time for a reason. God could have placed us on earth at any time in history and he chose now! So we have to find what it is we are here on earth for - today!

Holly Wagner encouraged us to do what the Bible says and teach the younger women. Anyone younger than you is your responsibility! Chris Caine challenged us to work out our dreams - don't give up when it gets difficult. Just before a birth is the most challenging and painful time! If you give up then, you'll never see your dream come to pass. Peaceful times does not always signify God's will. Sometimes we have to work to see His will come to pass!