This coming Sunday our church is recognizing the 10th anniversary of Gayla Oldham as my personal assistant.  She has been a great asset to Jeana and me.  She is our friend, our representative in many situations, and a trusted confidant.  Her husband, Tony, and their daughter, Lauren, have given up Gayla with a great attitude to this ministry on many occasions.  We have been a great team together.  Appreciation expressed from me or others will not just be enough.  We love her and even this time, my saying, 1,000 "thank you’s", seems insufficient.

It has been a whirlwind week ALL week.  I spoke this past Sunday four times, led Ministry Staff Retreat Monday and Tuesday, entertained a consultant and friend in our home on Tuesday night, met with him most of the day on Wednesday, have an incredible schedule today full of appointments, and have given my mornings as always to God, beginning at 4:00 a.m.  Beyond this, I have had three night engagements.  It has been crazy!  However, prayerfully, tomorrow will permit me some time to rest.

Even though the body is beginning to wear some this week, the spirit and vision are alive and well.   I am energized and fired up!  A forty minute walk daily from Sunday through Thursday have enabled me through these years to continue on, plus God’s amazing grace of health.

Now is the time:  the final 4 in the NFL playoffs … winners go to the Super Bowl in Detroit.  Who will it be?  Well, last week was a disaster.  Most fans and professionals are shocked!  I will take a shot at it again.

• Seattle will experience home field advantage, some say the "loudest stadium in the NFL", by defeating the Carolina Panthers.  I do NOT want the Panthers to win!  Please Seattle, fly over them, around them, and through them.
• Pittsburgh will defeat Denver in a great game … two great teams with two great coaches.  I like both of these teams, yet I just feel Pittsburgh will win.  Why?  I do not know.  I just think that their defense will stand strong and that their offense will find some success in that great city of Denver.  It really does not matter who wins this game from my account … talk about weakness … I still have a hard time with the Steelers winning anything from defeating my Cowboys years ago, but this time, I hope they win!  No, I really don’t care.

I just cannot live with what I just wrote on the Steelers.  Oh man, I am getting so weak as I near 30 years of age!

Have a blessed day.