When booking a date, remember that our busiest times are Easter, Summer, and Christmas seasons.

When booking a date, remember that our busiest times are Easter, Summer, and Christmas seasons.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

The past few weeks have been a real trial. Some might say we’ve had a streak of “bad luck” lately. If I even believed in luck, I would have to say it wasn’t just bad but almost non-existent.

One of the “highlights” of our week was this past Friday night. We were at GIG Coffeehouse in Uniontown. We’ve been going there every 3 months for the past 4 years or so and have never had as much trouble with our sound as we did that night. In fact at the start of the concert, we didn’t have any sound at all. Not that we didn’t try it out before the concert started, we just didn’t have the whole group do a sound check because there were so many people there already. (When we’re at GIG, we typically do a first song as the sound check and only have to set the volumes.)

As we began to sing, there just was no sound at all coming through the speakers.

The guys were busy trying to find out what the problem was so I started to talk to the crowd to take up the time. I started telling those in attendance of my “bad luck” stuff. It had been feeling to me like the devil was a bulldog with his jaw clasped about my leg, his teeth sunk deep into my muscles, and not letting go until I bled to death! I started to share about how we need to persevere through the trials because “greater is HE that is in ME than he that is in the world.”

At one point the screen from the sliding glass doors crashed to the ground outside and I heard someone say that the devil sure made a quick escape from the premises that night!

Shortly thereafter the guys were able to get some sound going. It wasn’t “right” but we were able to make do. It truly felt as the devil had left the building. We continued to sing.

But when the devil couldn’t stop us from singing he tried to stop the live broadcast on the internet. The computer shut down. We kept singing.

At the break I set up the broadcast again; I sent a quick posting on Facebook and asked any prayer warriors to pray.

The second half began. Shortly after, the computer crashed again and shut down the broadcast. I don’t know why it waited till we were singing to do that – it had nothing to do with the sound problems. It had been running for 15 minutes fine. Then the worse part happened! One of our speaker columns stopped working totally. There was no power getting to the unit. We finished the program with only 1 speaker unit.

I felt defeated. I went home embarrassed and upset about the whole situation.

The next day we had a puppet show and things were not any better. Mapquest underestimated travel time to West Virginia, we took a wrong turn and were 20 miles off course, arrived late, sound problems again, couldn’t find the disk with the puppet songs, and so on. Still persevered through and had a great program!

Monday morning I called a repair shop for the speaker. We were in a pinch since Chalice had another gig the following Saturday. I found out that repairing our speaker wasn’t going to be easy as Bose, the manufacturer, was not too reliable or prompt for unauthorized service centers and there wasn’t an authorized service center in our area. The service guy I talked to estimated at least $300 (shipping extra) for the problem IF it was what he thought it might be, based on my description and trouble shooting. And he said it might take 4 weeks or more to fix. He suggested I call Bose direct and see if they could help.

Bose offered us a flat fee of $250 for repairing the speaker but with shipping it could have been another $150 bucks! And it would take a few weeks especially with shipping the unit back and forth. Then they offered us a “trade-up” special. We send ours back with a thousand dollars and they send us the brand new model 2 system including a $500 upgraded gadget. (Brand new this system costs about $3000.00.) And it included free shipping for both the new model and to turn in our old one!

What the devil meant for bad, God turned into beauty for us!

And the best part…they shipped the new unit before they expected me to send back the old one. It arrived safe and sound today, in plenty of time for our service on Saturday!

We are surely going to sing HIS praises!

God gave us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness … that HE might be glorified!”

This song came from thinking about all the things that are attacking our families today: depression, marriage troubles, addictions (alcohol, drugs, even sex), and how we need Jesus in our lives to take these troubles and woes away. I know how difficult it is to cope with Jesus in my life, I can’t imagine going through some of this without Him! If you are going through any of these situations or if you don’t know Jesus personally, consider asking Him into your life. He will guide you and lead you through any trouble or woe. Trust me, I’ve been there! And He has been there for me!

VERSE 1
I’ve had my share of problems more than anyone would know.
And I’m the type of person not to let my sorrows show
The problems I was having were much too great to bear.
I often heard myself cry out, “does anybody care?”
But then one day the Savior knocked upon my heart
And all the joy I felt inside gave my life a brand new start.

CHORUS:
That’s why we need Jesus to get us through the day
To hold us up when all else fails, to help us find our way.
We need His hands to guide us, His arms to bear our load.
We need His feet to walk beside and keep us on the road.
His eyes to watch, to keep us safe, His ears to hear our cries,
His lips to speak encouragement and help us reach the prize.
We need His breath to give us life. His Spirit is our Friend.
And most of all His tender heart, that loves us with no end.

VERSE 2
We’ve been together many years, I’m not sure I should stay.
She doesn’t even see that love was lost along the way.
I try so hard to prove my love, this isn’t just a game.
So is it way too much to ask she take a little blame?
But the one day the Savior reminds me of my vow.
We learned to love and talk and laugh – I would never leave her now.

VERSE 3
I have a little secret. I cannot tell a soul.
There is something in my life that like to take control.
I wish someone could help me find the way to go.
I doubt that anything could ever wash me white as snow.
But then one day the Savior told me of my sin.
The guilt and pain were gone that day, forgiveness came within.

VERSE 4
Whatever is your trouble, whatever is your woe,
I can surely tell you there’s One where you can go.
He’ll take away your sadness and replace it with delight.
You only need to give it up and not put up a fight
Cause then one day the Savior, His arms spread open wide.
Love came from the Father, that’s why Jesus died.

Special thanks to Ryan J. Rhoades for designing the CD cover.

Have you heard this song yet? Will you leave your comments or thoughts below?

Read Luke 15:11-32, the story in the Bible of the Prodigal Child, and you might hear about God’s redemption. It is full of comfort and hope for the lost in Christ to regain their royal robes when the return to the Father. But there is much more to this story.

Listen as Keith introduces this song and you will hear that it’s more about the father’s attitude of forgiveness as a lesson to us on how we should act when someone offends us.

Either way you look at the story, this song is sure to touch the heart string of any parent, whether they have had a “prodigal” child, know of one, or been one themselves.

Special thanks to Ryan J. Rhoades for designing the CD cover.

Have you heard this song yet? Will you leave your comments or thoughts below?

Our first granddaughter should have been such an exciting time but instead, three months into the pregnancy, she was diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder called “Triploidy”. Most babies with this disorder don’t live past the first trimester.

We wondered why God would create a baby with this situation. The doctors recommended abortion. But her mom and dad said, “no” for God created this life for a reason. So many “perfect” babies are aborted by parents that don’t want them and here was a couple that wanted a baby, even one with imperfections.

At that point her parents named her Zoe because in Greek, zoe=life. And we started to pray life into that little baby.

I pondered about how God creates all “life” just to praise Him — even the life that won’t live very long. And this song was born from those thoughts. Though Zoe did not live to term but was birthed at 8 months we still know that her “life was made to praise Him!”

It wasn’t until after her death that the last verse came to me when I thought about how even after we die our life still goes on to praise Him in Heaven.

$1 of every CD sold will be donated to The Midwife Center, Pittsburgh, PA, who took care of Zoe and family.

It happened just after midnight . . . two young servants of God waiting expectantly for the blessed event – the birth of their first child. It’s an event that is so anxiously anticipated – it takes nine whole months to complete. That night, a few shepherds came to see them. One of the stray sheep stayed around to see what all the fuss was about. A few “wise men” were waiting not too far away. The angels were praising God in the highest. There weren’t any fireworks; there wasn’t any big band parade…just a quiet stillness in the air.

One night a baby came into this world to change people’s lives, to give them hope, to give them more faith. This scenario surely describes the night Jesus was born, but it’s not the night I’m referring to. I’m talking about the night Zoe Rhoades was born.

Mom and Dad saw the midwife that day and she could not hear a heartbeat so the process began to accelerate the natural birth progression. A few pastor friends stopped by to pray. Mom clutched a small stuffed lamb for comfort. Wise Grandparents passed the time in the waiting room. Angel-friends all over the world were praying.

The doctors never expected Zoe to survive. They never believed she would be born. But many people prayed that God would intervene and would bring life to this small child.

Zoe was diagnosed prenatally with Triploidy, a rare chromosome disorder. The doctors said she probably would not live past the first trimester and recommended abortion. At that point her father and mother, Lance and Amanda Rhoades, named her Zoe for in Greek, zoe means life. Friends and family began to pray “life” into her even before her birth. A website was created to inform people of her status and updates. Visitors posted prayers there as well.

Though Zoe did not live to term but was birthed at 8 months we all know that God created her life for a reason, and her life was made to praise Him!

From the moment Zoe was created she was destined to change people’s lives. She would never breathe a breath or cry that baby’s first cry. She would never learn to walk or talk. She wouldn’t fall in love, go to the prom, or get married. As insignificant as that seems, she was a very significant part of many people’s daily life. Because of you, Zoe, many people have come to a closer relationship with God, praying harder, praying more regularly, gaining in their faith and hope. As one person said on the website, “Already in your young life you have taught me to love more deeply and to cherish everything God has blessed me with. Beautiful little one I pray for you daily!”

Zoe, you were created by Almighty God and your destiny was set. Your life was made to praise God. And we are all praising Him, for Father has taken you into His arms. Your life will go on in eternity. Though you are gone from our presence your life will continue to touch people’s lives. We will never forget you.

To those who prayed for Baby Zoe, the whole family appreciates all your prayers, phone calls, cards, and support throughout these past few months. But the work is not over yet.

Those of you who prayed that God’s will would be done, your prayer was answered. God knows best what we have and need and knows beyond what we can endure. His perfect will is best for us and we need to remember that.

Those of you, who like me, prayed up the very last moment that God would perform some kind of miracle in that Zoe would be born alive, or even better yet, would raise from the dead, also had prayers answered. Zoe will live eternally in the arms of our Heavenly Father. God did raise her from the dead to be with Him.

This has never been about whether you prayed the right way or not, whether you prayed hard enough or not, whether you did something wrong or not, whether… you fill in the blank. Let’s keep our focus in the right direction. Don’t give the enemy satisfaction when you start to doubt.

This HAS been a test in trust and faith. Do we trust that God is in control? Do we believe that God’s will be done? Do we have faith to believe that God knows what we can and cannot handle and He will do what’s best for us?

Lance and Mandi passed the test. In the midst of the whole situation they were true pillars of faith and trust. They know that God is in control. They are ready to move on and know that Zoe is with God.

Now as to where the work isn’t finished yet . . . let’s continue to hold up Lance and Mandi in starting their new church. Keep them in your prayers for their next child (and we believe there will be one). Also keep in your prayers the millions of unwanted babies that are aborted before they even have a chance. Let’s also remember to pray for the many babies that are born with birth defects. And don’t forget their caretakers.

Remember that Zoe was created to give glory to the Father. All life is made to praise Him. Let’s remember to give Him the glory . . . in all things.

From beginning of time when Creation began
Praising the Father was all in the plan
So Life was made to praise You.
Adam and Eve in their Garden of Love
Were made to praise God in Heaven above
And Life was made to praise You.
Oh Life was made to praise You.

From the critters that live in the forest and glen
To the words that come from my paper and pen
To the flowers that bloom again and again
Oh Life was made to praise You.

God does not worry and God does not fret
Life’s circumstances are not always set
And Life was made to praise You.
When problems come and they certainly will
Always remember to keep praising still
Cause Life was made to praise You.
Oh Life was made to praise You.

In the middle of troubles And sorrow and woe
When it feels like I just don’t Have someplace to go
I’ll remember a time when You made it so
My Life was made to praise You.

When time has ended and Life is no more
Look toward heaven and see what’s in store
Cause Life goes on to praise You
You made a way for Life to go on
I’ll never wonder when my Life is gone
Cause Life goes on to praise You
Oh Life goes on to praise You.

From the small tiny seed that Grows to a tree
And the vision that came From my heart as a dream
To the baby that’s growing Inside of me
Oh Life was made to praise You.
Yes, Life was made to praise You.
Oh Life was made to praise You.

UPDATE:
Lance and Mandi planted a church in Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA ministering to the college students in the area. More information can be found on their website: www.reachingoakland.com. In September 2008 they delivered a healthy baby girl, Selah Grace Rhoades.

Have you heard this song yet? Will you leave your comments or thoughts below?