An Up and Down Month - James

Talk about a time of ups and downs. It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry.

Just over a week ago we learned that Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth lost their youngest daughter in a tragic accident. It hit me especially hard since we also have an adopted daughter named Maria. I can't imagine the pain each member of their family is going through. They definitely need our prayers.

Then this past week Nicol Sponberg (former member of Selah) lost her two month old son to what they think was SIDS. It seems like our web site is filling up with black wrapped photos.

Meanwhile, on the up side, our former Network President and current Board Chairman, Herb Roszhart, and his wife Ardys recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. What an inspiration, especially in a day and age when commitment to a spouse is becoming more and more rare.

Brenda and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary early in June. The longer I live with her, the more I realize how blessed I am. I first saw Brenda during a radio photo shoot my Junior year in college. I was struck by her outer beauty then but have since had the privilege of learning that she also has a great inner beauty. She truly is a blessing from the Lord.

One other change affecting our lives involves our oldest daughter. It's hard to believe but our little girl is now old enough to drive. And she's really doing pretty well at it. I praise the Lord for drivers ed instructors. I don't think either of us would make it through if I had to teach her.

As I said at the beginning of this post, it's been a time of ups and downs. But the good news is that, during this same time I've been studying Ephesians. Paul's words have reminded me over and over that it's not the circumstances around us that should dictate our moods or attitudes; it's the God we serve, who is at work in us, who is leading and guiding us (if we'll get out of the way and let Him), and who gives us the ultimate joy of knowing that, as His children, Heaven is in our future. If Paul could "count it all joy" writing from a prison cell chained to a Roman guard. If he could ask for prayer, not for deliverance, but that he would run a good race in the location God had placed him, then I should be able to as well. I'm still learning. Satan still drags me down more often then I'd like to admit. But I am learning. I guess the new title to this post should be: "A Month Of Running this Race Called Life in the Service of the King"