Stacey and I went to see the Christmas show with Casting Crowns and hung out with Mark Hall. He is their lead singer and songwriter and second biggest elf of the band.

We do it once a year. Raise the funding to help us stay on the air another year. I pray that you will come along side us and provide support so that we can be there for you and your family.

In times like the ones we are going through right now, isn't cool to have a radio station like STAR 99.1? I know that I depend on it. Everyday. Let me give you an example of how God uses STAR 99.1 in my life.

I woke up at about one in the morning this morning. When I fell asleep, I was trying to work through a concern I have. Like you, I have those nagging things that trouble me from time to time. Anyway, when I woke up, the song by Michael W. Smith was going around and around in my head. I kept singing to myself over and over, "Jesus is the answer, Jesus is the way..." It's the hook from Smitty's great song from years ago that we play from time to time. It gave me comfort and re-focused my attention on what is really important, and that is Jesus.

Without STAR 99.1 for me to listen to, I wouldn't have had that song stuck in my head providing comfort. I don't know why, but this happens to me when I need it. It may not be Michael W. Smith's song. It may be one from Steven Curtis Chapman or Chris Tomlin or Nicole C. Mullen. The point is, I think it's pretty cool to have a song stuck in your head that is based on Scripture. To me, this is God's way of saying "Here. I Am."

I hope that you think so too. I pray that you will support this ministry during Sharathon 2008. 

The first year she was a pumpkin and she donned an orange smock

Her daddy took her trick or treating. She had not learned to walk

The next year she was a bunny...and on one leg she would hop,

While her left ear stood straight up and the right would swing and flop

Then a bride costume from Grandpa; long skirt and lacy blouse,

But she tripped over the train; Dad carried her from house to house.

The fourth year brought us Lion King and she roared both day and night

She was either "Simba" or "Nala" (I never could get that right)

The next Halloween as she got dressed, she just kept asking why

If she was "Supergirl" how come she couldn't fly?

Her sixth year she was all in pink, protecting us from danger

As she kicked and "karate-chopped" the air as "Kimberly the Power Ranger"

When she was seven, she wore a yellow gown. She was "Beauty" to say the least

Insisting that her little sister, by default, was, in fact, the "Beast"

I knew this time would come and this year our walk together ends

She said "It's not cool for Dad to go, I want to walk with friends"

So, I'm figuring out what I will say; rehearsing one excuse after another

In case she notices the "ghost" behind her walks just like her father

And I still have Halloweens to come, my other daughter's only three

What worries me is, when she grows up, who will trick or treat with me?

People think I'm in trouble with my wife because I have this on my car. They think I'm trying to make up for something, like I'm in the dog house!!! Nope! It's there because it's true and I want everyone to know!

Ever hear of Ezekiel Bread? It is made with living sprouts or something like that. Since I love toast and the different kinds of breads that you can use to make toast, I have been looking and looking for some, but to no avail. So I did what I probably should have done long ago. I asked the lady at the grocery store if they had any.

She said "Yes, you can find it in the freezer section of the Health Foods Department." I asked her why there and not with the other breads, she said, "Because it will sprout since it is made of living grains."

Well, it made for some enjoyable toast eating, let me tell you that right now! But I wanted to sprout some and see what that would taste like, so I placed a piece out of the freezer, onto a plate to see what happened.

I left it out for three days, but it just got hard and dried out. Maybe I should keep it moist or something. I'll try again soon and keep you in the loop!!

I read about women's purses, and that they should weigh no more than 3 pounds. Well, I was curious about Stacey and Dawn's purses, so we tried to weigh them on a postage scale. They were so heavy, the scale went into ERROR mode!!!

So I dumped them out on the table to see what was in them. Check it out: 

That is a ton of stuff!!! The fact that I do NOT have to carry one of these things around is reason number 597 that I'M GLAD I'M A MAN!!

Today on the Morning Show, I answered a question that has been popping up from time to time. "Johnny, why do you sometimes play Coldplay's song Viva la Vida?" Well, I figured it was time to let the cat out of the bag, as it were. So here is the clip from the show this morning. I hope it explains everything.

I wanted to share this with you. Stacey and I love it!!

Here's what you do:

One pound hamburger

One can refried beans

One small can sliced black olives

One can Rotele (diced tomatoes with green chili peppers)

Four large soft flour tortillas

A bag of shredded cheese (I use the Mexican mix cheese)

Optional-three fresh Jalapeño peppers and one tomato 

Cook meat and drain.

Mix in refried beans and Rotele. Sometimes I use masa or corn starch to thicken the mixture.

Option-mix in two diced Jalapeño peppers and half of diced tomato.

Place two of the tortillas one on top of the other.

Spread the mixture onto the tortilla, about an inch thick.

Place the two remaining tortilla on top.

Spread cheese, black olives, remaining optional diced tomato and Jalapeño peppers on top.

Cook in oven at 300 degrees until cheese begins to melt.

Then, if you want a crispy top, you can cook for a minute or so under broil.

Remove, let cool and slice by cutting into slices using a pair of scissors.

Serve with sour cream.

Well, the food in China is certainly....um....different! Check this out! Here is the food court.

Hope you're hungry. Let's see what cooking!

As strange as this may look to us, our hamburger and french fries probably look just as strange to them!

I don't know if you saw the interview between Larry King and Steven Curtis Chapman's family, but it may have touched Larry's heart in a way that no interview has ever done before. I have two clips for you. First, here's a segment from the interview on CNN.

The day after the interview, check out what Larry had to say about these wonderful people:

Three words- "Pray for Larry"

Maybe there will be a day very soon when he figures out just how cool it is to have a relationship with Jesus! Yayyyyy! I'd write more, but I have to go chase after one of my dogs right now.....

So here I am, sitting at the stop light, listening to STAR 99.1 while driving home from the grocery store. I look over to my left, and what do I see? Check this out!!!

The street line painter just rolled right over this trash!

David A Dein's Mercy Me backstage blog was a fraud! Here's the real deal!

This is a full shot of backstage.

This is the door on the right side that Mercy Me went through to get on the stage.

Guitar case and a bunch of cold drinks! It was hot that day!

These are the wireless microphones Mercy Me wore. The little things are strapped to their belts. The bigger things are the cases they are stored in. The guys' names are on the little white pieces of paper.

Careful!!

That's me being told not to touch the guitars!

Mercy Me's guitars.

Now you can say you were backstage at the Mercy Me concert at Six Flags Great Adventure! YAY!!