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Recommended websites and linksThis is the place to go if you would like to keep up with Mark and Parker's experiences as missionaries in a primitive African village. This "blog" is updated pretty often, and includes lots of photos and observations about life in the African culture. In addition to the serious, you'll also find lots of humor and craziness that is a part of who Mark is. Here's the link to Mark & Parker's blog, "Where the Paved Road Ends."
Isabelle was born on May 15, 2008, and had her own blog within five days after she was born. Mark and Parker didn't want their blog to be a photo album of Isabelle, so they decided to have a blog just for her. Here's the link to "Isabelle's blog."
My oldest son, Jonathan, also has a blog, if you'd like to find out what's happening in his life. He writes about his family, his faith, running, Geocaching, and whatever is going on in his life at the moment. There are entries about mission trip in summer, 2007, to the Czech Republic that he led, partnering with a church there that is sponsored by Christian Fellowship Church in Evansville. Many of the blogs also include photos and additional links. Here's how to get to Jonathan's blog.
In case you didn't read my recent "ponderings," I have decided to post my periodic "thoughts" on a blog rather than update the studio website. The first post is "Seasons of Life" -- about a rather significant birthday I had this year! "Ponderings" from the past are still on the studio website. Here's the link to my blog: "Thoughts from the Porch."
If you have not seen this presentation, you need to put this at the top of your "to-do" list. Through beautiful photos and reflective piano music, it's a guaranteed stress-reliever -- and presents a very significant reminder about living "the dash" well. Very highly recommended! Here's the link to "The Dash" movie.
This is a site that every musician should bookmark. Not only does it have an exhaustive music dictionary with the term pronunciation in QuickTime, there are also other features, such as a composer listing that can be arranged chronologically or alphabetically; tables of blues progressions, ornamentations, and much, much more. There's also a table of historical eras in music history. Another site that I highly recommend -- and best of all, it's free! Here's the link to "The Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary."
This incredible site has popular hits from 1950 through 1982. Click on the year and you can play original recordings of the top ten songs from that year. You can also choose from the wide variety of musical genres and have your own 24-hour jukebox -- or if you like challenges, you might try the "Name These Tunes" section. There are also current country and gospel countdowns, sixteen streaming stations, and more. Enjoy! Here's the link to "The Playa Cofi Jukebox."
I highly recommend this link for anyone looking for short devotionals to share -- or just a challenging or thought-provoking ideas to contemplate. You can sign-up to receive the free "One Minute Message" from Steve May sent directly to your "Inbox" once a week. I've pasted a recent post below: In the gospel of John Jesus said, "All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am." This phrase caught my attention: "My servants must be where I am." I realize that most of the time I'm asking Jesus to be where I am. Here, he's asking me to be where he is ... that is, to go where he goes. Where does Jesus go? We learn from the gospels that he goes to the lonely, the hurt, and the oppressed. He's with those struggling with defeat and yearning for victory. He's with those who have nowhere else to turn. And that's where he wants us to be. We are "where he is" when we encourage the discouraged. We go where he goes when we reach out to the disenchanted and the disenfranchised, when we express love, mercy and compassion to others. This is what Mother Teresa referred to as reaching out to Christ "in all his distressing disguises." Jesus reminded us, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) He is waiting to meet you today, sometimes in a distressing disguise. Look for opportunities to express his love and to reveal his grace. Here's the link to the One Minute Message.
This is a beautiful image of a nebula which is a composite of photographs taken by the space-based Hubble telescope and data from an observatory in Arizona. Many people refer to this as "the eye of God." The link below is direct to the Truth or Fiction.com website. Here's the link to the "Eye of God" photo
This incredible story has "made the rounds" several times, and I have been touched every time I've read it. However, I didn't want to pass it on until I knew for sure that it was true. I decided to check Truth or Fiction.com and found that the story, amazingly, was indeed true! You'll want to read this story about the power of prayer, and I think that you, too, will want to "pass it on!" The link is direct to the Truth or Fiction website, where you will not only be able to read the story, but also see a photo of the missionary who wrote about it! Here's the link to this wonderful story about the power of prayer
This is obviously the wesbite for Matt Redman, who wrote the song, "The Heart of Worship." This site is well-designed, easy to navigate, and is filled with all kinds of practical helps, worship resources and inspiration. While this site will be especially helpful for worship leaders (Matt Redman suggests that a more appropriate term is "lead worshippers"), there are plenty of things for non-musicians as well. There are lots of articles, Bible studies, reviews of books and CDs, specialized "video training" for musicians in many areas, and a "Heritage" section with some wonderful ancient hymn texts, hymn stories, and writings dating back to as early as the second century! I also like the graphics that introduce each section, and particularly like the photo of what appears to be very old, dark doors opened just enough to show a stream of pure white, brilliant light blazing through. To me, that photo is a wonderful symbol of what worship is all about. Check out this website. It's great -- and everything, including the video training segments, is free! Here's the link to the "Matt Redman"
This is another great free site with Bible studies and inspirational articles that might be good material to use during a choir devotional time. There are also some practical "how to" articles, a free song or two each week -- and get this -- you can even transpose the song before it is downloaded! If you use or enjoy contemporary Christian music, you need to check out Worship Together. And even if you're not "into" the newer worship music, I still guarantee that there is something on this great site for just about everybody. Here's the link to "Worship Together"
Several years ago I learned about Worship Quote of the Week, which is a wonderful email resource that is sent out, as you might expect, weekly. Not too many months after I had "signed on," I learned that Carl "Chip" Stam, who writes and maintains this website was moving to Kentucky to teach at Southern Seminary! I know some people are hesitant to sign-up for anything on-line because of past bad experiences. I think it is definitely a good idea to be cautious. However, I guarantee that if you sign up to receive the Worship Quote your name and/or email address will not be given to anyone. And best of all, it's completely free! Chip Stam has a real passion for worship, as evidenced in his position at Southern Seminary as Director for the Institute for Christian Worship. I think it's great that he seeks out "little gems" from his library (which must be huge!) and takes the time to share them. He always lists the author's name and the source. I have actually bought a couple of books just based on the quote I read. I also have copied many of his quotes in my journal and am blessed and challenged every time I read them. Here's the link to "Worship Quote of the Week" At this site, you'll also find an archives of past quotes, arranged by the source of the quote, which is a wonderful reference tool. I think his quotes should be "required reading" for all ministers, choir members, or anyone interested in becoming authentic worshippers.
Several times a week I get emails about legislation that is being considered by Congress regarding Christian radio and TV, The "Touched By An Angel" show, participating in a "beta" test for AOL or Microsoft -- with a huge payout for those who forward it to all the people on their email lists. Then there are stories that tug at your heart about children who are dying with cancer, families who are going through extreme hardship, etc. After forwarding one message like those above to Jonathan, he checked it out and found that the information was completely fictional and gently reprimanded me for not doing so. Ever since then I have tried to research the accuracy of anything I forward that I think might be questionable by going to Truth or Fiction website. I highly recommend that you bookmark this site. Here's the link to Truth or Fiction.com
This is a great website with several options to explore. You can view the Pathways to Peace "movie," send beautiful e-cards, or view the screensaver, with an option to download it for $6.95. I have the screensaver on one of my computers in the studio and those who see it love the photography, inpirational quotes, and richly-orchestrated music. In a noisy world, this site is a welcome retreat. Here's the link to Pathways to Peace
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