Bummer of a Week

I need to make this short, but this has been a bit of a bummer of a week.

• I've been ultra-tired this week and had several headaches - even fell asleep on our date night watching a Louie Giglio sermon (I almost never fall asleep like that).
• 3 of my 4 kids have been sick.  K might have mono.  S has thrown up twice this week.  The boys have both had diarrhea.  And it all started last Friday when S came down with the flu, followed by T on Saturday.
• Because of the sickness, we have cancelled our Spring Break trip to Nebraska to visit my 86-year-old Grandma.
• And then on Tuesday, March 11, my friend David Lloyd passed away in a freak accident.  It's been a humble privilege to be with the family this week as they grieve and I am amazed at their faith in Christ as they walk through this.  I have the honor of officiating Dave's memorial service tomorrow and am praying that not only do I honor Dave and the life he lived, but also Jesus Christ, who was David's Savior, even though Dave chose many times to live in ways that didn't honor God.  Dave was one of the first young adult guys I met when I moved to Cedar Rapids, and even though we only talked 3 or 4 times a year the last couple of years (partly because he spent 11 months in Iraq) and he wasn't always making God-honoring choices, I truly loved Dave.  Most everyone who met him couldn't help but love the guy.
• And just now as I finished the above paragraph about Dave, I just got a phone call that a friend has "lost his wife" - she's leaving him.

I know, compared to people in Kenya or Chad or other places facing genocide and civil wars, this is nothing.  But it still wasn't a pleasant week.

And then last night at Watershed's worship gathering, to end our time of worship together, we sang "Blessed Be The Name".  I love that song, but the "dark" parts had more power in them as I sang...

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name 

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

lyrics by Matt Redman

Listening Loves

I generally don't prefer to repeat experiences. In other words, I rarely watch a movie a second time or reread a book. It also explains why I rarely listen to the radio because I get sick of hearing the same 40 songs over and over.

But when something really grabs me (like Cloverfield which I watched a second time in theaters on Sunday night - thanks for letting me introduce it to you, James!), I'll give it a repeat.

I've been listening to Hillsong's latest worship album (which came in my "Relevant Network Kit" Winter 2008 box) entitled Saviour King. The CD has practically been on repeat at my home, and I've often found myself pulling it up on my iPhone while I am in the car. I wake with the songs in my head (and they aren't driving me crazy yet!) and find myself having impromptu worship moments throughout my day. It's been a while since a worship CD has grabbed me like this.

While I'm talking about what I've been listening to, I've also been enjoying Robbie Seay Band's Give Yourself Away album. And I've come to like Brandon Heath's Don't Get Comfortable CD because my 10-year-old daughter likes it.

And I've also really been enjoying listening to Andy Stanley's sermons as of late. And Erwin McManus' "Intersections" series about billboards was far better than I expected.

So if you are wanting some new things to listen to in the car, at home, or on your iPod, there are some things I've been loving to listen to and recommend to you!