Back in the Saddle!

  Well, we made it home.  I've got to be honest and say it's been a challenge to get back into rhythm though.  Yokohama and Sapporo went 'crazy good'!  I really enjoyed Sapporo.  It was my second time there.  Masami and I went there for our honeymoon 27 years ago!  Wow, I cannot believe it's been that long.

  In Yokohama I got to go to one of the coolest places on earth, the Ultraman Store!  Sorry, I'm a geek and not ashamed of it.  Ultraman was the bomb in my day.  They probably don't even use that term anymore but I don't care.  He was and still is cool to me.  I had to take some pictures so, here you go!

  Hey, it was a good day to me!  It got even better though because when we flew out of Haneda to go to Sappora I found a shope there that has the 'original' Robbie the Robot!  I couldn't believe it.  Dude!  This is the orginal from 1956 the "Forbidden Planet"!  I had to get my picture taken here as well.  It just doesn't get any better than this!

  Sunday morning we spoke to a great church in Sapporo twice and then Sunday evening once.  I could not ask for a better response.  The reason it has been so different this time is because of Masami.  She has done a FANTASTIC job of translating.  People really understand what I'm talking about because she knows what I'm trying to say and she communicated it clearly.  She really could do this by herself for the most part!  I'm just the 'window dressing'!

  Anyway, after that we came back to the U.S.!  It only took 15 hours!  I was beat.  We got back two days before Thanksgiving which was not a smart idea.  I didn't sleep very well, actually woke up at 2:30 am!  Not good. Had a great Thanksgiving though.  The children with their spouses came over for lunch and dinner.  Went and saw the movie, "The Blind Side", interesting!  Just a low key day.

  I had to get up at 4:30 am the next day though to fly to South Carolina where I went to a Casting Crowns concert.  Mark Hall has been a huge blessing to the ministry.  He's advertising for us at the concerts so I went to be there and observe the pastors meeting that he holds.  I told you a while back about a video that I had made up to be shown at these events.  You can see it at the unfinished website, www.daretoask.org.  Great concert, these guys are all amazing and sold out for Jesus.

  Had to get up at 4:00 am the next day to get back to Kentucky so that I could speak in Mason Ohio on Sunday.  GREAT church!  Spoke there about 4 years ago and love the pastor!  He's a really good man that you can just be real with.  Their church, Grace Baptist, is exploding!  They've added on etc.  It's so good to see God working in their midst.  Great feedback from the whole event.  One young man came up to me telling me how the event totally answered his questions and how excited he was now about his faith.  Those are what keep me going!  I was so lost in my teens and early twenties.  We've got to reach this group.  Also, got an email from a friend on Facebook that was very encouraging.

  "Carl, I'm in the midst of a lively discussion with a friend of mine -
renewed our acquaintance through facebook - who is an ardent
evolutionist, and claims to be an atheist (although he allowed there
might be a god). He has asked me to read a book by Richard Dawkins, and
I will, but I asked if he'd be willing to read a book by a creationist
scientist. I'm not sure which one to send him. Do you have a
suggestion?
  BTW - I'm so thankful to you and AIG because I've entered into this
conversation fearless, and I would have avoided it 10 years ago! You
all have equipped me to do this! I'm praying my friend finds the Lord
in the process."

  Cool!

  Monday went to work, stayed their until 6 pm and was just tired!  Slept good last night and finally feel somewhat normal.  Busy day today doing video clips etc.  I took today off since I've got to go into work tomorrow.  I'd greatly appreciate your prayers. I'm in the midst of having to make some MAJOR decisions as far as ministry is concerned.  I truly need God's wisdom.

  Had a friend send me a link to an Adrian Rogers talk that really helped.  Take a listen, it's called: "Lighting the Future".  Tomorrow is a day that I believe will cement in my mind where I'm headed.

  Below is a picture of my beautiful wife and myself eating some serious sushi.  Man, it was just plain good.  Thanks for being a blessing to me and praying.  Let me know how I can pray for you.  I've added some folks to pray for on my prayer site, please go there and lift these dear people up.  Stay bold and God bless!

  Life is great and God is good, all the time.

ck