Four budding relationships amongst my friends are in my thoughts these days.  The relationship that has existed the longest is between a professing believer and a woman of another faith.   The second longest relationship is between a girl that basically eloped at 18 and an 18-year-old guy from her church.  The third relationship is between two believers who met at church, but live 1000 miles apart and have developed their relationship online.  The final relationship is just beginning between two very young people who met at church.

My wife and I met at church and I wouldn't recommend starting a relationship as young as we did.  There are a number of things we would "do over" if we had the opportunity, but mostly we just thank God everyday for bringing us together and working out details that we were too naive to think of.

It seems like, in my circles anyway, that it is increasingly difficult for conservative believers and homeschoolers to find mates.  I'm not entirely sure why this is.  It's possible that there are just fewer of us out there, but my wife and I were mentioning the other day that we know single guys looking for the right woman and single women looking for the right guy, but none that we would think would fit each other. 

I'm hoping and praying, as I watch especially the last two of these four relationships, that we will get to see them succeed as they make an effort to do things the right way.

Hi All,

I've been so busy lately and I am rarely able to blog from work.  I promise I will get something up here soon!

Toby

If you know me, you may know that from time to time I write songs.  I published one in this blog back in January of 2006.  There have been some pieces of a song in my heart for a few months and a couple of weeks ago, when I sat down at the computer, it all came out.  I share it here because the second verse in particular, reflects in a large way, what has happened in my life in 2007 and 2008.  It is supposed to be in the style of a contemporary hymn.  Hope you enjoy...

All That I Am is From Him

1. So often I try, so often I fail,

To live this Christian life.

All on my own, in my own strength,

Like I could be good enough.

But whenever I lose my focus on Him,

Or choose to ignore the Source of my strength,

I find myself weak and unable to stand,

And then I remember - All I am is from Him!

Chorus: I fall to my knees, I cover my face,

Confessing every sin.

I ask for the Lord to cleanse my heart

And restore my fellowship with Him.

I repent of my ways, I ask Him to be

The Guide of my life once again.

Then I go to God's Word, the Wonderful Source,

And He renews my strength.

2. There are so many friends in my life,

Who do not know the Lord.

Or  once knew Him well, but have chosen to stray,

And I do not understand.

How could it be, that once tasting life,

Someone could ever choose death?

And then I recall how often I fail

And I remember - All I am is from Him!

Chorus: I fall to my knees, I cover my face,

Confessing every sin.

I ask for the Lord to cleanse my heart

And restore my fellowship with HIm.

I beg for my friends to return to their God,

Or to yearn for His peace and His love.

And ask if it could be, that God would use me

To show them a glimpse from above.

3. Sometimes I look around and see what this world

Claims that it can offer.

I see those who choose to reject God above

Rewarded with earthly things.

And then I forget, my home is above,

And chase after the wind.

I lose my place, forget what He's done,

And then I remember - All I am is from Him!

Chorus: I fall to my knees, I cover my face,

Confessing every sin.

I ask for the Lord to cleanse my heart

And restore my fellowship with Him.

I thank God for all He has given to me,

This life and salvation so free,

Family and friends that remind me of Him,

and I'm His for eternity!

4. My God is so great, could it be I forget,

How awesome and holy He is?

That were I to spend all of my days,

I could not praise him enough?

But as strange as it sounds, that's just what I do.

I take Him for granted.

I start to think that I am so big,

And then I remember - All I am is from Him!

Chorus: I fall to my knees, I cover my face,

Confessing every sin.

I ask for the Lord to cleanse my heart,

And restore my fellowship with Him.

Oh, magnify the Lord, adore Him with me!

Let us exalt Him together!

None else compares, He is Savior and King,

Creator and God forever!