So, Beth and I took a class based on Gary Chapman’s Book “The 5 Love Languages” years ago.  It was a great class and I really think that it was a big factor in saving our marriage after I had done some really stupid stuff.  One of the things we heard in there, and at numerous conferences and in plenty of books since, is that you need to pray together as a husband and wife.  Now, Beth and I both pray, but it’s always been individual.  This was one of those things we just never really did.  I mean, we tried it a couple of times.  Talked about it a lot, but never made it a habit.

All I can say is – WHY THE HECK NOT!  I mean, this is so basic and fundamental that it should just be a no brainer!  As a couple we want to be on the same page with each other and on the same page with our Father in heaven so why wouldn’t we do this?

And you know what, we haven’t done this on a regular basis.  But tonight we did.  And it was really cool. I really needed it – it was so awesome to hear my wife, my best friend and the person who knows me the best ask God to help me with my struggles, to ask God to help me understand and hear His call on my life.  It was so nice to be able to pray for her and for the kids.  We always say, “I prayed for you” or, “I’ll be sure and lift that up in prayer”, but to hear the person you love the most do that…I mean, that is SO love.

Now – I know one night does not a habit make, but it’s a start.  I’m a night owl and she’s not, but I almost always come up when she goes to bed to say good night and get any instructions for the night such as laundry, take something out of the freezer, dishes, etc. – which I almost always forget after walking out of the room.  So now It’s time to add in our prayer time together as well. She was the one that initiated tonight, but I hope – and pray – that this will become a normal thing for us.

What about you all?  Do you do this?  Is it a regular part of your life together?  If not, why?  If you do, how has it helped you as a couple?  Let me know.

So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything up here – sorry about that.  To say that I’ve been preoccupied would probably be an understatement.  I’m serving as head music for the fall East Ohio Emmanuel Emmaus walk which is takes time.  Add onto that my continued service at church, an amazing family at home that I want to spend time with and a job that…well, let’s just say that’s the one area that needs a lot of prayer right now.

I’ve been questioning whether I am where God wants me for a while now (See here, here and here).  Well, I’ve begin to try and listen to that and as I’ve been doing that it seems like I’ve had a bunch of things thrown at me.  I’m struggling with whether the job I’m in is the right job for me and I’m wondering what is going to happen next.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared – because I am.

Through it all, the one thing I am trying to be very deliberate about is to remain in the Word and to ensure that my praise and thoughts are focused on the Creator and what he wants for my life.  Not what I want, but what his plans are.  As Jeremiah 29:11 says,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I continue to pray on James 1:2-4:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I would just ask that if you have a moment to please lift me up in prayer.  That I would find peace, focus, and hear God’s will for my life and my family’s life.  Thanks.

Wow – it seems like every time I turn around another album is being released.  I have to admit, I’m a bit of a music junkie.  I couldn’t tell you how many CD’s I have.  My iTunes library is huge – and I haven’t ripped everything I have yet.  Of course, I don’t own an iPod to take it with me.  I’ve got a cheapo little MP3 player than can hold about a dozen albums that I use (anyone have an older iPod they’re looking to sell cheap let me know).

So, I’ve told you about Phil Wickham, Big Daddy Weave, Third Day, Hillsong United – and today’s artist is Brandon Heath.  Brandon was named the New Artist of the Year at this year’s Dove awards.  “I’m Not Who I Was” was his big hit from his last album.  Now, he is about to release his next album on Aug. 19th, “What If We”.  You can hear the first single of this album called “Give Me Your Eyes” on Christian radio currently.

If you would like to listen to the whole album right now you can.  The CD is up for one week only over at New Release Tuesday again (the same site that had Third Day’s album).  I’ve had a chance to listen through it once and it’s got some good stuff on it.  I love the message of the first track and current single, “Give Me Your Eyes”.  In this song he sings about how we have so much hurt and there is so much going on around us each day, yet we don’t choose to see it.  The chorus asks for the ability to see the world through Jesus’ eyes:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Wasnt it far beyond my reach?
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

The 7th track is a beautiful rendition of 1 Corinthians 13 called “Love Never Fails” that I imagine will become a standard at many weddings in the future.  Head on over to the site and give it a listen while you can.

Hillsong just released their newest album entitled “This Is Our God“.

One of the tracks on this album is called ‘Healer’.  If you haven’t heard this song yet you will soon.  It is an amazing song.  If you haven’t heard the story behind it, well, it’s even more amazing.

Head over to this website for hear this incredible song and to see the video of the song being performed live and to watch a video of the story behind the song.

OK, I’ve posted about opportunities to listen to CD’s before they come out before but how about a chance to get a whole album for free?  Phil Wickham is a singer/songwriter who’s most recent album out there is called Cannons – it’s a great album.

Well, he recently recorded a live concert up in Portland and has created an album called Singalong.  Here’s the thing though – you can’t buy it in any store.   You can, however, download from his blog for FREE beginning at midnight PST on Sept. 8th, 2008 (8/8/08).  To get it click on the image below and that will take you to the download site on his blog.  You will be asked for your e-mail address and zip code, but that’s it.

So head on over on the 8th and get some good tunes and enjoy.

Just an FYI that the Music page has been changed to a password protected private page.  It has the same content as before, however, the videos are not currently hosted on YouTube.  This is in order to prevent any possible copyright concerns with the songs that I had posted there.  I have added the text that was on that page to the About page if you want to learn a little more about my music.

Here is the text that I put on that page:

The videos have been changed to local files. I have removed them from YouTube & GodTube due to a concern over whether they would be considered a copyright infringement. While it is common for people to post to YouTube and other public websites these are not currently covered under copyright law without a Worshipcast license (and then only if you host it on your church’s website).

I am able to make these videos available to individuals on an as requested basis.  The files are saved as WMV and can be streamed using Microsoft’s Media Player or other compatible player.

If you have any questions or would like access to this page please e-mail me at Jeff@thehonnolds.com.

That’s the challenge and the joy of living in the digital age.  While there are thousands of videos of people playing\singing\etc. different songs on YouTube and GodTube from what I’ve read it is technically illegal without written permission from the copyright holder.   Now, we could argue till the cows come home on whether a band would ever complain to YouTube that someone is doing a cover of one of their songs (which is what would have to happen for these sites to take action on it).   However, until things change I can not, as followers of Christ, knowingly do something that is breaking a law.

I am hoping to start recording some of my original stuff soon.  Once I do I will post that on-line and make that available for anyone that may be interested.

By the way, if anyone does have any information on this topic I would love to hear it.  I would love to put the stuff back on-line, but don’t want to do something that would be considered illegal.  I mean, there are other bands out there that post videos of themselves doing covers – heck – one is even listed in my blogroll (and the latest one is a riot!!).  So if you’ve got any insight I’d love to hear it.

As a sort of follow-up to the post below I want to share this with you.  A few weeks back I came across Pastor Pete Wilson’s blog Without Wax (see the post on C.C. DeVille).  Pete is the pastor at CrossPoint in Nashville.  Well, I’ve begun listening to the sermon series that they have been doing over the summer called Sync and MAN is it speaking to me where I am.  If you feel like I have, stuck or stalled then go give it a listen.  I have listened to the first message twice and to the second message today and God is really putting some things on my heart.

Once you go over to the site pick the Nashville location from the drop down at the top and then you can click on the Synch logo in the lower right corner.  At the bottom of the page is a link to listen to the messages from this series.  The first one is available as a free download as well for all you mobile listeners.

Have you ever been stuck?  You just can’t move forward?  Things have entered a familiar routine and you can’t break out of it?  Have you ever felt like you were living out the movie “Groundhog Day“?

Well, I’m stuck right now.  I feel like I’m stuck in a rut where I’m doing the same things over and over.  I’m stuck doing what seems like the same thing at work.  I’m stuck on the same frustrations over and over.  Situations seem to just keep repeating.  At times I feel like I’m stuck in a deep hole physically, spiritually, and emotionally and I just can’t seem to dig out.  I’m stuck struggling with following what I believe is God’s call on my life.  I’m stuck as I struggle with stepping up to be the husband and father I know God calls me to and that my family deserves.

But here’s the thing – this is NOT intended to be a “Poor Jeff” post.  On the contrary, it’s just the opposite.  You see, in addition to being stuck in all those things I’ve been stuck in a specific book of the Bible – a specific chapter – a specific verse.  You see, I started reading James a couple of weeks ago and no matter how hard I try I can’t get out of the first chapter.  I keep reading the first half of the chapter, over and over and over again.  My eyes and my heart keep going back to verses 2 through 4.  Here what it says:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  (James 1:2-4, NIV)

Pure joy?  Seems like a strange thing to do when I’m facing trials.  The last thing I want to see right now is more trials of ANY kind, let alone MANY kinds.  But the good thing is that I know that I am going through this season for the purpose of being built up. God has a plan for me and if I can just get out of the way and stop trying to drive the bus maybe I’ll actually see where he wants to lead me.  And that’s just it – THAT’S where the pure joy will come from.  When I go through these trials, when I stop and just listen for God and his guidance for dealing with these trials then I will find joy.  If I look to His Word and not the world for the answers then I will find joy.  If I quit worrying about what I want and how I want things to work out then I will find joy.

It may not be immediate – and that’s the struggle that we face sometimes.  We want everything right now.  I know I hear that from my kids all the time!  They see something in the store or on TV and they have to have it NOW!  Sometimes my kids think that if they don’t get that new toy that the world will end.  And I’ll have to admit, that’s how I feel sometimes with God.  If I don’t get the answer that I want from God when I want it then the world will end.  Luckily as I continue to grow in my faith and my walk I am getting better about waiting.  I’m DEFINITELY not perfect (just ask my wife) and probably never will be – but I’d like to think I’m getting better.  I am getting more comfortable with where I am and what God is calling me towards and I am waiting for the day when I can look back and say, “Yep, that’s where the perseverance was developed.”

How about you?  Does this make sense?  Does any of it resonate with you?  Is there a place you’re stuck?  Trials you are going through?  Are you able to see how God is using that to build you up?