http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8aJduZeAFk

Here is the "official" video of the Lancaster Musical Road, sponsored by Honda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxRgf5czTiM

John and I were talking about this. Seems someone beat us to it!

The Shield of St Patrick 

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

 

 

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ’s incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

 

 

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

 

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

 

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

 
            Attributed to St. Patrick -- Paraphrased by Cecil Frances Alexander            

Well, it has been quite an amazing journey.  I get a lot of questions from people -- especially those who have known me, but haven't seen me in a while. The most common question is simply, "Are you alright?" There are many variations, but the question is always asked accompanied by a concerned furrowing of the brow, and a lowered gaze directly into my eyes.

Yes. I am "alright."

It all seems to have started in the Spring of 2006. Actually, it had its beginnings the year before. I was "adopted" by a beautiful young lady, who had lost her young father to cancer. I had known her family as members of our church, and watched her grow into adolescence. I was stunned, awed, humbled, and blessed that she entrusted me with a fatherly role in her life. Having believed myself to be a total failure as a father, this was all the more incredible.

Soon, there were three more girls who came into my life, looking for that father's presence and blessing which they were all missing due to some tragedy. All four are amazing and wonderful young women. Each one so unique and gifted. My wife once commented that she thought of me as Philip, from the Book Of Acts, who had four daughters who were prophetesses. This is certainly true in this case.

I can't say exactly when it happened, but very early on, I had a keen sense of the authority, influence, and responsibility all this brought with it. As a man in this present day and social climate, there was no room for impropriety or compromise. I felt a tremendous grace from God to love these girls with a deep and holy love. I had never experienced such a wonderful thing in all my life. My heart had tapped into the heart of my Heavenly Father, and I found places there which had never been opened before. I found my appetites in all areas of my life shift drastically...

I began to lose a little weight, as my appetite for over-eating disappeared. I have always kept a certain standard of personal physical fitness, but had let my weight creep up to the highest it had ever been. Very naturally, I lost a few pounds. This all made me take my health more seriously, and I upped my routine at the gym. A few more pounds disappeared.

In July, 2006, I was on a ministry trip in Ireland. There, a fellow artist, Liz Fitzgibbon, got hold of me and prophesied like a hurricane. One of the things spoken was that I was about to enter a season of greatly increased prayer and fasting. I had no idea what was about to happen.

I returned, and found that I was powerfully drawn into prayer. I felt called to fast. There was an incredible supernatural grace for both. I pretty much adopted a life now filled with prayer and fasting.

More pounds came off.

I was starting to "dream with God," as Bill Johnson says it, and I pressed hard into seeing these dreams become reality. I saw wonderful and amazing answers to prayer -- especially for the "daughters."

On October 10, 2006. I ended a ten-day fast, and logged my lowest weight since my youth. I had lost 40 pounds since May of 2006. I have remained within five pounds of  that weight ever since. I feel great, both spiritually, and physically.

Later that same month, my son had a glorious and life-changing encounter with God. Now, one year later, he is attending the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, and is himself praying and prophesying! My Father is so extravagant!
 
So again, the answer is "Yes, I am alright!"