Nice Way To End A Week!

One of the perks of being in this biz is that we get a chance to rub elbows with some terrific people and artists. Tonight, I get to introduce onstage Selah at a benefit concert for Hope Clinic For Women.

I know they'll entertain and minister to the audience in a powerful way. It should be a great show. What a great way to top off a week!

Ha,Ha...It Is To Laff!

If ever there was a time to experience the healing power of laughter, it's today.
Boy, do we need it!

In the midst of economic upheaval, uncertainty and fear, let's not forget

Proverbs 17:22-
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

So, today take some time to have a good laugh!

The Three Stooges Minisode - Heavenly Daze

Happy Valentine's Day!

The most romantic day of the year arrives this Saturday!
Have a great Valentine's Day and enjoy these Valentine fun facts!


ROSES/FLOWERS

110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.

Valentine's Day is the big time of year for red roses; Mothers' Day means more pastel roses.

California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America.

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.

73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.

CARDS

About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.

One-third of all Valentine cards are accompanied by gifts.

Romantic cards are the best-sellers. Victorian era-influenced cards are prominent this year.

An estimated 25 percent of Valentine's Day cards are humorous.

More than 50 percent of cards are sold the week of the holiday, with the largest and most elaborate Valentine cards sold 48 hours before February 14.

70 percent of those celebrating the holiday give a card, followed by a telephone call (49 percent), gift (48 percent), special dinner (37 percent), candy (33 percent) restaurant meal (30 percent), and flowers (19 percent).

Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts.

Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.

Hallmark has over 1330 different cards specifically for Valentine's Day.

CHOCOLATE & CANDY

Conversation Hearts: In 1866, candy manufacturer NECCO made the first "Conversation Hearts" — then called "Motto Hearts." According to NECCO, eight billion of these little candies are sold between January 1 and February 14.

More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day.

GENERAL

In the United States, 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with their sweethearts.

The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is big business. Consumers will spend an average of $77.43 on Valentine's Day gifts this year.

E-commerce retailers expect to rack up about $650 million in sales of food, candy, flowers, and other Valentine's Day gifts. Of that amount about $350 million will be for gifts and flowers and another $45 million will be spent on food (including chocolate) and wine.

About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.

Thoughts On A Super Game!

Well, Superbowl XLIII is officially over with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Arizona Cardinals last night, 27-23 in one of the most thrilling Superbowls ever!

Some random thoughts about Super Sunday:

Has the pre-game show ended yet? Wow! It was about 9 hours
of information overload.

Jennifer Hudson's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner was simply spine-tingling!

Did you get your 3-D glasses to watch the 3-D commercials? I never saw a display at any of my local supermarkets. Oh, well.

The commercials, which are always a big deal during the Superbowl, didn't really do much for me. How 'bout you?
There were some, I found entertaining---

E*Trade Babies (Hilarious and my personal favorite!)

Cars.Com with the precocious David Abernathy

Pepsi Max - "I'm Good"

As far as the game itself ? Congratulations to both Arizona and Pittsburgh for truly making yesterday a Super Sunday!

Last Two Standing!

Arizona Cardinals

Vs.

Pittsburgh Steelers

America's national holiday---Superbowl XLIII is this Sunday!

Whether you're throwing a Superbowl party or just getting together with a few friends for the big game, dazzle everyone
with your super knowledge!

Check out the Superbowl Trivia below:



Super Reach

One Billion world wide audience

140 Million - Number of Americans that saw Super Bowl XLl

106 Million - Number of Americans that went out to celebrate New Year's Eve

100,000+ Visitors to the Tampa Bay area

150,000+ Attendees to NFL Experience over two weekends

232 Countries and territories broadcast the Super Bowl

34 Languages in which the Super Bowl is broadcast

Super Impact

$300-400 Million projected economic benefit to the Tampa Bay Area

Super Media Blitz

3,400+ Media credentials issued

$2.6 Million - Cost of a 30-second advertising spot on Super Bowl XLl game coverage

100 Radio stations on "Radio Row" in the Super Bowl Media Center

10 Most watched television programs in history are all Super Bowls

2006 Super Bowl XL had more than twice the audience of the Academy Awards

Super Sized Event

7.5 Million parties are held on Super Bowl Sunday with 43.9 million party-goers

1.5 Million TV sets will be sold during the week leading up to Super Bowl

Super Bowl is the top at-home party event of the year, ahead of New Year's Eve

Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day of food consumption, second only to Thanksgiving

A Historic Day In America!

At 12:05pm eastern time today, Barrack Obama took the oath of office to become America's 44th president. As the first African-American took the helm of the highest office in the land, the nation witnessed a momentous milestone in American history.

As our new president assumes power, I'd like to share with you this daily devotional I received via email from Inspiration Ministries:


Praying for Political Leaders

"Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king's son." - Psalm 72:1 NASB

Solomon, the author of this Psalm, knew he needed God's blessings in order to rule effectively. He also knew that people should pray for their leaders.

First, Solomon prayed that God would give him His judgments, to help him know how to make wise decisions. Then he prayed for God's righteousness, so he would do what was right. He prayed that he would have compassion and rule with justice.

Solomon prayed for God's blessing on his country, that there would be a minimum of problems, trouble, and unrest. He prayed for financial blessings, for himself and those in his realm...for those involved in business and commerce and those who were growing crops.

He then urged his people never to stop praying for him or other leaders: "Let them pray for him continually; let them bless him all day long." He asked them to pray he would have success, knowing this would cause God's blessings to flow throughout the land.

It's still urgent today that we pray for our leaders. And while praying for leaders, we must acknowledge God's sovereignty and give Him all the glory. His full blessings only come when we humble ourselves before Him, seek His face, cry out for His wisdom, and obey Him.

Today, pray for the leaders of your city, state, and nation. Pray that they would have Godly wisdom and be concerned for justice and righteousness. Pray that God would bless them. Also pray they would honor and serve Him with their lives and obey His Word.

Pray for a move of God in your country and around the world, that people everywhere, in every nation, would worship Him and bless His name.

At The Crossroads...

It's where we all find ourselves from time to time. The beginning of a new year is always an appropriate period to re-asses where we are in life. I've been spending the last few days, doing just that.

How 'bout you? Do you feel like you're at a point in life where important decisions must be made?

The great news is that, God is more than willing to give us His wisdom and direction for our lives. Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great
and mighty things that you do not know."

Wow! What an awesome promise!

So, if you're at the crossroads, spend some quality time alone with the Lord, and let Him reveal the great things He has in store for you!