Today’s Top 50 Person: Gene Neal

Today’s Christian Song: We Need Jesus by Petra

Today’s Quote: “Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.”

Today’s Thanks: Grace. I am a sinner but I am going to heaven because God shows His matchless grace towards me. I have not earned it, and that’s something that I have to continually remind myself of. It is a free gift. It releases me from the pressure of having to earn it. God will never love me any more or any less than He does right now! Also, I have many people on this earth who show grace towards me all the time. It is so great to know you can be loved, even though you mess up and you don’t follow through and you fail others all the time! Grace – how sweet the sound!

Today’s Verse: “These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:1 – 9.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Gary Phillips

Today’s Christian Song: For Future Generations by 4Him

Today’s Quote: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” John Wooden

Today’s Thanks: The Dallas Cowboys. I know – you’re going to laugh. Go ahead. It’s my list, and I’ll build it the way I want to! Haha Well, what can I say? This organization feels like my family, and how can you describe your family in a paragraph and do justice? It’s safe to say that a good portion of my life has been spent in front of the TV , radio, computer or just in the shower trying to analyze what went wrong or what went right – how to explain what went so well or how to make things better. I defend these guys to others, and then crush them in my locker-room speech to the bathroom mirror. Yep, I can tear them down and build them up any way I want, but boy don’t you say a word about them! Haha I always say that winning never feels as good as losing feels bad; after a loss, you can burn that adrenaline as rocket fuel to make sure you come out ahead next time, but after a win there’s always somebody coming back at you harder next time. So, I trudge on – always hoping, always supporting. Some of the best times in my life has been in front of the TV with those I love the most, cheering out loud and jumping up and down! It’s so funny; I’m sure someone watching would think we’d gone crazy. I can remember the look on Jaron’s, Angie’s, and Momma’s faces when we win. That’s priceless. Come on guys – get up, come back, and do it again – just for ME!!!! How ‘bout them Cowboys!!??!?!!?!?

Today’s Verse: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Joe Shelton

Today’s Christian Song: Allrightokayuhuhamen by Rich Mullins

Today’s Quote: “You will be as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration.” James Allen

Today’s Thanks: Sports. Most people wouldn’t believe it, but I have a strong competitive nature. It’s just that my meekness covers it up! But when I was younger, man – I was high strung when it came to competing. I think that’s why I allow my meek side to show so very often – because I HATE to lose and I don’t deal with it well, so therefore I would rather take it easy than risk losing. But that’s only been true in just the past few years. Also, for me – sports are a release from dealing with real life issues. I’m in my own little world when I’m involved in sports. I feel that I have control over what SHOULD have happened. It’s easy to play arm-chair quarterback, arm-chair coach, or arm-chair general manager. But mostly, sports are just fun! The best reality show ever invented. People have a need to go beyond themselves in order to compete, and when that involved world-class talent it truly is a beauty to watch!

Today’s Verse: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Stephen Graves

Today’s Christian Song: Wishes by Out of the Grey

Today’s Quote: “The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” Randy Pausch

Today’s Thanks: Playing bass. The day in the 8th grade that Bob Taylor put his bass in my hands, my life changed. He loved me so much that he gave me his bass – a classic Fender Precision – in exchange for a piece of crap bass that I bought from Randy Harlow along with this huge bass amp. I kept the amp but I guess Mr. Taylor used that other one for lessons after I passed through school. Needless to say, I played and played and played some more. It took a while – for 3 years I played with only my first and third fingers on the left hand and my index finger on my right. But then it began to come together. I learned to read in college, but I learned to play in bands. I wouldn’t take anything for all those great charts we read in stage bands down through the years, but that set me up to be able to play in bands that really changed my life, and hopefully the lives of those around me!

Today’s Verse: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Josh Maze

Today’s Christian Song: In My Mind by Daniel Band

Today’s Quote: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is TODAY!” Chinese proverb

Today’s Thanks: Good food! Again, don’t laugh! God could’ve made everything black and white, or grey. Food could’ve been something that we just took in to keep us going. Instead, He makes all things for our enjoyment! Sure, I guess we abuse most everything. But I like to think that all this good food is a gift from God! Or at least I’ll take it like that! Haha! Favorites? Well . . . banana pudding, strawberry cake, veal parmesean, fried veal cutlets, Cobb salad from Newk’s, warm bread with butter, sweet tea, lots of fresh fruits (tomatoes – which is a vegetable! 😉 Haha! cantaloupe, peaches, grapes, etc), Kobe Japanese steakhouse, pulled pork barbecue, and LOTS more!

Today’s Verse: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9,10.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Marty Funderburk

Today’s Christian Song: We Are The Light by Servant

Today’s Quote: “To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done.” Brian Tracy

Today’s Thanks: Being Drum Major. As I look back over the accomplishments in my life, I have to say that the one I’ve worked for the most was being Drum Major, both in high school and in college. It’s one that I am most proud of. Back then, it was a passion. I wanted it more than I wanted anything, and I knew I was good at it. I knew I could accomplish it, and I did. So much so, that in high school, I expected to win it. In college, I hoped I could win it, even though I knew I could do the job. It was more fun in high school, because I got to be “me”. In college, Dr. Sills wanted more of a cookie cutter. But I still enjoyed what I considered the prestige. I still get goose bumps when I hear the announcer of any band say, “Drum Major _________, is your band ready? You may enter the field, in competition!”

Today’s Verse: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2: 4-6.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Brent Shorter

Today’s Christian Song: Holy by Nichole Nordeman

Today’s Quote: “When we have done our best, we can await the results in peace.”

Today’s Thanks: Baptist Student Union. I was excited about going to Mississippi State, but I had no idea what BSU was when I first stepped on campus. The BSU at IJC was not something that I wanted to be a part of. But when I got to State, I made friends in the band that invited me to BSU. I was very busy, but when I heard they were looking for a bass player, I was intrigued. I tried out for The Fishermen, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I remember playing an outdoor gig for a bunch of high school youth groups that had come to learn about missions, and I just remember thinking, “Here are a bunch of incredible, fun, smart, cool people who are outgoing and outspoken about their faith in Jesus Christ. I really want to be that!” I had never seen someone like that, that I remember; at least not someone that stuck with me. I had found my peer group. Later, we did a BSU retreat at Holmes County State Park, and I stood in the back by the sound board. God spoke to me that night and poured His Spirit into me, and I have never been the same since. So, I owe the BSU the credit for being used of God to change my life, call me into ministry, and give me the opportunity to see others’ lives changed through me. I got great discipleship, with such groups as “MasterLife”. I have such great memories, and I have lasting friendships because of my involvement in BSU! Thank you God!

Today’s Verse: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4: 17, 18.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Julie Woods

Today’s Christian Song: Waitin’ On Someday by Greg X. Volz

Today’s Quote: “We cannot achieve our wildest dreams by remaining who we are.” Dr. John C. Maxwell

Today’s Thanks: Mississippi State University. I didn’t know how much my life would change when I decided to go to State. I remember clearly as I am sitting here the night that I sat down and wrote a letter to Dr. James Hejl, Director of Bands, telling him I wanted to come on to State that next fall and be a member of the band. I got a letter back almost immediately and was so excited! The friends I made and the life lessons I learned will always go with me. The biggest thing that happened was becoming part of the BSU, but there was so much more to my MSU experience than that. I didn’t get the greatest education, because I didn’t apply myself, but I had more fun than anyone should be allowed to have! And I learned so much about myself! I will always be so thankful for my Mississippi State experience!

Today’s Verse: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Michael Ball

Today’s Christian Song: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin

Today’s Quote: “People who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for more than they do.”

Today’s Thanks: Vacation spots. It is so great to have places to go when you want to get away! I know that I have never seen the world’s most beautiful places, but the ones I have seen are incredible. I am thankful for the ski resorts I’ve been to, for Gatlinburg, for Gulfshores/Orange Beach, and of course for all the cities we’ve been to – Dallas, Nashville, New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Louis, and others. So much fun, whether it was me and my friends, me and Angie, or me and Angie and the kids!

Today’s Verse: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” Titus 3: 4-6.

Today’s Top 50 Person: Kevin Pridmore. My childhood best buddy who lived across the street. We’ve spent hundreds of hours together, but none since the 6th grade!

Today’s Christian Song: Open Skies by David Crowder

Today’s Quote: “Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” Ronald E. Osborn

Today’s Thanks: Holidays. It is so good to be able to relax every once in a while with no worries. I’m thankful that the government has seen fit to spread holidays out over the year so that they come every few weeks. It always makes it easier to get up and go after you’ve been relaxing over a nice holiday.

Today’s Verse: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.