KLove Friends and Family Cruise 2010

Well its time to start planning for the 2010 K-Love Friends and Family Cruise. The Twenty-Ten Cruise is headed to Cococay Island and Nassau, Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida, February 1-5, 2010. The entertainment lineup is fantastic with Chris Tomlin, Mercy Me, Newsboys, David Crowder Band, Big Daddy Weave, Mandisa, Francesca Battistelli, 33 Miles, Downhere, DecemberRadio, Tenth Avenue North, Addison Road, Fire Flight, and The Annie Moses Band. Speakers Louie Giglio, Tony Nolan, Lonnie Clouse, William Graham. Other Guest include 321 Improv Comedy, Harris III, Master Illusionist and for the kids Veggie Tales and Go Fish. Can’t wait for another great Christ Centered, Family Friendly Vacation, with rest, relaxation, meditation, rejuvenation and lots of GREAT Christian Music! It will be great to spend some time with Mercy Me, we’ve been following these guys since way-back when they toured with Shepherd Ministries’ Student Conference, before they hit the BIG TIME. We never miss a chance to see them when they’re in the area and now we get to float in the big blue with them, “Too Cool”.

More on the Klove Cruise

More on the Klove Cruise - the cruise was great but what really made it special was getting to mingle with the artist. The boys ran into the guys from Third Day by the pool on Grand Turk and we ran into Brandon Heath every-time we turned around. It was not unusual to run into band members at the (24 hour) ice cream machine, in the elevator or even in the chase-lounge next to you on the lido deck.

10 things we learned:

1. If you think your going to be seasick, take your medication before you sail.
2. Pack light, recycle.
3. Bring your own over-the-counter medication, they sell it on the ship but its $$$.
4. Complete your pre-registration online 72 hours before sailing.
5. Your cellphone will work on board but at offshore roaming rates (Still way way cheaper then using the room phone).
6. Sunscreen
7. Take a camera to muster-call.
8. Noah adds, “Be careful not to hit your putt-putt golf ball overboard”, like he did.
9. See the sunrise and sunset.
10. Get your monies worth, do all you can, catch all of the shows -- you can sleep when you get home.

Klove Cruise 2010?

The 2009 K-Love Friends & Family Music Cruise

We just recently returned form an extraordinary trip to Miami and Grand Turk Island aboard The 2009 K-Love Friends & Family Music Cruise on The Carnival “Fun Ship” Destiny. Five days and four nights surrounded by fellow Christians and K-Love listeners while enjoying some of today's top contemporary Christian recording artist. During the trip we met and visited with many of the K-Love personalities, Musical Artist and Guest Speakers.

Here’s who all were aboard: Third Day, Mandisa, Matthew West, Phil Wickham, Building 429, Rush of Fools, Sanctus Real, Salvador, Brandon Heath, Nicole C. Mullen, Phil Joel, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, The Annie Moses Band, 4Him, Degarmo & Key, David Nasser, Karen Kingsbury, Phil Newberry, Lonnie Clouse, Brock Gill, 321 Improve, Bob & Larry from the Veggie Tales, KLove’s Jon, Sherry and Lexi Rivers, Lisa Williams, JD Chandles, and David Pierce.

Here are a few pictures from the cruise. (First, the boys with the guys from Third Day poolside on Grant Turk; Second, Shirley, Debbi and the boys with Brandon Heath on the way back to the ship on Grand Turk).

I would encourage everyone to go on at least one Klove Christian Cruise with your family - This is a FAMILY cruise, no drunken parties, no fowl language, and no crowded and loud casinos, just family friendly entertainment and Christ centered worship. Check out Premier Productions for information on the latest Christian Cruise, Concert or Event in your area.

Here is a short video montage of our Klove Cruise trip.

The Tree of Fire

There is this tree in town that each fall for a short time becomes ablaze with the spectacular color of vibrant amber as it prepares for it winter hibernation. Although its a bit off my beaten path I always try to get by each fall to have a look before all of the leaves have fallen to the ground. For the last several years the owners and caretakers of the tree, Wiley and Betty Avery have given us all an extra chance to see the beauty of this magnificent tree by illuminating it with spotlights after sundown; in fact the tree can be seen from several blocks away during this time and could be mistaken for a fire burning wildly out of control, but in reality its only a Ginkgo tree (not to be confused with “Gecko” the little green lizard we always see selling insurance on television).

The tree has become sort of a local tourist attraction during the fall of year. People love to have their picture made by the tree. Betty has a rather large collection of photographs with children posing under the tree. A neighbor once even ate some of the leaves since Ginkgo leaves are reputed to have healing properties. It is an well established part of Asian medicine, and has recently received attention in the U.S. as an herbal remedy that may improve mental functioning.

A few years ago Mr. Wiley and his son Kenny measured the tree at 36 feet tall and 17 feet wide. If the tree continues to grow at its current rate the Avery’s are going to have to soon move the house back. Ginkgo’s can grow 50-80 feet or more in height; and at maturity the width may exceed its height. Betty confessed to me privately that unknown to Wiley she trims the lower branches of the tree each spring to allow for the car to get into the driveway.

The Avery’s got their tree as a sapling in 1993 from their son Kenny. For the first several years after planting the tree didn’t amount to much, some neighbors even asked them why they had a puny little dead twig stuck out in the middle of their front yard, but once the tree got root, away it went. Now its a front yard full.

The Ginkgo is also refereed to as a Maidenhair Tree, it is truly unique in that it has no close living relatives. For centuries it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but is now known to grow wild in at least two small areas in Zhejiang province in eastern China , in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve.

During autumn, the leaves turn a bright yellow. A noteworthy attribute of the ginkgo is the speed with which it sheds its leaves during the Fall. Once the ginkgo’s leaves begin to fall, they typically go very quickly (within a couple of days). You’ll notice a few stray leaves starting to drift down one day and the next morning you may find the entire lawn a carpet of yellow. A combination of insect and disease resistance, along with the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts means that ginkgos are very long-lived, with some specimens claiming to be more than 2,500 years old.

As for me fall has always been my favorite season of the year, I look forward to the crisp cool starlit nights, football games, crackling outdoor campfires and for God’s paint brush to paint a picture of fall sometimes too beautiful to believe. The “Tree of Fire” is truly a ‘living’ local landmark, hopefully for many more years to come. Thanks to the Avery’s for sharing it with us all.