Hey Everyone,

Well this is going to be a bit of a different type of blog than you’re used to. On Monday the 14th of April I surprised my wife by taking her to a concert. That concert was Bon Jovi with Chris Daughtry opening. I know… Bon Jovi. Hey it was free.

Chris got several of us tickets and passes to the show. It was a great night for my wife and me to have a little time by ourselves. We’d gone shopping for clothes for the boys that day. They’ve outgrown pretty much everything. We had lunch with a photographer friend of mine and had a little time to enjoy the day. After the concert we went out to the parking lot and couldn’t find our car. I looked on the ground where I thought it had been and saw some glass from a broken window. I looked at the car next to me and realized that their passenger side window was broken out. Then it hit me. Our car had been STOLEN!

Needless to say all the fun memories of that day just fizzled away. Here’s the kicker though. We had two Mac laptops, my camera bag with all my gear and extra lenses, an iPod, a GPS unit, a video camera, two car seats, all the clothes I told you about and numerous other items. Unfortunately I had also put my wallet in the console along with my keys. Now why in the world would I do that you say? (I ask myself that everyday now. Lesson learned. I guess you never think you’ll be the one that someone commits a crime against.) Our car had a keypad on the outside of it so I didn’t need the keys to get in. I left my wallet because I didn’t want to sit on it the entire show. Luckily I’d taken one credit card and my license out of it in case we wanted to buy some food or a souvenir.

We’ve had to close our bank accounts, credit cards, change all of our automatic billing, run credit checks to see if they’re trying to open accounts under our name, change all the locks on our entire house, put in an alarm system, rent a car, deal with car insurance, homeowner’s insurance and police reports. In addition we’re having to prove we owned everything in the car by getting receipts, manuals, serial numbers etc. I’d actually had all of that listed but it was in my laptop. Why didn’t I make a backup you say? Well I did and it was on my wife’s laptop. This is the first time I can ever remember that she’s had her laptop out of the house. She brought it for some addresses to mail some bills while we were on the way to Dallas. So I guess you kind of get the picture of how ironic this is.

The police haven’t had any luck as of yet. So this is where you all come in. I’m asking anyone in the Dallas area (and I know there are a ton of fans here) to help me find my car. The car is a 2003 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition. It’s Hunter green with gold trim all the way around the bottom of the vehicle. The license plate number is: 782-GFF. They are Texas plates. Write this down and keep it on your visor or another place in your car. Another distinguishing mark is a bug guard on the front edge of the hood. If you see the car don’t try and intervene. Instead call 911 and explain the situation. Follow at a safe distance if possible.

Now here’s the payback for you all. If someone helps to locate my car then I will give you 10 tickets plus meet and greet passes to meet the entire band for whichever show in the U.S. that you want to attend. Now unfortunately I can’t provide transportation. I will also invite you and 9 of your closest friends or family to a cookout at my house in the Dallas area. Needless to say you will be catered to. I’ll also have gift packs for everyone.

The last known whereabouts were at a 7-11 store at 2990 Lombardy Lane in Dallas. They attempted to use one of my credit cards about 30 minutes after they stole it. Based on that they were heading north on I-35 and then just east of that.

I know this sounds crazy but it just might work. You never know who might stumble across it. I’ve seen God do crazier things with MercyMe before.

We’re praying and trusting God knows what’s best for us. If he allows us to get our car and items back then all praise to him. If not, then still all praise to him. It looks bad until you think what could have happened had we walked up to the car as they were breaking in it. Who knows if they had a weapon. So from that viewpoint I’m very grateful that it was just material things that they took.

Thanks to everyone for their help and support. Good hunting.

Jim

So we’re on our way to a show and we stop in Oklahoma for a quick bite. I get off the bus and what do I see. A beautiful rainbow! You know the saying…. “There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” So my question is which end of the rainbow. I think I might’ve solved the age old question to that. I’d have to go to the right. Then again there’s a salad bar to the left…. Hmmmmm. Life’s choices.

Jim

Hey everyone,
I’ve really tried to think and be really deep with my next blog so after much prayer and thought here it is. By the way Robby needs to follow the drummer’s style. As a matter of fact I think this is Jackie Chan’s long lost brother. I’ve seen them play at a couple of weddings too. They’re great.
Jim

P.S. Thanks to Blair Master’s for enlightening my musical tastes just a little bit more.

Hey MM fans!

We thought we’d do something completely different for the final show of the Winter Jam tour. We’re going to be broadcasting our show live right here on MercyMe TV. It starts promptly at 8:30pm central time.

Hopefully this will let our fans in Knoxville & Atlanta enjoy a bit of the show that they weren’t able to see since we had to cancel both of those shows because of weather. Be sure and spread the word.

It should be a fun time for all.

Jim

So I’ve had the question from a bunch of people, “How come you haven’t written anything on the blog yet?” Well I was trying to think of some good reasons. Here’s a few that I came up with…. I was ice fishing in northern Alaska. I was working part time on a city zoning commission in Tightwad, Missouri. I was working as a lifeguard on the white beaches of Peru, and finally I was handmaking crocheted baby shoes in the country of Liechtenstein. Ok so I know the last one is a stretch because anyone that knows me knows I much prefer cross stitch to crocheting.

Ok ok….. what I’ve really been busy doing is starting a small photography studio. No I am not leaving MercyMe. It’s just something that went from being a hobby to people asking me to shoot their families etc. So I thought I would show a few to you. Really I want to show a few of my boys so I can brag on them. The older one is Riley and the younger one is Jack. I’m sure someday I’ll get punched in the arm when they realize I’ve shown everyone their pictures! Enjoy.

Jim