and looking back on a Fabulous Fourth

I recently blogged about reading--with avid fascination--When the Day of Evil Comes and Soul Hunter, Christian suspense/spiritual warfare novels by Melanie Wells.Well, I had the pleasure of interviewing Melanie last week, and you can listen to this approximately 2 and a half minute excerpt from our interview. In it, Melanie and I talk about her very likable protagonist, Dylan Foster:



The 4th was amazing!!

What an enjoyable Independence Day!

It started out with our radio station's Patriotic Prayer Breakfast yesterday morning, held at the lovely Sinnissippi Music Shell. There was plenty of great patriotic music and the weather was perfect...but the absolute highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, Cheryl McGuinness.


Cheryl McGuinness
Christina N. Elbers Photo for Rockford Register Star

Cheryl is the widow of Tom McGuinness, the pilot who was forced to fly into the north tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Her message was moving, passionate and inspiring. Her ministry is called Beauty Beyond the Ashes, because Cheryl feels God has brought beauty out of the ashes of her personal 9/11 tragedy. Cheryl was without a doubt one of the best speakers we've ever had for a Patriotic Prayer Breakfast.

After a delicious cook-out with family and friends, I headed to downtown Rockford to ride in the parade with 101QFL and Radio 91 staff members. Then I met up with my family and friends at our favorite fireworks-watching location. The fireworks were absolutely stupendous. Rockford has the best fireworks show in Illinois, and my friend Teri, who has lived in Dallas, California and Tennessee, says they were the best she has ever seen in her life.

Of course, all the festivities made for a late night, so I'm paying for it by being zonked out today. But you know what? It was worth it! I hope all of you had a terrific Independence Day.

The Rockford Register Star's article about the Patriotic Prayer Breakfast

Related Tags: 9/11, Cheryl McGuinness, fiction, books, spiritual warfare, suspense, Melanie Wells, patriotic, Rockford