So much has transpired since the last time I posted. (Of course that is easy when my posts are so few and far between.) Where do I start?

I am still working at the Boy's Home. My hours have shifted a bit - instead of 80-90 hours a week, I now get about 20. This was by choice. I am teaching full-time at Daystar Christian Academy in Evart, MI (the same town as the Boy's Home), helping out with the music ministry at my church - Evart Bible Methodist Church, and working on several little projects at the same time.

The little side projects include: Working on an Easter Cantata at my church, practicing trumpet and voice, trying to learn Spanish (via Rosetta Stone), looking into a Master's program for music, writing some articles (at this point for my own amusement - perhaps a few of them will make it to my blog), and attempting to develop something to help those struggling in the area of sexual addiction to come to complete and lasting victory.

My life is completely different right now than it was even at the beginning of this year. Things have changed so dramatically that I feel like I am no longer the same person. On January 31st, I went to the church and was crying out to God in desperation asking Him to do a work in my heart. I had been struggling for quite some time with a lack closeness with God. I had been going through the motions every day, but getting nowhere. I had even begun to fall to some sins that I had not fallen to for some time. That night, in desperation, I prayed, "Lord, break me, mold me, fill me, and use me." Immediately, I had the thought, "Do you really mean that? Do you really want to pray that? Do you know what you are saying?" I stopped and considered for a while and finally said, "Yes, Lord. That is what I want."

The very next day, on February 1st, in answer to my prayer, the Lord began the breaking process that was to last for several days - crushing, pulverising - until I was thoroughly ground to powder. In fact, it was so sudden and so thorough that it took me a couple days to remember having prayed that prayer. When it dawned on me, I began to cry out to God for strength to handle the pressure and not have some kind of mental and nervous breakdown. Little by little I have been able to sleep again, pray again, and function again. God has opened doors of opportunity already that I never would have had if I had never gone through this traumatic experience.

As I said before, I am a new person. I am not the same Joe Hough that posted last time. He is dead. I only hope that the person who now posts on this blog from time to time is a better replacement. I hope that, as God continues to refine him in the fire, He will come forth as pure gold - reflecting Jesus Christ and radiating the joy of a life lived only for God's glory.