http://jimiray.com/home.cfm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:36:33 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=338864 I have begun reading "Crazy Love" -its amazing that we dont really grasp how much God loves us--i know i dont-and if I can learn to grasp that fact i think my life will completely change-I'm so used to believing that God loves me because ......not just because I'm his-I'm sure I'll post more as I read more! ]]> Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:36:33 GMT C476661FCFA253DB18CAC3D0A55B24A1 http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=337123 Yesterday the topic of addiction was the sermon focus at church. Regardless of what we hope to believe, the true fact is that there are those sitting in our audience that are ravished with all sorts of addictions. Of course the levels of addiction vary from person to person. But I could almost guarantee that there were some in the very late stages of their disease. Yes I do believe it is a disease, a disease that can be controlled. Addiction starts with a choice. The choice to engage in a certain behavior, but ultimately leading to those choices eventually controlling the behavior. I've known people to lose everything to it. I've known people to choose their addictions over their own children. This is just the beginning of this blog. I'll write more later.... ]]> Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:25:00 GMT DBC89E408C40303284268CF285D64E55 http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=328487 Today, June 20th is my annivesary. I have been married to Angie for 23 years-but we've been a couple for 28! We have two incredible boys Austin and Andrew. Aray (austin) is 19 and Shig (andrew) is nearly 15. Our lives have been a hodgepodge of ups and downs, good and bad. God has been faithful and his mercy unending. We have both taught each other about life. There is much of my life that I would have never made it through if it wasn't for Angie. She has been and continues to be a rock in our family. She's an amazing mom and a very gracious, trustworthy, dependable, and Godly wife. Today I celebrate the gift from God that she is... I love you Ang.... Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:45:41 GMT 91E56286F8F55D4E783B8C51A897C235 http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=324876 The title of this blog is actually a new song of mine. I wrote it after watching a construction worker across the road from my house work his rear end off in 95 degree weather. I thought about that man and how hard he works, every day, in the heat and he always is laughing when i see him. I know he doesnt make much money but he seems happy. I am incredibly blessed but yet I can always find something to complain about. I have all I need and more. God has given me all I need and much of what I want. The same for my family. The song will never see the light of day most likely but I had to write it any way. God is good. He's good regardless! But I'm blessed.....truly....truly..blessed. ]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:46:09 GMT 3F5BB6E233CDA15FD9D153E9964D9426 http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=322905 This weekend I just realized that God's grace really is sufficient. I look at my life, my kids, my wife,  the way God has taken care of me, the way I'm blessed and i realize that God is God and i need to always believe and remember that.  I am humbled and broken by his mercy. This weekend I just realized that God's grace really is sufficient. I look at my life, my kids, my wife,  the way God has taken care of me, the way I'm blessed and i realize that God is God and i need to always believe and remember that.  I am humbled and broken by his mercy.

]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:40:00 GMT C6DE20E5781045477FC9AC855D431AFE http://jimiray.com/home.cfm?feature=1493136&postid=317370 Today I learned that Dana Key passed away. For you who are not familiar with hiim, he was one-half of the band Degarmo and Key. D&K helped pave the way for Christian Music. They also helped launch DC Talk by letting them open on a few of their tours. During that tour they basically sacrificed themselves for the betterment of the other band! I knew Dana from the road. I knew him to be a very talented musician and writer. I shared a record label with D&K. We (Age of Faith) did several shows with them and they were always a class act. Many more have more stories than I, but they made an impact on me,  a young artist just getting started. The Christian music industry would be honored to have more men of God and artists like Dana Key. ]]> Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:45:00 GMT 0A216297D22E1DE7279198AC94D15FA7