Hudson Is Here!

Our baby boy, Hudson Thomas O'Neal, was born last night (May 27) at 5:38 p.m. He was 2 lbs and 11 oz. Mom and Baby are doing great. To read more and to see some pics, check out our family blog: http://www.oneal-ourfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

The journey is not over. Hudson will have to spend at least a month in the NICU. Please pray for God to give Hudson the strength he needs to be healthy and grow. And pray that God would give me and my wife the patience we need because we can't wait to bring him home!

Crazy Love

One of our church's small groups is studying a book together called Crazy Love, written by Francis Chan. I just talked to the group leader tonight, and he said they LOVE the book so far. I read the book last year and was seriously inspired. You MUST give this book a chance. Go to http://www.crazylovebook.com/ for more info.

Let me whet your appetite with a powerful quote from the preface of the book. With passion and clarity, Chan expresses his book's intent:

"This book is written for those who want more of Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do. I hope reading this book will convince you of something: that by surrendering yourself to God's purposes, He will bring you the most pleasure in this life and the next."

(from Crazy Love by Francis Chan)

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I'm begging you to go get this book. It will mess you up--in a good way!

Silas Visits Mommy

Tonight, Silas (my son) visited his mommy in the hospital for the first time. Mommy's on bed rest until the baby comes in the next month or so. If you're interested, you can check out updates on my wife's blog: http://www.oneal-ourfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

A Prayer for America

May 7 is the official National Day of Prayer. Here's the prayer I'm praying:

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your grace and love. We thank you for our country and the freedom we all experience. God, I thank you for our country's leaders. I thank you for their commitment to serve and their commitment to work together to meet the various needs of our communities.

Father, we know you tell us to trust in you, and not lean on our own understanding. I pray that we would be the kind of people who will lean on you alone for wisdom, guidance, and direction.

Father, we know your Son prayed for your will to be done. I pray that we would be the kind of people who seek your will and above our wills, your purposes above our purposes.

Father, we know that apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing. I pray that we would be the kind of people who will not take one step without the leadership of Christ in our lives.

Father, we know that you command us to love you with ALL our heart, all our soul, and all our mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I pray that we would be the kind of people who love you supremely and love people passionately.

Father, your Word promises that “If your people humble themselves, and pray and seek your face and turn from their wicked ways, then you will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” God, I pray that you would wake us up as a nation. Give us the desire to humble ourselves and repent. I pray that you would bring a spiritual awakening to our country. You’ve done it before, and we know you can do it again. I pray that you would bring a global spiritual awakening. And God, by your grace and power, may it start right here in America.

It’s in the name of Jesus Christ, the only Savior, the only one who offers forgiveness from sin and eternal life to all who follow Him, it’s in his name I pray, Amen.