The Tooth Fairy calls in to The House Party!

Andy had talked about his son losing his first tooth and getting some money from the tooth fairy, and in the process MAY have made it sound like he was the tooth fairy.

Well, the tooth fairy was listening and called into our show to set the record straight!  And Andy gets to ask the burning question that we all want to know: What does she do with all those teeth?

Listen to the interview here!

What love means to a little child

I got this email a few days ago, what a great reminder of what true love is all about:


What Love means to a 4-8 year old . . .
Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes.
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined . See what you think.

 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8


'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)



'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)


'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday'

Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night'

Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day..'

Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down 20 and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

And the final one

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Do two new years resolutions at once!

So, I have been 3 for 3 so far in doing my resolution so far - getting up in the morning and running.  I have an Android Phone, and I found that using two apps helped me run and read my bible at the same time!

For the running part:  I use the Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO app, which uses GPS to track where I run and tells me my pace and my total workout time after every mile.  You can download it for Android, iPhone, and Blackberry.

For the Bible part:  I use Lifechurch.TV's most excellent "YouVersion" bible app, which has the option for you to listen to the audio bible of your reading plan.  I am using it to go through Prof. Horner's Bible Reading System, which hits 10 Chapters in the Bible a day.  You can download YouVersion for Android, iPhone, and Blackberry.

But if you need music while you work out, we've got you covered there too, because you can Download The House FM App for your Android, iPhone, or Blackberry!

Now, the only thing to do is to get out there and make 2012 the year that your life changes!

When should we give?

I had helped give to a local family in need recently.  I felt like God really wanted me to, so I pooled my resources, and got others that I knew to help out too.  It was such a great feeling to do something not for yourself but for someone else.

Then the doubts start to file in.

Did they really need the things we give them?
Does that person at the corner of the stoplight really need our money to feed his family?
Does the salvation army really need my change to help others?
Does my church really need my tithe to keep the church heated in the winter?
Does The House FM really need my donation to stay on the air?

I think it is a natural reaction whenever we give our money away, to want to make sure that it only goes to who we want and is only used for what we designate, but honestly, I'm not sure that is what Jesus asks of us.  In Luke 6:30, Jesus spells it out pretty plainly:

Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 

Ok, so I'm supposed to give to *anyone* who asks?  I'm pretty sure I would run out of money quickly!  But Jesus talks about this a few verses later (like he was reading my mind and the mind of everyone else who was listening) in Luke 6:38

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

JESUS said that!  As much as I believe in him, why can't I believe in his promises in the bible?  Why is it so hard for me to be the giver he wants, knowing that my gift will return in FULL and RUNNING OVER!

So my resolution for 2012 and beyond... Give to anyone who asks.

Who wants to take a step of faith with me?

Who wants to start believing Jesus at His word?

Give this Christmas Away - Day 11 - Invite someone to church!

This Christmas season, we want to do what we've always talked about. The thing that's always in the back of our minds when we fight through the crowd for the last gadget or gizmo for ourselves, or when we walk by that kettle ringer, knowing we could spare some change but we don't. Or when we see that person on the street that looks like they could use some hope and we drive by and look the other way. This Christmas will be different. Because this Christmas, instead of taking as much as we can, we are going to Give this Christmas Away.

DAY 11 - Invite someone to church!

There are MANY wonderful things about Christmas. One of which is the strange way people who would normally never darken the door of a church, end up going! They may be reluctant, or under family pressure, but whatever the case - they go! Don't miss the chance to ask someone (especially people who want nothing to do with God) to come to church this weekend. Don't rule anyone out, just go for it! We've all been given the gift of God's unending love, we shouldn't keep it to ourselves. Share your faith and hope in Christ this weekend and in turn, give this Christmas away.

Give this Christmas Away - Day 10 - Collect a Cart!

This Christmas season, we want to do what we've always talked about. The thing that's always in the back of our minds when we fight through the crowd for the last gadget or gizmo for ourselves, or when we walk by that kettle ringer, knowing we could spare some change but we don't. Or when we see that person on the street that looks like they could use some hope and we drive by and look the other way. This Christmas will be different. Because this Christmas, instead of taking as much as we can, we are going to Give this Christmas Away.

DAY 10 - Collect a Cart!

So this is the time for procrastinators to unite! All the "planners" had all their shopping done weeks ago. Now you and I have the task of getting out at odd times to any store that's open and doesn't have lines miles long and let's be honest, we're not looking forward to it. We're stressed and just want to get in and out as quick as possible! Even through this crazy time where you just want to jump in your car and get out of there - collect a cart! Take an extra moment to take your cart back to the store/collection spot. Hey, even grab someone else's on your way! When we do this, someone else doesn't have to...so that's a SUPER simple way to give this Christmas away!

Give this Christmas Away - Day 9 - Get to know your neighbor!

This Christmas season, we want to do what we've always talked about. The thing that's always in the back of our minds when we fight through the crowd for the last gadget or gizmo for ourselves, or when we walk by that kettle ringer, knowing we could spare some change but we don't. Or when we see that person on the street that looks like they could use some hope and we drive by and look the other way. This Christmas will be different. Because this Christmas, instead of taking as much as we can, we are going to Give this Christmas Away.

DAY 9 - Get to know your neighbor!

When I pull into my driveway, I park and walk directly into my house. The next morning it's the same, only in reverse. Less eye contact with the neighbors, the better. Why do I do that? Honestly...I'm not really sure. Maybe you do the same thing. Maybe you feel you don't have the time or what's the point? Or maybe there's one you avoid for a reason. Whatever the case, these are people literally in our path, basically in our yards, every day. A chance to make an impact and be Jesus to someone is that close - right now. If you want to give this Christmas away, join me and go talk to a neighbor today...maybe even that one you've been avoiding.

Give this Christmas Away - Day 8 - Give something in secret!

This Christmas season, we want to do what we've always talked about. The thing that's always in the back of our minds when we fight through the crowd for the last gadget or gizmo for ourselves, or when we walk by that kettle ringer, knowing we could spare some change but we don't. Or when we see that person on the street that looks like they could use some hope and we drive by and look the other way. This Christmas will be different. Because this Christmas, instead of taking as much as we can, we are going to Give this Christmas Away.

DAY 8 - Give something in secret!

Have you ever done Secret Santa with family or friends? My fam used to do the whole thing...draw names, get special presents then weeks later, the secret giver would give their gift. The best part of that? Doing something in secret. Everyone likes a good mystery, especially when it involves a person you love. Think of someone in your life that you can give a secret gift to today. It can be something from the store, something homemade, or even a good deed or chore, like doing the dishes! Do something- but don't let them find out who it was! Another super simple way to give this Christmas away!

Facebook, I can't quit you!

Just for fun, I tried to go through the process of cancelling my facebook account.  I got to the cancellation page and check out what facebook does:

It pulls a huge guilt trip on me!  It's like that bad relationship you have, where you are with the person all the time and it takes a toll on everything else, then when you go to say it's over they tell you,

"but my friends will miss you!   And I'll miss you!  And if you think we spend too much time, know that you can control the number of texts you receive from me!  And before you break up with me, please explain further why we can't be together anymore."

Yikes.  I was just messing around about cancelling Facebook, but maybe it is time to quit cold turkey.  And Facebook, just so you know, It's not me, it's you.

Give This Christmas Away - Day 7 - Pray for someone for 5 minutes!

This Christmas season, we want to do what we've always talked about. The thing that's always in the back of our minds when we fight through the crowd for the last gadget or gizmo for ourselves, or when we walk by that kettle ringer, knowing we could spare some change but we don't. Or when we see that person on the street that looks like they could use some hope and we drive by and look the other way. This Christmas will be different. Because this Christmas, instead of taking as much as we can, we are going to Give this Christmas Away.

DAY 7 - Pray for someone for 5 minutes!

Have you ever sat yourself down and said, "Ok, I'm going to pray for an hour straight." Maybe you had a similar goal at some point, but for me at least, that never seems to last. Honestly, after failing at completing that goal each day, it makes me feel that I've failed, then I tend to avoid praying at all. Let's break it down together, mmkay? Think of someone in your life that needs prayer, set a timer, and pray for them for 5 whole minutes. Maybe even pray for someone that you can't stand to be around! You might be praying for them, but you'll be amazed at how God will change your heart in the process. This is an easy, free, heart-changing way to give this Christmas away!