I am writing from the beautiful historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Isaland in Michigan. Today I spoke at a state-wide convention for the Michigan Association of Healthcare Advocates (MAHA). My presentation was titled "Serving Others is What Life is all About". It was a mixture of CBT principles spiced up motivation, inspirational stories, lots of jokes and, of course, music. I always bring my guitar to these speaking engagements to sing and play. Music brightens up the audience and creates a climate for learning. The people received my presentation very well and I am happy! I'm grateful to Mary Lou McFadden (VP of Education for MAHA) for inviting me. My good friend Pat Chambers invited me to speak in Charlotte NC and Williamsburg VA. Mary Lou was at both conventions, heard me speak and that's how she came to invite me. Pat opened a great door for me which has resulted in numerous speaking engagements and I am so thankful for Pat. I thank God for the opportunity to speak here. It is a great privilege and I never take opportunities like this for granted. I thank God for being with me as I speak. I always put in a good word for Jesus, share my story and encourage people. They laughed, cried, bought all my music CDs. I sold out and people were standing in line expressing disappointment that I didn't have more. I gave them my website and instructions on how to download my music on itunes. The island is amazing. As beautiful as the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulfur Springs in WV but I believe this setting tops it. Out my window is a beautiful lawn, a large blue pool, a view of the great lakes, horses, buggies, lots of people - it's a self-sustained island of hotels, bed and breakfast inns, shops and historical buildings. No cars are allowed - only horses and bikes. I saw a beautiful stone church (congregationalists) on the way up the hill that was built in 1900. I wish Kim and the girls were hear. I miss them now and look forward to seeing them Wednesday at church when I return. For now I will continue to study through the night and try to make good use of this peaceful and quiet (and very expensive) hotel room before I catch my 11:10am flight back home.
