Here's an annual update for those friends and loved ones who may have missed a few highlights along the way...

This year I continued to work as Associate Pastor in Mansfield, developing the worship band at the church with devotions written specifically for lead worshippers. I'm considering taking the collection and turning it into a book some day. The band grew in numbers, adding to our existing drums, guitar, keys, and vocals with the addition of bass, auxiliary percussion, another guitar, and more vocals.

In February, Adrian took me on a double-date with our friends Mike and Laura to a Chris Tomlin concert in Cleveland. Much to our delighted surprise, Matt Redman made an appearance that night too. It was a great night of live music and worship, centering our hearts on our God. I love sitting close enough to see the guitarists hands.

My friend Guy helped me replace the brakes on both of our cars. This was the first of many handy things that Guy helped me do. More on this later...

In March, our friend Joyce took us on a trip to Burr Oak State Park. We stayed at the lodge, played ping pong, hiked in the beautiful woods, and even swung by a few of our favorite spots in Hocking Hills on the way home.

Adrian's mom Debbie successfully had three knees replaced. Yes, three. If you saw her today, you'd never know it. She has recovered well and is back to enjoying a life of skipping, hopping and famingoing (is that a verb?).

In May, I recorded a smash hit rap song with a few kids from church. Pastor Mike found the lyrics online. I wrote an arrangement of it, and the kids came over to use my home recording equipment. Then we played the song for church the following Sunday. In addition to that little ditty, I also recorded 8 original songs and another one written by the talented Jeremy Harrison. Some music is available to listen online at myspace. I hope to have a whole album some day, next year maybe.

I finished my Master of Divinity degree at ATS and graduated with high honors in June. My fashionable hat made the two local newspapers (but with the wrong name) http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/2084192

Also in June I got to meet Jeff Nicolas, traveling cartoonist and author or children's poetry books. He gave a presentation at our local library. This great fun encouraged me to continue publishing my compics at klimgod.com

The last week in July I went to a Native American Reservation in Arizona for a mission trip. In preparation, I wrote a six-week prayer guide leading up to the trip, and a daily prayer guide for our prayer partners to use while we were away. In addition to this, I wrote a devotional book and discussion questions for the team, which are available online at http://stores.lulu.com/pastorstevebaney

Adrian and I went on a vacation in Pennsylvania at the end of August. The morning we left for the trip we found out that Adrian is pregnant. So we had much to celebrate! Our baby is now more than half-way through its pregnancy, healthy, and kicking. It can sense light, but the flashlight to the bullybutton didn't work. And now it can recognize the sounds of voices. What a kid!

We decided to down-size this year's annual retreat to a fun bonfire. We had a smaller group, but still enjoyed the evening of fun and food.

Late in October Adrian and I made an offer on a house. When our realtor called to tell me that the seller accepted our offer, I about jumped out of my skin! This is our first house, and we love it! It's in good condition, but needed some work. So our friend Guy helped me repair the chimney, update electric, install a dead bolt, work on plumbing, install a dishwasher, mount a TV on the wall, and much, much more. I feel so handy!

Since my fall down our apartment steps, my knee was never the same. In fact, it got worse and worse. People eventually started commenting on how I limped... Egore. My doctor reffered me to an orthpedic specialist who told me I had torn my hamstring, tendonitis, and some other crap like that. But after lots and lots of therapy, I'm doing better. My limp is gone (shucks) but I still have some pain and stiffness. I better keep stretching!

Early this month, my band was invited to play a show at a banquet. This was truly a dream come true for me. The band rocked and the show went great! There were over a hundred people. We had so much fun doing Christmas and worship music.

Well, that's the fast forward version of my year. I pray that God blesses your next year even more than this one!

Steve

Expedextrious... a word only some will understand. When I was a boy, I began making mix tapes (geek tapes as some would call them). With my radio-cassette-recorder, I'd gather snippets of songs and commercials at random, however much would fit on the tape. Then I'd listen to my tapes incessantly, until I finally had them completely memorized.

Other tapes included the over-dubbing master Steve Baney. Long before I could play an instrument (well, an instrument worth listening to), I still expressed my creativity through mouth-simulated be-bop, horns, vocals, and other various sound effects. These were my childhood masterpieces.

Few seemed to care about my music back then. But there was one person who never turned me down when I asked if she wanted to hear my latest creation. Somehow she'd make time to listen to my white rap, the PB&J smash hit, and the hour-long top-of-the-charts Expedextrious. Maybe it was her willingness to listen that kept me going (or maybe my insanity).

Nevertheless, here I am several years later, equipped with multiple instruments, expensive equipment, and fancy software. Wanna listen? Who would guess that Expedextrious or PB&J would bring me here? Thanks Gub...

Hear my music at ChristianRocker.com