2009 has been a year to remember. God has done some pretty amazing things this year as well as challenging me and growing me. The year started with me playing music with my brother in a band called Mathetes. We had tons of fun, but I knew from the get-go that God was challenging me to develop my own music and see where it went. By May I had formed a new band called "changing Lane," composed of Peter Diamond - drums, Bryan Hartzog - bass, and Jay Smorey - lead guitar. We played our first show in August of 2009, and stared working the same month on our first album. We completed "Boldly Afraid" the album in early November 2009, and it is set to be on iTunes and AmazongMP3 any day now. You can check out our band at http://www.changinglaneband.com/

God has also grown me a lot in my capacity for ministry in 2010. He's challenged me to step out in new areas of study, preaching, and evangelism. I'm comfortable with the first two, but that third one is still a very real challenge. One cool story about stepping out of my comfort zone: I was sitting in McDonalds in Atlanta one morning eating a bagel and reading my Bible when a dude walks by, says, "reading the Bible? whatcha readin'?", and sits down. Kinda freaked me out, but also kinda excited me. It's always to see His providence at work. After talking the guy for a little while I figured out that he was a homeless, ex-minister, who was highly trained in the Scriptures and very well-spoken and intelligent. He could quote Scripture as good or better than I could. You can see all of my little stereotypes breaking into a million pieces now. The 30 mintues or so that I spent talking to Tommy were among the most edifying and Christ-glorifying of my year. I was challenged by him. Though he had fallen off the path of righteousness, he could see that God wasn't done with him and that repentence was the way back home. I prayed with Tommy, dropped him off at a local motel, and went back to my day.

I wish all of my days were so full of clarity and purpose.  Perhaps they would be were I to be available as often as I should be.

This year's Christmas was among the most special of all time. I got to see ALL of my family for the first time in a while, and each time we met together over the holidays it was so encouraging. Dad and Mom moved 3 days before Christmas, and Nick and Jessie got married 3 days after Christmas... it was a CRAZY time, but it was all well worth it.

2009 has also seen the creation of a new little one growing my wife's belly. We found out yesterday (1/15) that we WILL, in fact, be having a girl, which I have insisted was the case the whole time. Chloe Grace Duke will be her name, and I can't wait until she gets here. She's scheduled to be here June 2, but we'll see about that.

These are just a few snapshots of all that happened in 2009. I know that 2010 will open a new chapter in the Duke household. God is taking us places that we've never been before and asking us to trust like we never knew we could. He is faithful.

In Christ,
Andy