This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit with Billy Hudson and the Lighthouse Childrens Home in Tallahassee, Florida. Billy, a long-time Southern Gospel music supporter, concert promoter, radio personality (and more), was hosting one of the home's annual concerts last Friday and he was kind enough to invite me to attend. Greater Vision was the featured artist, and as always, they did a fine job.

But what I want to concentrate on in this entry is the work of the home itself. Currently, there are 28 teenage girls who live on the small campus because, for a variety of reasons, they are not able to live in a traditional family environment. At the home, Billy and his staff educate and provide for these young ladies in a Christian manner, prepping them for their future lives.

I won't go into all the details, but if you've been looking for a genuine ministry to support, one that is "above-board" in all ways, I encourage you to check out the Lighthouse Childrens Home. Visit their Web site at lighthousechildrenshome.com. Billy would love to hear from you - and you'll be pleased to see (and know) your money is being used very wisely.

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I've debated for nearly two years on whether or not I should share the following tale with you. Before I begin, there is no way in the world I'll be able to share names with you on this - you'll see why in just a second. But this just might be the funniest thing I've ever encountered in my Southern Gospel travels - and it shows the EXTREME side of the spectrum when it comes to over-zealous fans.

I was traveling with a group one weekend and as is often the case with many groups, they were going into a city where they had several close friends. Since many groups have friends and fans who will cook a king-sized meal for them (or will join forces to do so) when they roll into the town, communication between many parties is vital.

Or should be.

Enter "Group A."

About a week before "Group A" was to sing in "Family A's" city, a member of that family called a member of the group (not the manager) and invited them over to their house for an after-concert meal. Little did anyone know that "Family B" was also calling a different member of the group for the same reason. Since both families had hosted the group before, both group members readily said yes.

You see the problem already, don't you?

It was only on the day of the concert did "Group A" realize what had happened. The manager, being of quick mind and not filled with desire to create a problem, thought for a few moments and came up with the idea that both families could bring food to the auditorium and they'd just have a meal backstage.

So, the calls were made.

But neither group member mentioned to their respective "family" that there were other people who would be attending.

Both of these families knew exactly what made up each group member's favorite meal and prepared exactly that.

When everyone arrived, each group was facing the exact same dishes from each family.

Oh, did I mention that these particular families were not fond of each other? (There was some mention of a feud that rivaled the Hatfields and McCoys.)

So, when the families arrived and saw that they were in the same room, trying to have a meal with their favorite group, you can imagine where it went from there. Each family set up their food on different tables.

The group manager, realizing that he had to diffuse the situation, quickly said the blessing and the group started toward a serving table, where one family was waiting to dish out the food. Not to be outdone, the other family grabbed the group and pointed them to chairs, saying "Sit down, we'll bring the food to you."

Well, this went over extremely well with the other family. So, naturally, they just picked up their table and set it front of where the group had just sat down.

At this point, the group was hoping that the auditorium would catch on fire and they would have to evacuate.

Since the group couldn't get up, the other family started handing them plates of their food, sliding the other family's food aside.

The group quickly saw that their only real way out, without getting in the middle of a worse situation, was to eat everything that was set out before them.

And yes, this is a true story. Something like this you just don't make up.

But you know, I never could get them to stop at a restaurant on the way home.