open ahos head

sorry boston, its all Cam's fault

2008-10-20T11:14:00.003-04:00

Last night, as it is well documented and know by now, the Red Sox lost game 7 of the ALCS to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I can't help but think it is Cam's fault. You see, Cam has a red sleeper with the Red Sox logo on it. It my favorite right now, but his mother thinks it is too hot. So, sometimes I get to put it on him and sometimes I dont. Last night, I didn't.

This is only significant because the last 3 times he has worn it for the night or part of a night, they Sox have won. Game 1 and 6 of the ALCS, for example. But last night it was dirty and in the basket, and heaven forbid he wear something to sleep in twice, so the Sox lost. I am sad. Tampa's fair weather fans are happy. And it is now time to get his Duke Basketball gear warmed up. The Devils will need a little mojo this season.

update and challenge

2008-02-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

Coffee Cups. So far I have added two coffee cups to our landfills this year. My travel mugs are getting a good workout but the small discount at the coffee shops is nice.

Over on the family blog, www.theahos.blogspot.com, we are starting a little contest to see who can guess the right weight of the baby. So, happy guessing.

I hope this digital stop finds you well.

no more coffee cups.

2008-01-16T15:38:00.001-05:00

I have decided this year to see how few paper and Styrofoam coffee cups I can use. I began on January 5, after returning from travel and holiday break. So far I have used 2 paper cups. This morning I used my second totally by accident. When I left the gym they had coffee, and without thinking I grabbed a paper cup and had some as I worked my way home. My first was a Starbucks that was purchased for me by a wonderful youth chaperon on a recent youth trip.

I am doing pretty good I think. 2 in 10 days is pretty good if you ask me. That comes out to about 100 this year, but actually I think I can get that down to 50 in the year.

In addition to lowering my coffee cup consumption, I am going to try to use less sugar packets as well. I am not going to count them, but when given the choice I will sweeten with a sugar bowl or pour-er instead of a paper packet of sugar.

I don't think this is a revolutionary idea, but, if you think it is, join me and maybe pass it on.
Thats all for today.
blessings

New year, New committment to...

2008-01-07T11:18:00.000-05:00

We have moved from the Advent Season, through the Christmas season, and we are now in the Resolution season. It is a fun time of self-inflicted boot camp participation that most benefits the grocery store's health foods and produce, and our local gyms. I have not been to the gym yet in '08 but I am sure the Nautilus machines are packed, you can't get a bike in spin class, and there is a line for the treadmill. Everyone has a renewed commitment to care for self, which is a great thing.

The blog is the perfect place to post empty resolutions. I think there is a vision out there that if a pronouncement is placed on one's blog, then, one will be accountable to sticking to it. Well, not so for me. I don't feel accountable to any sort of pronouncements I may place here, but I think I might do a little bit of it anyway.

Off the cuff, here are a few things I do and do not commit to this year, which I may or may not stick to. I will also rate, on a 1-10 scale, 10 being of the most likely to be followed through on, the said commitments:

1. I will try to blog more.
likelihood rating 5. I may. It would be nice with the little one on the way, but who knows.

2. I will run 800.2 miles this year.
likelihood rating 9. I am definitely working towards this and should succeed, barring injury or illness, which is what is preventing me right now. D@*n cold.

3. I will read more.
Likelihood rating 6. I will probably not buy as many books this year, but I already have a stack of 5 that I am really interested in. With the little on, I plan on keeping the TV off a little more which means flipping pages a little more.

4. 82 spin classes, 28 swims.
Likelihood rating 5. I really want to try to accomplish these goals, but it could be a stretch. This would mean 5-6 workouts a week. While I would enjoy that lifestyle, I am not sure I will be dealt that hand of cards.

5. Write something to submit for publication.
Likelihood rating 8. I have a head that is afloat with ideas that need to be down on 'paper.' I am not sure if any of it would make it out of my little office and beyond some editor, but, I am going to do this. Even if it is just revamping a sermon for a little baptist publication.

6. Kick the fried foods.
Likelihood rating 1. Unless the doc tells me that I have to go to zero on the fried food intake, I will never be able to kick fried foods completely. I don't eat tons of fried stuff, I just eat a lot. I thought it wouldnt be hard because I really love grilled stuff, but then I realized that tortilla chips are fried, as are hard taco shells, and I love nachos, salsa, and hard tacos.

7. LOW Waste Coffee.
Likelihood rating 10. I have this new idea for the way I am going to do my coffee, and if anyone is still reading, I would like you to try to do your coffee as well, but I will say more later. For now, carry your travel mug when you go to S-bucks.

So, there are some goals, I may or may not be accountable to for this year. I hope you can come up with your own faux list of resolutions this Resolution Season.

Happy Advent

2007-12-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

I have not really had much to say lately that I felt was blog worthy, and the few things I did, I didnt really feel like taking the time to write down. But I have about 5 minutes before I am leaving the office to catch the bus to Winston-Salem and I thought I would write a little note.

We are in the midst of 'birthing classes' at the hospital where the homeboy will be delivered. It is interesting to be in a group that is united only by the fact that we all are having a kid around the same time. We are all different, united by this one, life-changing event. It is a bit of a stress to have to be 1hr from home til 9pm each night of the week, but we will survive.
Happy reading.
peace

new member

2007-11-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

I joined Facebook.

I am not sure if this is an announcement, an advertisement, a cry for help, or a confession, but I am now a member of the other popular social networking site. I have had a 'space' for a long time. I didn't use it much and was inundated with requests to be a friend to women I didn't know with odd names. As you will see on my space, I have not made friends with many of those odd people, but it was awkward to be asked nonetheless.
On Facebook, I now have lots of friends and we found each other through my email address book. It is pretty cool and just a little scary, in a 'big brother is watching' sort of way. So, of you are a facebook-er, come and find me and we can be friends. Also, we could create a group to be in (readers of aho's head)...it would be swell.

getting back in to it...

2007-11-05T16:01:00.000-05:00

A good friend, Matt M. called me out for being a slacker and not blogging very much. Though I have had no shortage of thoughts or things to say, I have not taken the time to digitally chronicle them. Today, I am attempting to get back in the swing of things.

I had a great question that I was going to pose, but after I read it, it seemed like it could have been interpreted as mean-spirited. I don't want to be mean, I can be critical enough as it is. So, I will leave you with my favorite television shows at the moment:

5. The Daily Show/The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, I watch them together and find them inseparable.
4. Pushing Daisies on ABC
3. Dirty, Sexy, Money on ABC, a mis-titled mystery drama
2. Man vs. Wild on Discovery
1. Top Gear on BBC America

There you go. My recommendations for how you should spend your time in front of the TV. Feel free to disagree, maybe even to the point of commenting.

peace

ps. Bear Grylls is my new favorite superhero!

edit: It was in my sub-conscious to do this on the first day of the writers strike, I wish I could claim a more savvy explanation to today's choice. Better to be lucky than good.

your mission

2007-09-13T17:43:00.000-04:00

we should help Kanye put 'fitdy' in retirement. Consider doing your part:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003639442

placeholder

2007-09-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

I know I dont blog much, but I sure do love these Utz cheese balls. Its a good thing I went to spin class as lunch. It is a calorie offset I guess.

some recommendations

2007-08-10T13:51:00.000-04:00

I finally finished a book from my sidebar, Alternadad. It was a good read and I would recommend it for anyone who thinks they might someday want to be the 'cool parent.' Neil Pollack is definitely a cool guy and a good writer. I think you might find it enjoyable. I also have a copy to loan out if you would like.

also:

A couple of weeks ago I took a night and watched The Departed. While I would agree that it is not the stuff that cinematic masterpieces are made of, it is definitely a candidate for my own collection. It was a great cops and robbers story with ethical dilemmas, back stabbing, and loyalty questions. I would recommend you renting it and just sit back to enjoy.

For now, thats about all. I am looking forward to new music from Common, Kanye, Dave Matthews and David Crowder*Band, 4 of my favorites...currently I am listening to the Fray, Maroon V, the Fratellis, the Kaiser Chiefs, and some borrowed Ryan Adams. It is not the stuff that street or indie cred is made of, but I find them all to be good selections. I am thankful I have good taste ;)
peace to you all
big things coming.

a taste of summer

2007-07-16T14:58:00.000-04:00

23 years ago I lived in the community of Trophy Club. I remember passing through a little town called Keller on our way to places. In those days, Keller was merely a wide spot in the road, but it had one important reason to stop: the Snowcone stand. I don't remember stopping many times as a child, but as a teenager and college student, I learned the ins and outs of the snowcone business; the consumer side that is.
I learned that:
banana is my favorite but peaches and cream is a close second;
the proper ratio of flavor to ice is the key and most people go with too much flavor
and, everyone should be able to afford a snowcone, preferably you should be able to fund the cone by digging around in the car a little.

The MtA has its own snowcone shack now and it is called: Bahama shaved ice. I am not sure what the Bahamas has to do with anything...as far as I am concerned the first snowcone I ever saw was in Keller TX in the early 80's, so they invented it (that place looked old then). But if you say this summer delight was invented in the tropics, that is fine with me. All I intend to share with you is that my banana snowcone (slush now) tastes like summer.

to write?

2007-07-12T11:46:00.000-04:00

I have a couple entries that I need to get out of my head, but I really don't feel like sitting down for 30-40 minutes to develop my thoughts on the evolution of MaroonV.

With that behind me, and still ahead of me as well, I leave you with what was a big Saturday for our family.
1. I got up and drove to Burlington to play golf with some friends. Anytime one can play golf is a big day to me.
2. My wife was in Nashville with friends and the one who was 8 1/2 months pregnant had her 'Wesley' decide it was time to come. So, their weekend with the girls, became a weekend at the hospital. No one was disappointed at all.
3. I got home from golfing and saw a big envelope in the mailbox. It was a letter from the Neilson TV ratings company: we are getting a box that we can use to influence the TV ratings. Unfortunately it is too late to help save Studio60, but I promise to do my best to help you save shows you love.

As I reflect, 2 is the biggest deal, followed by 1, then 3. But you gotta admit, 3 is pretty cool.

counting time

2007-07-06T15:40:00.000-04:00

I am counting time seconds til I can leave the office and get on with my evening.

Many people in the world have a day, or several, each week that is like this. I do not typically have days where I count the sands falling towards the bottom of the hourglass but, today I do. Our office manager needed to leave early and I really didn't have anything I needed to get to right away so I told her I would stay.

As a minister, it is a privilege to just have to accomplish my work and not have to be bound to a room and a desk all the time. I love having the freedom to leave a little early if I need to. To all of you saints who punch the clock I salute you.

I used to have to work by the clock. When I did, I always tried to get past my 40 hours because then I got time and a half. The dollars ad up a lot quicker at time and a half.

Well now... My wife is out of town for the weekend and I need to choose a course of action for my afternoon/evening. So far, heres what I got: leave here, go run at the gym, shower, let out dog and feed him... From here, my choose your own adventure life could continue with:
1. drive to Winston to deal with photos at Ritz, which would also mean I could pick up that espresso maker I have been dreaming of...
2. I could hang around this evening, watch Sin City, which Netflix delivered to me, and maybe hit balls the golf range...
3. I need to go to Lowes hardware and pick up a few things to finish up some work in the kitchen...
4. Nap...
5. Decide later...

My natural tendency is towards deciding later, because, why do now what you can wait and do later, but I have come up with a plan. Here it is: gym/dog/shower, then 1, then try to get back in time to do 2b, the golf range. This will mean a light dinner in Winston, maybe even eating in the car, but thats ok, food is just food (or at least I am trying to tell myself that). Then, after dark and the dog has gone out again, I will watch Netflix movie. Bedtime, then Golf tomorrow morning...

Since I am a minister, and don't usually have to be bound by a timeclock, this means that at any point, I could be interrupted because a need arose that needed my attention. I sincerely hope that does not happen, because at that point my schedule is the least of my concerns. Someone else's concerns become great and that is bad news.

Wow, look at that, its almost time to go. By the time I proofread and publish, it will be time to close up shop and be off with my evening. What a job...

and, jerry just called with a completely different offer for the night. hmmm, decisions, decisions, decisions...
(pss. jerry is a mediocre bad guy)

an update

2007-06-03T16:43:00.000-04:00

I finally updated my left sidebar to reflect stuff that am listening to and trying to read this year instead of last year. I am not sure how much it matters to you, but it seems like housekeeping that I should have taken care of long ago.

I preached today, a sermon about the Trinity. I tried to make the point that sometimes the Trinity is not just a grand doctrine that is mind blowing, but it can also be a delicate expression of who God is, beyond our comprehension. We cant always take the God who is a Grand Father, a Resurrected Son, and a Spirit that comes with tongues of flames. Sometimes we are in the midst of the 'between times': times of slow going and slow growth between life's big events, and we need to experience God through subtlety rather than abound extravagance. I think this can be true without being heretical.

Well, thanks for stopping by and reading a little for today. IF you want a manuscript of the sermon, I will send it to you, just drop me a line. Leave a comment, let me know you stopped by...for now:
peace-

why the mob uses town cars...

2007-04-20T13:50:00.000-04:00

This pic and title probably stand best as the complete post, but as a baptist preacher, I always have to say a little something. So, here's the explanation...
On our recent trip to Florida, the rental car agency did not have the type of car we reserved. So, we were allowed to choose anything except a 'Hummer.' Though we should have chosen a GM premium, due to the XM and Satellite navigation that comes standard, we choose the Lincoln Town Car. This is a very nice vehicle with a ridiculously large trunk. My nephew could have a nice play room back there.
The funniest thing about the trunk is not how big it is, but the symbols on the emergency trunk release. It is a glow in the dark 't-handle' that you pull to release yourself should you get stuffed inside...

note to self: if i ever escape a trunk...run run run!

never 'hot' + 1st from off main

2007-04-18T23:13:00.000-04:00

I was watching a video on youtube tonight and I heard someone say "that's hot." Though I have no idea what she was actually calling 'hot,' I dont think it had anything to do with the actual temperature of the so, so she was using it in the way Paris Hilton does. I promise you that I will never use 'that's hot.' Not that there is anything wrong with it (besides when I hear it I think, that sounds dumb) but it's not me. I may head off into the 21st century with the use of outdated words like 'cool' and 'awesome, ' but I am not going to let the heiress positively shape my use of the English language.

In other news...
This is actually my first post from my new address, just off of main st here in the M-T-A (I will let Outkast influence my lingo a bit though). My connection feels really fast. At work we have the same speed, but it is shared across 5 people. At the old house we had 512 (whatever that means). But now we have 1.5 and it is not shared. So, whoo hoo for fast internet.
We still are working on this place and it is getting to feel a little like home. This weekend we are going to actually move into the living room with our living room furniture because the hardwood floors are finally about ready. We are also going to continue work in the kitchen, and someday, we may actually decide to move our stuff into there. Right now, we just buy stuff to cook that can be handled with paper plates, plastic utensils, and no pots. We do have one pan out so we warm lots in our ovens.
It is fun living in a house you own and it is fun knowing you don't ever have to unpack anything if you don't want to. I pay my mortgage and I can do what I want with it. We are not going to get too loaded down with finishing projects immediately, just in time as we have time.

Finally, we went to FLA this weekend and it was a good trip. More on that after I upload some pics. But for now, may the peace of Christ be with you, and keep your thoughts and prayers with those in the difficult places in the world like Iraq, Afghanistan and Blacksburg VA.
peace

softball guy

2007-04-04T15:02:00.002-04:00

I dove back into softball culture last night. The church has joined forces with the Presbyterians in a local softball league. I said I would play, though I am lousy. Last night, the ball bounced well for me off the bat though. I reached base 5 time in 5 plate appearances and did not account for any outs from the plate or on the base paths. I also scored 4 runs, which actually is more about the guys batting behind me then it is about me. Surely this all will change.
In the field, not as stellar. I let 2 ground balls get past me. I fielded 1 or 2, cant remember.

I am much more sore today than I expected to be. There was sprinting, and standing, and more sprinting, and then more standing. I ran 5 miles yesterday afternoon, but this was WAY different. I have a little bit of new respect for softball guy. I still am not sure what is up with those shorts and pants, but their ability to sprint and stop, I have respect.

Thats all for now.
Hope you all are well.

re: metro

2007-04-04T15:02:00.001-04:00

Authors note: I was supposed to post this on this blog, but accidentally put it on the off main blog. too many blogs.

there is much more to be said about the few things I will write to you today, but, yesterday I went to a woodworking store and spent $20+ on tools and sandpaper for the finishing of my floors. Then, I happened upon a Sally Beauty supply and spend almost $30 on personal care products.
As hard as I try to maintain an image in my mind of myself as an alt skateboard/snowboard type, I still like fu fu shave cream and hair products. I guess I am part metro-sexual and I cant change that.

I really do like my garage tools though..

sorry

2007-03-29T15:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a while, but it can be explained by looking at a few dates:
Today: 3/29
Last Blog: 2/14
Bought a house: 2/16

Since we closed on the house, I turned 30, read articles about hardwood floors, began sanding hardwood floors in my house, sanded, sanded, sanded, painted stuff, remodeled a bathroom, tore up a kitchen, sanded, sanded, sanded, moved all our stuff, stained floors, stained floors, moved the rest of all our stuff, and finally have put a second coat of polyurethane on the floors. I wish it was the third coat, but just one more pass, hopefully.

If you want a more detailed account of what has been happening at our new place, check out the off main blog that natalie is maintaining for us.

As for me, once we get the dsl up and running on willow street, I will try to blog some more. In the mean time, thanks for stopping by and know we havent been doing all this work on our own. We have had great help from family and friends.

peace

new fuel

2007-02-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

After a run on monday, the first in quite a while, Jerry offered me a smoothie. He made it with soy milk and it was great. So, like any good American consumer, I went to the store monday night and bought my own container. Now I have had my own soy milk smoothies two mornings in a row. This stuff is great. I have also been using it in my coffee for a change of pace.
I have not made such a change as a political type statement. I am not going vegan, nor do I think I am cut out to be a true health nut today, but, hopefully there will be more benefit than just a nice tasting smoothie each morning.

In other news:

I got two more days in on the snow this weekend during our youth trip to Snowshoe WV. It was pretty cold, but we had a great weekend skiing and hanging out with each other. This is the group of course. In my future, I still have one free pass I can use at Snowshoe and I won 2 free passes to Canaan Valley resort, which means at least 3 more days on the snow for me, or a day with a friend. So, if you are a friend, and would like to make the trek to Canaan with me one day in the next few weeks, let me know. I'll drive and provide the lift ticket, you just rent skis or a board and we'll have a day.

Finally:
Duke has lost 4 games in a row. The Blue Devil faithful like me are saddened at our inability to close the deal in the first 2 losses (or 3 depending on how you view the Carolina game in which we far out-played them the 35 minutes of the game, only to squander the last 5 minutes), and then getting completely outplayed on Sunday by the evil Maryland Terrapins. Hopefully we can pull an upset over BC tonight in Boston. Maybe K is singing the Augustana song: I think I'll go to Boston, I think I'll start a new life... We need a fresh start quickly. Go DUKE!!!

off main...

2007-02-07T23:52:00.000-05:00

Well, there is another blog to add to your list of reading. My wife is beginning to compile a family blog for the two of us. We are buying a home a block off main street and this momentous event is part of the impetus for this blog. I will be a contributer and it might be fun for you to keep up on what we are doing, not just what we are thinking.

On to my thinking...
I don't like the basketball teams from the University of North Carolina. I can stomach their other teams. I appreciate their scientific, academic, and scholarly achievements, but I cant like their ball teams. They beat my DUKE ball team tonight and it makes me a little upset.

Skiing this weekend. Looks like the east coast is in for some good skiing weather, so I cant wait to hit Snowshoe on my snowboard once again.

More some other time, right now, I am going to add the off main link and surf the net for tips on home repair.

2007-02-02T17:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a snowday for the kids here in Surry County. A crippling winter storm was forecast and we were all instructed to sit in our living rooms and watch our front years with peril as the accumulations would reach 4-6 inches before the dreaded 1/4inch of freezing rain was to fall.
I dont mock the weather, it is powerful thing which I have no influence over. I mock the weather people who have been threatening us about nothing for 4 days now. Swing and a miss!!!

But I have caught the bug, the snowboard bug that is. This January we spent 4 days in Summit County Colorado and I got to ski in the Rockies for the first time. WOW, is the only word to describe it. In the pic above, I am hiking towards the Outback to ride the North Bowl. We only got to do it once during the week, but I cant wait to do it again.

Since I have been back I have been to our humble, southeast, ski hills twice. Last week I traveled to Boone and Beech Mountian for a day of miserable conditions and chunky ice. Out here, those are the days you pay your dues. Yesterday day, after watching no snow stick to my frontyard, I decided to take the snow matters into my own hands and I made the 100 mile trek to Winterplace WV for an afternoon/evening of boarding. It was a fun night. Lines were relatively non-existent and I was able to ride freely, cranking the tunes through my new helmet which has built in speakers. What fun. What a snowday.

Next weekend is our annual youth trip to Snowshoe so we will get to ski the 'big mountian' for the weekend. I cant wait, I wish it was this weekend.

I have also been working, in my mind, on a spiritualtiy project with this riding addiction I have. It is such sabbath for me, and I am trying to figure out how to put it in words that are constructive for myself and others who sometimes feel like what they are doing is indulging in the eyes of others, yet is totally life-giving and necessary for their own sanity.

More and more I am finding out that my head is an interesting place, even without a helmet pumping tunes to it.

This bug also filtered into the 6 hours of Winter X Games snowboarding I watched last weekend. Hope you saw Shaun White and Steve Fischer duel on the Half-pipe, it was great.

Well, thats all for now. Hope you are well, thanks for reading.<

article 3

2007-01-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

This is the article I wrote for December 15. I liked it.

12 days of Christmas

As a child, I lived in many places. My first memories are of Marquette, Michigan. Other stops were Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta before finally settling near Fort Worth, Texas. Moving was an adventure and it exposed us to many different cultures. All of it was fun and some memories stick out more than others. Among my strangest memories is of the slight twinge of jealousy I had of my Jewish friends in Miami.
During this time of the year, while many of us were discussing and awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, our Jewish friends were at home opening presents during the eight nights of Hanukkah (celebrated December 16-23 this year). To a fourth grader, this was not fair to those of us who were not Jewish. Sure, we got gifts on Christmas, but we had to wait. Hanukah usually began before Christmas, which meant they didn’t have to wait as long. Plus, in the mind of a child, one morning of presents would never add up to as many presents as eight nights would. The idea that the Christmas pile of presents would be spread across eight nights is lost on a 10 year old.
One year I thought I had found a loop-hole: the 12 days of Christmas. In a competitive sense, this was great. Christmas could become four days longer than the Hanukah celebration and it would often start before Hanukah (December 13-25 would always be the 12 days, but Hanukah moves around). You can imagine my disappointment when I found out that the 12 days of Christmas were already accounted for with Christmas beginning the 12 days rather than serving as the “Grand Finale.” I knew right then and there that there would not be 11 more days of presents, unless I wanted to wait to open them up.
As a child I was stuck, waiting for Christmas. And, by now, many of us feel stuck waiting for Christmas. Work responsibilities are winding down. Children are attending parties at school and with friends. Gift lists are getting smaller and the pile of gifts around the tree is probably getting a little bigger. But we wait.
And this waiting we do for gifts each year cannot come close to the longing that God’s people must have felt as they were waiting for Messiah to come. For hundreds of years, they had been in and out of exile and the glory days of King David’s reign were history. God had promised something new would come, but they couldn’t even count days because no date for this event had been announced. With little fanfare the significant day came and went with only a few shepherds and wise men noticing.
If we are not careful, we will get caught up in the season’s cultural events and miss our spiritual remembrance of the first Christmas. Christmas Eve will come and following our loyal attendance at a candlelight service, our eyes and ears will turn towards home and a television repeating classic movies like A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life. Eric Chilton and Laney Pope will report on Santa’s Progress around the globe. Children will be whisked off to bed and parents will make final preparations for the morning to come. There will be no need for an alarm clock in many houses on December 25 and children do not come equipped with snooze buttons. Breakfast will be prepared in the midst of presents being opened. Some will pack up cars and travel to see family and friends. Prayers will be said around many dinner tables, but prayer was probably said around many tables on that night, 2000 years ago, in Bethlehem as well. We can’t wait for the day to get here, but we may miss the event all together.
So, prepare for Christmas: buy and wrap gifts, spend time with family (even if you would rather be elsewhere), track Santa’s progress across the sky, attend a Christmas Eve service, and enjoy Christmas day. But let’s not forget that December 25th is the day that the Savior for the world was born. Not only is this worth waiting for and remembering, but it’s worth celebrating for 11 more days after Christmas.

article number 2

2006-12-31T10:35:00.000-05:00

I am preaching this morning, but have a couple of minutes to pass before I have to go to worship. I thought it would be a good time to post another column.
This column ran in the Mount Airy News on Friday, December 8, 2006. Enjoy!

Anybody Ready?

Everyday I hear people claim that the holidays show up faster and faster each year. As I grow older, I find that the Christmas season sneaks up on me and I am a little less ready for things this year than I was last year. There are, of course, people who are always ready for the holidays, but remember that the Bree Hodges of the world find their places as characters on television shows. (If you didn’t catch the Desperate Housewives reference, you are not missing much.)
However, being prepared for the Advent and Christmas seasons is something we should turn our attention towards. I do not know a single person who wants to miss something special God has for them, but if scripture is any indication, some of us might. As you may well know, the story of Jesus’ birth is recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Inseparable from the birth of Jesus is the birth of his cousin, John the Baptist, whose birth narrative is woven through Jesus’ Nativity story in chapters 1 and 2 of Luke.
John the Baptist’s birth story begins with an angel appearing to his would-be father, Zechariah. The angel appeared while he was on his temple duties, so an out of the ordinary occurrence should have been no surprise. It turns out the angel was foretelling the birth of Zechariah’s son and when he did not believe the angel’s prophesy, he was silenced (unable to speak) until after his son would be born. In fairness to Zechariah, his disbelief was legitimate. He and his wife were quite old and they had assumed she was barren. Zechariah was not ready for this particular word from God and the consequences were significant. We all can think of times when we heard news that left us speechless, but nine months is quite a period of silence.
Following the birth of John, Jesus’ Nativity Story goes on…
After Jesus’ birth the shepherds and angels dropped by to offer their praise. Eight days later it was time for the child’s presentation in the temple according to the law. Upon arriving at the temple for the presentation and the accompanying sacrifice, they handed the child to a man from Jerusalem named Simeon. Simeon then offered a prayer to the Lord which amounted to: “This is the Messiah! Now that I have seen it all, Lord, you may take your servant in peace.” Simeon was ready when this child was handed to him and he recognized Jesus right away as the Messiah. His response was an offering of praise, far from the silence of Zechariah.
There is cause for blessing and caution in the stories of these two men who frame the birth of Jesus. Zechariah teaches that we must be ready for a word from God to come at any time. Simeon shows us that being prepared for a word from God to come is quite a blessing.
This Advent season, we all will make preparations for Christmas. Trees will be moved into the house, baking will occupy the kitchen, the stockings will be hung over the fireplaces, and we will attend family and work Christmas gatherings. In the “hustle and bustle” of this season, we may put off preparing spiritually. Though this would likly be unintentional, it could cause us to miss a word from God. I encourage us all to take time daily to pray and ask God’s wisdom and blessing for this holiday season. Then, be ready. You never know what word God might bring and it would be a shame for one of us to hear such great news as Zechariah did but not be able to talk about it.

I am...Minister of the Month

2006-12-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

This month I have been writing articles for the local paper, The Mount Airy News. Each Friday they publish a 500-700 word column written by me. In some ways it is a honor, in other ways it is just an annoying thing the local chaplain asks ministers to do to get it off his back. For me, it has been great practice. I have never done anything like this before. I wish I could send you a link, but the Mayberry paper doesn't run any content for free, so I will simply cut and paste for you.

The article below was published in the December 1st edition of the Mount Airy news. The title was: "Holiday Prayer."

Holiday Prayer

Every year as the calendar pushed us through Thanksgiving and on towards the Christmas season, a brief prayer of some sort emerges into my consciousness. Though this practice is something that happened for many years, it is not so official that I had it written down or shared it with anyone. It was simply a point of focus that existed in my mind throughout the holiday season. Usually the prayer was related to understanding the birth of Christ a little better. I would ponder the incarnation during commercial breaks of football games, while waiting in line to pay for “the perfect gift,” or preparing to ship off my packages to family. But this year, I will have a prayer that came from a strange place.
Several months ago, a friend recommended that I listen to the most recent Green Day CD. As a musician, he appreciated the album for its musical quality and songwriting creativity. His youth group had some kids in it just like “the beat.” Not long after receiving this recommendation, I happened upon a copy of the disc in a consignment store in Winston-Salem. Since the investment would only be $5, I paid my money and looked for a chance to spend an hour with my new CD.
It was a November morning when I finally made time for Green Day. I expected, and somewhat enjoyed, the loud guitars and punk vocals, but I did not expect inspiration for this year’s holiday prayer.
In a song titled “Holiday” the singer chants: I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies/ this is the dawning of the rest of our lives…on holiday. It was strange how quickly I connected this song lyric to a prayer for the holiday season.
Every night I see commercials for iPods, Old Navy sweaters, radio controlled toys, and Lexus sedans with big red bows. Each of these really cool things promises to make this the “December to Remember,” but is getting the right gift going to truly make this a December to Remember?
If I tried hard enough, I am sure I could remember many of the Christmas gifts I have wished for over the years. I could also remember many of the gifts I gave to friends and family over the years. I love giving gifts. I quite enjoy getting gifts as well. But, as you and I well know, it is far too easy to get caught up in the gifts rather than remembering why this even is a holiday season.
This holiday season, at its core, is about God’s gift us in the person of Jesus Christ. We give thanks for that. We give gifts to others to practice offering in a way similar to God’s offering. But, to believe that a Lexus with a giant red bow, an iPod nano, or new jeans will truly fulfill us is simply a “hollow lie.” I pray this Christmas that my mind and spirit will differ from hollow lies. I pray this Christmas that time with loved ones will help me to see beyond hollow lies of materialism. I pray this Christmas season that the gifts I give and receive will be shared with the spirit of God’s many blessings to us. I pray they remind us of the many ways God gives to us, the most significant of which is the gift of our Savior, the baby Jesus.

vote vote vote

2006-12-12T15:47:00.000-05:00

Sorry I have not posted anything substantive lately, but I have been writing. I am the Minister of the Month here in the MTA (Mount Airy) so I have had a column published each Friday of december. Check back soon and I will put my columns up, but until then,
VOTE!!!
For David Crowder*Band as MSN Artist of the year!!!

Do IT!!!!

killin' time

2006-12-01T23:56:00.000-05:00

if you are bored, need a study or work break, check out one of these two:

linerider

yetti ball

2006-12-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

leaf-e

2006-12-01T23:45:00.000-05:00

snow-e

blog worthy events

2006-11-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

Some people use bullet points to convey various messages and topics within one blog. Today, I am choosing to use bold headings differentiate between different streams of though. Enjoy!

I Couldn't hold out any longer: blame it on Will Ferrell
It was my intention to hold off on resetting my car stereo presets until after Thanksgiving, but I did it today. It is annoying to some that we have Christmas promotion and music before Thanksgiving is even over and I usually agree. But Saturday Night we happened upon ELF the Will Ferrell Christmas movie and it got me moving towards the big day. This morning, I traded out XM65: The Rhyme with Snoop Dogg for XM103: Holly. I will now skim Christmas Songs during commercial breaks on Sports Radio.
In a side note, I really enjoyed Elf. It had some pretty big gaps in the plot, but it was really funny. It may become like A Christmas Story: just leave it on in the background and pick it up and drop it off in the midst of the Christmas Day Bustle.

GO IRISH (ehwww!!!)
I cant believe I am writing this, but I must be a Notre Dame fan for the week. With Michigan's 3pt loss to "Oh How I Hate" OHIO STATE!!! Michigan's chance to get to the National Championship games rides on a USC loss. So I am pulling for the Irish to top the Trojans allowing Michigan to stay in the #2 spot.

It's Snowin', We're Goin'
Last Night I made reservations for us to fly to Colorado in January to Ski/board. We are thinking we will ski at Keystone, but are waiting to a couple of others to confirm before we make lodging reservations. Needless to say, I am pumped. I check snow reports several times a day and my snowboard is tuned up for another season. I am also in much better shape then I was this time last year. Shreddin' is definitely in the forecast.

TaTa for now.

my thoughts

2006-11-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

I spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday at a meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The meeting was well covered by local and regional news channels. While it would be my dream to have this event covered by our beloved J Stewert or S Colbert, a simple link to an editorial in the Winston-Salem Journal must do. It says conciseley what I think about the way the issue was handled.
I most like the part that deals with historical baptist principles. That is one really big problem with the decisions that were made.

About the acutal issue at hand, I guess I will use two quotes from Harriet on Studio 60, "I dont know" and " it is for smarter people then me to decide." And, Jesus does love people and was not really an exclusive kind of guy. But, the baptists in charge must think they are really smart.
Here's the link.

ps. The title is Baptist Hard Line and it was published on November 17, 2006

fun for the day

2006-11-15T15:54:00.000-05:00

I have a friend named David Crowder. We talk periodically and I go see his band in concert when they come around my way. Well, I guess some of you may know him.
He has a blog, I read it periodically.
Today I am a bit drained so I am refilling with my new favorite treat in life: Mexican Mocha from Simplyummy in W-S NC.
I stumbled over to the blog and saw that he has gotten himself an orange laptop. The computer is funny, the pics are funny, the idea is funny.
Click here and enjoy!

11-13-2006

2006-11-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

Hi all,

here's what's up:

I have added a link to the myspace of a friend from zebulon.

I plan to go home and go for a 5 mile run this evening.

I have a meeting a church tonight at 7.

Some of the people I voted for won their election races.

This month's Rolling Stone Article on Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert is very good.

Life is ok for me right now. I hope it is for you.

Duke Basketball 1-o. Finally it is here.

more later, peace

ELECTION DAY!!!!

2006-11-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

I voted this morning. It was fun I guess.

What gets me the most though is the campaigners who stand outside the polling site and try to hand out info on their candidate as you walk in, as if it will make a difference. For me it doesn't, my wife just tells me who I should pick. But today I happened upon a strategy you may want to use to throw these people in a bit of a tailspin.

It is raining here today and I carried my umbrella. (It happens to be a DUKE umbrella which I think says something, but may not). Since it was before noon, I had a cup of coffee with me as well. Two hands: 1 umbrella+1 coffee cup= NO HANDS FOR FLYERS. The first guy I happened upon managed to get me to take a mint with Pam Marion on on wrapper and since I had already decided to vote for her I squeezed it into my free pinky finger. The rest of the clan was not sure what to do. I couldnt take Jim Harells flyer. I couldnt (and wouldnt have) taken Tom Lanagan's pastcard. The other few were equally miffed by my inability to allow them to fulfill their campaign-given duty. I also knew the guy who was standing there with an Atkinson t-shirt so we talked a bit.

The moral of the story is: CARRY STUFF INTO THE POLLING PLACE IF YOU DONT WANT TO DEAL WITH CAMPAINGERS. Oh yeah, and write in Stephen Colbert and John Stewart when you have a chance to. I voted for them to be in charge of soil and water conservation in Surry County. I think they would do a great job.

new feature

2006-11-03T12:07:00.000-05:00

just thought I would let those of you who never scroll down to the bottom of the page that I added a (red) banner to the footer of the blog.
I sincerely hope you are all well.
It was good to get a call from gmoney last night.
peace

my tivo is clean

2006-11-02T16:14:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I got up on that Thursday morning with no plans. I take the day off when I can and that day my agenda was: exercise, clean the car if I want. So I did exercise but also put in about 10 hours in front of the TV. I worked on catching up on some shows I had saved, contemplated picking up some new shows, and did a little reading.
Last Thursday, I finished cleaning out my shows from the Tivo and now I am completely caught up on some shows I like to watch like Grey's Anatomy and Boston Legal (I'm a sucker for the 1 hour ABC show: NYPD Blue). I picked up this Six Degrees show and like it alright. It is kinda interesting, but not award worthy. Natalie and I watch Studio 60 and Desperate Housewives together, and there are always episodes of The Daily Show/Colbert Report in the que. But I am clean out now, with nothing to watch and last night I just decided it would be better to go to bed then try to find something.

So I checked, and tonight are new episodes of Greys and SixD, which is a little exciting I guess. We also joined Netfilx this week and we should have movie #2 coming by tomorrow, so there will be something to watch this weekend as well.

I wrestle with watching tv because I usually want to try to be elitist and think that there are better things to do with my time. There probably are, but I know who McDreamy, delFino, and Harriett are, which could give me a little pop-culture street cred. I know this is not the stuff redemption is made of, but I hope at some point in my life it will pay off in some way that is productive. Or, in the very least, I may just be catching up on all the time I missed while I was hanging out in the elitist towers at Duke, reading books in stead of allowing the writers in hollywood to blow my mind with awesome new shows...

in between

2006-10-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

Halloween has never been a huge holiday for me. As a child we dressed up and it was fun, but, my favorite Childhood memories are not of halloween. I dont remember Halloween from college and from Grad School, most people that did anything with the holiday simply went to a huge street party in Chapel Hill, NC. I never felt compelled to go.
But last year, Halloween took on a new meaning. Last year my wife and I traveled back to Texas on Halloween to attend Kyle's funeral. He died on the 30th, the funeral was the 1st, and now Halloween is in between two very significant days. I guess it is the memorial day for me. I was't in Waco on the 30th when it happened but the trip back on halloween for an All Saint's Day funeral was a huge part of the pilgrimmage back to a place and a community of people that I love and miss dearly.

Halloween is my sorrowful day for Kyle, and All Saints Day is going to be my celebration day. Tomorrow, I plan to wear my Adidas Track Suit in honor of Kyle. I know people will look at me funny, but I hope they ask me why. I would love to tell the story of our friend. Someone who laughed loud, thought hard, and lived well. He had profoundly changed my life through our friendship and in his death he is still helping to change me.

this one has been coming

2006-10-30T11:08:00.000-05:00

Today marks the first anniversary of Kyle Lake's death. There is a community that spans the country and world that grieves today. We all have lost someone we loved and that loved us. He taught us, challenged us, encouraged us, and led us in many of the ways we would go. Most of the time it was down a path that I wasn't sure I should go.

I will never forget early mornings at common grounds, Wednesday lunches at crickets (after which I had to rush to campus for Hebrew class), and even a phone call just days before my wedding at which he was an usher:

Kyle: "Hey, I was calling to see if it mattered that I was going to bleach my hair really blonde even though we have your wedding this weekend?"
I replied: "that's fine, I don't think it will matter."
Kyle: "Well good, because I was ready to do it when I called you the first time and when I missed you, we just went ahead and did it. Glad you don't mind."

Those weren't the exact words, but you get the point I guess. It is what comes to mind today for some reason.

Our first October 30 is going by without Kyle. In two days we will recognize All Saints Day (November 1) and remember a long day at FBC Waco. I am thankful for the chance to have been their with a could of many witnesses, celebrating with grief and great thanks one of our Saints who is going on before us.

happy 3+1

2006-10-23T15:35:00.000-04:00

I was sitting in my office, winding down from a funeral, hospital visits, and newsletter writing and as I was flipping though my newest copy of Relevant Magazine I was reminded of how popular blogging became this year, page 92 of the Novmber/December issue.

But as I read about blogging, I remembered the my blog birthday was in October. So I looked it up and sure enough, OpenAHOsHead is 3 years and 1 day old. WHOOO HOOOO!!!

So, three years and one day into this little thing and I am now finally cool.

Or, as I like to think, the rest of the world got cool two years after me.
What do you think? (but only share the thoughts about me being cool, that is what is cool in america in 2006)

another mystery

2006-10-21T23:53:00.000-04:00

Today I got my car washed at one of those full service places that we all have around. It was $11, but, the automatic touchless deal in town, "Mayberry Water WorkS", is $8 and doesnt really do a good job. I got a vacuum too.

After my car had gotten the pre-wash scrub, it went through the carwash and then came out the other end to be dried and detailed by a person. The young lady pulled the car forward and dried it, sprayed and cleaned the windows, and then detailed the wheels. She appeared to be doing a good job, but, how much should I tip her??? (sometimes its a him)

When I got home, I realized she had not done that great of a job, but the tip was in. $4 is what I gave, what do you give???

since we were last together.. I have:

2006-10-19T23:45:00.000-04:00

This was the phrase given to us to complete when we arrived for the afternoon session at the leadership program/seminar I am participating this year. We gathered for level 2 this week and we had not been together since August. It is a fun group of people, all ministers, trying to minister and lead better. Most are close to my age, one is not, but we get along really well and I am thankful that there are other people out there trying to be good ministers. It is easy to think you are alone when many of the people that you deal with in other churches and the community come from such a different place then you.

So, since I last blogged: I went to young leaders.

My wife, dog and I also went to visit my parents and some extended family in upper Michigan. It was a good trip. There was snow, mud, wind, and plenty of scenery. We also traveled through many notable cities along the way: Charleston WV, Colombus OH, Ann Arbor MI, the Mackinaw Bridge, Marquette MI, Green Bay WI, Milwalkee WI, Chicago IL, Indy, Lexington KY, and Huntington WV: home of Marshall U. My car is filthy and crossed 10000 miles as we crossed back into NC. 10005 was the final odometer total when we arrived in the garage: 27030 on Google maps if you dont know where the "Mayberry Hamlet" is.

I preached on the Prodigal Son at a revival, it was a pretty fun night. The church accross town is having what they are calling "Main Street Revival." They invited pastors from 4 churches on Main Street here in town to preach on 4 consecutive nights in October. Our choir also sang, and their song fit well with a rendering of the prodigal son. I talked about how we are quite often the bigger brother who is trying to do good, but feels like we cant catch a break. If you want, I could pass something along to you.

Finally, for tonight...
I have spent the day resting, catching up on some TV, and exercising. My run was tough, the rest has been good, and I have watched an absurd amout of television today. We caught up on two weeks of Desperate Housewives and Studio 60, and that was after dinner. I am now only 3 weeks behind on Grey's Anatomy, and I am thinking about picking up THE NINE. I am caught up with Boston Legal, and I may try to catch up on SIX DEGREES.

Currently I really dig the Mac/PC commercials, and there is also a commercial with monkeys, one of which is popping bubble wrap that really made me laugh. Also, these VW commercials where musicians are playing their guitars through the stereos of the cars is interesting. I am thinking about hooking up my Chet Atkins to the the system of the ELEMENT. I need a $3 adapter from Radio Shack.

I am also digging two new t-shirts I got this week. I finally had a shirt come in related to the Kyle's Film Project. I also got one for the church youth group with the title "el ano del taco". Both are American Apparel shirts and are good deisgns in a great feeling/fitting shirt.

Back to work and running again tomorrow. The half-marathon wont run itself.

I hope all the bloggers who read this are well out there in bloggerland. I plan to catch up with you all soon.

Continue to uncover more mysteries of the universe.

mysteries of the univerise

2006-10-02T16:43:00.000-04:00

There are many questions in life that we cannot understand and can only stab at their resolution. Take for example:
why does the guy outside the sporting event who WANTS tickets never talk to the guy right across the street who HAS tickets?
or
when you drop your chapstick in the parking lot, how long can it set there until it simply becomes parking lot chapstick?
or
Why do you have to write in the tip before you actually get your food when you order take-out at chilis, outback, etc...

But this is the lastest one that has me is:
How much do you tip at SONIC, americas drive in?

This is a tough one. You see, SONIC is a drive in and you expect service to your car. But all the carhop really does is brings out your food and takes your money. It is an antiquated drive-through system. And, becuase we are nice people we feel compelled to give these fast food delivery people a tip.

Usually, when I go to Sonic and the bill comes to something like $4.29, it is simple enough to give a $5 and call it even. This gives a 15% tip for something that took the carhop 27 seconds to do. Thats a pretty good return. BUT, sometimes it comes to $7.73. Then I rummage around in the car for an additional $.50, or, if I dont feel like being cheap, I might give them a $1.

BUT, there is a problem. Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you tip at SONIC, the response is always the same, indifference? Why is this?

If each carhop got $.50 for each trip to a customer, in a given day, they would clear an additional $20-$40, tax free, on top of the minimum wage+ they are paid. This would come out to something like $10/hour for a 5-6 hour shift. That is fantastic money for a high school or college student working pt fast food.

Yet, I give a $1, no response. I feel like a jerk for wasting a $1 on a glorified window operator. I give $.25, no response. I feel like a jerk who could only tip a quarter to the poor high school kid while I wasted $.75 in gas 'cause I didnt want to shut the car and a/c off (c'mon its 100 degrees outside and I needed a 32oz milkshake {note the absurdity plese}).

SO, chalk SONIC up to mystery of the universe and file it with the chapstick problem. We will never know. AND if you work at SONIC, just tell the carhops to be thankful for my handful of nickels and dimes. I was going to buy a bouncy ball with that change.

just something

2006-09-25T23:38:00.000-04:00

Well, I wanted to at least throw something up here to keep a couple of you coming back, so this will pretty much be about me.

I know stuff is not where true happiness lies and I dont want to inflate any materialism that I already have or you may struggle with, but, I thought I would reveal a few things that have been making me happy lately.

HONDA ELEMENT
Every morning I head out to the car and just smile that I get to ride to work in such a great ride. I love to look at it. I love to drive it. I love listening to XM radio. It is great fun for me. (the only thing I dont like is that it gets dirty, but cleaning it makes me happy).

FRUITY PEBBLES
Sometimes I just cant get enough of them. Now is one of those times.

LIFE SAVERS SHERBERT
There is this new brand of sherbert in the ice cream section of the store by Life Savers. It is a little different, but I think quite good.

(You only know this because I tell you, but I had to go away for a few minutes. My wife went to bed and the dog needed to go out. Upon his return to the living room, he decided he didnt want his dinner, or evening treat anymore. This doesnt really make me happy, but it's part of life I guess)

SEEING MY BREATH
Nature is pregnant with fall around here and one night last week I could see my breath when I took out the dog. Winter is coming, snowboarding is coming too.

RUNNING?
Yeah, well, it feels great to be done each day. I am running in the afternoons right now which suits me well. I am up to 4.5+ each day and it is no longer a total drain when I am done. I am on my way, I hope I can stay healthy enough to train fully for the half-marathon.

FANTASY FOOTBALL
I am having fun with it, though I have two teams, five games and only 1 win. I think we are setting up for a second half run, but we shall see.

PREACHING
Finally, I have preached several times in the past 3 weeks and have 2 more coming in th next two weeks. I am enjoying it and doing alright, or so they say. I love the storytelling aspect and the conveying of truth through interesting means. Maybe I will post something here sometime for you to listen to or read.

Well, thats all for now. Hope you are well and I brought a smile to you somehow.
peace
chris

about cars

2006-09-20T13:31:00.000-04:00

I have the need to publish something on the lighter side of things so I thought I would present this article and propose the question to you that Phelan asks his readers. I am developing my own list, but want to see yours. I will publish mine later.

Read Here

or Here

MARK PHELAN | BEHIND THE WHEEL: Vote for classics of the future

BY MARK PHELAN

Which modern cars will become classics that draw crowds at the Woodward Dream Cruise 20 years from now?

I've got my ideas, but think of your own for a moment before reading further.

E-mail me a note with your candidates for future classics, and in a couple of sentences say why you think these contemporary cars will stand the test of time.

The future of classic cruising looked bleak five years ago. I remember driving along Woodward during the Dream Cruise and being convinced that no cars in production at the time deserved, or would get, the loving attention, care and customization cruisers bestowed on their rides.

The picture is very different today.

Simply being old may be enough to qualify for a "classic" license plate, but we're setting the bar higher than that for future cruisers.

A crowd-pleasing classic car can be any of several things.

Beauty is a good place to start, but it's not required. Endearing eccentricity works, too. High performance qualifies. Rarity helps. Customization is a good thing, because it comes from devoted owners and makes each car unique.

Cost is not a factor, and a car that was a good value when new has a special appeal. Nobody argues with the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air's classic status, and it was an affordable mainstream model.

I'd say Chevrolet's SSR convertible pickup is a slam-dunk future classic.

It's got an exceptionally lovely shape thanks to its sensuously curved hood and fenders. Those same curves lend themselves to custom paint jobs that accentuate the SSR's visual appeal. Chevy sold just 22,395 SSRs, and it's not building any more, so that number will only rise by the few remaining on dealer lots.

Ford's Mustang is a sure thing; a great-looking car with a devoted owner base.

The Chrysler Crossfire coupe and convertible are among the prettiest cars ever built. The company didn't build a lot of them, so they'll turn heads in future cruises.

The Honda Element looks like another good bet. It's quirky, and owners have customized it like an earlier generation did with VW Microbuses.

Toyota's new FJ Cruiser SUV has the oddball charm to win generations of fans. Picking high-selling cars destined for classic status is tougher, but owners are busily customizing Chrysler PT Cruisers and Chevrolet HHRs.

Now tell me your choices and why you think the cars and trucks deserve cruising immortality.

Contact MARK PHELAN at 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com.

only half-way

2006-09-18T16:03:00.000-04:00

I was about to create a mental rant but had to catch myself. I went to a blog that was supposed to be a preaching blog on the lectionary scripture for the week and it hadnt been updated in 8 months. I need an idea and stuff for lent isnt going to cut it today.

But a bigger problem is that I am close to exhausted. We had 4 funerals for church members this weekend and one of them was due to the tragic death of our pastor's 31yr old son. Brent had struggled with many things in life, but I am finding out firsthad that burying a young adult is hard on a church. I'm tired right now. I can't imagine what my pastor is going through.

So, the best I have to offer today is half-way. I am at best half tired and offering half the energy I have.

The only thing I can offer something significant to is a run that I am going to go on at about 6 tonight. I plan to go about 4 miles down main street and back. It is imperative that I run today for 2 reasons. 1. I need to emotional lift that will come from an exercised induced endorphin rush and 2. I am actually training for a half-marathon. The date is December 2. I will be running 13.1 miles that day, hopefully finishing with a respectable time and a few pounds shed.

Half is all I got today, but I am giving it all right now.

Sorry if it is scattered.
chris

friday thoughts

2006-08-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

Just a few quick thoughts while I wait for my coffee to finish brewing and I have to finally get to work for the day.

I usually do not pay attention to basketball that does not involve: ACC, Cameron Indoor, Blue Devils, TarHells, etc... But, this USA bball team that has been put together is coached by my favorite team's coach, K.
They won a scrimmage against Puerto Rico easily last night, but there are still doubts that this team will be able to win the World Championships this August. Aparrently I am the only one with no doubt. Here's what I think.
Coach K and Jerry Conlangelo have completely changed the culture of this team. They are helping to continue to develop young players like DWade and BronBron. They will be focused and ready to play, becuase that is what Coach K coached teams do. I have no doubt, but I guess that is becuase when it comes to Bball; In K I Trust.

NASCAR
Monday I got to drive my new ELEMENT on the road course at NASCAR's Watkins Glen. It was a blast comparable only to my excitement to getting to see RICKY BOBBY. I am not sure when I will get to see it, but at worst, my off day is Thursday or Nat. will be out of town next weekend. Not sure what her interest is yet.

Coffee is ready, I am off to work for a few hours today. Maybe I will catch some X-games this weekend. And I have to mow the grass.

back???

2006-08-03T00:29:00.000-04:00

To say the least, the summer has been hellacious...

It all started the first week of June in prep for Vacation Bible School at church. Then we bought a car, went to ATL for four days, took kids bike riding, took one biker to the hospital after she tumbled into the creek unconscious after falling form the bike, my ride home locked keys in the car, went to NYC with youth, sent youth home from NYC b/c she was sick (part stomach, part homesick), came home from nyc as the only staff member in the office, visited hospitals everyday, prepared Wednesday night bible study, hosted youth at the house, got a haircut, preached a sermon, started Syriana 3 times: fell asleep each time and still have not seen it, got news that grandfather passed away, went to camp, drove back to raleigh to fly to funeral, went to funeral, spoke there, started to fly home: 3 hours late, 9 hours in Ohaire, back to raleigh 12 hours late, sleep at g-moneys, bfast at elmos, back to camp, one night at camp, bring youth home, pastor gives permission for a brief time of leave, go to amusement park...
then to take a break, we escape to Ithaca NY. you can see pics through Natalie flickr page; www.flickr.com/photos/natalieaho

Now, I am back, head is still spinning a little, and I have several pages worth of blogs to write. But I love my new car (42 days of ownership and 3800 miles already), I love my job, I have had the best summer of my working life and it has also been the most difficult.

I look forward to writing more, but, for now it is just good to get something on the page.

peace

reflections on some new things

2006-06-26T23:37:00.000-04:00

So I am now 6 days into new car ownership, and it is quite different. As a Jeep Driver, I braced each summer morning for hot, sweaty, windblown rides back and forth to work. Visiting the hospital was a bummer becuase I would be all sweaty by the time I got there. BUT, 6 days in, my new silver Element's air conditioning works great, the seats are comfortable, and it is a blast to drive to the tune of 800 miles in week one. Sure we had a business trip to Atlanta, but it was a fun business trip.

CBF
Last week nat and I went to the meeting of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in the ATL. It was a good meeting where they recognized her new job in the CBFNC meeting, we went to some big sessions to hear sermons and business and stuff, and we went to some breakouts. I got to meet an emergent guy from ATL who is planting a church in the little 5points area and engaged in the the emergent steering committee. I am looking further dialogue about being emergent but also being in a traditional setting. I think emergent has something to it, and the folks in my traditional context could be into it too.

I sat in the back of our E on the way home and worked on the computer with my legs kicked out on the reclined front seat...it was pretty awesome.

This week we have something almost every night with church and then we leave for NYC on mission trip next week. It will be crazy busy and fun at the same time.

I hope you are well, thanks for reading.

ps I love my XM radio preview.

wow

2006-06-22T00:26:00.000-04:00

WOW, what else can I say about this week.

I have had a great week at work, but have not been hanging out with youth as much as I would have liked to. It will come since we are prepping for our mission trip to New York in the next 10 days, dang.

For the rest of the week outside of my work I post the following pics and say that Natalie and I are off to ATL for the CBF General Assembly, if you care. Peace to you all from my fun week...

AND the followup to my previous post:

thats all I got...

Lucky number 7?????

2006-06-17T23:03:00.000-04:00

I originally titled this post
"frustrated with my team"
but, I have decided to change it. Read on to see why.

I guess it is only fair that if I am going to be proud of my team on my blog, I might as well whine about them and cry sour grapes about them too. Usually I don't blog about the teams I root for because I have a tendency to jinx them, but it cant hurt now.
After leading the Stanley Cup Finals 3 games to 1 and heading home with a shot at the win, my team has stunk it up, two games in a row. They cant seem to get the puck on the net, skate better than the Oilers, or catch a break. Tonight they didn't even score a goal, and the team that is used to beating other teams in shots on goal is getting killed in that stat. We are being pushed around, out skated and out everything that leads to being outplayed.

I am upset in a slightly unhealthy way. It is sad how our moods are so swayed by the performance of athletes. We let what others do determine our emotions, and this something that we let happen in sports and in life. It is good when we weep with those who are weeping, and rejoice with those who are rejoicing, but when we cry because our team plays crappy, well, we have taken this teaching a little too far.

Soooo...Here is the silver lining. We have a chance to play for the coolest trophy in sports on our home ice and win it with the home fans. It would be awesome to be there. AND, Eric Cole, one of the teams star players is back after three months away due to an injury. AND, home teams are 11 wins and 2 losses in game 7s in the Stanley Cup finals. Combine that with a team that was second overall in the league, and two bad games in a row, at least the law of averages is on our side.

Monday, I am wearing my Canes Jersey all day, unless I have to go to the Hospital or funeral home or something like that. I am going to root well for my team and enjoy the fact that 7 years ago to the day, the DALLAS STARS won their First Championship and Natalie and I watched from the couch in our hotel room on our wedding night (we were eating a late dinner at the time as well). Hopefully we can see another great victory on LUCKY NUMBER 7. GO CANES!!!!!!!!!

weekend update

2006-06-10T09:21:00.000-04:00

Well, another week has come and gone and I have said nothing. It is not as if I have had nothing to say, but I have been a bit busy. School is out now and kids (youth) are around so I am trying to get to places and doing things that engage them and allow us to build relationships. It has been a good week of that, or at least I had fun.

Sunday night we went to the country, rocked on the porch, ate burgers, survived a rainstorm and then played a monster game of croquet. I lost, but it was great. If you have not played any lawn games lately, you should. They are great and facilitate meaningful dialogue with good friends.

Tuesday Night we had some youth over for TACOS and played UNO and Scattergories. It was excellent as well.

Monday and Wednesday, I watched Hockey and Mountain Biked. Monday was a bit rough, flattened a tire and saw a copperhead which could have killed me with his bite, but, I was too quick...and completely freaked the rest of my ride.

Friday, I played my first raquetball EVER with the nilator. I was completely soaked with sweat before he was finished warming up, but we had a blast. No score was kept, but, next time he will skunk me for sure.

We also had some excellent food this week. Grilled some fresh chicken on wednesday, tacos on tuesday, great pizza on friday, and really good expresso this morning.

I type this morning from BOONE, NC which is becoming my favorite town in NC. It is a college town with a good mix of cool kids, local hippies, fresh small businesses and in the winter is it within 30 minutes of 4 ski hills. What's not to like.

The only downer for the week is that Nat. is taking a teaching test this morning which is giving me tons of free time in a cool town, but she is taking a standardized test which is just dumb, really. It will be done soon enough, but we suspect the AC is going out at the house. Not so bad for us becuase it wont hit our pocketbooks, but, landlords are sometimes not nearly as excited about getting AC fixed as tenants are. We have the best landlords ever, but I still hate bringing bad news like this, and they still hate the bills.

I hope your week brought good thoughts, challenges and moments to you.

until next time
aho

man down...

2006-06-02T13:07:00.000-04:00

This week our church here in Mayberry lost a good man, Ralph Epperson. Ralph started the first radio station in the county in 1948 and it is still working in a similar format. No payola, no national contests, and Clearchannel to cloud up authentic local music. He is kinda a legend around here and his staion, WPAQ broadcasts the third longest running live radio show called the Merry-Go-Round, which is behind in length only the Grand Ole Opry.

Ralph was a funny and smart man, who created and ran great business, and he will be missed in our community.

Check out the NPR story on him here...

net down!! net down!!!!!

2006-05-30T23:19:00.000-04:00

For those of you who care, sorry I have been gone for so long. I have had a few topics to explore, but not the "umph" enough to actually put them to keyboard. Then, there was the net down days.

Saturday, my fantastic wife undertook a re-decorating project (which is really a re-arranging project when you rent and dont want to figuratively flush money with paint expenses). She moved the desks and chair around in our office which have actually made it a much nicer room and in the 3 days since, I have actually used the room to watch TV 2 times, which is 2 times more than the previous 8 months of living here.

The snag...
Our wireless router didnt set itself back to its previous settings, locking us out and shutting down our wireless network. This is a big deal becuase our desktop is dreadfully slow and we like to surf and blog from the comfort of our couch. So, the crisis of our weekend was no net.

But alas...
It only took 2 periods of tonight's hockey game and a call to India to get the router reset and the laptops back connected to the glorious world wide web. What would we do without this majic machine of cyberspace???

So, things have been a little slow around here lately, but steady and good. I like to think of it as a fidelity building period. It is easier to be faithful when things are frantic for one reason or another, but when things are quiet, it is easy to be lazy. But, tonight, I was not lazy: I FIXED MY ROUTER!!!! Whooo Hoooo!! Tom

And I ran for 30 minutes this morning...big day, big day.

Tomorrow Night, I shall embark on a broken toilet.

ps.
I updated my music listings, here they are.
Yellowcard- Lights and Sounds, catchy song, cd on sale
Dixie Chicks- the new one, good so far
Sanctus Real- interesting, and actually a Christian Group
Arctic Monkeys- Getting my 'punk' on. they are good

Jury is still out, but it looks like we have 4 winners here.

pps. I also finished 2 of the books and an updated book list will be coming soon.

kicked

2006-05-22T16:07:00.000-04:00

Took a bike ride today with two people from town here who are in pretty good shape. Nope, REALLY good shape. This highlighted the fact that I am now in REALLY BAD shape. We rode for about 1 hour, 45 minutes and probably close to 18 miles. They were waiting on me the entire ride.
I feel good though. My body is fatigued, but a good kind of fatigued. I really need to get in shape, lose 25-35 pounds if possible, and "change the shape of things." I could be more healthy and could take care of myself better. I was not blessed with 135 pound genes, neither were my parents, so looking like Lance on a bike is a bit of a stretch, but, I am on the way. Wish me luck.
And, despite the fact that I was doggin it for 2 hours this morning, this is a very beautiful place to ride. If you come to visit, bring your road bike and a get ready for some hills.

peace

surrounded

2006-05-17T16:03:00.000-04:00

I've been surrounded.
Let me explain. (this one is a little long, but potentially worth it)

This week I am in ATL for the Festival of Homoletics. For those of you that don't know what homoletics is, it is the study of preaching, basically. The Festival of Homoletics basically amounts to the mainline protestant preacher's all star weekend. Annually they gather to hear sermons and lectures about sermons. It is explained how great and faithful and meaningful our work is in spite of its frustrations and difficulties. Along with being admonished and encouraged, we are challenged to take it to the next level, preach with beauty, challenge and purpose. Preach the gospel. It is the preacher's equivalent to Emeril's 'Bam!!'

Now, to how I am surrounded.

As I type I am postponing writing my Sunday sermon while at a coffee shop called 'octane'. The curse is I pretty much have it in my head, and it is tedious to get it in print. But, I am surounded at the moment by apple laptops. Until this second apples were ruling my area of the shop, butan IBM just opened behind me to make it 2 IBMs, 6 apples, and 4 other IBM clones. Gmoney is threatening that they will take us over, yet they are the ones finally installing intel chips. So in this shop seems to be a haven for a variety of people with a high concentration of apple lovers and great coffee. Apple people, for the most part, have a keen sense of style and beauty. I am a fan, though not a follower. I was literally born into an IBM family. Big Blue paid lots of bills and old habits are hard to break.

Continuing on this theme, we return to the Festival of Homoletics. This is not a Baptist preachers festival. There are a few of us here who appreciate a different flavor than we have grown up with, but for the most part I am surrounded in worship by methodists, presbyterians, lutheran and UCC ministers. It is good, they are good people, but I am often behind in the liturgy, strange and awkward during the songs, and the culture is completely different. I am surrounded by people who are kindof like me, but not totally. It is a good, safe exercize in being in the minority. Strange, yet novel at the same time.

But, the best example of being surrounded that strangely happend last night. Let me explain.

Monday night upon arrival we consulted TJ (gmoneys college roommate who now lives in atl) about a place for dinner. He suggested la Fonda a cuban/mexican cafe on Peachtree. It is right next to a pizza place I had eaten at before, but TONS better. I had a cuban sandwich which was about like a cheesesteak and was fabulous. The blackbeans and rice were great as well.
Based on his success the night before, we asked TJ about a place last night. After a couple of ideas, he asked if we were interested in wings. We ran 5 miles yesterday so we had earned some wings. Directions were given, then followed to Joes on Juniper in midtown. The hostess like host sat us outside and gave us menus. The high concentration of males was not noticible until gmoney noticed the rainbow flag on the roof of the building. The server had come; wings were ordered; we were in for the long haul. All of the sudden the host fit in and all the 'chick' cars in the parking lot made sense: Punk'd by TJ.

But, the wings were fantastic, the people were polite and they knew we didnt really fit in. So, if I am ever jonesin' for wings when I am in atl, Joes will be in the conversation. We had a great meal and interesting expereince at Joes. It was different to be in a place so out of our element. Fortunately we were not privy to anything explicitly immoral, and we are left only with the need to repay TJ, all in good fun. Hope you had a laugh over this, we did.

weekend review

2006-05-14T23:16:00.000-04:00

We pulled the top of the jeep yesterday and went for a drive and a hike. Our first stop of the drive was along the Blue Ridge Parkway here and our dog, UB decided to take a look at the scenery. After 15 miles on the parkway we went to a state park called Stone Mountain and hiked about 4 miles around this little mountain that looks just like the big one in Atlanta. No rebel generals here though. A little chicken on the grill made for a nice day.
Today: Sunday School, Worship with baby dedication, and lunch at the Country Club with a church member...kinda out of our league. A little nap and then prep for a trip to ATL.

I am off to ATL tomorrow for the Festival of Homiletics. Again, out of my league, I will be listening to sermons from some of the best in the nation. Then I have to preach next week so I will be taking notes. Off to bed now. I hope you enjoy the pic.
peace
aho

back to bloggin

2006-05-11T22:42:00.000-04:00

I have been in the basement for a while and now I am emerging with the first blog in a week. Unfortunately, I am not sure there is much to say, but I will begin and see what comes. I will try not to ramble and I will be using bold headings so you can skip down as you wish.

Today
I went to Winston for a meeting and to accomplish a mission: get a haircut. Well, it didn't take long and I found a salon in a trendy place and got an average haircut. The stylist was nice, but as I think about it, my hairs are WAY too short; think Tom Cruise in Top Gun. I may be overstating, but it is not my usually choppy textured mess that Shannon has hooked me up with for so long. But, Shannon is in Raleigh and I am not. Gotta find something else.
I stopped in an outdoors store and had a great talk with the owner. It is a very high end hiking and camping store, but it is this guy's dream and he is loving it and it is going well. We had conversations about supporting the little guy instead of wally-world and he also gave me the number of another preacher in Mayberry who skateboards. I am excited about saving up my pennies and nickels and shopping at his store, but I am even more pumped about skateboarding with a late 30's presbyterian minister.

Bike Ride
I have a bike ride scheduled for the morning. It will be my first of in several years, and my first in the foothills. The last time I was on a road bike for any amount of time I was in Texas, and it was flat. We will be riding some hills and I just hope my bike has a low enough gear and I have enough gas. I passed on potatoes and ice cream tonight in favor of strawberries and green veggies to go with my grilled brautwurst. Tommorow, I may commit to green veggies for a long time.

Margin of error
If there is any thought that has been in my head alot lately, it has been this: life's margin of error is slim. I am not trying to be morbid or overly serendipitous, but really, there are near misses every day.
Just think about it next time you are passing a car on the highway, 5-7 feet from the other 2 ton heap of metal, at 75 mph. Or, the guy that ran a red light and just missed: I saw that today. What about that cup of coffee next to your keyboard. The red kool-aid or merlot on the corner of the endtable.
I am not saying all of these things are life of death, but, it has just been eye opening as I have been looking at this recently

Current listening

(I know the cd is big, but this one is not really recognizable in its smaller size)
I have been listening to DMBs Central Park concert. It is good, but it also has a great selection of my favorite songs. One line has stuck out this week though:

"my head won't leave my head alone, and I dont beleve it will til I'm 6 feet underground"

It is from the song Rhyme & Reason, whose title I had to actually look up. It is just weird how we get into such strange mind games with ourselves. I have recently been battling with lack of discipline and I often think about how I deal with being lazy at times and how sometimes I just click through things easily. I dont know what else to say, but in the words of the Ghetto Boys: my mind is playin tricks on me. See New Jack City I think. I never say it but think that song was on the soundtrack.

Next Week

I am headed to the ATL monday thru Friday for the Festival of Homiletics. It is pretty much a preaching conference with some really great preachers. I will be going with g-money and we will be listening to preachers and eating good food, hopefully. He promised workouts and with triathalons on the horizon for both of us, there is no time like the present to get working.

I wish you the best and thanks for reading.

Anything??? bueller???

el cuatro de mayo

2006-05-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

Nothing really special to note today. I took a picture of the rain outside and was going to post it, but I left my hotsync cable at home so I cant upload it to the computer from my phone.
It has been a busy week. I have been late to work everyday, but have worked late several days and worked on my day off, yesterday.

This weekend should be nice. I need to run and workout a couple of times and Sunday is packed. Church all morning, luncheon after worship, VBS meeting at 330, sundayschool class party at 5pm, youth group stuff from 5-8ish. It will be a busy day and I certianly wont get my regular nap and will have to try hard not to be cranky.

In youth ministry, May is summer planning month. For the most part, kids are busy at school, saying good bye to their senior friends (only to see them everyotherday this summer), and getting ready to ascend the school totem pole one more slot. I, on the other hand, am beginning to live in June and July in order to line up activities and people to help kids have a great summer.

Since it is raining, I think I am going to work inside today. I need to get some promotinal stuff together for our summer mission trip to NYC and our camp at Fort Caswell here in NC.

Now, it is time for lunch. I need to go to Staples here in town to get a couple of things for my promo projects and to eat some lunch too. I guess I will go home and raid whatever it is we might have, which wont be much.

Looking forward to my 3000th hit here at open ahos head, and we are going strong on 3 weeks with no substantative comments. Rest up, get ready to come strong this summer.
peace
aho

boring blog- - - sermon

2006-04-29T15:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a VERY ROUGH draft of the sermon that I preached last night during the revival. I may not have gotten anyone saved last night, but, hopefully it got them thinking about faith and life and love. If you dont want to hang in for the whole thing, that is ok, just check back next week and I will bring some fun back to the blog. AND, if you dont want a preview of the sermon I plan to preach at FBCMA on May 21st then dont read. It will not be the same sermon, but the crux of the sermon will be the same.

And if you want silly fun, visit the element and friends website. i pinch!!!

Asking the right question
Text Luke 18:18-30

We all are aware of the saying “you put your foot in your mouth.” It happens all of the time. Think about Major league Baseball player Raphael Palmerio who testified before congress that he had never once taken steroids, only to test positive several months later in a official drug test by major league baseball.
It continues with players guaranteeing victories, managers and coaches promising better performances, and especially when Owners, General Managers, or Athletic Directors give a ‘vote of confidence’ to a coach or player who is suspected to be on the way out. If you a coach in a college or professional sport and your boss says something like: “we have full confidence in our coach and we expect him to lead our program in the right direction for years to come”…get a box and a typewriter because you are going to want to write a letter of resignation and pack up your desk pictures. The Owner has just stuck his foot in his mouth.

It happens in politics too. The beloved Nixon didn’t know anything about those tape from the Watergate Hotel and the beloved Bill Clinton didn’t know anything about that girl. But, at the risk of putting my foot in my mouth any further, I will move on from politics. It is like the father in the movie and book Big Fish says, never talk about religion or politics, you might offend someone. Well, as far as politics goes, I have stopped, but here comes the religion part.

This open mouth, insert foot thing, bleeds quite far into scripture though. Peter might be our favorite, and such an easy target.
In John 13, when Jesus is ready to wash the feet of the disciples, peter wants everything washed. Jesus, simply corrects him and moves on.
then a little later in the meal, Peter says, ‘I will never deny you Jesus…” As we all know, peter is the one who denied, not once, not twice, but Three times, before the cock crowed.

Thomas, who wouldn’t believe until he could feel the scars with his own hands, probably felt put into his place.

Or, what about Martha, who says to Jesus, “if you had been here, I know my brother Lazarus would not have died. But now I will have to wait for the resurrection to see him alive again.”
We all know how that story ended.

Time and time again in scripture and in the history of the church, we have fouled things up when it comes to the things we say to and about God. But this is not for lack of interesting or lack of trying, in fact it is because we often try too hard. We want so badly to say the right words or do the right thing to impress God that we often slide off too far in the wrong direction. Peter might have passed on to heaven a long time ago, but his spirit is alive and well in the mouths of you and I.

Now one of the most interesting occurances of this foot in mouth problems is a text that causes a tremendous amount of trouble for those of us who have just a little bit of stuff. You see, many of us are not rich, like the young ruler, but we get by alright. None of us own the world, but we do ok with our little ½ acre piece of it. We come to the famous text of the rich young man or the rich young ruler. It is a problematic passage for us, mostly because the way we have always read this text leads us to believe that we must…
Well, lets read it together…

I think we all can follow along with the feeling of this young man. It seems he has gotten his moment with Jesus and he wants to make sure his eternal destiny is secure, boy was he in for an unhappy day. So he asks Jesus: What must I do. Jesus gives him an answer that he has know practically his whole life: Follow the commandments.

At this point we are breathing a sigh of relief, we can do this, and there is a system of atonement in place for us a well. The whole sacrificial lamb thing is a bit cumbersome, but it does provide eternal security and its pretty straightforward.

But, for some reason, it seems our young man keeps pushing. Lord I have done all these things, are we straight??? Jesus replies something like well, since you asked, since you like stuff so much, why don’t you go, sell everything, give it to people who are in need, and then come and follow me.

This part of the story ends with the man going away, cruched by jesus because he has lots of stuff and he really liked it.

We are troubled too. If we wanted to, we could handle the go sell everything we own and give it to the poor. we might also be able to sort out what it means to follow Jesus here, even though he does not literally walk the earth anymore like he once did and like he commanded the young man to.

But, the story does go on.

its for Hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom. Why???

Then we move on to this problematic illustration of a camel and the eye of a needle.

As a youth, I remember this passage being preached and this scenario being explained.
this is what I was told.

you see the eye is actually this gate that was on one side of the city. They feel the need to explain this passage in a way that allows for an eye to go through the eye of “the needle.”

But explaining a camel through the needle in order that you and I might be able to enter the kingdom is not at all what this passage is all about. As I read this passage, it is not about the rich being cursed, the poor being up lifted and exalted, but it is about the words we say, the questions we ask.

Questions are important.

Just this week I saw a movie that asked an interesting and important question, for the setting in the movie. The question was: What weight more, all the tree that are cut down to make money for the us in a year or all the trains that pass through Grand Central Station in a year? Immediate reaction….

JFK asked an important question once…Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country?

Another example.
Seafood…Libby Hill…do you like fish?

(note: a couple from our church asked us one sunday if we liked fish as we were talking about where to go for lunch that day. I replied NO. They were shocked because it was their regular routine to eat at Libby Hill seafood for lunch each sunday. We ended up at Ruby Tuesday. But, had the question been, do you like seafood, or will you join us at Libby Hill, or would you like to go to Libby Hill for lunch we would have offerend an emphatic yes. But they asked if I liked fish and I had to honestly reply, NO)

Well I moved away from the text for a few moments, and it is time to go back, where were we?

“Who then can be saved” Jesus replies, “ what is impossible with man, is possible with God?”

So, is god in the magic business? Does God somehow get a camel through a needle each time he needs to let someone get into heaven?
No, I think the problem was the question, not the answer.

You see this entire passage is based on the question that the young ruler asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life? This is our key. If you want to know what YOU must do if you want to inherit eternal life, here is your answer…

The problem is not the answer, but the question. Like the Libby Hill question? The question that was asked to me was not, would you mind if we go to Libby Hill, will you join us for seafood???? But, Do you like fish? The answer to do I like fish is NO, not an emphatic no, but a I prefer other things thank you? The answer to, will you join us at Libby Hill for lunch is an emphatic yes, we would be happy to.

It is the question that is wrong which makes the answer difficult. If the question were something like, what must happen for us to inherit eternal life, I imagine the answer would be believe in me, and you will believe in the one who sent me. Come to me, trust me, follow me, GO into the world and Make disciples. Become a fisher of men. Love one another as I have loved you. Love the Lord your god and love your neighbor as yourself, for this is the greatest commandment.

You see, the problem we have a people who are trying desperately, or not so desperately to follow God, is that we often don’t ask the right questions. We ask

But it is clear that we, in and of ourselves, don’t know exactly what to say and what to ask for.

So what do we ask?

Well, in scripture, Jesus taught us to say the Lord’s prayer
Our father in heaven holy is you name kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever amen.

Others had success with Have mercy on me, a sinner.

The one who came back after being healed has a pretty good reputation.

And maybe we can simply ask: God what must you do in me in order for me to be saved?

God, what must you do in my in order that I might enter into your kingdom and help your kingdom come to fruition, here and now…

God, where are you ready to work in my mind and heart and life in order that I might follow you better.

And finally, as Ephesians 2:8 says, it is a GIFT from god, not from man.

We must ask for the gift, receive the gift, give thanks for the gift that God gives us.

My friends, tonight there are a million wrong questions we can ask God, but the right one just might be God, thy will be done in my heart. Come in, work, make me to be who it is you have created me to be so that I might serve and enter your Kingdom.

hello

2006-04-27T14:55:00.000-04:00

It has been a while. Since I have been back from NYC I have been very busy. It is that time of year that us ministers who work with youth must get summer plans out. Also, this weekend I am preaching a REVIVAL at a churcher here in Mayberry. Dover Baptist is about to hear me lay the smack down, I am just not sure what the smack will be. Deadlines like this one, 4 different sermons in a weekend beginning tomorrow, bring out the best in my ability to procrastinate. Sleep, working out, and watching car shows on espn2 for the last 45 minutes have taken up my say so far. I need the rest, but I also struggle with whether I am being a little lazy.

But, hey. Do you need to proscratinate for a few minutes??? Check out this website. It takes a minute for the island to completely load, but it is fun and funny.

At least the commercials are good, and...

...i pinch

peace
aho

update

2006-04-20T08:54:00.000-04:00

All is well here in NYC. Yesterday I navagated the public busses from Laguardia to Harlem, then down to near Times Square on 5th Avenue. I also wandered through Chinatown and SOHO looking for the Burton Snowboard shop which was pretty SWEET, like the jumps except not a jump.

After that, had a late lunch at Fanelli's cafe and moved back to mid-town and my hotel.

I stood in line a combinde 2 hours for stand-by tickets to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, but, no luck. Last night we took a taxi to the world famous Serendipity 3 and ate a sinful meal and even more sinful desserts. Best of all, someone with us treated my and I didnt even know that was in the cards.

All in all, an excellent day with some of my goals accomplished for me and for our summer mission work.

Today I am checking out "Free things to do in Manhattan with Groups" with a fellow minister and I am thinking about trying to squeeze in a trip to the International Auto Show that is here this week. I will certainly keep you up to date. Let me know if you have suggestions.

peace
aho

travelin' man

2006-04-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

I am off in the morning to New York city for a pre-trip visit to our summer mission trip location. We will be in NYC July 2-8 and working at Greater Restoration Baptist Church through MissionsConnect. There are plenty of links I could have inserted there but if you are really that interested, the guys over at GOOGLE seem to be on to something.

I am doing the first part of my trip alone. I land at Laguardia at 1130 and plan to make my to Times Square on my own via public transportation. This will either be a confidence builder or a deal breaker. It really is up in the air.

I dont know why The City (as it is known in my mind, the rest of us really are just trying to catch up, right?) freaks me out so much. I grew up in the suburban sprawl of D/FW. I had to go get my car at 3am from downtown fort worth as a 17yr old, didn't bother me. I have traveled all over the country alone and with family, places I have never been before, it was all fine, but the city bus just freaks me out a little.

Surely you will get an update from me at some point this week. I may have to blog from my treo, unless it gets stolen in queens, but I may try to blog anyway. I know it will be good fun and there really are several things I am looking forward to, the main one being, building up enough confidence to think that bringing a bunch of crazy (used affectionately, of course) teenagers from MAYBERRY to the Big Apple is actually agreat idea. The jury is still out, but I really do use the word crazy affectionately. I love these kids.

peace from mayberry, on the way to the big apple.

aho

ONE MORE THING...Element Votes (see below)
It seems that everyone outside of my household votes for the all blue element. This is a fine choice and could be had since there seem to be lots of them on the lots. But, when my wife found out that having a E that has all the panels the same color (no grey or blue plastic accents) is a $500 option, she is out. $500 is a payment or two and saying it is just $8 extra per payment is not a good rationalization. So, for now, voting is in, though I would still like your opinions, and we are going to go with what gets us the best price. Probably lookin at silver with blue panels. I will most definitely need to come up with some funny name for it like the legomobile, or toontruck if that happens, but I got enough mojo to pull off a silver and blue vehicle until I am 40, you think???

three weeks away

2006-04-15T23:43:00.000-04:00

I am watching SportsCenter to get sleepy enough to go to bed this Easter Eve. But I was reminded by Scott van Pelt that the Kentucky Derby, the only horserace most of us ever watch is only three weeks away. That's right, the first Saturday in may is only three weeks away. But who will we root for??? Here are two early favorites:

Sinister Minister
or
Lawyer Ron

I am not sure who to root for...

I am not sure who to bet on...(although, acutally, I dont bet horses)

Two great names for this year though, alot better than Smarty Jones.

big day???

2006-04-11T17:28:00.000-04:00

I spent some birthday money today on a skateboard. I have been thinking about one for a month, and there are a bunch of kids in mt airy who skate. I think it could be a good, or really lame, way to connect with kids in our town. I am already missing snowboarding so maybe this will be a stopgap til November. If you know any other preppy, pseudo-alternative, neo-hippie, 29yr olds who are interested in learning to skateboard again (i havent actually skated since 7th grade), please send them my way.

Also, there are some interesting comments below on the post about 'Jesus-ipod/ element' so go there and join the conversation.

Finally, I have decided to count your votes, just for fun. I have posted the votes that I can think of below, let me know what you think and I will tally them up and keep them at the bottom of the post.

peace to you all this Holy Week.

aho
the neo-hippie

ps. i am sorry that i am spoiled, but sometimes it is good to be a mamas boy. I also have a weakness for the sin of greed, i like to have stuff. I am not encouraging it, rather simply sharing my life with you.

Current first choice 2 votes (chris, natalie)

current second choice 1 vote (rniland)

current third choice

two items; discuss (eerrr...comment, please)

2006-04-09T17:25:00.000-04:00

My mental life is somewhat consumed with two, somewhat interesting, possibly mentally unhealthy items. This first is of some significance, the second, of consideribly less significance, unless I will be driving you somewhere in the next 5-10 years.

1. If Jesus Had an ipod.
Numerous discussions in the past several weeks have brought me to a point of thinking about what type of music Jesus might listen to if he did have an ipod. I realize that Jesus probably would not have even had an ipod, were it invented, but a discussion of music that is potentially well created, thought provoking, redemptive, and intersting might be a good mental/faith exploration for all of us.
The first song I would like to propose is Take, Take, Take by the White Stripes. I think he could have used this song to talk about one of our chief human problems, Greed. Discuss.

2. The Honda Element
I have been obsessing over the possible purchase of a new car. I have been reading message boards, driving by dealerships, and reading magazines about a car that I already know a bunch about. I think I have decided that this is what I want to buy when it is time, but the decision is what color should I buy. Let me know what you would vote for, or if I should consider something else. The order has changed since my previous post.

Current first choice

current second choice

current third choice

random birthday

2006-04-05T11:39:00.000-04:00

I realized this morning it is April 5. Usually the date doesn't have much significance, but for some reason I remembered today that I have two friends, who celebrate birthdays on April 5.

The first was a neighbor from Trophy Club Texas from when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. Her name was Julie Vogel, but has probably changed through marriage. Our families were friends for several years and we used to play together in the neighborhood. The scar I have on my chin I got from falling off of her bike in the street. It took something like seven stitches to sew up and I missed a soccer game that afternoon.

The second is a friend from K-Town named Allison Loe. She is married now but I don't know who she is married to or what her new last name is. She was a great friend to me and the last time I heard from he was about 5 years ago. She is an Aggie, class of 99 probably, if you ever hear from her send her our way, electronically.

Now, there are many of you who I am much closer to that I have not wished a happy birthday to. Actually, it is quite strange that I know their birthdays but cant remember birthdays for people like g-money, my brothers wives, my grandparents, or kelly Clarkson. So, I am sorry. You are all entitled to an actual blog birthday card, just let me know when I am supposed to do it.

I do know my wife's birthday though, August 18, (no year, not good to ask a woman's age). It is actually 8-18, which makes it nice and simple to remember, and a good three digit code for luggage.
oops, I have said too much.

peace
aho

ps. monday night's The Daily Show with John Stewart was hilarious. Ricky Gervais from the original 'the office' was on, and it was particularly funny. Also, during the first commercial break, there was a commercial for Avis. It was three guys in a rental car jammin to a rap song. It was kinda like the scene from Office Space and it was funny too. Just a thought.

pps.

Today is the 15th anniversary of Michigan Losing to UNC in the Championship game of the NCAA tournament. This is the game where Chris Webber calls a Time-out that he did not have, which sent UNC to the line, putting the game out of reach. It is on ESPN Classic right now. The reason this is of note is that a bunch of us gathered at Allison Loe's house to watch this game. She is a Tarheel fan. I rooted for michigan that night, and still do. I always watch this game and hope it might turn out different. It doesnt.
back to work

reset

2006-04-03T11:55:00.000-04:00

several weeks ago:
TODAY

The weekend can do a number on my desk. It seems that I spend the first few hours of each Monday cleaning my desk and cleaning out my inbox, filing emails to their proper files in their respective accounts. It is a good practice to be in, I think, but I am just blown away by how much crap I can accumulate over a weekend, when I am not even really on the clock.

This weekend was quite busy here at FBCMA for the youth:
Friday, we roadtripped across the state to Raleigh for a Carolina Hurricanes game. 20 of us took in a great hockey game that was only marred by our inablibity to find the NCState Basketball trophies for our special friend Belton. He did like hockey though, and was pumped that the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the SE division title.
Saturday, we packed BBQ to sell, and a handful of youth sold over 300lbs of BBQ. It is great stuff and if you make it to Mayberry in the next few days, we will be happy to serve you some at the ahos.
Sunday we had Youth Sunday. Our youth led the morning worship service and we put together a blended service with drama, hymns, a contemporary worship song, youth testimonies, and the youth took up the offering, led in prayers and children's sermon. We followed the service up with a mexican food lunch at a local restaurant, Monte de Ray.
Sunday evening we gathered once again for our weekly youth supper and Gathering. Our topic was: If Jesus Had an ipod... I presented 4 songs and ask questions about the content, spiritual content, and message Jesus might give to the the people in the songs. The four songs I used were: Common, BE; Dave Matthews Band, Grey Street; The White Stripes, Take Take Take; and Alicia Keys, If I Ain't Got You.

The youth were great in thinking and speaking about the music, but none of it was up their alley. I need to get versed in Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, but there ain't much there with ole TK.

Below, in my previous post is a question I ask you about a Honda Element or other recommendations. Seriously, I am on a search, please help if you can.

Today I am listening to Common and the White Stripes while I clean off my desk and fill out some appilcations and paperwork that has been waiting on me for about 3 weeks.

peace,

aho

4pm, monday:
ps, this is a real pic and I didnt just throw my papers to the floor. My money is turned in, recipts are given to the correct people, papers are filed and all that is left is 2 applications and a bible study to type. I am the last one here, so I will be going soon. I must run and lift tonight. peace to you all from the clean office.

drivin time, please vote

2006-03-30T23:55:00.000-05:00

The Honda Element has been voted by the people as one of the 10 ugliest cars on the road. For some reason, I love it. I must be a marketing person's best friend, or nightmare, but I am sold on a car the will make traveling through the mountains, and snow, camping, snowboarding, and mountain biking easier. It is dog freindly and easy to get into and out of the back seat. It reminds me of my jeep with none of the off-road utility and all of the convenience a guy with a church job needs.

So I have been lusting on and off for better than 3 years and have finally driven 2 in the last 3 weeks. My wife went tonight and drove one with me tonight and we love the feel, space and the way it drove. All I need to do is convince her the price is right and it will be happening in the next few months.

But, you can help me. I dont want to fall in love so much with this car that I dont make a good deicision. So if you know of a great car I can drive for the next 10 years, that makes it easy to get snowboards and bikes into and out of, is convenient for a dog, handles well in the winter weather, gets decent gas mileage, and is relieable, by all means let me know.

Or

If you are fine with me becoming an element owner, let me know which color I should pick. Below are a Blue with Black panels or Silver with Blue panels. Natalie likes the all blue. Gotta have blue, GO DUKE!

NOTE: the top blue and bottom blue are actually the same, the difference is the bottom would be all blue, and the top would have black plastic panels instead of painted ones

Aholand news

2006-03-28T11:58:00.000-05:00

It is amazing to me how fast the last 9 days have gone. I have not taken the time to do many things I should, but still, the things that must be done have piled on the keep me pleny busy.

I am issuing an apology to myself and all Duke fans for being Jimmy McJinxey who caused the Devils to prematurely lose to LSU and ending our season completely. It was a sad weekend, but the George Mason Victory over ConnU was redemption in a small way.

Over the past several weeks, we have been dealing with conversations regarding contemporary and traditional worship. I struggle with this so much becuase contempory/emergent worship at UBC has been so important to me, yet I have come to love and appreciate a high church/liturgical style. These arguments are usually messy and often not really discussions about theological identity, but about personal preference. The problem is, in these discussions, opinions are often called wrong, when it can't really be wrong, it is an opinion. The Nilator has also pointed out to me that most of these discussions are not actually about worship, rather they tend to be political discussions. The politics of worship, rather than the practice of worship.
After all of this, I come to my local Christian radio. I sometimes listen a little, but lately, I have been listening a little more due to the aformentioned discussion. I have found that not only is the music not really my style, but theologically, the music is lacking. I have yet to hear someone talk about God in the way God talks about him/her self, in the context of 'I am.' We certainly hear about the sin God has delivered us from, yet I am still a sinner, and the great spiritual makeover that has happened, but what about what God is actually doing, like being I AM. I don't know, maybe that is too open ended for most people. Or maybe since it is not completely personal, the arent interested. I could be wrong.

Finally, I am currently reading How Soccer Explains the World. It is pretty good so far, and this whole soccer gang/hoodlum thing is interesting and makes Oakland Raider Nation look like a civic organization. I am also seriously considering a book club based on books that have been featured on The Daily Show. I am interested in American Vertigo, among others. If you are interested in joining, let me know. I think this might go somewhere.

Snowboarding is done for the season, now I am trying to decide if I want to be the pastor who wears JosABank but also rides a skateboard. If it could be ministry, it would be fun, but at 29 and 80 lbs over my former skating weight (when I was 12), I am not sure if this is the best move. Hurry up winter, come back to the southeast....

watching relevantTV in aholand...
aho

Time is slipping...

2006-03-22T01:06:00.000-05:00

I can't believe a week has gone by already. The past week was good, this week has been busy and fast so far, and there is no end in site.
I am already up way past my bedtime. I have spent the evening trying to get some podcasts downloaded so I will have some listening material for my trip to Snowshoe on Thursday. I was hoping for about 4 hours of new talking, but I cant seem to get all the Relevant Podcasts to download that I want. I have 2 and that will be good, I just hope NPR can fill in the rest.
Tomorrow I have to prep for teaching Bible Study in the evening and I have to type my notes from last week to hand out. The book I am teaching is Making All things New by Henri Nouwen and it is an excellent read. I am on my 4th or 5th time through and it keeps getting better.
My trip to Snowshoe will mark my last Snowboarding day of the year, which is why I am making a trip to the 'big mountain.'
Suburban Jesus sent me a note to encourage me to link to a tragic story of a child who has cancer. Check out his site for info. I will decided how to proceed later, but cancer always stinks and prayers are in order.
Thats all for now. I am getting slammed in the tournament challenge below, but I am in second in the other group I am playing with. Duke is still in the game, at least for a few more days. 5 down 4 to go.
peace to you all
aho

Thing to do online this week

2006-03-13T09:57:00.000-05:00

Hi, hope you all, or you few, are well this week. As for me I am well. Got up this morning, late, and worked out for the first day of a new routine. I didn't get all my lifting in done to time, but I still have the nice, burning muscle feeling. Cardio went well and was not too intense today.

Over the weekend I came across a few little projects for you to work on this week, you know, just for fun.

1. Tournament Challenge

Thats right folks, it is bracket filling out time again, and I want you to join me and a few people I used to work with online in a fun little espn.com bracket pool. The ESPN.com Tournament Challenge is home to a group called 'the jack g asso' (which is in honor of my former pastor who has a lovely group of friends and ministers who owe a lot to his life and ministry, it is not a poke at him). The password to join this private group is 'zebulon'. You need to create an id on espn and it takes 5-6 minutes, but filling out the bracket usually goes pretty smoothly. Join the group here.

2. More DCB Love
I was looking at a snowboard helmet company's site this weekend becuase I saw a sticker on the ski lift last week with an interesting quote. The company was R.E.D. and the quote was something like "fear is the enemy of progression." I kinda liked it and it went especially well with my teaching at church right now so I wanted to find a sticker. No such luck with the sticker or slogan, but, I did find something else cool. This pic is of Hannah Teeter. She won the Gold in the olympic half-pipe. Earlier I ran a story about Kelly Clark who rocked 'O Praise Him' while competing in the Olympics and going higher than any has goin yet. Now, I found that Teeter rocks DC*B as part of her ipod playlist that she beams through her helmet's speakers. Helmets with speakers are cool and so are peeps who rock DC*B through them. Check it our here, click Hannah at the bottom.

3. UBC LOVE

I told 'you three' about this last week and we are doing good, but need more help on MSN.com. The pic from UBC is still in 12th, but could get to 11th with a little bit of work and a push from the Baylor Campus. Come on people, read the post below and cilck away.

I hope you all have a great week. We'll be in touch.

peace
aho

ROCK THE VOTE!!!

2006-03-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

It appears that one of our favorite places has made it in to the "Week in Pictures." Natalie just made me aware of this. She checks MSN's week in pictures each week and found UBC in the mix this week. Currently UBC has 98 votes in favor of it and only trails the German Castle by something like 10,000. I think we can catch up.

Here is your mission, whether you choose to accept it or not. Go to this page and vote. Or, if it doesnt work for you, go to MSN.com (no hyperlink, you shold be able to manage those few letters yourself), click NEWS on the left column, then the week in Pictures, March 2-9, and then picture number 14. The popup window that displays the pic will have a vote button, then you can fulfill your obligation.

I am excited to see this pic, it brings back memories of home for me. But, please forgive me if you find this to be a bit like a publicity stunt. The truth is UBC means a whole lot to me, and only after one has gone away and reflected upon it, can one fully understand the connection we in diaspora have. Also, I believe it can mean alot to many others, even if they never reach Waco for so much as a Sunday morning. Theological and Spiritual awareness of the gospel is something that we can help bring to folks through things like silly pics on msn. God is at work in ways beyond what we can ask or imagine and I hope God will be found at work on MSN this week.

Go, vote.
peace

ps. Duke won, one down eight to go.

i had NO idea

2006-03-10T00:21:00.000-05:00

I had a great day snowboarding today. There we no lift lines at all and I actually never rode a lift with anyone. Three times there were people on chair immediately in front of me, but no one behind me then. I listened to music the whole day and the 'shuffle repeat' mode on my dell dj treated me pretty well.

BUT

Tonight I started thinking seriously about what it would be like to board in Colorado during the 06-07 winter. We have talked about it some and are looking forward to it being, probably, our next non-business trip.

So, since I have never been in CO in the winter, I thought I would check out the trail maps to see what I might be in for. Holy cow. I had no idea how enormous this thing was out there in the rockies. I am use to the rollercoaster type of snowboarding: hop off the lift (get in the coaster car), strap in the right boot to the binding (that painful bar comes down accross your lap), get ready to take off (same), 45 seconds of exhiliration, get back on the lift (run around and get back in line).

If I were to go to colorado to ski, I think I might have to bring a spare mp3 player to listen to when my batteries die because it took so long to get down and back up again. And, now I am a bit envyous of the west, but still thankful for the chance to 'slushboard' out here, 100 miles from home. Plus I hear the snow is so bad here that it actually makes you a better rider when you get to the good stuff.

2 last things:
Lets go out west next year. It would be great for a huge group of good people (like the readers of a great blog like this one) to get together to shred the mountain out west, Colorade would never be the same again.
Took some 'sweet jumps' today. It was alot of fun and I didnt break anything. I even tried to get some high jumps (3-4 feet in the air??) in and I landed pretty well. I almost landed a 180 and almost got a grap in on a different jump which I did land. I had a blast, and it would have been better to have had a friend. Wont you be my neighbor?

peace
aho

thoughts for this week

2006-03-06T11:04:00.000-05:00

I didnt get to watch the Oscars last night but I am glad to hear that Crash won the award for best picture. It was the only Best Picture nominee I have seen but in a year with so many films that confront Homosexuality, I think the issue of racism might be better served through the victory.

I really liked Crash, but not because it was fun or inspirational, but becuase it was thought provoking and challenging to me personally. As much education as I have had in issues of race and racial reconciliation (which actually is not much, a handfull of lectures and a couple of semester-long classes, but is hundreds of times more than most people who didnt go to Duke Divinity School) it seems to me that this is an area that needs work that might be productive. The radical Christian right will never buy in to homosexual tolerance and the radical fringe left may never move an inch in a more moderate direction, but almost all of us can agree that we need to not be racist.

Crash is not for children or even youth age. College students might benefit from this film. Adults should take the time to watch it and think about it.

In other news

Well, it can't get any worse, I don't think, for us Duke fans. We finish the season with 2 losses in a row to Fla. State and UNC. Saturday's game was terrible and we still had a chance to pull out victory. Nobody for Duke played really well and it was frustrating to watch the team struggle like that. But, 5 days off will be good and now we are hoping for a 9 game win streak. This would mean an ACC championship and an NCAA championship. It probably won't happen, even the odds are not in favor of it, but you know how my brackets will be filled out.

Also, I predict that Gonzaga will be the #2 seed in the bracket that Duke is a #1 seed in, which will probably be the Atlanta region. I think the committee would like to see JJ play Adam Morrison. The snag in this plan is it would not be a favorable draw for a west coast team to have to play in the elite 8 in Atlanta and the Zags have had a great season. So, dont be suprised if the Zags are out west and the Devils are here in the east, but it will be some 'strategery' on the part of the NCAA selection committee if they go with the plan that I have put forth.

Finally
Looking forward to a good week at church this week. I have several evening meetings this week. Thursday I plan to snowboard once more. Hanging out at the Coffee shop on Wednesday afternoon and I might try to get to some Mount Airy Sports events. Friday I am beginning to plan to watch the DUKE game at Pandowdy's during the lunch hour, or Ted's chicken. I might try to find someone to watch the games with. Here are your invitations: Watch the game with me on Friday and/or come to the mountains with me on Thurs, or we could go Saturday, or Maybe even next monday or Thursday. It will be a slushy, snow melting event, but tons of fun before it is time to move the board to the back of the closet and the golf clubs to the front.

Grace and peace to all of you who read this, even though you dont comment.

peace
aho

what's going on today

2006-03-02T10:32:00.000-05:00

Today I have a meeting in W/S for a peer learning group that is forming.

Yesterday, I failed just about every descipline I am aiming for with lent:
I TIVO'd the DUKE game and it kept me up late
Meatloaf was served at church last night, it is still with me, didnt sleep well, slept in, couldnt work out.
Basketball kept me from reading.
But, I didnt go expresso.

On a different note, I have added two blogs to the sidebar. Both are quite smart and clever. You should stop by there sometime if you like reading blogs. If you find yourself here, but dont like reading blogs, THANK YOU, you are free to comment or leave now.

peace

HERE COMES.......lent

2006-03-01T11:24:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are, the Christian season of lent. We got all of our gluttony and indulgencing done during Mardis Gras - fat/shrove Tuesday - and now we enter the penetential season of lent. During this time we engage in discipline and fasting from the happy happy joy joy things of life in order to humbly and 'nakedly' go to the cross with Jesus. The season of fasting and desparation will gave way to the joy and bewliderment of resurrection on Easter Sunday and the infancy of the church climaxing on the Pentecost, 50 days after Easter.

So here we are, given the simple task of removing things from life the inhibit our ability to expereince God in order to be fully to expereince God breaking through life as we know it once again by resurrecting.

This season is also known as the season where people give up things that are close to them in order to sacrifice. In that spirit, I am introducing some discipline into life that will, in a way, be self serving, but will force some discipline on me that dose not come naturally. And, in the spirit of full disclosure, here is what I am doing and YOU can hold me to it:

no sex for lent....

just kidding, that was just in a movie trailer a few years ago, never saw the film, but it looked interesting though a bit crude.

So, for real:
Bedtime is now 11pm: that is a big deal for a night owl like me, and 11pm on the east coast is 10pm in the central time zone.
Wake up time is now early enough to get the the gym and have prayers from my book, A Guide to Prayer for All God's People, of which I consider myself one, before work.
The only exception is when Duke basketball is on, or Natalie is up with me on the weekend, but the workout still must happen.
Reading a Book a week during lent. This will keep me from the tv a bit and will expand my mind. Most of the books will come from my library and the first on the list is Jimmy Carter's new book. Also on the list will certainly be American Vertigo, Re-imagining Prayer- which I have been carrying faithfully in my bag for months, and some fiction.
Finally, and this may be the hardest, No fancy blended expresso drinks. So, no Latte, Mocha, Cabellero Coffee from Common Grounds, Mochajava from Port City Java, Vanilla Latte from Cup a Joe, Winter White Latte from Moby's, or Creme Brule Latte from the Good Life Cafe. This is probably a bit self serving, but also a sacrifice. It will cut some calories from the diet and spending from the budget, but it will certianly cut lots of pleasure from the afternoon. No exceptions here and I am considering sacrificing cream and sugar from my coffee next year, but one step at a time.

Now, whatever your sacrifice, let me know and I will be in prayer for you as you journey towards the cross. I pray that God will richly bless you in this season of sacrifice and the you will expereince the joy of resurrection in 7 weeks after we expereince:

Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, from dust you have come, to dust you will return, repent and beleive the Gospel.

friday, end of the week.

2006-02-24T12:38:00.000-05:00

It has been a good week and it is about to give way to a tremendously busy week.

This week was spent mostly in Myrtle Beach, SC at a youth minister's conference/retreat. It was a great opportunity to be with some people who are really good at what they do and have been doing youth ministry as long as I have been alive, really, no exaggeration.

I got to golf on wednesday, which was dreadful. It rained and my best shot of the day was an intentional drive towards the open field adjacent to the course which happened to an airport on it, so, yes, I drove a ball towards the airport. But, let me tell you about this ball. I just proped it up on the tee, took three steps back and gave it a good Happy Gilmore.

The shot had my trademark, a mild banana slice on it, but it went suprisingly straight, and, if I were ever going to hit a ball 325 yards, this just might have been it. I promise, this thing went, high, far, and when it bounced off of the runway it bounced 40 feet in the air. It was something.

As for the rest of golf, I decided the only number that counted on my scorecard that mattered was the 62. More about that later, and the 62 was not my FRONT nine score.

Saw this article regarding Snowboarders in DC*B's website. If you have not clicked the link to see how they made it to the Olymics, Click here to see.

And, about snowboarding, BURTON, is residing in the top spot on my "BEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD" list. I broke a binding last Thursday. Monday I called the warranty line and found out the part I broke is under warranty for life. (subtext is that I probably really s*ck to have broken this indestructable part, or, I got something defective) Monday afternoon, I shipped it ground from Kinkos via FedEx (second spot right now on the best companies list). It takes 2 days for a package to get from here to Vermont, and, to make a long story short, the bindings came back TODAY. 4 working days and I have parts back meaning a trip to the mountains will likely happen on MONDAY!!!

Yea BURTON!!!

Finally, next week is Yard Sale week here at FBC. Hopefully we will raise between $4000 and $5000 for youth missions. Collections are supposed to end today and we have some large items to pick up tomorow and then we have to set up for the sale on Saturday the 4th. Heck of a birthday week.

I will post this weekend or next week about something I got in the mail about Christianity and Sunday School.

And, the 62 from golfing was the number on my cart, and I did have 2 bogeys and not many lost golf balls.

peace

the good life

2006-02-21T23:31:00.000-05:00

Its Tuesday and I am halfway through the youth minister's retreat/conference I am at. Things are going well, I have met new people, talked about new ideas, and networked which is, I guess, important in the baptist ministry world. Actually, it is just nice to be around some colleagues who are creative and thinkers and, in general, more fun than me.

During our free time today, I decided I needed to exercise so I ran on the beach. I went our and picked a building and decided to run to it and come back. It ended up taking about an hour round trip but I walked most of the way back. I figure it was between 3.5 and 4 miles total. But as I was walking back, my feet were already wet so I decided to walk in the ocean a bit. It was cold but refreshing.

I then thought back on the last few days. Since Thursday I have, Snowboarded in the mountains(tr), got to see David Crowder*Band in concert(fri); played church league basketball and laid around all day(Sat); Worshipped, celebrated women in ministry and had great conversations with my pastor and several youth (sun); got a haircut from one of my favorite people in the world, had coffee from my favorite coffee shop, and drove to the beach (mon); today I ran on the beach, and learned from great people who are ministers. It has been a great week and that doesnt even count time spent with my wife and the snow that fell on Sat.

Believe me, NOT every 5 day period is like this. So, if you are in the midst of a stressful time, you are in my thoughts. I have several stressors around, but, in the midst all of this good stuff it has been easy to see the roses in life.

I hope you can see the roses around you and you too can soon enjoy and embrace the good life.

peace aho

weekend update

2006-02-19T23:12:00.000-05:00

It has been a good weekend marked by friends, church, and cold weather.

Friday we got to spend a few minutes for DC*B. We ran into Solley between them and 3rd day cause he was out taking some pics. He brought us to the green room where we caught up on life with jeremy, mike d and solley, toni, and jack a little bit. Hopefully, b-wack will join the legion of treonauts (treo 650 owners) some day soon, but if he sticks with the razr, it will still fit good in the pocket of his jeans.

Saturday we woke up to snow in the air and on the ground. After breakfast at our favorite local b'fast joint, LEON'S.

Church today, lunch with the pastor, dinner with youth, music service tonight.

At home tonight I have packed for 4 days in Myrtle Beach, SC, to which I am going for the company and a retreat, not for the activities and scenery. And now, it is time for bed and it is snowing again, raising the hopes of teachers and school children all over the county. Maybe tomorrow will be the day that school gets cancelled, or just another false alarm.

I am going to post a few pics later from the weekend, and pose a question, but for now it is cold on the couch and warm in the bed so off I go.

Peace
aho

big weekend

2006-02-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

Well, the week started out quite slowly, but it has been a good week. As I arrive at Friday, I look back upon 4 days of mental and physical exertion.

Monday and Tuesday I spent most of the time at my desk working and reading. It is time to prep for a study I am leading the church in. The book I am using is called Making All Things New and it is by Henri Nouwen. If you need another legitimate scholar to support some of the claims Kyle makes in his books, here it is. Nouwen's project of human spirituality would serve as good study for those of us who think Christian spirituality is more or different from the Richard Foster Method. I am actually working on compiling some resources for a category I am going to call 'Chirstian Discipleship/Spirituality for Mr. & Ms "type B"'. I am pretty laid back so I dont get into spirituality the way Foster describes it with rigid disciplines. But I can jive with Breathe in, Breath out, embrace the moment and sense God's presence here.

Monday Night, we had a church league basketball tournament game, and thrusday we had another. We play in the 'final four' on Saturday.

Snowboarded yesterday and had I not attached the lift ticket to my jacket, I could have slid down the mountain in a tshirt and shorts. It was like 60 degrees. I felt like I was sliding around on the largest shaved ice snowcone in the world. Add a little cherry syrup and we would be livin' large.

While playing in the slush yesterday, I broke the binding on my board and will have to deal with Burton to get it replaced, hopefully, but I helped several kids chase down skis yesterday and found and turned in to lost and found a nice set of Oakley Goggles, so if the wheel of Karma really does exist, it just might be spinning my way, hopefully it will with the good folks at Burton.

Headed to Lynchburg for the sold out DCB show tonight and decided I dont care what I wear. I just hope for safe travel and good show. Possibly we can shake the hand of a man who has written so much music that has guided me spiritually the last 8 years. But, if we dont get to personally say hi and thanks to the boys from the band, we are still blessed to get to see them.

I am sorry this has gotten long. Actually I am hungry for lunch but cant decide what to eat so I just keep procrastinating.

Finally, on the way up to the mountain yesterday, I had planned to listen to a series of sermons from Ecclesia that Chris Seay preached on Genesis 1-4 last fall. I got them copied into musicmatch well and then onto the dell dj, but when I went to play them, they were playing in like half time. It was really ssslllooowww aaannnddd dddrrraaawwwnn ooouuutt, so something got lost in translation. If you know what the problem might be, leave me a comment or shoot me an email. I will seek it out this weekend, but I want to hear those sermons. I did finally listen to the reading of Kyle's Last sermon as read by Blair Browning in November. It was a good moment. It makes me want to expereince Garden State again. The first time I saw it I was kinda in a bad spot and didnt like it, didnt get the whole theme. I think I might be able to feel it more now.

Finally, finally, I am really loving the White Stripes album, Get Behind Me Satan. It takes some time to get used to their thing, but is really fanstastic and abounds in spiritual themes and our human problem of sin.

Have a great weekend. Let me know what you are thinkin'.

peace
aho

Big Week???

2006-02-13T11:29:00.000-05:00

It's Monday morning and I have just finished my ritual of cleaning up all the weekend junk from my desk. This involves sorting and filing youth stuff from the weekend, getting rid of junk mail, skimming through magazines, and then looking ahead.

Looking ahead, it is a pretty quiet week I think. I have two youth-friends who are in the midst of interviewing from very significant college scholarships. I have another friend who is awaiting cancer surgery, which, is significant because she is in her 30s. I have a fourth friend who is traveling to the Holy Lands this week. As for me though, not much on the calendar in terms of meetings or travel plans for work so I guess I am to stay put and pray for all of these who are in the midst of these significant events.

Thursday, I am planning to SNOWBOARDING one more time. It is quite possible that this will be my last good trip of the year becuase spring tends to come in March and the snow will begin melting soon. BUT, this here is your invitation to come with me. I am also looking at a trip around the 10th of March and the 13th of March as well. A blogger named Craig, who I often read and is a friend of a friend, is regularly inviting folks to the house for fellowship and TV. Me, you are always welcome at the house, but I am inviting you to Snowboard or ski with me on Thursday or any of the other above days. Or, come up with a day and we will go.

Friday, Nat. and I head to Lynchburg, VA, the FUNdamentalist capital of Virginia for a David Crowder Band Concert. Hopefully we will get to say hi to our old friends in the band, but if not, it will be fun to see our friends who are now big Rock Stars. The real tension regarding this trip is what to wear. Should I go with an old stanby t-shirt? I would like to wear something subversive with a bunch of FUNdamentalists around, but I am not sure what I have that will do. What is the right combination of sarcastic, clever and thought provoking. If I had time to order something from randomtees.com I would probably go with something like, Calvinism: the shirt chose me...Armenianism: I chose the shirt, or New Hampshire: spooning Vermont since 1849.
But, I will probably come up with something lame and remain anonymous for the evening.

I travel to Myrtle Beach next week for a youth minister's retreat which should be fun. Then birthday week will be filled with work on an annual yard sale at church, which raises money for our youth.

I guess today I am going to work on some discipleship study that I need to do so I can develop some things to foster spiritual growth in the congregation. It is quite a task and I am not sure I am the right person for the job, but that is what they are paying me the big bucks for, haha.

Blessings to you two readers on your week and keep me in the loop.

peace,
aho

ps. I forgot Coffee Talk at the Good Life Cafe here in Mayberry on Wednesday afternoon. That should be fun, if we have any attendees.

holla back.

the new millenia

2006-02-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

If you see the counter along the left side of the page, it is about to cross the 2000 mark. I cant remember what I started it on, 1001 I think, like a check, but they are not all me sitting on the blog all day, clicking refresh. I have not gotten anyone to sit on the blog and hit refresh.

Which means, this silly little page has been visited about 1000 times. Whoo HOO!!!

Thanks for coming by, please come by again soon, and, leave a comment sometime to let me know you are lurking.

peace
aho

I'm it - - - Tagged

2006-02-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

I have been tagged by the folks at Make Ben Fair. This is my first time, but here we go.

Four Jobs I've Had:
- Basketball Referee
- Bookstore Asst-Manger
- Lght Construction on Portable School Classrooms
- Minister (associate pastor, youth minister, youth intern)

Four Movies I'd Watch on repeat:
- Top Gun
- A Christmas Story
- The Big Lebowski
- The Matrix Trilogy

Four Tv Shows I Love:
- Boston Legal
- NYPD Blue
- PTI
- The Daily Show

Four Vacation Locales I'd love to hit
- Whistler BC- and anywhere I can snowboard
- European Vacation
- Key West
- Eastern Asia/Tokyo

Four Websites I visit daily:
- The Blogs (ben, craig, mine, natalie)
- The Ski hill sites: SkiBeech, Winterplace, Snowshoe
- Google/gmail
- hondaelement.org forum

Four foods I lust after:
- Good Tex-mex fajitas (mercados/posadas cafe)
- Outback salad with Tangy Tomato dressing
- Moe's
- Leons's breakfast here in Mt.Airy

Four changes I'd make to the house
- Own one
- Own one next to a ski hill with lots of snow
- Own one with a big garage for my beat-up cars
- A big big house, with lots and lots of room, with a big big table and lots of lots of food

Four beers I like
For various reasons, I do not want to answer the beer question online, but would happily speak in person or on the phone about my answer to this question.

But-
Four things I like to drink
- Coffee from my French press
- expresso blended with milk and occsaionally a syrup- a latte!
- Pepsi, only with a sandwich and cheese puffs
- Water/gatorade, they make me feel good

Four tags
- rniland
- natalie
- danny lloyd
- you who are reading this

today :)

2006-01-26T21:49:00.000-05:00

Thursday:
Day off, playing hookie, snowboarded in WV all day.
Wish you were here, shreding the blues and blacks with me/us.
I love living in the mountians.

Hope you are able to embrace life in a day away from work soon.

peace
aho

'Achtung' U2 fans

2006-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to this journal from Baylor called Christian Refelction: a series in faith and ethics. The beauty of the journal is that it is quality Christian scholarship, and, it is FREE- baby!!
Admittedly, I don't read them cover to cover, but they look good on the book shelf and they are quite timely. The current issue has an article about the faith of U2 from a Baylor grad who teaches at Campbell University (another baptist school, but here in NC). Several of you who might stumble up on this blog might be interested in the piece. I am about halfway through it, but it is quite interesting and will make you a smarter person becuase you can say something like:

"well, the other day I was reading about U2 in this theological journal I was surpised when I found that they....."

go read it for yourself.

peace

In addition to your reading assignement...

My Music Extra

I have been inentionally listening to music the last few days. I realized that some of the albums I bought last fall were great but I only listened to them a few times and then switched to NPR or back to A COLLISION.

So, these are the good things I have been listening to this week: Howie Day, Ray La Montnage, Fiona Apple, A Collision-DCB, Kris Kristofferson, and
Gordon Lightfoot.

Who? yeah, right. Well he is this guy my dad really loves. He had made cassettes from his Gordon Lightfoot LPs and we used to listen to them while he drove us across the country on vacation. But, when he (dad) was here for Christmas, he had the greatest hits cd so I threw it up ins kto my computer. I often listen to it while I am at work, but I totally love it. It kinda, or definitely is, 70's canadian, acoustic,m folk music, but, its pretty good and if you are one of those kids who gets free music from filesharing, you should definitely pull down some of this and listen to it. If you do it legally, then give it a try with a few extra dollars or wait til the ahos come around and we will leave a cd with you to try.

My must list, whats on yours???

2006-01-19T01:01:00.000-05:00

These days, everyone has there must list. Oprah, Cold Pizza, and E! is where I get some of my best pop culture info. But this list is my MUST LIST, the ChrisList, if you will. I dont really know where this comes from or why, with all the things to spend time and energy on, I am promoting more consumption, but here is the stuff.

INTERNET STUFF

If you have a job that involves a computer, desk, and can access the internet, you need to check out Relevant TV. It is videos and music from the good folks over at relevant who you should get to know through their books and magazine as well. I usually launch the popup player and use it as background music for the day when working at my desk.

COFFEE ISSUES

I have been a coffee drinker for aobut 6 years now, Grad School has a way of bringing up some strange addictions. But, after I was able to wean myself from the caffinated hot choclate they call 'mocha,' I was just a regular cream and sugar drip coffee guy. I got the ritual down pretty good and even got a cool stainless coffee maker that looks nice on the counter and has an auto shut off.

But, since the discovery of Caffene, the gratest thing to happen to my coffee experience is this little $25 machine called a FRENCH PRESS. Simply put, if you like coffee and don't yet have one, seriously consider going to Starbucks right now and dropping $25+tax. You will also want a bean grinder and some whole beans (right now I am using some Starbucks Christmas blend). There is no need to spend $30 on the Staubucks grinder though. You can pick up a Black and Decker with an auto timer setting thing for about $20 at your local box store.
Now I understand I have just told you to drop everything and spend $50 on your next sup of coffee, but this will definitely be the best $50 cup of coffee you will ever have, and since the first cup was $50, the next 200 will be free.
The French Press makes a great, frothy, thick, and smooth cup of coffee. It is a bit of a mess to clean up, but ask anyone who has used one, it is worth the mess.

Television Obsession

I went to Duke (the Divinity school, which is pretty liberal most of the time) so I know that TV is bad for me. It makes me fat, lazy, and doesnt challenge me like a book would, but they haven't put BOSTON LEGAL in book form yet. If you a fan of the One Hour Drama, this show is worth checking out. The relationship between Shatner and Spader is fantastic and just about every show ends with two friends having a meaningful conversation on the balcony after a long day. The most interesting thing is that Spader's character is a bleeding heart liberal and Denny-Crane, Shatner, is a card, and pistol, carrying NRA member.

Surfing

If you use the internet, which presumably you do since you are here, and are skeptical of 'the man,' then you gotta upgrade from microsoft internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox. It is easy to use, it prevents spy ware, and has this cool, 'Ctrl T' thing that allows you to open several windows in one browser. I find it useful, some find it redundant. But, we have made the switch and think you should too.

Productivity

Ok, it may be a total farse for me to state the reason I got a Treo 650 is productivity, but it is really productive for those of you who need this type of thing. For me, it is the size of a regular iPod, but will play music from my SD card, hold my calendar, allow me to type memos, play games, search for a phone number in the interet, check my gmail, hotmail or yahoomail, store my complete address book, and OH YEAH make and take phone calls, and shoot short videos and take pics. This is the do it all of electronic devices and there are some great deals on the 650 right now. It is a little bluky, but not as bulky as carrying around your phone, ipod, calendar and digital camera for that quick funny shot. It has been alot of fun and should be the last phone I buy that doesnt have a kitchen sink in it.

Conclusion.
These are some cool things I have come accross lately. Let me know what you think, or what cool stuff I have left off. GO DUKE, 17-0.
peace
aho

my dcb wish list

2006-01-12T15:32:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking for a while about some things that I would like for the David Crowder Band to do. I know this will probably have little effect on what they actually do decide to do, and that some of these things (with a little cash up front) I could actually make happen, but for your pondering and enjoyment here is what I am hoping for in 2006.
One brief note. I have not talked to anyone about these things, so if they are in the works, I didnt get the memo, please don't pick on me for it.

1. A real LIVE Concert CD.
For years, the folks at passion have been putting out these compliation cds with 5 matt redmon songs, 5 chris tomlin songs, 3 charlie hall songs, and a token from the david crowder band. What we really need (and lets be honest, it will sell) is one of those Dave Matthews style, 2 disk, live cd concert things. They could even package it with a dvd that louie's nephew (I dont even know if he has one, hopefully this is not a sore spot) shot with a digital-8 camcorder. We would all pony up $22-$26 for it and we wouldnt even hold it against the pre-order crowd if there wasnt some new guitar picks thrown in.

2. Mayberry Weekend
Now this one would have little effect on those of you not here in the appalachian foothills of North Carolina, but it would be great for us folks here in the one of the bluegrass capitals of the east. I am thinking a two night stand here in the quaint town of Mount Airy.
One night the band would rock the amphitheatre to a sold out crowd, filled partly with strange christian kids from the mountains of nearby virginia and WV. The coolest thing about this concert would be that there would definitely be about 100 candidates for the 'mullet of the week' award that often appears connected to the band's site.
The second night, we would bring the show indoors. I am thinking about either 100 people in the local coffee shop or winery, or in the Andy Griffith Theatre for a 'Storytellers' type of evening. Those of us who know Dave at all know of his ability to tell a great story. This would be a classic and possibly a night to film and put on that DVD to go with the CD set.

3. Another CD
I know it takes a while to channel the creative juices and parse everything out to create and album, but we are always ready for a now album. The frustrating thing is that it will probably be Feb. of 2007 til we get one if SIXSTEPS keeps the same pace it has had since Can You Hear Us?.

4. Christmas EP
What would be better than the group release a limited edition EP (shorty dise 6-9 songs) at the end of October to kick off the holiday season right. (iTunes exclusive would also be a legitimate option).
Here are a few of the songs I would suggest. 1. a thanksgiving song of some sort. something with the playfulness of 'Turkish Delight" but with the potential of Adam Sandler's 'Turkey Song.' If anyone can do it, dave, jack, and solley can. 2. a reprise of the 'Christmas Belles' from the website this year. 3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Just update my favorite version that the BareNaked Ladies did a few years ago with Alanis Morrisette (spelling?). 4. This is a must...A version of the Longfellow Hymn, 'I heard the bells on Christmas day.' Every time I hear this and sing it, Dave's voice is what I hear in my head and I cant remember if I have heard him sing it, or it is just perfect for him and the band. 5. The rest of the CD would be up to the band and hopefully their creativity would provide some excellent direction.

5. Rolling Stone Respect
I know I am biased, but this is one of the most innovative bands around. The stuff that DBC does is always a year or two ahead of other people and the music is of a quality far beyond most of the mainstream crap that fills the pages each month. Why does Ashleeeee Simpson (who didnt used to spell it Ashleeee, it was ashley) get more face time that someone who actually has talent? Mysteries of the world I guess. But people need to hear the music and think about the theological and philosophical project that has been undertaken. It is worth thinking about, christian or not.

Conclusion
That there is my DCD wish list. Maybe some of it will come true. I look forward to seeing the band several times this winter-spring and I hope you all get to do the same.

Finally, on a skeptical note:
I noticed Chris Tomlin has a live CD out. I went to church with his bass player Jesse Reeves when we were in High School and I like the band's music alright. But, did anyone else notice the striking resemblence between the cover art of Tomlins cd and Pats Green's Lucky One's Cd?

bloggin

2006-01-12T01:15:00.000-05:00

I have just found out that several of my friends are bloggin again. You can check out the musings of ben and tom by clicking on the left.

Me, I have wanted to blog, but I have been watching tv. I have had several ideas for blogs, but, I have not followed through. Last night I could have blogged, but I watched the Carolina Hurricanes play hockey and then I watched Boston Legal. Tonight I could have blogged earlier, but I watched DUKE beat Maryland. Since then I have been flippin channels and surfin sites for a suit becuase I have a gift card to redeem.

Lately I have been getting frustrated as I think about Kyle Lake's death. Before, I was so removed from the situation that I went in to minister mode and thought about things rationally and calmly. Now, I am getting frustrated with it and I am thinking about this scab that wont heal. I know this will look wierd for those of you who lived with Kyle every day and week, but forgive me, I had a tremendous emotional connection to Kyle. He certianly was my friend for a time, but he was also a teacher and a challenger. In Seinfeld terms, I was a protoge for a brief while during 1997, 8 and 9. Hell, the guy even rented a tux and sat people down in the church for my wedding. I know we only talked semi-annually, but it is now frustrating that I can leave him a message and expect to get some veiled, sarcastic, offer to help...if I only could be more concise. You see this is a problem I have.

But I hate knowing that Kyle is not there. I am mad for Jen and the Kids, and frustrated for UBC. I miss the church, and it really is the most home church I have ever had. If we had done altar calls, (which we didnt, so I never considered it before now), it would have been where I committed to the ministry, but then I have to wake up each morning and commit to ministry, most days I actually do.

I miss my weekly friendship with chris Seay, Kyle and Dave. I miss the parting song and hanging out until it is time to lock the door. I miss $.50 shipley donuts (which may not happen any more) and if you weren't there for the morning in 1998 when the band played the Barenaked Ladies, One Week, you missed a fun morning.

Well, this 1am ramble has gone far enough. I have several things to blog about in the days ahead. Maybe I will write them. Maybe you will read them. Maybe someone will laugh. Maybe you will comment, but probably not.

I love lots of the people in my life, most of you actually, even if we are far away. I wish we were closer, but not a day goes by when I dont think about 1995-1999 and waco texas, which includes: baylor, ubc, hippodrome, 12th street and 17th street buildings, kitok, viteks, and the chris seay band singing 'i'll be there for you' during welcome week 1995. Good times.

-aho

ending 2005

2005-12-30T15:17:00.000-05:00

Well, 2005 is ending well for our household. We go to spend 2 good days in the West Virginia Mountains skiing this week. I got to ride my new snowboard (05 burton custon 154) and loved almost every minute of it (I hate lift lines). Now, I am paying for it with steady doses of advil and caffene.

I hope all of you who read had a wonderful holiday-s.

I have not much more to say right now except I am preparing to preach for Sunday the 1st. Sermon is titled 'Resolutions Reloaded' and is based on Exodus 34. Go read the first 9 verses, it is a good read.

Finally, my fantasy football team, 'the funk nasty reloaded' won its league this year. We beat the 'aggie nation' handily and though we finished second in the standings, we wont the tournament and acquired the most points on the year. I am such a shrewd manager of players.

Happy New Year and I resolve to blog more-better next year.

peace
aho

silly pastors...

2005-12-09T12:34:00.000-05:00

We preachers are a different lot, and we do silly stuff. We expect people to come to church, be involved, live out faith, and even tithe. But this one takes the cake.

A group of ministers in our area are encouraging their parishioners to boycott stores who use phrases like 'happy holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas.' This truly is an adventure in missing the point (thanks campolo and mclaren for a great phrase and book). This doesn’t even fall in the category of 'preacher make me laugh,' rather, this is just plain ludicrous.

Please forgive me for being cynical and critical, but these guys and this crowd of people just don't get what happens with the convergence of a religious holiday that can be adopted and promoted in a free economic market. STORES JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BUY STUFF AND DON’T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT JESUS, did the preachers hear that???

Fortunately our church is not a part of this boycott and I don’t think threatening to boycott a store because they don’t promote ‘Christmas’ over the Holidays is going to further the gospel either, but you know, that is just me, 20-something Duke-Grad minister. (aside: I am excited about my snowboard, which is my present this year, but I truly wrestle with Jesus coming down from heaven, becoming a baby, living, and dying on a cross, so I could strap a piece of beautifully painted, sophistically constructed wood to my feet and slide down a steep hill an expensive resort).

MY SOLUTION
If retailers really wanted to be savvy, here is what they should do. Research the history of Hanukah or Chanukah (potato, tomato, what ever is your preference. As a Krzyzewski/ sha-shev-skee fan, I prefer the Ch). Then realize that this celebration started before Jesus and since we Christians should actually claim a Jewish heritage as ones grafted on to the tree of God’s people, they should convince us that Chanukah could be celebrated by Christians too and we should be presents for both the eight crazy nights of Chanukah and Christmas.

That would be the way to convince these ministers that the corporation is always right. It would be like evangelistic work on the part of the economy and those whose faith is a part of Judaism. They are preaching to us the merits of celebrating our heritage. Then, we will all be proud of our preachers and not have to shake our heads and say, silly preacher.

Here are 2 links (one, two)to this story and if you have time read the forums on channel 12's site.

smilin'

2005-12-04T10:37:00.000-05:00

The good lord must be smilin on all of you who read this.

It was brought to my attention this morning by the writer at www.rniland.blogspot.com that you find something quite interesting if you happen to type in www.chrisaho.blogpsot instead of www.chrisaho.blogspot.com.

So, if you need alittle bit of that "old time hell fire tribulation god is gonna get us all unless you pray and meant it" religion, then have a click here or just say a prayer of thanks the next time you trip there when you were trying to get here.

peace
a.

back in the saddle

2005-11-21T23:58:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to blog but couldn't come up with anything except expressions of my shallow consumerism. But this happened today.

Setting: North Carolina Baptist Hospital/Wake Forest Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC

I got on the elevator to ride to the 5th floor to see a church member in intensive care after having 3 heart valves replaced. I hear one is a big deal.

A man hesitates to get on the elevator at the main level, then, follows though. He is somewhat put-together, but I can tell he is frazzled too.

Man: 'What floor are you going to/'
Me: '5. You?'
Man: '6.'
a pause
Man: 'Will you ride up with me? Elevators make me nervous and I don't like to ride alone.'
Me: 'Sure, that will be no problem.'

Man then goes on to tell me that his wife should be dead but might make a recovery after almost bleeding out. They have almost got enough blood back in her.
I asked if there had been an accident, fully expecting to be able to go back and read about a terrible car accident in the local paper archives. He says she has crones and had a difficult surgery.
We have already arrived at the 6th floor, the elevator has gone into automatic close, like it or not, mode. I ask her name and promise to pray for her.
I am not sure of his name, her's is Susan, can't remember the last name. She is in a hospital bed, in Winston-Salem, with a scared husband by her side.

The weird thing is: to what am I due this honor of sharing in mans life? I don't deserve it. I didn't do any more than simply being polite with my basic elevator etiquette. Any one of you would have done the same.

I am privileged to wear a clergy badge when I am at the hospital. This gives me access to patients at most anytime both inside and outside of visiting hours. If it not simply something about me that people find easy to talk to, then it must have been the clergy badge. Maybe he has had good experiences with clergy in the hospital and found a trusted friend to ride the elevator with.

I am not sure, but I do wish the real world could be a little more like the elevator today. If I could wear a literal badge that let people know, 'I will listen, I am called to, and I like to.' Could that make faith in action a bit easier? Mostly though, those wearing the badges our world are the exact people who one would not want to talk to. I guess for now I will take my chances outside the hospital, but, I cherish the opportunity to put that badge on as I arrive at the parking garage, where I am officially allowed to be an 'an instrument of peace.' -St. Francis of Assisi

What floor you going to?

peace
a.

follow up to update and Kyle Lake

2005-11-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

This is my followup to the update I gave last Thursday.

I also would like to offer an apology to those who thought offering a happy birthday to blog with the notice of a tragic death was inappropriate. Certainly there was alot to deal with last week, maybe I could have been a bit more sensitive. I am sorry, and sad still.

Reflections
Saddness is what strikes me most as I think about the pilgrimage to Waco for the funeral and all that those closest to Kyle will deal with in the days, months, and years to come. I find myself thinking that this is something I would really like to talk to Kyle about, but then, I catch myself.

Kyle and I were close several years ago. We usually talked once or twice a year more recently. But, he invested alot of time in me as I was working on my relationship with my wife (girlfriend/fiancee at the time), and thinking seriously about faith and seminary. Like many of you, the conversations we had over pool, shuffleboard, or coffee, were echoed in the books he wrote. I dont claim any sort of acknowledgement due, rather, it is great to see the little flowers he passed along to me/us several years ago fully blossom in Understanding God's Will and reUnderstanding Prayer. I can hear Kyle saying these things as I read them, and it seems like I have heard them before.

Besides the authorship Kyle leaves us with, there are two things that I keep coming back to that he taught me.

1. He taught the value of relationships. He spent one of his lunches each week with me for almost two years. That is alot of time, and time that you probably spent with him as well. This was not a lesson learned though him talking about it, rather it was the lesson I learned though his living.

2. He taught me to value thought and learning when it comes to our faith. There were many who encouraged me when I was deciding about seminary, but Kyle's voice was this: "I know this guy who went to Duke Divinity. He really knows his stuff. When you come out, you will probably be way smarter than all of us." Well, I would like to think I know my stuff, but I am not yet 'way smarter' than anyone.

This value of thought in faith is something that is so often overlooked by us as Christians. It is easy to peak, claim we have something already under our belt, or rely on inspiration. We must continue to 'work out our salvation.' Kyle taught by living this.

In the days ahead, I hope to reEvaulate my time and grow my faith. In the evening, when I am searching the directv guide for something to watch, Kyle's voice will push me to pick up a book, rolling stone, or paper. Also, it will prod me to pick up my church directory and make lunch or coffee plans with someone for the days ahead.

Kyle left a broad legacy that was easily seen in the group of folks who made pilgrimages to Waco last week like we did. I hope we will all live well and bless others because of the blessing Kyle was and is to us.

Other thoughts...
I am really sad for all that David Crowder and the band have had to go through in the past week and half. I have heard and read from many how they have rocked each and every night, but it is impossible for me to separate Dave from UBC and UBC from kyle. This is simple logic. But yesterday I spent a couple hours in the car and decided it was time to work through A Collision. I say work though, becuase I have not been able to listen to dcb since I heard about the accident. It has been too hard and pressed too close to home.

As I worked through A Collision yesterday, the first time through I was really sad for Kyle, and especially his family. I am relying on faith that "here is God whose come to bring us back to Him" and that he has come for Kyle. I hope that Kyle has seen 'the light' and that he has now 'already won.' What I am not quite ready for is dealing with all of these resurrection songs as something I claim for Kyle and that I claim for my promise again. I do beleive it, but it is hard to bring it close to heart.

The second time through, I was brought to the sorrow of his closest friends. What this has to with Dave is he has lost his best friend. I know that it hurts me but doesnt affect me daily the way it does those in Waco or those at UBC or his closest friends. In the days ahead, I will be thinking about praying for dave, toni, the band and for ben and jamie who this affects closely as friends and co-workers of Kyle's. There is a long road ahead for all of them. I know our faith speaks to resurrection and rescue, I pray that the time will come when they and we all will recieve this rescue and can again bold claim resurrection for all of God's people.

peace
aho

update

2005-11-03T00:43:00.000-05:00

Natalie and I got a phone call in the 3pm hour on Sunday that our friend, Kyle Lake, had been killed in an accident at ubc that morning. Never had i been confronted with such news, and though I have only spoke to Kyle a couple times a year since graduation and moving from waco in 1999, the only impulse that felt right to follow was to head to texas. We didnt know what we could do, but wished we could do something, so drive we did.

We have been in Texas this week and participated in the funeral service yesterday. Everything has gone well and I look forward to putting together my thoughts and memories about Kyle. Another thing I am going to work on in an article about my time at Baylor, which was quite an amazing 4 years.

We travel back to maberry on Saturday and will be back at work on Monday. I look forward to more blogging.

On a funnier note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BLOG. In all of the chaos of the last few days, I missed my anticiapted anniversary blog. The blog has been working for over two years now. I am looking forward to the terrible 2s, you should too. If you are out there...
peace, aho

apology

2005-10-28T15:54:00.000-04:00

This week I set out to find a new photo type printer for my new office. The existing printer printed photos and color docs with horozontal lines across the paper. Since I am picky, this bothered me and I set out to find out the reason for these lines and the potential solution.

I traveled to our local Staples as well as the Best Buy and Staples in nearby Winston-Salem. There was not a sales associate around who could name this problem for me. Since I wanted a new printer anyway, I am blaming it on old technology and age, which is most likely the real problem.

As I was reading reviews for new printers I came across a term called Banding. Ahh!! it made sense, my printer is guilty of banding. Therefore, I found a new Canon Photo printer that is to have excellent quality and no visible banding.

But, I was sent back in time to a day when I was a sales associate. I was to sell stuff to people and often I did so with little or no knowledge of the actual product. I was simply good at reading the bullets points and expoinding on a product's virtues.

I now realize that I probably sold some real crap to people, but I convinced them it was great becuase I liked to box and the picture on the cover. I am sorry. They say, let the buyer beware, and it is true. I know we all hate to walk in to a store and know more than the associate who is helping us, but at least then we know something and their ignorance is apparrent. The ones you have to watch are really good about making up stuff based on bullet points and slick packaging.

life with cable and tivo

2005-10-19T21:16:00.000-04:00

Until 2 weeks ago, we did not have cable. We had gone about 18 months with one of those antennas on steroids that I had found in a church clothes closet. It was good to get my news from the local guys and then I would listen to NPR as well. Occasionally I would mix in a little Nightline.

Now, we got directv and it came with free TIVO. Of course, TIVO is an amazing invention and it has changed the way I watch tv. I rarely watch live tv, and now I never watch the news anymore.

I wonder, is it bad that the only news I watch is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart? I know it only comes on 4 days a week, but it is a pretty packed show, right?

I still catch NPR but since my commute has been sliced from 45 minuted to 5 minutes, I dont get as much news from them either.

The best thing is, the world is more fun now. So, JOIN ME!!!! Get your news from DirecTV channell 249, Mondays thru Thursdays at 11pm, (but TIVO it and dont watch it until the next day). And, for balance, mix in a little NPR or SRN.

peace

Hey, check out a new blog from a guy at my church. It will be good becuase r. is pretty smart and it looks like he can be quite funny as well.

http://rniland.blogspot.com/

2005-10-07T11:57:00.000-04:00

this is a cool pic natalie took about a year ago today in beckley WV at the creacker barrell.

2005-10-07T11:54:00.000-04:00

sunset

minister's quote of the week

2005-10-07T11:31:00.000-04:00

I have never had a quote of the week, but this one will be a good one to start with. I found it while surfing blogs. I am thinking about starting a new one, anonymounsly. I will, or will not, let you know how that turns out.

Flannery O'Connor Quote
"It is easy for any child to pick out the faults in the sermon on his way home from Church every Sunday.... It is impossible for him to find out the hidden love that makes a person, in spite of intellectual limitations, neuroticism, and lack of strength, give one's life to the service of God's people, however bumblingly one may go about it.... You don't serve God by saying: 'the Church is ineffective, I'll have none of it.' Your pain at its lack of effectiveness is a sign of your nearness to God.... To expect too much is to have a sentimental view of life, and this is a softness which ends in bitterness. Charity is hard and endures."
- Flannery O'Connor, in a letter to a friend

check out the blog at www.irreverend.blogspot.com

life in my small town

2005-10-03T16:07:00.000-04:00

Living in Mayberry- Here are directions to my house.

Take 52 north from Winston-Salem. Go past Pilot Mountain (Town and acutal Mountain)

Before you get to Mount Airy, take the 52 spilt from I-74, I-77. 52 becomes the ANDY GRIFFITH PARKWAY.

Take Andy's Parkway past Lowe's, Bojangles, and Food Lion on your right.

After you pass the drive in on the right, get in the left lane.

At the MAYBERRY MALL, take a left. (there is a real stoplight there)

Follow that road 'til you get to the stop sign and church with the American Flag/Bible on the sign. Take a left at that stop sign.

House is 1097 and will be on the left.

If you get to the Neighbor's gas station, you have gone too far.

----
A.G. Parkway, drive-in, mayberry mall, Am.Flag- beat that.