The Bunkhouse

Wednesday or Thursdayish Top 10

2008-07-24T12:10:00.008-05:00

Cam's Favorite Movie Characters of All-Time. I'll try to put some of them in order, but toward the top, my rankings could change from day to day. Some of the quotes are of the book variety if they didn't make it into the movie.

I chose these characters because they made me laugh, envious, or were just plain interesting or entertaining.

10. Carl Spackler (Caddyshack)- "He's a cinderalla boy, out of nowhere..." One of the funniest characters per line ever written.

Best Line: "So I jump ship in Hong Kong...."

9. Egon Spangler (Ghostbusters)- Great dry humor. He grounded the whole theme of Ghostbusters in something other than slapstick.

Best Line: "There is definitely a very slim chance we might survive."

8. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)- Who doesn't want to be the Captain of The Black Pearl? I didn't understand the 3rd one though. Just weird.

Best Line: "Why should I sail with any of you? Four of you have tried to kill me in the past.(looks at Elizabeth) One of you succeeded."

7. Doc Brown (Back to The Future)- I want to go Back to the Future. I wanted the cool DeLorean and all. I'm still waiting for my hoverboard.

Best line: In response to Marty repeatedly saying 'this is heavy!'

"What is it with that word? Is there something wrong with the gravitational pull of the earth in 1985?"

6. Vito Corleone (The Godfather)- Just a Sicilian boy who made his own way in America by being honest, yet ruthless. There's surely a few real life Vito's out there.

Best line: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

5. Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)- He was the epitome of "cool" in the 80's.

Best line: "I don't believe in 'isms'. In my opinion, 'isms' don't lead to anything good."

4. Tyler Durden (Fight Club)- A very interesting character. I wonder how many of us have an alter-ego like that locked away inside of us.

Best line: "The things you own end up owning you."

3. Peter Pan (All the different Pan movies except "Hook")- He can fly, fight Pirates, and never grows up. Pretty cool.

Best line: He wasn't terribly clever. He doesn't have any good lines.

2. Voldemort (Harry Potter)- The outward expression of an attention hungry orphan, looking for some kind of self-importance which he found in the "Dark Arts". He discovered hurting and tormenting others to be a source of pleasure very early in life and never stopped.

Best line: "There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it." You'll see it in the next movie.

1. Edmond Dantes (Count of Monte Cristo)- True love, betrayal, imprisonment without hope....therefore, hate and revenge drove him on to survive. And he executes his revenge so cleverly and perfectly.

Best lines: On the outset of his revenge- "And now, farewell to kindness, humanity and gratitude. I have substituted myself for Providence in rewarding the good; may the God of vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked."

To his son after his revenge was nearly complete- "Tell the angel who will watch over your life to pray now and then for a man who, like Satan, believed himself for an instant to be equal to God, but who realized in all humility that supreme power and wisdom are in the hands of God alone."

Robin Williams on Men

2008-07-23T07:25:00.006-05:00

-

“See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.”

-

D.C. Ignores Heller

2008-07-22T11:43:00.002-05:00

AP-- Washington D.C.- It shouldn’t have come as any surprise that the District of Columbia decided that it can and will continue to all but completely disarm its law-abiding citizens -- not even when it’s less than three weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

After all, this is the same D.C. that was home to the most restrictive firearms laws in the country -- until the Court struck them down. The same D.C. that banned its law-abiding citizens from posses sing any handgun. The same D.C. that forced its law-abiding citizens to keep the few firearms they could possess both unloaded and disassembled or locked at all times. In other words, the same D.C. that has disarmed its law-abiding citizens for decades despite achieving the title of “murder capital of the United States” and other dangerously dubious distinctions.

Nevertheless, it’s disheartening -- actually downright disgusting -- that the Mayor, the City Council and the Attorney General of our nation’s capital would flagrantly flout a constitutional decision from the highest court in the land -- not to mention bragging about it to the media. But that’s exactly what happened earlier this week.

On Tuesday, the D.C. City Council unanimously enacted new firearms restrictions on an emergency basis in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, No. 07-290.

Less than three weeks before, the High Court had been perfectly clear that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to “keep and bear Arms” -- declaring two D.C. gun restrictions unconstitutional along the way. In summarizing that ruling, Lyle Denniston -- respected as the “dean of the Supreme Court press corps” -- explained that the justices “struck down a 1976 [D.C.] law so far as it barred possession of handguns in the home for self-defense,” and also “nullified a separate requirement that any gun kept in the home be unloaded and disassembled or have a trigger lock on.”

So how did D.C. change its firearms restrictions to fix their unconstitutionality? Well, they didn’t change much at all.

Sure, the new restrictions don’t contain a per se handgun ban, but they might as well. That’s because most handguns are still banned under the “revised” D.C. law. As the lead attorney who won the landmark Supreme Court ruling commented to the Washington Post: “The semiautomatic ban is clearly unconstitutional. The overwhelming majority of handguns people use in the United States are semiautomatic.”

Indeed, D.C.’s insistence on restricting semiautomatic weapons seems to highlight just how little D.C. lawmakers know and understand about guns, a point also illustrated on the Post’s editorial page. The Post lauded D.C. for continuing such a ban because “an individual’s right to … a firearm for self-defense does not extend to ownership of a gun capable of firing multiple rounds in seconds.” Unfortunately for the Post and others who believe modern semiautomatics are faster and easier to shoot than, say, traditional revolvers, the truth is that both types of guns only fire one shot per trigger pull. But we digress.

Beyond continuing the ban on most handguns, D.C.’s new restrictions make it nearly impossible to get the few handguns that are not banned. As the Post explained in a news story: “Though residents can begin applying for handgun permits this week, city officials have said the entire process could take weeks or months.” And what a process it is, involving “a written exam, proof of residency and good vision,” the Post noted. “Successful applicants must pay a registration fee and agree to fingerprinting and a criminal background check before obtaining a weapon.” Additionally, gun owners must allow D.C. to do ballistics testing on their weapons.

Then there’s the problem of actually purchasing a firearm after jumping all those hurdles. With its well-known hostility toward gun ownership, D.C. isn’t going to make it easy for anyone to sell guns in the District, and gun shops outside the District will face regulations in selling to D.C. residents.

But all of this pales in comparison to the defiance D.C. showed with respect to its requirement that all firearms remain both unloaded and disassembled or locked at all times. The Supreme Court specifically struck down the provision, but that didn’t stop D.C. from leaving it all but intact. The new law continues to require that “[e]ach registrant shall keep any firearm … unloaded and either disassembled or secured by a trigger lock,” just adding a meaningless exception. The exception allows the firearm to be loaded and operational only “while it is being used against a reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm to a person within the registrant’s home.”

D.C.’s Acting Attorney General Peter Nickles explained just how narrow and meaningless this exception really is. As the Post reported, “Nickles said residents could neither keep their guns loaded in anticipation of a problem nor search for an intruder on their property. The porch is off-limits, he said, as well as the yard and any outbuildings.” In other words, law-abiding D.C. citizens might be able to possess a gun, but they can only unlock and load it after they are actually confronting a criminal who won’t be abiding by that same law. So much for having a constitutionally secured right to self-defense.

Don’t get us wrong. We understood D.C. wouldn’t change its ways and protect Second Amendment rights after the Supreme Court had spoken. But the fact that D.C. officials are proud of their continued constitutional insubordination is both deeply troubling and patently offensive. Indeed, virtually every D.C. official involved who could talk to a reporter or get in front of a television camera or radio microphone was ready, willing and able to declare that D.C. would continue the legal fight they had already lost.

D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) is a good example. “[B]ecause we really haven’t changed the storage rule from the prior unconstitutional law and because of other features, I do agree that this is a lawsuit waiting to happen,” she told the Post. But, typifying the D.C. party line of dissing the three-week-old Supreme Court decision, “we’ll be ready,” she concluded. Perhaps sometime soon the courts will tell D.C. lawmakers that they need to be concerned with upholding the Constitution rather than disobeying it.

Monday Morning Music Choices

2008-07-21T08:35:00.006-05:00

I like waking up early in the morning. It's the most peaceful time of the day. I have really fallen in love with my sunrise ritual at our new house.

The sun comes up over the woods in our backyard, spreading an orange-ish sun-kissed light over our deck. Around 5:45 I go out to meet the sun rise with Abby, my Bible, the morning newspaper, and a cup of coffee. The coolness of the early morning is something to be savored, especially in the hotness of late summer.

I am at my leisure to read through some scriptures, reflect, pray, and just be. How blessed we are to have a place like this. To be in a town with friends and family. To have the opportunities coaching, doctoring, and finally growing our roots as a family. The latter is truly sweet as we have been wondering in the northern wilderness these last two years. The kind of peace and excitement I feel upon waking up is a truly spiritual experience.

On this Monday morning, I thought I'd check out the music already on my ipod and give you my top 5 favorite songs of the moments....or "what I've been listening to lately."

They are of no particular genre, artist, tempo, or even order. Just the ones I like the most right now.

5. Ants Marching- Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds- from the Live and Luther College album. One of my favorite live tunes of all-time. Fun and upbeat song. As for the live versions....no two versions are the same.

Best Line: "We look at each other, wondering what the other is thinking. But we never say a thing, and these crimes between us grow deeper."

4. Tangerine- Led Zeppelin- Classic tune. It doesn't say much, just a cool song from what used to be THE BAND.

Best line: "living in reflections from a dream. I was her love, she was my queen. And now a thousand years between."

3. Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd- Anyone who has ever missed someone....soothing for the soul.

Best line: "Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?...Cold comfort for change?"

2. American Girls- Counting Crows- The "kings of European live" get their pick of the American groupies after this show when they play this song. They'd be cooler in America if they didn't spend so much time overseas.

Best Line: "American girls are peaches and cream, coming to bed so eatable."

1. Running on Faith- Eric Clapton- This is a phenomenal song! Bluesy and yet full of hope.

Best line: "Lately I've been running on faith. What else can a poor boy do? But my world will be right when love comes over you." It's the intro line, but like most classic blues tunes, the opener is the one that smacks you in the face.

It Matters

2008-07-15T09:21:00.006-05:00

By Taft Ayers

I recently read a quote by Mary Crowley. It prompted the wheels in my head to crank up a little bit. It read:

"One person with a commitment is worth more than a hundred who only have an interest."

While reflecting on these words, it struck me that these words have multiple meanings that take up residence on several different emotional avenues.

For instance, think how this applies to our closest relationships. There are so many people in our social circles that have a 'mere interest' in the things that we do. They ask us (usually in passing, sometimes breaking stride) questions like "how's life?" or "how you been doing?"

At the moment, I can think of hundreds of people who seem to portray a general interest in my life, my ministry, my family, etc. The challenging, and humbling aspect of our relationships is that if I were to be "removed" from this earth, their lives wouldn't drastically change at all. Don't get me wrong, they are nice, God-loving people, but their level of engagement in my daily life would best be described as "interested."

There are others, however, that we can call the "committed." Sometimes, we tend to take these people for granted. They may seem to be TOO DEDICATED to our lives sometimes and we just need space from their care. It is when we take a deeper look at it that we will notice these people are strongly impacted by our presence.

In the average life, it is fair to say that there are fewer of these folks. In all reality, that should strengthen their importance with us/to us/for us. The people that are truly committed to us can change our lives. Reflection is good for the soul.

Make a top 10 list. Surely there are that many people who have invested a commitment in your life. I will start. Feel free to share. Heck, we may not know any of them, however, it will do you some good to write them and look at them.

I only pray that I can have as much of a COMMITMENT to Jesus, rather than a mere INTEREST as these people have had in my life, a simple mortal boy from Middle Tennessee.

MY TEN (After number 1, there's no real order)

1. Meleia Wilson Ayers (Wife, Best Friend, Spiritual Adviser)
2. Stan Butt Jr. (Minister, Chapel Hill church of Christ)
3. Paul Tucker (RIP, Nashville TN)
4. Don Knight (Grandfather, He got his PHD on the farm in Gallatin)
5. Nancy Clark (She invested in one of her son's punk friends who didn't deserve her time)
6. Brenna Ayers (Gave 17 years of her life to a relatively good cause)
7. Tom Holland (Father-Son-Retreat, 1989, enough said)
8. Valerie Wilson (Hasn't quit on me since I was 14)
9. Evelyn Turl (Locked some wisdom in my brain and threw away the key)
10. Lisa McPherson (A living example of Proverbs 31)

Who are yours?

The House, The Fam, and The 4th

2008-07-15T07:35:00.016-05:00

Here are some pictures on the progress of the house, the girls, and Americapalooza.

Hope you enjoy your Tuesday!

Monday Morning Music Choices

2008-07-14T09:20:00.004-05:00

It's a look back at a transitional and tumultuous Junior year of college. The "most memorable", not necessarily "favorite" songs of 2000-2001.

1. Absolutely (Story of a Girl)- Nine Days- Every guy who had a crush on the "ungettable" girl loved this song. Not me, of course, but the....well, they know who they are.

2. My Love is Your Love- Whitney Houston- Just a good song. It's seems like it was on everywhere, whether it be the regular version or the techno triple time tempo version in some Little Rock restaurant. pppppllllllbbbbtttt. I forgot about it until today.

3. Country Grammar- Nelly- Steve Mezzapelle sold me this album in Hastings one afternoon. He said I wouldn't be disappointed. As a Junior in college.....I wasn't.

4. E.I.- Nelly- See #3, and I still don't understand what this song is talking about.

5. I'm Like A Bird- Nelly Furtado- See #2, but I liked this song a lot more. I think Ms. Furtado was the Profaddin Suite's "woman of the year".

Those are my semi-interesting and totally disturbing songs that bring me back to yesteryear...2000-2001. Here's hoping you find some songs that make you equally nostalgic and uncomfortable as well!

Have a great Monday!

Reformatting

2008-07-11T12:14:00.003-05:00

This blog has struggled to find an identity since it's inception. I tried to keep up with my daily routines (music choices, top 10, and factious fridays) but I fell wayward on my commitment to it with the busyness of the last few months.

I will try to get back to the original format, while Taft will continue to take Tuesdays when he is available, although he is VERY, VERY busy during the summers with his chosen vocation.

So, look for the constant Mon-Fri posting we had initially, and I'll be posting more family pictures, stories, etc. each week.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Bunkhouse Staff

Headlines: In The Year 2029

2008-07-08T12:41:00.007-05:00

I just had this forwarded to me. I enjoyed it immensely. I hope you do as well.

New York Times Front Page Stories-- July 8, 2029

Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California.

White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language.

Spotted Owl plague threatens north-western United States' crops and livestock.

Baby conceived naturally! Scientists stumped.

Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.

France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica.No other country comes forward to help the beleaguered nation!

Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

85-year $75.8 billion study: Average weight of Americans drops to still-hefty100 lbs. Police Seeking Fatties for Interrogation.

Global cooling blamed for citrus crop failure for third consecutive year in Mexifornia and Floruba.

Abortion clinics now available in every High School in United States.

Senate still blocking drilling in ANWR while gas is selling for 4532 Pesos per liter and gas stations are only open on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative.

Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

Average height of NBA players is now nine feet, seven inches.

New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2030.

IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent.

Floruba voters still having trouble with voting machines.

A drop in the bucket

2008-07-02T19:59:00.005-05:00

By Taft Ayers

How do you make a difference?

I am currently in Honduras and I will be back at my home (for a minute) on the 10th, Lord willing. At this moment, I am sitting at a small desk, on the second floor of an old building outside of Tegucigalpa.

I am waiting to go to the jail. We have been there in the past to visit people and to be the hands and feet of our commission in Matthew 25.This time is different. I am going to the jail to attempt and persuade the government to release two of our friends who are missionaries and are in prison.

Why?

Because they are a married couple who live here and want to make a difference. Some folks here don't like how pro-active they are for the sake of Christ. I don't mean that they are being obtrusive and getting thrown in jail for it (even though it seemed to work in the book of Acts, but I digress). This couple bought some land to serve as a benevolent center and the officials here are complaining over the authenticity of the paperwork.

It humbles me. I know that God is good. I trust and pray that they will be released. As I sit here and the rain comes down on this old roof (which is holding up, praise be!) I am forced to wrestle with my thoughts.

How are we impacting people? How are we making a REAL difference? Would getting thrown in jail stop us? I hope when I get home to live in a manner where if the government tried to outlaw faith and stop our cause by arresting faithful Christians, there would be enough evidence to convict me.

Monday (or Tuesday) Morning Music Choices

2008-07-01T05:42:00.004-05:00

By Cameron Clark

Well, the house is almost finished, all we have left to do is some painting and accent purchases. It's a great feeling to be home. Very early this morning I went for a run around the new neighborhood. It's peaceful. The air in Tennessee has a different smell to it and a different feeling in my lungs. I don't think it's the pollen or the carbon monoxide that often blankets cities, but the feeling of home.

Speaking of home, we are hosting a shindig here at the house running Thursday-Sunday Night. We'll have red meat, drinks, carb-heavy side dishes and all the laughter and cigars you can handle. Give me a shout if you'd like to attend.

To the business end of the post, this little section has made it's way onto the American Front Porch and our weekly Porchcast. So, keep an ear out for that if you're so inclined. This week, I went perusing the "Top Singles of the..." 70's, 80's, and 90's. Here's five I picked out.

5. War- Edwin Starr- Popularized again by the movie Rush Hour, it ranks in the Top 10 on almost any break-down of 70's music.

4. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown- Jim Croce- Whenever Jim Boy gets on the guitar, he's like a semi-modern Homer spinning his yarns on a contemporary Titan like Leroy or Slim. I love his music.

3. 867-5309/Jenny- Tommy Tutone- The ultimate writing on the bathroom wall, "for a good time call..." I guarantee Jenny isn't the last chick to regret giving Tommy her number. What a schmuck. Still a good song though.

2. The Joker- The Steve Miller Band- He's a joker, a smoker, and a midnight toker. He also really loves your peaches, wants to shake your tree? Is that an innuendo or does he really like fruit? It's puzzled me for years.

1. Footloose- Kenny Loggins- The King of 80's movie soundtracks is high atop at least one chart again! Why? Because when I get frustrated or angry, I get in my VW Bug with a cigarette and an open container, find an abandoned warehouse, and dance my little heart out with no one else but the cameras around.

That's what I found on iTunes this morning. Speaking of, check out this week's Porchcast when we rundown the 2008 Florida Gators, Our Cigar of The Week: The Padron 1926 80th Anniversary Series, The Word of The Day, and much, much more. Hope to see you then!

Have a great Tuesday!

The Porch Cast

2008-06-25T15:44:00.004-05:00

Many of you may know that I am editor/contributor of the "An American Front Porch" blog. My brother Nathan started it as his sounding board for the various and sundry topics that draw his interest. A came on board as a contributor to the site a year and a half ago, and boy has it grown since. We've had our share of growing pains, but the staff is in order, and it is something Nathan and I enjoy immensely; so much so that we decided a few months ago to bring that enjoyment to the pod-waves.

Tonight we are recording our third podcast, which we lovingly call "The PorchCast". We discuss a wide range of subjects including cigars, college football, movies, music, and whatever else comes to us during the show. However, we do not discuss politics because, honestly, we need a break from it and the subject (on any and every level) is far too divisive for our taste.

You can subscribe to us on iTunes, or listen to the show here on The Bunkhouse weekly or The Porch. We're still a little rough around the edges being new at this and all, but we'd love for you to stop by for a while and pontificate life with us.

Hope to see y'all soon on The Porch, and enjoy PorchCast #2 if you feel so inclined. It runs a little long, but the shows from now on will be 60 minutes or less and politic-free!

Click to Play

In this episode, Nate & Cam tackle free speech's last stand in The Western World, the 2008 Tennessee Volunteers Football preview, and the fledgling CRA (Cigar Rights of America). They also review the Oliva Serie V Double Toro cigar.

Notes From A Traveling Preacher

2008-06-24T08:28:00.006-05:00

By Taft Ayers

I returned home after a long stint of preaching in different cities across the southeast (mostly). I was away and my wife was at home taking care of our first child (who is set to arrive, Lord willing, in October) and herself.

There were many phone calls home, but those really didn't do the trick. I preached in 7 churches over the past two weeks. Why? Because I am still learning the art of saying "no" and not "spreading myself too thin."

Returning home was nice. Beyond nice, it was therapeutic. I leave on Thursday to go to a third world country and do some more preaching. It will be here way too soon. While I was gone (and not honoring my verbal commitment to write for my dear friend, Cammo) there were many things that happened that were blog-worthy with the Christians that I encountered.

I will share some of them with you, to prompt your thinking (and laughter). I won't tell the names or the cities, because, let's be honest, it could have been one of your relatives! Enjoy.

I was preaching in a very rural congregation. It was the type of place that you see in the movies. I was only there for two days, but they had me preach 6 times (you try to figure that one out). I felt like a preacher from 1956 who knocked on doors, got in the pulpit, and then knocked some more. It was an old-school gospel meeting. Needless to say, in the 2 days that I was there, many of the blue-haired sisters in Christ took in all of the information about me that they could. They asked me many questions and told me that they had only been to Memphis once. I attempted to tell them where the congregation that I work for is located. When describing our geographic location, it usually goes like this, "get off I-4o at exit 20, travel down Houston Levee. There are some gated communities on the left, once you cross over 64 and then past Macon Road you will find our building on the left." One certain lady re-told this at a luncheon. She told her son (who was 55), "the next time you are heading to Memphis, go see Taft. Get off 40, and once you see the gay community pop up, you're almost there." She left her hearing aid at home that day, really hated my pink and blue tie, or she just has a ROCKING sense of humor. Either way, I was in stitches.

Another stint found me in a more urban church. They were very hospitable, but I must admit, they didn't do pot-lucks nearly as well as the previously mentioned church. We had one dinner at the building before I parted ways with them. There was a 4 year old boy with his mother and she was engaging me in a conversation about our son that is on the way. Before we parted ways, she hit me with a very proper, "you will be in our prayers." I thanked her and then her son informed me that he would start praying "right away." It really touched my heart. I also found myself almost in tears when he closed his eyes, had a concentrated look on his face, and began to shift from one foot to the other." I whispered to her (where I didn't think he heard me), "Ma'am, this is sweet. He's praying on the spot." His eyes opened, he looked at me with his baby blues and said, "No. Brother Taft, I haven't prayed yet, I just pooted." Completely hysterical.

I found myself in south Georgia (30 miles from Tallahassee) helping with a church that is almost extinct. In this small town, EVERYTHING is racially divided. I met with the men at the church and told them my plans to reach out to the community. They had a map out of areas that I shouldn't "bother with" because they were too dangerous. Translation: A BUNCH OF NON-WHITES DON'T LIVE THERE. I got in the church van, took out the seats and went to that area that the "sweet white church men" (whose only defense was 'we were just raised this way') hadn't highlighted on my map and filled it with 4 families from the ghetto. I came back to the building and informed a lady that bible class would be extra full. By the end of my stint with this church we had moved their numbers for the meeting from 25 on the first night to 108 on the final. 67 non-whites. Please pray for this church. God really used me as a tool to bring them together. I hope that the ignorant mentalities that all of our fellow men possess will move past the hatred and separation and spiritually set the congregation, and town, on fire.

God is good all of the time. Long live the bunkhouse.

Monday (sometimes Tuesday) Morning Music Choices

2008-06-24T07:02:00.004-05:00

by Cameron Clark
I got up this morning when my youngest daughter Abygail started crying at 5:40. I got her a bottle and headed out to my back porch where we were greeted by cool weather, singing birds, and the sun coming up.

In the 5 years Liz and I have been married, we've never owned our own home. It is amazing, sublime, and nearly euphoric to wake up in a home all your own. One you've earned. One in which you will raise your family. IN.CRED.IB.LE.

Something for which to be very thankful! I'll post some pictures when we get all settled. In the mean time, here's your weekly dose of music mania.

1. Midnight Train to Georgia- Gladdys Knight and The Pips- I love The Pips-- their harmonies, their dancing, and their cheap-hack pimp suits-- I love it all. This version from American Idol is even better.

2. Wildwood Flower- June Carter Cash- Reese Witherspoon and her version are a big step up in looks and sound from the original....but it's June. A nice melody and good folksy sound.

3. Fishin' in The Dark- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band- Simply a classic.

4. Like A Prayer- Madonna- I had a request to add this to the list. Plus, who's not nostalgic for 1989?

5. Faith- George Michael- I bought the whole "best of" album, and not ashamed to say because of Eli Stone.

Here's to a great Tuesday!

Gratitude

2008-06-19T10:43:00.004-05:00

I've been reading a biography of Henry Knox for the last few days. He was one of Gen. Washington's revolutionary generals and pretty much ran the artillery for the entirety of the war. To me, he's a fascinating guy. His dad abandoned his Boston family when Henry was 9 so his Mom put him to work in a book store to help with the family expenses. Henry worked hard, studied the military books in the bookstore and taught himself French. At 26, my age, he was a brigadier general opposing the World's most accomplished military force and Washington's most trusted staffer. At a time when the war was nearly lost for the new American force, Henry took some of his men and made a 600 mile round trip in the snow to Fort Ticonderoga to get the much needed heavy artillery. With those guns, he lead the assault to take back Boston and for the first time gave Americans a reason to think that they might actually be able to win. The liberation of Boston boosted enlistments for Washington and gave the Continental Congress the nationwide support needed for independence. Knox's trip to get the Ticonderoga guns is perhaps the most important single incident in the early history of our nation.

Is it coincidence that Henry's father abandoned his family which formed in Knox a need to prove himself in order to rebuild his family name? Is it just happenstance that he was forced to go to work in a bookstore surrounded by volumes of military tactics and training? I see in his story a great deal of providence and I'm thankful to the Great Planner for guiding our steps.

Radio Silence

2008-06-11T20:53:00.003-05:00

I know both of you who frequent this site will be quite disappointed, but we will be in a period of "radio silence" until next Tuesday most likely.

As our family moves across the country, please keep us in your prayers this coming week.

Monday Morning Music Choices

2008-06-09T09:17:00.002-05:00

T-Minus 5 Days and counting......

The old home is filled with boxes and the excitement is mounting. My brother, Jared Gable, is making the trip up on Friday so we can take turns driving the big-ace truck across the country. It will be long, but at least it will be fun.

These are the songs I found on itunes this morning. If you have any suggestions for next week, leave 'em under the comments.

1. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz- Just a good tune. Lots of fun and upbeat.

2. Pretty Girl From Cedar Lane- The Avett Brothers- I like this band. They have a bluegrass/alternative sound, tight harmonies and an unusual take on most situations. This particular song is dismissing an old lover, and it's got an awesome flow.

3. Icky Thump- The White Stripes- Fast and furious beat, makes you want to put your foot down a little more if you're driving.

4. Stay- Lisa Loeb and 9 Stories- It took me a while to like this song because it was SOOOOO over-played on the radio stations when it first came out. It's nice to re-discover an old song.

5. Easy- The Commodores- Easy like Sunday Mornin', baby. Can't beat it.

What are some of your favorite songs of the moment?

Have an awesome Monday!!!

Semi-Weekly Wednesday Top 10

2008-06-04T12:09:00.008-05:00

By Cameron Clark

In the middle of this move, I have found myself thinking about what I can do to relax once we get there. It's like we've been running on full throttle for some time now, and I just don't know how to throttle back down. I'm trying to come up with a Top 10 Things ways to relax once we move, but all I can seem to think of are the top to things I need to do. Therefore, I am going to leave this top 10 list up to you, the reader.

Please don't be shy, I know many of you peruse the site and don't leave comments, but I'm sure you can come up with some way to relax, or at least what you do to relax. Once they've been put in the comments or email me: tuesdayco@hotmail.com, I'll post them here 1-10.

1. Listening to Music and Smoking a pipe, or some other piece of fine tobacco
2. Take a long drive and incorporate #1
3. Drinking large quantities of alcohol
4. Cooking
5. Reading
6. Eat Like Crap
7. "F*&^ yourself"- Anonymous. Nice. 'Eloquence' is thy name. Probably one of the "intellectuals" from Tennessee Free.
8. Spend lots of money on stuff I want
9. Listen to Bob Marley and smoke marijuana
10. "Cheeseburgers and Bourbon"

Have a great Wednesday!

The Unbridgeable Divide

2008-06-03T10:22:00.001-05:00

By Cameron Clark

Anyone paying any attention at all to the modern American political landscape knows there is a great and growing divide between two sides. Both sides believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they hold the intellectual and moral high ground. No better is this evidenced than at Glen Dean's blog, Tennessee Free.

Glen set out with a noble intention: to create a forum for people of all political leanings and thought to come together for an open and honest debate on any issue. It has been successful in driving up blog traffic and "airing the grievances", but no one is really "listening" to one another. No one's mind is being changed. It's like one big Festivus session. The days of Calhoun and Clay are long gone, my friends.

I have been guilty of zealously defending an idea or person by accosting another's intelligence, and that is simply uncalled for and absurd. I am embarrassed that I ever did such things. Therefore, I'm bringing the engines back to neutral and simply refusing to engage people who bring all too much of the same partisan minutia and emotion to the table. I am starting to be of the mind that liberals and conservatives ought not talk to each other about politics. It goes nowhere fast and ends up turning very personal.

NFL level politics are done in legislative board rooms at Capital Plaza. The major party decisions are made in a Chief-of-staff's office, then the plan is executed by all involved in the legislative or executive process. Deals aren't hashed out in chat rooms or blogs. Those professional men and women compromise because it's politically advantageous to do so, not because the voters (or the bloggers) asked for it.

I love reading Glen's thoughts and like to see him, and others, tenaciously defend their principles, but for me, I am looking over the unbridgeable divide between the factions. The parties that claim, "You are for us, or against us!" Leaving those in center of the political spectrum in the middle of the cross-fire. We are "communist hippies" to one side and "fascist pigs" to the other, and no candidate who represents our views will be viable come November. What are we to do? Certainly we will not give up or cast aside our vote with the other politically apathetic hoards.

A wise person said, "Decisions are made by those who show up." I just wonder where the candidate is for whom we CAN show up. Ron Paul is a distant memory. Who will next pick up the torch? I'm anxious to see.

In the mean time, go check out Glen's site, but be sure to bring the ocular "earmuffs" if the kiddies are around.

Have a great Monday!

The Cycles

2008-06-02T13:02:00.004-05:00

Life is one giant cycle of repeating patterns. At times we have everything going for us, at times we are just plain busy, and other times things don't go so well. Right now, me and my house are just plan busy. I have more respect for your time than to share the mundane details of the busyness or driveling a few words of discontent on a website.

The one thing I have kept on top of during this transition time is my weight loss. I'm down to 217 pounds (-9 lbs. in 3 weeks) and am starting to have a solid core (abs, back, pecks) again. All I've really done are leg lifts, isometric crunches and push ups while I watch what I eat. I feel pretty good about that.

On another note, here's a blog I find encouraging. It's the stories of the live of Mrs. Martha Rogers, and old high school friend. She lays it all out there; the joys, the struggles, the hopes, and the love.

12 days and that's all she wrote for us and the territories!

Have a great Monday!

Negroes Combining, Gaining Power

2008-05-27T09:51:00.006-05:00

This article came straight from SportsPickle.com and posted here by Taft Ayers

"Fears expressed by white voters in West Virginia and Kentucky recently about black people gaining greater power in the country have been seemingly realized in a recent television clips that clearly show strong, motivated black men combining together as super-black-men, hell-bent on a joint goal of singular supremacy.

“There can only be one,” said Cliff Garrity, a West Virginia voter. “Like I don’t know what that’s implying. I’m not stupid. They’re saying there can only be one dominant race. Well, not on my watch. And like any of them could beat Jerry West anyway, even if they are combining their strengths. He was the best ever. He was from West Virginia, you know.”

Utilizing some sort of ungodly technology, most likely developed in their ancient savage ancestry, black basketball players are melding into single beings, issuing demands and declaring their desires.

“I don’t know where they learned how to do that, but I’ll never understand their ways or agree with them, what with their loud music and their baggy pants and their combining together into an entirely new entity,” said Joleyn McDougle of Lexington, Kent.

McDougle’s husband, Jim Ray, says he wishes he could get his hands on one of them body joiners.

“I could have me some fun with that,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to combine the butt of my prize sheep, Shirley, with the face of my cousin Earl. Party up front and party in the back, know what I mean?”

Earl McDougle, Jim Ray’s cousin, admitted he does find these combo-negroes incredibly well-spoken.

“They talk so well,” said Earl. “And a lot of them seem very clean-cut. It’s surprising, to say the least.”

But it’s not necessarily a positive surprise.
“Yeah, they talk too well,” says Jim Ray. “They sound all uppity. Which is pretty ridiculous for a black guy with two faces. At least I think they’re two faces. I can never really tell them apart.”

If you don't understand this aritcle, watch an NBA playoff game, these commercials run all through them.

My New Fav

2008-05-26T06:02:00.003-05:00

I just saw "300" last week for the first time.

I could do without some things in the movie, but this scene here is absolutely one of my favorites in movie history.

Have a great Monday!

Desert Island

2008-05-22T11:04:00.002-05:00

This Thursday, we are going to play a quick game of desert island here at the Bunkhouse.
If you were stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your life, what 3 books would you choose to have on the island with you? (We'll operate under the assumption that most of our readers would bring The Good Book so it is unneccesary to mention The Holy Bible as one of your 3.)

Alan's Answer:
US Army Field Survival Guide
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Thoughts on Government by John Adams

What are your three?

Identity Crisis

2008-05-20T09:56:00.005-05:00

By Taft Ayers

I have a friend that many people think I look like. We are not related at all. He is taller than me. He is more athletic than I am, and I have a few more "married pounds" than he does. He played basketball for Freed-Hardeman, the school that I graduated from. One time, the president of the school approached me in the cafeteria and said, "nice shooting last night."All that I would have to do is step foot on a basketball floor and it would be obvious that we were not the same individual.

The president must have gone to one of the University's games and then mistaken me for him in the lunch line. Ever happened to you? People come up to you and ask you questions as if they know you only to realize that you have never seen them before in your life? The bottom line? You are who you are. No more or no less. We should not try so hard to be someone that we are not. We should never sell ourselves short, either, so that others will perceive a mistaken identity about us.

What is your identity? What do you look like? Physically, we can change. Emotionally, we can fix. But Spiritually, we are either God's or we are not. There is no in-between. No fence post for us to comfortably sit on. Jesus talked about our identity in Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43.

"The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left. When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. The servants came and asked, 'Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?' 'An enemy did this,' he replied. His servants then asked, 'Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?' 'No!' he answered. 'You might also pull up the wheat. Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my barn.'" Make sense to you? Some of the men who heard it did not understand so they asked Jesus to explain:"

After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the story about the weeds in the wheat field.' Jesus answered, 'The one who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the bad seeds are the people who belong to the evil one, and the one who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the harvest. Weeds are gathered and burned. That's how it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. Then he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!'"

Who do you look like?

Will the Son of Man recognize you?

Will you shine like the sun in your Father's Kingdom?

Trees or Forest

2008-05-15T09:04:00.005-05:00

By Alan Gable

Folks can be subdivided in many ways. In my estimation, there are two types of people: tree guy and forest guy. This characterization is based on the metaphor of a forest. Some people focus on individual trees and some people focus on the entire forest. (See Explanation)

Tree Guy - Natural bent toward details and minutia.

The vast majority of your Type A-ers are Tree Guys. They enjoy detail work with numbers and large amounts of data. To them, the most minor process or technique is as important as anything else. They are the valedictorians and the dean's listers. You'll find them in accounting firms, medical schools and anywhere engineers gather.

NASA has a bunch of these guys. As the metaphor goes, tree guys focus in on a single tree (among the others in the forest) and try to perfect or master the tree to the neglect of the forest in general. They do not care about the rest of the forest, and are usually totally overwhelmed by the knowledge that the forest even exists. Tree Guys fixate on certain aspects of the individual tree and hold them up as the most important part of the tree.

Famous Tree Guys:
Al Davis - Owner of the Oakland Raiders - Totally consumed by exceptional individual talent that he never considers how each players affects the entire team.

Colin Powell - I realize the danger in criticizing this man. His Tree Guy-ness made him an outstanding military leader but he never really got the big picture as Secretary of State. It was just too much for him.

Peter - You know, from the Bible. Cephas, time and time again, was hung up on individual issues that he could not get past. "Lord, I'm not going to let them kill you." He never got the big picture; "....it has to be this way..."

Mike Martz - He's been called an offensive genius. Great at drawing up complex offensive schemes with mind-numbing caveats but absolutely dreadful as a head coach. Places a premium on technical precision, even ahead of winning games.

Evangelical Christian Voters - Groups of people can carry these same characteristics. What do Evangelicals vote on? A candidate's overall conservatism or liberalism? No, they vote on abortion and completely ignore every other issue.

Forest Guy - Then we have Forest Guy. Needs to see the big picture to understand the importance of the details and often gets frustrated if he doesn't understand the reasoning behind his tasks.

These guys are C students, but they get their diplomas. They are the small business owners and entrepreneurs. They make good financial advisers and better overall managers than Tree Guys. Following the metaphor, these people like to step back and evaluate the status of the entire forest. Each individual tree is only important for what it tells him about the forest. He can do all things pretty well, but nothing perfectly.

Famous Forest Guys:
Bill Gates - Gates was able to formulate a business model (The Microsoft Model) whereas his cronies could only write binary code. He realized that his overall goal did not need a Harvard degree, so he dropped out.

Winston Churchill - A striking characteristic of Forest Guys is foresight. Churchill saw what Hitler could become long before Hitler himself saw it. He saw the broad landscape of political action and did not get caught up on "peace in our time". To the detriment of the Jewish people, the rest of the Brittains were lost in the trees.

Paul - The Apostle - "Whatever was for my gain, I now count as loss for the sake of Christ..." From the time he met Jesus on his way to Damascus, Paul never lost track of the big picture. Many of his letters are written to encourage Tree Guys to remember the big picture instead of focusing on the trees (circumcision and meat sacrificed to idols). He even confronted Peter a time or two...

Fiction Writers - Novel writers have to see the whole picture before they write the first word. This is much more difficult than it sounds.

I am obviously a forest guy. Which type are you?