So Kristy and I were at MacDonald's the other day, and we saw this fantastic sticker on the bumper of a truck. I just wonder what people think when they see something like this.
Grace,
Des
I Should point out for the record that I was being sarcastic when describing this bumper-sticker. I certainly don't see it as an effective evangelism tool, and that it IS pious and judgemental. Sarcasm often doesn't come across well in blog posts! 
The two pool buddies. This is my good new friend Chuck. He "schools" me every week in pool, but it's some of the best fun EVER. I'll let you know when I finally beat him.
Curling is quickly becoming the most-watched sport, in Italy, from the Olympics. I, being a canuck, am quite familiar with curling, and it's rules. It's actually quite an interesting sport . . . it really is like "chess" on ice . . . so does that make is cooler?
Sorry.
Anyway, the gold medal game - coming up in just an hour - is a big deal in Newfoundland. The "Skip" (i.e. Captain) of the team is a 25 year-old newfie, and he is set to be the first Canadian to win a gold in curling at the olympics. Big news if you're a Canadian that likes curling. Probably not, otherwise.
In anycase, I've been trying to keep up-to-date with the Canadians progress, whilst living in a country other than Canada (so, we don't get a lot of coverage, naturally).
I came across this story today from CBC.ca. It talks about how the young newfie captain recruited a 50 year-old past national champion to be a member of their team. Russ Howard was a team captain of another team in another province for years - won plenty of national championships. Gushue knew that he needed Howard's mind. He needed a man twice his age, with triple the years of curling experience to come in an help him.
Of course, my immediate thought went back to worship. How many of us have said, we need that 60 year old saint to help us direct our worship? How many of us actively seek out the advice one of the elders of our gatherings in directing worship?
The article goes on to describe the relationship between the young newf and the old national champion. There are often discussions, nay, even arguments (OK, so they don't use "nay") among them but Howard says, "The team is united."
Another statement from the article is, "Gushue (the newfie, sorry, I should have said that earlier) used to make mental mistakes. Howard has eliminated that from the equation."
Two generations, coming together, united for a common goal. I wonder if it would work?
Grace.
Des
For 2 weeks now I've been schooled in the art of playing pool.
Chuck is a great older guy that has stopped by the Coffee Shop in Waynesville for the past couple of weeks. He has amazing stories of how he and his friends used to hustle people in pool halls. In his words, he did it for a living.
He has had throat cancer, he has asthma, he has had a daughter pass away, he lived the life of a pool shark. Chuck is an interesting friend. He's teaching me lots of things about pool that I never thought I would ever know. He's teaching me how to make sure the tip of my pool cue is in the best shape to hold chalk.
He also says that now he likes to talk with kids about angles (the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection), and about numbers (7=God's Number, 3=Trinity, 1=One way to heaven, etc, etc).
I hope he keeps coming back.
I have a lot left to learn.
Grace,
Des
P.S. I posted some pics of the coffee house after LAST week, and just noticed that, for whatever reason, they stayed "unposted" as a draft. They are up now - if thy're not on this page somewhere, click on the February 2006 link on the right side.
Check out the video from our back door. It's the first real snow that we've had, and it's the most snow that we've seen since we moved here.
Since moving to the US, I have become (and am still becoming) an all-out football fan. I think it started because my first real year (i.e. full football season) here, the Carolina Panthers went to the super-bowl. Every sunday, I would sit and watch the Panthers play, mostly because there was never much else on.
Now I even have a jersey. It's a Julius Peppers black Panthers jersey. He is an awesome defensive end - playing in the pro-bowl this week. Just an incredible athlete.
What's even more incredible is that he had a pro-bowl season while having his hand and wrist bound up in a cast. Week in and week out he played with broken bones in his body. And he's a monster too . . . one of the most intimidating DEs out there. He just wanted to get in that game. Fact is, he'd get paid either way - he could have sat on the sidelines and complained about not being able to play, but didn't. When he COULD have sat back, he stayed in, because the goal of the team was more important than his comfort.
I guess the same is true of many athletes - footballers play after receiving Corisone shots in there muscles, just to take away the pain long enough to play the game.
I'm tired of people (and myself) opting for the bench instead of playing the game. We do it all the time. OOOOOOH, you hurt my feelings . . . wah wah boo hoo. Come on - we're built stronger than that. Don't we believe in the goal enough to really fight for it?
Or do we even know what the goal is?
Grace
Des
There are many Christians that would make the most devout of us run wildly, limbs flailing, from the most inviting church. I just read so much and hear so much and it's so discouraging. We all fight with one another, and yet we want others to join the family. When Jesus gave us the "Keys to the Kingdom" but giving us authority to "bind and loose," I've gotta believe that He knew exactly what he was doing . . . but boy does it make for an interesting "body" with which to work.
On the other hand, tonight I met an old, possibly drunk, man named "Chuck." Apparently, he hides his whisky in the bushes when he comes in the church building. I played two games of pool against him and . . . well . . . he schooled me. He said that he went into a bar one time with 15 cents and came out with 800 bucks. He even showed me some trick shots that I will never be able to duplicate in a million years of trying.
I liked him a lot.
I liked him because he knew he was good but pretended like he wasn't . . . but not in that condescending kind of way. And he smelled of some kind of ethanol.
Myself, I, too often, try to be a know-it-all. For some reason, I think I have all the answers . . . . but more and more, I realize I do not.
Anywho . . . I know this isn't making a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people.
Grace,
Des
How is this for a new iPod? I found these online today. Apple has been developing some new touch sensitive technologies lately, and this is what some people think will come of it. There are some big announcements planned for April (Apple's 30th Anniversary) and it could be that these full-screen video iPods could be released then. Pretty sweet.
Meet the Neighbours. Kristy and I went for a walk and took some pics of the neighbours. Does that make us peeping toms? Anywho, see them at http://desmerizingpics.blogspot.com.
Grace.
Des
I woke up this morning, as I usually do. After making a B-Line to the coffee maker, I sat down to watch the Today show. When I turned on the television, I saw these notes flashing up on the bottom of the screen - kinda like breaking news screens. It took a little while for my eyes and/or my brain to focus in on what they said, but I finally realized that they were school closings! Which had to mean snow . . . . I ran to the window and threw up the sash. The first snow since we've been in the mountains!
We were doing a devotion yesterday with at the teen center in Asheville. It talked about being ready for Jesus' return. In response to the question, "What is this scripture saying?", one of the girls said, "It's like you have to get right and do good."
I thought that said it all. Get right and do good. Kids DO understand all of these things. That sums it up doesn't it.
Grace.
Pictures from Kathy's shower have been posted. Check them out at http://desmerizingpics.blogspot.com.
Here are a few scenes from the Coffee Shop that Kristy and I work with on Friday nights. It's in Wayesville, NC. These were taken last night before people started showing up. It really is very cool and it's going to be fun as this thing really starts to take off! AND . . . there's espresso!
I have to slip into my tech-geek mode for a little while. Some of you will say, "I didn't know there WAS any other mode, Des." Thanks. Well there is - not that you'll see it now.
I've been waiting for a long time to hear about Google Calendar. Supposedly, Google has been working on this online calendar thing that will likely be a partner to gmail. People in the tech world are talking about calling it gCal - it's on ongoing thing. I've never seen a screenshot or anything so I don't know for sure that it even exists. But, if you go to http://calendar.google.com, it brings you to the google home page. So, that's where some of the speculation comes from.
Anywho, I was reading today that there is another similar program set to be released on Sunday, February 5. It's called 30 boxes. It looks really cool from what I can find. I've just really been wanting a way to organize my time - something that I can ALWAYS access. I like my palm pilot but I hate the PC software that comes with it.
This might be what I'm looking for.
If you're interested in knowing more tech news, I always read/listen to:
I'm not a fan of the Kanye. He's one of those guys that just seem like all he really cares about is the publicity. I've really just got no time for the guy. 
So, now I see this image. It's on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine this month. I'm really not sure how I feel about it. I don't easily get offended. And I'm not about to sit down and write Kanye or Rolling Stone . . . .
But I think I may be a little annoyed by this.
I haven't read the article, so I think I'll reserve judgement until I get done with that.
What on earth could he be saying?
Grace,
Desmond
