Michael Jackson

It has been a long time since I have followed any of Michael Jackson’s music. The last album of his that I remember is the one with the song “Black or White.”  However when I was young (preteen or so) I really liked Michael Jackson’s music. For Christmas one year my mom gave me the cassette tape of his album “Bad.”  I must have listened to it in its entirety everyday for nearly a year. I loved that album.

But by the time I was 14 rock n’ roll had fully taken my attention. But even though I have not been a fan of the King of Pop  in a very long time, I was still saddened at the news that he had passed away yesterday (Thursday, June 25), the day Lyndsay and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary.  We suddenly lived in a world without Michael Jackson. The world felt different.

I have seen great music artists pass in my time.  The most impactful perhaps was the suicide of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994. I have also seen the passing of Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon and Alice In Chains’ Layne Staley. But none of these had the influence on music and popular culture that Michael Jackson had. I suppose the only other artists whose deaths would be of the same magnitude would be Elvis Presley and John Lennon. The passing of both of these music legends marked the end of an era.  Regardless of how you feel about Jackson’s lifestyle, strange behavior, or music, his passing is the end of an era.

I Do: 9 Years Ago

On June 25, 2000 Lyndsay and I stood before God and man and declared our vows to love and cherish one another until death do us part.

I met Lyndsay in 1999 at a coffee house in Macon where my band at the time was performing. I had met her once before with no sparks flying but there was something magical in the air that night in Macon, I suppose. I remember thinking how pretty she was. After that night we were inseperable.

We are consistently amazed at how God is continuously making us “one flesh.” She is my best friend in the whole world. If I had to live in seclusion with only one other person for the rest of my life and I could choose any one living or dead, famous or common, I would choose Lyndsay without flinching. Spend enough time with any one person and you will find things that annoy you. Lyndsay is the only person that I could spend 24 hours a day with and never grow tired of her company.

And our interests have been made more and more alike. Before we met she was sure that she would marry either an Airforce man or a baseball player (and definitely did NOT want to marry a musician). I am a guitarist of 15 years who is terrible at sports and has never served in the military. The other day I was talking about my guitar and she said “I’m glad I married a musician.”

By the day we made our wedding vows we had already discussed divorced. We decided it was never, ever an option. No matter how vicious any argument, no matter how deep a disagreement. It was never the way God intended marriage to work therefore it did not exist as an option. We have never come close to wanting a divorce, but just in case things ever get that bad, we are in this “for better or for worse”, come Hell or high water, and yes, even if the creek does decide to rise.

But the more we work, grow, and cultivate our marriage, the more we find that we can not live without each other. We both love home improvement, cats, Macs, rock music by Christian artists, sci-fi movies and books, short stories, DIY projects, theater, C.S. Lewis, audiobooks, classic films, Back to the Future, and we both have surrendered our lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ. And we look forward to a life together full of many more conversations consisting of “I sure like/dislike _________.” “Yeah, me too!”

When Did the 80s Start to Rock?

In the American vernacular there are several words and phrases that have changed meaning as culture has changed. Consider the word “cool.”  No longer does it refer to the temperature of a room only.  It also describes an attitude, a state of being.  To be “cool” is the ultimate goal of every high school student (and it’s not because the GAP has some great sweaters on sale). 

Another word that has (unfortunately) changed is “gay.”  It once meant “of good cheer.”  Now it of course refers to homosexuality (as do the words “funny” and “queer”).

So when did “dude, that is so 80s” go from an insult to a compliment.  There was a time when one would say “dude, that is so 80s” and it meant “dude, that is over-the-top, outdated, wussified, and/or a bad hairdo.  Now when  you hear “dude, that is so 80s” it is liable to be followed by a high five.

It happened slowly. I remember the 80s somewhat. I remember the hair,the clothes, and of course the music (new wave, hair bands, spandex, classic MTV when they actually played music videos). Then came the 90s and grunge and alternative music rendering everything 80s as dorky and excessive.   However now in the 21st century, twenty years out from 1989, I am starting to see the 80s come back.

I first became truly aware of this phenomenon when I was watching an episode of “Psych.”  A staple of the show is each episode will begin with a flashback from the youth of the main character Shawn Spencer and his best friend Gus.  Usually the year of the flashback is 1987.  During these flashbacks viewers are shown an event in Shawn’s life that will shed light on some of his behavior and ideas as an adult.  The flashbacks have 80s pop culture refrences galore. Everything from kangaROOS shoes (with the pocket on the side) to Shawn and his best friend Gus dressing up as the Tears for Fears guy and Michael Jackson, respectively. 

Another example of the 80s comeback is the clothing that I see many people starting to wear and that I myself am drawn to. Think thrift store.  T-shirts with screen printing or that depict colorful logos (usually advertising an event of the past that the wearer is unfamiliar with).  I recently found a shirt that said “Walking In Memphis” on the front and the backside depicted a guitar with the words “Interact Fashion Show 2005.”  I bought it. I simply liked the way it looked. And tight jeans is another fashion that is coming back especially among young people (who are the only ones who can really get away with it). 

Personally I am in the market for some ROOS.  When I saw that episode of Psych recently I exclaimed “I forgot about ROOS!”  I was never able to own any so I will revisit my childhood and purchase myself a pair of kangaROOS.  With any luck I will be able to find some that are navy blue with velcro straps. 

Dude, that would be so 80s!

Guess What? Kitty Butt

Sometimes you just see things in life and you think to yourself “that’s not right!”

Several nights ago it was getting on in the evening and I was unusually tired. It had been a busy day as well as a busy evening. I decided to lay down on the bed for a few minutes. I mean, it was to be bed time before long anyway and so I wanted to wind down.

Well, of course I dozed off. The last thing I remembered was Lyndsay working on some clothes or something in the room at the same time I was dozing off. I do not know how much time passed but I heard a sound. It was a clicking sound followed by a high pitched whirring sound. Then I heard…a giggle. I was laying on my stomach so I raised my head and turned to find Lyndsay holding our camera and trying not to lose all self-control to laughter. The following is the result of that camera flash.

I thought I should just go ahead and put this out there and clear the air in case anyone ever found it and tried to use it as blackmail.

I Am Car Shopping

My 1997 Saturn finally threw in the towel, kicked the bucket, bought the farm, went to that big car lot in the sky. After 207,000 miles the old boy decided he could go no longer. This past Saturday morning the Saturn called it quits…in the middle of I-75 South. But what can I say, it served me well. I always said that I would drive it until it died and that day has come. I feel that I have gotten more than my money’s worth out of that car and now I am looking to replace it.

This brings me to my next point. I hate car shopping.  Well, not “hate” but it stresses me out.  I know plenty about cars. I understand them and when a car runs good and when it is a lemon, for the most part.  And even though I am no fan of price negotiation, the Internet has greatly increased the level of competition and it is not hard to find a fair price.

No, for me it goes back to what that wise sage Tom Petty once said: “The waiting is the hardest part.” Not only do I have to go to the bank and find out the amount that my credit (and current interest rates) will allow me to borrow. Next I have to find the right car in the right color with the right mileage at the right price. Even with the Internet that can be a feat.

Lyndsay and I have decided that price-wise, style-wise, and feature-wise, the Chevy Cobalt is for us. Well, that is unless we find a killer deal on a VW Jetta, which probably will not happen. But the Cobalt has a great style and is really roomy and it’s made in America!.

So even though I wish I could just go out, buy one, and be done with it, I know that my little adventure is just beginning.

Pre-Death Aspirations

: or how I learned to stop worrying and steal material from SKOS

Kev at Special Kind of Stupid has written an interesting post called “10 Things To Do Before I Meet My Maker.” It was a fun read and caused me to ponder what pre-death aspirations I have. I just knew that all of you would be thrilled to know what they are–in true narcissist fashion.

1. Have at least three children.  I know, I know. That seems like the easiet of all of these to accomplish.  The time will come.  But being that I am basically the last Horne male, continuing my family line is important. Naturally that is not the only reason.  There’s the Biblical mandate to be fruitful and multiply. Then there’s this strange internal, unexplainable drive toward parenthood.  There seems to be this innate desire to beget which I think is one of the marks of the Creator that is on man.
2. Publish a book.  I have bits and pieces of ideas and many of those bits have ended up as posts on this blog.  Hopefully one day I will be able to put those down on real paper.
3. See the abolition of the income tax. This may not see like a lofty aspiration but I believe that the income tax, which gives the federal government an enormous amount of power over us, is a vehicle for tyranny and I do not want my children (see #1) or grandchildren to live underneath it.
4. Purchase a Gibson Firebird. As you can see by the price I am going to have to amass a small fortune to do so even at Musician’s Friend’s discounted price.  But oh, they are so awesome. I love Gibson guitars.
5. Own a DMC DeLorean. This has been my dream car ever since I saw one take Marty McFly back in time. You’d think more manufacturers would include that feature. Go figure.
6. Go to Disney World.  No, I’ve never been.
7. Visit all 50 States.  And I mean in a vacation sort of way in which I actually do something and not just pass through.  Visiting friends or family also counts. So far I have been to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, and New Jersey.  I went to Texas when I was a kid but I do not remember much about it so that does not count.
8. Go on a cruise.  I know several people who have done it and it sounds so fun.
9. Meet a friendly alien.  A Vulcan would be nice.
10. Give my wife a Chevy Corvair.

Beauty In the Status Quo

Let us not grow weary of living everyday lives.

The book of Acts is replete with what seem like daily miraculous occurrences. But that great book of scripture spans a period of about three decades. Also it took place during a time of upheaval and change as the apostles of Jesus were turning the whole world upside down. The Holy Spirit was being given with signs and wonders at various times and places. The gospel of the New Covenant was being shot into the arm of humanity and civilization. The earth shattering force that would shape future history was being established (”once more I will shake the Heavens and the Earth”). God’s promise of bringing His “other sheep” into true Israel was being fulfilled (John 10:26). Some who had been Jew in name only were being cut out and true Jews (according to the Spirit and circumcision of the heart) were being grafted in (Romans 11:24).

But there between the lines, in the in-between times were the faithful, the unheard-of, the unsung eking out a daily existence. They washed their linens. They made bread and cleaned the kitchen afterward. They fought off colds, worked with too little sleep some days, and started home improvement projects. Some days they were irritable and some days they thought everything was funny. They attended church weekly and sang songs together and heard teaching.

There were days when no miracle happened. Some weeks they simply did what they did everyday. There were weeks when the only spectacular thing that happened was someone got married or someone passed away.

In the in-between time, the only miracles they knew were that they had plenty to eat everyday or that they had brothers in Christ they could call on. Sometimes the only miracle these folks knew was that in that kitchen or in that church they could bow their heads, call on God, and be heard. Perhaps once in a while they noticed the miracle of the created order. The miracle of miracles, which is invisible, was the only one they could experience daily. This is the miracle that God became man, born under the law, that he might redeem man from the law of sin and death freeing them by the law of the Spirit of life. No flashes, no gasps, no shocking surprises–simply men and women being added to the Church daily and they, having been given access to the true Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:19-22), were able to approach their Father any time, any place, even during the in-between time.

In the midst of the status quo, between the great trumpet blasts, the faithful were steady tunes playing on. And when the next miracle blast had passed they played on still. If they had lived only for the great whirlwinds, the bone-rattling earthquakes, the scorching fires of that first century they would have missed the still small voice that speaks continually to the ones who have ears to hear.

Strive not for what is past for it can not be reached;
Look not always to the horizon, the future can not be seen;
Reflect on what is gone, hope for what is ahead, but look for Him daily
In the times in between

Josh H.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Our (Smoak) House to Yours

Georgia February: Foretaste of Spring

What is your favorite season of the year? Just about everyone has one. I actually have more than one and the answer that I would give to the question all depends on timing. I really enjoy the winter months because the holidays are in the air, celebrations are being planned, and there are always plenty of holiday treats being cooked up in the kitchen. But by the time January 2 rolls around I have had just about enough of winter and I begin looking to the next season on the calendar.

Spring is sort of like the opposite side of the coin from the holidays. It is a great time to have friends and family over, to cook good food, and to enjoy time together except that you do so outdoors. And a grill is usually involved as well. It is the time of the year that I most want to be in my yard, riding my bicycle, or taking a walk—anything to be outside! Unfortunately we still have some weeks of cold before spring enters the picture again. But thanks to Georgia weather this week has given us great reason to step outside and have a little bit of early spring (except without the flowers). I liken it to opening one present the week before Christmas (though I would personally never commit such an atrocity).

Monday and Tuesday of this week the great outdoors called to my wife and I and we were happy to answer the call. Having worked all day long at our respective indoor jobs we were looking for any excuse to be outside and dinner seemed to be just the excuse we were looking for.

Problem #1: We do not have an outdoor table and chairs set.

Good old-fashioned Southern ingenuity won the day. We made an impromptu table. A base was provided by stacking a few cube-shaped cement blocks. A circular wooden disc measuring approximately 2.5 feet in diameter provided the perfect table top. The setting was completed by two spare chairs and a table cloth. The sun was still out, the temperature was just right, and the breeze coupled with the sounds of the neighborhood could not have been more relaxing.

Even after completing our meal we could not bring ourselves to go back inside but evening was coming on. So we decided to do what anyone desperate to be out of doors at night would have done: build a fire.

Problem #2: We do not have a fire pit.

So we built one. Using some large bricks and stacking them in the right shape we created a circular pit where we built a proper fire, pulled up a couple of chairs and watched the orange and blue flames rise and fall as we talked about our lives, our home, our favorite show “Lost” and a host of other things.

If you are beginning to feel a little claustrophobic having spent so much time indoors all winter then do not let this week get away. Plan an evening or an afternoon activity outside on the porch, patio, or lawn because the weatherman says that Jack Frost is going to take at least one more jab at us Middle Georgians next week. Now put down your laptop or drop your mouse and get going!

Josh H.

Leadership is…

1. Leadership is accepting that God has called you for a purpose regardless if you feel worthy of it or even capable of fulfilling it.

2. Leadership is making sacrifices for others which may not always be conducive to your own self-interest.

3. Leadership is having the maturity to live with the fact that for any plan you put forth someone somewhere will dislike it.

4. Leadership means sometimes having to make decisions on behalf of other people.

5. Leadership is calling black black and white white when the situation calls for it.

6. Leadership is guiding and correcting others by addressing their strengths and their weaknesses and not pretending everything is fine.

7. Leadership is listening to and learning from other leaders.

8. Leadership is being the first to come in contact with the problem/enemy.

9. Leadership requires making yourself responsible for other people.

10. Leadership is servitude.

Josh H.