Category Archives: Music

Becky, Blogging, Commercial, Event, Jaycees, Music

Ames on the Half Shell

June 10, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett

Last Friday was the first Ames on the Half Shell of the season. There was a pretty impressive turnout. I personally think that this can be connected to the incredible improvement in marketing between this year and last year.

For starters, there is a sweet new logo:

IMAGE LOST

There is also a sweet new look for the poster:

IMAGE LOST

Of course the website has been quite a bit revamped since last year, but I hate to toot my own horn on that one:

Ames on the Half Shell – Website has since been redesigned.

But about last Friday, I have posted some pictures in the Snapshots Gallery. Click on the picture or the link below to have a gander:

Ames on the Half Shell – Vivace

This Friday the Burnin’ Sensations take the stage and they are an incredibly fun band to watch play.

So come out this Friday and I will see you there!

Baier, Basketball, Faust, Frank, Jesse, Lowell, Mark, Music, Nader, Robert, Russell, Toby

Big Empty

April 7, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett

Too much walkin’, shoes worn thin
Too much trippin’ and my soul’s worn thin
Time to catch a ride it leaves today
Her name is what it means

I’d say that there is a fair chance that when the Stone Temple Pilots recorded the song Big Empty, they were not thinking about how I feel the day after college basketball season ends. But it will pass as a close approximation.

The end of the season means the coronation of a new King of the Brackets in my pool of friends. This year the person that displayed the most prescience was again Mark Wolfram.

Roundball Oracles 2009 Final Standings
1. Mark Wolfram – Taiwan Hoops – 135 Points
2. Jason Baier – Mcdermite – 133 Points
3. Frank Meiners – Frank Meiners – 131 Points
4. Russell Kennerly – thefightingmattfortes – 128 Points
5. Dan Dill – dandydanl – 126 Points
6. Christopher D. Bennett – The Future – 124 Points
7. Nate Buckingham – Wade Lookingbill Allstar picks – 91 Points
8. Corey Faust – Tubbyville – 82 Points
9. Toby Sebring – Car Ramrod – 79 Points
10. Jesse Howard – Goldies Dance Card – 73 Points
11. Robert Henning – Fill It Up – 69 Points
12. Nader Parsaei – Charlie Chaplin – 45 Points
13. Lowell Davis – Waiting For Baseball Season – 0 Points

Past Champions
2005 – William McAlpine
2006 – William McAlpine
2007 – Tim Peterson
2008 – Mark Wolfram

It is admittedly slightly embarrassing that a dude living in Taiwan has won our NCAA tourney pool back to back years.

Music, Shannon, Still Life

Friday Night Jazz Club

March 27, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

The following transpired on March 27.

Shannon and I went to see the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour at Stephens Auditorium. The show consisted of an all-star lineup of current Blue Note musicians playing the songs of some of their greatest composers.

One of the performers in the Blue Note 7 was Ravi Coltrane. I was particularly excited to see him play because I will never get a chance to see his father, John Coltrane, play. John Coltrane is definitely one of my all-time favorite musicians and this was the closest I will ever get to seeing him perform.

The rest of the 7 was extremely impressive as well:

Peter Bernstein
Bill Charlap
Lewis Nash
Nicholas Payton
Peter Washington
Steve Wilson

But even though some of them are more accomplished musicians than Ravi Coltrane, he was still the thing that most excited me about the concert.

Before the show we went to Wallaby’s to complete our survey of area restaurant bloomin’ onions. Okay, we were really only comparing the bloomin’ onion of Wallaby’s to the bloomin’ onion of the Outback Steakhouse, but the verdict is as follows:

Sauce – Wallaby’s easily has the superior sauce.
Onion – Outback’s breading has a little bit more flavor.

The concert lived up to expectations. Earlier in the year I had seen the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra with Teresa. The Blue Note 7 were easily superior.

There are only two things a guy could complain about:

1. When introducing a piece composed by Wayne Shorter, Coltrane paused for applause, there was next to none. I’m not going to pretend that I would know who Wayne Shorter was if he didn’t play with Miles Davis, but I don’t know how you don’t know the name of the saxophonist who played on Prince of Darkness, Nefertiti, In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. He was handpicked by John Coltrane to replace him John Coltrane left Miles to pursue his own group. Yet, there it was, silence. My heart broke a little bit. But everybody knew Herbie Hancock. Who also played with Wayne Shorter in Miles’ quintet of the mid-60s.

2. They only played for 90 minutes. Actually after the show, Shannon pointed out that they started late, so they actually played for less than 90 minutes. They were so good that it only felt like they had played for half an hour.

After the show we stopped at Hy-Vee. I believe my immediate need was for some Pledge, but while I was there I looked for Toast ‘Ems.

My grocery buying skills over the last few years have admittedly atrophied, but I was most disappointed when on a recent trip to the Hy-Vee in Boone, I could not find any Toast ‘Ems. Normally this wouldn’t upset me, but after a conversation with my dietitian, Sara, I have started eating breakfast.

I had always heard the breakfast hype about how breakfast was “the most important meal of the day”. I have proven for years that it can’t be that important. I never eat it. But Sara showed me that it was important to eat something within the first hour of waking up because it starts your metabolism for the day.

I don’t know if that is true, but I’m treating it like Gospel truth because she will be able to write prescriptions in another year.

Since, I can barely get out of bed in time to take a shower before heading to work, I need a breakfast that is fast and easy. It better be tasty as well. I’m not cutting my shower short for grapefruit juice.

The perfect answer is Toast ‘Ems. Some (uneducated in the world of the breakfast pastry) consider them to be the ghetto version of Pop Tarts. While it is true that they are decidedly cheaper than Pop Tarts, they are also decidedly more delicious.

We walked down the breakfast pastry aisle, but there were not any Toast ‘Ems. Well, that isn’t exactly true. There was one box of Cherry Toast ‘Ems left.

I picked up the lone box of Toast ‘Ems and headed for the checkout line. I was in a fairly depressive stupor, heavy in thought with the concern that Toast ‘Ems were going out of business.

When the checker scanned what could very well be my last box of Toast ‘Ems ever I was thinking about all the formerly happy families of former Toast ‘Em families. Shannon noticed that they were selling Toast ‘Ems 3 for $2.

She pointed that out to me and said, “That has to make it worse.”

That’s right twist the knife.

I took a few pictures of my potential last Toast ‘Ems.

The black represents a world with out Toast ‘Ems. In case you need everything spelled out for you.

Breakfast Pastry Goodness.

I did check the Toast ‘Em website hoping for encouraging news, but it wasn’t to be. There website clearly hasn’t been updated, since 1997. It looks like an 8 bit Nintendo game.

It even includes an animated .gif. I know hard to believe. But I couldn’t resist lifting it to post here.

I’m saving up my vacation time to visit Toast ’em Wonderland.

Anybody care to join me?

Baier, Basketball, Carla, Dawn, Derrick, Family, FNSC, Jason, Monica, Movies, Music, Scottie D., Shannon, Willy, Writing

Saturday the 14th

March 14, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett

I have one loyal subscriber that incessantly complains whenever I post too many posts without pictures. He often sends me an email that in essence “boos” me.

I usually tell him that he is a big boy now and that he needs to use his words. But I’m quite certain that even he will be happy that this entry does not include any imagery, except whatever your imagination puts into your mind.

This story transpired on Saturday, March 14, 2009. The day after FNSC was victimized by the hype surrounding Black Market Pizza.

I am not saying that Black Market Pizza is to blame for my Saturday, but there was a series of low grade slasher movies that were popular in my youth that centered around Friday the 13th. Invariably, the person that survived the brutal onslaught of Jason Voorhees would wake up on Saturday the 14th thinking that the worst was behind them. They had survived the night. Then Jason or his mom or Tommy Jarvis would jump out of the lake and the nightmare would continue.

I woke up on Saturday the 14th feeling like the horror of Black Market Pizza was behind me. I had big plans for the day. Big plans! I didn’t know that something was still stalking me. Waiting to pounce and ruin my weekend.

Jason was picking me up at 7:30 in the morning so we could head to Best Buy to buy a dishwasher. Afterward, I was going over to my Aunt Lori’s to do my taxes. Then I was meeting Baier at King Buffet for lunch to celebrate the anniversary of his birth. Then I was heading to Rieman Music to see the remodeling work Derrick had done on the store. Then I was hoping to get the dishwasher installed. Then spend the afternoon watching the Cyclone women advance to the Big 12 title game. Then I was going to rest and relax for a bit. Then I was going to go to Shenanigans (yes, regrettably, I was planning on going to a Boone bar) for the birthday party of a friend from high school. The bonus of this party was that Willy was going to be there and he was allegedly going to be in full Dance Machine mode. I have never seen Willy dance, but I have garnered sworn testimony from his friend Kristy over the phone that he does indeed dance. But in the back of my mind, I still believe that he only talks about dancing. I was going to make a brief appearance at this party and then meet Shannon at DG’s to see Otter play. I’m not at liberty to say, but Otter just might be one of the bands that is playing Ames on the Half Shell this summer. I repeat, it was going to be a full day.

It started out well. Jason picked me up and we headed over to Best Buy. I had talked to Scottie D. on Thursday night, when he did expert work running cable to my office and living room, about coming over on Saturday to buy a dishwasher.

I had done some dishwasher research and new that I wanted both a stainless steel outside and a stainless steel inside. The outside is to match the rest of my appliances. The inside is because allegedly polymer tubs wear out rather quickly.

I swear that Scott said to meet him at Best Buy at 8.

At 8:05, we arrived in the Best Buy parking lot. We were greeted by a sign telling us that Best Buy didn’t open until 9. Since we had an hour to kill, I suggested we get some breakfast. I had heard great things about a little breakfast joint in Campustown called Angie’s Kitchen.

We killed an hour there with their food that can be best described as perfectly adequate.

We returned to Best Buy where Scott and I went over all of their dishwashers in stock. As it turned out, they had one dishwasher in stock, but it happened to be the dishwasher that I wanted.

Today was my lucky day.

We loaded the dishwasher up into the back of Carla’s van and headed to Lowe’s to pick up a few plumbing supplies.

When we got back to Boone we unloaded the dishwasher and Jason went to work on installing it. I went over to Lori’s to do my taxes.

It turns out I will be getting a healthy return back. Enough to pay off my electrician, buy a new fridge and perhaps even buy a new camera. One of the great tragedies of 2008 is the fact that I did not buy a new camera all year. I know, brings a tear to the eye.

Today was my lucky day.

I returned home to pick up some stuff I might have needed for the trip to Ames. Jason had already finished installing the dishwasher.

I met Baier at King Buffet. Inexplicably, King Buffet is his favorite restaurant. The food was perfectly adequate and we had a splendid conversation about many of the days hot topic issues.

At the conclusion of our meal I bid Baier a fond aideu and then headed downtown to Rieman Music. Derrick and his minions have done an impressive job of remodeling the store. He has made coves for individual types of products. Plus he painted the place and took down the old town and country border that used to spoil the place. It is very nice, but don’t take my word for it. Head on down and check it out. Buy a trombone or two.

I left Rieman Music and headed for my couch. I didn’t want to miss a moment of the Cyclone women playing the Baylor Bears.

As I sat on my couch I started to feel sick. Although the women were not playing well and would ultimately lose, this was not the type of sickness I feel when I watch the Greg McDermott men play. With the obvious exception of when they played UNI. I felt pretty darn good that night.

After the game concluded, I felt worse. Eventually I got to feeling so bad that I didn’t even want to move from the couch. I sat there watching whatever was on the History Channel.

I had the sensation that I wanted to vomit, but I couldn’t. I checked the time and I sadly realized that I wasn’t going to be leaving this couch on this night. I texted Shannon to let her know that I was shafting out. She texted me back to relay hopes that I feel better at some point in the future.

I put the phone down and laid my head back down on the pillows. At 9:37, I got a text message. Admittedly, I did not know it was 9:37. I thought it was well after 10. I struggled to get up and read my text message.

My expectations were that the text was from Willy saying that he was “setting the dance floor on fire” and wondering if I was making an appearance. The other possibility was that the message was from Shannon letting me know how much fun I was missing.

But the message was from neither. It was from Monica Henning:

Jeff proposed to me tonight on our trip. I said YES. (Then she included an emoticon, but even when I am quoting somebody I can’t bring myself to use an emoticon. But use your imagination. It was a happy emoticon. It probably involved a colon.)

That was a pretty cool development, but I was in so much pain I couldn’t even think straight. I decided to send the congratulations on the morrow. I frequently use the phrase “on the morrow” when I am sick.

I laid my head back down and continued to inbibe what the History Channel was dishing out. What seemed like hours passed. Then something magical happened.

I had spent my free time on Saturday organizing 3 tubs. 1 tub for audio visual cables. 1 tub for computer cables. 1 tub for phone stuff.

The magic happened 4 times into the phone stuff tub. I instantly felt, not so bad. I picked up my cell phone to check the time: 1:45. Too late to drive to Ames or go to Shenanigans. I laid my head back down on the pillow. I was asleep almost instantly. I didn’t wake up for 12 hours.

I talked to Jason the next day. He had also been sick. We both agreed that we wouldn’t be going back to Angie’s Kitchen. I decided that next time I needed to get breakfast in Ames, I would stick with The Grove Cafe.

But I don’t want the tale of Monica’s engagement to be just a footnote to a tale of vomiting on a caller id box. It is pretty exciting that Monica is tying the knot. I heard a poem once and although I definitely didn’t write it, it is what I hope Jeff feels in 50 years.

Anniversary: One Fine Day
by Walter McDonald

Who would sit through a plot as preposterous as ours,
married after years apart? Chance meetings may work
early in stories, but at operas, darling, in Texas?
A bachelor pilot, I fled Laredo for the weekend,
stopping at the opera from boredom, music I least expected.
Of all the zoos and honky-tonks south of Dallas,
who would believe I would find you there on the stairs,

Madame Butterfly about to start? When you moved
four years before, I lost all hope of dying happy,
dogfighting my way through pilot training, reckless,
in terror only when I saw the man beside you.
I had pictured him rich and splendid in my mind
a thousand times, thinking you married with babies
somewhere in Tahiti, Spain, the south of France.

When I saw the lucky devil I hated—only your date,
but I didn’t know—he stopped gloating, watching you wave,
turned old and bitter like the crone in Shangri La.
Destiny happens only in plays and cheap movies—
but here, here on my desk is your photo, decades later,
and I hear sounds from another room of our house,
and when I rise amazed and follow, you are there.

Jesse, Music, Work

Arizona Day 7

February 23, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett

Day 7 in Arizona was the final day of work.

I spent most of the morning talking to a Native American Flute Artist by the name of Travis Terry. He both made and played flutes.

I asked him how he learned to make flutes, expecting a story about his grandpa on the reservation.

The answer came back: “Long Beach High Shop Class.”

A little disappointing, but at least he was honest.

I bought one of his CDs and he gave me a friend’s discount. He was an interesting guy.

He is coming to Iowa to play this summer, I might have to go check him out.

After “working”, I spent the majority of the day sitting by the pool reading Six-Word Memoirs. It is a fascinating book that Shannon lent me where people try to sum up their life in six words.

After a couple hours and an extensive phone call back home, Jesse’s family arrived at the resort.

We spent about an hour swimming with Jesse’s nephew and then loaded up in their car and headed to the nearest town looking for edible food.

We parked right next to the World’s 2nd Largest Fountain. It was a thing of beauty. I almost wish I would have brought my camera into town so I had a picture of it to share.

We ate at a restaurant that was half Italian and half Mexican and 100% slow. We sat on the Italian side of the restaurant and waited over an hour for our food. On the positive side, the food was good when it came and I made the waitress’s day when I ordered some Mexican Apple Soda.

I don’t think that anybody has been that impressed with me since the flight attendant on our first flight out to Arizona.

After our food, we returned to the room for an exciting night of watching Man vs. Food.

We were flying back to Iowa in the morning.

Candid Portrait, Jesse, Music, Self-Portrait, Travel, Vacation

Arizona Day 1

February 16, 2009 Christopher D. Bennett

As I sit here in Josh and Summer’s house waiting for Jesse to wake up, I might as well post a few pictures from yesterday.

Jesse waiting for the flight to leave from Des Moines

Denver

Jesse in Denver

Me in Denver

Jesse on the people mover

Organ Stop Pizza

The organist

The Dancing Cats

There were a few good times to be had on Sunday. My head didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I feared it would after the two flights.

We had supper with Jesse’s family at Organ Stop Pizza. It is a pretty impressive place. They have built a giant organ their with a bunch other percussion instruments also controlled by the organ.

The organist played a lot of old standards and a medley from Phantom of the Opera. Not too bad at all.

Animals, Jesse, Movies, Music

Thelma and Louise

December 30, 2008 Christopher D. Bennett

On Sunday night we took Jesse out to Buffet City to celebrate his birthday. Ever since that night I have had the song The Crawdad Hole stuck in my head.

You get a line and I’ll get a pole Honey!
You get a line and I’ll get a pole Babe!
You get a line and I’ll get a pole
And we’ll go down to the crawdad hole
Honey… Baby of mine

Big ole crawdad struttin’ round Honey!
Big ole crawdad struttin’ round Babe!
Big ole crawdad strutin’ round
Like he’s the King of Crawdad Town
Honey… Baby of mine

I’m gonna see that crawdad on my plate Honey!
I’m gonna see that crawdad on my plate Babe!
I’m gonna see that crawdad on my plate
With a bowl full of butter and a sweet patate
Honey… Baby of mine

Crawdad’s hangin’ onto my toe Honey!
Crawdad’s hangin’ onto my toe Babe!
Crawdad’s hangin’ onto my toe
I shake and shout but he won’t let go
Honey… Baby of mine

What are ya gonna do when the hole runs dry Honey!
What are ya gonna do when the hole runs dry Babe!
What are ya gonna do when the hole runs dry
Sit on the banks and have a crawdad fry
Honey… Baby of mine

See that crawdad winkin’ his eye Honey!
See that crawdad winkin’ his eye Babe!
See that crawdad winkin’ his eye
Let’s turn him into crawdad pie
Honey… Baby of mine

Fry them crawdads nice an’ brown Honey!
Fry them crawdads nice an’ brown Babe!
Fry them crawdads nice an’ brown
Grease ’em good so they’ll slip right down
Honey… Baby of mine.

Here comes a man with a sack on his back Honey!
Here comes a man with a sack on his back Babe!
Here comes a man with a sack on his back
Haulin’ all the crawdads he can pack
Honey… Baby of mine.

It just might be me, but that is perhaps one of the most romantic songs ever written.

But the reason this song stuck in my head is because as we were sitting around the table conversing about the important matters of the day we noticed a person walking by with their plate stacked full with crayfish.

Then a few moments later the dutiful employees of Buffet City restocked the crayfish supply immediately a guy from another table got up and put every single solitary last crayfish on his plate. It was an impressive feat in its greed, gluttony and structural engineering.

A few minutes more passed and a dutiful employee of Buffet City restocked the crayfish supply. Immediately the same gentleman got up and took every single last crayfish and heaped them onto his plate and returned to his table.

I got up and walked over to the where the crayfish formerly resided. All that was left was some murky looking water and assorted crayfish parts. It reminded me of a seen from a shipwreck movie.

I picked up the tongs and slashed the crayfish brine around. The crayfish man was thorough, but not thorough enough. I found a couple of crayfish in the bottom.

Thelma & Louise (Crayfish Style)

You didn’t honestly think I was going to eat one of these creatures?

Christianity, Holidays, Music

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2008 Christopher D. Bennett

As you may know, Building 429 is one of my favorite bands. This year they released a new albums and thus one of my new favorite songs. Here in the Christmas season I felt it was necessary to share the lyrics to the song Always.

Always
I was standing in the pouring rain one dark November night
Fighting off the bitter cold when she caught my eye
Her face was taught and her eyes were filled, and to my surprise
She pulled out a photograph and my heart just stopped inside
She said, “He would’ve been three today
I miss his smile, I miss his face”
What was I supposed to say, but

CHORUS
I believe always, always
Our Savior never fails
Even when all hope is gone
God knows our pain and his promise remains
He will be with you always

He was living in a broken world, dreaming of a home
His heart was barely keeping pace when I found him all alone
Remembering the way he felt when his daddy said goodbye
Fighting just to keep the tears and the anger locked inside
He’s barely holding onto faith
But deliverance is on its way, cause

CHORUS
I believe always, always
Our Savior never fails
Even when all hope is gone
God knows our pain and his promise remains
He will be with you always

Friend, I don’t know where you are and I don’t know where you’ve been
Maybe you’re fighting for your life or just about to throw the towel in
But if you’re crying out for mercy, if there’s no hope left at all
If you’ve given everything you’ve got and you’re still about to fall
Well hold on, hold on, hold on, cause
I believe always, always
Our savior never fails
Even when all faith is gone
God knows our pain and his promise remains
Always, always, He will be with you always

Christianity, Comedy, Holidays, Mark, Music

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2008 Christopher D. Bennett

Tonight is my favorite church service of the year. I love Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve! It is one beautiful service that manages to completely encapsulate the season of Advent for me. It is one service where I definitely can feel Hope, Love, Peace and Joy.

Plus I love the symbolism of an entire church being filled with the soft warm glow of candlelight. The room starts completely dark except for the light coming from the Christ candle. Then the Christ candle lights one candle. That candle lights another candle. Until every candle in the room is lit. All the light having originated from one candle.

When the congregation sings Silent Night, I feel that song more than any other song the entire year. I would not be lying if I told you that at the end of the service when the bell strikes midnight and it is officially Christmas I always get goosebumps.

I hope your Christmas Eve is as wonderful as the one I believe that I will have.

I wanted to share a story from Andrea’s sermon on Sunday because I believe it is both funny and a story worth reflecting on during the Christmas season.

A guy was standing near a cliff all by himself. He was taken by a rush of courage and curiosity and moved close to the edge.

Then he moved a little closer.

The ground underneath his feet began to give a little bit, but then it seemed to hold.

He moved a little bit closer, just to get a little bit better look at the valley below.

The ground gave out underneath his feet and the man fell down the face of the cliff. But after only a few feet his hand caught a small root and his life was spared.

But it was only for a moment. It was a small root and it quickly began to give way as well.

The man shouted out, “Is there somebody up there that can help me? God if you are there, help me!”

Then the man heard the voice of God ask, “Do you have faith in me?”

The man replied, “Yes, of course. I have total faith in you.”

“Then let go.”

The man thought for a second and then shouted, “Is there anybody else up there?”

I got Mark’s newsletter this week:

The Taiwan Times
By Mark Wolfram

Merry Christmas! It is that time of year again where we can rejoice and celebrate the birth of our Savior, who brings us peace, joy, and hope. In the season of Christmas it is easy to get caught up in all of the “stuff” that we have to do or things that are going on. I pray that God would help all of us remember why we celebrate, and that in this message we would find the peace that comes only from Jesus.

Here in Taiwan, there are many activities that I am involved with during Christmas time. I know I have written about some of these in the past, including various skits, songs, and Christmas parties. Last night was my personal highlight of the Christmas season: Christmas caroling. Teachers and students who live at school went outside of the campus last night and sang Christmas songs at some of the local businesses. Then we gathered together to sing to the faculty and staff that live here on the campus of Concordia Middle School. Walking on the streets with the guitar and hearing the students joyfully sing praises to God always warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.

In addition to the Christmas caroling, yesterday the students of Concordia Middle School decorated their Christmas trees. Every December, the school holds a Christmas tree decorating contest. Each class is given a tree or large bush in the central part of campus. They then need to create a tree based on a Bible story. Some popular stories include: Jesus feeds 5,000, Jesus turns water into wine, the parable of the lost sheep, and Noah’s ark.

Students work in their free time in the weeks leading up to Christmas to create items to put on the Christmas tree. Part of the goal of the competition is for students to make the tree using recyclable materials such as boxes, cans, and paper. They also can have lights, but they are not supposed to buy fancy decorations. Yesterday morning and afternoon students were outside working on their trees, and then in the evening, they lit up the trees. It was beautiful. The competition is also a great way to get the students excited about Christmas, read the Bible and build cooperation and teamwork.

The school leaves the decorations up for a couple of days and one of my favorite things to do during the days after Christmas is to walk outside in the evening. I usually wait until about 9:00 and I bring my I-pod and headphones. I then walk around and look at all of the trees as they light up the night. I will also take time to stop by each one of my classes and pray for the students in those classes.
I thank God for the chance to do this, and I rejoice at the mission of this school. Most schools in Taiwan don’t celebrate Christmas, and in fact they have school on Christmas day (we actually do too). However, for the students of CMS it is not just another part of the school year. It is a chance to celebrate and understand why Christmas is important. I pray that the message of Jesus’ birth will change the lives of these students, and give them new life in Jesus.

It’s Prayer Time!
1. Please pray for the students at CMS, that they will understand the true meaning of Christmas and believe it.
2. Praise God that my online classes have finished and that I will have a little bit more time in my schedule.
3. Please pray for my teaching. We will end the semester in a couple of weeks and pray that God will help me to end well and continue to show His love to my students.
4. Please pray for my Chinese language learning. That God would help my stay focused and work hard as I attempt to learn the language. Pray also that He would present opportunities for me to use Chinese as a witness to Him.

I wish you all the peace of Christ this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!!!

Mark

If I don’t see you before then, I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas!

Candid Portrait, Faust, Football, Iowa State, Jesse, Music, Night

It Ends

November 16, 2008 Christopher D. Bennett

Saturday was the final home game for the Cyclones. I don’t have many pictures because low light and cold temperatures do not make for ideal photographic conditions.