I used to be a stock market junkie. I was somewhat of a low end day trader. I had my Datek account, and I would follow my stocks throughout the day. (I'm very compulsive, just in case you didn't know) I can vividly remember a time when a friend told me to invest in this struggling company called Apple. I never used an Apple computer before 2002. Therefore I passed on my friends advice. Instead I invested thousands of dollars into my company-XO Communications.
Needless to say I was a bit shocked when I heard the Dow had closed over 12,000 today. Of course, I did a very lame thing and checked out Apple. As of today Apple is selling $80 per share. And I refused to buy them when it was $10, or maybe $8 per share.
BTW- my lame company went out of business in less then a year. Can you feel the pain?
Had I invested $1000 in 2000, I would have bought close to 100 shares of Apple. Now, those 100 shares would be worth $8000.
Of course I did diversify like any wise investor. I had Oracle, Red Hat, WorldCom and a couple of other that I forgot about.
Can you say lame lame lame! And Damon (my financial advisor, who no longer advises me cause I have no finances) if you are reading this please stop laughing.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Finally Fall?
Yesterday it was 90 and steamy. Then last night we had the cold front move in and our temperatures plummeted like 40 degrees. So today it finally feels like fall.
Prayer Request-I'm working on a rather large business contract right now. I have a tentative lunch appointment today. Basically I will be working for banks doing drive by home inspections for them. We may land a HUGE deal that covers central Texas. It's kinda of scary. I would have to hire multiple people in 3 weeks. We shall see. At best I may land a medium deal that will really help stabilize my family. So once again, remember the Marlow's when you pray!
Peace & Love from Austin!
Prayer Request-I'm working on a rather large business contract right now. I have a tentative lunch appointment today. Basically I will be working for banks doing drive by home inspections for them. We may land a HUGE deal that covers central Texas. It's kinda of scary. I would have to hire multiple people in 3 weeks. We shall see. At best I may land a medium deal that will really help stabilize my family. So once again, remember the Marlow's when you pray!
Peace & Love from Austin!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Saturday & Sunday
Saturday we got up and headed to Austin Java for some yummy breakfast tacos. After hanging in Austin for a bit, we drove over to Houston. Ashdown was opening for Spur58. Jasen did awesome and Spur 58 was really good. Then Necole and I headed back to Austin. Man, when you get older, night driving sucks.
This morning, or should I say afternoon we headed over to Gateway Church's 12:30 gathering. Gateway's building is amazing, very artsy and creative, the coolest church building that I've ever been to.
Anyhow, after church we headed to Waco to pick up the girls and grub on some Rudy's BBQ. Fun weekend, now I need some rest :)
This morning, or should I say afternoon we headed over to Gateway Church's 12:30 gathering. Gateway's building is amazing, very artsy and creative, the coolest church building that I've ever been to.
Anyhow, after church we headed to Waco to pick up the girls and grub on some Rudy's BBQ. Fun weekend, now I need some rest :)
Busy Weekend
Jasen & Amanda came down (or over) to Austin Friday (along with their friend Nikki from LA) to hang for a few days. We headed downtown for an evening of fun, food, and music.
Our first stop was Hula Hut for some yummy food. Hula Hut is cool, located right off the Colorado River. Great vibe and good food at a reasonable price. After filling our stomachs we decided to walk next door to hang at
Mozart's Coffee Roasters, this is a really cool coffee shop. I can spend hours hanging at this place. So peaceful!
After some good food and coffee, we headed down to Emo's to hear Damien Jurado & Rosie Thomas. Of course the show started at 10PM, yikes. Rosie was great, Damien was drunk and the opening band was about as good as a bag of spinach laced with e coli.
As for 6th Street. WOW, what can I say, freaking amazing. It's so packed, the city has to close the streets. It was Mardi Gras Austin style. Unbelievable.
Of course my old age begin to kick in and I forgot what it was like to be awake at 2 freaking AM. Anyhow fun times for sure. But man was I happy to get home and sleep.
Day 2 a little later :)
Our first stop was Hula Hut for some yummy food. Hula Hut is cool, located right off the Colorado River. Great vibe and good food at a reasonable price. After filling our stomachs we decided to walk next door to hang at
Mozart's Coffee Roasters, this is a really cool coffee shop. I can spend hours hanging at this place. So peaceful!
After some good food and coffee, we headed down to Emo's to hear Damien Jurado & Rosie Thomas. Of course the show started at 10PM, yikes. Rosie was great, Damien was drunk and the opening band was about as good as a bag of spinach laced with e coli.
As for 6th Street. WOW, what can I say, freaking amazing. It's so packed, the city has to close the streets. It was Mardi Gras Austin style. Unbelievable.
Of course my old age begin to kick in and I forgot what it was like to be awake at 2 freaking AM. Anyhow fun times for sure. But man was I happy to get home and sleep.
Day 2 a little later :)
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Red Nano
The Red Nano is now out. If you buy this bad boy for $199. Apple will donate $10 to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
Not for sure if this is consumerism at it's worst, or if this is a way to raise legit funds for those who need it across our world?
Any thoughts? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Thursday, October 12, 2006
New Music
Amos Lee latest album Supply And Demand is so good.
If you've never heard of Amos Lee, do yourself a favor and check this dude out, so much soul.
I'm hoping Ken will do a review at I Radio Heaven. I guess we will have to wait and see?
If you've never heard of Amos Lee, do yourself a favor and check this dude out, so much soul.
I'm hoping Ken will do a review at I Radio Heaven. I guess we will have to wait and see?
What Did She Say?
Kenzie is in Dallas with her granma and granpa and her aunt's. Today she had a play date set up with a boy that her auntie watches.
So, a few days ago I asked her if she was excited to see Clausen, she said yes and she also added that she loved him and wanted to get married to him, yippee yikes!!!
So here is a picture of their play date today. Of course she is 4, it's going to suck when she is 14 :)
Monday, October 09, 2006
iTunes Store - Jasen Ashdown - Be Still My Soul - Be Still My Soul
Jasen Ashdown's latest CD is now available on iTunes. Go get it, leave a review and enjoy the CD.
iTunes Store - Jasen Ashdown - Be Still My Soul - Be Still My Soul
iTunes Store - Jasen Ashdown - Be Still My Soul - Be Still My Soul
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Hey World
So we headed out this morning to the Texas Wildlife Festival. I had no clue it was going to be such a huge event. It was free, so that was cool, but it sucked so I'm glad it was free :)
Then we headed over to Shady Grove for lunch. Great burgers, great vibe.
After spending a few hours at home, we headed down to Mozart's Coffee Roasters. I got a tell ya, this was a great place. 3 huge decks over looking the water. Add some live music, coffee and some cheesecake, yummy! So many people, the line was way out door. Plus the weather today was amazing. Really great day.
So pumped the Yankees lost, they suck. 200 million dollar payroll and they lose 3 straight? LOVE IT!!!!!
Texas took down OU, and Notre Dame beat Stanford. Also, my fantasy football team should win this week.
Man, what a weekend, next week is going to be better when the Ashdown's roll in from H-Town.
Peace & Love from Austin
Then we headed over to Shady Grove for lunch. Great burgers, great vibe.
After spending a few hours at home, we headed down to Mozart's Coffee Roasters. I got a tell ya, this was a great place. 3 huge decks over looking the water. Add some live music, coffee and some cheesecake, yummy! So many people, the line was way out door. Plus the weather today was amazing. Really great day.
So pumped the Yankees lost, they suck. 200 million dollar payroll and they lose 3 straight? LOVE IT!!!!!
Texas took down OU, and Notre Dame beat Stanford. Also, my fantasy football team should win this week.
Man, what a weekend, next week is going to be better when the Ashdown's roll in from H-Town.
Peace & Love from Austin
Saturday, October 07, 2006
EPIC SPORTS DAY!!!!
Today is a simply great sports day:
2 baseball playoff game, including the Yankees losing 7-0 to the Tigers...YES!!!
Way to many good college football games.
TX is beating OU 21-10 (I'm still nervous)
Notre Dame already downed Stanford
Florida is beating LSU
Michigan is up 17 to 0 on Mich St.
Plus, Tennessee and Georgia tonight.
What a day!!!
2 baseball playoff game, including the Yankees losing 7-0 to the Tigers...YES!!!
Way to many good college football games.
TX is beating OU 21-10 (I'm still nervous)
Notre Dame already downed Stanford
Florida is beating LSU
Michigan is up 17 to 0 on Mich St.
Plus, Tennessee and Georgia tonight.
What a day!!!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Weekends Are Crazy
Well another busy weekend ahead. Necole's parents are coming for the weekend. And of course Bailey has a birthday party to attend tomorrow.
Looking forward to the Texas/Sooners came, its going to be nuts!
Next weekend the Ashdown's stroll in town. We are going to hit a concert and hang in the city, should be fun. Then Saturday Asdown is in concert in Houston. So, we are going to head that way and take in the show.
Of course the following weekend, we will go to Dallas for the purpose of work. The cool thing is we pay our rent only working one day, but I hate going to Dallas once a month to work. We do not get a chance to hang with the family and friends.
Of course this is fun and all, but it makes life tough trying to connect with a church and all, so we will see how that goes.
Looking forward to the Texas/Sooners came, its going to be nuts!
Next weekend the Ashdown's stroll in town. We are going to hit a concert and hang in the city, should be fun. Then Saturday Asdown is in concert in Houston. So, we are going to head that way and take in the show.
Of course the following weekend, we will go to Dallas for the purpose of work. The cool thing is we pay our rent only working one day, but I hate going to Dallas once a month to work. We do not get a chance to hang with the family and friends.
Of course this is fun and all, but it makes life tough trying to connect with a church and all, so we will see how that goes.
When Good Things Go Bad
Is google planning on taking over the world? While I like google and all, it seems like they are getting a little to big for my comfort zone!
Google 'in talks to buy YouTube'.
YouTube, JUST SAY NO!
Google 'in talks to buy YouTube'.
YouTube, JUST SAY NO!
For My NC Peeps
When I moved to NC we established a beautiful community of friends. Most of these "friends" were HUGE NC State fans. After a few heart-breaking losses in football and basketball, I begin to wonder if they would ever win. My friends begin to wonder if I should stop watching. Because when I watched, NC State seemed to lose.
So, last night I begin to watch the game. It was a really good college football game. Of course I was rooting for NC State. But I thought once again, maybe I was a curse when they could not get the touchdown on the 4th & 1, and Florida St romped 99 yards to score.
Then NC St begin to make a comeback. But, I had to go and I could not finish the game. I awoke this morning, and lo and behold, NC State won. Was I the curse, did I break the curse? I dunno, but at the end of the day, they won. So congrats to NC State and to my peeps in Raleigh. I love and miss all of you!
Peace & Love from Austin!
So, last night I begin to watch the game. It was a really good college football game. Of course I was rooting for NC State. But I thought once again, maybe I was a curse when they could not get the touchdown on the 4th & 1, and Florida St romped 99 yards to score.
Then NC St begin to make a comeback. But, I had to go and I could not finish the game. I awoke this morning, and lo and behold, NC State won. Was I the curse, did I break the curse? I dunno, but at the end of the day, they won. So congrats to NC State and to my peeps in Raleigh. I love and miss all of you!
Peace & Love from Austin!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Scary Thinking?
Bob has some great stuff to say about Spencer Burke's latest book, you can check it out here.
Now, I have not read the book, but I've heard nothing but great things about Spencer as a person. That being said, the statements that he is making/claiming/discussing etc, are scary to me; like this one:
______________________
This does not make sense to me. I'm an open-minded dude, but...If this is the case, and if Spencer's argument rings true, then should not ALL of the Bible be thrown out also? Could we not include some other key elements like the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Why then should we love our neighbors? Or "go" preach the gospel...? Hmm, why should I do that? Who do I preach to, who do I tell them about? To me, this type of thinking really pulls the rug out of the "authority" of the Bible. And if this is true, then Jesus and his story is great and cool. Kind of like Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr, or Desmond Tutu or some other great dude who lived a great life, but that is far from being God, and forgiving sin, and over-coming evil.
But, it has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin, the state of man, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
This is why I continue to distance myself away from the emerging conversation. About a year ago, I began to re-think the word emerging and I decided to use the word missional, because I'm still an Orthodox Christ follower and I still believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And I do believe heaven and hell exist.
Now I differ on much of my belief system I had from the 90's, and I'm culturally more liberal. And I would say I'm not a "fundamentalist" Christian anymore.
But I do believe in foundational Christian theology. Like the fact that there is "One true God," the Bible is "inspired" by God, and I have a calling to tell the world that Jesus died a bloody death on a cross because mankind messed up. And that Jesus came to remove our guilt and teach us a better way to live.
Now, I have not read the book, but I've heard nothing but great things about Spencer as a person. That being said, the statements that he is making/claiming/discussing etc, are scary to me; like this one:
"Institutional Christians tend to have a very narrow and literal interpretation of the Bible. Christianity is the only way to reach God, certain Christians argue, because the Bible says so. It tells us that Jesus said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'... So how do I interpret this particular Scripture? In the next chapter, I'll explore it more fully, but I don't believe it can be used to argue that Christianity is the only true religion. First, Christianity as a religion didn't exist when Jesus spoke these words. Compounding this point are two additional facts: no one actually recorded Jesus' words at the time he spoke them, so we have no proof that they are indeed his words, and what he did say, he said in Aramaic, which means that nothing in the Bible as translated into any other language can be taken literally anyway... to read this as a literal statement requires that I take the other statements about he makes about himself as literal. For example, Jesus declares that he is the bread and the vine and the Good Shepherd. Does that mean he is literally a loaf or a bread or a plant? Of course not! These are metaphors, clues to something about his character and person."
______________________
This does not make sense to me. I'm an open-minded dude, but...If this is the case, and if Spencer's argument rings true, then should not ALL of the Bible be thrown out also? Could we not include some other key elements like the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Why then should we love our neighbors? Or "go" preach the gospel...? Hmm, why should I do that? Who do I preach to, who do I tell them about? To me, this type of thinking really pulls the rug out of the "authority" of the Bible. And if this is true, then Jesus and his story is great and cool. Kind of like Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr, or Desmond Tutu or some other great dude who lived a great life, but that is far from being God, and forgiving sin, and over-coming evil.
But, it has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin, the state of man, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
This is why I continue to distance myself away from the emerging conversation. About a year ago, I began to re-think the word emerging and I decided to use the word missional, because I'm still an Orthodox Christ follower and I still believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And I do believe heaven and hell exist.
Now I differ on much of my belief system I had from the 90's, and I'm culturally more liberal. And I would say I'm not a "fundamentalist" Christian anymore.
But I do believe in foundational Christian theology. Like the fact that there is "One true God," the Bible is "inspired" by God, and I have a calling to tell the world that Jesus died a bloody death on a cross because mankind messed up. And that Jesus came to remove our guilt and teach us a better way to live.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
New Review Blog
My buddy Ken has created a new website called I Radio Heaven.
Basically, he is reviewing all the fun things to do in life, like drink beer, listen to music, read books, eat at restaurants, and watch cool movies and TV shows.
Plus, he is a great writer, and I'm assuming, hoping and praying that he is doing some writing and he will also add that to his site in the near future.
So, check it out, read it, blog it, RSS it, and leave a comment and let him know your thoughts.
He just posted a review of "The Killers" new album. I'm waiting for him to review "Amos Lee's" new album. If you have a request, leave him a comment,I'm sure he will oblige.
Basically, he is reviewing all the fun things to do in life, like drink beer, listen to music, read books, eat at restaurants, and watch cool movies and TV shows.
Plus, he is a great writer, and I'm assuming, hoping and praying that he is doing some writing and he will also add that to his site in the near future.
So, check it out, read it, blog it, RSS it, and leave a comment and let him know your thoughts.
He just posted a review of "The Killers" new album. I'm waiting for him to review "Amos Lee's" new album. If you have a request, leave him a comment,I'm sure he will oblige.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Weekend Reflections
Someone forgot to tell mother nature that fall starts in late Sept. So it's still rather hot right now.
Notre Dame won, which is good.
Last night we hung out with Tony & Candy who are planting a church in Cedar Park. We grubed at the Texas Road House, good food and it felt good to get out of the house.
This morning I got up and felt horrible. Allergies were beating me down. But I mustered enough strength to head out to Austin Java to grab some brunch. They had some killer breakfast tacos. I feel at home when I'm in downtown Austin.
Then we headed over to Austin City Church to check our their gathering. Which was cool. Very Sacred (ish), felt good.
They also do some GREAT things in the community. It almost felt like they were doing more cool things outside the four walls of the church then inside. Pub theologies, school of theology, festivals, art shows, teaching Greek & Hebrew etc.
Now it's time for another week. Looking forward to it!
Notre Dame won, which is good.
Last night we hung out with Tony & Candy who are planting a church in Cedar Park. We grubed at the Texas Road House, good food and it felt good to get out of the house.
This morning I got up and felt horrible. Allergies were beating me down. But I mustered enough strength to head out to Austin Java to grab some brunch. They had some killer breakfast tacos. I feel at home when I'm in downtown Austin.
Then we headed over to Austin City Church to check our their gathering. Which was cool. Very Sacred (ish), felt good.
They also do some GREAT things in the community. It almost felt like they were doing more cool things outside the four walls of the church then inside. Pub theologies, school of theology, festivals, art shows, teaching Greek & Hebrew etc.
Now it's time for another week. Looking forward to it!
New Book Alert
Mark Batterson, who serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, and is a daily blogger @ Evotional.com, (which has been one of my favorite reads for the past 3 years) Mark lives on Capitol Hill with his wife Lora and their three children.
Mark has a new book coming out: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars.
Book Description
Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase. You will regret the risks not taken, the opportunities not seized, and the dreams not pursued. Stopping running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path.
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture: Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it (II Samuel 23:20-21).
Unleash the lion chaser within!
I would encourage you to pick up a copy, read it, blog it, share it and pass it along to your friends. When i read my copy, I will do a review.
Peace & Love from Austin, TX
Vintage Jesus
Mark Driscoll had a great post on Vintage Jesus.
Below are a few quotes about Jesus from various famous folks:
Below are a few quotes about Jesus from various famous folks:
Mark Twain:“If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be—a Christian."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “Socrates died like a philosopher; Jesus Christ died like a God.”
John Lennon: “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first—rock and roll or Christianity."
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