So Luong and I dropped our fancy cable for basic this year, which means I'm really behind on the music video news. Although, since MTV decided to stop playing music videos about 5 yrs ago, I still may have never seen this... but here's a gem I found. It's U2's latest video for their single "Window in the Skies". I loved this song the first time I heard it! It blows my mind that this band is still cranking out amazing music! However, I fell even more in love with it when I saw the video. No matter what kind of music you like, you will find your favorite artist in the video. Play close attention to the crowd in the end. I believe it makes the statement that "we are fans too!"

Enjoy!

A reminder for the spirit of the season...
"Peace on Earth"


"God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Welcome to our world... Kennedy Joy Dumbacher, born November 27, 2006 at 7:22 PM. 7 lbs. 1 oz. She's perfect! A little bundled up miracle for two parents (Bill and Stacey) who waited 7 years for her birth. I sense something of a theme...

The other good news, I got to be "mommy" to a seven year old for two days (Kennedy's big sister Ana) and I didn't freak out! Maybe I could do this parenting thing from scratch* after all.

Lisa

*For those of you who know Tyler, he's an entirely different story! By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER- 21 on 11/27/06 (Same as Kennedy!)

Published today in the Columbus Dispatch

WWJD? He’d forgive Bono’s foul language

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

As a response to letter writer Miles Larrick’s recent critique of rock star Bono’s use of profanity, I would encourage him to do a little research.

In the book Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono addresses his lifestyle and his faith. He describes his faith as moving "out of the realm of karma and into one of grace." He continues with: "You see at the center of all the religions is the idea of karma. And yet, along comes this idea called grace to upend all that. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. . . . I’d be in big trouble if karma was finally going to be my judge. . . . It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity."

Bono does not make excuses for his shortcomings as a Christian, but he understands the very essence of Christian faith: grace. When Christians zero in on each other’s "works," we become the very people Christ spoke against in his rebuke of fundamentalist religious leaders (Matthew 23:27). By dismissing the work of a great humanitarian and Christian, we forget what was in the center of Christ’s heart when he said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

LISA HO

Assistant chaplain of Christian ministries

Ohio Wesleyan University

Delaware

Phil said I needed to...

My buddy Phil Mollenkof (check Phil and Allie's blog link to the right) said I needed to update my blog more often so here's my latest attempt!

My biggest obstacle to updating the blog is not having practical means to post pictures. Luong and I are in the market for a new laptop and now that the Intel Duo's are out, we should be picking one up very soon. With that, I can plug my photo memory card in and download current pics! Without it, I have to take them to a store and copy them onto a disc and then download them. I hate having to do that...

So, imagine if you would, Luong and I are at my 6 yr. old nephew's birthday party last weekend...
Ok, so these kids were not there- but they look like they are having fun!


And I don't know who these people are either, but they are a diverse looking group aren't they?

Ok, so you can see why having pictures is important to accurate blogging!

I'll try and get that laptop asap!

Love
the hos

Cedar Point!

Finally a new post! A couple weekends ago I got to ride along with 90 students (mostly international) to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. For those of you who aren't up on your "Best Amuzement Parks in the World", Cedar Point ranks #1. Unfortunately, I discovered after 6 years of developing motion sickenss, I can no longer ride HUGE roller coasters. I did alright on the first couple, then it just started going "downhill".

All in all, it was a great time with my new co-worker Jessica, our good friends Matt and Julia Brooker (who Luong and I will be traveling to Ireland with next July), and 90 OWU students.

I have some pictures the students took during our time there. It was a bit damp, but made for a great day!

Fresh X at Seneca Rocks!
Here's a cool picture from my (Lisa) weekend at Seneca Rocks, WVA on OWU's Freshman Experience (otherwise known as "Fresh X"). Ryan Carlson, our director of Wilderness Ministries, invited me to serve as the food coordinator. It was a terrific opportunity to come alongside some amazing student leaders as they befriended and guided incoming freshman through their transition into college.

There were about 60 students who participated in everything from service (cleaning and panting at the National Park), to hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and backpacking. Before you become impressed with my sudden passion for the wilderness, I stayed in a bunkhouse all weekend. Mattress, showers, electricity... my kind of wilderness. There were a lot of bugs though! Yuck.

It was the perfect transition for myself back into the swing of campus ministry after an amazing summer in Ireland. It reminded me of my passion for college students and their journey into adulthood. We had the most friendly and outgoing group of students. They were also very "gamey", playing every game they learned from kindergarten on. It was a blast to see young adults laughing and playing without pause to think about what they looked like to their peers. No trendy clothes, no make-up (barely bathed actually), no alcohol, no drugs, just nature and tons of safe people. Our student leaders stepped up and made a difference for a few incoming freshman, shaping their entire college career for the better. I am so grateful for the opportunity to witness their work.

By the way, Luong started classes yesterday, so he would covet your prayers! A new school year means a new crop of not so eager 8th graders to teach. Golf is well underway and we're off to Indiana this weekend to celebrate birthdays with the family (mine is Saturday... 34 shhh).

God Bless
The Hos
(PS my friend Suzanne thought that was a great "sound off" so I'm going to use it every time!)

Welcome to our new home... well at least our new "virtual" home. Physically, we are back in Delaware, Ohio after spending a month in Ireland serving with the Corrymeela community. Check out our blog at hosinireland.blogspot.com for pictures and reflections. We experienced fellowship, fun, and the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world! Thanks to everyone who left their mark on our lives. We will never be the same!


We come home with a new appreciation of "home". Not the house we live in (although, it's pretty dang cute), but the place where we are, right now. Rich Mullins often spoke of this concept in his lyrics. In "Sometimes By Step" he spoke of Abraham, "He was a stranger in this land, And I am that, no less than he". And, of Christ, in his song "You Did Not Have a Home" he said,
"Birds have nests, foxes have dens But the hope of the whole world rests On the shoulders of a homeless man You had the shoulders of a homeless man And the world can't stand what it can't own And it can't own You 'Cause You did not have a home"

Home ownership is a status of "arriving" in the U.S.. Being homeless is a curse. I witnessed that firsthand in May when we visited CCNV, the nations largest homeless shelter. But what does "home" mean? Well, to us, it is a calling. An investment, not in bricks and mortar, but in people and community. Jesus knew that and therefore wasn't concerned with the physicality of his home, but those with whom he lived, and dined, and played, and served. They defined his home. And we are redefining what home is for us.

Join us on the journey, be at home with us wherever we are.

God Bless
The Hos
'Cause You did not have a home