ira and the yankees

irastandingatyankstad
Originally uploaded by joechays

Doesn't Ira just look right in Yankee blue? And he looks so natural there in Yankee Stadium. Like he just belongs there.

Ira probably won't remember this game but he'll be able to say, I visited The House That Ruth Built. Not many can make that claim.

redirected

You are now being redirected to the new blog! See you there!

change is in the air

Yep, you're in the right place. Don't go anywhere!

Four years ago I started blogging about my experience as a church planter in New York City. I didn't get much traffic back then and didn't expect any. And then December of 2004 happened. We found out about Ira at Laura's 20 week sonogram and my blogging took a turn. And this site started getting some visits. For a long while, this blog became a source for all things Ira and my family. Eventually, I started posting on other matters of this world while still relaying news of Ira's progress.

No, this isn't an announcement that I'm done blogging. It's just a heads up that things are shifting once again. After a four year relationship with blogger.com, I'm moving over to the more popular and user friendly wordpress. And because life is shifting at the Hays household, so will the content of the blog. Don't worry, I'll still pass on Ira's milestones and post ridiculous videos of my family but I'm very excited to tell you about our church and church life. This next year at Christ's Church for Brooklyn is going to be incredible.

So in the next couple of days, if you come to this address (brooklynchurchplant.blogspot.com) you'll be automatically redirected to ccfb.wordpress.com. I hope to see you there for more blogging fun!

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worried

No, no, no. Not about Ira or Sophia or anything like that. I'm worried for my cousin. While on our roadtrip Laura and I got to see several cousins but it was a conversation with one particular cousin that worried me.

My cousin, in almost every respect, is cool. She dresses well. She's up on all the latest trends. She laughs easily. She knows her pop culture. She's also smart as she's close to finishing her grad degree. So what's there to worry about?

Turns out that she and some friends took off for Vegas after they finished their undergraduate degrees. I asked her all about the trip and it was soon revealed that her favorite part of the trip was seeing Celine Dion in concert. WHAT? EXCUSE ME? Did you, my 23 year old cousin, just say that you and your friends spent money on a Celine Dion concert? Holy cow! She also admitted that there weren't many others her age at the concert. No-freakin'-duh! It was at this point that I began to worry. So I started quizzing her on music. Now I'm not the most up-to-date hipster when it comes to music but I listen to others enough to know what's out there. Sure enough, my cousin knows well the music scene. Just so happens that she also really likes Celine Dion. I'm not sure what to make of this. I should be worried, shouldn't I?

By the way, she and her sister, last I heard were, um, available. They're both beautiful, smart (both in grad school) and fun. You'll just have to overlook the Dion obsession.

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that one song

I'm guessing that most of us at some point or another have been to a party or a bar or some kind of gathering in which the main form of entertainment was karaoke. Not long ago, I was attending a wedding and the at the reception the question was posed, What is your one karaoke song? In other words, If you could choose one, and only one, song in which to perform karaoke style what would it be?

I suddenly pictured myself on death row. Instead of choosing one last meal I was being asked to choose one last song to perform. I gave it some thought and came up with nothing. The thought has popped into my head a couple of times and still nothing. Until today.

My one karaoke song would be...

wait for it...

Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi.

I wish there were some deep meaning behind me choosing this song. I wish it weren't as shallow as the song rocks but that's about it. The song rocks. Plain and simple.

So what about you? What's your one karaoke song?

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the new testament. get over it.

I'm a regular reader of Real Live Preacher. He's a part time Baptist minister in San Antonio, Texas. I gel with him and what he has to say. I really like his most recent post on the New Testament. It's definitely worth a read. Check it out here.

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working out = sadness

If you were to ask me a month ago what has kept Laura and me going over the past two years I would have said that a major contributor to keeping our heads above water is that we both dedicate three days a week to working out. Hard work outs, too. We alternate mornings and when we come through the door, we're drenched in sweat. We've been consistent and I truly believe it's been a major factor in keeping us sane.

However, over the past month, I've left the gym feeling sad. No, it's not because my body's chemicals are getting the best of me. It's not because I'm feeling more fatigued these days. It's not because I hate working out. It's because of this guy in the locker room.

This guy and I both work out on the same days. I'm just finishing up my work out as he's just getting geared up for his. He's old with a droopy face. He walks slow, almost shuffling. He's short but made shorter with a slight hunch in his posture. I've made eye contact with him once. His eyes, they're sad.

When I walk in the locker room after my work out I hear his voice. He's not talking to his friend or on a cell phone. He's singing. In a deep baritone voice he sings. Couldn't tell you what he's singing because he's singing in an Eastern European language. The song is always the same, always loud and sung very slowly. The song must be a ballad of some sort. I can only imagine that it's a song about two lovers who can't find a way to be together. Or a despairing song about corrupt governments that oppress its people. Or a song written by a soldier of a war who will never see his family again. Since I'm not fluent in Eastern European languages, I couldn't tell you what the man is singing only that when he does, everyone in the locker room moves a bit slower. The affect this man's singing has in the locker room is intense!

What's that you say? I should talk with this fella and get his story because, more than likely, it's gonna be interesting? I could learn something from him? Nah! I can't be all sad when I leave the gym. I'm gonna have to talk to management about this. It is, after all, all about me. Right?

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