Andy Van Hook

This is Andy…

He has been one of my closest & greatest friends for the last 17 years.

It is hard to describe a friend you love so much, especially one as incredible as Andy.

Experiencing his friendship has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

Andy and I met when we were in 1st grade. Somehow my step-dad met Andy’s dad, and got me on his baseball team. We would continue to play baseball with each other for the next 6 years. Knowing Andy, meant knowing two of his other friends, Andy Gruel and Evan Dunn as well. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was joining a tripod of incredible friends, and it would take me about 4 years to make the tripod open up to a table. But it happened, and the two Andy’s, Evan and I became life long childhood friends.

We walked home together, ate sub stop together, played countless hours of N64 together, watched movies, swam, built dirt ramps, laughed, and played baseball.

This was growing up together.

In 7th grade Andy (VanHook) announced that he was moving to a place called Hallsville, Texas. Andy was going to be gone by summer, and we didn’t know what we were going to do.

I honestly thought that our friendship was over.

I couldn’t be more thankfully wrong.

Andy and I kept in touch, he would come and visit and tell me stories of East Texas and his friends, and I would catch him up on life in Oklahoma.

Every time Andy would visit, I would realize how old we were getting. He was getting tall and becoming a man, and in my mind we were still 12 playing N64.

We stayed in touch, and would switch off visiting each other every year.

We finally graduated high school and I decided to stay in Edmond and attend U.C.O., Andy headed to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. This is when I realized we were growing up, and fast.

Freshman year of college, I remember we were both dating girls at the time who we thought could be “the ones”. Andy drove up with his girlfriend (not his current wife) and my girlfriend (at the time) and we waited for them to get to my apartment, so that we could go on a double date together. I still remember opening the door and laughing the second we saw each other.

Without planning…

We were wearing the same shirt.

We went to dinner in matching shirts, and laughed a lot. Needless to say, the only relationship from that night that still exists is the friendship between Andy and I.

I visited Waco often, and loved getting to know the guys that Andy became friends with. They were guys that all needed a friend like Andy, someone to make them laugh, and someone that would be there for them in all circumstances.

I remember talking to Andy on the phone at length about what all college guys talk about: Calvinism, girls, and  Jesus.

Somehow we never could find the answers to our own questions, but knew exactly what the other needed to hear.

I remember when Andy started talking about this girl named MK. By the sound of his voice, I figured this was the girl he was going to marry. He was really nervous to talk to her, and I knew something was up, because Andy Van Hook doesn’t get nervous.

I remember meeting her and thinking what an incredible girl for my longest childhood friend.

I remember going down to Baylor last fall and walking around the campus with Andy, dreaming up ways for him to propose.

I remember Andy driving up on my 22nd birthday to surprise me.

I remember coming down in December for the night that he proposed.

I remember that she said yes.

And I will never forget this past weekend, watching him commit his life to her.

It has seriously been one of the greatest joys of my life being Andy’s friend. He is someone that changes the people around him, and makes them into something better.

He is kind and genuine.

And I have yet to cross paths with anyone that even remotely resembles him.

Hopes for Summer

When school lets out for the summer, I usually take about two weeks to do absolutely nothing and live in selfish consumption of all things food and entertainment.

I go and watch 3 movies in a row at Tinsletown (only 3.75 a movie before 5:00pm)

I eat entire Little Caesars pizzas and catch up on all of “my shows”

I space out on twitter and facebook at my desk.

I stare at James Harden’s beard

I find more shows to start and commit my life to, and then convince myself I have accomplished something when they are finished.

After this two week period though, something changes.

I feel convicted and disgusted. I feel as if I have wasted a part of my life that I will never get back. I get tired of talking about movies and shows. I grow bored of myself, because I have had to be entertained by other people’s thoughts for two weeks.

I lack vision and creativity, because I would rather someone else spoon feed me their own.

And I have grown very, very tired of this.

Because it has felt more like existence lately than living, and I desperately want to get back to living.

How do I respond to these convictions?

I usually set goals for myself, lofty at times, but practical things I want to challenge myself to do.

Here are my 3 hopes for this summer:

1. Read/Write- I want to read a book a week this summer. I want to journal and write down thoughts that are stirring inside of me as I read. I want to inhale and exhale ideas. I have been given some wonderful suggestions for books to read, and I will also be going through some scriptures I am less familiar with…I want to learn some things this summer.

2. Volunteer- I want to give away my free time. I find joy in the interactions I get to partake in during volunteering, but usually my mind forgets that joy, and I would rather justify sleeping in. Not this summer though, I want to spend time with people. Whether it is for a non-profit, or simply playing chess with the old man at Full Cup, I want to interact and focus a day on others instead of myself.

3. Sabbath- “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” God made something for us, he made the sabbath. Some people have way more on their plate than I do (Spouses, kids, multiple jobs, etc.) but for me the sabbath is to settle down on the busyness of my life, to put my phone in a drawer and turn off the tv. To go sit on my back porch, or share a meal with a good friend. The sabbath (for me) is eliminating all the things that are trying to take me away from the current moment. I used to believe it was about doing something to “check out” but I am becoming more and more convinced that is actually about checking in to the present.

Those are my 3 hopes for Summer 2011.

I hope I am changed by the experiences.

What are your hopes for this summer?

What do you want to dedicate your time to?

-AB

P.S.  Currently Reading- The Good and Beautiful God By: James Bryan Smith

Currently Listening to: Outlines By: Sleeping At Last

Kingdom Things: A Very Sweet 16

A couple weeks ago I got to celebrate the 16th birthday of a girl who is an orphan.We call them foster kids in America, but I think the bible would call them orphans.A friend of mine has decided to pour her heart and time into this girl’s life, and she is actively helping rewrite this little girl’s story.

It’s really beautiful.

My friend decided to throw this girl a surprise birthday party for her 16th birthday.She asked a couple other friends to be there, who asked some of the high school students at my church to be there, and when it was all said and done about 25 people showed up for this girls sweet 16.

25 people who had only encountered this girl a couple times

25 people who decided that on this Friday night, they would be doing something for someone else.

What transpired that evening is something I will never forget.

Never.

I arrived at the party about twenty minutes after the surprise had happened, the kids were eating and enjoying themselves and I walked over to ask my friend how the surprise had gone. My friend told me that when she asked the girl if this was her first surprise birthday party,the girl responded,

“this is my first birthday party ever.”

Huh?

16 years old.

Never one, single birthday party.

16 years old.

Not a single gift.

16 years old

No candles to blow out.

16 years old.

No car waiting in the driveway.

16 years old.

No song of celebration ringing in her ears.

16 years old.

“This is my first birthday party ever”

As her words echoed in my mind the rest of the night, the cake was brought out and the candles were lit.

Everyone started singing Happy Birthday

A song that was clearly written for this moment

for this girl.

And then she bent down to blow out her candles and make a wish, her first birthday wish.

As she blew the candles out, they relit themselves.

(They were the trick candles, and so the only way to put them out is to stick them in water.)

Confused, She blew them out again

They relit

She blew them out again

They would relight

After she continued this process, I started realizing the redemption in this moment.

Every time she blew out the candles, they would relight.

Redeeming all those missed wishes

Redeeming all those lonely, quiet birthdays.

Redeeming what she had lost.

There are moments in this life where God’s kingdom is very evident,

and in the smoke from the candles

I witnessed it.

In the laughter, and joy that was in the room

I witnessed it.

God is alive in birthday parties for orphans.

Though I don’t think she can be defined by that title anymore.

Because orphans feel alone,

And this little girl does not.

My friend is redefining and redeeming this girl’s story.

And it is a very beautiful thing.

Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Drops Like Stars…

I just got back from Kansas City with my good friends and staff members. While we were there we got to see Rob Bell’s Drop Like Stars…I found this guys notes online today, and thought they spoke much better than my own…

 

You can find all these images and more @ http://www.rohdesign.com/weblog/

 

Hope you are doing well and that your life is making you question more and more

-AB

Temptation.

So for the next 7 months, every month, I will have a game to buy…or borrow…or steal.

This is not a deep post by any means.

This is a shallow post, for the lovers of video games like myself

Basically this is for Brandon, Jay, and Scott

After these games are out, I’m quitting gaming…

I think we all know that is a lie.

Sincerely,

Woodland Fairy

Take To The World.

“Go in peace to love and to serve
Let your ears ring long with what you’ve heard
And may the bread on your tongue
Leave a trail of crumbs
To lead the hungry back to the place that you are from

And take to the world this love, hope and faith

Take to the world this rare, relentless grace

And like the three in one
Know you must become what you want to save
‘cause that’s still the way
He takes to the world

Go, and go far
Take light deep in the dark
Believe what’s true
He uses all, even you”

-Derek Webb

Amen.

Drops Like Stars.

Just got the tickets for the Kansas City show in the mail today.

My fellow staff mates and I will be heading there November 12th.

I am pretty excited.

-AB

What Matters More?

New Derek Webb song from Stockholm Syndrome

Lyrics:

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn’t silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin’ all the dyin’ of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings

‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a s—
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

Apparently the “s—” line was taken from Tony Campolo: “While you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a s—. What’s more is that you’re more upset with the fact that I just said ‘s—’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

Rumored that the album hits stores September 1.

Online versions probably sooner.

I still have not formulated a true opinion on the matter yet.

Sincerely,

-AB

Last Tweet from @Ssyndrome: THE END. 07/07 THE BEGINNING.

Sooner or Later…

Ben Linus: Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus wanted to return to Judea, knowing that he would probably be murdered there, Thomas said to the others, “Let us also go there and we might die with him.” But Thomas was not remembered for this bravery. His claim to fame came later when he refuses to acknowledge the resurrection. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. The story goes that he needed to touch Jesus wounds to be convinced.

Jack Shephard: So was he?

Ben Linus: Of course he was. We are all convinced sooner or later, Jack.

Gay.

“It’s easier for me to get gay sex on the street, than to get a hug in church”

-a broken man

I feel like every 4 months this topic comes up in the circles I run in. I used to cower and just try to listen…well as best as I could. But I have come along way and with the help of some of these articles and my own meditation I have come to actually have a view on the issue. But first you need to look at all these wonderful little links

Relevant Article from 2008 with some big christian thinkers.

Video of Jay Bakker. (this originally messed me up)

This book was pretty balanced….ish.

After viewing all these things, my hope is that you would not settle for these peoples views alone. That you would talk to friends and to homosexuals (who I hope are your friends too). That you would seek not right or wrong, but what is true. That you would recognize your own brokenness and that of others. Be reconciled.

Some questions and thoughts I would like you to ponder and discuss:

-What is sin?

-How do you know what sin is?

-Is homosexuality a choice?

-Define what a homosexual lifestyle looks like.

-Define what a christian lifestyle looks like.

-What is repentance?

-Where are your personal sins found in the scriptures?

Well I hope you enjoyed this little post and that it continues to keep you talking.

Sincerely,

-AB