I NEED YOUR SUPPORT

This was sent to me this morning. I had no idea. Finally someone that you can get "behind"!!

Good Times At D-Group

I have never had such a good time at a mall as I did last night. Last night, our D- group met at Kenwood Town Center for a mall-wide scavenger hunt. Now normally I am not much on scavenger hunt type things but this one was great. Jared and Rhonda put it all together and they did a great job. Basically, we met in front of the Cheesecake Factory and split off guys vs. gals. Jared went over the rules and handed out the details and tasks. It was awesome! I won't go into great detail but the hunt even included how and where we bought our dinner. There were probably fifty or so things to get, see, or do. The only problem that the guys had was getting George Wise to quit window shopping and actually do the scavenger hunt. He cracks me up. Anyway, I love being part of our D-group. These people mean so much to me and my family.
Good times.....good times.

MY POOL

Is Green...I'm ticked.

HEADED SOUTH...THEN SOUTH EAST

Where has the summer gone. Yes, it has been good but truth be told, summer is winding down. Now I know that a comment like that may strike terror into the minds of children every where but not at our house. Everyone is getting psyched up for a good 'ol family vacation (at least that's what my calender says). This year, we are doing something that we have not done for some time. We are going to the "Redneck Riviera" (aka North Myrtle Beach). Sounds like fun eh? It should be. The whole family loves the beach and our plan is to simply to enjoy the sand, surf, and sun. Family time is always good. A man once told me that the things kids remember most from their childhood are family vacations and Christmas. I guess I would agree to that at some extent although I remember less and less about my childhood (and everything else) as the years go by. Things tend to run together for me, but I digress. The fact of the matter is that Thursday, we are loading into the family truckster and heading in the general direction of S. Carolina. I say general direction because we are taking a side trip to our old homestead in Elizabethton, Tennessee. We are actually making a stop in Gatlinburg first to watch them pull taffy (very Yankee thing to do) and cut out those black silhouette things you dress up and put out in your yard. But our stopping at Gatlinburg is not just entertainment related, we are also doing something very educational for the boys while there (don't tell them, it's a surprise). We're taking them to Cooter's Place. Kind of like a history lesson without the book. We will only be in Gatlinburg for one day so we thought that we would just hit the highlights. Friday, we will drive on to Elizabethton (Julie and I used to live there). It will be fun to take a walk down memory lane but our real reason for the side trip (at least mine) is to eat at all of our (at least my) favorite restaurants. I plan on hitting them all. First and foremost, I'm going to PAL's Sudden Service for a "Sauce Burger". It's one of the finest eateries in the country. Strictly high class. I also plan on going to Pizza Inn and as many other places that I can fit in. As you can see, this leg of the trip is my favorite. After that, (if I'm not too sick) "Redneck Riviera" here we come.

BIBLE LESSONS...IN THE FLESH (or lack thereof)

Matthew 5:37 "Simply let your yes be yes and your no, no; anything beyond this comes from the evil one". AMEN on that one. This past spring, I was approached by our church softball coach (great guy) and asked if I would play softball. I informed him that I had retired from softball mainly because of my wife does not like my frequent, sports related, visits to the E/R (lip stitches, head injuries, ankle sprains, etc. You know, Go Big or Go Home stuff). He was very understanding and asked if he could put me on the roster anyway, just in case they didn't have enough players to play. As I look back now, THAT was the perfect time for me to use the biblical principle in Matthew 5:37. I should have just said thanks, but no. Instead, I elected to gamble a little. I asked, "How many players do you have"? He informed me that it looked like he would have 15, 16, or17. Good odds. So being the idiot that I am, I told him that I would play if he had a situation in which they would have for forfeit for lack of players. He said great and I went on my merry way. Flash forward to yesterday. The family and I spent my day off at The Beach Waterpark. When we left at 4:30, I had a voice mail. I had gotten "the call". Due to 3 injuries, vacations, and work schedules; we need you to play. Being a man of my word, to the game I went. The game started with a prayer and I was so thankful that the guy who prayed asked God for no injuries. We were up first and I was shocked to hear that I was batting fourth. Fourth? I have not swung a bat in two years....I should be batting 9th. It gets worse. Incredibly, my first time up, I hit a bullet to right field....base hit. I actually got on two times in a row. I'm not sure which one it was but at some point early on, I found myself rounding third and heading for home plate(you're excited, I can tell). The throw home was coming so it was inevitable that I was going to have to slide on that parking lot they call an infield. Down I went and safe I was. After I got up, I looked down and saw this (only caked with dirt and rocks, click the picture, it looks better up close)

Bible lesson...in the flesh.

NATATORIAL IMPACT

33 teens+9 adults+60 hot dogs+6 cases of soda+assorted baked goods+pool+rock band+camp fire=SOME SERIOUSLY GOOD TIMES.

In case you have no idea what natatorial means, HERE is some help. Last Sunday night, our youth group went on the road to our house for a Natatorial themed gathering. What a great time of fun, food, and fellowship. It was good to mingle with the kids. I saw many new faces and it make me very excited about our upcoming season in the student ministry. Here are some pics.

MY BROTHER RUINED MY LIFE

Well before my mom freaks out about the title of this, I guess I should explain. Several weeks ago, my brother made a purchase. He bought the video game "Rock Band" for his gaming system. He went on and on about how much fun it was but I really didn't get the fuss. I had played guitar hero before and it was fine but nothing major. I actually find humor in the people who get all worked up about that game and consider themselves a real musician if they can play a Metallica song on a plastic guitar with five buttons. When you can play it on a real one, call me. Well, last Friday, I went over to my brothers house to meet up with them for the fireworks at Miami Meadows Park. We had some time to kill so we played his new game Rock Band. Needless to say, they ended up having to basically drag me to the fireworks. If you have no idea what I am talking about, click HERE for a demonstration of some dudes playing the game. Some might say that that playing some video game with your brother is no big deal but it gets worse. In playing that game at his house, he planted a seed...we now have the game at our house (belated birthday present from Julie). I am addicted. Playing the game myself is fun, but the best part is watching other people struggle with the instruments, especially the drums (Nathan is hilarious). The faces that they make are priceless. I will post a video of the Ponchot family rock band when I get a chance. Now don't get me wrong, we do not play this game all day, every day. The boys play a little during the day and we usually play a song or two together after dinner. The problem is at night. Most people go to bed at ten or eleven o'clock, not me. I start playing at about 11:00pm (everyone else is in bed any way) and then wander off to bed at about 1:00am (2:15am is my latest). I blame my brother...he ruined my life (well, maybe not my life but my sleeping schedule for sure). Rock-On.

GOOD TIMES

It has been a fun past couple of weeks. Last week, we took a group of teens to the North American Christian (Teen) Convention. What a great time. I really enjoy spending time with our teens. They are great and crack me up constantly. Although we also spent most of our time on the teen side of the convention, it was neat to go over to the main convention and catch up with people I hadn't seen in years. Mostly old college buddies but there was also a slew (I can't believe I just used that word) of others that I have met in different times and places. I was surprised how quickly the names came back to me and the stories started flying. One of the cooliest things about the convention was that it was here in Cincinnati. It was neat because most of our kids have spent very little time downtown. One of the highlights of our time there was a trip to the top of the Carew tower. We all had a big time. There is really something special about seeing the whole city at once from such a beautiful view. I am so blessed to have such a great bunch of teens to spend time with. Special thanks goes out to Didi Back (adult sponsor) who took vacation time to go with us. THANK YOU DIDI!!!

I also had a great 4th of July. The day started out as a bummer (we had to postpone our traditional family/extended family 4th of July picnic until Saturday because of rain) but turned out great in the end. Julie took the boys down to Loveland to walk in the parade for our church while I took Kaitlin to the parade to watch. After the parade, we went with another family to eat some wings. We were able to sit out on the patio and had a perfect view to watch the fireworks from the restaurant. The postponed family picnic turned out great. It was a fun, relaxing time.

Good times...good times.

ATTENTION ALL JR/SR HIGH STUDENTS

Ever get a song stuck in your head?

I WILL NOT MISS THIS!

I NEED MARLIN PERKINS!!!

For those of you under thirty, a little clarification is required. Marlin Perkins was a well known zoologist who was best known for his television show, "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom". He and his partner Jim Fowler, documented many encounters with wild animals. The TV show ran from the late sixties to the mid-eighties. Anyway, enough about the title of this blog. The point is, I have had several...."brushes with nature" over the past couple of weeks that are beginning to give me cause for alarm. The first was last week. I was taking a morning run (or "controlled fall" as it refers to me)at a local park near my home. Things were going well. I had not passed out yet and I was nearing the end. The reason why I run at this particular park is that it has a really cool section of the trail that goes through the woods(no pavement, fallen trees in the path, ect.) Well I come down a steep slope and around a sharp turn and suddenly find myself face to face with a deer standing right in my path. I literally almost lost control of my bowels. I stopped short of a head but with this deer by about four feet. Why does this stuff only happen to me? So there I was (I've always wanted to say that), eye to eye with a big doe. Neither one of us moved. They only thing going through my mind was that video on YouTube when that guy is attacked by the deer, funny then, but not now. All of the sudden, the deer tenses up and......snorts at me, turns, and bounds away. I just stood there for a moment, stunned. I checked my shorts for damage (thankfully none), and went on my way. Crazy huh? But wait, there is more. Last night, I was playing baseball with Nathan in the back yard. It was great. I pitched him a curve ball right over the plate and he crushed it into the back corner of the yard. I run back to get it and find it right in the middle of our huge brush pile. I gingerly step on to the pile to retrieve the ball. As I reached down to pick it up, a baby deer jumps out of the pile a takes off across the yard. Again, a quick shorts check. The next thing I hear is Kaitlin screaming, "Look at that doggie! Look at that doggie! Daddy! That doggie has spots"! The deer is running laps around the yard. Unfortunately, our yard is fenced in and the deer is not quite large enough to jump over so every once in a while it tries to go through the fence. So I spent the next 20 minutes trying to get this deer out of my yard. I go open one gate, it runs to the other. I open the other gate it runs to the back. Nathan thinks this is the coolest thing in the world, he is telling me to catch it so that he can pet it. Kaitlin is also now telling me to "catch the doggie". I'm like yeah right, I've seen the show "When Animals Attack (click that link to see the picture in my mind)! So I keep trying to herd this thing to an open gate. So I'm running back and forth, doing the best I can to keep this stupid deer from ramming the fence when I hear my neighbor yell from his yard "Hey! It's not deer season yet". He was cracking up...I didn't find this amusing at all. Anyway, so finally, I steer the deer to the open gate and out he went. Hopefully not to the park where I run...or maybe...could it be... that these incidents are related...hmmm?

GUITAR LESSONS

As some of you know, I play the guitar a little. The only problem is that I have never had any formal training. I'm basically self taught. I really want to be able to take my playing to the next level, but I have too many bad habits in my technique that hinder my progress. I have wanted to take lessons for years but really have never had the time or the money to make it happen. That has all changed now. I have now found a way to take lessons based on my time constraints and budget. I am taking them online!!! Here is my first lesson.

AS REQUESTED...

CICADAS

CICADAS:
I do not like cicadas, man.
I do not like them, Dan I am.
I do not like them in the trees.
I do not like them on my knees.
I do not like them on my face.
I do not like them any place.
I do not like the way they smell.
I do not like their crunchy shell.
I do not like them on my house.
I do not like them on my spouse.
Not on my chair, not in my hair,
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like the sound they make.
I do not like to watch them mate.
I do not like cicadas, man.
I do not like them, Dan I am.

MY DAUGHTER HITS THE BIG SCREEN

This is my daughter Kaitlin kicking off our Sunday night student worship last night.

THE END OF AN ERA

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the Ponchot family has reached the end of an era. Our family dog of nearly 13 years, Toby, is no longer with us. Yes, the "geriatric arthritic episode" ridden dog is no more. Last Thursday, we had him put down. It was a tough decision but one that needed to be made. He had been suffering for quite a while and it was clearly time. You should know that even though I have often spoken ill against that stupid dog, I do indeed miss him...a little...very little. I did, however, make every effort to make his last day on this earth a good one. It started off with a nice walk on a nature trail. He loved it. He had a great time smelling all the dog droppings, weeds, dead animals, and all the other smells that only a dog could love. He started off strong but began to struggle towards the end (arthritis). The walk was followed by a trip through McDonald's drive through for a double cheeseburger. I really don't know if he enjoyed it or not because he would eat anything (and often did) . All in all, he seemed very content and I'm glad to have had him as our pet. Memorials for Toby may be sent to the Ponchot Pool Resurfacing Fund (more on our pool mess later).

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I have started to realize a couple of "blogging truths" about myself: #1) When not much is going on, I tend to post very frequently (I'm good at sharing random thoughts). #2) When I have a lot going on, the blogging is the first thing to go. You would think that it would be the opposite. The more going on the more you have to say. Evidently, not for me. Anyway, much has been going on over the last few weeks. Two weeks ago, we held our student overnight retreat. It was really cool. The title for the weekend was RENOVATE and the theme was focused on finding out: who you really are, where you are, and what God wants you to be. It was kind of the wrap up of a series that we have been doing for the winter season in the student ministry. This retreat was different that others we have done in the past. We really tried to make this one personal for the students. Sure they spent time together in worship, in small groups, but also in time alone with God. I really think that the kids got a chance to allow God to do some renovation in their lives.

It was also a great opportunity to spend some hang time with a great group of teens. We had a big time. I am so lucky to serve at a church will such a great group. I truly love them all. As great as our teens are, I also serve with a phenomenal group of adult volunteers. Huge thanks to Doran, Didi, Angi, Tamara, Rhonda, Chip, Jen, John, Aaron, and Julie. You guys are awesome. The only tough thing about the weekend was the lack of sleep. I must be getting old.

Last weekend, another overnight event at church. I had the privilege of taking a group of 3rd-5th graders to an event called Super Start. I don't usually spend a lot of time with that age group but it was a real treat. I used to think that the loudest sound on earth was the sound of a 7th grade girl screaming. I think that I might have to change my opinion. It might be a 4th grade boy. Crazy. Anyway, it was good to be with them and I was so proud of our LCC kids. They really know how to worship. Probably the best things for me about the weekend was that my son, Jacob, was one of the kids that went with us. He is one of the funniest people I know and he really loves the Lord (see video below). Anyway, that is what's going on right now, more later.

BUMMER

I was so excited. After months of making my office computer do more than it should be able to do, I was on my way to a more suitable replacement. My good buddy Chip was in the process of updating himself and graciously offered to give me his slightly used desktop. Although used to him, it had everything that I needed to make things go much easier for me (more ram, 10xbetter video processor, and on and on). It was going to be great! I picked it up from Chips house last night, place the CPU behind my seat and went on to a coffee meeting at about 7:30pm. I returned home at about 8:30pm, parked in the garage and went inside for the night. I woke up this morning at about 6:30am and went to get in my car. Nothing out of the ordinary except that the garage door had been left open. Not really a huge deal so off I went. When I arrived at the office, I made one trip inside and then went back out to bring in my "new" computer. It was gone. I quickly went back through the previous 12 hours in my mind. It hit me at once. Someone had come into my garage, opened the back door of my car, and taken the computer (along with video editing software I had just purchased...it was so sweet). The police came and filled out a report. Turns out I was number five over the last few days in our area. The policeman said that I was lucky. Most of the other people had car windows broken out. Crazy stuff. Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is: 1) Close your garage door 2)lock your car doors 3)keep lots of lights on 4)get a lap top...you can keep it with you.

MARCH MADNESS?

Well it's March 20th and to millions of Americans that means one thing, the first round of the Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament. For the last 15 years, it has been one of my favorite things on this earth. I love college basketball. Last week was unbelievable. For those of you you don't know, last week was when all of the conference tournaments were played. I must have watched about 25 games in about four days. I have a problem. What's even worse is that today, the day of the first round, I am scheduled off work. I should be in paradise. But there is something weird about today and I can't seen to put my finger on exactly what it is. There is something wrong with me. Maybe I burned myself out last week, or maybe I feel guilty for wasting so much time last week watching for hours on end. Whatever it is, as I sit here typing this, my beloved wife Julie is in the other room watching my beloved Xavier Musketeers play Georgia. I'm not. Another oddity is that I have not filled out a single bracket. Usually I fill out many. Some online, some in the office, some with friends, but this year.....not one. What is wrong with me? Am I sick? Am I having a pity party because of something else? Am I finally coming to my senses? Have I gone mad? I really don't know. This is a strange phenomenon that I need to research. Well I guess that's it. I'm going off to.....read a book? Weird.