Weekend Madness

• Friday I headed to to the Homestead in Timberlake for some GREAT food and friendship with James and Melissa Browne. Came back to the house to chill and have some famous Homestead chocolate pie.
• Saturday was my lazy day. I got to watch all the games of the ACC tournament. A Saturday of nothing but college basketball does it get any better than that?
• Sunday I headed to The Creek for 2 services of helping people Belong, Believe, and Become.
• I am not a big numbers guy but Sunday was a great day for us at Hope Creek over 200 people came for Sunday services.
• Scott was spot on with his talk today.
• Chris and da Band were kickin it with some rocking worship
• Kidz Cove was straight off da hook. Over 50 kids for us this Sunday.
• James Browne made his teaching debut as Leroy in Kidz Cove today. We keep talking about Hope and Leroy taught us all about the Last Supper.
• Headed to Red Lobster with about 30 people to celebrate Scott's birthday. Happy Birthday Scott
• Now I am watching the Roast of Larry the Cable Guy. Bad language but man this is some funny stuff. They are ruthless. I think one day it would be cool to be roasted like that.
• Lots of work this week to get ready for Easter Egg Olympics and our Ministry Fair and working at the Funeral Home in there.
• Heard one of the best quotes today " When we all come together as a community and help, the world changes" Awesome just AWESOME
• Oh and I can be the bigger man congrats DUKE. Man I just throw up in my mouth a little bit
• Good Night

Chuck Norris Facts

1. If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
2. There is no 'ctrl' button on Chuck Norris's computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
3. Apple pays Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song.
4. Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.
5. Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip.
6. Chuck Norris is suing Myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you.
7. Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.
8. Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.

Happy Birthday Chuck Norris

Story on Carlton from the N & O on Monday

Big man with deep voice had wide impact
Amber Nimocks - Correspondent

DURHAM -- When Carlton Miles stood before a group of high school singers, his aim was to teach them more than how to reach the high notes. He wanted his students to know how to push themselves, how to realize their potential and how to retain their humility when they did.
A large man with a deep voice, Miles' mere presence seemed almost enough to convey his expectations.
"He could speak volumes without saying much," says his friend Charlie McNeill. "He just had a way, that when he spoke to you, you knew he was talking from his heart. It was never demanding, never overbearing, always from his heart."

Carlton Miles was a music educator in the Durham schools. He pushed students but was 'never overbearing. Miles died last month at age 45 after a brief illness.
He grew up in Durham and graduated from Jordan High School and N.C. Central University. He spent most of his career as a music educator in the Durham schools.
For the past eight years, he directed the Spotlight Singers, a choral group that features Durham County schools' best vocalists. Through his leadership of the singers and his involvement with many other musical groups, he quietly inspired countless others.
Lisa McIver met Miles when he was a student in the band at Jordan High School. She was the choral director. He played the drums, but when McIver heard him sing, she recruited him to join the chorus. Through the years, he spent a lot of time with McIver and her children, becoming almost a family member.
McIver describes Miles as a gentle person with a knack for listening and a passion for music.
"He didn't just play the drums," she says. "He made music with them."
One of the staples of Miles' year was the production of the Evening of Entertainment, a showcase of performances of Durham County students of all ages. This year's event, held this month at the new Durham Performing Arts Center, was dedicated to Miles.
'All of us went over it'
McIver says Miles extended the kind of friendship that transcended traditional barriers of age, race and status. The hundreds of people of myriad backgrounds who attended his memorial service bore witness to that, she says.
"He built that bridge, and all of us went over it," she says.
Charles McNeill met Miles when he was a Spotlight singer as a senior in high school. Miles became his vocal coach and eventually a great friend and mentor.
His association with music and Miles led McNeill to his current occupation as a family pastor at Hope Creek Church in Durham.
"I would have to say that he was one of the greatest musicians and vocalists I've ever met, but he was also the most humble and generous man I've ever met," McNeill says.
Talented musicians tend to be prima donnas, McNeill says, but Miles never was.
McNeill says that, as a student, he learned from Miles the value of hard work.
"He always told us that what we put into it was what we got out of it," he says.
Music to ministry
McNeill and Miles started hanging out, bonding over many common interests, including a passion for musicals. McNeill says he had drifted away from the church when Miles began encouraging him to attend services at New Horizon Church, where he played drums in the band.
The music, Miles told him, was outstanding. It took a little persuasion, but McNeill began going to New Horizon.
"They brought me in with the music, and while I was there, I started listening to the messages," McNeill says.
That opened his heart to a call to the ministry, he says. It's among the many gifts his friend left him with, and one of many memories he plans to return to regularly.
"As long as I can keep him alive in my heart and I can pass along the things he taught me, the spirit of Carlton Miles will never die," McNeill says.

Weekend Madness

• Friday night Laura, her mom and I headed to the DPAC to take in the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar. Awesome Awesome show
• Saturday was a cleaning day at the house. Put a deep clean on everything
• Saturday night Laura and I headed to hear a great musician Todd Parrott. He is one of the sickest harmonica players I have ever heard
• Sunday was church at Hope Creek. 2 services and lots of folks there. Scott did a great job with his talk and Chris was money with the music. Great job guys
• In Kidz Cove we are talking about Hope this month. Played "What that Smell" as our game. Kidz Cove is rockin right now
• Sunday was also the big game for us here in the Durham area. Duke-UNC. My heels won and we are 2-0 against them this year YAH!!!!
• Sunday night Laura and I headed to some friends house to watch Saturdays big UFC fight. Dude there were some big time knockouts.
• Laura is on Spring Break this week so I get to see here everyday and that makes me happy.
• Small group tonight and I can't wait. I love our group

Sorry for the lack of blog post over the last couple of weeks. It is not that I have not had anything to say in fact I have had to much to say. There are so many thoughts running around in my head right now it is hard to keep them all straight. So here is just a glimpses as to what I am thinking most days.

• My faith in the public school system is fading fast. They are not concerned about the students anymore just the numbers and stats.
• I am so tired about hearing how Durham is a bad city. I believe in Durham because of the people that live here and I know that God is the God of this city and lord of these people. There is hope for Durham
• Since Red Robin has bottomless fries shouldn't we just be able to go in their and grab some if you ever bought anything from them.
• Why do the really good shows ( Burn Notice, Psych) only come on during the winter
• Why are churches not doing everything they can to reach people with the most important message ever Jesus is the real deal.
• Who would have ever thought A-Rod was on the juice
• Why are the NBA champions called the World Champs they have not played teams from all over the world.
• Why as pastor do we look at other churches as the competition and not as team mates.
• When are we going to get out of this money funk
• Speaking of funk why are there no more big time funk bands.
• Laura wants to know why my feet always smell like funk
• I think that churches that try to be like other churches and not original are stupid
• Fireproof is a great movie bad acting but great message
• If the church wants to reach people that no one else is reaching we have to do something no one else is doing. What is it that we need to do?

Told you that my mind was all over the place. Hope you are not to confused by my thoughts

Weekend Madness

• Let me start off by saying this was one crazy week not just weekend
• Wednesday the staff and board from Hope Creek hoped in the car and headed to ATL and North Point to get our learn on from 2 great leaders.
• Thursday we were in a conference all day learning how to be better leaders. And after sitting there for 8 hours we hoped back in the car for a 6 hour ride home. Needless to say a LONG LONG couple of days
• Friday I thought I would have time to recover but nope had to work.
• Friday night I headed to the DPAC to help out with this years EOE
• Saturday I headed back to the DPAC for more EOE. I was helping move more than 200 little kids back and forth
• Sunday it was time for church at Hope Creek
• Chris and the band were rocking the house during worship.
• Scott did an awesome job with the sermon talking about the five things that grow your faith
• In Kidz Cove we had a new value HOPE and talked about how God has a plan in everything we do.
• Laura and her dancers did a great job this week. She is really doing a good job leading them and I am very proud of her
• Sunday right after church I headed back to the DPAC for the performance of EOE.
• As a tribute to Carlton some folks got together and sang the show opener "Faithful Friend" as they showed a DVD of photos of Carlton through the years
• Sunday night I crashed HARD and it snowed!

Weekend Madness

• Friday I headed to Ms. Miles house to check on her and spend some time talking to her.
• Friday I had some dinner at Champs at South Point and then headed home cause I felt like my head was about to fall off.
• Saturday I had a guy who came out to help do some work on the house. Little odds and end stuff nothing huge
• Saturday was also a lazy day for me cause I felt like I was walking around at about 40%
• Sunday was church and Hope Creek was ROCKIN
• Sunday was wrapped up "The game of Life" and Scott was all over it. Great job dude.
• Chris was sick and had no voice but Kate stepped it up and did an awesome job leading worship.
• Killer ending to the sermon with "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and we showed photos of all the couples in the church
• Back in Kidz Cove we were talking about fairness. Did something really cool and as I told the story one of our new leaders Ty drew a picture of what I was talking about. Man the kids loved it and it just brought a whole neither level to the COVE
• Sunday the Kidz collected item for Circle of Love to donate to the Durham Rescue Mission. Just one word to sum it up. AWESOME!!!!!!!
• Going with a group of folks from The Creek to North Point Church in ATL for a couple of days should be fun to hang out and get some new idea's
• Still trying to get used to this new normal that I have now in my life. It is hard to not think of Carlton but I know where he is and how healthy he is now and that makes me happy. Just going to take some time to get used to it.

It's so hard to say goodbye

A week ago today at around 5:00 pm I had to say goodbye to one of my best friend here on this planet Carlton Miles. Along with losing my grandparents it has been the hardest thing I ever had to do. My grandparents lived long lives 78 and 82. Carlton was gone after only 45 short years. I knew Carlton first as my teacher who took me under his wing and taught me to sing from my soul. To preform like it was your last time here on earth. After becoming my mentor he became my friend. As my friend he still taught me so such. I have had some great times with him over the past 10 years. But I will have many more great times with him cause I carry him in my heart and will pass the wisdom he gave to me to others I cross paths with. Carlton Miles will live on forever in the hearts of people he touched.
Here are so highlights I thought I would share.

• Singing Lionel Richie in a huge town car in NH while doing a Cancer benefit
• Sitting on the deck at Mrs. McIver's beach house watching the sunset
• Watching Carlton dance after UNC won the national championship in 05
• Having Carlton as a drummer in church got me to go back to church again
• Serving beside him in Kidzoogle and creating a place where 400 people a week saw how cool God can be.
• Getting some of the best seats on Broadway in NYC cause he was so big
• Late night talks sitting out on the patio while enjoying a nice steak
• Knowing he was going to sing a Laura and my wedding makes me smile cause he loved us that much

Carlton I love you. You were more than just my teacher, mentor, friend, you were my brother and I will miss you everyday. I can't wait to hear the band you are a member of when I meet you in heaven again someday.

Time off

Taking some time off from Blogging to spend with a great friend of mine that is not doing to well right now. He is very sick and could use lots and lots of prayers. If in the moment I am moved to blog I will but I really want to turn all of my focus on to helping and being there for him. I will be back soon.
Thanks for reading and understanding

CM

WOW

Kay Yow's heart felt goodbye. Nothing more you can say to that