Gracie Lou Cook

I Was in the News Once...

So in case you did not see, I was in the news yesterday commenting on the Hancock County winery issue:

http://14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=8071798

There is also the video from the newscast. The reporter came in without an appointment and just wanted to present another side of the story in opposition of the winery. The thing is, I can't comprehend the lady after me saying, "if an individual wants to drink they should have the right to choose to drink (paraphrase)".

This issue is bigger than individuals choosing to drink. Sure, let them drink in the privacy of their own home. That is totally their choice to make. But when you make a decision about drinking in the community...it affects the community. It is no longer a personal decision for you alone to make.

This issue is about our children, youth, and families living in an environment where alcohol is not offered in the entire county. We are all part of a community. We cannot afford to only think of ourselves. Think ahead to if the winery passed and a drunk driver leaving the winery crashed into a car and killed an expecting mother. Would you say that it was the mother's choice to get out and drive that particular day? Or that it was the fault of the drunk driver?

We have alcohol in surrounding counties. Could a drunk driving accident happen in Hancock County even though it is dry? Sure. But, it won't happen as often as it would if we remain dry.

The stance is similar to banning smoking in public places. Let the people decide to smoke or not to smoke. But when you sit a a table beside my wife, and two small children and light a pack up for an hour while we are eating, then it affects my life and health. If you decide to smoke, go outside away form others and smoke. Just don't make me die an early death due to second-hand smoke.

Bottom line, we, as citizens of the community must make every effort to make our county safe, family-friendly, and a place where we can flourish as a community without drugs or alcohol.

Update on the Cantata...from It's Composer

This was received in an e-mail today...
"Hi Dennis!!
Thank you SO much!! I listened to each song, and my husband commented that he could understand every word. I heard every voice part too!!! I just love "You are the Bread." Watching your church serve communion, I sang along and it brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks so much for sharing this day in the life of your church with me.
God bless,
Ruthie"

2008 HBC Easter Cantata

On Easter Sunday morning, the HBC Sanctuary Choir performed a Ruth Elaine Schram work "The Living Last Supper" for the Easter cantata. We took a liberty and renamed it "How Great His Love" because time restrictions would not allow us to the drama.

Our choir consists of folks who have had musical training, those who have sung in a choir for a long time, and those who have not sung in a choir before. That's what I appreciate about the music ministry. We are taking "all kinds of people" to sing praise to the Lord as we are commanded to do in God's Word. Sure, there will some sort of musical fault in each piece; but overall, this group did a wonderful job in such a short timeframe and for having this particular director, however zany he may be...for only 8 months now.

Ruth Elaine Schram composed "The Living Last Supper" in 2007. Those of you from SBC remember that we did it there last year. I decided to do it my first Easter at HBC when we realized our time frame was short from Christmas to Easter. This very accessible work is a perfect marriage of music and text. "The Living Last Supper" can be done throughout the events of Holy Week or on a particular Sunday in a service. This work is also supplied with drama from the disciples as they speak about what is happening in their lives as they surround the Lord's Table.

Visit Ruth Elaine Schram's website here (www.choralmusic.com). These videos were made for my personal use and also for her as she requested a video of the Christmas cantata we did, and I failed to send her one! I will post five different songs. (note: these songs are recorded on a home video camera; and they are not in the order of the cantata)

To see/hear each song on video click HERE

Song titles are:
How Great His Love
Is It I?
King Triumphant
His Hands
You Are the Bread

Easter 2008

The "fam" in my office after church...

Alex's Easter basket...

Gracie's Easter basket...

Gracie hunting eggs at church...

Alex hunting eggs...I hope...at church...

Bowling with The Bakers

The crew...T-Bone, Liv, Momma, and Fr8

T-Bone and Liv


Fr8 after a "strike" at 100 mph...
take THAT John Prichard!

Fr8 and T-Bone admiring my strike...or admiring me, I am not too sure.

The girls... wishing they were shopping

Birthday #29

Here's to 29 more!

Kids at the Park

Alex being...Alex

Here is a video of Alex clowning around last night at home...

Final Video

Here are all the Crossmen with Boyce singing "We Shall See Jesus"

2 More Videos

Here's a Cathedral's classic, Prodigal Son, sung by Scott, Boyce, James, and Jason

Here is one called"In the Sweet Forever." I sang lead, with Scott on Tenor, Jason on Baritone, and Mark on Bass. This is one of my favorites as it is an early song from the Crossmen when they recorded one of their first cassette tapes. Again, sorry for the poor video quality.

2 Videos from the Crossmen Reunion

Video quality is NOT the best, but it will do, I hope!

Former Bass singer, Jason Brooks, singing tenor

Mixed Quartet "Just a Little Talk with Jesus"

Pics from the Crossmen Reunion

Videos of a few songs to come...

Gracie Goes to a Tea Party

Who Woulda Thunk It?

No one thought this would happen when they saw the Cats play in November and December (especially me)!

UK head coach Billy Gillispie was named the SEC Co-Coach of the Year, along with Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl, by league coaches. He was also given the honor by Rivals.com.
The Gillispie-led Wildcats overcame numerous injuries to tie for the SEC’s second-best league record (12-4) and second-place in the SEC East.
It is the fifth-straight year Gillispie has been named his league’s conference coach of the year. In 2004, he was the WAC Coach of the Year honor at UTEP. He then won similar recognition by either coaches or a media outlet for each of the three seasons he was at Texas A&M.
It is the 15th time that a Kentucky coach received the league’s coach of the year honor as voted on by SEC coaches.

from www.ukathletics.com

Crossmen Quartet Reunion This Friday

This Friday night, March 14, The Crossmen will hold their annual reunion concert at Butler County High School (7 pm). I call it a "Baritone Reunion" because there have been 6 baritones in the group and 2 bass singers in the group since April 1993.

All former members of the quartet will return to sing a few songs with the group. If you are in the area, stop by for a wonderful concert. The guys now have a new CD out entitled "Home" which I am sure is their best yet. If you appreciate southern gospel music, you will not want to miss this concert. Visit their website here: http://www.crossmenquartet.com/.

Friday Sledding

Our little...er...husky snow angel...

Here's the damage he did to our front yard...

Gracie getting ready ot take off down our hill...

Gracie after she tumbled through the snow...





Action shot!

Alex after a fall...

Courtney pulling Alex back up the hill...

Alex is sledding down by himself!

Listen real close to this video and you can hear Alex "scream" while going down the hill

Snow Update from Lewisport, KY

Starting Friday morning through today (Saturday morning) we have received 6-8 inches of snow on our property.

When we went to bed last night there was 4 1/2 inches on our back yard.

at that same point Saturday morning we had almost 6 inches

At one point in the front yard there was 8 1/2 inches Saturday morning.

American Idol

Sarah and I have watched American Idol for 2 seasons now. Last year, I picked Jordin Sparks to win it all (ask my wife...it's true!).

This year I am torn. I want the Australian guy to win, but there have been two performances of note so far and neither one is his...but he is safe for now.

Here are the two performances that have been worth listening to on either side, guy or girl:

David Cook "hello" http://youtube.com/watch?v=kfbI80IdStQ

David Archulata "imagine" http://youtube.com/watch?v=NIuMcL4Kz44

The judges keep saying that this is the best year of talent ever on American Idol...but I have yet to see it. Last year was so much better than this year. Oh well...next year I will audition with "Ice, Ice, Baby" by Vanilla Ice or "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" by MC Hammer. I think that would win it all!

Another Coach's Gift!

Many of you know about my love for UK basketball. My history with the team goes back to when the "unforgettables" played with Travis Ford and later when Jamal Mashburn came. Much of the past ten years highlight my recent history as a fan.

Tubby Smith was one of the greatest UK coaches in its history. His off-court demeanor and way he treated his players was something the Commonwealth should never forget. I will always root for his team, wherever he coaches. Many of my friends know I have been faithful about cheering for Tubby at his new school, University of Minnesota. Go Gophers! It's Tubby Time!

I was given a gift for my upcoming birthday today before church began from Bob and Peg Speer. Their son knows Coach Smith and was at the University of Minnesota last week. While there he autographed this Gopher hat for me. WOW!

I already had a ball signed by him (won at an auction) but nothing personalized like this. Tubby's character still amazes me. He called my good friend, Jim Leachman on his deathbed, he called Bob and Peg's mom last week on her 88th birthday. Great coaches lead by example. Tubby may not have won a championship each year at UK, but he will always be my favorite UK coach.

Thanks, Bob and Peg for thinking of me in this way. I will cherish this gift, always.