AO Notes

Alpha Omega Notes

AO Notes focus on spiritual formation and being a follower of Christ in all aspects of life, especially the workplace. They are purposefully-short email thoughts read by busy people in several dozen countries.

AO began around 1991-92 with short email notes from John Stanford to a few friends. AO grew by word of mouth until, in late 1993, John needed help. One day over coffee with friend Pete Boysen, John talked about the stress he felt. Pete volunteered to become AO Administrator. It’s a wonderful working relationship!

John writes the Notes and refines and refines, to keep them understandable, short and pithy. Each Note represents ~5 hours of reading, thinking, writing, editing and formatting. Win, John’s wife, serves as AO Editor Beloved. Win’s contributions significantly strengthen the Notes in clarity and overall guidance. Almost all the “Coffee/tea thoughts” come from her. John and Win enjoy talking and brainstorming together about AO, over coffee or tea.

AO Notes are posted at www.aonotes.com, and also sent to email subscribers, early morning Iowa time on M-W-F.  About 157 Notes go out a year; several thousand having been sent since inception.  The Notes are held in a queue until sent out by the computer algorithm maintained by AO Administrator Pete (Vicki). 

Thanks for praying for us and AO!

More about John, Win and Pete

AO Notes, brief email spiritual thought-provokers are written by John Stanford, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames. John retired after a third of a century from physics teaching and research in his speciality, atmospheric physics, using satellite observations to study the structure and dynamics of the atmosphere. Win, his wife, is AO Editor and their home manager. They have two married children and several grandchildren. For several decades John and Win have been involved with international scholars and students.  John and Win enjoy mentoring people, one-to-one and couples. After retirement Win and John were appointed “Leadership Encouragement Team” in their church’s central district. They listen to and pray for pastors, lay leaders and their spouses. John enjoys reading ancient Christian writers, Chinese language/culture and ham radio. Win is a voracious reader and delights in our grandchildren.

AO Administrator is Pete Boysen, computer science Ph. D. and staff member of Iowa State University’s Information Technology Services. Pete loves to develop software to help people learn or simplify their lives. Over the years Pete has provided leadership as church elder, missions chairman and children’s ministry worker. Pete and his wife Vicki are currently involved in the leadership of Promiseland, a children’s ministry program started at Chicago’s Willow Creek Community Church, which is transforming the way we teach children about God.

John & Win and Pete & Vicki are members of First Evangelical Free Church, Ames, Iowa.

Chinese Language Versions

Alpha Omega Note versions are available in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters.  The diligent and devoted effort of the Chinese translator, who prefers to remain anonymous, is greatly appreciated!

The Chinese versions may be accessed at www.aonotes.com by clicking on the link at the bottom of individual English language AO Notes, or by clicking on the link Chinese Versions at the right side of www.aonotes.com