Thursday, August 30, 2012

Cereal Choices


On my way home from an evening meeting, I texted Amy that I was stopping to buy some granola. A light dinner made a snack desirable.

Wandering the aisles, it took me a few minutes to locate the cereal. I picked up the most appealing looking granola. The label revealed ingredients of twigs, sawdust, and a high calorie count. For comparison purposes I grabbed a box of my childhood favorite. It had 50 less calories.

At home, the logic of my decision seemed lost.

“Don’t you know these are empty calories!”

I enjoyed my giant box of Cap’n Crunch anyway.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Bill Nye Attacks


Even if you aren’t a creationist, Bill Nye’s  comments are outrageous.

I don’t mean his characterization of a creationism worldview as “crazy, untenable, and inconsistent.”

The illogical charge Nye makes is that if a percentage of our population denies evolution, “it holds everybody back.” Appealing to our status as intellectual world leader, Nye says: “If you want to deny evolution and live in your world that's completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that's fine. But don't make your kids do it. Because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future…engineers that can build stuff, solve problems.”

Nye’s argument is that we will not be able to advance, as long as some do not embrace evolution.

That is irrational. If it had basis in truth, how did we get where we are today? Creationists have not prevented our innovative and scientific advancements throughout history. In fact, it is from this worldview that much advancement has sprung.

Why is Bill Nye the bias guy?

Monday, August 27, 2012

An Anniversary Miscalculation


Our oldest daughter and son-in-law presented us with a thoughtful anniversary present. They’ve already given us an amazing grandson, with another grandson on the way. This generous gift is for a great dinner, at a high-quality restaurant, to celebrate our years of marriage.

The present was inside a lovely card. The front of the card is pictured above.

25 Years Together!

This was a surprise. Only after our daughter bought the card and brought it home, was the glitch discovered.

Her husband asked, “Wait, how old are you?”  

“I’m 27…”

“Oh.”

It’s our 30th anniversary. It only feels like 25. 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

My Walk in the Park


Monday.

First vacation day.

Searching for quiet.

Hiking in a National Park.

Boaters, fishermen, walkers.

Quarter mile mark…yelling children.

Half mile mark…“Gracie!”

“Gracie” a loose pit bull, furiously barking, tail-wagging, hackle raising.

Standing still, I let her slobber on me.

Indifferent owner arrives with muzzle.

Mile mark…campers in conversation.

Travel the stream-side trail.

Lean against a tree and listen.

No other voices.

Thunder.

Rain drops scatter through leaves.

Course reversal.

Getting damp.

Lightning.

Downpour.

Hurrying.

Trail becomes muddy stream.

Low visibility.

Drenched.

Emerge from trail.

Everyone gone.

Slosh between parking lots.

Car.

Thunder rattles the windows.

Even God shatters my silence.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

All the Stuff I Can Do Now the Olympics Are Over



  • Go to bed before 11:30.
  • Stop trying to figure out the rules for handball.
  • Feel sorry for all silver medalists (“You’re the #1 loser, no one lost ahead of you.” Seinfeld)
  • Be amazed at how Russia used to be the arch enemy, and now I kind of like them.
  • Start training to fulfill my personal Olympic dreams in Brazil.
  • Celebrate that we have more medals than China, even though they have all our money.
  • Wait for NBC’s delayed broadcast of the opening ceremony.
  • Watch my Mr. Bean videos.
  • Wonder at a guy with no legs running faster than I drive.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Ask the Right Question



Paul Capalbo tells about a class of first-graders touring their local newspaper. They were captivated by the noisy operation of the enormous printing press, churning out the daily paper. Leading the children to a quieter area the guide asked if anyone had questions. One girl asked: "Why do cats and dogs fight?"

A fair question, but not exactly relevant.

Many times we ask the wrong question. That may be one reason we don’t get answers. We ask: What is God doing to me? Why did God do this? When the best question is: What does God want me to do?

Housework and Other Lies


I love this book title: Mistakes Were Made (but not by me). The book reports that when husbands and wives are independently asked what percentage of the housework they do, it goes like this:

Wives say, "Are you kidding? I do almost everything, at least 90%."

Husbands say, "I do a lot, about 40%."

The numbers differ from couple to couple, but the total always exceeds 100% by a wide margin. Each spouse remembers in a way that enhances his or her contribution.

Over time, we come to believe our own self-centered lies, and we let those lies shape reality.

Tell Me the Truth


The closer our relationship…the greater your responsibility to speak truth into my life.
·   I will never get better if you don’t tell me the truth.
·   I may never realize I was wrong if you don’t tell me the truth.
·   I will be convinced you agree with me if you don’t tell me the truth.
·  You lose an opportunity to grow if you don’t tell me the truth.
·  You haven’t shown me love if you don’t tell me the truth.
·  My sin will probably get worse if you don’t tell me the truth.

Ephesians 4:25 “speak truthfully…we are all members of one body.”

Exploding Church


Colliding personalities and agendas can be noisy and negative, yet the church produces incredible energy.

Tim Savage writes: "The energy of nuclear fusion is insignificant compared to the power welling up within a local church. When members of the local church pour out the love of Christ into each other, a dramatic series of 'explosions' takes place, reaction upon reaction, enough energy not just to electrify cities of neon lights and microwave ovens, but, more importantly, to bring spiritual light to a world dying in darkness."

I miss the mushroom cloud of evidence when I’m focused on building the reactor.