Since I have a degree in Marine Biology, I found these stories very interesting.
One Englishman is lucky to be alive while attacked by a Great White - this time in South Africa...On the subject of Sharks and South African's - this man has to be crazy!
Also, in case you are at all interested...it seems that the only Great White in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has literally had its nose put out of joint...and is attacking other sharks in the aquarium. Maybe they ought to put it in it's own tank, or better yet, realease it.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Joke of the Week
A man went to one of the local Independent Baptist churches and asked to join.The preacher said, "Okay, but you have to pass a Bible test first. The first question is: Where was Jesus born?" The man answered, "Longview." The preacher said, "Sorry. You can't join our church."
So, the man went to another Baptist church and asked to join. The preacher said, "We would love to have you but you have to pass a Bible test first. Where was Jesus born?" The man said, "Tyler." The preacher said, "Sorry. You can't join our church."
So, the man goes to the only other Independent Baptist church in the whole county and asks to join. The preacher said, "We welcome you with open arms."
The man said, "I don't have to pass a Bible test first?"The preacher said, "No."
The man said, "Can I ask you a question?" The preacher said, "Sure." The man said, "Where was Jesus born?" The preacher said, "Palestine." The man mumbled to himself "I knew it was in East Texas somewhere."
So, the man went to another Baptist church and asked to join. The preacher said, "We would love to have you but you have to pass a Bible test first. Where was Jesus born?" The man said, "Tyler." The preacher said, "Sorry. You can't join our church."
So, the man goes to the only other Independent Baptist church in the whole county and asks to join. The preacher said, "We welcome you with open arms."
The man said, "I don't have to pass a Bible test first?"The preacher said, "No."
The man said, "Can I ask you a question?" The preacher said, "Sure." The man said, "Where was Jesus born?" The preacher said, "Palestine." The man mumbled to himself "I knew it was in East Texas somewhere."
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Society in decline
On the train ride home yesterday, a group of kids got on the train, and for the short 5 minutes they were on the train, I think I may have heard more foul language than I've ever heard in my life. And these were just kids people, 10-14 years old. Back when I was a kid, we dared not even utter something like that under our breath in public. Why? Because we'd been taught it was wrong, and we knew we'd get caught by our parents or another responsible adult whom would report it to our parents. Where have our values gone?
Monday, March 28, 2005
Casualties of War
"There must be (on the spot) excellent doctors, skilled in healing wounds and extracting missiles, equipped with the appropriate medicines and instruments..." Philo of Byzantium, 3d Century B.C".Via.
This morning I was reflecting on a comment made on Phil Baker’s Blog (which always provides food for thought) that people in the Church should be less focused on their own needs, and more focused on service to Christ and what they give to the Kingdom.
This is so true in our "'Its all about me' ―Consumer Culture".
However, if people in the Church are to be compared to an army of soldiers who go in "boots and all" as per the correct analogy used, (noting that "onward Christian soldier" is a a great driving analogy that somewhere in our recent history we seem to have lost) then possibly the Church could learn much from the great armies of history.
It occurred to me that one of the factors that made the Roman Army, so great was the fact that it had trained medics that would go right into the warzone caring for their fallen and wounded – those who need food or drink, those who are metaphorical Prisoners of War, those left without shelter, in the cold, sick or lonely.
"The importance of medical support in military campaigns is documented throughout the history of civilization. The Sumerians, 4000 to 2000 B.C., may have been one of the first of the world's armies to provide organized medical care to forces in the field. Chiseled into the Stele of Vultures (a monument dating to 2525 B.C.) is a picture depicting the collection of wounded and the digging of graves for those who had perished. Perhaps the Sumerians were also the first to recognize the need for surgeons to be close to the action.
There exists text documenting the complaints of soldiers that the physicians remained in the rear areas to avoid capture or harm.
It was, however, the Roman Empire that put the word "medic" in our language. The Roman's unit level medical officer was known as the "medicus" and their equivalent of today's enlisted medic was called "medicus ordinarius". The medicus ordinarious was drawn from the ranks of soldiers and trained by the Roman army. Our own armed forces traditionally train and employ technicians to care for troops in the field just as the early Romans did. Today they are called "medic, corpsman, or med tech." The simplicity of this word, medic, is underscored by the immense contributions made for their brothers and sisters in uniform. The military medic's history is richly diverse - with many tales of personal sacrifice and valor".
It’s great to send cards, emails and gift baskets, but we must take more risks, get better and perhaps a little more courageous in caring for our own casualties. We need to take risks and get out of the comfort of our base camps and into the warzone. I need to get much better at it myself.
Take time to place a call, or to personally visit, to provide meal, or baby-sit kids.
When we care for our casualties of war – we do in fact care and serve Christ himself "boots and all". (Matthew 25:34-39).
This morning I was reflecting on a comment made on Phil Baker’s Blog (which always provides food for thought) that people in the Church should be less focused on their own needs, and more focused on service to Christ and what they give to the Kingdom.
This is so true in our "'Its all about me' ―Consumer Culture".
However, if people in the Church are to be compared to an army of soldiers who go in "boots and all" as per the correct analogy used, (noting that "onward Christian soldier" is a a great driving analogy that somewhere in our recent history we seem to have lost) then possibly the Church could learn much from the great armies of history.
It occurred to me that one of the factors that made the Roman Army, so great was the fact that it had trained medics that would go right into the warzone caring for their fallen and wounded – those who need food or drink, those who are metaphorical Prisoners of War, those left without shelter, in the cold, sick or lonely.
"The importance of medical support in military campaigns is documented throughout the history of civilization. The Sumerians, 4000 to 2000 B.C., may have been one of the first of the world's armies to provide organized medical care to forces in the field. Chiseled into the Stele of Vultures (a monument dating to 2525 B.C.) is a picture depicting the collection of wounded and the digging of graves for those who had perished. Perhaps the Sumerians were also the first to recognize the need for surgeons to be close to the action.
There exists text documenting the complaints of soldiers that the physicians remained in the rear areas to avoid capture or harm.
It was, however, the Roman Empire that put the word "medic" in our language. The Roman's unit level medical officer was known as the "medicus" and their equivalent of today's enlisted medic was called "medicus ordinarius". The medicus ordinarious was drawn from the ranks of soldiers and trained by the Roman army. Our own armed forces traditionally train and employ technicians to care for troops in the field just as the early Romans did. Today they are called "medic, corpsman, or med tech." The simplicity of this word, medic, is underscored by the immense contributions made for their brothers and sisters in uniform. The military medic's history is richly diverse - with many tales of personal sacrifice and valor".
It’s great to send cards, emails and gift baskets, but we must take more risks, get better and perhaps a little more courageous in caring for our own casualties. We need to take risks and get out of the comfort of our base camps and into the warzone. I need to get much better at it myself.
Take time to place a call, or to personally visit, to provide meal, or baby-sit kids.
When we care for our casualties of war – we do in fact care and serve Christ himself "boots and all". (Matthew 25:34-39).
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Well I certainly had no idea...
According to the banner hanging outside the grocery store, it's national frozen foods month. So stock up on TV dinners and fish sticks!
Friday, March 18, 2005
Ahhh, the wonders of technology!
"I love technology"...as spoken by Kip from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. I am currently sitting here at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano at their Connection Court. There's free wireless internet here, huge plasma screen tv's everywhere with CNN on (I wish it was ESPN though) and a Starbucks that is (pardon the pun) brimming with activity.
2o years ago, we thought it was cool to have these new things called compatc discs that we didn't have to rewind when the song was over. Now everyone has IPods.
It's a great day outside, 75, light breeze, sunny, and I am about to go enjoy it and take a walk. Time to be low-tech for a while!
2o years ago, we thought it was cool to have these new things called compatc discs that we didn't have to rewind when the song was over. Now everyone has IPods.
It's a great day outside, 75, light breeze, sunny, and I am about to go enjoy it and take a walk. Time to be low-tech for a while!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Finding rhythms
Finding God rhythms in my work, relationships and life is a constant pursuit for me. How do the many roles I am called to participate in flow seamlessly and with energy... meeting the constant demands of people, work goals and achievement as well as valuing family and close friendships- not to mention the need for solitude. Learning how to prize wholeness.
In the gospel of John and in chapter 15, Jesus says: "I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch in me that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (NIV) And then he goes on to say this: "I am the vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing." (Msg)
The issue then in light of Jesus' teaching would become not so much about my busy-ness or my settling back, not even about my doing and how hard I would be serving the Lord and counting the cost. Perhaps though, the answer to my question then rests in the level of intimacy of my relationship with Christ Jesus.
Intimacy and fruitfulness - nothing to be said here in John 15 about busy-ness. It's choosing to be like Mary when so often our tendency is to be like Martha. In considering these thoughts, let me pose the question: What do you need/what do I need to ensure that our relation with Jesus Christ is intimate and organic? What will it take for you to truly care over this relationship? For each of us there will be a different answer - the important thing is intimacy in our relationship with the Father. Does it take more time than we have been giving? Will it take stopping a task, or slowing down a notch or two to take time to consider God in all of our doings? What will it take for me to live a life of intimacy with Christ?
Abiding can only come through prayer and obedience to the Word of God. Out of that place of intimacy where we remain in Christ, our lives will bear much fruit and fruit that is of the highest quality. Indeed, out of intimacy, we can not but help to live lives that produce much fruit for the sake of the Father's glory!
In the gospel of John and in chapter 15, Jesus says: "I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch in me that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (NIV) And then he goes on to say this: "I am the vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing." (Msg)
The issue then in light of Jesus' teaching would become not so much about my busy-ness or my settling back, not even about my doing and how hard I would be serving the Lord and counting the cost. Perhaps though, the answer to my question then rests in the level of intimacy of my relationship with Christ Jesus.
Intimacy and fruitfulness - nothing to be said here in John 15 about busy-ness. It's choosing to be like Mary when so often our tendency is to be like Martha. In considering these thoughts, let me pose the question: What do you need/what do I need to ensure that our relation with Jesus Christ is intimate and organic? What will it take for you to truly care over this relationship? For each of us there will be a different answer - the important thing is intimacy in our relationship with the Father. Does it take more time than we have been giving? Will it take stopping a task, or slowing down a notch or two to take time to consider God in all of our doings? What will it take for me to live a life of intimacy with Christ?
Abiding can only come through prayer and obedience to the Word of God. Out of that place of intimacy where we remain in Christ, our lives will bear much fruit and fruit that is of the highest quality. Indeed, out of intimacy, we can not but help to live lives that produce much fruit for the sake of the Father's glory!
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
March Madness
It happens every year about this time. And I have made my picks through the first two rounds. Why is it that my alma mater, Texas A&M, can never make it in to the tournament?
I do have the University of Texas going down to Nevada in round one. Sorry Longhorn fans!
I do have the University of Texas going down to Nevada in round one. Sorry Longhorn fans!
Monday, March 14, 2005
Which Napoleon Dynamite Character Are You?
Those of you who have had the privelage of watching the hysterical movie, Napoleon Dynamite, will want to take this quiz at: http://www.quizilla.com/users/retromex/quizzes/Which%20Napoleon%20Dynamite%20character%20are%20you?
It basically tells you which character you most resemble. It's not scientific of course, but for those who liked the movie, it is quite amusing.
By the way, the quiz said I was most like Napoleon himself...SWEET!!! I guess this means I have excellent bowhunting skills, quick reflexes, killer dance moves, and a bunch of gangs are trying to recruit me.
It basically tells you which character you most resemble. It's not scientific of course, but for those who liked the movie, it is quite amusing.
By the way, the quiz said I was most like Napoleon himself...SWEET!!! I guess this means I have excellent bowhunting skills, quick reflexes, killer dance moves, and a bunch of gangs are trying to recruit me.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Enlarge your vision!
I have just begun reading Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen. It's about living to your full potential and how to go about it. I read the first chapter on the train ride in to work this morning. It talks about changing your attitude and enlarging your vision. This is what caught my attention this morning:
Ephesians 2:7 says that God wants to pour out "His far and beyond favor." God wants this to be the best time of your life. But if you are going to receive this favor, you must enlarge your vision. You can't go around thinking negative, defeated, limiting thoughts.
Joel Osteen puts it this way: "To experience the immeasurable favor, you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God's blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it. In other words, you must make room for increase in your own thinking, then God will bring those things to pass. Until you learn how to enlarge your vision, seeing the future through your eyes of faith, your own wrong thinking will prevent good things from happening in your life. God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes."
Ouch!
Ephesians 2:7 says that God wants to pour out "His far and beyond favor." God wants this to be the best time of your life. But if you are going to receive this favor, you must enlarge your vision. You can't go around thinking negative, defeated, limiting thoughts.
Joel Osteen puts it this way: "To experience the immeasurable favor, you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God's blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it. In other words, you must make room for increase in your own thinking, then God will bring those things to pass. Until you learn how to enlarge your vision, seeing the future through your eyes of faith, your own wrong thinking will prevent good things from happening in your life. God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes."
Ouch!
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
How Rich Am I
This may be a little shocking.
According to this website, I am in the top 0.779% richest people in the world.
There are 5,953,222,435 people poorer than me. We are more blessed than we know.
See where you are at http://www.globalrichlist.com/
According to this website, I am in the top 0.779% richest people in the world.
There are 5,953,222,435 people poorer than me. We are more blessed than we know.
See where you are at http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Fallen
Why is it that we wait until the bottom falls out before turning our lives over to Christ? This life would be a little easier if we did it before that. But I of course learned the hard way like a lot of others. This song by Sarah Mclaughlin, "Fallen", so accurately describes what it feels like to be at the end of your rope. It's been playing over and over in my head (and on my IPod) all day. I pray that we as Christian brothers and sisters, are sensitive and supportive to those who struggle looking for the answer. And that we can lead them lovingly there...
Fallen by Sarah Mclaughlin
Heaven bent to take my hand and lead me through the fire.
Be the long awaited answer to a long and painful fight.
Truth be told I've tried my best, but somewhere along the way,
I got caught up in all there was to offer.
And the cost was so much more than I could bear.
Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low,
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
We all begin with good intents when love was raw and young.
We believe that we could change ourselves, the past can be undone.
Though we carry on our back the burden time always reveals.
In the lonely light of morning, in the wound that would not heal.
It's the bitter taste of losing everything that I held so dear.
I've fallen. I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
Heaven bent to take my hand, I've nowhere left to turn.
I'm lost to those I thought were friends, to everyone I know.
Oh they turn their heads embarrassed, pretend that they don't see.
That it's one misstep, one slip before you know it.
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed.
Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
Fallen by Sarah Mclaughlin
Heaven bent to take my hand and lead me through the fire.
Be the long awaited answer to a long and painful fight.
Truth be told I've tried my best, but somewhere along the way,
I got caught up in all there was to offer.
And the cost was so much more than I could bear.
Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low,
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
We all begin with good intents when love was raw and young.
We believe that we could change ourselves, the past can be undone.
Though we carry on our back the burden time always reveals.
In the lonely light of morning, in the wound that would not heal.
It's the bitter taste of losing everything that I held so dear.
I've fallen. I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
Heaven bent to take my hand, I've nowhere left to turn.
I'm lost to those I thought were friends, to everyone I know.
Oh they turn their heads embarrassed, pretend that they don't see.
That it's one misstep, one slip before you know it.
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed.
Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Why I am a Christian
1). Because everyone is a believer in something. (Or else they are a complete ignoramus).
Just last night I was watching an interview with the author Bill Bryson (author of a short history of nearly everything). By his own admission, he is not a Spiritual man - but God he stated, is equally a plausible reason for the existence of every thing as any scientific explanation. To prove something scientifically, one must by definition provide irrefutable evidence that is observable, measurable and repeatable. The evolutionist and non-believer alike place their faith in their assumptions. Evolution by default is a faith. The odds of creating life and in particular humankind are extremely remote - even by the standards of an evolutionist. It takes faith to believe. It takes faith to disbelieve.
2) The Historical Evidence:
The Dead Sea Scrolls, and the number and consistency of the number of (historicity) of manuscripts close to the source and time of there authorship, provides me with a strong indication that the scriptures existed from the beginning of the early Church and that they have been transcribed accurately. Entire books have been written on this topic such as "Evidence That demands a Verdict" by Josh Mc Dowell.
3) Because of the human condition it makes sense.
The message of the Bible makes sense. I am fallible. I aspire to perfection and an "ideal me" but my own lack of discipline, imperfections, selfishness (sin) prevents me from being who I am called to be. I know I need a Saviour. Because all of us are the same, no matter how good we are - the world is in a mess. We need a Savior - a superhero (so to speak) to save us form ourselves. One author put it this way: "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior." No other religion I know of offers this.
4) Because "Grace Works" - it makes sense.
"Grace overpowers karma. Grace rewards where rewards are not justified." - Bono (U2), 2000
Our natural instinct when we are wronged is for justice or revenge. That sits right with us. We naturally believe in 'Karma', or 'we believe we sow what we reap'. That is natural justice but, that is never enough. It never satisfies.We long for something more - forgiveness. But faced with hurt, we naturally don't want to forgive, we demand justice. That's why (as Phillip Yancey termed it), to exercise Grace and forgive or give without merit - is supernatural. Grace is what would solve the problems in the middle - east. People laying down their 'rights' to justice and to revenge - and totally forgiving. Grace.
Just last night I was watching an interview with the author Bill Bryson (author of a short history of nearly everything). By his own admission, he is not a Spiritual man - but God he stated, is equally a plausible reason for the existence of every thing as any scientific explanation. To prove something scientifically, one must by definition provide irrefutable evidence that is observable, measurable and repeatable. The evolutionist and non-believer alike place their faith in their assumptions. Evolution by default is a faith. The odds of creating life and in particular humankind are extremely remote - even by the standards of an evolutionist. It takes faith to believe. It takes faith to disbelieve.
2) The Historical Evidence:
The Dead Sea Scrolls, and the number and consistency of the number of (historicity) of manuscripts close to the source and time of there authorship, provides me with a strong indication that the scriptures existed from the beginning of the early Church and that they have been transcribed accurately. Entire books have been written on this topic such as "Evidence That demands a Verdict" by Josh Mc Dowell.
3) Because of the human condition it makes sense.
The message of the Bible makes sense. I am fallible. I aspire to perfection and an "ideal me" but my own lack of discipline, imperfections, selfishness (sin) prevents me from being who I am called to be. I know I need a Saviour. Because all of us are the same, no matter how good we are - the world is in a mess. We need a Savior - a superhero (so to speak) to save us form ourselves. One author put it this way: "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior." No other religion I know of offers this.
4) Because "Grace Works" - it makes sense.
"Grace overpowers karma. Grace rewards where rewards are not justified." - Bono (U2), 2000
Our natural instinct when we are wronged is for justice or revenge. That sits right with us. We naturally believe in 'Karma', or 'we believe we sow what we reap'. That is natural justice but, that is never enough. It never satisfies.We long for something more - forgiveness. But faced with hurt, we naturally don't want to forgive, we demand justice. That's why (as Phillip Yancey termed it), to exercise Grace and forgive or give without merit - is supernatural. Grace is what would solve the problems in the middle - east. People laying down their 'rights' to justice and to revenge - and totally forgiving. Grace.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
IPod Mini
I have officially entered the world of MP3's! I picked up the new 2nd Generation Ipod Mini (in a flashy metallic silver) yesterday at the Apple store in Plano. It's been charging, so I haven't gotten a chance to really play with it yet. I'll update more later!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
My favorite song so far on U2's new album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". Probably the best album, in my opinion, to come out last year. Worth checking out at http://www.u2.com/
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Hard to believe
This year is already found it's way into March...man, time sure does fly when you're not looking!
In just a couple of weeks it'll be Spring Break around here, and then a couple weeks after that Easter will be upon us.
Seems like we just had Christmas!
In just a couple of weeks it'll be Spring Break around here, and then a couple weeks after that Easter will be upon us.
Seems like we just had Christmas!
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