Unforced Rythms of Grace

I Never Thought...

2009-01-12T21:11:00.003-05:00

I find it hard to believe that I am approaching a year that I have been seeing someone. I find it harder to believe that there was someone out there that seems to be made just for me and that she actually is willing to put up with all my "stuff".

Being a recovering addict is hard enough, but trying to date one (as Dawn is) is even a more difficult task. Intellectually I know how to live one day at a time, and to deal with life on life's terms, but so much emotional baggage can rear its ugly head that can be more of a challenge.

One of the things I have a hard time with is opening completely up to her. So many times in my past the most important people in my life have used things against me. But time after time, she has shown me that she can accept all that I am and has never pretrayed my trust.

The best part is she is a believer in Jesus Christ. We share a faith in God. We pray together and we worship together. We struggle together and we rejoice together

It feels nice to let my heart love again. It feels nice to have that loved recieved.

Thank you Dawn for loving me!! I love you so much!

Food For Thought

2009-01-12T21:01:00.004-05:00

Here I am trying to excercise more and eat better, one day at a time and my friend Wunderkraut writes about his obsession with pork products!!

Eating healthy takes work!! Normally when I got home from work I would toast a bagel and slather that puppy with lots of cream cheese!! Instead I got some Orange Roughy from the store, some tomotoes, scallions, bread crumbs and baked it. Add some rice and steamed brocolli and it was a very tasty dinner. This is not a fullfillment of some new year's resolution,but the evolution of behavior that began neary 4 years ago. It began with getting sober and now that attitude is spreading to other aspects of my life. I am glad this process is not about perfection...but rather....progression....one day at a time.

Hmmmmmmmmm..... it does look good, I was pleased with somethng a bit more healthy.

You Got to Be Kidding?!?

2009-01-08T10:17:00.001-05:00

Is this what they meant by stimulous package?

Uncertainty

2009-01-06T06:31:00.007-05:00

I found out over the weekend that a company that I had worked for has closed its manufacturing facility in Ohio. Just today I recieved an email from a friend that still works there saying that several business units are up for sale. With all this uncertainity in our economy and the constant barrage of negativity from the daily news it is no wonder that we have trouble remaining positive.

We may think losing a job or a business failure will prevent us from ever going forward in our career. We may be convinced a difficult childhood will keep us from healthy, loving relationships. Or we may feel that a physical limitation will keep us from true fulfillment. Not so in God's kingdom! Just look at what Nick Vujicic has done with his limitiations. What can we do with ours?

Let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1 NRSV)

So Much for The Contract with America...

2009-01-05T14:35:00.004-05:00

I just wonder what all the critics of the Bush admistration think about the new rules (with rather Draconian results) that are being created by Pelosi?

This is just plain cool.

2009-01-05T13:03:00.002-05:00

Ok...how do I get one???

1,825 Days Later

2009-01-05T12:48:00.002-05:00

The Mars Rovers were built to go only for 90 days. Yet, they are going strong 5 years later. I know our American Car Companies can do great things too!!

A New Year Resolution

2009-01-02T13:12:00.003-05:00

I am a day late in this post and ironically my resolution is to write more in 2009. In reflection over the past year I realize that there is much to be thankful for. It is so easy to be caught up in my own feelings and fears to forget to see how God has provided and will continue to provide through out this new year. My hope is that future writings will make me more aware and more appreciative of God's work in my life and in this world in general.

Alaska glaciers grew this year

2008-10-15T07:29:00.007-04:00

Not only did the Artic cap not melt, but the ice mass in Alaska is actually growing. This is not to suggest that we should not look for alternative fuels and be good to our enviroment. But what it does suggest is that perhaps man's influence on the enviroment and specifically global warming is not as significant as the pundits would have us believe. And the costly fixes that they demand are not needed.

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-09-26T12:20:00.002-04:00

My church did this last Sunday and it was an incredibly powerful service. We had 40 individuals cross our stage and the power and glory of our Lord and Savior was present.

Tax Cut Myth

2008-09-23T09:52:00.003-04:00

If I just listen to the political ads, I would think that George W. Bush cut the taxes on the rich and soaked the middle class with taxes. But that is not the case. As a matter of fact, according to the the IRS and Wall Street Journal, the very rich are paying a huge hunk of the burden. Here are some interesting numbers: 97% of the taxes are paid by the top 50% of income earners. 86% of the taxes are paid by the top 25% and this is an increase from 84% prior to the Bush administration. Finally, 39% of the taxes are paid by the top 1% of the rich people in this country.

How much more patriotic can the rich people be?

September 11th

2008-09-11T08:00:00.003-04:00

Has it really been 7 years since I walked into Leo's office saying a plane flew into one of the towers in New York? I remember sitting in my office listening to the radio when the first reports of the attack came over the airwaves. Initially it was there was amazement that a comercial plane could "accidently" hit the towers. Minutes later, when the second plane struck, there was no doublt this was of evil design.

Adding my views to the mix: September 11th

It's the Little Things...

2008-09-09T08:35:00.005-04:00

I found this story about how the DNC handle the flags after their convention rather disturbing. I also question the choice of credential design used at the DNC convention. All this goes to what I can only conclude is a lack of respect for our flag and for our country. You have a potential first lady who has only become proud of her country when her husband became the Democratic nominee.

Flag Etiquette
STANDARDS of RESPECT

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Artic Ice

2008-08-18T09:24:00.004-04:00

Remember towards the beginning of the year they were predicting that the artic ice was going to completely melt away?? Guess what? It did not happen. As a matter of fact, there is 30 per cent greater amount of ice on August 11, 2008 than it was on the August 12, 2007. Imagine that.

Hmm...I am beginning to think that all this man made global warming stuff might belong in the same category as big foot. But as my friend's 10 year old son told me (about bigfoot), if it appeared in the Macomb Daily....it must be true.

This is just cool

2008-08-15T23:58:00.004-04:00

I don't know about you, but I find this very cool. Makes me want to go out and chase a storm!

Update: it is ashame it is no longer available. It was really awesome.

A Member of the Family

2008-06-17T07:37:00.004-04:00

Meet Jesse. He is a 15 pound, 6 week old German Shephard. He belongs to my daughter and I am thankful I don't have to clean up after this pooch!!!

Oil from Bug Poop

2008-06-17T07:33:00.003-04:00

I really don't know what the big deal is about bacteria that give off "oil" as a waste product. Washington D. C. has been giving off hot gas for years!!

This cracks me up...

2008-06-11T11:39:00.002-04:00

One Picture Every Day Spoof - Watch more free videos

I like creative photo's and videos. This one is pretty funny.

At least they are good hockey players....

2008-06-11T10:25:00.001-04:00

Another side to the Global Warming Arguement.

2008-06-10T11:30:00.001-04:00

This is a very interesting video and does show that there is another point of view and perhaps the debate is not over. I find it interesting that we can even suggest that a scientific debate to be over especially when the science is so uncertain. Dire enviromental predictions depend on models which depend on assumptions about complex planetary systems that no one fully understands. These models are based on linear mathmatics which try to describe chaotic systems. Which is why the models are inherently flawed and forever changing. With all these uncertainties built into the global warming arguements, the conclusions that they produce are at best speculative.

Universal Health Scare

2008-06-10T10:59:00.004-04:00

For those who think that Univerisal Health care is going to cover everyone univerisally....well...just check out what goes on in Canada. Certainly this is an extreme case, but the rules that will be imposed on us under a Univerisal Health Care plan will leave many without medical benefits. I think a better way would be to create a system where individuals can purchase their own plans like they do auto insurance. Also, the government could give tax credit for health care expenditures, dollar for dollar, rather than waiting for some thresh hold to be obtained.

What Liberalism is About...

2008-05-23T14:51:00.001-04:00

Finally, Democrats reveal their true colors and intentions. Oil, Health Care and who knows what else!

Global warming...My motives...

2008-03-28T14:12:00.003-04:00

Joel responded to a post on Global warming I had written. Joel said...
"Read Peter Doran's clarification of one of the articles you posted. I bring this up because the essential part of the global warming arguement should be about facts and interpretation, not a shotgun blast of journal titles that seem to contradict other scientific findings. Also, anyone who has been involved in scientific research knows that the idea that scientists are a "team that goes along (with the 'popular' idea)" knows that statement to be far from the truth. Finally, I can say that personally, my environmentalism was caused by my learning and understanding of science. Many of you suggest that environmentalists become scientists to forward misleading theories based on previously-held beliefs. I think you are way off the mark here."

Joel suggests that I hold a belief that enviromenatalists become scientists to forward misleading theories. That is not true. What I do believe is that there is certainly a force to treat as absolute fact a cause for global warming and I have been saying that more research is needed to determine what the reasons are. Peter Doran acknowldeges that even in the Antartic that some areas show a warming trend while others show a cooling trend. He acknowledges that more needs to be studied in order to determine a actual trend. I know he believes that on a global scale, temperatures are rising. I am sure he believes it is cause by humans, but he does not know, just like I don't know that it is not.

Joel was critical of the "shot gun blast" of journal titles. That is not a shot gun blast, but a list of scholary articles, many published in refereed journals showing what other people are researching. This type of thing is essential in a scientific debate. It also shows that human caused global warming is not a fact. It is a hypothesis that still needs testing.

One of the main reason I feel strongly about showing the other side of the debate is because nothing ticks me off more than when I hear from a politician or read letter to the editor suggesting a solution to global warming is to raise taxes on gasoline. That is just idiotic. No matter how high the price of gas goes, the distance I drive to work will remain the same. I will still burn fuel. I still will put carbon dioxide into the air. And the earth will warm or cool as it pleases.

Sobering Video

2008-02-17T16:13:00.002-05:00

Newt Gingritch offers some thoughts on the war on terror and how displaced from reality we are. I think he makes some good points regarding the nature of these Muslim terrorists and how our secular logic does not apply.

Happy? Groundhog Day!

2008-02-02T17:23:00.001-05:00

According to reports, we are going to have 6 more weeks of winter. Thanks Phil....thanks!

The apology

2008-01-31T08:23:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a cartoon from the Mike Thompson Blog.

Taking a page from the James McGreevy play book, Kwame used his wife to gain sympathy from the people of Detroit.

Ultimately, he will have to answer to the real issue of lying under oath ultimately costing the city nearly 9 million dollars.

For the past week, this scandal has really taken the focus off the issues of the city and for that reason, this mayor should step down. His actions has called into question everything he has done in the past and what he may do in the future.

Below is the "apology" offered by the mayor:

And finally..here is some art work from a co-worker:

Giants over Green Bay predicted 20 years ago...

2008-01-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

He is worthy...

2008-01-22T13:37:00.000-05:00

Today was not a good day...by my own definitions. What I like about this song is it puts my mind back where it should be. Today is a great day

All Creatures Great and Small

2008-01-21T22:32:00.000-05:00

I look at this cat and my heart wants him. My daughter sees him and she is instantly in love. Why? It is a defected feline. Crippled. Not perfect. Yet Em's heart and my heart are completely captured.

It is not because we feel sorry for the cat. Emily told me that Charlie seems more loving, more affectionate than a "normal" cat. She sees the cat, not for what he might lack in coordination, but what attributes he has that are unique to him. Perhaps he sees his "brokeness" (ok..I am reading more into a cat than what he thinks) and appreciates more.

My next thought was when our Heavenly Father sees our brokeness his heart does not close. Instead, it opens right up and he wants to draw us near. This is because he sees us not as we are, but as he has created us. I sometimes have to remember this, otherwise I can really get down on myself. I have to remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!

How does God speak to you?

2008-01-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

That was todays scripture that appears on my blog. Frankly I am blown away. I am blown away because of the subjects I have written about here. Because of what others have revealed in their blogs...I think for the first time. Because of the subjects shared at my last recovery meeting. Because of stuff my accountabilty partner...oh heck...my best friend has shared with me.

I don't know how God talks to you or others. But this is how I hear God's voice in my life. Things pop up in the weirdest places..and usually in multiples. As is the case for me in the past few days. Oh...I do not delude myself in thinking I am special. I am absolutely sure that God speaks to us all. But we have to listen for him. I spent 42 solid years not listening for God, so I missed a lot of good conversation. But I am making up for it now.

So...before you go to bed....or eat that meal...or go off in your car. Turn off the radio, tv, and other noise...and listen. God has something cool to say today.

Hillary's Campaign Car

2008-01-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

I have to thank my buddy Joe for sending this too me:

If Hillary were to design a car, based on the way she lays out her campaign message, this is what it may look like.

You figure out which way she's heading.

Universal Health Care

2008-01-18T12:51:00.001-05:00

Frankly, universal health care frightens me. It amazes me that you hear from the media and people how the government can't be trusted and how evil the Bush administration is, yet they want a government run health care system. What am I missing?

Privacy is Dead....Long Live Privacy

2008-01-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

Oh, just great!

This kind of idea will seriously jeopardize my googling and Youtubing!!

Save Me From Myself

2008-01-15T21:54:00.000-05:00

"The amazing true story of an out-of-control rock star, his devastating addiction to drugs, and his miraculous redemption through Jesus Christ."

This is the true story of Brian "Head" Welch's, former lead guitarist and founding member of Korn, deliverance from the shackles of addiction. I picked this book up after hearing my pastor read some sections of it. Immediately I identified with Head in his struggle with addiction and the process of finding our Lord Jesus while in the midst of this insanity.

As addicts we take ourselves out of the whole context of what is right or wrong. We have lost control, no longer having the power of choice and are not free to stop. Eventually addicts die or they recover. There is no middle ground. And to recover we must find God. There, too, is no compromise. Step 2 in AA states: We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. This power is God and He will complete take away the obsession of our addictions if we are willing to surrender our lives for His will.

Save Me From Myself is a story of exactly this. It is honest and it is raw, but I have come away, so far, with the feeling of its authenticity. Like Head, I found Christ when I was a teen, and like Head, I turned away and lived an entirely different life than what God had intended. At the church I went too, I still felt disconnected. I felt a distant between me and my Savior and I certainly could not relate to the people I attended church with. I lived in this insanity for decades before coming to the church I now attend.

One of the programs they have is Celebrate Recovery. In CR I met other people like me. Finally, I found men and women that had real issues I could relate too and passionately sought God! The purpose of Celebrate Recovery’s ministry is to fellowship and celebrate God's healing power in our lives through the "8 Recovery Principles." This experience allows us to "be changed." By working and applying these Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others. As we progress through the program we discover our personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power - Jesus Christ, the one and only true Higher Power.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to see the first hand accounts of the devastating power of addiction and ultimately how God works in the trenches to heal what most may view as lost causes! Head's growing addiction to methamphetamines crippled his career and jeopardized his relationship with his young daughter. After a long battle, Head found God, quit the band, kicked drugs, and lived to tell. His confession holds little back. The bottom came when a tweaked-out Head hears his 5-year-old daughter, Jennea, sing the misogynistic lyrics to Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S. ''I was already in the gutter,'' he writes. ''I knew it was time for me to try and reach out for help.''

Thanks for reading.

Ok..it is sexist...but I am not screaming for anyone to iron my shirt!

2008-01-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

I got these in an email from a female friend . The chemist part of me really appreciated the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Citizenship

2008-01-09T12:11:00.000-05:00

Both Huckabee and Ron Paul have suggested that the Constitution should be amended eliminating birthright to citizenship. At first I was completely against this idea, but after reading what the 14th Amendment really meant in historical terms, I am thinking that this should be considered.

The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868 and it was intended to secure rights for former slaves, people who were brought here against their will. According to some Houston hospitals, administrators estimate that 70 or 80% of the babies born have parents who are in the country illegally. The birthright citizenship is being used fraudulently and is taxing the resources of the United States.

Addicition

2008-01-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

This is a very difficult blog to write. It is a subject that is very close to me in that I am an addict and I could have been the man that caused such destruction. I have been following the case of the accident in Toledo that took and ruined so many lives. I have been following Leo's blogs on the subject. Each time I have wanted to comment on them because they touch me deeply to my core. It reminds me of my own journey through the lies of addiction.

I am an addict. However, through the Grace of God and only by His Grace, I am a recovering addict today. Addiction is certainly a tool of the enemy. Here is a summary of the addictive process:

It begins with an overpowering desire for a high, relief pleasure, or for me...an escape.

It provides satisfaction. For me it was a satisfaction I have never known before in my life.

It is sought repeatedly and compulsively.

It then takes on a a life of its own.

It becomes excessive

Satisfaction diminishes.

Distress is produced

Emotional control decreases.

Ability to relate deteriorates.

Ability for daily living is disrupted.

Denial becomes necessary

It takes priority over everything else

It becomes the main coping mechanism.

The coping mechanism stops working.

The party is over.

For any addict or alcoholic, the progression is relentless and inevitable. Within any given moment of our lives, however, we were unaware of the extent it had driven us and refused to see where it was leading. Like revelers riding a raft down a river of pleasure, we were unaware of the awesome power of the rapids or the whirlpool ahead.

I am not sure at what point I became an addict. I do know that a significant source was the relationship I had with my father. Because it I closed off inside, like dropping a curtain between me and him; and the world too, somehow. I threw some kind of tremendous silent switch. I would never again be on the outside what I was on the inside. What I was on the inside suddenly changed, and part of me retreated into that dark tunnel, way inside myself. I think that's when my resentment must have crystallized inside me. Let me see if I can play it back.

I remember turning away from my father, silently submissive on the outside, but something on the inside turned deep and dark. I just know I had a drastic change in attitude then, like a whole new mode of being. I was going to do what I wanted to do!

This attitude was against my dad. In order for me to keep doing what I wanted. I had to set myself against him. But it had to be on the inside, because I was afraid to assert myself.

There wasn't even a dilemma; I just went ahead and used again without a thought. But every time thereafter, using had a totally new feeling to it. It got me out of myself. A vast satisfaction. Great relief. Total escape from that inner pressure. What a fantastic release!

As a matter of fact, the first and subsequent using and drinking seemed like totally different experiences. The first was simply a new and pleasurable physical sensation that I didn't understand and something I could not bring out and discuss. The others weren't really physical at all; acting out was merely the means for entering a whole new and free world inside me. It was spiritual, there's no other way to describe it. I really can't overstate this feeling. The physical was nice but not big deal; but what a glorious discovery the other was!

However, this glorious discovery was a lie! I would find myself stealing away, racing into Detroit to score and return undetected. I was married to a wonderful woman, I had two great kids, a career and none of that was enough to keep me sober. I was doing what I wanted to do in an ideal situation, surrounded by love and nurturing and yet I kept on going downhill. I began to see that all those great feelings of release and freedom that had accompanied the progression of the malady had been delusions. I had no idea that I was deluding myself, creating my own insanity. One stage at a time, I had been seducing and victimizing myself into a great lie: The Wages of Addiction is Life. I had never come to terms with the true nature of my problem: The Wages of Addiction is Death!

I progressed in the lie until finally, even the thought of using or merely seeing something related to alcohol ignited the compulsion, and I would have to go out and score my "drug". As the pattern of periodic despair worsened relentlessly, I finally concluded that I would never have true relief until I was dead and buried!

I tried everything to stop and handle this thing. I even considered exorcism believing at a time I was possessed! There was nothing left for me to try; there was nowhere else to go and still be in charge, managing my will and life. I see now that all my religious striving and psychotherapy I was waiting for the miracle to happen first, that I should somehow be zapped or "fixed," unable to ever fall or be tempted again. I thought that if a person just had the right religious belief, he was automatically "a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." That all thought of using would be removed, much as a tumor would be excised by a surgeon. The "religious solution" was one of the subtlest strategies in my arsenal of denial.

What I did not realize that the essence of being human is to have free choice. God does not want to remove from me the possibility of falling; he wants me to have the freedom to choose not to fall. I'd been praying self-righteously all along, "Please God, take it away!" no realizing my inner heart was piteously whining, "...so I won't have to give it up." There was belief in God without surrender. That belief availed nothing! I had never died to addiction! I finally got it back on April 9th, 2005.

That date certainly does not represent the end of pain, that is for sure. But it does represent the admission I was an addict and I had to finally take responsibility for me. It represents the day I gave up. Surrendered. That no amount of earthly power could "cure" me. I finally turned my will to God and gave all of me to Him. October 16, 2005 I found a church that is now my home church. I am a follower of Christ that has issues!

I can't believe that the person I have written about today is the same one who used to think and do the things I've described. Actually, that other person was a slave, he was living in a world of fantasy and illusion, only for himself, and always alone. He had never matured through emotional adolescence and was spiritually dead. He could not cope either with his own emotions or with life in the big world out there, and was constantly running. Running to satisfy demands of alcohol, addiction, lust, all that could never be satisfied. Running from who he really was, running from others, running from life, running from God, the source of his life.

The running is over. I have found what I was really looking for.

Another Christmas behind us!

2007-12-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

There are somethings about the season I will not miss!!

Even (illegal?) Aliens get in on the political frey!

2007-12-30T09:27:00.000-05:00

My friend Leo has posted a commentary by what I am assuming is an illegal alien. I doubt he (perhaps she) has a green card.

The Attack Ads Must Stop!!!

2007-12-30T08:38:00.000-05:00

They have gone too far!

Patriots: Undefeated! An exciting evening of sports...

2007-12-29T23:59:00.000-05:00

Tonight both presented excitement coupled with a dilemma. On one hand I could watch the New England Patriots make history or I could watch the Red Wings continue on an extra-ordinary season.

On one channel I watched as the Patriots rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit and scored 22 straight points beating New York 38 to 35.

On another I watched Pavel Datsyuk score with just over four minutes remaining in the third period to break a tie and help the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

On one channel I witnessed the first NFL team to finish the regular season 16-0. They're the first undefeated team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears also finished undefeated in the regular season.

On the other I am witnessing the Red Wings probably have the best season ever.

It was a great night of sports!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T16:47:00.001-05:00

I want to share something that Max Lucado wrote. And then something Linus had said.

An EXTRA-Ordinary Night

Today your Savior was

born in the town of David.

He is Christ, the Lord

LUKE 2:11

An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "extra" on the fornt of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away.

But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz.

The black sky exploded with brightness. Trees that had been shadows jumped into clarity. Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curioustiy. One minute the shepherd was dead asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien.

The night was ordinary no more.

The angel came in the night because that is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed. God comes into the common for the same reason. His most powerful tools are the simplest.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Happy Festivus Everyone!!

2007-12-23T07:59:00.000-05:00

Festivus is an annual holiday that was made popular by Reader's Digest writer and editor Daniel O'Keefe. It was Daniel's son, a writer for Seinfeld that intorduced this "holiday" to most of us by way of a Seinfeld episode that was air on December 18, 1997.

By December 2004, when Allen Salkin's article about Festivus as a real holiday appeared in the New York Times, thousands of people around the world were celebrating Festivus with parties, grievance-airing, pole-erecting, beer-brewing and the invention of new Festivus rituals.

What I take from this particular episode is how far the Christmas season has moved from it's true meaning. In many ways, the entire season has become as meaningless as this fictional holiday. As soon as Halloween is over, many stations start playing "christmas" music (I put it in quotes because most of the songs don't even mention Christ) non-stop.

Like it or not, this season is about the birth of Christ. When God became man. It all happened in a most remarkable moment. God became a man. Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

He gave up his place with God and made himslef nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. -Phillipians 2:7

God had come near!!

Merry Christmas!

The 12 Days of Christmas

2007-12-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

This was very fun and different!

Merry Christmas!!

It depends how you define Consensus

2007-12-20T11:06:00.000-05:00

I have to concede that there exists a consensus concerning man made global warming. I have to face facts. If we discard over 400 prominent scientists, the remaining scientists form a consensus

Evil Corn Syrup

2007-12-19T13:18:00.000-05:00

The mayor of San Francisco wants to levy a tax on Pepsi and Coke and other products that contain high fructose corn syrup. Just another illustration of how government knows better.

With New York City banning trans-fats in resturants, San Francisco taxing soft drinks, other places banning smoking in cars, I feel healthier and safer already! I just wonder what other decisions should be turned over to the government?

More global warming?

2007-12-19T12:53:00.001-05:00

David Deming wrote an interesting piece in the Washington Times. David is a geophysicist, an adjunct scholar with the National Center for Policy Analysis, and associate professor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma. I would say he has some credibility in the area of global warming and science in general. I do realize he is not a Nobel Peace prize recipient who is also an acomplished film maker, author and former Vice President, but never the less, I think he may have some insight.

Acccording to Dr. Deming, the global mean temperature has increased 0.7 degrees Celsius. "This slight warming is not unusual, and lies well within the range of natural variation. Carbon dioxide continues to build in the atmosphere, but the mean planetary temperature hasn't increased significantly for nearly nine years. Antarctica is getting colder. Neither the intensity nor the frequency of hurricanes has increased. The 2007 season was the third-quietest since 1966. In 2006 not a single hurricane made landfall in the U.S."

I am not suggesting that this is evidence that anthropological global warming does not exist, but it does merit that true scientific investigations be conducted to answer these questions. The idea of "scientific" consensus on anything is dangerous. It is especially dangerous when skeptics are ostracized.

Chuck Norris Endorses Huckabee

2007-12-18T12:15:00.000-05:00

Maybe Obama has Oprah, but Mike has Chuck!

Here is one way not to leave a kid behind..or is it?

2007-12-14T14:07:00.000-05:00

I used to feel bad about not doing well in geometry back in high school. Sure I did not try to memorize the theorums and proofs. I usually did not even bother doing the home work. Even still, I felt bad.

But now I don't. What I did not know is that the teachers had high expectations that were unrealistic. They expected me to do my home work, study, and be prepared for exams. What were they thinking??

That is what Principal Bennett Lieberman told his teachers at Central Park East High in East Harlem.

In a memo he has ordered his teachers to lower the standards to increase the rates of passing grades. After all, this is exactly how you prepare the youth of these cities to be prepared for college and the work force.

If only Wayne State did not have those silly rules and expectations....I would be a medical doctor right now.

Moral Imperitives versus sound Science

2007-12-14T10:38:00.000-05:00

I think Al Gore is showing some true colors ranting about ignoring the United States and urging the world to pursue a "new global regime" base on a "moral imperitive". Never mind science.

As usuall, the only solution governments can ever come up with is to tax it and hope the issue goes away. But as we have seen in the United States over our history, increase taxation does not eliminate hunger, poor education or poverty, if anything, it makes them worse.

For the record, I am not suggesting that the planet is not increasing in temperature. What I am suggesting is we do not know if this is a natural cycle or if humans have contributed to it. Based on studies I have read, I see a powerful arguement for natural cycles over man made emissions. Having said that, though, I would like nothing more than to see us become independent from oil and to do better for our enviroment. But we must do it in a scientifically sound manner rather than the folly displayed by Gore and his ilk.

Thoughts on Global Warming

2007-12-10T12:32:00.000-05:00

Baby Tax need to save planet

Eco-Friendly Kangaroo Farts could help global warming

These article cracks me up!! It truly amazes me the hysteria generated from books like An Inconvienient Truth. I say hysteria because the defenders of the catastrophic global warming models completely reject any form of skeptism and denounce those that do as stupid and ignorant.

Supporters of global warming ( and truly what I mean is warming caused by the activity of people) say that there is a large consensus that it is, infact, occuring. They will point to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC). It is important to point out that the IPCC is itself an arm of the UN and therefore part of a political organization. Its panel members are selected by politicians and it has an agenda of its own. Several polls of professional opinion indicate that widespread scientific scepticism exists with the IPCC orthodoxy. The published science that the IPCC draws upon to make its recommendations is mostly authoritative and widely accepted but, at the same time,
many distinguished and well qualified scientists, including myself,(you are supposed to laugh here) disagree with some of its findings.

Nowhere does Mr. Gore tell his audience or readers that all of the phenomena described in AIT fall within the natural range of previous environmental change on our planet. Nor does he present any evidence that climate during the 20th century departed discernibly from its historical pattern of constant change. This is not surprising, for no such evidence has been identified. Nor – remarkably, in view of its importance to his overall thesis - does Mr. Gore mention that global average
temperature shows no greenhouse warming at the earth’s surface since at least 1998, and none in the lower atmosphere since 1979. Because of such egregious selectivity, AIT presents as propaganda for a global warming cause rather than as a balanced and well-made documentary about climate science reality.

When you have trouble making sense of your observations, check the fundamentals behind your basic premises; in this case, those behind the prediction of global warming.

When I hear predictions based on averages and standard deviations, I can tell without knowing the details of any of the various models that the person making the prediction is using the mathematics of closed, random systems. Because the phenomena being modeled are open, chaotic systems for which no good mathematics have yet been devised, the output of such models should be suspect.

In addition, the predictions and measurements to support those predictions are expressed in temperature of the atmosphere. When predictions and measurement refer to heat, the appropriate unit is calories. To translate calories into atmospheric temperature requires knowledge of each component of the system, because the specific heat of the atmosphere varies markedly with its moisture content.

The first and second laws of thermodynamics should also be considered. They require the interconvertability of all forms of energy, and the trend toward maximum entropy (disorder or chaos). Thus, radiant energy from the sun is absorbed as thermal energy that is converted in part into the dynamic energy of wind and wave, the latent energy of water vapor in the atmosphere, and the electrical energy accumulated in clouds. Combined in this chaotic mix is the thermal energy from Earth’s core and the kinetic energy of the tides, which is created by the momentum of the moon. This is a picture of multiple inputs and interlocking energy cycles-chaos indeed!!

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Doctor Control

2007-11-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

FACTS TO PONDER:

(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000

(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year
are 120,000

(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.

Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human
Services.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now think about this:

Guns:

(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is
80,000,000.

(Yes, that's 80 million..)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all
age groups, is

1,500.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is

.000188

Statistics courtesy of the FBI

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So, statistically, doctors are approximately

9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN,

BUT

ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We
must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Out of concern for the public at large, we have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical
attention!

Psalm 23

2007-09-05T15:45:00.001-04:00

Psalm 23 as only a child can tell it...this adorable video illustration is a must see.

I think I am liking Fred Thompson

2007-06-20T14:27:00.000-04:00

I have been dismayed over the lack luster conservatism of this current administration and I have been nearly despondent about the cast of mediorce characters claiming to be republicans. Then along came Fred. He is an unapologetic conservative and I am happy.

You can get a good idea how Thompson thinks by reading his rebuttal to a piece by Ramesh Ponnuru in National Review titled “Thompson’s Tort Trouble”.

Besides that, I like him in Law and Order. And ontop that...the potential first lady...well...

Perhaps Bush did not lie....

2007-06-12T13:17:00.000-04:00

I am amazed that the liberals forget that they too once believed that Saddam had WMD's, supported Terrorism and even was seeking Nukes. But the hatred for George W. is so deep that they will accuse him of anything.

As I see it, Bush made the decision he made based on the evidence he had. Evidence that everyone else had and believed as well. I am confident, if this happened on Clintons watch, he would have taken similar actions. If John Kerry was in office, he too would have taken similar action.

At least, I hope they would have put the safety of our nation ahead of their liberal leanings.

What is important??

2007-06-11T11:22:00.000-04:00

Everytime I turned around all I heard about was Paris, Paris, Paris. I find it sad that what our news folks find most important to broadcast is the antics of some flaky girl. I also find it sad that most young people will only recognize two out of the four photos. Somewhere our priorites are goofed up!

The So Called "Fairness Doctrine"

2007-05-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

It may come to a shock to some to learn that I lean to the right on the political spectrum. And I always am delighted to point out the hypocracy of the left. For example, this Fairness Doctrine that is being re-considered. Talk about disregarding the Constitution. Isn't that the complaint of Bush's foes?

Let me think...which amendment would the Fairness Doctrine trample on??? Oh..the First amendment. Hmmm..to me...since it is first....the forefathers must have thought it was a tad important. Of course language can sometimes be unclear, so I can see how the Dems might need ...wait...I just read it...it seems pretty darn clear to me...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Shall make no law...yeah..that is subject to interpretation.

Teachers Stage Fake Gun Attack

2007-05-14T09:51:00.000-04:00

During a school trip teachers decide to conduct a drill that backfires horribly. According to the school, this was simply a "prank" to be used as a tool for learning. The memo issued by the school down play their responsibility for such a thoughtless act on children and blame parents and media for making a bigger deal out of this that what it merits. But I can't help but think what would their opinion be if a student conducted a similar prank in the school? Or posted a threatening prank on the web? I recall things like this happening and those students were prosecuted.

So, what did the kids learn anyway? Will this be on a test next week?

The Way Big Government Should Be

2007-05-10T13:46:00.000-04:00

Ok...frankly I am getting tired of listening to the news and hearing the same old rhetoric from the political parties. I think we should look at what they do in Taiwan and broadcast it on the Fox network during prime time. I think this would:

1: Get Nascar fans and WWF fans politically involved

2: Get name recognition for political canidates

3: Improve our economy through advertising dollars.

Just imagine how satisfying it would be to see Nancy Pelosi and Dick Cheney go at it??

My First Post

2007-05-08T15:05:00.000-04:00

Well...here it is my first post. I am at a loss as to what I should write about but perhaps I should write something that might give insight to who I am without being that typical autobiographical type stuff.

I will do this by talking about a book in the bible. Now I tremble at this idea because I am of no authority to discuss such things because I am so new in my Christian walk. But what brought me here, however was a life time in the making. So I will at least talk about this book from the point I know so well; how it relates to me and people like me. The book I want to use as an introduction of me is the book of Ephisians. I really got an appreciantion for this book by reading a book by Watchman Nee called "Sit, Walk, Stand".

The Ephesians’ church had been planted through Paul’s influence, and for a few years he had served as its pastor. This church thrived in a city renowned as a center for the worship of the goddess Artemis (also known as Diana). While Paul was there, the Ephesian believers maintained a strong attachment to him, and when he left they openly expressed their sorrow.

How could the Ephesian church survive for the long haul in it hostile environment? They could not depend on Paul’s presence forever, with God’s help they would have to learn to stand on their own. Paul wrote this letter to remind the Ephesian believers to place their faith in the only solid foundation for healthy living -- God.

How can we maintain our recovery in a hostile environment? None of us have the resources or strength to initiate and sustain our recovery alone. Paul asserted one important fact: We can change! But our transformation is possible only on God’s terms. We can recover if we break with our former way of life and depend on God’s power to help us change. While programs and supportive people are helpful. Lasting recovery happens only when we recognize our need for a higher power-the God who created us and sustains our life.

Belief in God and obedience to his will are keys to a genuine, stable recovery. If we adopt an attitude of submissions to God’s authority and care, and our attitudes and actions reflect God’s truth, we will indeed make progress. Recovery that ignores God is doomed to failure; recovery that depends on God will succeed.

My hope for this and future blogs is that I do God's will.

Thanks for reading.