Humor Time

You must and I mean must read this post on a discussion forum about bees. If this picture isn't enough to whet your appetite so you go to read it, I just don't know what else to do.

I would say. "Wow. Kentucky!" But this is in FL.

Quarter for your thoughts...

Do you ever wonder who gets together to come up with these things? The author sure does. Most of the state-themed quarters are pretty innocuous, even a nice changeup from the norm. They make the general claims and identify their state by what most know it. Texas has a lone star on it, Delaware has the first state, Washington references its natural beauty. The real issue arises when states make outlandish claims. In the crosshairs today is the great state of Iowa. Their quarter, minted in 2004 shows what appears to be a one room schoolhouse. A teacher is outside with some students, and they are planting a tree. In the background are rolling hills, and above the schoolhouse are emblazoned these words: "FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION."

A couple of things really stick out here. First, the rolling hills seem to me a bit off for a place like Iowa. I've been there. It's flat. I must've missed the hills. I'll give them benefit of the doubt here.

The real issue though is the foundation of education part. I understand that Iowa stresses education, and they place relatively high in test scores, but for goodness' sake people! You were the 29th state. In the early years of this nation, you were considered "The West!" Maybe their education never prompted them to understand what foundation means. I like definition 5a the best: "A body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid." Now I could maybe buy some of the foundation thing based on standardized testing, but when a place like Harvard was founded (and named Harvard) roughly 200 years before you became a state, the foundation tag just seems a bit off.

Personally, I would've gone with "fueling the future" (However ridiculous the actual proposition is) and had a picture of a person jamming some corn on the cob into a car's fuel tank. It would've been awesome. I was here all along Iowa, and you missed your chance to ask. "Foundation of education." Honestly!

Next in the crosshairs: Indiana.

Dissonance

I have been meaning to post about some challenges I've encountered in the past year dealing with things that should be part of a normal Christian mindset (Love, hope, preserving the natural world, encouraging freedom and justice, wholeness and hope, etc.) In addition to that, had hoped to make some points about what flowed out of those things. People who eat better, drive better, exercise and think critically and with a keen mind. I still hope to do that, but Zach beat me to it. You should check his post on eschatology and diverging views.

Baby tossing and mad skills...

There seems to be some general frustration with Cullum baby tossing that has been received either via comment or e-mail by the author of this sub-par blog. As an example to my comments regarding tossing and balance from the last post, I give you my cousin Matt. I also give you evidence that baby tossing works. Just watch the video.

The fam

This picture was snapped outside of Sonny's in Largo, FL on friday night. One of the great child tosses ever.

In other news. Uncle Sam is now an uncle for the 3rd time. Eli Joseph was born April 30th, weighing in at a strong 8 lbs, 7 oz and 21" in length. Good on ya mate!

Stripping...get your mind out of the gutter

I'm going to try to pull together a couple ideas here. First, it would likely be helpful if you read John 6. This chapter shows how Jesus broke up a large portion of his following by saying things that he knew would be offensive to them (I wish I could say I thought of this on my own, but I didn't. Check out the messages Deconstruction and Reconstruction from Mars Hill Bible Church about 2 years ago). It is reminiscent of the story of Gideon and his men taking on the Midianites(Judges 6 and 7).

Another story of note comes from the Chronicles of Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. One of the characters is turned into a dragon, and in order to return to his human state, a lion must shred all of the skin, scales and natural dragon protection off of him. He must then bathe in a nearby water source.

There is one common theme among these three stories: after the stripping, something emerges. And what emerges is a core, a nucleus, a true locus.

I realize I have in no way expounded on this in any kind of exhaustive sense, but there's some research and thought that can go into this. What needs to be stripped away? What is essential? How do we protect ourselves from true abandon and thus push away a God in whom we say we believe?

Also relevant to this discussion is the need to be a force for good when people are going through things like this. May we not try to fit people into our understanding of God, but instead lift up and rely on Him to supply for their needs, not ourselves. In other words, speak words of life, not those of death and condemnation.

This week's sign the apocalypse is nigh...

You might have to click on the photo and zoom to see that bumper sticker, but just in case; it says "It's God's job to judge the terrorists; it's our job to arrange the meeting." - Marines

Two questions:

1) What makes us believe in the myth of redemptive violence? What I mean to say is, how do we expect violence to beget anything but violence. (I'm not saying there aren't things worth fighting for, but we should be, if anything, very sober about being at war)

2) Isn't this the same idea the terrorists have about us? hmmm.

Cornhole for Life

For those of you thinking, "that Sam is always so crass and today is simply another example!", I'm gonna need you to simma down. I am not in fact being crass, but merely supporting a good cause. Cancer is a terrible thing. Don't get me wrong; Conspiracy theorist Sam questions the support for research and discovery by pharmaceutical companies with obvious conflicts of interest. What with cancer being a multi-million/billion dollar industry. Let's look past that today.

Today is the annual ACS Relay for Life Cornhole tournament fundraiser, and I for one am excited. Not solely because it's actually warm here again. No, no, but because I'm paired with our 70+ year old golf-addicted (but a really nice guy) Janitor. "Why", you may ask "are you excited, Sam?" Because this guy is one of the few who feel compelled to mess with his bosses, especially on things like this. Probably also because this man has made phrases such as "That's what she said" things of lore, but I digress. First round matchup, we've got one co-worker, and one of the family owners of the company. Needless to say, my partner will be down on the end of this guy givin' him he (+) *2 hockey sticks all day. Life is good.

Race Report from the Columbus 1/2 marathon

If you would like to read from the perspective of a friend of mine who I paced in this race you may find it here. In other news, running races at exertion rates below normal is pretty fun. Also, two guys tied for the win of the 1/2 marathon. That's pretty sweet.

What Sam will look like running tomorrow...

Just in case you were curious, Sam's not the guy on the sled; he's one of the dogs. A little half marathon and the weather forecast looks great: High 43 with rain and snow.

This is what Sam will feel like when he's done.

I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with Sam. He knows it's going to be cold, and wishes the weather were better, but for some reason doesn't care, and is really looking forward to runnning in the freezing cold and precipation. Pleas pray for Sam as he obviously has some serious issues with which he needs to deal before he can again become a functioning member of society.

What if...

(This will hopefully become a feature of hope and vision, but we'll see...)

What if we were an unquestioned force for good in the world? What if, instead of caring more about our control, wealth, and status quo, we were more interested in being revolutionaries for the causes of freedom, justice, hope, and redemption? What if our morals and actions were unimpeachable?

How would this change people around us? How would people react if they didn't feel like we came for a fight, but rather with only an agenda of service? How would they react to the word Christian? Would it change the world?

Interlude

I just think these goats look awesome! If you disagree, I'm sorry to have troubled you and taken your time............................No. I'm really not.

Here, now, but what about tomorrow?

It is difficult to remove many of the sources of noise from one's life. It is especially difficult in the modern mindset to fiercefully guard times of true relaxation. The battle is largely within the self, as silence and calm is a thing to be feared. It is a challenge to go there, to be quiet, to sit, but is something we all must do if we hope to truly have peace.

Something many people struggle with, myself fully included is the question of "what's next?" It's so hard not to ask, not to want to know, not to have the drop on the guy next to you... But today has enough troubles of its own, and it will take care of itself. We have but to realize that we are in fact the people we are right now. We will do different things, think different things, know different things; but who we are is who we are. We must stop lying to ourselves about the person we are and face facts. Be honest and stop cutting ourselves slack. Look at our own lives with the same keen and critical eye we see others. Change is possible, but even that ability or desire to change is part of who you are right now. If you're currently unwilling to undergo painful change, then you will likely remain that way and always speak of things you will or could do differently. For those of us who can't say anything without it having a futurist bent, it can be put a different way: we are the people we are becoming. May the mysterious and merciful peace of God rest in our minds.

Rites of Spring

For those of you who are obviously communists, you wouldn't understand this, so just disregard. For those true red-blooded americans among us, yesterday was opening day.

You know, more thought reveals to me that baseball holds a strange dichotomy: the ridiculous salaries of today's players have changed the interaction of player and fan, but baseball still represents a sport that is altogether different from the other major sports (except for maybe soccer, which is interminably boring to watch). The regal pace of the game holds value for those of us who appreciate the fact that a conversation can be had, relaxation and company can be enjoyed, and a sporting event can take place all at the same time. Here's to slow games, summer afternoons, and rest.

Spring in KY

Spring is here. Life from Death. Redemption. Fresh Air. Beauty in Nature. Blessings!

You want a piece of this guy?

I didn't think so. Get back to work...

Truth's Treasure

The Lenten readings for this morning involved 2 rather interesting passages: Jeremiah 26:1-6 and Romans 11:1-12. You should read them if you haven't already (it'll really help you understand what I'm writing about, or maybe just make you disagree with me. That and I've linked them here for you so it's soooo easy).

Jeremiah speaks the word of the Lord in the city and the hearers of his message summarily decide he needs to die because he has spoken "against the city!" Oooooohh, the city... After a little bit, they do figure out that maybe they shouldn't kill him like they did most other prophets who said things they didn't like, but the point is made. Do you see it? The city is the thing on which the people are staking their hope and salvtion. They've made it into a god. "Someone is speaking against the city? Kill him!"

Mortar fades, walls fall, comfort will leave, and riches will be exhausted. "The City"??

And if you read the excerpt from Romans, you might get why I ask this: what are these things that cause us to ignore reality? To say, "you can't say that. That will upset the delicate balance I've struck. What are those little (or large) parts of our lives to which we pay homage, be it mental, emotional, or monetary. Because apparently, there's a remnant of those who will seek truth over their comfort. I'd rather be on the good side of truth than always happy for 60 years.

The myth of an easy life

Ever talk to people who think life should be easy? Ever talk to someone who thinks the man is trying to keep them down? I know I have, and I think it's one of the more interesting parts of the human condition because it delves so deeply into what we deserve. I find myself doing this from time to time, especially with God; but that's something for a whole other time.

Erwin McManus, a preacher and writer in L.A. who works in the inner city made some interesting observations in one of his messages. He commented that one pervasive idea amongst the people he worked with was that rich people, famous people, and successful people had never been forced to endure hardship. That very few recognized that to be successful (in whatever way it is defined), discipline, focus, toughness, and timing must all be involved.

My $0.02 is that often people know the things they need to do to make their life better, but fear of the unknown and resistance to change handicaps this potential. We must be willing to suffer through painful change in order to become the people we are meant and were created to be.

Birthday Time

My niece Prema's 8th birthday was last week. Kid's birthdays are so much more fun than adults.

Aaaaahhhh! The Sky is falling! The sky is falling! oh wait....I guess we're okay

I'm thinking of starting a website named rampantyahooism.org. Why you ask when there are such quality institutions such as mythbusters and the like? Maybe that's why the blog is so aptly named with it's URL. (quick disclaimer: I've said some stupid things, so I'm not casting stones, just a foam ball or two)Here's the question: do people actually think about the questions people might ask when they say things? I would put forth to you that in fact, no they do not. I'm at work this morning filling my plastic water bottle out of the hard plastic water cooler container. A co-worker walks by (not a particularly popular one for obvious reasons) and says "you know you shouldn't re-use plastic bottles to drink water."
Sam: Oh really? Why not?
Co-worker: The plastic leaches into the water. It's okay to do the first time. You just shouldn't re-use it.
Sam: Hmmm....( this is the end of the conversation as I ran to my desk to avoid more nonsense and was thinking "that sure does sound crazy!")
#1: How is a steady state plastic going to get more dangerous between its first and second use? I can buy that heated plastic is no good, but that bottle probably sat in a hot warehouse somewhere at some point, and it's almost always at room temperature for me. Think about it.
#2: Shouldn't we be far more worried about actually drinking enough water instead of worrying about the relatively insignificant number of toxins (if it is in fact true)? I think this part probably should not apply to pregnant women as babies are pretty susceptible to this stuff. Little different for non-pregnant adults (like men, for instance).

So a quick bit of internet research (avoiding of course the plastics website and looking for slightly more respectable sources) yielded the following from Johns Hopkins (interestingly enough, the locale often blamed for originally telling people not to drink out of plastic bottles. )

http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_dioxins.html

About 10 minutes later, another co-worker, who usually would be smarter than this, sent me an e-mail about Ericsson giving away free laptops if you just send this e-mail to 8 people and copy the person that works at ericsson. Oh and you'll get a better model if you make that 20.

Quick questions

#1: A publicly traded tech company is going to give away countless numbers of laptops ( a high-dollar item) for free? Or not so much

#2: So you copy this employee in an e-mail. No home address, no phone number, She's just gonna get back to you with that computer in a couple weeks with the millions of recipients and senders that are inevitably included in this mess? Right...

So some more quick internet research revealed the following:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/ericsson.asp

I'm just saying. Please ask the question why. It can save everyone a lot of trouble and wasted seconds on the internet (where everything is true).