The Big Turnaround

The Big Turnaround has begun at work. A few weeks early for me, or what I was originally planned. There is nothing like working 25-30 straight 12 hour days. Cap has been sick the past few days with a fever, he went to the doctor and she though that it was a viral infection. He has been feeling good today, and by all accounts I have, played more than the previous few days.

Tonight I read the first chapter of Brave New World , by Aldous Huxley. I read it in college as part of a series of "humanities" classes, and found the text to be interesting. However, it really has a different complex once you have had children. Today I saw a little rabbit, and a dead bird both of which, reminded me of how fragile life is.

An evening at the Park

There are certian times in my life when I have been really focused on a few things. Some people might say that I am always like that, and perhaps there are correcnt. The last few weeks I have been focus on work and the home renovation project. At the current time, the house needs to be re arrainged so I can make some final measurements for the kitchen work. This leads to a perplexing question, what to do with all the stuff that is being moved from one room to the next. It is like a classic game of chess, if I put the love seat here, where will the bookcase go?

The moral of that story is that I do not know what is going on in the world at the moment.

Yesterday we went to the park and played. It was a win - win situation for everyone. Cap got to slide, Amy got to try out her new hat, and I got to take pictures.

Life is a highway...

I have a new motto for life. "If life is a highway, then I am on the autobahn." I think I remember reading that the average person watched 3 hours of tv per day, it would take me a month to reach that amount of television. I am suffering from writers block and that is all that I have to say.

Council of Bishops

The United Methodist orginization has many many committees and agencies that do this and that. One such orginization "Council of Bishops" had a meeting recently and discussed part of the book of disciplie. I read an artilce where a Bishop Jack Turell of Des Moines, Washington siad, "any plan that could address the issue of homosexuality in the denomination would "be superior to prudent silence.'" (Click the link at the bottom for the complete story.) Below is some additional text from the press release.

Tuell offered his comments to the council May 3 after an episcopal
committee voted to table a recommendation to change the church's stance on
homosexuality. The denomination's Book of Discipline says the church "does not
condone the practice of homosexuality and consider(s) this practice incompatible
with Christian teaching."

A council subcommittee had recommended replacing that proscription with
language that the church does not condone sexual relationships between people of
heterosexual or homosexual orientation "outside the bonds of a faithful, loving
and committed relationship between two persons; marriage, where legally
possible."

Tuell is quoted in the article as saying, "The proposal states disapproval of sex between unmarried people, "whether practiced by heterosexual persons or homosexual persons," and says the denomination's incompatibility clause, adopted in 1972, "is based on highly questionable theology and biblical understanding and causes profound hurt to thousands of loyal United Methodist members and potential members."

I am not a theologian but I do understand what the bible says in Romans 1:18-26 and Leviticus 18:22. I do not need a theologian to explain those passages and what they mean.

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723955&ct=3846095

Home

The worst part about vacations are when they end. Today we drove through a lot of rain, and I think we saw the results of a tornado around Great Bend, Kansas. If you click on the link below it will take you to a small video of the Tornado at Great Bend.

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/7355571.html

I have a link to a tank explosion at a small refinery in Oklahoma. It is a very impressive piece of footage, click on the link below.
http://wn.whdh.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipid1=1398

The drive was nice, it was not windy even though it rained. Cap was somewhat content, he did enjoy watching the movie Cars and the Backyardagines. I did notice that he has poor timing when falling asleep in the car. He seems to do it 10 -15 minutes before we stop. This includes 2 - 3 hour trips.

Here is a picture of he and Amy getting ready for the big event.

Below is a picture of Lizz receiving the degree (doctorate?).

The Orangeman -- Beatrice, Nebraska

My sister Lizz graduated from the University of Nebraska Dental school yesterday. I finally learned what D.D.S. means, it is Doctor of Dental Surgery. How about them apples, I had to attend a dental school graduation to learn what ti meant. On another note, the Mascot for the town of Beatrice, Nebraska is the "Orangeman" or women (I am not sure they they are the lady Orangeman or the Orangewomen.) The Mascot actually come from King William III, which is something that I just do not understand. Why does a town in Nebraska choose to honor William III?

That is the only real notable news that I have to report, I did listen to a good Asbury Chapel Service this morning. It was about crossing boarders, not the boarders in the world, but between our world and Christs' world.

Some Random Thoughts

Today is May 1st, also know as May Day, a day that has a long history which can be read if you click on the May Day Hyperlink. If I was a Russian, which I am glad that I am not, I would have a shot of vodka and then throw the glass in the fire place. Since I am an American, I will just say that it is May Day, and go on about the day like always. The Mets lost to the Marlins today, the score was 5-2.

Tonight I read Jeremiah 2, which can be summarized as one good tongue lashing for the Israelites. Below are a few experts from that reading (New Living Translation).



Jeremiah 2:23-24 -- You say, ‘That’not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate. You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don’t need to search, for she goes running to them!



Jeremiah 2:11 -- Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God[c] for worthless idols!



How often do we do this, trade in the love of our glorious God for an idol that will not fulfill us completely? The riot act the Jeremiah was reading the people of Israel, could easily be read to the contemporary liberal anti-God culture. People chase what they think will make them happy, all the while working hard to avoid the one whom will bring us peace. Along with the peace the Lord has, he also has happiness.



I took 242 pictures with my new camera, it is nice or sweet or awesome (depending on what generation you are from.)



Below is a picture of Cap this evening.