Science, Faith and a Big Question

A few years ago, I stumbled upon an online exchange between leading scientists and scholars, hosted by the John Templeton Foundation, attempting to answer a self-described "Big Question: Does the Universe Have a Purpose?" This conversation is captured in a collection of thought-provoking essays that I found both intellectually challenging and stimulating. Reading through these again inspired me to capture my own thoughts on the subject, specifically the question of whether the universe, and life itself, has a purpose.

Picture two men standing one on each side of the issue. The first categorically agrees that the universe, and his life, exist for a reason, and thus have purpose. The second categorically denies that any evidence exists to empirically assert or suggest the possibility of purpose. One on each side of the grand debate, and I submit, both exactly the same. Each takes a stand on the question based on a belief arising out of the context of their human condition, bound by a perspective that cannot transcend that essential barrier that limits their ability to objectively interpret the reality around them. (A complex system cannot be properly observed when the observer himself is part of the system). Can either of them possibly know the truth? One looks at the empirical data without, and draws a conclusion that cannot be definitively proven or disproven, beyond the abstract that scientific reasoning allows. The other also looks at the empirical data without, yet also puzzles over the experiential data within, and too draws a conclusion that cannot be definitively proven or disproven, beyond the abstract that faith allows. One puzzles over the nature of man, the other puzzles over the matter of man in nature. One views religion as an invention created by man to fill some misguided need. The other wonders why he has "need," and wonders why others so easily dismiss that need.

What of logic? Logic is insufficient to explain the workings of the natural world and the laws of physics. Logic is also insufficient to explain the workings of human sentience and emotion. Yet logic is paramount to the constructs of both science and faith. It provides structure to our exploration, and gives voice to our understanding and perception of each.

Faith apart from the reality of nature and nature's laws is but a philosophy - a perspective or way of thinking that is limited to an idea or approach to life that is almost fully contained in the inner being, and thus entirely relativistic and indeterminable. Scientific methods reveal amazing details about the working of nature, its physical laws, and the forces that act upon both animate and inanimate entities in the evolutionary physical environment. Yet the breakdown of the universe into smaller and smaller components, the study of organized systems notwithstanding, fails to fully capture or explain the mechanics of human sentience. It seems that a full representation of the universe supported by a logical framework that includes both faith and science is necessary to properly address the question of purpose.

The drive and passion that inspires our endless thirst for knowledge and understanding of nature and nature's God comes not from physical forces outside us, but from that essential spark of life and need that we find within. Indeed, the pursuit of scientific knowledge is driven by our desire - our inner need - to know. Science alone cannot explain the nature of our own curiosity, our hunger for truth and meaning. The passionate crusade against faith is belied by the fervor with which the argument is pursued. The existential question here is not whether the universe has a purpose that can be revealed by the empirical observations of creation, but rather the nature of an individual's experiences as a sentient being within that universe. One man can look up into a night sky full of brilliant stars, or see images from distant galaxies and become awestruck at the magnitude of this universe. Another man can look at the same stars and same images and see only the chemical compositions, relativistic theory and mathematical algorithms used to create spectrographic visuals. Same stars, same images, but a different experience.

One man's study of science reveals that humanity is but one species on one insignificant planet in a solar system in a remote and unexceptional part of the galaxy in a vast universe of galaxies. One man's study of faith teaches him that the Creator of the universe came to that one insignificant planet and took the form of a man, born in a remote place in an unexceptional part of a lowly country, itself an unexceptional province of the vast Roman Empire. History records the remarkable, transformative events that have literally shaped 2000 years of human civilization. Should the experiences of countless numbers be discounted? Should the lack of experience in countless others be preeminent?

Our understanding of the world, the universe, and our fellow man are directly shaped by our experiences. If experience so strongly impacts and shapes our perspectives, is it right to discount its relevance to our pursuit of understanding and purpose? The empirical data without, and the experiential data within, together may illuminate the majesty and mystery of this creation in which we live. And if on the path of discovery we find and experience revelatory moments with a Creator, does not that answer the question of purpose and meaning?

Duck!

After countless days buried under drafts of design documentation and assorted mundanity, sometimes you simply have to break out and go with something completely random. Don't ask me how or why this popped into my mind this morning, because I really have no idea.

Fun with a touch of class? Epic fail.

Reading on the Off-The-Wall-Randometer? Off the charts!


We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

Critical Thinking

In the market of ideas, the most coveted lever of control is that which influences public opinion. The art of persuasion creates the conditions that shape, guide and otherwise direct the flow of knowledge and thought. Salesmen from the dawn of time have understood that if you can properly package selective information in a positive light that touches upon some unmet need (real or imaginary), you will likely make the sale. We are increasingly bombarded with messages in every facet of our lives, messages designed to influence our wants, our opinions, our choices and our beliefs. Not unlike intensive radiation, the cumulative side effect wears us down and reduces our resistance. The average person has the ability, however, to resist all but those we choose to trust. Thus the key to influencing public opinion is positioning - positioning yourself or your organization as a reliable, trustworthy source, or at the very least, creating the perception thereof. Once attained, the power to influence individuals in the opinions they hold, or the choices they make, becomes an indispensable asset. If you possess that "trust," then few will question or challenge your judgments. People will believe you, and will even discount their own conscience because if you say it, it must be true. Furthermore, if you are persuasive enough, then those who you've persuaded become your army of persuaders, sent out to convince others within their circles of the rightness of your message. Hence, you have begun to shape and control public opinion. Such power can clearly be of both positive and corruptible impact.

Generally speaking, we have been brought up to trust various entities: we trust scientists because we perceive that they are smarter than we are, and because we have been taught that science is a noble field in search of facts (not truth - truth is a philosophical concept); we trust government because we were brought up to believe in representative democracy, and we get to elect our leaders and hold them accountable; we trust our pastors because we have been taught that they are representatives of God, and we sense it would be unwise to challenge God's "messenger." Yet it goes further than that. We have been told that we can trust Walter Cronkite, CNN, our local news station, our favorite entertainer, and many, many others simply because they have created for themselves a perceived reputation for trust. Again, such power of influence can be both positive and corruptible.

The individual on the receiving end of all this messaging is certainly free to trust whatever sources of information and knowledge they choose. Groups of individuals who place their trust in particular sources can become a movement or a source of inertia, each a tool to be wielded by others. I submit the one who applies critical thinking to both the incoming message and the messenger, however, will have greater success at discerning both facts and truth. Critical thinking, in which we evaluate a subject on the basis of logic, reasoning and personal experience, can open our eyes to see clearly and judge for ourselves the truth of the message and the trustworthiness of the messenger.

Allow me to illustrate this with a personal example. John Rosemond is a well known child psychologist, who has written numerous columns and other works on parenting and children. Recently, he addressed a reader's question regarding the Feingold Diet. This reader had been told categorically by a therapist that nutrition and ADHD are unrelated. I won't belabor the details of what the Feingold methodology is, other than to direct you to the website. You can read the full question and response to Mr. Rosemond here. In his response, he captured very concisely this notion of selective information packaging, and the corruptible potential of those seeking to shape public opinion (emphasis mine):

Some kids improve when put on a restricted diet like Feingold’s, but some kids don’t. (I’m choosing not to go into detail about the so-called Feingold diet, developed by research pediatrician Benjamin Feingold, but the interested reader can find ample description on the Internet.) After eight years spent researching his approach, which involved eliminating artificial food colorings and flavorings as well as chemical preservatives, Feingold presented his impressive findings to the 1973 Annual Conference of the American Medical Association. Shortly thereafter, a group calling itself the Nutrition Foundation published statements claiming that Feingold’s approach lacked valid scientific support. The general public was unaware, however, that the Foundation’s membership included Dow Chemical, Coca Cola, and other companies who made, used, and distributed the additives Feingold was targeting. In their zeal to discredit Feingold and his work, NF subsequently funded several research studies designed to “prove” what it wanted the public to believe—that Feingold’s approach was worthless.

I don't necessarily presume malicious intent on the part of those who dispute the validity of Feingold's methodology. But it serves to demonstrate that even our most trusted sources of information may have an agenda or a conflict of interest. Since people or organizations of any sort are prone to act according to self-interest, we should therefore anticipate such motives from the messengers we hear. This is not to say that we should never trust. Rather, we should subject the message and the messenger to a certain level of scrutiny, evaluating the information against our own knowledge and experience. Whenever someone categorically asserts or denies something (e.g., "the science is settled") - it is a telltale signal that the messenger is speaking out of either vested interest or their own belief, as opposed to fact. To this example, there is simply not enough scientific evidence at this point to definitively and causally connect diet and conditions like ADHD. Likewise, there is also no scientific evidence to conclusively say the converse. In the absence of a definitive answer, we must then rely on our own logic, understanding and experience. Artificial ingredients do not appear to affect me. But my own personal experience - demonstrable experience - has shown me that my children are significantly impacted by such ingredients. In this instance, I choose to trust my own eyes and experiences to arrive at the facts of the matter: Artificial elements in our food most certainly affects SOME children, and the removal of those elements from a diet can result in a reduction of ADHD symptoms in THOSE children. As Mr. Rosemond concludes (emphasis mine):

Perhaps the most convincing evidence in favor of Feingold’s approach are the testimonies from tens of thousands of parents who claim that what is now called the Feingold Program brought about dramatic improvements in their ADHD children’s behavior; in many cases, improvements that were far better and longer-lasting than those resulting from medication. Although these parent reports are dismissed as non-scientific by what I term the ADHD Establishment, the issue boils down to one fundamental question: Why would these parents say their kids’ behavior improved if it didn’t?

Again, it is certainly permissible to trust. But we should also be wise, and not discount our own ability to reason - because even people or organizations we trust are fallible. Having that awareness will help insulate us from the negative aspects of persuasive power. Think it through, and let your opinions, understanding and beliefs be shaped by your own reason and experience, and not merely by the selective packaging of information and messaging, whatever the topic may be.

Too Beat to Blog

It has been a week since my last post. While I'd prefer to write every few days, last week was a bust, and this week may very well be sparse too. However, now that I'm actively writing a post about not having much time to post, a little eye candy from NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO). The mission of STEREO is to study the sun. There's more on the mission at the preceding link. The image below was captured April 12-13th. There is video and a description of what they call an eruptive prominence here. Neat stuff. Click the picture below to enlarge.


TTFN

Bridging Over

Last night was a big night for my oldest son, in that he "bridged over" from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in a brief ceremony during the Pack's year-end banquet. Having joined Scouts in the 2nd grade, my son completed four years of Wolf, Bear and Webelos work to set the stage for his achievement.

We got him started in Scouts for a couple of reasons. First, because a friend from church was the cubmaster for a local pack. Second, we felt that it would be a good opportunity for him to develop new friendships with other boys, and to provide a good environment to pick up some important values. Finally, it gave me a chance to create some common ground and shared experiences with my son. We will have memories of camping, derby cars, projects, and character teaching moments to treasure.


This year, the Boy Scouts are celebrating 100 years as an organization. In today's society, there are some who tend to think that the program is passé, but frankly, I find that it resonates with me. And thus, anything that helps me reinforce such values in my children is a good thing. From the Values:

Scouting is a values-based program with its own code of conduct. The Scout Oath and Law help instill the values of good conduct, respect for others, and honesty. Scouts learn skills that will last a lifetime, including basic outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship skills, leadership skills, and how to get along with others. For almost a century, Scouting has instilled in young men the values and knowledge that they will need to become leaders in their communities and country.

The Scout Law calls on boys and young men to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. The Oath calls upon these Scouts to do their best, serve God and Country, to obey the Scout Law, help others, and to stay physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. These are the values that I myself should aspire to, and the kinds of values I hope my sons will aspire to as they pursue their own paths in this life. Most certainly, I cannot by any means force such values upon my children, but by exposing them to these ideals, it becomes my hope and prayer that they will adopt them for themselves.

My son's transition to Boy Scouts marks the beginning of his coming of age. Whereas with Cub Scouts, the adult partner or parent plays an active role in helping the Cub Scout reach achievement, the Boy Scout takes responsibility for himself. The recognition and advancement he pursues now must come on his own initiative and effort. I can be nearby, but eventually he needs to take ownership of his progress. It is up to him how far he wishes to go in this program. Indeed, the decision to continue in scouting has always been his. As a proud father, I will support him.

As marked by the ceremony, the bridging over has consequences for me as well. As I watched my son cross the bridge and exchange his Webelos insignia for that of the Boy Scout, as the parent I was made to stay on the other side. In a way, it may be that this marks the beginning of my own coming of age - in that slowly but surely, I need to start letting go. A few weeks ago, my son and I joined other Webelos in a 7.5 mile hike in near the southern reaches of the Cumberland. On the trail, I purposefully lagged behind, to allow my son the freedom to go his own pace. There were several times during that 6 hour trek that he was out of eyesight. The trail at times was only 1.5-2 feet wide at best, with a sharp drop-off to a rocky, rushing creek. I confess to having some anxious moments crossing over those treacherous spots on the path, sometimes even scanning the rocks below, knowing that somewhere up ahead my son had already passed by.


Nevertheless, my son outpaced me the entire hike, and he did just fine. Indeed, he seemed exhilarated. Occasionally, he would stop and wait for me so that we could walk together. But more often than not, he yearned to go ahead, and I let him. I will have to get used to this, to be sure. I need to figure out how to remain an active part of his life while at the same time backing far enough away to allow him the freedom to explore and chart his own path. He is still young, of course, so there is more parenting for me to do along the way. But without a doubt, he is ready to be allowed some room to grow.


I can only do what I can, but I also need to learn when not to do some things. I can only hope and pray that he will grow into the person God wants him to be, and that he will find joy in the journey.

Meanwhile, my younger son is just getting started, having completed his first year in Cub Scouts. With him, I still have some more time. Time for creating common ground and shared experiences, and character-teaching moments. Moments not just for him, but for me as well.


What a Boy Needs:

Ten Needs of a Boy

1. To climb a mountain and look afar.
2. To sit around a campfire with good friends.
3. To test his strength and his skills on his very own.
4. To be alone with his own thoughts and with his God.
5. To be ready to reach out and find the hand of an understanding man ready and willing to help.
6. To have a code to live by – easily understood and fair.
7. A chance to play hard just for the fun of it – And to work hard for the thrill of it.
8. To have a chance to fail – and know why.
9. To have and to be a good friend and a chance to prove both.
10. To have a hero – and a vision to measure him by.

After the tenth need is said, the following could be said:
In Cub Scouting these needs are not always filled for each boy. What Cub Scouting does is to put each boy on a path where he can travel the world in his backyard and fulfill his needs with confidence in himself and others.

The Constitution and Football

Yesterday, I came across an interesting analogy about the role of government in our lives. Interesting, because the analogy spoke of government and the Constitution in the context of a game of football. I invite you to go and read the whole thing at Doctor Zero. A few excerpts below:

There are other choices besides anarchy, or a regulatory State that directly controls over half of our economy. Far from opposing all regulation, I maintain that clearly written, honestly enforced, minimally intrusive laws are both just and essential for wealth creation. A nation’s wealth lies in transactions between its citizens, and the pace of those transactions would be greatly reduced if consumers had no confidence in providers. Shopping malls would be considerably less active, if the shoppers had to assume every food product was potentially poisonous, every piece of consumer electronics could explode, and all of the merchants were thieves.

Now, mind you, the above is stated in the context of notions about capitalism. I'm not necessarily big on "wealth creation" as a motive. But I do desire the freedom to earn wages, and then to spend, save or invest those wages as I choose. I do want the government to ensure that I can continue to enjoy that freedom, and that predatory business practices are appropriately constrained. The author goes on to illustrate his analogy, in which the government plays the role of referee in the game. But as the parable progresses, the referee starts to take a more controversial, active role in the game: picking sides, changing the rules, and profiting from the results. His point is that for the many facets of the economy to function correctly, we need government to play the role of honest referee: ensure that rules are followed, but otherwise stay out of the game itself. He continues (emphasis mine):

By its very nature, government has access to power and resources which no private enterprise can equal. It can’t work any other way. We can’t treat the military as a business enterprise, to be shut down if it doesn’t rake in sufficient profits. We must have government resources to address disasters, and most citizens would insist the government be provided with funds to care for the desperately poor and sick. Those who enforce the law must have a measure of power beyond the law: sky marshals carry guns onto airplanes, soldiers have access to heavy weapons and high explosives, government auditors can demand access to information a business would never share with its competition.

To be trusted with such power and resources, the State must practice strict adherence to a basic set of laws which constrain its behavior, and which it cannot easily disregard or change. The rulebook for the American game is her Constitution. Fidelity to those rules would produce a small State with less influence to satisfy the appetite of hyper-competitive players who wish to cheat at the game… or its own appetite for purchasing votes and imposing its ideas of “fairness.” Disdain for the Constitution has led us to the present spectacle of referees who outnumber the players, unemployed players sitting dejectedly on the sidelines, and a dwindling number of investors willing to bet on a rigged game that will be decided by the whims of the officials.

Again, go read the whole thing. It's an interesting analogy that has a ring of truth to it. Although I wonder where the notion of "instant replay" comes in.

(h/t: HotAir)

The M-Word: Part 4

In previous posts, I have spent a little time talking about a period of self-evaluation, with respect to ministry. The prologue introduced the four key questions: 1) What is your ministry?; 2) Where are you right now?; 3) Is it where you expected to be?; 4) Is it better/worse/different than before? Questions 1 and 2 were addressed here and here. Last time, I answered the third. Today, I will draw this personal, meandering thread to a close by attempting to respond to question four.

This question arguably requires a subjective comparison that is very much based in the moment. A year from now, I might have a completely different response than I do today. So, realizing that to compare yesterday to today is very much anchored in the circumstances of the moment, allow me to turn the calendar back some 17 years or so.

When I was in college, I was active in campus ministry. I taught Bible studies, served on mission teams, and provided leadership at times both in the spotlight and behind the scenes (my behind the scenes experiences were much more fulfilling). True, I was in school for my degree, but my life was wrapped up in the fellowship of the Wesley Foundation. For that period of my life, I was very much where God wanted me to be. And in that environment, I was being trained and equipped for what was to come.

Years later, I found myself active in a new church plant, and as part of that body, I labored in teaching, ministry and leadership as the church grew out of its rental storefront onto 28 acres and a new building. And although significantly different than a college campus ministry environment, with different challenges and joys, it was nevertheless the place where God wanted me to be. In that environment, I was further refined, trained and equipped for what was to come. Was this period of my life better, worse or different than the college environment? In a word, yes. In many ways, it was better, because it was new and it had purpose. It was worse, though, in that life after college requires a different set of priorities. By this I mean my schedule was largely determined by my job and the needs of my family. In college, my daily schedule was much more flexible to accommodate what I wanted to do. After college, that goes away. Understand, I'm not saying that employment and family made things worse - rather, I'm simply acknowledging a new set of priorities that often reduces our ability to be fully immersed in fellowship ministry to the same degree we were when we were younger. Because the reality is, life after college is different. The campus ministry is a unique environment for a unique time of life. The local church moves much more slowly (if it moves at all), and as the burdens of life accumulate, understandably some of the excitement wears off. But the joy comes in knowing that despite the transition into "grown-up" life (job, marriage, kids, mortgage, etc), I was where God wanted me to be.

Fast forward to the present. My church is nearly 3 years past a difficult transition, and today has a different chemistry than it did before. Having provided leadership during that critical time, I've since burned out and stepped away from active ministry. Yet I still attend, and I still care about the future of the local church. Is today better, worse or different than before? Again, the answer is yes. Perhaps this seems contradictory, and it may very well be so. But consider this: Life doesn't stand still. How we choose to respond to each set of changing circumstances and environments affects our ability to adapt to what next comes our way. I can look back on good times and bad, and see how God has used each to prepare me for what would come later. Sometimes things seem better, sometimes they seem worse; but they are almost always different - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. What matters then, is how we respond to the moment. Do we seek God? Do we exemplify His grace and wisdom in those moments, so that we can fulfill our purpose in the place He calls us to be?

What is my ministry? To serve Christ, to grow in knowledge, and to speak the Truth. This occurs whether I am teaching, leading, or simply and quietly serving. Where am I right now? Recovering from burnout, and unsure of what lies ahead. Is this where I expected to be in my ministry? No, yet even this down time seems to have a specific purpose that will reveal benefits later. Where I am today is both better, worse and different than yesterday. Why? Because life is designed for growth, for new experiences and challenges, to an end: wisdom. No, not wisdom in my own eyes, but the kind of wisdom that God grants to those who have eyes to see.

Today, I "feel" stagnant in some ways, but I also sense a clarity I didn't have before. The battles I have fought for the cause of unity have worn me down, but the return to writing and reading has replenished me somewhat. Tomorrow's ministry may be different than yesterday's. And while there are some who wish me to return to the roles I've provided in the past, I suspect that God is going to take me in a new direction. To that end, I must rededicate myself to seeking first His Kingdom, and Him.

For that is where joy will be found.

Happy Easter

"Was, I, Paul crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? ... For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News--and not with clever speeches and high-sounding ideas, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power." (1 Corinthians 1:13-17, NLT)

For days I had prayed and searched through my Bible, trying to find out what the Lord would have me write for Easter. The celebration of the Resurrection will soon be over, and life will quickly drift back into routine. Yes, days I had prayed, but still no answer. The words to an old song by Don Francisco that had been going through my head since Sunday filled my mind again. Pushing it aside, again I prayed, "Father, please, show me what to do. Tell me what you want me to share." Then, in a moment of intense stillness, I heard, "I already have." I sat up with a start, and picked up the Bible I had laid aside. It was open to the chapter I had been reading in 1 Corinthians. Key words jumped out at me: "Preach the good news ... not with clever and high-sounding ideas ... the cross of Christ ... power." My prayer had been answered, and has been answered as you read:

"He's alive!
He's alive!
He's alive, and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide!
He's alive!"

--Don Francisco

Praise be to God, He's alive! Do you want to discover and maintain the joy of the risen Savior? Say it out loud, over and over again, "He's alive!"



"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" (Luke 24:5-6, NIV)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance
which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you!" (1 Peter 1:3-4, RSV)

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9, NIV)

The joy of Easter never ends! He's Alive!!

Originally published April 2nd, 1997
The Encounters Ministry, Copyright © James A Chase

Death Star?

Wait a minute. I thought Luke Skywalker destroyed this thing long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away. What is it doing in orbit around Saturn?


So, no, it is not that famed battle station. It is in fact Mimas, one of Saturn's 62 known moons. The photo above was taken by NASA's Cassini orbiter, currently tasked to study Saturn and its satellites. Cosmic Log has more.

Other interesting space-related articles:

Zombie Star absorbing other star families. Okay, in reality, this is about a collapsed star that went nova eons ago, but whose dusty remains are floating through other systems. The article shows a composite view created by combining images from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope. (h/t: John)

Mars. Needs. Women. No, this isn't about the late 60's sci-fi movie, nor is it that great Meat Beat Manifesto techno-beat hit from 1988. But six men are preparing to spend 1.5 years inside a new Mars Mission Simulator to research effects of long term confinement associated with a 520-day mission to Mars. Pretty cool stuff. But 1.5 years in tight confined space? Not this claustrophobic!

Hear! Hear!

My schedule is full this week, which has allowed me (blissfully?) to pull back a bit from the news the past couple of days. I hope to get on with blogging some other subjects soon (although civics will always be a main topic here). But I read something today that is worth highlighting.

Apparently, the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D) is concerned about the safety of his fellow members of Congress as they go back to their districts. While I certainly condemn any threats of violence, I find it difficult to believe that certain members of Congress are so shocked at the anger of their constituents over the healthcare law. Every elected official can and should be held accountable by the voters of their districts. Already, there are Democrats trying to play the "victim" card.

Roger L. Simon has posted an open letter to Mr. Hoyer. I'm not going to post it in full, so I urge you to go read the whole thing (it's not long). An excerpt (emphasis mine):

And yet, in the grand tradition of totalitarian regimes everywhere, you employed “any means necessary” to make sure your ends were achieved, bribing and threatening your fellow Congressmen and women, etc. It is small wonder that our people are angry. It would be amazing if it were otherwise.

...

Violence is to be condemned, but so is the desecration of a great democracy.

A civil society must be - and act - civil. Call, write, march, visit, even assemble to protest - but be respectful in communicating your viewpoints. But above all, if you want to make a difference with these elected officials - think, learn, and vote.

Freedom Lost

Well, they've done it. The House approved the Senate bill on healthcare, and once the President signs it, America will have a new $1 trillion entitlement to join soon to be insolvent Social Security and Medicare. Despite what you might hear about "deficit reduction," don't believe it, if for no other reason that government programs never "save" taxpayers money. Spending does not reduce debt.

I will give the House Democrats kudos for one decision - and only one decision - they dumped the idea of "deem-and-pass" which I mentioned the other day. Even they couldn't stomach such an obvious breach of Constitutional process.

I titled this post "Freedom Lost." For despite the spin, which says 32 million Americans will now have health insurance, these benefits will not roll in for another 4-5 years. However, the tax increases required to pay for it start either immediately, or next fiscal year (reports aren't quite clear on this). So there will be more money out of our pockets now, which means less for us. But the real reason I find myself somewhat frightened by the leftward lurch deeper into social entitlements is this: the Government will now MANDATE that every person have health insurance. If you fail to get health insurance, the IRS is now empowered to levy a penalty upon your tax return (to the tune of $600-$700 for an individual).

Never before has the Government issued a mandate for a citizen to purchase a particular product. We pay taxes, because previous Congresses and state legislators approved the 16th Amendment. Imagine if the Government had decided that everyone must go out and buy a GM car. Historically, the federal government has never had such power to direct how a citizen spends his money.

Don't get me wrong. I think it is both wise and responsible to have health insurance. But I think it is quite unconstitutional for the federal government to mandate that I have it. Once the Government begins telling its citizens how and when to spend their money, with penalties for noncompliance, freedoms are lost.

This opinion piece in the Washington Post highlights some of the possible Constitutional challenges the soon-to-be law may face. This piece from PajamasMedia.com does the same. Both are worth the time to read.

The issue is not going to go away, either. From the sound of things, we are all going to get really sick of this healthcare debate. The question in my mind, will the American people resign themselves to the erosion of their freedoms, or does this "tea party movement" really have legs?

I don't know. Maybe there is a storm acomin' ...

'There's a storm comin', Harry'

Okay, not really. I've been clearing out some old bookmarks from my browser tonight. I've had this site bookmarked for a while now. It has several fascinating photos, with links to their owners. If you like interesting photos of clouds and weather phenomena, you might like what the proprietor of Dark Roasted Blend has collected.

The photo below (image credit: Greg) is slight altered by software using a curve adjustment feature, which essentially enhances the contrast so that you can see the brightness differential a bit better. Not a photoshopped effort, so it's a real picture, just image enhanced. He has a link to the original.

Interstellar Wonder

This is why I hit Instapundit every now and then. It's because he links things like this:


This image was taken by the European Space Agency's Planck Satellite, illuminating interstellar dust. Go to this link from Popular Science to get the details on how to interpret the colors.

Way cool.

Disgusted

A few days ago, I highlighted the news from Capitol Hill that the House of Representatives was considering a procedure, termed the "Slaughter Rule," that would allow the House to "deem-and-pass" the Senate version of the healthcare bill without actually voting on the Senate bill, but rather on a substitute bill. This "deem-and-pass" approach (which some are sardonically calling Demon Pass) seems on the surface unconstitutional.

Well, this just in. The House voted today on a resolution offered by Republicans to block the Slaughter Rule. Passage would essentially force the House to take the proper up-or-down vote required by the Constitution for the bill. The House defeated that resolution, 222-203.

That means, 222 members of Congress voted to approve a procedure that may very well violate the Constitution!

The final "vote" on healthcare is Sunday. If Congress wants to impose universal healthcare, then it should do so honestly. Process does matter.

A profile in courage, this is not.

Fading History

The erosion of historical and collective memory within a modern society is probably inevitable. Each successive generation in the modern era seems to pull further and further away from its heritage in favor of rewritten narratives, progressivism, and generational detachment. In a mobile society, the transfer of experiences across generational boundaries becomes more and more rare. Family histories, to include the connection and continuation of seminal events and experiences, simply are no longer commonplace. I myself feel at times I have only an inkling of knowledge that extends no further than my grandparents generation, a knowledge which is far too limited to claim any assurance of accuracy and/or possession.

This article in the Chicago Tribune illustrates this phenomenon, invoking the historical significance of the photograph below.

Joe Rosenthal/Associated Press (1945)

This iconic photograph has a personal and emotional significance to previous generations. As a Gen-Xer, I can easily identify the image and its origin, but confess that I don't have the emotional attachment to events before my time - at least, not in the way I do for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the World Trade Center. My children, as they come of age, will have even less attachment to these markers of our history.

It is remarkable, really. In the information age, we have access to millions of pages of facts, events and narratives of history - more than we can possibly absorb in a lifetime. Yet we are less and less aware of our own place in that history, more and more detached from our family heritages, and devoid of the experiential context that is necessary to connect ourselves to both our past and our present.

This erosion is unlikely to be reversed, and indeed, may even be a cyclical characteristic of human civilization. The most any of us can do is to be intentional about retaining this knowledge and passing down the generational stories and histories through whatever means are available: oral retelling, the written word, physical artifact, and even modern audio, visual and digital technologies. Perhaps even social networking communities can play a role. But I submit that there may be no greater way to ensure the retention of our historical memory than through the generational sharing of experiences and faith within the family unit. Such a connection is intimate and personal, and binds us to those who remember first hand WWII, Korea, JFK, Elvis, the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, the Beatles, the golden age of television, Apollo 11, the Iranian hostage crisis, Challenger, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Desert Storm, the internet boom, 9/11, the fall of Baghdad, Katrina, and the historical election of the first African American president. But these are merely the big events - how much richer would we be to know what it was like to come of age in eras that are at once familiar and alien to our modern sensibilities - to know who our parents and grandparents truly were and are, their joys and fears, their faith and experiences. And for those of us who are parents and grandparents, would our lives not be richer to know who our children are, and who they are coming to be in future history?

Would that it were so easy.

Here we go ...

The House of Representatives is gearing up this week to push through yet another vote on healthcare reform. Despite numerous national polls showing general opposition to this particular bill, nevertheless, it is quite possible that by week's end, some sort of bill will get passed.

I've tried to be as objective and civil as I possibly can in my dealings on the subject. My position is simply this: Can and should improvements be made to our current system? Yes. Should the government be the decider and provider of healthcare for all Americans? No. That's where I stand.

According to various news reports, the shortest path toward a health care law is for the House to pass the exact bill the Senate approved last fall. However, many House members do not like that version, and prefer the one they passed last summer (which is surprising, since so many have admitted that they haven't even read the 2000+ page bills being considered). So they want to use a process known as reconciliation - intended only for strict budgetary matters, to force through changes without going through the traditional process.

The traditional approach is quite well articulated by that oldie-but-goodie "How a Bill Becomes a Law" from Schoolhouse Rock. So before we continue, let us reminisce:


In short, the House votes on a bill. If it passes, it goes to the Senate, which has the option of voting on the House bill, or crafting one of their own. In the event that the Senate passes a bill that does not match exactly with that of the House, a conference committee is established to iron out the differences. The final agreement then goes back to both the House and the Senate for another vote. If both assemblies pass the compromise bill, it then goes to the President for signature or veto.

But for whatever reason, the House and Senate leaders decided to "skip" the conference committee. I'm still not clear why they feel it is necessary to circumvent normal parliamentary procedures for getting bills passed. I'm even more unnerved, however, to read news accounts like this one from the Washington Examiner, in which it appears that the majority party will say they "passed the Senate bill" without actually voting on it. Here's the money quote from the Examiner (emphasis mine):

Each bill that comes before the House for a vote on final passage must be given a rule that determines things like whether the minority would be able to offer amendments to it from the floor.

In the Slaughter Solution, the rule would declare that the House "deems" the Senate version of Obamacare to have been passed by the House. House members would still have to vote on whether to accept the rule, but they would then be able to say they only voted for a rule, not for the bill itself.

The gist of all this fairly straightforward. Instead of having an actual up or down vote on the Senate bill itself, the House intends simply to say "It passed!" and vote instead on an additional "package" of changes that in turn the Senate would force through reconciliation (which only requires 51 votes, instead of the 60 required to end debate and move to a vote, otherwise known as cloture). Reconciliation wasn't necessary when the Democrat majority had 60 votes, but due to the recent Massachusetts special election, in which voters elected a Republican to the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, reconciliation is the only path that potential avoids a filibuster (to prevent cloture and subsequent vote).

Here's the issue that bothers me: What is so urgent about this major reordering of 1/6 of the entire U.S. economy that it has to be rushed through Congress using tactics that go against two centuries of legislative tradition? The Constitution very clearly requires in Article I, Section 7 that every bill must have a vote, and the names of those who vote on record as to how they voted (emphasis mine):

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

It seems arguable to me that the method of stating by presumption that the original Senate bill is "passed" without a separate, distinct vote for the public record is unconstitutional. But I confess, the complexities of the U.S. code and these parliamentary tricks that have become the norm within our big government system may water down that argument, especially if there is precedence.

The bottom line is this: if our elected officials are willing to circumvent traditional legislative process and decorum by using possibly unconstitutional methods to achieve particular aims, despite opposition from the public, then what is to prevent future Congresses and Presidents (of either party) from disregarding the Constitution and their constituents whenever it suits them? If our government breaks from the anchor of our founding documents, then it begins to lose its legitimacy. You could even go so far as to infer that our representative government now runs the risk of operating "without consent of the governed." Which itself is the subject for a forthcoming post.

Interesting times ahead, to be sure.

Update 3/16/10: Here's a new Washington Post story about the process.

Take Out Your #2 Pencils, Class

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) is a conservative leaning, non-profit, educational organization that, according to their website, seeks to further a "better understanding of the values and institutions that sustain a free and humane society." They go on to say:

Founded in 1953, ISI works "to educate for liberty" — to identify the best and the brightest college students and to nurture in these future leaders the American ideal of ordered liberty. To accomplish this goal, ISI seeks to enhance the rising generation's knowledge of our nation's founding principles — limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, the rule of law, market economy, and moral norms.

ISI recently completed their 2010 American Civic Literacy Report, in which they analyze the results of a fairly challenging quiz taken by Americans of all ages and professions - including politicians. According to the report, 71% of Americans failed this test, with an average score of just 49%. Even singling out college graduates, the average result was only 57%.

Here is the online quiz that was made available with the report, which are actually questions from the 2008 survey. Multiple choice test, and no Google-ing. And no pressure, of course. Learning is always preferable to the alternative. I will toot my own horn a bit, in the interest of full disclosure: I aced this test - but then again, I am a bit of a geek when it comes to this kind of stuff. This is one of the harder online history/civics quizzes I've taken, though. The multiple choice format helps!

Have fun! - Take the Quiz!

(h/t: PoliSilo)

An Incorrect Solution

Spring is in the air - and despite the fact that it was snowing only 5 days ago, this weekend has been absolutely beautiful. So of course, it makes perfect sense that I spent much of my time with my arm halfway down the bathtub drain, pulling out enough hair to make myself a new cat. Or a dead rat named Sammy.

Okay, so I'm embellishing a little bit. I did spend 3 hours clearing out the landscaping, trimming back old and dead growth, and dragging it all down to the back line of the property.

But back to the drain. The bathtub had been draining slowing for months, to the point that my children would often end up with a tub full of water by the time they finished their showers. I finally got myself motivated to deal with it once and for all, so I went to ehow.com to learn the cure. And their answer? Baking soda and vinegar. Honestly, aside from WD-40, is there a more universal solution to household problems than baking soda?

I followed the instructions to the letter - half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar. There was lots of bubbling as the base reacted with the acid, but I somehow ended up with a drain full of baking soda. So I poured in more and more vinegar (one and a half cups total), until the baking soda at last was all gone. And it didn't do one bit of good for the drain - the water still went out too slowly.

At last, I did what I should have done in the first place - I got a screwdriver, loosened the set screw on the drain cap, and with a flashlight took a look at what I was actually dealing with - cat hair - gobs of it. So with a pair of needle-nose pliers, I pulled out a ton of gunk, junk and hair. And voila! The tub drains perfectly now.

So why on earth am I blogging about this? Perhaps because there may very well be an object lesson here. I could have saved myself a considerable amount of time if I had bothered to correctly diagnose the problem before rushing to a solution (ha!) that didn't fit the situation. I simply assumed that this remedy would fix the problem, and that I wouldn't have to deal with the gross stuff. Sometimes, our lives get gunked up with gross stuff (sin) that we try to deal with at a distance, thinking we can mask it or otherwise make it go away with a one-size-fits-all solution. But until we get down on our knees to deal with the truth and clear the gunk, the flow of joy and peace in our lives will be limited.

Alas, this is the way my mind works. I can't clean a drain without turning it into a teachable moment. Well, a teachable moment for me anyway.

Blue Marble

So, earlier today I'm perusing the headlines on Drudge, when I see a link he's headlined as "NASA reveals most-detailed images of Earth..." Sucker that I am for NASA imagery, I follow the link to the Daily Mail, a paper out of the UK. Within that article are a couple of stunning pictures of our planet. The key ones are actually composites formed out of several images taken over a period of months, as opposed to a single snapshot. Either way, they are stunning visuals, which I've downsized below.

Neat as the images are, however, I prefer generally to go to the source. This is in part because NASA maintains several versions of the same image at varying resolutions. So I'm searching through the NASA image galleries, and find myself having some trouble finding it - which seems odd, given that the Daily Mail article was just published yesterday. So I searched NASA using a keyword or two from the Daily Mail article - in this case, "blue marble", and discovered somewhat to my surprise that these images actually date back to 2002.


If you follow this link to the Visible Earth gallery at the NASA website, you'll find the exact same images as they were taken and composited by NASA's MODIS satelite (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).


So, despite feeling a bit let down by the fact that the Daily Mail is touting these images as "new" when in fact they are 8 years old, I still find myself taken in by the visuals. Simply stunning, aren't they? To really appreciate it, go here and here to see larger resolution images.

Sunshine ...

While the previous post below may very well come across as kind of heavy, I promise it wasn't intended that way. Yesterday was a beautifully wonderful day outside, full of bright sunshine dancing on the waters of the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. I found my spirits lifted by the refreshing air, and caught myself singing silently this truly lovely melody by John Denver. In this case, the words are just as powerful to me as the melody. I'm telling you, someday I'm going to learn to play this. That guitar will not stay in my closet forever.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Words by John Denver, Music by John Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor

On Our Shoulders

February is finally coming to a close today. While I do not yet know what March holds, I can only pray that with the arrival of spring (the snow forecasted for Tuesday notwithstanding) will come an inner refreshment that I desperately need. This past month has been a pressure-packed struggle in many ways, most of which is coming from work. While I was out hiking with a bunch of Webelos scouts yesterday, I stole a few moments of contemplative solitude outdoors, to try to come to grips with how I'm responding to this pressure.

Friday was a bitterly frustrating day. In a moment of escape, I latched onto a featured article about Joannie Rochette, the Canadian Olympian who lost her mother to a heart attack right before the start of the Games. Her story is probably the most heart-rending story to come from these Olympics, as she skated herself to the Bronze through tremendous emotional loss. Within this article is written one of the best lines I've ever read (emphasis mine):

"Rochette didn’t shoulder the hopes of a nation. Rather, she was pulled onto the shoulders of the Canadian people and the figure skating community. Not even the most forlorn blackheart could fail to have been moved by this tale of triumph."

When I read that line, I found myself deeply, deeply moved. When you contrast Rochette with the skaters who placed above her, each of whom carried the intense pressure of expectation from their home countries, you get a remarkable view of the complex nature of the pressures we all face. One can easily conclude by their countenance that Kim Yu-Na and Mao Asada (skating for South Korea and Japan, respectively) felt tremendous pressure to carry the load and bring home the prize for their nations. While you'd like to think the best, you can't help but wonder about the reception Mao Asada will receive once she gets home with her Silver. Truly these two seemed to be shouldering the hopes of their nations. But Rochette, in her deepest grief, found herself inspired and carried by the spirit of a nation that somehow reached out to her to lift her up to the performance of a lifetime. After watching both her short and long programs, I found it nearly impossible to not be moved to tears by the moment. Tonight, Rochette will carry the Canadian flag for her team in the closing ceremonies.

None of us are immune to pressure. There are those who place tremendous pressure upon us to meet expectations. We put tremendous pressure upon ourselves to meet our own expectations. And when that pressure builds and builds and builds, it is easy for us to start transferring the pressure we feel to our other relationships, putting pressure on our spouses, our friends, the people who work for us, and even our children. No one places a greater pressure on me than I do myself. Often, I will either shoulder it, or I will start to crack and begin transferring it onto others, continuing a highly unhealthy cycle. But there is a better way.

When I read the line about being pulled onto the shoulders of others, I was reminded of a podcast my brother-in-law pointed me to, in which a marathon runner tried to describe the emotion of knowing that there were people who would go out of their way to cheer, support and otherwise encourage the athlete to continue reaching for the goal. And therein lies a remedy perhaps. We may knowingly or unknowingly apply pressure to others, perhaps because we ourselves are feeling the pressure from others or ourselves. Instead, perhaps we should take a different approach, becoming the kind of people who are willing to carry others on our shoulders to a degree, to come alongside and encourage - not to apply pressure, but to help lift others through the pressure. You can't make the pressure just go away, but you can assist in helping others to put it in a healthy context, and to help lift them through it. Furthermore, we also may need to become the kind of people who will allow others to carry us on their shoulders, to acknowledge and accept the help we may need but are afraid to acknowledge. By becoming people who allow ourselves to be carried, and willing to help carry others (sharing one another's burdens, etc), we may just find our own spirits lifted, and ourselves better able to deal with the pressures we face.

Because, to repeat, it is unlikely that we can make the pressure all go away. It is also risky to rely too much on others to carry us all the time - because people will sometimes let us down. But knowing that we have been carried during difficult times (think Footsteps in the Sand) can soften our hearts to better respond to the pressure we are facing, to not allow it to darken us to the point that we begin to lose faith and lash out.

Why am I saying all this? Because I need to hear it. This one story, of a young woman skating through the grief and pain in the loss of her mother, of a young athlete carried upon the shoulders of a nation in her hour of need, this one story demonstrates for me a powerful witness of our life's journey. As a believer, I reach for the prize for which God has called me heavenward, and in the company of fellow believers and the Spirit Himself, there is hope for the full realization of everlasting joy. I have been a poor witness. I have transferred the pressure I feel onto others, at times unfairly. I need to correct that, and become a person who once again finds ways to lift others up. I feel like I've forgotten how to do that, but I suspect it is not as hard as one might think.


Yes, all this from a simple walk in the woods. Simple. But real.

Let Us Not Forget

When the headlines are dominated by bad economic and unemployment news, the bickering and posturing of the political class, and tragedies everywhere you turn, it becomes easy to turn inward and forget those who have fought and labored for the cause of good and the cause of freedom.

Iraq, it seems, is very much yesterday's news. With the pending drawdown of combat forces, few seem to really be paying attention to what has been achieved there by our military men and women. The battle for Afghanistan continues and Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear nation, so clearly there is much to be concerned about relative to today's and tomorrow's wars. Nevertheless, something profound has been accomplished in Iraq - an opportunity that the Iraqis themselves will have to work to see realized. The cost has been high, and there is work we must do to ensure that it is not in vain. And that work begins by remembering and appreciating those who have made the sacrifices.

This point is made beautifully and powerfully by David Bellavia, in his article entitled "Our Mission is Finally Accomplished ... Anyone Care?" I highly recommend you read it all. A few excerpts:

What we achieved in the face of an implacable enemy, overcoming many in our own government willfully ignorant of our struggle, is what I believe to be the defining moment of my generation. The veteran today is the embodiment of what it means to be an American. Even when our valor was used for political sport, we continued to serve quietly.

Mr. Bellavia goes on to share a deeply personal story of one young woman who died while waiting to vote in Iraq's first election. He concludes:

I came home in search of that woman’s spirit in the hearts of my fellow Americans. I came home expecting to find the sacrifice of these brave patriots revered at every turn by those who overwhelmingly sent us to war from Washington.

I’m still looking.

If you can’t bring yourself to give the living the sense of accomplishment for winning a war that many claimed was endless, at least humor the dead. Allow them to rest knowing that the war that took their lives was won because of their sacrifice.

Is that too much to ask for?

No, it is not too much to ask for. Let us not forget those who serve and sacrifice for freedom's cause, wherever the battle rages.

(h/t: Powerline)

Derby Day

Welcome race fans! Okay, so I'm not really a race fan, at least in terms of things like NASCAR and so forth. But today's race is something entirely different - it is the 2010 running of our local Cub Scout pack's Pinewood Derby. My Webelos scout is facing his final race, as he prepares to cross over into Boy Scouts. My Tiger scout is anticipating his first ever competition, scheduled for later this evening.

Building pinewood derby cars has been a wonderful time of bonding with my boys, and something that I have come to look forward to every year. My philosophy is very simple - any car that is built should be built (as much as possible) by the boys themselves. Every year, we face up against dads who obviously do most, if not all, of the work - which bothers me to no end. By designing and souping up cars to "win," they rob their boys of the rewards of learning skills, managing trial and error, and just the simple pride of doing their own work. It creates an unfair advantage against those boys who are trying to develop their own craftsman skills. Eight, nine and ten-year olds should not have to compete against grown men for derby success.

Instead, my approach with my oldest - which I will repeat with my youngest - is to have them design their own cars on paper, and do as much of the labor as possible in shaping the nondescript block of wood into a car for competition. From cutting with the coping saw, to the hard work of sanding by hand, polishing the axles, to the final painting - the more the scout does himself, they more he will gain from the experience. I obviously offer tips, suggest ideas, and manage the power tools (drilling insets to hold weights, and using the Dremel to do finer points and carving) - but with each successive year, I try to do less and less and let them do more and more. This year, my oldest did almost everything on his car except the drilling. (If I owned a drill press, I would have let him do that part too, but that remains on the daddy wish list for the future). I also assisted him with a tough alignment problem. As for my youngest, this being his first car, he was only able to do the design, some of the cutting, some of the sanding, and all the painting. But he put in the effort, and he deserves to be proud regardless of the results later tonight. Besides, he has four more years after this one.

Still, for me, there is some anxiety. Any parent wants their children to be able to taste success and victory. Of course I want my boys to do well in tonight's race, and truly experience reward for their labor (which is why I get so frustrated when dad-built cars always seem to win the night). It is hard, too, especially when I know that there are things I could have done myself to improve the product my boys have built. But to follow through on that temptation would be to simply rob my boys of the pleasure (and possible disappointment) of their own efforts. I refuse to be like those other dads. But, I confess, I desperately want my oldest to experience a victory and get that 1st, 2nd or 3rd place trophy - but mostly because I know that he really, really wants to place in the top 3. My guess is that may not be likely tonight. But despite the outcome, he's built a good car, built it mostly by himself - and so whatever the result, he's earned the right to be proud of his work. And I am proud of him for it.

So, for now, we wait for the green flag. And when the final checkered flag falls, we will be content regardless of the result. And those results, along with pictures, will be posted here later.

Update 9:37pm: Well, the derby is over, and despite a good showing by both boys, neither car was quite fast enough to qualify for the district competition. My oldest came in 15th, with his younger brother coming in 17th out of a total of 45 racers. A solid performance to be sure, but just short of the hitting the top 10 (who all go to district). Below are a couple of photos of their cars:




I'm a proud dad, no doubt about it.

Legos, Robots, ... Rubik's!

February is turning out to be a monster in terms of schedule. I've had very little time for blogging as a result. But what you are about to see is worth taking the few minutes necessary to post.

Made out of Legos, this robot solves the penultimate puzzle of the '80s - the Rubik's Cube. I confess that I am skeptical that a truly random scramble can be solved in under 12 seconds, at least based on the apparent speed of the moves, but I could be wrong. When I was a kid, I of course bought the cheaters book on how to solve the Rubik's Cube, and managed to hit the 40-50 second mark. While I have no doubt that many could do it faster, no one can convince me that the 3x3x3 puzzle can be purely solved in 10 seconds or less without "help." Nevertheless, what can be more cool than legos, robots, and Rubik's (h/t: HotAir.com):

Nothing Says Love ...

Nothing says love like a cozy fire, beautifully heavy snowfall, children sledding down the hill, warm cinnamon rolls ...

And a new Black & Decker Toaster Oven! (Yes, I gave my wife a toaster oven for Valentine's Day. And she didn't even hit me.)

What a beautiful morning.

Happy Valentines Day to all!

First Look:



"Yeaaargh!!!":



There she goes!



"Not Toward the Tree!"



And finally, the old man:

Making Sense of the Senseless

A former pastor of mine once advised against over-spiritualizing issues that may have simple, practical solutions. But he went on to say that in the absence of such practical solutions, don't discount the possibility of spiritual influence.

That may seem like a strange way to open a blog post, but it is a recollection that I have been dwelling on much of the past week. My adopted home community has suffered two devastating blows in the past 8 days, events that are most shocking because of where they occurred. Last Friday, a 9th grader gunned down a fellow 9th grader in the school hallway during a class break. And yesterday, in a tragedy that made national news, an assistant professor at University of Alabama - Huntsville opened fire on fellow faculty and university employees, killing three.

I have avoided most of the TV coverage, preferring to read news accounts as they come over the wire. People are searching (even screaming for answers), pointing fingers out of their fear and anxiety (although in some cases, just mean-spiritedness). But no answers are likely to be found that can possibly and satisfactorily explain the reasons these events occurred. I doubt "reason" had much to do with either case.

Rules and laws are only marginally capable of reducing the potential of violence. But they cannot prevent it, because the heart that is given over to such a hopeless and destructive state will find a way to achieve its aims. Only those closest to such lost individuals, through early intervention perhaps, have even the slightest chance of altering the life trajectory of those who believe they have "no way out."

Practically, all any of us can do is to be a friend and not be afraid to intervene when someone we know or care about starts down a path of self-destruction. Sometimes, we simply cannot "mind our own business." Help and counseling is available, and is often more effective earlier than later. And of course, we can pray.

Which brings me back to the observation at the top. Only Light can dispel Darkness. And when the darkness seems most oppressive, it is then that the light is needed most. We must pray for one another, we must pray for our community, and we must pray for light to dispel the darkness. In our actions, our words, and our service, we must bring light where today there is none, because in the light Truth will be revealed and the stranglehold of darkness can be broken.

Wild Weird Winter Weather

What wild and weird weather we are witnessing this winter! It began with an early December snow, followed by an additional snow toward the end of December, followed again by bitter cold with a snow and ice event in the second weekend in January, an EF-2 tornado on January 21, followed again by minor snow/sleet event on January 29th resulting in early school closings.

Now today, with kids all in school and everyone at work, a surprise winter snowfall has taken on the Tennessee Valley. It was supposed to be almost 50 today, and no winter precipitation. Now, through the grape vine, I hear there is an inch and half in my neighborhood, and it is still accumulating.

My camera phone is not that great, but here's the look outside my office building:



Now, where I come from, the above is not really that significant. But for this area of the country, which so rarely gets snow of any amount on the ground, it can be a big deal. And it is still coming down, although according to the radar it should be ending soon. Getting home is bound to be a lot of fun. Yeah.

I need a bumper sticker for today that simply says: "I'd rather be home sledding."

Update: Within 30 minutes of the original posting, the snow ends, the skies get brighter, and the snow starts melting. What I wouldn't give to be at home with a good 4-5 inches on the ground. Oh well.

Making History Cool?

Catching up on some blog reading today at Hot Air, I stumbled on the video below produced by an outfit called Soomo Publishing. Soomo appears to have a blog set up called PoliSilo, which originally posted the video. As I'm pushing 40, I confess to not having a clue who Timbaland is, but the song and the video take-off (this is not the original music video, so I am given to understand) is a fantastic and creative way of communicating history to a new generation.

First, enjoy:


I'm definitely going to have to poke around and see what else PoliSilo has to offer. A couple of reasons this type of thing excites me: 1) I love history, and I love seeing new and creative ways of teaching important concepts; 2) but the real reason is that this video flashes me back to my teenage years, when the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister was released (1984, I think). The music video for that song, of course, had nothing to do with the American Revolution - actually it was a little frightening. But I distinctly remember thinking that an American Revolution motif would have been great for that song.

It is indeed heartening to see outfits gearing up to keep history (and American principles) alive for a younger generation. At my age, I no longer know what "cool" is, I suppose, but in my view, this is cool.

Trip to the Aquarium

A few days ago, I accompanied my son's first-grade class on a field trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. Although a little tiring, the trip was pretty enjoyable. Getting first-graders to go slowly to admire and watch aquatic and marine life (not to mention frogs, turtles and snakes) is rather difficult, but a good time was had by all.

Working with an inexpensive camera with flash turned off generally results in pictures not-so-great, and true to form, most of the ones I took didn't come out too well. But a couple of them did:

The West Coast Sea Nettle (Jellyfish):


The Sandbar Shark:


Gentoo Penguins:


And a young American Alligator:


All in all, an enjoyable trip (not to mention an excuse to post to the blog).