(HT to BHT)
Before I wanted to be a pilot (and sometimes while I am a pilot!) I flirted with the idea of being a teacher. Specifically at 7th or 10th Grade History teacher. I love history. I love teaching. If I were, this is the kind of teacher I'd like to be...
Eric
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Political Pandering of the Conservative Christian
I saw the movie, "Man of the Year" starring Robin Williams last night. Excellent movie. Part of the premise is that politicians will say anything to anybody to get elected but won't do what needs to be done to get the job done.
I was surfing Rush Limbaugh's website this morning, something I do every once in a while, and Rush was talking about the Democratic Pandering to Christian Conservatives. Rush Limbaugh on Political Pandering
He references one group Sojourners/Call to Renewal ( Sojourners and Call to Renewal ) as the ones who brought Obama, Hillary and Edwards in to discuss their faith.
It seems to me that we have officially entered the "faith" portion of the race for the White House. Gotta get that faith thing out of the way so we can get to the real stuff; illegal immigration (Honey, did you remember to pay Consuela?), flag burning (Honey? Has my flag underwear arrived yet?), Iraq/terrorism (Honey, where's my 3 oz. bottle of toothpaste?), Global Warming (Honey, the weather channel says snow down to 4500 feet and it's only June 6th!) among other things.
Rush makes some observations that, especially these guys, have been antagonistic at best to those who profess a Christian belief. And yet, they will (and not just those on the left side of the aisle but the right side as well...ain't that right Rudi?) trot out their faith, attend a church service, even preach a sermon ( Sermons in Selma, so as to appear religious enough.
But their words and deeds, like many of ours, are polar opposites. Is this what we want for a leader?
Just some thoughts...BTW...rent the movie...it's a good one!
Eric
I was surfing Rush Limbaugh's website this morning, something I do every once in a while, and Rush was talking about the Democratic Pandering to Christian Conservatives. Rush Limbaugh on Political Pandering
He references one group Sojourners/Call to Renewal ( Sojourners and Call to Renewal ) as the ones who brought Obama, Hillary and Edwards in to discuss their faith.
It seems to me that we have officially entered the "faith" portion of the race for the White House. Gotta get that faith thing out of the way so we can get to the real stuff; illegal immigration (Honey, did you remember to pay Consuela?), flag burning (Honey? Has my flag underwear arrived yet?), Iraq/terrorism (Honey, where's my 3 oz. bottle of toothpaste?), Global Warming (Honey, the weather channel says snow down to 4500 feet and it's only June 6th!) among other things.
Rush makes some observations that, especially these guys, have been antagonistic at best to those who profess a Christian belief. And yet, they will (and not just those on the left side of the aisle but the right side as well...ain't that right Rudi?) trot out their faith, attend a church service, even preach a sermon ( Sermons in Selma, so as to appear religious enough.
But their words and deeds, like many of ours, are polar opposites. Is this what we want for a leader?
Just some thoughts...BTW...rent the movie...it's a good one!
Eric
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Life, Death and an Undefeated Season
My daughter has been playing fast-pitch girls softball for the last three years. She's 12 now and this has been the best season for her so far. Her first season was an intro to softball. She played on her best friend's team. Her dad was the coach and is also a friend of mine. She learned the fundamentals and had a fun time. Second year wasn't so good. The coach was a win at all costs kind of guy. Concentrated on his star players and left the others in outfield.
This year, she got a coach who cared more about the girls learning the game and having fun than the score. He even told the girls they were behind by 6 points a lot whether he knew the score or not! After a 12-0 undefeated season (including beating not once but twice, my daughter's coach from last year!), the team entered the playoffs. The last game was a nail-biter. Down 13-11 in the bottom of the seventh, my daughter gets a base hit and the ump finally realizes the first baseman lifts her foot at the last minute thus not completing the out. Three batters later and she's come home the team's best hitter is on third. The second best hitter is up to bat and the opposing coach tells his pitcher to walk her. We parents in the stands boo and the Ump tells us to keep quiet. Kelsey gets walked and as she gets to first, Coach Mike tells her to take 2nd. Then he yells, "THROW HER OUT AT SECOND!" which causes everyone to look that way including the opposing coach and the pitcher who over-throws 2nd! Out of the corner of my eye I see Katelyn stealing home from 3rd and that's it...game over...14-11! A 15-0 undefeated season! The girls played hard but in the end, the other team was out-coached!
All through this last month of playoffs there were two deaths in the family. My wife's Uncle was killed by a drunk driver in Florida and my cousin's husband succumbed to his battle with a failing liver, heart disease and diabetes. On top of that, my mother-in-law was informed that some the polyps in the foot of colon they removed had cancer. We're hoping the colonectomy removed all the offending cancer but we wait to hear the final prognosis.
And my sister-in-law, my brother's wife, should have popped out Boy #2 by today but so far, nothing.
Add to that, my good friend Larry is the object of a witch hunt at his place of employment. His District Manager has never liked him and is in the process of stretching incidents into something they are not. Larry is what any store manager should be; he is customer service oriented, always looking out for the best interests of the company as well as the customers. He and his wife are very giving and have the gift of hospitality. This is really, really causing some major stress in their life. He has been suspended with pay pending further investigation.
I know how that feels.
Makes you feel like shite.
The worse part for my wife and I is there is nothing we can say to change circumstances, to make them feel better, to put any kind of shine to this. All we can do for them is what they did for us 2 years ago when I went through my own work issues.
Pray.
(I told his wife that when this is all over and Larry is exonerated that she should ask the DM if she wants to be a man. When she says "no" then ask her why she was being such a dick. I know...)
So life rolls on. Rain falls on the good and the bad alike. We wonder why the evil prosper while the good suffer. We celebrate victories, we celebrate life. We mourn those who've departed and comfort those who are suffering. We are reminded in the Psalms of David that despite how we feel about our enemies, despite what sins we've committed, what struggle we're going through, God is there. He is to whom we can turn. Even when we get to the point of asking Him to either kill all of our enemies or to take us home He is there.
I don't know about Larry but when I went through my year of hell my faith was the only thing that kept me going. Not to diminish the presence of my wife who suffered a different type of pain watching her husband be beaten down, physically, mentally and emotionally, but I was hanging on the thread that all I could trust in was God. I do know this, it only lasts for a little while.
How long is a little while? This long.
Eric
This year, she got a coach who cared more about the girls learning the game and having fun than the score. He even told the girls they were behind by 6 points a lot whether he knew the score or not! After a 12-0 undefeated season (including beating not once but twice, my daughter's coach from last year!), the team entered the playoffs. The last game was a nail-biter. Down 13-11 in the bottom of the seventh, my daughter gets a base hit and the ump finally realizes the first baseman lifts her foot at the last minute thus not completing the out. Three batters later and she's come home the team's best hitter is on third. The second best hitter is up to bat and the opposing coach tells his pitcher to walk her. We parents in the stands boo and the Ump tells us to keep quiet. Kelsey gets walked and as she gets to first, Coach Mike tells her to take 2nd. Then he yells, "THROW HER OUT AT SECOND!" which causes everyone to look that way including the opposing coach and the pitcher who over-throws 2nd! Out of the corner of my eye I see Katelyn stealing home from 3rd and that's it...game over...14-11! A 15-0 undefeated season! The girls played hard but in the end, the other team was out-coached!
All through this last month of playoffs there were two deaths in the family. My wife's Uncle was killed by a drunk driver in Florida and my cousin's husband succumbed to his battle with a failing liver, heart disease and diabetes. On top of that, my mother-in-law was informed that some the polyps in the foot of colon they removed had cancer. We're hoping the colonectomy removed all the offending cancer but we wait to hear the final prognosis.
And my sister-in-law, my brother's wife, should have popped out Boy #2 by today but so far, nothing.
Add to that, my good friend Larry is the object of a witch hunt at his place of employment. His District Manager has never liked him and is in the process of stretching incidents into something they are not. Larry is what any store manager should be; he is customer service oriented, always looking out for the best interests of the company as well as the customers. He and his wife are very giving and have the gift of hospitality. This is really, really causing some major stress in their life. He has been suspended with pay pending further investigation.
I know how that feels.
Makes you feel like shite.
The worse part for my wife and I is there is nothing we can say to change circumstances, to make them feel better, to put any kind of shine to this. All we can do for them is what they did for us 2 years ago when I went through my own work issues.
Pray.
(I told his wife that when this is all over and Larry is exonerated that she should ask the DM if she wants to be a man. When she says "no" then ask her why she was being such a dick. I know...)
So life rolls on. Rain falls on the good and the bad alike. We wonder why the evil prosper while the good suffer. We celebrate victories, we celebrate life. We mourn those who've departed and comfort those who are suffering. We are reminded in the Psalms of David that despite how we feel about our enemies, despite what sins we've committed, what struggle we're going through, God is there. He is to whom we can turn. Even when we get to the point of asking Him to either kill all of our enemies or to take us home He is there.
I don't know about Larry but when I went through my year of hell my faith was the only thing that kept me going. Not to diminish the presence of my wife who suffered a different type of pain watching her husband be beaten down, physically, mentally and emotionally, but I was hanging on the thread that all I could trust in was God. I do know this, it only lasts for a little while.
How long is a little while? This long.
Eric
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Crime and Punishment
J.P. Moreland was introduced to me by my former brother-in-law Curt. I have been an admirer of Moreland's ability to reason through many issues of the day and present a clear and understandable discussion of the topic that is both relevant and true.
Over at Scriptorium Daily, Mr. Moreland has a bunch of posts on culture and Christianity. His latest puts into words something I've been trying to explain to people for years. Punishment has nothing to do with rehabilitation!
Until the 1950’s, there were four aspects of and goals for criminal justice: punishment, deterrence, protection of society, and rehabilitation. Here are three crucial points about the list. (1) Only the first one (punishment) requires taking the crime as intrinsically evil. It looks back in time at the crime, sees the balance of good and evil in the universe as disturbed, and seeks to right those scales and punish evil simply because it is evil and not because punishment would bring about good future benefits to society (or victims). Punishment is unrelated to revenge whose presence or absence is irrelevant to the appropriateness of the punishment.
The rest of the post is just as good. Check it out...
Eric
Over at Scriptorium Daily, Mr. Moreland has a bunch of posts on culture and Christianity. His latest puts into words something I've been trying to explain to people for years. Punishment has nothing to do with rehabilitation!
Until the 1950’s, there were four aspects of and goals for criminal justice: punishment, deterrence, protection of society, and rehabilitation. Here are three crucial points about the list. (1) Only the first one (punishment) requires taking the crime as intrinsically evil. It looks back in time at the crime, sees the balance of good and evil in the universe as disturbed, and seeks to right those scales and punish evil simply because it is evil and not because punishment would bring about good future benefits to society (or victims). Punishment is unrelated to revenge whose presence or absence is irrelevant to the appropriateness of the punishment.
The rest of the post is just as good. Check it out...
Eric
Friday, May 11, 2007
Bob from Bend
On Thursday I flew to Bend, Or to pick up a patient. While the Med Crew went into the hospital to retrieve the patient I sat outside on a bench watching the clouds and the planes and the helicopters come and go. An old guy came up and asked if I charged to sit and watch the planes. He introduced himself as Bob B. from Bend. Then he proceeded to talk...
Bob was on his way to get his FAA medical...at the age of 82. His wife made him sell his last plane at 80 so Bob bought another motorcycle. He really liked the Suzuki he found as it looked like his 1974 Harley. Then he told me about his first motorcycle.
Bob served as an engineer on a tanker in the USN during WWII. He was in Bremerhaven at the wars end and said he paid "a carton of cigarettes, a bottle of scotch and a pair of trousers" for a British built Victoria motorcycle. He said the couldn't find gas anywhere so they stole it out of the life boats! When he was shipped back home, he and a buddy lashed it to the tanker and made their way to Texas.
That's when he crashed and ruined his left hip. Which is another story Bob told me.
Bob and his buddy were leaving the (here Bob leans in conspiritorially and whispers) "the pussy house" late one night in a coastal Texas town when he told his buddy he was too tire to ride. His buddy, riding on back said they were only 10 miles from the ship and that he could make it. Bob said, "My buddy knew there was something wrong when he said he felt the bike start to slow down". Bob had fallen asleep on a road that forked left and right. Right in the middle of the "Y" was a large statue. Bob hit it dead on and his buddy landed on top of him, pinning him to the bike and crushing his left leg.
Bob was seeing "this cute little Italian number" who's friend was a doctor. She brought the Doc to Bob and the Doc put a plate on Bob's upper leg then told him "That's the first one I've ever done on a human. I've done pigs and horses but not people!" Needless to say Bob was pretty proud of the metal plate in his leg.
Bob then asked what kind of engines I had on my King Air. I told him I had PT6-42's on them. He told me another story about establishing an airline across most of Montana in Beech 99's and Twin Otters. He regaled me with a story about politics and arguing with one of the Mayor Daley's trying to get a route into O'Hare and not Midway.
About that time my Med Crew arrived and I had to bid Bob goodbye. I'll bet Bob has a bunch more stories about WWII and flying in the 50's, 60's and 70's if anyone is willing to sit a spell and just listen.
Bob was on his way to get his FAA medical...at the age of 82. His wife made him sell his last plane at 80 so Bob bought another motorcycle. He really liked the Suzuki he found as it looked like his 1974 Harley. Then he told me about his first motorcycle.
Bob served as an engineer on a tanker in the USN during WWII. He was in Bremerhaven at the wars end and said he paid "a carton of cigarettes, a bottle of scotch and a pair of trousers" for a British built Victoria motorcycle. He said the couldn't find gas anywhere so they stole it out of the life boats! When he was shipped back home, he and a buddy lashed it to the tanker and made their way to Texas.
That's when he crashed and ruined his left hip. Which is another story Bob told me.
Bob and his buddy were leaving the (here Bob leans in conspiritorially and whispers) "the pussy house" late one night in a coastal Texas town when he told his buddy he was too tire to ride. His buddy, riding on back said they were only 10 miles from the ship and that he could make it. Bob said, "My buddy knew there was something wrong when he said he felt the bike start to slow down". Bob had fallen asleep on a road that forked left and right. Right in the middle of the "Y" was a large statue. Bob hit it dead on and his buddy landed on top of him, pinning him to the bike and crushing his left leg.
Bob was seeing "this cute little Italian number" who's friend was a doctor. She brought the Doc to Bob and the Doc put a plate on Bob's upper leg then told him "That's the first one I've ever done on a human. I've done pigs and horses but not people!" Needless to say Bob was pretty proud of the metal plate in his leg.
Bob then asked what kind of engines I had on my King Air. I told him I had PT6-42's on them. He told me another story about establishing an airline across most of Montana in Beech 99's and Twin Otters. He regaled me with a story about politics and arguing with one of the Mayor Daley's trying to get a route into O'Hare and not Midway.
About that time my Med Crew arrived and I had to bid Bob goodbye. I'll bet Bob has a bunch more stories about WWII and flying in the 50's, 60's and 70's if anyone is willing to sit a spell and just listen.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Perspective
It's funny how, even after spending all of my life going to church and reading the Bible, I still find a new way to describe Jesus. Something that never dawned on me even though I've read it a million times and have even taught it...
Jesus was a homeless bum.
Think on that for a while. Then read this...
Giving money to people on the streets.
Perspective...
Eric
Jesus was a homeless bum.
Think on that for a while. Then read this...
Giving money to people on the streets.
Perspective...
Eric
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Emergent/Emerging
Confusing terms to say the least. My church recently held a 3 day seminar by Brian Flynn, a former TM disciple and Roger Oakland of Understand The Times regarding Contemplative Prayer and the Emerging Church. Some very interesting information came out of that conference but I'll let you click on the link and discover for yourself what they are. (Think "old wine in new wine skins" and the thought that the Devil simply repackages used goods!)
I've been attracted to the concept of an open conversation about the state of Christianity in the Western World of late and it seems the Emerging Church Movement has tapped into something along those lines. I also like the concept of missional thinking. In other words, I don't have to go to the Darkest Africa to spread the gospel. There is a culture in my own backyard that has no clue of God, Jesus or the Gospel. But I was confused. I'd heard things, things which smacked of liberal, moral-relativistic ideas within the ECM. The use of icons and incense to enhance worship (which begs the question, "When will the enhancements become what is worshipped instead of what they were supposed to be focusing your thoughts on?")
So, I went to Stand To Reason and found this little gem from Brett Kunkle.
Read them and see if there is not a concern about the leaders of the Emergent church and their influence on the Emerging church.
Eric
I've been attracted to the concept of an open conversation about the state of Christianity in the Western World of late and it seems the Emerging Church Movement has tapped into something along those lines. I also like the concept of missional thinking. In other words, I don't have to go to the Darkest Africa to spread the gospel. There is a culture in my own backyard that has no clue of God, Jesus or the Gospel. But I was confused. I'd heard things, things which smacked of liberal, moral-relativistic ideas within the ECM. The use of icons and incense to enhance worship (which begs the question, "When will the enhancements become what is worshipped instead of what they were supposed to be focusing your thoughts on?")
So, I went to Stand To Reason and found this little gem from Brett Kunkle.
Read them and see if there is not a concern about the leaders of the Emergent church and their influence on the Emerging church.
Eric
Monday, April 16, 2007
That's My King
Many years ago, in the days before DVD was the norm, I got a video called, "That's My King".
It gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it.
It brought tears to my eyes the second time I heard it.
The third time I heard it I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
What is it?
That's My King
Eric
It gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it.
It brought tears to my eyes the second time I heard it.
The third time I heard it I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
What is it?
That's My King
Eric
Thursday, April 05, 2007
How To Get Your Black Belt...
...in one easy lesson!
(That's me on the bottom in black getting my head torqued off by Master Jim!)
Eric
(That's me on the bottom in black getting my head torqued off by Master Jim!)
Eric
Three Days in the Bay
I'm not a prude, or at least I don't think of myself as a prude. But after spending 3 days in the Bay Area, specifically at Marineworld, I think I might be. I saw more boobs, butts, thongs, tramp-stamps than I really needed to see. And if I noticed them, I'm sure my 14-year-old son saw them as well. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure he noticed them because he commented on something we both saw.
A white guy who thought he was black.
Yup. A pasty white, blonde guy who dressed, talked, walked and acted like he was several pigment shades darker than he was. He was hanging around a group of blacks and my son was trying desperately to not laugh. Even he saw how lame it really was.
Then there were the little girls in line for "ROAR". I call them little because they couldn't have been more than 14 or 15. And yet, their tops were so low that if their shirts were to have shifted, they would have given everyone a nipple flash.
Of course, sitting on the benches at the dolphin show, it's hard not to notice the green thong that is 2 inches above the waistline of shorts on the woman in front of us.
Then there was the heavy-set guy with dyed black hair that hit him just above the pockets...of his shirt and the black t-shirt that loudly proclaimed in bold, white letters, "KILLING FOR SATAN" on the back.
How am I supposed to take my kids somewhere and have a good time without having to stop and interrupt said time by discussing lame-ass people's behaviours? Whatever happened to the idea of "public"? In other words, there are things that are acceptable in your own home or in a setting with like-minded people, but there are liberties that should be curtailed, even restrained, in the public eye. I am not arguing someone's right to wear a shirt so low I can see areola showing just wear it where the majority of people aren't going to see it. I really don't want to see your underwear. There is a reason it's called underwear and that's because you wear it under your clothes, not hanging out for all to see.
We did have a nice, quiet time in San Francisco though. On Tuesday, we headed to Golden Gate Park and hit the Japanese Tea Garden. What a really cool place. Very beautiful and serene. We had some green tea and wasabi rice crackers as well as fortune cookies. We took a bunch of pictures (which I'll post at Photos By Eric sometime today) and had a good time walking along Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39.
The weather was perfect all three days in the Bay and we felt blessed that God allowed us the time together. Not too many crowds which my family knows drives me nuts. No rain or cold wind, just sunshine and the occasional, welcome, breeze off the Bay.
All in all, not a bad time...
Eric
A white guy who thought he was black.
Yup. A pasty white, blonde guy who dressed, talked, walked and acted like he was several pigment shades darker than he was. He was hanging around a group of blacks and my son was trying desperately to not laugh. Even he saw how lame it really was.
Then there were the little girls in line for "ROAR". I call them little because they couldn't have been more than 14 or 15. And yet, their tops were so low that if their shirts were to have shifted, they would have given everyone a nipple flash.
Of course, sitting on the benches at the dolphin show, it's hard not to notice the green thong that is 2 inches above the waistline of shorts on the woman in front of us.
Then there was the heavy-set guy with dyed black hair that hit him just above the pockets...of his shirt and the black t-shirt that loudly proclaimed in bold, white letters, "KILLING FOR SATAN" on the back.
How am I supposed to take my kids somewhere and have a good time without having to stop and interrupt said time by discussing lame-ass people's behaviours? Whatever happened to the idea of "public"? In other words, there are things that are acceptable in your own home or in a setting with like-minded people, but there are liberties that should be curtailed, even restrained, in the public eye. I am not arguing someone's right to wear a shirt so low I can see areola showing just wear it where the majority of people aren't going to see it. I really don't want to see your underwear. There is a reason it's called underwear and that's because you wear it under your clothes, not hanging out for all to see.
We did have a nice, quiet time in San Francisco though. On Tuesday, we headed to Golden Gate Park and hit the Japanese Tea Garden. What a really cool place. Very beautiful and serene. We had some green tea and wasabi rice crackers as well as fortune cookies. We took a bunch of pictures (which I'll post at Photos By Eric sometime today) and had a good time walking along Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39.
The weather was perfect all three days in the Bay and we felt blessed that God allowed us the time together. Not too many crowds which my family knows drives me nuts. No rain or cold wind, just sunshine and the occasional, welcome, breeze off the Bay.
All in all, not a bad time...
Eric
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