Brush your teeth!!

After a cleaning once, they told me about how often I should brush, floss, use inter-dental sticks, etc.  So, I told my dentist, " I'm thinking about quitting my job so I can devote full time to dental hygiene."

Shortly thereafter I began to take pictures of myself brushing my teeth in various locations around the world.

I have continued that over several years, and it has been fun, plus entertaining for a few people who have seen me do it.

Dental hygiene is important, but I think other aspects of hygiene may be even more important.

A wise Jewish teacher once said,
"Don't fear the ones who can kill you, and after that can do nothing further.  Rather fear the one who can cast you into hell."

Usually I think that is referring to people, and it likely is.  BUT a more useful and practical application for most of us today is:

"Don't fear the act and habits that hurt your health, rather fear those things that hurt your relationship with the G^d of the Universe!"

How many differences can you find?

Most of you have seen the child's game where you compare two similar pictures and then try to find as many differences as you can.

Yesterday, a photographer from the UA Office of Student Affairs was snapping pictures for some unknown reason.  She asked if she could take our picture.  We said yes, so... Game On!

Compare these two pictures and see how many differences you can find.  To the winner goes... the satisfaction of being a very astute grown kid!

Here's the first pict:

Look closely now.... closely.... closely...

So, how closely did you look?  Could you find any differences?  Well it's a trick, because these are the same photos, only photo-shopped a bit!

It's a shame that we can pick out subtle differences, yet so often I fail to notice the difference between what G^d is doing and the mundane things around me.  So often I fail to notice G^d at all.

"Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law."    Ps 117:17-18

A Hostile Environ

I live in nominally Christian country, the USA.  I work in a community overtly hostile to Christianity.

How can this be?

"Easy, that's how."

The great southern writer, Flannery O'Connor described the SE USA as being, “...while the South is hardly Christ-centered, it is most certainly Christ-haunted.”

And on another occasion, "“Whenever I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one. To be able to recognize a freak, you have to have some conception of the whole man, and in the South the general conception of man is still, in the main, theological."

So, the "freakishness" of the American University, is that those who get to study man and nature full time, seem to draw the weakest inferences.

The Apostle Paul said in the Introduction to his letter to the Romans that there are two testimonies to G^d, the written Scriptures (what we humorously call the "OLD" Testament), and nature itself.  How ironic that those in the best viewing position mostly have their view totally obscured.  And, perhaps more interesting, they go to lengths to challenge the testimony of those who CAN see what the view portrays.

Why is that?

As a scientist, my job is to ask questions, and so I have asked myself the question, Why are so few academics Christians?, and think I have an answer.

Why do you think that is?

40 Years ago...

40 years ago, 19 June 1972, G^d Blessed me with a beautiful wife, wonderful mother to our children, and terrific traveling companion. Thank you L^rd!

We have been greatly blessed in so many ways.
Allah Akbar, indeed!

Under Construction

Moore Hall, the building where I have worked since 1984 is being renovated to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  So they gutted it and started over.

They had a semi-empty building that they moved us into in the summer of 2011.  What we did NOT know was that the temporary building would be renovated whilst we inhabited it!!

That has caused some problems:

• Jack hammers intermittently making it very hard to talk.
• The entrance to our building is a moving target.
• Workers are constantly in and out of our building.
• Our lab has to be periodically shut down for various tasks (Like cutting new windows).
• We have lost use of one  heat chamber, and our clothes washing facility.
• Leaking water is an occasional problem.
• People's offices have moved as construction moves them.
• I have lost my good shower, and only have a bad one to use now.

BUT, we all need revitalizing from time to time, and it is seldom convenient.

Our spirits too, need renewal in the Christ and the Holy Spirit.  And it is seldom painless or convenient.

"Create in me a CLEAN heart, O L^rd!"

Swedish Rememberances

Blog posts from USA

In Spanish, the word for souvenir (the French word for the same concept) is “recuerdo” which in English is “remembrance”.  Brenda and I bought several remembrances.  I think this might be revealing.

• Just this morning I was using a “coffee” spoon Brenda bought in Ostersund.  What a nice remembrance!
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda has been giving away the little carved wooden butter spreaders she bought in Ostersund.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought the grandkids, one of whom loves hats, some neat hats from Sweden.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda found some great bargains which will be gifts: scarves, dishtowels, apron with moose, handkerchiefs, handmade potholders,  and some other cool stuff.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought three decorative plates with scenes from Ostersund.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought some neat Swedish candlesticks.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought some neat Swedish candy and specialty teas (from Amanda’s Te store).
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought some neat Swedish measuring cups.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought some neat Swedish pottery.
• The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.
• Brenda bought some neat Swedish Carved wooden items.
• The other day I  admired a Swedish necklace I bought for Brenda from the Guld store in Ostersund.

But our favorite “rememberances” are the dear friends we have in Sweden.

The other day I sharpened a Swedish knife I bought from the Loppis.

Comparisons

I mentioned in an earlier post how US citizens, who first visit a foreign country are constantly making comparisons between the USA  and wherever they are visiting.  This is annoying and detracts from the visit.

Except of course, when I do it.

Brenda and I were driving to the church building this morning and Brenda pointed out how much prettier a city in an unnamed foreign country was than our town in the USA.  We noted that the abundance of signs advertising stuff, along with the abundance of electrical, telephone, and tv cables really detract.

Then of course, it begins to get personal.  What am I doing to detract from the:

• Glory of G^d?  (Philippians 1: 11)
• Glory of The Christ?  ( Col 1:27)

Hmm, let's not make comparisons...

Sowing and Reaping

Brenda and I have been gardening a bit since our return from Sweden.

Farmer and gardeners get a very good perspective on life.

• They work on faith alone.
• They must plan on delayed gratification.
• They are dependent on weather, cooperative insects, and biology.  They can't be "independent".
• The potential reward can be substantial.

Some people believe that the Bible is full of farming illustrations because the people of that day could relate to those.  I think the farming illustrations were used, because they represent the BEST POSSIBLE illustrations for the reasons listed above.

• The parable of the sower has great depth (no pun intended).
• The parable of the rented-out vineyard and the cruel renters is convicting.
• The parable of the tares and wheat is captivating.

All of these and more Biblical illustrations tell us that we must work now on faith for the future.  They tell us that the potential reward is great.  They tell us that we are dependent.

So each spring we sow with expectation, and therein we learn a lesson.

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”   Luke 18:6-8 (NIV)