Too Late Smart!

There is an old saying, "Too soon old and too late smart!"

It is often easy to see where we went awry in our past, and the older we are the longer our past, and the more opportunities to make mistakes. I had a long and very blessed work career in Higher Education.  The last 10 years or so of my career, I taught a course called, Measurement and Evaluation.  That course starts off with an introduction to very basic statistics.

I was chatting a year or so ago with a very young prof who was also teaching that class.  He remarked to me that he was going to give up teaching most of the stuff in the textbook and instead teach ONLY a popular statistical analysis package.  Now understand, that this course, at his university, was taught ONLY to undergraduates!

Why does that matter?

Because only 3 grads out of 10 will EVER in their lives USE that statistical package.  Do YOU use statistical packages?

When the young fellow said that, I thought to myself, WHO will ever use this information?  What good will it be to them over their lifetime?  I knew the answer was very small, though I wasn't sure how small.

Then, it dawned on me. I had insisted that MY students, in the stats part of the course, learn a stats procedure called the Bland-Altman analysis.  If you can perform a Bland-Altman, and explain the basics you know a LOT of useful statistics!! I had made knowledge of the B-A essential to my course- making the same mistake as the young guy.  WHO of you, dear readers, have ever used a Bland-Altman analysis?

That old saying, "Too soon old and too late smart!" caught ME!!  But now that I am smarter, I am retired- which is why I share this key lesson with you!

A Little Windy

Brenda and I are on vacay at one of our favorite spots- Laguna Beach Christian Retreat at PCB, FL. We love the simplicity of the place, and the life.  We love the very quiet, nearly-deserted beach here.

Today, similar to a couple of days back, the wind has HOWLED most of the day.  today it blew even harder- setting a NEW record for us.  The weather man said it was 30 mph- and I believe it.

If you look carefully you can see the sand blowing across the beach.

These are the largest waives we have EVER seen here.  This is what happens when the wind blows hard and long.  Also, as you can see below the worst water conditions are indicated with the dreaded double red flag!

You see the wind, and "7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?"

We know not where we have come from, and we sure don't know where we are going- just like the wind.  But we trust in G^d!

Whew- What a year!

I am writing this in late May, 2017.  Brenda and I have been reflecting back a bit in what G^d has done, seemingly in a whirlwind, since last January 2016.  Since that time the following events ahve occurred:

In Jan 2016, we sold our Bellwood home of 31 years,

In Feb, we bought a new garden home,

In April, I filed retirement and we closed on our Bellwood Home,

In April we moved from a 2600+ sq foot house to a 1400 sq Ft house,

At the end of April I interviewed at Liberty U,

In May I officially retired  (28 May) and took a Professor slot at Liberty U (30 May),

In May we bought a town home in Lynchburg, VA,

In June we closed on the Lynchburg home and in July, we moved most of our stuff.

At the end of July we went on a mission trip to Taiwan, and then visited our son and his family in Japan,

In August, straight from the trip to Japan we drove directly to Lynchburg where I started the new gig,

In Jan 2017, I (Phil) attended CRU Fac Commons Winter Staff Conference in Dallas,

In Feb., I Spoke at  Fac Commons Common Call Conference in Orlando,

In Feb we listed and sold our Lynchburg garden home,

In May we closed on our Lynchburg home, and moved back to AL, as I Blogged about earlier.

Whew!

Thanks be to G^d that we survived!

Sometimes you can spot a star

Brenda and I were at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat Center in May.  We were on the west end of the beach, where the tourist density is much lower and the the crowd decidedly more Christian in approach. As is our habit, we watched what was going on around the white sand and waves.

We noticed one young man with his little 6 year-old son. The son was obviously athletic even at that young age. He ran fast and dived into the waves like someone several years older. His dad was clearly fit and perhaps an athlete as well. His mom had the posture of a former gymnast, and those who have spent much time around gymnastics know the look.

We observed them for a couple of days and smiled and nodded when we walked past. Finally, I asked him, you are obviously physically fit, how do you stay in shape?"  He laughed and said, "I work for my wife and do what she says!"

"Keep it up!" I replied, "Whatever she is telling you is working!"

The next day, Brenda and I again smiled and waved at the two young boys.  The man now posed the question to me, "what do you do?" he asked.

"I teach Exercise Physiology."

"Where?"

Well for 32 years I taught at U of AL."

"Yeah, I went there to school." he said proudly.

"What field of study?" I inquired.

"Consumer Science, but mostly football."

"Oh yeah?"  "Did you play?"

"Yeah, I played 2002-2005."  "He was quarterback." his wife added.

"Yeah, my name is Brodie Croyle." he finally admitted.

If that name means nothing, google him.  He was an outstanding quarterback for UA, and his dad John was an All-American player under Bear Bryant.  His dad went on to start Big Oak Childrens's Ranch up near Gadsden, and Brodie, his wife, and Brodie's sister are now the operators of this famous and successful mission to homeless kids.

Sometimes you can spot a star, not just a star in sports, but a star in life.  And, we did.

THANKS be to G^d!!

A couple of months back, G^d BLESSED Brenda and I in an amazing way.  Our LAST week in Virginia was a killer.  On Monday we loaded a 6x12 foot UHaul trailer, and THEN drove 11 hours to our home in Alabama.  We unloaded Tuesday morning, and loaded up the furniture that we had replace to give it to our son Daniel and his family.

Wednesday we got up early and left to drive up to Huntsville, to Daniel's house.  Once we found it, we unloaded and spent a little time with Daniel, Shannon and Evie and Peter.  We then drove from Huntsville all the way to Bedford, VA where we spent the night.  Thursday morning, it was pouring rain, and we had to load up our last bit of stuff over at Legacy Oaks.  But, by the time we got to Legacy, it had stopped raining.  We loaded up another FULL trailer load by ourselves.  Brenda swept the garage, and we were ready to meet the buyer for his walk-through.

Friday AM, we closed on the sale of our wonderful Lynchburg home, and that went swift and well. Friday Afternoon I had to be at Liberty's Parents' reception, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  The fact that I ate 5 free ice creams made it even better. Later that evening, at the worship service I sat next to an organic Chemistry Prof, who was German and seemed a highly committed Christian.

Saturday Dr. Andy B and I got up VERY early to be at Liberty by a bit after 0600. President Trump would be speaking, and everyone predicted a zoo with regard to traffic and parking. It was nice and quiet when we arrived, and graduation went well.  At 3:30 that afternoon, we had our individual college graduation. Unexpectedly I was invited to the stage to give out two awards to two of my favorite grad students. I was thrilled.

As soon as graduation was over, Brenda and I picked up the truck and headed south!  We over-nighted in Bristol, VA.  We made it home a bit before 4 PM.  We got the truck quickly unloaded, with a little help from Daniel P.

I had feared so much and yet it had all gone soooo smoothly. We end up fearing so much and we also so often fail to fear G^d.  We get Scripture exactly backwards-- or at least I do.

Thanks be to G^d that he preserves us, and thanks be to G^d for His mercy and grace.

THANKS be to G^d!!

The Joys of Rest

This is the last day of our Spring Break.  I consider myself extremely fortunate to get a Spring Break.  It comes after 11 weeks of class, and the busiest 11 weeks I can recall.

It was a nice break.  I got to spend a little time with 3 of my 4 brothers, plus Brenda got to see her brother and sister.  We ended the week at Ben's (son -in-law) grandparents house in Otto, NC.  It was nice, without too much driving, plus we weren't anywhere too long to wear people out (I hope).

We tooks some pictures from Africa, and talked about it a bit, but tried to avoid wearing people out (I hope).

Everything went well, we made all our stops and only had one flat tire.  Thanks to our GPS we didn't get lost more than a few yards.  Thanks to our family and friends, we had a great time of fellowship and conversation.

But the best part was the rest.  Work is great, but rest is essential.  Get that?  Rest is essential.  I am not sure why, but G^d, after creating the earth, rested.  Sleep takes up about a third of our lives, but is essential.

Our laboratory has led the world in the study of recovery (i.e. rest) after bouts of exercise.  It turns out that few athletes can recover from a very hard workout in less than 48 hours.  Who knew?

Rest is a vital aspect of life, that seems to be under-appreciated, but when you are really tired...

Thanks be to G^d for the rest he gives us.

Take Heed Lest You Also Fall

"¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  1 Corinths 10:12-13

I, like many, depend on myself WAY too much.  "I can do this".  Yeah, maybe for trivial things, I can.  But, I am learning that I seldom stand, at least if there is any pressure.

I marvel at my own unbelief. I know a lot of Scripture, I obey a little.  So MUCH G^d has done for me, and I have such little gratitude.  I fall to temptation, even when a way of escape is so very obvious.

Humanity is fallen, there can be NO doubt.  I am fallen, without a doubt.  Thanks be to G^d that He is merciful and He extends Grace to us all.

Take he, lest you also fall!

That's not Fair! Thank Goodness!

"That's not Fair!"  Is a comment that used to be mostly relegated to kids under 15 or so years of age.

Now, it is common across the age span in the USA.

That's not Fair! Is applied to:

• Taxes
• White male privilege
• Airlines doing many things
• Police doing many things.

Whereas I will not argue the "fairness" of any of these issues, I do want to say that I am very HAPPY that many things are UNFAIR!!  Yes!  I do NOT want fairness for most of my life events, I want GRACE and MERCY!!

Many of the things I enjoy about life, are really unfair.  I was born in the USA where my opportunities were almost unlimited.  I was born into a stable, Christian home, where my parents loved each other and each of their 5 surviving boys.  I grew up in a small town which did NOT have legal alcohol sales- reducing my temptation.  I grew up without cable t.v., cell phones, the www, and all the associated bills. I was awarded a "free" education at USNA, which meant I never had serious debt until I bought a house. I met my wonderful wife at the local library and we married 12 days after I graduated from the USNA.  I could go on and on.

More importantly, I came to understand the TRUTH of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at an early age.  I understood then, and even better now, that I had a clear chance to hear the Good News in a culture that welcomed it.  I was UNfairly forgiven of the sins I had deliberately committed- how unfair!  I got to grow in my faith as a Follower of Jesus the Christ from my youth upwards, and have worshiped in many solid Christian Churches.

Yes, life has been UNfair to me- Thanks be to G^d!!!