Life Review: Bye Bye Toothy

My tooth #30 (3rd from last on lower right) has given me trouble for several years. Many years back- maybe almost 20, my dentist put a crown on it. In August 2017, the tooth became sensitive to pressure. It had come off a couple of times before, and had been glued back, so this was no big surprise.

It turns out, the tooth itself, under the crown, had some decay. My dentist sent me to an endodontist, who filled the cavity and gave me a root canal- for $1600!  Oh well.

Early in November just past, as I chewed the crown, now worth over $1600, came off once again, but this time the tooth itself broke off, weakened over the years, and especially by the root canal. Having a good bit of took experience over the years, I knew the general recommendation:  1) hire an oral surgeon to remove the remains of the tooth, 2) install a metal post in place of the tooth, and 3) put a crown on the post. Yep, this will cost $$$$.

I knew all this because my mouth already has several crowns.  My particular teeth are susceptible to cavities despite frequent brushing. Perhaps it is my love for sugar!

Another alternative, put crowns on #31 and #29 teeth- on either side of #30, and install a bridge.  this would save a little, only costing $$$. I knew this because it was done on the other side of my jaw. the problem is that the space under the bridge catches bits of food which irritate the gum. This requires flossing to remove, and flossing is great for dental, and overall health (check it out).

I had to do SOMETHING! The lingual edge of the broken tooth was extremely sharp, and I discovered that each time I swallow, the margin of my tongue rubbed across that sharp, sharp edge, causing some discomfort. The loss of the crown occurred just as we were leaving town for a week working w AIA in Ohio, so I had about 8 days of being without the crown--or 8 days of discomfort.

So as I suggested these two remedies to my very experienced dentist, he listened and agreed. I then asked the Phil Bishop question, "What if you rounded off that sharp edge, and left the gap where it was, sans tooth? Would #31 rotate or shift with #30 missing?"  After all, it doesn't have to last another 50 years, or even 30.

"Nope, it will not be a problem." the dentist answered. And, he didn't even charge me for smoothing off the edge of the tooth.

And, so far he is right.  And, he is right at a MUCH lower cost.

Did I mention, I hate to waste money?

Life Review: Humor in Teaching

Last year, I was talking to my Cru Faculty Commons coach.  I asked him to pick out ONE thing that I ought to change (I knew we didn't have time for the full list).  He didn't take long to come up with the recommendation that I not "try too hard to be funny."

Hmm, I didn't really see that coming.  But, I asked for the feedback, and took it, and thought, well, not trying to do this thing should be easier than trying to be funny.  But I relayed his advice to others who suggested the opposite- that I should continue trying (though not always achieving) humor in classes.

As I reflected longer and longer at my first friend's comment about cutting back on humor, I considered why I might be trying too hard.  The first thing that came to mind was my dear, deceased Dad. He was a lover of humor and an constant joke teller.  I have blogged before that as a barber, he had a whole new clientele in less than an hour, for as long as a 12-hour day.  As a shoeshine boy, I heard him tell the same jokes over and over, and heard him laugh at the 75th telling, as hard as at the 22nd.  So, my Dad is partially to blame.

But then I thought about my teaching as a Professor.  For many, many years, I taught each Tuesday and Thursday morning at that dreaded time- 0800.  Students do NOT like to take 0800 classes, but it was the only time my required class was taught.  But the subject matter of that class was even more daunting.  I taught applied statistics to Physical Education and Exercise Science majors-- at 0800!  If these folks loved math, they would have been in another major!

What I learned many years back was that in a math class for non-mathematics people, at 0800, ANY attempt at humor was greatly welcomed.  So, my schedule and my students also contributed to my dysfunction.

There is a LOT of sadness and depression naturally in our world. If a little lame attempt at humor helps anyone, then let's give it a try. Besides, I come by my fault for good reason.

What do YOU think about "trying too hard to be funny?"

Does G^d Change Between OT and NEW?

This coming Sunday (20 Jan) we will begin a new Sunday School class at Grace Church (one of three adult classes).  The class I am co-teaching with two colleagues is "Atonement through the Scriptures".  It begins, logically with G^d's atonement in Gen. Chapter 3, and continues right through to Revelation.  One of the MANY points of the series is the consistency of G^d in atoning for man's sins and restoring of relationship with Him.

In thinking about this, it strikes me that some, otherwise knowledgeable folks, believe that G^d in the Old Testament (I prefer to call it the Foundational Testament--they are both pretty old) was an "angry smiting G^d", whereas in the New Testament (I call the Christian Testament, since it is almost 2000 years old) G^d is a "loving, forgiving G^d".

What???  The UNCHANGEABLE, the ETERNAL, the PERFECT G^d would "change".  I put that last word in quotes because it is unthinkable.  In Genesis 3, we read where G^d slew animals to make clothing to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve, which only became a problem after their sin. Blood is shed to atone for their fall. In Genesis 22, G^d tells Abram to slay his only true heir, Isaac, but then provides a blood sacrifice in Isaac's place.  And over and over, right up until the sacrifice of the Christ, the Messiah, for our salvation--i.e. our atonement.

No, G^d didn't change, and indeed cannot change. Christ was crucified BEFORE the foundation of the world, as noted previously in this blog. And, THANKS be to G^d, that He does NOT change! Hebrews 13:8 tells us, that, "Jesus (G^d) is the same yesterday, today and forever!"

Well, that is talking about Jesus, not G^d the Father., you might object, but there are plenty of verses that say the same about the Father.  Ps 55:19, for example, says, "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God."  And, James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

So, the same G^d who atoned for our sin in the Foundaitonal Testament, does it over and over, and also in the Christian Testament.  And, there is a continuous need, for I am a continual sinner.

Thanks be to the gracious, merciful G^d who does not change!  Amen!

A story you can't make up: An Apologetic story

For some reason, yesterday, Sunday, I was thinking of what I would like to preach the next time the opportunity arises. The title would be something like this: "Why a Skeptic Believes in Christianity". I have mentioned before that I am a big-time skeptic. I am NOT easily convinced of much.

I have heard a LOT of apologetics, and by "apologetics" I mean arguments for the existence of G^d, and for Christianity. I think about these, and weigh them carefully. To me, the most compelling argument for G^d is the details of Christianity.  Let's look at a few of these.

First Christianity begins in Genesis. In Genesis 1 &2, G^d creates the heavens and the earth. By early Genesis 3, man has fallen, as Adam and Eve exercise their G^d-give free will to disobey the ONLY commandment G^d had given. They are immediately ashamed. And G^d covers their shame by KILLING animals for skins to clothe them. So we see that sacrifice is required when we sin and blood is shed to "cover" us.  Strange...

Then throughout the Jewish Scriptures we see that G^d had crucified Jesus "before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4; Matt 25:34). But think about this. The Christ was not a solution to an unanticipated problem, He was the solution given in time, BEFORE the problem needed solving!

And then He comes to earth in a VIRGIN birth?  What?  Outrageous--except is is true and needful. Then G^d Himself dwells among us, full of grace and truth- as foretold in great detail in the Jewish Scriptures, and verified in the Gospels. He performs many miracles, most of which are astounding. He then does what? He DIES at the hands of his created beings!!  You can't make this stuff up!

When men create a religion, take Scientology for example ("...launched in May 1952 by American author L. Ron Hubbard").  Here is a believable religion based on study and training.  Nothing too mysterious. It has no virgin birth, nor miracles, nor G^d becoming man.

And then this Christ makes good on His claims and on His promise and comes back from the dead!  Does what? Yes, He defeats death. He who is part of the incomprehensible Trinity, resurrects to reign in Heaven for ALL time. Time is suspended!  What?

You cannot make this stuff up!  It MUST be true, and it evidences much that is ABOVE human conception.  

Think about it.  It is true, and its truth is obvious, because humans could have NEVER dreamed us such a story.  And this is from a skeptic!

Life review: On trees and G^d

I just saw a Facebook post from a friend who lives in Tuscon, AZ and she was rejoicing to see trees in TX. I commented that I love trees.  I really do. Had I been creating the world, I would have happily made a couple of dozen.  I would have made red maples, and fruit trees, and hickories, and of course spruce, cedar and other evergreens. I would have made a locust, and aspen and poplar.  But, when G^d spoke the cosmos into existence, He made over 60,000 species of trees.  And, botanists still discover new ones too!

I love trees when they are beautifully green, when they turn colors in the fall, and even when they shed their leaves and stand as bold, bare sentinels of the forest. I love wood, I love to cut it, burn it, and make things from it. A wood fire is one of G^d's greatest gifts to mankind.

Trees are marvelous! Just think of a giant redwood pumping water from the ground almost 400 feet into the air at the top of their crown! Water is heavy too, so this is NOT an easy task.

G^d is good. He gives good gifts, and He is not like us.  He does NOT get bored, and repetition is nothing to Him. He is patient, He is kind, He is the Originator of "...every good and perfect gift".

G^d patiently made all 60k+ species of trees. Each is unique, each is an addition to this world. G^d made us.

G^d loves us enough to make many, many trees. BUT, G^d loves us enough to become man and live and die as a sacrifice for our benefit.

Thanks be to G^d for trees, and BIG thanks for your atonement for us!

Life Review: Magazine Writing

Several years ago, I co-authored the most important journal article of my career--even though it was never "counted" for much in my career. Bill Weems and I published an article in an Occupational Safety and Health magazine called, "Will your safety harness kill you?" I chose the title, and we got a LOT of grief for saying something negative about wearing a safety harness.  that's another post for another day.

The point of the introductory paragraph was that this article led to a LOT more magazine articles. The editor of a hunting magazine, Deer and Deer Hunting, saw, or heard, about our Safety-harness article, and asked me about someone doing one for his magazine since deer hunters often hunt from tree stands and use safety harnesses. I volunteered to give it a try myself... and that has led to a lot of magazine articles.

In the early days, Deer and Deer Hunting paid me $800 per article.  They have slowly lowered the pay to $400 per piece, but it's still fun. I have written lots of articles about hunting safety, about deer physiology and function, and an occasional piece about the joys of hunting. Recently another magazine editor saw one of my articles in DDH and invited me to write for Whitetail times. In the last week I have written 4 of these articles. The pay here has further diminished. They will give me $250 per article, IF I have photo support.  I have enlisted Andrew to take some photos. One of my good friends is reviewing and editing these 4 articles right now, and I will send them in when he is done.  I endeavor to send in pieces that are pre-edited, requiring little of the magazine personnel.

The latest piece is the "Anatomy of a Heart Shot".  Here 'tis:

It's a nice magazine, and it has been great to work with them. I write for the fun of the writing. All four of the recent drafts were actually written whilst I was sitting in the stand, hunting deer. Over the years, I am not sure how many articles have been published, or how much money I have made. I suspect I have made more off the magazine articles than I have in royalties from my text book. Again, I write for the joy of it.

Perhaps when the Wellness book comes out I will get the opportunity to write a few wellness articles. We shall see. I know it has been fun so far.

Life Review: My Clothing

What you are seeing is a down vest. The reason you are seeing it, is that it has a story. I told the story of my 34-year-old shoes. Now here's the story of a 42-year-old down vest. I wear it every hunting season.

When I was flying with the Navy, we occasionally flew into Montreal. On one of those visits, I found this down vest for $22. It was about 1976 or so.  Now, 42 years later, with patches in place, I wore it today.  This has a few take home messages:

1) Good gear lasts!
2) Just because something is fiarly cheap doesn't mean it isn't good quality.
3) Down is warm!
4) Old stuff may still be quite good.
5) Keeping clothing for 42 years means you got your money's worth.

WHo knows how much longer I get to wear this fine piece of heavily-stained clothing.

Keeping a bit of Perspective

One of my favorite stories involves U of AL coach Nick Saban.

Back in 2014, a Cru Staff member from Zimbabwe, Taffy, whom we had worked with in Botswana, visited us in Alabama. He was trying to raise funds for his mission work in Africa. We set him up with a few appointments, but also wanted him to see some of the local sites.

Twice before I had taken a tour of the UA football stadium, and thought he'd like that. Our son-in-law Ben was a UA alumnus and an Alabama football fan, so we scheduled a tour with Ben and our friend, Taffy.

The tour is great and lasts well over an hour.  The docents are excellent and know a LOT and are very good a fielding questions. You go ALL over the stadium seeing the press box, the visiting locker room (aptly named the "Fail" room for the man who donated the money for it--allegedly), the UA locker room, the press box, the player-recruitment areas-- you get it-- it's a thorough tour.

Very close to the end of the long tour, Taffy raises his hand. The docent acknowledged him with smile.

"Just WHO is this 'Nick Saban" everyone keeps mentioning?"

Which prompted the obvious response, "Just WHERE are you from?"

As famous as one may be in the USA, keep in mind, the rest of the world may NOT have a clue as to your fame.

It's hard, but stay humble my friends. I need the reminder, so maybe this will remind you.

Blessings,