God made Ruby too

After setting up, setting off, and videoing our Rube Goldberg machine ("Ruby") 120+ times, we the FBCS Physics Class of 2014 have come to several conclusions.

1. Gravity is inconsistent.
2. Momentum cannot be counted on.
3. Friction is a fickle little buzzard.
4. "Good" luck does not exist/ only "bad" luck...and luck is pagan altogether

On a more serious note, we soundly conclude that creation by time and chance is an absurd figment of a poor imagination. Even with 12 intelligent designers we struggled to bring any order to the chaos that we ourselves created. We have scratched all the hair from our hoary heads and have gnawed our fingernails down to bloody stubs...yes...the marring of our anatomy stands as a testament to our complete effort. We conclude that the order found in our universe screams of an incredibly Intelligent Designer/Creator...there is no other way. If you still find yourself doubting, simply watch our out-takes video...

Love More

No, it is not easy to grasp that the only way to suffer less is to love more, especially in politics. At the risk of seeming weaker. Yes, at the risk of seeming weaker I shall not build an atomic bomb, I shall not give my enemy a whack in the eye to show that I am stronger, I shall not make war, I shall not squash my tomatoes and apples with a tractor to keep the price up, I shall not destroy forests to build factories, I shall not poison the sea. If love is the rule of my politics and the thrust of my action, yes, I really shall suffer less and I shall cause less suffering in others.

Carlo Carretto

Where's Waldo?

Looking for Christ in the American Easter season can be a lot like pouring over a "Where's Waldo" book. I searched "Easter" on google images this morning...the first full screen of images had ONE tiny reference to Christ. See if you can find it...

Why WWJD?

I've recently been doing some research on the origins and popularity of the "What would Jesus do" phrase. While it has become hip and cheap today, it gained real popularity in the early 1900's after the publication of "In His Steps."

According to Wikipedia..."Chicago Advance, the original publisher, failed to register the copyright in the proper form. Other publishers took advantage of this, publishing the book without paying the author royalties. Thus lower prices and multiple publishers led to larger sales."

Snow Roller Update and Photophilosphy

School was called off yesterday due to extremely cold windchill temperatures. I was literally having trouble with my nose holes freezing over when I was outside last night. Those of you that live above the Arctic Circle are accustomed to this and I'm sure you've already developed the habit of breathing through your mouth....

Since school was called off I decided to go snow roller hunting in the afternoon. After cruising around in my car for a while I finally found a field with some "ten-ton hussies."

For the sake of my photographer friends, who already know my photo-philosophy, I need to drop my little dig again. Photos are for people that are unable* to have a real experience and people that need help remembering a real experience. Outside of this, photos are a poor excuse for real life. Of course I understand and can appreciate photography as an art form, but as a purist, digital art has never been very impressive to me. Now, my photography friends have already told me that I'm full of mud, but in the mean time I'll be out walking among the Snow Rollers while you look at "freeze dried" versions of them:)

I say all this as a disclaimer to any of the photos I post on this blog. They are artless and embarrassingly poor representations of God's creativity. Enjoy them for what they are...

snow roller 1

snow roller 2

snow roller 3

* Due to time/space, health, or old age, etc....

Snow Rollers: Ewok Armies Inexplicably Retreat to the Forest Moon of Endor

While Ewok armies rarely foray as far as the Blue Planet they have at times drifted down from the northern regions of the galaxy. These dwarfs of Endor are most known for their hit and run tactics, but an unusual phenomenon occurred all over North Western Pennsylvania yesterday.

Evidence indicates that a large Ewok army touched down during the night of January 27 in the Northwestern province of Pennsylvania; however, great mystery is found in their hasty retreat. Something seemed to cause a hasty retreat back to the forests of Endor. In fact the retreat was so hasty the dwarfs seem to have left all their sleeping bags....rolled em up and left without em they did.

I snapped a few pictures of the phenomenon....

In reality this is a rare natural occurrence that you can read about here. It makes me wonder what other natural beauty or sensations God has embedded in the fabric of this universe that we know nothing about...I had never heard of "snow rollers" before yesterday. I love it when God reveals His creativity to us!

2014: Less Stuff, More Happiness

So in spite of the fact that the weather in my part of the country finds us pining for for electric underwear, hand warmers, and even a single ray of sunshine...yes...in spite  of these facts, we try to turn our frozen sluggish minds out of hibernation and focus on more positive things like a New Year.

Just to make you New Year's Resolutioners have turquoise fuzzy feelings about me, I'm going to get some reflection and projection out of the way.

Reflection:
Another year is gone by and I just had another birthday. I'm stubbornly trying to convince myself that I'm not getting old, but my birthday cards haven't been very consoling. I found this tucked away in one of my cards...it hasn't seemed to help my self esteem.

 


 Projection:
I show this short video clip in my speech class every year. Though I've seen it many times I was impressed in a new way when I showed it to my class several days ago. I'm most impressed with the idea of surrounding yourself with just a few of your most favorite things. Why pick through 20 shirts each day when you'd be most happy simply wearing your 5 favorite ones? I'm committed to getting rid of the extra clutter in my life that I don't need. I'm going to focus on quality rather than quantity. (This is NOT a "New Year's Resolution"...just an inspiration)