Peggy Noonan

I have the hardest time disagreeing with this lady. I tend to think Huckabee in some respects is a refreshing face on the Republican side of the presidential race, (For me...for others in the party it's more of the same), I agree with a lot of what she's saying about the pool of candidates in yesterday's column. Regardless, I love the way she writes and her logic is sound in many respects. Especially for someone who is squarely a conservative.

Encouraging Shopping Experiences

Finished up my shopping in fairly efficient fashion over the past few days. I find it sort of fun to shop during the last days before Christmas. (Still not a fan of the rush, though). You learn a lot about people. For the most part, the good nature of people comes out. I'm not the only one smiling at strangers while you're fighting the crowds. It's one of those times where you wish people could act this way all year around. My sons accompanied me on my trips too and were nothing but excellent companions. They showed lots of patience and didn't complain.

One thing I notice when I'm out is that I think 90% of the time I was asked to show ID when paying with credit. Personally I gladly pull out the picture and share it. I usually thank them for checking it too. I think of it not as the clerk showing distrust of me, but rather protecting me. I figure if they're doing it with me then if I lose my wallet some day, they will do it with the dishonest person who may try to use the same card. (I just hope they don't look like me :-) ).

Now with a day or two to go, it's just the menu and wrapping left to do. we taught Sunday School to 2nd graders today, so with the shopping done, it's snice to slow down and try to think more about the incredible gift given to us 2000+ years ago.

Pair o' Dime Props: Grandma Hardin

My dad's mom, Grandma Hardin, lived in my original hometown of Hamilton, Ohio. Honestly, there are a lot of things I forget about her but I do remember the following:

• She was a sweet and thin lady who wasn't afraid to get down on the floor and play with her grandchildren.
  
• She loved to watch Robert Schuller and signed her letters, "God loves you and so do I."
• She was a good cook (ham loaf with homemade mustard was one recipe she was known for).
• But what I remember the most was she always had a tin of homemade sugar cookies on hand and for kids like me.

Honestly, I think I've had these cookies twice, maybe three times in the last 27 years, but one of those times was today. Of course I haven't been able to duplicate them exactly but making them today has brought back some memories and made me realize how much I enjoyed my time with grandma. It's also amazing how smells and tastes can bring back memories. Actually at one point, I was convinced that my wife's sweatshirt smelled like my grandma's cologne. (By the way, this isn't a way to endear yourself to your spouse by telling them they smell like your grandparent). Anyhow, here's to Donna Evilo (nee' Shaffer) Hardin. A lady who could make wonderful sugar cookies who I hope to one day duplicate. Too bad she couldn't live to 108 to show me - I miss her.

Oh, by the way, the middle name "Evilo" was "Olive" spelled backwards. I guess it isn't just this generation that plays around with names.

Scrooge sighting: Regulating Christmas

I love Christmas! It has always been my most favorite time of the year. I'm like a little kid in many respects. However, the years have weathered me a little. Ironically, as I continue my spiritual growth I find things about the season less enthralling than when it was a secular holiday for me. I used to "score" big time on Christmas. Generous parents helped me out quite a bit with this. Now, as I see things pull our recognition away from the Christ child I tend to find a negative streak in me. The materialism and gluttonous attitudes throughout the holidays, (mine included), distract me and countless others away from the reason for Christmas. Don't get me wrong. I love giving and receiving gifts. I've been wanting to start/revive my interest in slot cars for the past year and it has only been my budget that has kept me from begging my wife to get a track "for the kids." I also enjoy the cooking and eating during this time, but this is what I'm seeing:

• My desire to cook (and eat) overwhelms me with planning and shopping to make some treats and meals that I don't normally get to make.
• My desire to shop and buy a plethora of gifts for my kids continuously nags me to find the time to get all the things I want to get them.
• Media constantly speaking of "last minute gifts" two full weeks before Christmas day to give us the sense that we need to be finishing up. This is their way of telling us to shop early and often.
• A constant barrage of largely material gifts being flashed in front of me when I finally do stop. The ads tell me to do things like shop at Jared Jewelers or be sure to buy my spouse (or teenage child) a Lexus during their year end sales event. (The latter ad drives me nuts every year).

So yeah, I'm a scrooge about some things. I no longer care for the materialism, the rush and the push during the time. I'm ready to enjoy lights, songs and worship. (Why is it by the way that most churches aren't even open on Christmas day? You essentially have to be Catholic or in Europe if you want to worship the Christ child in church on Christmas Day. I have even heard pastors in the past, when Christmas falls on a Sunday say that we won't have church so that everyone can be with their family. I don't see the logic). So I have already started discussing with my wife what we might be able to do differently next year. Here are some of the thoughts:

• One gift to each member from each member of our immediate family (Maybe 2 or 3 from Mom and Dad). We're a family of four. That would be three or so gifts a piece. The gifts would more likely be bigger and would not be clothes or other practical gifts. It would be something special. (I know one family I grew up with that did this, and I have to say they are fairly well-adjusted so I do believe we could manage mental balance while doing this).
• With the extra time (and money saved) more focus would be spent volunteering our time and resources to other activities which would spread good will to others and enrich our own time with friends and neighbors.

So there's the start of it. I'd love to have other ideas that would help with this, but I'm feeling the stress that my parents always talked about (and I never understood) that happens when trying to handle the responsibilities of the season.

FIVE!!!

The Bright(er) Side: awkwardness

It occurred to me today while talking to a friend. That awkward silences are better than awkward conversations. And no, the conversation wasn't awkward...just a thought on the bright(er) side. I think I've created a new label within my blog: The bright(er) side.

The "other" Rusty Hardin

Well, wouldn't you know it. I thought with Arthur Anderson no longer having legal issues, and Wade Boggs, Warren Moon and other high profile celebs/jocks staying out of trouble, I could continue being the only known (to my childhood friends and family) Rusty Hardin. But then along comes Roger "The Rocket" Clemons who is mentioned 82 times in the "Mitchel Report" on illegal drug use in Major League Baseball. Roger can afford high profile lawyers to do his talking, so he totes out none other than Texas attorney, Rusty Hardin. Unfortunately Rusty Hardin (esq.) apparently does not have someone to tell him that going by the name "Rusty" as an adult isn't very professional. In the meantime, any long lost childhood friends, that are googling me (and I'm sure there are thousands!) will never find me because of this guy.

The Bright(er) Side: Ignorance

Many people have heard statements like:

"He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer"

Hopefully it hasn't been uttered directly towards you, but if it has, take heart! This and many other put downs aren't all they're cracked up to be. So if you've been called "not the

...sharpest crayon in the box
...sharpest tool in the shed
...brightest light in the harbor.
...brightest bulb in the box.
...brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.
...brightest crayon in the box.
...brightest bulb in the chandelier.
...quickest bunny in the forest.
...quickest horse in the stable.
...fastest ship in the fleet.

Simply ask yourself this question: "Who is the sharpest, brightest, quickest or fastest?" These statements have the implication that there is only one who can be the sharpest, brightest, etc. Chances are it isn't you, or the person who issued this put down. Thus proving the same for them as it is for you. If in fact they were the sharpest, brightest, quickest or fastest they would have used one of these:

A few screws short of a hardware store.
A few cards short of a deck.
A few peas short of a casserole.
A few keys short of a keyboard.
A few fries short of a Happy Meal.
A burger short of a combo meal.
Or one of the many others I found on the web.

If you have been called one of these, well...I've got nothin'. Have a good day.

It's beginning to look a lot like...summer!(?)

Well, the forecast says we will hit 81 today. Some of you might think I'm rubbing this in, but frankly, I would like a little cool crisp air. The Mrs. on the other hand loves it.

Looks like I'll be turning on the AC again tonight. I wonder if there is anything to this global warming thing?

Santa Who?

The other day I posted about St. Nicholas. I'm a fan of St. Nick, really. I think, from what we know he was a good man. I even like the legends about him too.

But my wife and I have been semi-covert in the fact that we, with our 4 and 7 year old sons, do not do Santa Claus. I don't care to go into a long diatribe over why this is so, (although it may increase comments and hits on my blog), but I will give two reasons why:

1. My family celebrates Christmas which is the birth of our Savior. However, and perhaps it's just me, it seems that the focus seems to have gone elsewhere. (Sarcasm intended). This includes Santa Claus. We feel it important to do our best to bring the focus back on Christ.
   
2. Since gift giving is one way of showing love for other people, does it not stand to reason that I would want my children to know the gifts they receive are a token of our love for them and not a fictional character's love for them?
   

Make no mistake here. I am not proclaiming that parents who choose to do the Santa thing are inferior, deceptive or wrong. (That includes both my folks and my in-laws who did Santa with us). We just don't do it for the reasons stated above and we tell our kids that others "pretend" there is a Santa and they can continue to do so.

Thank you, Harris Teeter!

For those of you concerned for my personal well-being, the Spumoni ice cream has been located in the Charlotte area. Thanks go to Harris Teeter, Edy's and my in-laws, who after seeing me obsess over my "need" for Spumoni found it in their heart to go to "The Teeter" and peruse the aisles for me. The result: two 1.75 quarts in my freezer when I came home from church today! Woohoo!

The Feast of St. Nicholas

I enjoy Christmas traditions and stories. I also remember learning in German class that in Europe gifts are often exchanged on December 6th, which is the Feast of St. Nicholas. It makes me wonder, what does one say on this day? Happy Feast of St. Nicholas Day!!!??? Anyhow, St. Nicholas was known for gift giving among other things and in Europe many countries actually do the Christmas gift giving on this day. I watched Rick Steves' European Christmas this past week and in the show Rick stated that apparently it was Martin Luther who wanted to bring the gift focus back to Christ which is why many traditions were changed to have gift giving occur on the 25th.

Interesting, but really all of this is back story for what occurred to me when I read the Wikipedia article. This man was the patron saint of virtually everyone/everywhere. The one that got me though was the fact that he is the patron saint of thieves. There's a Saint for thieves? Does this mean that Catholic thieves pray to him during a heist? One question I had though was who was it in fact that bestowed St. Nicholas as the Patron Saint of thieves? Or did the thieves just claim them as their own? One other note that my friend mentioned to me was this: He is the Patron Saint of the falsely accused as well. So....whether you did it or you didn't...he's your man!

Happy Birthday, Dave Brubeck!

Who, you ask? Well, Mr. Brubeck is a Jazz pianist made famous for a piece called "Take Five." If you're not sure what that is, then view the following. This is a classic and while watching/listening, you somehow start believing that there was a time when middle aged musicians wearing thick-rimmed glasses and suits was cool.



Try dancing to this...it doesn't work. Most pieces are written in 2, 3 or 4 beats per measure. There are only two pieces "written in five" that I know of that obtained popularity: This and the theme from Mission Impossible.

Mr. Brubeck turned 87 today.

It's Advent...where's the Spumoni?

A plight I have had since leaving Ohio is finding Spumoni Ice Cream. In Ohio, you could get this in Italian Restaurants, (probably since most good Italian Bakers never leave the Northeast and a good Cannoli or Tiramisu is hard to come by), but you could also get it at most supermarkets during Christmastime. Well, for those who know me, I can have a hankering for ice cream on any day of the year and I look forward to Spumoni Ice Cream during Christmas. So, anyone in the Charlotte area PLEASE tell me where I can score some chocolate, pistachio and cherry ice cream all in one container!

The example of the Apostle Andrew

I have an acquaintance, Paul Walker, who currently is the vicar of a church in suburban Bradford, England. I worked with his church, St. Cuthbert's, for about a month, sixteen years ago. During that time he was vicar at a church called St. Andrew's. I happened upon his blog(s) a while back thanks to my friend Google and my nostalgic nature.

Anyhow, yesterday was the feast day for St. Andrews on the anglican calendar and he has a great post about my son's namesake, Andrew, and how he shared Jesus with others. Sometimes I think we complicate sharing the Gospel and by this post it can be seen that it isn't nearly as daunting, or complex as we often make it.

Let's Go Sooners!

Oklahoma has temporarily inherited hundreds of thousands of Ohio State fans, and I can account for at least four!

Heute, Ich bin ein Sooner!

(Yeah, I'm a Pitt fan today too...but I'm also realistic)

If I didn't have my hands full arleady...

My son, (name redacted), roughly used the following logic at dinner last night.

Christmas is Jesus' birthday, and we should ask Jesus into our hearts. And because of this, we should get lots of presents for Christmas, because if Jesus is in our hearts, he can play with our presents too!

MED 0050: Remedial Surgery

Short Description:
This course is a requirement for all new med students who

• make wrong turns after given simple instructions
• suffer from vertigo
• walk up down escalators
• unknowingly wear shirts of the opposite gender
• like to write backwards and then read it in a mirror
• or who's elevator just doesn't get to the top floor, if you know what I mean.
  

To sharpen anatomical and directional skills, this entertaining and informative class will use activities such as:

• Instructor-led exercises such as leg lifts, toe touches, or any other exercise that clearly identifies obvious body parts.
  
• Instructor-led songs such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes," and "I have eyes that can see, see, see"
• More advanced activities will be introduced later in the term and may include marching in time and in step and doing the Hokey-Pokey.*

Final exam will include the student extending both index fingers and with verbal instructions are able to successfully point which way is up and which was is down. Student will then be asked to extend thumbs as well and identify for the instructor which hand makes and "L" and verify that this is in fact their left hand.

*Those suffering from vertigo will be exempt from the "turn yourself around" bit.

I stumbled upon this story yesterday. I wonder if they Offer MED 0050 at Brown?
Imagine what things would be like with Government Run Healthcare!

NFL Quarterback Success

I'm beginning to believe in the NFL, a quarterbacks success is indirectly proportional to their hair length. This isn't hard and fast of course, but J.P. Losman is starting to look better this year, and coincidentally, (or not), he is wearing his hair shorter. McNabb was good before he let the fro go.
Compare the haircuts of Peyton and Eli. Eli’s hair is not long, but imagine if he got it cut as short as Peyton, how much better the Giants might be! The same can be said for unorthodox head gear. A quarterback who wears his hat backwards, is never going to be as good as one who wears it correctly. Doug Flutie always played better than Rob Johnson, who seems to love to wear his cap backwards. Perhaps if the Bills would have realized this, the controversy would have been resolved much earlier.

Of course this new found truth is perpetuated by the years in which a good quarterback plays as the helmet often causes baldness...or is it that early baldness increases the skills of the quarterback?

The Separation of Church and State

I'm not going to take this post in the most obvious direction. Nor will I create a long dissertation on the title. I do not wish to put THAT much time into it. But as American Christians, we wrestle with this much more than Christians in other nations. So here are a couple of thoughts:

1. When it comes to Presidential Elections, Peggy Noonan accurately writes that we place a great importance on the faith of our presidential candidates, as well as other elected officials. This apparently hasn't always been the case but has been in the forefront for nearly all of my voting life. Although I agree with Ms. Noonan's assessment, I know I personally will be more comfortable knowing someone is in office who thinks similarly to me. Mainly because I know a humanist is not as likely to support some of the moral issues of the day in the same way I would.
2. What is interesting in the moral issues of the day though, is that the Religious Right (or left) appear to take an inconsistent approach to what issues should become political factors in electing our officials. Christians on the left appear to emphasize the plight of the hungry, diseased or aged. Those on the right tend to emphasize abortion and marriage. Neither is wrong in what they stand for. These are issues that Christians should be concerned about, but in and of themselves, neither political party holds to all Christian values. As a matter of fact, the cynic in me tells me that Social Security, abortion and marriage issues will never go away as they can always be used to bolster the politicians into power. (What would conservative Christians do politically if the marriage and abortion issues were no longer? I doubt they would feel obliged to stay together as a voting block). I'm basically going on talking points here. I'm not prepared to give facts on whether or not either political party REALLY own the issues, but this is the common perception. This is basically what politicians do as well. Now admittedly I tend to vote on the "right" side of these issues, but I am challenged by what I see both in the political arena as well as what I'm reading in my personal life. Here is an example: Simply put I think it is clear that from a biblical perspective, abortion is wrong and marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. These are clearly "republican-held" issues. But also, Jesus stated that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And this morning I read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 which sounds quite socialistic to me. I have mentioned to a friend of mine a couple of times that if Jesus were here today, he'd probably be a socialist. Now, the reference above could easily be argued that this was for believers and not for the government, and I'd agree. But then I have to ask this about all issues. Scriptures speak out on many issues, but scriptures are also written for God's people.

Now what else is interesting is that the Bible calls for us to be separate as well. I'm not a Baptist, but I credit them for helping me see the importance of not being "bound to unbelievers." As a matter of fact, this morning, I read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 which talks about the importance of being separate from the world. I must add that I disagree with many Baptists on how this is manifested, and what we should separate us from. Knowing that being the light to the world means we need to be in darkness, Christians need to be among the people. Not shacked up in a building talking to each other every Sunday. to me, not being bound means that we shouldn't be contractually bound; perhaps to a political party...or to a government that may be contrary to Christian beliefs. My viewpoint is still being processed both on a political and spiritual level...and that process may never end, and that's best. I no longer want to be considered a Christian defined by a political leaning. I just want to be defined as a Christian.

Plumbing Issue

On Monday night I accidentally dropped an Allegra down the drain of my bathroom sink. At first I worried about it clogging the pipes, but then realized that with it being prescription strength and all, it should actually help keep the pipes unclogged. The pill causes drowsiness so I chased the pill by pouring a cup of coffee down the drain too.

Parental Issue Resolved (?)

For those of you who were concerned, I came home from work yesterday to find my son humming the tune from “Across the Field.” It seems as if we have resolved another issue in our parenting. Hats off to my wife who must have been singing it to him all afternoon.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
-Proverbs 22:6

Cultural Influences on our Children

My wife and I are from Ohio. After six plus years in New Jersey we came to Charlotte two and a half years ago. So at dinner the other night, my oldest son was remarking that the rest of us had baked potatoes but he had fries: "Hey, I'm eating something different than all y'all."
I don't know where exactly he got that phraseology, but I know it wasn't from those eating the baked potatoes.

More Rules Regarding Holiday Music

OK, strong suggestions really...but let's pretend they are rules and not just my close-minded opinions.

• Christian stations choosing to play Christmas music should not play anything that refers to Santa Claus, Saint Nick, or Father Christmas.
  
• Medleys of more than two songs should never be played. Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival is the only known exception to this rule. Two songs put together is acceptable. Examples of acceptable two song medleys are Bing Crosby/David Bowie Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (which really isn't a medley, but more of two songs playing on top of one another. What's that called? I should know) and Amy Grant singing Immanuel/O Little Town of Bethlehem (Which actually isn't a medley either, but more like two songs put together).
  
• A Karen Carpenter song should be followed by a six and one half hour respite. It is strongly encouraged that she not be played during drive time traffic.
  
• The Harry Simeone Chorale version of Little Drummer Boy can be played twice a day.
  
• Sleigh Ride should not have lyrics.
  
• Radio stations should challenge their listeners with tunes such as Bring a Torch, Coventry Carol, Fum Fum Fum, and other lesser known tunes of the season. (They could even throw in the "4/4 version" of Away in the Manger)
  

Okay, there they are. Feel free to comment on these or add your own in the comment section.

Rules for the Holiday Season

I know people don't like rules because they're so restrictive, negative, etc. But here are some that I'd like to see created/enforced:

All radio stations must refrain from playing Christmas music until at least the completion of the first football game on Thanksgiving day. There are now at least two stations in my area playing Christmas music. It's November 16th!!!! One of them is also the only Contemporary Christian station I can get in my car. What this means is that for the next 6 weeks, if I feel like singing in my car, (because I'm following another rule that should be enforced about certain people singing within earshot of others), I will not be able to sing/hear certain favorite tunes for 6+ weeks.

Once committed to playing "all Christmas Music," these radio stations must keep playing said music AT LEAST through Christmas day. Turning on the radio at 1pm on Christmas Day and hearing Elton John and Kee Kee Dee is heartbreaking! More acceptable would be to start the music later in the season and play it through the 12 days of Christmas. (That's January 5th). Now admittedly, I don't know if I would want to hear carols through the 5th, but then I'm not sure because we'd be starting it later!

Christmas decorations should be limited to inside the house until after the second football game on Thanksgiving day. This is similar to the first rule above. You are allowed to set up earlier, but please don't turn them on until after the Lions and Cowboys have played.

Christmas decorations can stay up and lit through the 12th day, but should be off thereafter. They should be completely removed from the outside of the house no later than Martin Luther King Day.

NOTE: This does not include decorations and music inside your house. What you do in there is completely up to you. Just be sure to shut the window if you're gonna sing like me. :-)

There....I feel better.

Parental Help Needed!

We are having a problem with our oldest son and I think I need some advice. All week he has been humming "The Victors." Truth be told, it's a catchy tune, but this is "Michigan Week" for OSU, so to have my firstborn humming the fight song of the "team up north" throughout the week is a bit unnerving. I'm at wits end! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Job Interview Tip

If you unfortunately have a cold at the time of interview, do not cough into both hands before or after you are introduced to those interviewing you. Doing so before will indeed pass germs. Doing so after being introduced will send those you've the just shaken hands with running into the bathroom for a surgical scrub-down. Actually, my four year old explained to me last night, you should cough into the inside of your elbow to keep from passing germs. Gotta love those wonderful preschool teachers!

Teach your children well

Yesterday, my son, Christopher, had his fall baseball tournament. The team had finished the regular season 4-2-1. Their two losses were against the green team which remained undefeated. So his team finished a solid second place. Not bad. Yesterday, we had the first tournament game and won, actually by forfeit. (But we loaned them a couple of players and played for fun and still won). As head coach, I've tried very hard to make this fun for the kids. Since we won the first game yesterday morning, at noon we had the championship game and had to face the dreaded green team, the Gators. (Side note: as an Ohio State fan it pains me to lose to any team by that name!). Anyhow, our boys did well against the Gators. They fought them hard, but despite my lighthearted demeanor and encouragement to the team, my son, was getting quite discouraged. Christopher, in typical first order nature, tends to demand much from himself. (This goes for in school too). He was getting upset that we were losing and on more than one occasion I reminded him that sports is supposed to fun! And if you lose, that's okay as long as you have fun! Sports, in my opinion, occupy too much of our lives as it is. He struggled some, but in the end, put on the sportsman's face, shook hands with the champs, and then happily accepted his second place trophy and "lovely parting gifts" from the team mom. I hope he learned a lesson.

Now, as I mentioned, I'm an OSU fan. One of the things Chris was looking forward to after the baseball games, was coming back and watching the game against Illinois. So we settled down for another OSU route at 3:30. Well, they started strong, taking two plays to score on their opening drive. Illinois, on their second play broke a running play for 70+ yards and two yards from the end zone proceeded to fumble the ball. The officials declared the runner down prior to the fumble. Well, replay showed this not to be true, and when Illinois snapped the ball before the officials blew a whistle to review the play, I was dumbfounded! But that's okay. OSU is a powerhouse, and Illinois is unrated. There was still 59 minutes to play and surely the Bucks would handle these folks like the others. By the fourth quarter however, Illinois was still up by a touchdown. Illinois had the ball on their own 20 with 8 minutes left, and proceeded to convert a 4th and inches, a 3rd and 7, a third and 11 and I don't know how many 3rd and 3s to run out the clock. All the while, I'm pacing, sighing, and snapping at my family while watching my team's national title hopes go down the drain. Somewhere in the midst of this, my lovely wife gently expressed her concern about my example. Hmmmm...well, by the end of it all, I had apologized and asked forgiveness to both my son and my wife. What is it they say about the apple not falling far from the tree? Boy, I've got some learnin' to do!

In hindsight it's kind of funny. I think my son may have learned the lesson but the question is whether I did or not.

One job not lost to technology

So lately, we've been letting our kids watch Wheel of Fortune with us. It seems slightly educational, so we allow it. Much has changed on this show, and I sometimes wonder if people even remember that it was originally hosted by Chuck Woolery. How about when Vanna turned the letters? Well, that was the method for a real long time too. Eventually that changed to Vanna lighting up the letters. Now, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but this seemed a little unnecessary to me. Surely you could automate the lights coming on or something. Well sure enough, they now have Toss Up puzzles where the lights of the letters come on quickly. I think Vanna starts these puzzles as well, but for the most part she just stands there waiting for the puzzle to end. I don't think she's really needed for the function of the show. Now, at first I felt sorry for her, but now I realize she's really lucky. They didn't completely automate her job. She still gets to do her letter thing. Hat's off to Merv Griffin Enterprises for not firing her. She must be adding something to the appeal of the show....I wonder what that could be?

Assessing God

As is typical for me, I latched on to 1 of the 3 points in my pastor's sermon. The overall theme was simply our tendency to put God in a box. As people we seem to "Box Him Up." We live by labels, definitions, categories, and suppositions. It's an interesting thing. The first point of the sermon was how God used a pagan king, Cyrus. God referred to him as a shepherd for His people and even called him the anointed one! This man was not Jewish, and his behaviors weren't exemplary, but he was used mightily by God for the benefit of Israel. Not what they expected, I'm sure.

While reading this morning, C.S. Lewis wrote that God sometimes uses non-Christians to speak to us. My reflex action was to think this not to be the case and for Lewis to be off-base. But now we have the example of a pagan king and a donkey (see Balaam) to think about. We judge and categorize and somehow think that we've got Him and His ways figured out. It's not a good place for us to go.

Christian Liberty - Question #3: Alcohol

I will have to say there are some very conservative folks where I live right now. It's very different from when I lived in the Northeast, especially on issues such as alcohol and gambling. Many of the churches here also expect their congregates to not drink any alcoholic beverages. I have to admit such rules are often needed, NOT because the actions by themselves are sinful, but they may ultimately lead to sin, or they may compromise the witness of the Christian or the larger Christian body in which the person is serving. I have been on short term mission trips where it was expected that we did not drink. This makes sense since it may become a stumbling point to people within the larger organization.

But can Christians drink alcoholic beverages? Why or why not?


A similar aside: Watching the news this morning, one of the smaller villages near Charlotte voted yesterday to approve adult beverages being served at local restaurants. (In 2002 they allowed grocery stores to sell them). When speaking to one of the opponents (to approving the sales), the person said, "I have never once heard of anyone saying that drinking has improved their personal or family lives." My initial thought was, "I haven't heard anyone say this about eating bacon either." I suppose I tipped my hand here, but the faulty argument bothered me.

Finish Well? Nah...

Among Christians, you may hear someone way, "I am hoping to finish well." I suppose that since I turned 40 this year, I've been thinking about this statement. I think it's a bit premature for me to be thinking about it but it's in my head regardless. Actually, since we really don't know how many days are in front of us, perhaps all Christians should be thinking about it. The statement in my opinion leaves me with a couple of implications I don't agree with though. One is that to me it implies that the person saying it has been doing well all along. I'm personally not going to make that implication, even if it were true. Also, the implication in my head is that of someone gracefully coasting towards the finish line. Now it is often said that this life isn't a sprint, but in saying that, it is still a "race" and runners shouldn't be coasting to the finish. That's the vision in my head. A runner walking towards the finish line, or perhaps someone slowly riding off into the sunset. Although the statement is meritorious I don't like the implication. Almost like I'm providing an adequate effort as opposed to an "all in/all out" effort. Running like there's no tomorrow is probably a better cliche in my book.

So how do you want to finish? Maybe one of the following would do for me:

Finish Strong!

Finish like I just got started!

Finish? My eternal perspective keeps me from thinking about that. There's still plenty to do!

The thought in my head now is that I talk a good game...better stop posting and get at it!

A Wonderfully "Dangerous" Combination

Over the past two weeks I have heard a sermon on materialism/idolatry and read through the book of Ecclesiastes. I'm not quite sure what it means long term, but I would have to say it has changed my perspective considerably. I'm guessing I should probably give an "assist" to reading Mere Christianity and Organic Church at the same time. Good stuff!

Rejected reality show ideas

Survivor: East L.A.
Survivor: Greenland
Survivor: The Biggest Loser in Fiji

So what's it like in Charlotte?

Well, I'm glad you asked. It just so happened that The Prairie Home Companion came into town last weekend and recorded their Saturday show here. Sadly I didn't go, but I've listened to some of it. If you like Garrison Keillor, you might like the song he sang about this fair city. It's fairly accurate.

Listen to it

Soft-Serve Ice Cream

I need to say a few quick words about this. First, I love the stuff! I grew up on it and to paraphrase a previous pastor, if it weren't for soft-serve ice cream I wouldn't be half the man I am today. So with that, I have to appeal to anyone who has ever or will ever hold a cone underneath the nozzle of a soft-serve machine. This is no laughing matter because you hold the delight of the recipient in your hands. The purchase of a soft serve cone is a risk. The person on the other side of the counter is depending on you to deliver the full worth of their dollar and change. This is what we expect from an ice cream cone:

Very cold ice cream that can stand warm weather for the longest amount of time...we don't want to be rushed

A cone that is straight where the cream projects directly up from the shell. Top-heavy or tilted cones are a real drag as it too induces faster-than-desired eating.

And lastly, I do not know anyone who truly wants a smaller cone. The bigger the better. Of course, I have known some people who might say to their friends, "Oh I can't eat all of that!" or "Wow, this is too much," but really, do you believe her? And regardless, their date/husband/dad will be sure to come back again for precisely that same reason.

So with this in mind, let me give you some rules:

Hold the cone directly under the nozzle and if you're allowed, fill in the center using a slight "up/down" motion. Let the ice cream expand in diameter until it's slightly over the edge of the cone and then drop your hand briefly and bring back up again. It's like creating multiple "spare tires." (Heh! That's kind of appropriate!). This will allow the ice cream to center, have a lower center of gravity and greater density. Tilted cones like I said before are not a good thing. It induces the eater of said cone to increase pace of the whole ice cream eating experience.

If you have to do a circular motion, cause it looks pretty or it lessens the amount of ice cream by creating the "ice cream cave" well, then make the diameter bigger at the bottom! Failure to do so will cause the cone to either be top-heavy, or even worse, smaller! Making the diameter as big as possible will help make up for the lost cream in the middle due to the cave. You and I both know that when we entered into the business deal, we did not wish to purchase the air in the middle of the cone!

Be sure the ice cream can withstand the outside temperature for a decent length of time. You do not want the purchaser to have to rush and you also need to be sure that the cone is as tall and as heavy as physics will allow. If it is too soft, well, alert the purchaser that it's soft, and ask him if he wants the cone upside down in a cup. This way, you will not need to skimp on the cream.

Lastly, if you haven't noticed, make quantity your number one goal! Never skimp. Their is nothing more frustrating than buying a treat and getting some wimpy excuse for an ice cream. If you see the recipients face drop when you turn to hand it to him, perhaps, you should take the cone back, request their patience while you try again. Tell them you're new at it and they will be more than happy to wait until you can create a towering cone that would make every one but your manager proud.

My apologies for the length of this post, but certain subjects cannot be lightly addressed. They need to be handled with their just due.

Calling all Tar Heels!

Tomorrow we stand the best chance for rain in the past two months. Something like 80% here in Charlotte. Now, I am not a believer in luck, but I got to admit to a small leaning towards Murphy's Law. So, I am personally calling all North Carolinians to follow these instructions:

Schedule an impromptu lunch picnic

Sleep with your windows open

Put the top down on your convertible and do not park in the garage

Have your children leave toys out in the yard

Hang up clothes on your clothes line. (OK, I admit that I haven't seen a clothesline anywhere in North Carolina)

Ladies should get their hair done

Men, paint your houses!

And by all means, do NOT take an umbrella with you anywhere you go!

Your compliance to these requests is very much appreciated.

Thank you, Governor Easley!

Yesterday our governor made the following statement:
"A dirty car is a sign of civic responsibility nowadays."

If you do not know, North Carolina is in the middle of a serious drought. I have trees dying and my grass turns to dust when I walk on it. Our town has resorted to Level III water restrictions. These restrictions require that there be no watering of lawns, and you cannot use a hose to water trees. You can however water trees with a hand held container such as a bucket or watering can and you can put the hose in the can. (I think it has to have a nozzle on it though). It sort of makes sense...they don't want you sticking the hose under the tree and forgetting about it. The only thing you can use a hose directly on is your swimming pool. You are allowed to "top off" your pool. It's October!!! Nobody is swimming anymore. My trees are dying but the person with the concrete back yard and the pool can wield a hose however they wish as long as the water lands in the pool. Everything else about the restrictions were logical until I read this part.

Never mind though...my dirty car fills me with pride because it shows my civic responsibility.

Two Great Commercials!

Over the past year or so, there are two commercials I absolutely love. Frankly the power of a commercial is usually what it does for your mental health more than any product they're trying to sell. Very rarely will I go buy something because of a commercial. Unless of course it's food. And that is more visual than anything else. I had no attraction to that tiny dog on the Taco Bell commercial but they sold me on the Gordita. But back to my point, I love a good laugh which is where most "good" commercials take us. But what is odd about these two commercials by Liberty Mutual is that they won't make you laugh. These are more along the vein of the Hallmark or Coke/"Mean Joe" Green adds of the past. And since they will eventually fall into oblivion, they're here for your viewing pleasure.




It feels good to "Pay it Forward"



Oh, and for the record, I haven't a clue how good of an insurance company they are.

Medical Extortion

So, the family and I go on a nice weekend trip to Myrtle Beach. It was great! And interestingly, my son and I, who both have asthma, seemed to have cleared up from some of the fall allergies while we were there. This was also great! Unfortunately, upon our return, histamine invoking allergens were their waiting for us, and yours truly here somehow left his inhaler somewhere back in South Carolina. Oh bother! I rarely needed it but it's not very comfortable going without it. Sometimes, if you're hit really hard with an attack, you can struggle to get a decent breath. So last week, I called my doctor's office who I have only seen once since moving here. They actually have a "prescription refill line." Very progressive! I suspect there is a doctor living somewhere overseas who's sole duty is to refill meds. May as well offshore it and save a few bucks. Anyhow, I leave a message requesting albuterol because I left my inhaler at the beach. I was told to check my pharmacy a day later. Checked then pharmacy then...no luck. Check again yesterday and still no prescription. No call from the doctor, either. So then my wife calls the doctor's office. Their response is that it's been over two years since they have seen me and they will not put the prescription in until I come in to see them. Now, it's important to note that albuterol is not a controlled substance. There is no street value. And even if it were a controlled substance, it's taken me over two years to use one canister of the stuff and I only need a new one because my expired one is somewhere in Myrtle Beach! I concede it's time for a checkup. I'm 40 and I'm sure they're very excited to give me a little tune-up or something. But withholding my medicine until I get there in this case amounts to Medical Extortion. If it were a narcotic, or something I'd be ok with it. But now, I am put in a position where I will need to fight through wheezing until I see a doctor. I'm sure it's in my best interests and all...I'll just try not to breathe much until I get in. Oh, and Dr. W...you're fired. I figure if I can go a couple of years without seeing you, it's just the right time to find another practice.

Let the car in!

A pastor at my church said recently that you learn a lot about a person by their behavior on the road (as well as the style of car they have). Of course this is a rough sketch of a person. It's like judging a book by it's cover, but there is some definite truth in this as well. People often think they are in some sort of one way mirror situation where no one else can see them or know them. Word to those of you who assumed this the case and have used it to your advantage: It's not true. People are watching and perceiving! It goes both ways of course....some people may look shady or downright scary but will actually let you in front of them when you need to turn in to their lane. They may not smile, but deep down we see their decency and politeness. And you nice, happy people who are pretending not to see the cars wanting to get in because your singing or on the phone. Well, true colors might be shown when you continually ignore them.

Every morning I take my son to a small Christian school. There is a back up of those who need to turn right onto the road after the drop-off. It's a slow moving queue in the road which prevents us from coming back onto the road unless someone lets us in. If no one were to let these cars out, they would literally sit there for an hour and a half when rush hour ends. Thankfully the majority of people understand the "take your turn" or "zipper effect" and will let one car in. Sometimes people become overly generous (if there's such a thing) and will let multiple cars in. Unfortunately there comes an occasion where a string of cars, still moving at a slow pace, refuse to look at us needing a break and ride on the bumper on the car in front of them. Now I have to admit, that there were occasions in my depraved past when I did the same. Why did I do it? Well, I had my reasons, but afterwards, I felt childish and guilty for being inconsiderate and taking the low road. So the question I have to others is why would you not let the car in? As I've matured, I can't honestly think of a decent reason why. If I'm running late, it's my fault (or circumstance). If the car has a bumper sticker that offends me, well, that might be a reason, but why is that having a negative effect on me? For all I know, someone just bought that car and hasn't scraped off the bumper sticker. And then of course, people who believe different than me....should I treat them differently? In my faith that would actually be a reason to be especially considerate. So, anyhow, the challenge is for someone to show me a decent reason why not to let a car in front of you on the road or in the parking lot, or wherever. If you can't think of a reason why not, then the challenge is to be sure that you let them in. I'm pretty sure you will feel better for it.

I love how kid's explain things

My sick son who seems to have fluid in his ears just said, "Dad, I'm trying to hear, but my ears are talking instead of listening."

Contrast: Wonderful Creator vs. Fallen Man

For those wondering about the existence of a wonderful Creator, I would recommend a trip to the Beach. There's nothing like watching the sheer power of the ocean, the beauty of the moon shining on it at night or dolphins calmly swimming along the coastline at sunset. Such extremely wonderful things to behold, all given to us to do so!

For those of you wondering whether man is inherently good or evil may want to consider the countless cigarette butts, plastic wrappers and other litter along the beaches while looking at the wonderful creation in which we live. Or drive up and down the main drag at resort towns and notice all of the bars, clubs, strip joints and people that seem to be "lit up" at night.

Perhaps I'm close-minded, but I believe both are true and they are in stark contrast.

Priority Adjustment Needed

A wealthy lawyer, was driving his red Ferrari down the highway, thinking to himself how much he loved his ride, when he was suddenly forced off the road and flung out of his car as it went hurling down a cliff.

Miraculously he survived, and ran to the edge of the cliff, and stared down at his car in flames and cried, "My Ferrari! My Ferrari!"

While standing there a man ran up next to him and said, “Sir, never mind the car, don't you realize how hurt you are? Your left arm is gone!"

Looking down at the stump that was once his left arm, the lawyer, stunned and horrified, screamed “My Rolex! My Rolex!"

Pair o' Dime Props: New Jersey, Part 2

My second full day back in Northern Jersey brings about two more definite perks to loving in this area:

1. Full Service Gas Stations: "What?" you say, "last time I saw that it costs a fortune!!!" Well, not really. In Jersey not only is it an option, but it's your only option. You are not allowed to fill your own tank in NJ. And gas right now is running about 25 cents cheaper than in North Carolina. And when you're in the middle of a blizzard or a downpour, you start realizing that this isn't a bad thing.
   
2. A multi-cultural society: It is not a black/white world here in the Garden State. People come in all colors, shapes, sizes and accents. Most of which try to learn our common language. This provides a richness to everyday life. People have differences in cultures and living here helps you appreciate these differences.

New Jersey...it's not so bad after all.

Pair o' Dime Props: New Jersey

Well, for unfortunate reasons I find myself back in the Garden State after being gone for about two and a half years. You know, New Jersey tends to get a bad rap, and even though I'm back for not-so-happy reasons, I got to hand it to this state. It's got a lot going for it. It's government representation isn't one of them, but there are things in Jersey that are worth noting as positive. So, here's to the upside of Jersey!

1. The Food: Folks who've never had food in the Northeast for a prolonged amount of time, this is a place to go. If you think the Olive Garden is Italian, Little Ceasar's is Pizza, or Lender's is a bagel, well...you haven't lived! If you spend any time here, you would see why some folks you meet from the Northeast scoff at the mention of Pizza Hut. Sure, you'll find them here, but really, after tasting the NJ fare, you know you're settling for at most second best with any of the above.
   
2. Franchise Establishments: There are none...well...very few. Here's to mom and pop! You want independence and variety? Local foods, merchandise and services are everywhere. Yeah, there's Wal-Mart and other cursed establishments, but there are plenty of independent shops everywhere.
   
3. The people: Yeah..the upside of what many consider gruff or rude. It's not rudeness. People are the same. Sure they may come across this way, but look deeper. What you get with people in New Jersey is a frankness you won't find anywhere else. I often tell the story about when we first moved here and it was 9:50 one night and we wanted a pizza. I called the place right up the street (next to the inevitable Chinese takeout and dry cleaner) and said, "Yes I was wondering what time you close," (Concerned that they may be annoyed at an order so close to 10) but on the other end I heard, "What do you want?" in a very short, blunt way. A closed mind would say he was being rude but really he was telling me that it was fine to go ahead and order. He wanted to accommodate my desire for pizza. (If you're wondering about the quality of the pizza look at the first bullet point). - (And on a personal note, our friends in New Jersey are incredible. By far it's what I miss the most about this state...if only I could get them all to move to North Carolina! I don't think that's unreasonable...most of New Jersey has already moved to Charlotte anyhow).
   
4. And finally...the driving: Yes, you read that right. Driving in New Jersey is like a premium beer. Once you've acquired the taste for it, it's actually very good. If you know what a jughandle is, then you realize how efficient they can be when done right. When you want to go left, get in the right lane. It makes complete sense...it's the same thing we do on the interstate, As far as what to expect from the drivers themselves? Precision and aggression. Yeah, it's hard at first, but the rules are simple. Keep moving at all costs (short of hitting something) and respect each other's space on the road. And yes, people respect the space of other drivers; it's just that the definition of space for other drivers is approximately two feet longer than the length and width of your car. Honestly though, they want to hit you about as much as you want to hit them, so as long as you realize that they will get out of your way and you'll do the same for them, the roads are very efficient. Of course when lanes merge, you take turns! It is not an opportunity to cut someone off...let them in. You'll feel better about yourself if you do so. Driving in New Jersey is exhilarating! Since everyone is mutually aggressive on the roads, people stay sharp and alert. It's when you get lazy when driving that accidents occur. I think per capita, Jersey drivers may be the best in the states!!

So there it is. My unlikely toast to New Jersey. Do I want to move back here? No way! but it has it's merits!

"The Life"

It's interesting that my pastor this past Sunday only briefly mentioned one thing and it's sticking to me pretty well right now. I'm not the best at pulling out all the points of a multi-point sermon, so I often latch on to one thing and hope it sticks for long term. I think this past week I got one. God is Life.

Long past beer commercials once had men uttering, "You know, it just doesn't get any better than this." Usually these men were sitting around a campfire, enjoying time together and absorbing the richness of the moment. It's not a bad thing really. Community with other people is an essential that we often overlook. But the phrase itself may perhaps be a little weighty for a few brews with some buds. I've uttered the phrase multiple times.

How often have we said something like, "This is the life?" It has become a common phrase and yet, if you think about what we are literally saying, the magnitude in which we are holding "this" to is huge! Essentially we are saying that "this is IT!" or "I found it!" or "I got it!" The one thing that makes life all worthwhile.

Our passion for our spouses or adoration of our children may bring us to tell them that they are our life. Our love for them is like no other. That they are the reason behind our actions and endeavors.

Any of these things alone are not bad. As a matter of fact the examples are good. Friendship, Parenthood and Romance with one's spouse are all products of love, but are they "it?" Are they "The Life?"

Other experiences may be a little more self-indulgent. I want a slot track and a pool table, and consequently, a bigger house to put them in. If I had these things would I utter, "This is the life" or "It just doesn't get any better than this?" Maybe... or I'd find something else I wanted that would "make my life better." These pursuits by themselves are probably not bad, but they are, at the very most, temporal.

God is Life. My pastor went on to say that whenever we think something else is life we are in a state of idolatry. This hit me pretty hard, but in a good way. It's statements like this that provide perspective. What I am challenged to do now is to look beyond things that are temporal and to things eternal. To "live in the moment" could very well be me forsaking God once again. The first chapter of John as well as the beginning of Genesis pretty much says this. It's said more literally later in John when Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25), and "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). It's something to think about...finding and living the Life.

Three musical words to OSU fans around the globe...

"Michigan lost again!"

Also words I never expected to hear as they relate to the first two games of the football season...but I welcome them!

Pair o' Dime Props: Appalachian State University

Just a word out to our friends up in Boone, North Carolina. Well done this past weekend! As a devoted Ohio State fan, you provided me one of the nicest kick-offs to the College Football Season.

Labor Day Parade

So today the family and I experienced our first Charlotte parade. Of course Labor Day doesn't necessarily get folks in a festive mood, so that is perhaps why this parade was fairly modest. It seems the only people that get excited about labor unions are families with small children who do not travel on three day weekends, and politicians. To me there is a great irony in the fact that the labor unions are joined with politicians to march in these things. Strange bedfellows indeed!

To join in on the irony, were a contingent from the Green Party which marched between a bunch of postal workers on very loud motorcycles, which they incessantly revved, and a convoy of PT Cruisers. I'm sure they loved that. The bigger irony though was when one party member handed my family two identical brochures. She was gone before I could hand one back. One other party member tried to give us another one, but I told him to save the trees and keep them. To their credit, they also handed out pencils to my sons and told us they were 100% recycled. Hats off to them for marching. Trying to promote being green in Charlotte must be an uphill battle.

Heatwave '07

As of yesterday, the Charlotte area has had 31 consecutive days of high temperatures of no less than 90 degrees. The records for this area is 33 days. Needless to say this has been oppressive, and I'm very thankful that we have "level billing" with Duke Energy. Now we can begin saving for the year-end additional payment we will no doubt have. What's funny about this is that the streak appears to be ending today or tomorrow, and I'm almost disappointed. I figure if you're this close to setting a record, you want to get it even if it is oppressive and felt like it would never end. Besides, 25 years from now when I'm talking to my grandchildren, I want to be able to tell them how "bad" it was back then. I'll probably forget we had air conditioning by then too.

Profiling a college student

OK, I will be the first to claim that I refuse to "judge a book by it's cover." I will however admit to taking weight in initial assessments of people. It's actually kind of fun. You assess someone's personality, and then if you get to know them later you assess how well you assessed. (note to self: look up synonyms for"assess"). Much of this I do from a distance through revealing things such as bumper stickers, vanity plates and apparel.

So, this morning, I'm walking in to the office and I see a young lady with a handbag that says, "I 'Heart' Me." So a few things I'd love to find out about this person. Did she buy this herself? Did an ex-boyfriend give it to her? I'm guessing probably her parents. Or, if she bought it for herself, does she really believe it? Honestly, I think she does from an external perspective, and maybe to her detriment. Internally, she might struggle with the exact same thing. Why would people who love themselves, need to let others know that they do? Does this statement attract or repel others. For me, it would repel.

Or, as someone else said to me, perhaps it just means she vacationed in Maine and picked this up at a gift shop. Anyhow, the process of learning about people is fascinating to me.

Things you could cope with never doing again

Well, I suppose after turning 40, with your mortality in site, you come up with a few things you'd be ok with never experiencing again. Right now the number one thing I would be willing to never do again is to go to a Wal-Mart...especially on the weekend! how about you? Do you have any?

The other side of the conflict

The other day, I posted concerns I have regarding the conflict in Iraq and how we often minimize the loss of civilian life. Well, in somewhat of a contrast to this, Peggy Noonan writes today in the Wall Street Journal about our troops and how they are appreciated for their sacrifice and service around the world. If you haven't read Noonan before, I would encourage you to check out this column.

I was like, "No Way!"

Ok, so I'm like walking across campus this morning and there's like this young lady, who's like 19 years old walking behind me and like talking into her cell phone. So I'm like listening to her conversation, and she's like talking like this:

..."and he's like, 'like what are you doing after class?' and I'm like, 'I don't know, like, what are you doing?' and then he's like, 'Like, I like your friend Stacy, and like was wondering if like you and her would like, like to go to a club?...' I like couldn't believe it! So like, whatever, I'm like, 'you can like ask Stacy, yourself! I like have to go to the dorm and like study for like my Public Speaking class.'"

Death Toll in Iraq

I will give the benefit of the doubt to our nation on the actual numbers here, but is anyone else bothered by this? About a year ago, researchers at Johns Hopkins university estimated the Iraqi death toll at an astounding 655,000! The argument our government had was that this was not credible and that the number is more like 30,000.

Is that all? Well then, fight away! There's no reason to let a small number like 30,000 stop us. Now I realize that we can't just leave now and peace would magically appear. And I respect and appreciate the efforts of our military. I just have to wonder how the public would have felt about going to war had we known the cost would be this high. I suspect our leaders knew how much damage this would cause and essentially decided that it was worth it. In our nation we (and the press) tend to focus on our own deaths. Currently we are coming up on 4000 deaths of our servicemen and women. We see this as "The ultimate price" and I don't dispute it. But we have to add in the 30,000+ civilians who didn't ask for this war when really considering the value of this conflict. I'm no longer convinced we made the right decision.

For what I suspect is the most accurate civilian death toll, you may wish to visit a web site called Iraq Body Count

An ideal way to spend an evening

Well, to my vast number of readers out there, I wanted to ask both of you a question:

What is an ideal way to end your day/begin your weekend? When you've come home from work/school and tomorrow is Saturday, what is the perfect start to the weekend? You may have more than one answer, but my answer is something along the lines of an "al fresco" cafe along the lines of what you might see in Europe, drinking a coffee and spending time with family or friends. It would include hours of talking about things that really matter as well as a few laughs. Oh, and the temperatures would be in the 70s with low humidity.

Garage Sales

So I go to a garage sale this morning. Not a thing I typically do, but on occasion, if the moon is full and the elephants are running, I like going. Today, it was just one I saw advertised in our community. They mentioned Beatles CDs and I thought it might be a perfect place for me to pick up some. I only have two Beatles CDs and I would love to have them all. I was specifically looking for Sgt. Pepper's, but he was only selling this in a "Box Set" for $100. Too rich for my blood. The guy had a ton of stuff, and this was after he sold most of it in Michigan at the sale they had before they moved down here. Any how, I picked up "1" for $2 and "Live at the BBC" for another $2. I also scored me Tracy Chapman's "New Beginnings" ($1) and "Pure 80's" CD ($1) What a take! All for 6 bucks!

I overheard a statement about the CDs while I was there. Something along the lines of, "I sold all my CDs too. No need to keep them once you load them on to your iPod." Oddly, I go to garage sales because if I hear a CD I like I want to be able to download it in good conscience.

Hey Doc! I demand a Refund!!

So my son on Friday was very brave when he got his Chicken Pox booster from his doctor. Didn't cry or anything. But I have to ask that now that it's Tuesday and he has a full blown case of the Chicken Pox: Can I have my money back? It's the least they can do. People have gotten tons of money for burning themselves on hot coffee and I'm not even going to sue!

For those who are superstitious...

I've never understood the whole "Friday the 13th" thing. I mean, I think 13 is sort of assumed to be the "unlucky number" but I don't get the Friday part? We tend to thank "goodness" or our deity for any Friday that comes our way, (which incidentally, happens about once every 7 days). In the world of perceived "good" and "bad," "Friday the 13th" is a contradiction. The Friday would cancel out the 13th.

However the day we typically curse is Monday. Unless you're on vacation or it's a national holiday, we're not big fans of Monday. Couple our disdain for Monday and the doom associated with that dreaded number 13, and I feel compelled to wish those who are superstitious, a safe and uneventful "Monday the 13th."

MLB Hall of Fame

In case you didn't think it was possible, I'm from Cincinnati and do NOT believe Pete Rose should be put in the Hall of Fame. As a matter of fact, I just wish the story would go away. Major League Baseball has a consistency issue on who they put in, but in the grand scheme, I would rather them "err" on the side of keeping those who have integrity issues out rather than putting them in. BUT, if you're gonna put them in, you need to start with Shoeless Joe Jackson and not Pete Rose.

Pair o' Dime Props: Duke Energy!!

Well, for those who happen upon this blog who reside elsewhere, we are now in the middle of what I call "Carolina Winter." One of the reasons my family decided to move here has to do with the term "Nor'easter". Having 20+ inches of snow fall in your area 1-6 times a winter doesn't do much for Cabin fever. All you tend to do is sit inside and watch bird feeders. Well it seems in this area it happens six months later in the year and you tend to sit inside and watch the Weather Channel....and wait. I never thought I would be relieved to see a forecast saying "High in the low 90s." This is my third summer here but it is undoubtedly the hottest.

So to my friends at Duke energy I say, "Keep it Up." Most of my house is under 80 degrees thanks to your service.

*******This Just in...*******

Barry Bonds* has set the all time career home run record for a chemically enhanced Major League Baseball player. Congratulations to Barry and the Balco family!

Knowledge = Responsibility

I have come to realize lately that knowledge often requires great responsibility. Subsequently it can induce higher levels of stress. Perhaps this isn't always true. Historic knowledge probably doesn't induce stress in and of itself, but historic knowledge to the point where we need to share it so that we do not repeat it might. So maybe it's knowledge of impending events that require responsibility. Anyhow, sometimes we're extremely eager to know what will happen in certain areas of our lives, but I don't know if we really know what we're desiring.

Isn't it Ironic?

This sentence is from a cover letter I received this week:

"As far as writing skills are concerned I have published some original and genuine works in Electrical Engineering journals, which as u know stipulate a very high standard of writing and technical skills."

Kid perspectives

Bedtime last night:

"It's fair that dads are the leaders because ladies get to go first."

So how rich are you?

Yesterday in church, our Family Life Pastor spent some time speaking about our resources and how to use them wisely. He started the sermon off mentioning a site that when you put in your annual income will tell you (approximately) where you rank in the world in this regard. If you're curious or think you need an adjustment in perspective, check out Globalrichlist.com.

Stop me if you think you've heard this...

Three friends from the local congregation were asked "When you're in your casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?"
Artie said, "I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband , a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.”
Eugene commented, " I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives."
Don said, "I'd like them to say, ‘Look, he's moving!!!’"


The good news is that it's justthe body in the casket, not the soul! (But the joke still makes me laugh!)

But seriously folks...

Smith climbs to the top of Mt Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord what does a million years mean to you? "The Lord replies, "A minute "Smith asks, "And what does a million dollars mean to you ? "The Lord replies, “A penny.” Smith asks, “Can I have a penny?” The Lord replies, “In a minute.”

Christian Liberty - Question #2: Gambling

I was speaking with my mom today about the lottery. I went on to say that if God wanted me to win the lottery a ticket would have to fall from the sky with the winning numbers on it.

So, is it wrong for a Christian to play the lottery?

---or perhaps the reader would rather answer a series of questions---

Is it wrong for a Christian to put his money in a savings account?

How about a Money Market account?

How about Mutual Funds? Or the bond market? Or the stock market? Real Estate? High Risk Funds? Black Jack? Roulette? Powerball?

When does it become wrong?

On this date in history...

Sixteen years ago, I had the privilege of participating in a short term mission project. My girlfriend Tina and I had been actively involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and this was where we had essentially met and built our relationship. Tina and I had been dating for about a year and a half when we felt led to go with Operation Mobilization to Birmingham and Bradford, England. The trip was life-changing in so many ways. Seeing people learn about Jesus and grow in their faith as well as being able to serve alongside other believers from every corner of the globe was an experience I will not soon forget. But I have to say the biggest part of this trip; the part that has changed my life the most, (and for the better), was the evening of July 23rd, 1991. Sixteen years ago today.

After spending the day doing direct/assertive evangelism in Birmingham, the large group of international missionaries were to go back to the Elim church where we were having evening meetings. This usually consisted of dinner, worship and a message. Well, Tina and I were on different teams and hadn't seen each other all day so I had asked my team leader, Ian, for a place I could go in the evening with my girlfriend. So when we got to the church, I told Tina that we were playing "hookie" from the meetings and going out to dinner.

The day was typical of England in mid-July. A light drizzle and temperature in the 50-60 degree range. Not ideal I suppose but there is something about an English rain that makes it a little less of a downer. (I was amazed by how little the weather affects the English. I suppose when it's something you're used to, it doesn't bother you). Well, I took Ian's advice and we headed to a local street where there were a number of restaurants. There was even one touted as "American Cuisine," but we opted to pass on that. We settled on a place appropriately called "Valentino's." It being a Tuesday, the place was empty and quiet. I asked if what we were wearing was acceptable and he told us to come on in. After 10 days or so in Europe, it was really nice to get away by ourselves and not have to think about everything going on around us. We sat by candlelight and I think we talked about the future and probably talked about the mission trip we were on, but it's hard to recall. I can't remember much of the conversation, but being in love, I'm sure it was good. Tina and I shared our dinners: Chicken Marsala and Spaghetti Bolognese. Afterwards, I asked the host if we could take the candle with us for memorabilia. He probably thought we were being silly, but of course he said "yes." A half-burned candle isn't something you keep on a table anyhow but it was a nice reminder for us. When we left, I noticed that the rain had finally stopped. This was an incredible blessing because I was hoping we could find a nice place to sit after dinner before heading back. We walked up the hill we had come down earlier and stopped at a BP "Petrol" station to ask for directions/advice. This being "pre-blackberry," we were at the mercy of a local in order to find some place to go. We asked the lady at the counter if there was a park or something nearby to walk to and she mentioned there was one but wasn't sure if it was walking distance from there. Just then a local cab driver came in and he told us about Grove Park and said it was a little far to walk. He offered to take us as a courtesy! What are the chances that the rain would stop and a cab driver would take us there for no charge? We thanked the man profusely and Tina gave him some Smarties as a "thank you." (Smarties are not American smarties...they're like M&M's).

The park had a nice pond and the sun was just behind the trees from where we sat. Again we continued our conversation and enjoyed the serenity of the evening. Very few people were out, and we felt like we had the place to ourselves. With the rain stopped it had turned into a pleasant evening. I was pleased with how the evening had turned out. In some ways it was how I had hoped it would be when I proposed to my wife. So with my heart in my throat and my knees on the ground, I slipped a ring on Tina's finger and asked her to marry me. I don't know what possessed her to do so, but after a moment of disbelief, she said "yes."


Engagement is often overlooked as far as a milestone. However when you think about this, engagement is a huge commitment! It is my belief that engagement is where the real commitment is and the ceremony follows later. The man is essentially saying, "I'm all in," and for a moment which seems like eternity, waits to hear the response. In my case, Tina said she was "all in" too. Once this is done, it's extremely difficult for a couple to turn back. I have a hard time seeing how a once-spurned proposal could turn into a happy marriage. I'm sure it's done, but I suspect that it's not a point of fond memories and I'm guessing a lot of folks go their separate ways after such an occasion. For me, I was incredibly blessed. Tina is as close to a perfect complement to me as there can be. It is hard, and virtually unthinkable for me to think of life without her. She's an incredible wife and mother of our two boys.

Like many, when you participate in a short term mission project, you experience things that alter your perception of life. You become a more open-minded and loving person and you have experiences that you will never forget. Although this was one of the many memories from the trip, it was also the one that made the most impact on me. Anyone who knows Tina, knows how loving and caring she is and I have the honor and privilege to spend virtually every day of my life with her. What more could I ask for?

Tina,
thanks for saying "yes" 16 years ago and for loving me "no matter what" since then. I love you.

Helmet Laws

OK, I'm not a rider. There are times when I wish I had a bike, but I don't. Last night on the news, I learned that North Carolina is now trying to restrict the type of helmet that can be worn. Not whether or not a helmet is required, but the TYPE of helmet that is required. In question was whether a "Skull Cap," as I believe they are called, should remain legal. There are deeper questions about civil liberties here, but the question that I had was ... I wonder if those who believe in Darwin's THEORY of evolution are more likely to be against this?

Request for Scientific Study

I'd like to see a study done that would somehow measure academic and social "success" in children related to the number of contact hours these children have with their parents. I'd also like them to throw in some measurements about "quality" teachers in our schools. It's more than a hunch that tells me that we'd find that parent contact hours is the larger indicator of a child's success. This was the thought that came to mind this morning as I listened to the news and proposed legislation to focus on some other aspect of "No Child Left Behind." I have no argument with this initiative, but like many things, I feel there is a large portion of the population that errantly believe the government should provide services that will make a huge impact on how we live. This is one of those areas.

Statement for the Day

Cigarette butts are litter too!!!

For some people the world is their oyster. For others the world is not their home, they're just passing through. But I think it's fair to say that the world should NOT be anyone's ashtray. I may not take the time to hug a tree, but for goodness sake, if you smoke, please don't be flicking your butts out the window in order to keep your car's ashtray clean. As a matter of fact, piles of butts underneath a park bench or at the entrance of a building isn't very aesthetically pleasing either.

Okay, that's the statement, um, rant for the day.

Apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Christian Liberty - Question #1: Coexist

I want to ask a simple question to those of the Christian Faith, and in particular, those who would consider themselves Evangelicals or Fundamentals. Can a Christian, in good conscience, display this bumper sticker?

Statement for the Day

In my reading I came across this:

"God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than any other slackers." - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

A good quote. It comes in the middle of some other statements essentially expressing that we should not be resting on our knowledge that God loves us and that we should be moved to action. Not only to better ourselves within the faith but also to serve those around us.

After 20+ years as a Christian, I have finally obtained a taste for C. S. Lewis. His writings are very intellectually challenging, but since they are driven by logic, they help in crystallizing some ideas about Christianity and apologetics. I think I have finally gotten patient enough to appreciate Lewis. I also suspect that many of the folks in the middle of the Bible Belt might find him too liberal but so far in my readings, he seems to be very well balanced in his opinions.

Statement for the Day

CHEX MIX ROCKS!!!

Statement for the Day - series premier

As anyone of my two (maybe three) readers will see, I do not post frequently. It's not that I don't have ideas...I have lots of ideas, but they never seem to make it to the tips of my fingers when sitting at a computer. Last I heard, it is not recommended that you use a computer while mowing the grass, driving or taking a shower, so unfortunately, my devoted following of 2 (ok, maybe really one) reader(s) are left with the afterthoughts that run into my head when I am actually at a keyboard.

I figure the only solution is this: Post more frequently, but do not expect to invoke deep philosophical thought based on the content of the post. Another product of this might be that I will gain a readership of short-attention span surfers. I mean, if you're at work and you have a hovering boss, the best way to take a quick swig of the internet might be to go to Rus Hardin's blog and read a one or two sentence statement for the day! If your boss is at lunch, well, then you could even comment on the profoundness of such statements. Besides, no one wants to read a whole bunch of drivel, but they might be more wiling to read a small nugget of it!

Oh and for those of you who do like to read language-hacking long diatribes - well, I will try to satisfy this aspect occasionally too...once I figure out how to blog from my shower.

Happy Friday!

Doing the Lord's work

My internet pal (and occasional bridge partner) has just returned from a short term mission in Romania. Having been on a trip like this in the past, I have to say I'm envious, (even though I shouldn't be...just thankful she went). Anyhow, she just sent a few pictures to me, and thought I'd post this one. This is the one that grabs me the most. These are some workers and some of the boys they serve in an orphanage. Thanks Kris!

Creating a Blog, Part 2....going "live"

Well, I as I continue to ponder what I should write. All I know is that everyone has a blog, so I need one too.

I've decided that most of what I write will be short, random thoughts. I will make my blog visible, but don't expect too much traffic. Even so, I'm hoping for comments.

The name is still not set in stone....suggestions still welcome.

Enrollment Management Breakfast

Rus Hardin, PMP!

Well, folk(s), I passed!

That thing is hard and if it's something you want to look into doing, then I highly suggest you STUDY big time for it. I took a class solely to prepare me for the exam. It was still tough enough for me to wonder while the computer was tallying the results whether I stood a chance of passing. Apparently I did. And now it's over!

Training is over and tomorrow is the big day!

Well, I went through three days of intensive training. Eight hours during the day and an additional 3-5 hours of homework at night. My "final exam" that the trainers give (Not PMI) went frightenly well. Perhaps it's premature to recommend the training organization, but props go out to Velociteach. I think I'm prepared, but there is only one way of knowing and that doesn't happen until tomorrow morning.

Another thing that I need to add here is this: My wife is awesome! While away, she took care of everything around the house and even had the added bonus of two sick children. My youngest had a cold and was out of school early in the week and then my oldest got sick on Thursday night. So, while taking care of runny noses and 101 degree temps, she had no support from me since I was away. She even had the energy to give me encouragement over the phone when I called in the evening. What's more, on Thursday, I started feeling dreadful myself, so now she's taking care of me as I continue to try to study while being sick. Thanks Tina! I love you!