First Principles and Ants in yer pants

I remember hearing Carl Armeding (from Regent College, Vancouver BC) speak about the believer and doubting. He was speaking at the old assembly NW Bible Conference in Portland. It was Labor Day '80 or '82. His message has stuck with me because I had recently gone through a season doubting that had even made me physically ill.

Dr Armeding asserted that a degree of doubt is a natural (re)occurence for the believer and helps us to know and reaffirm first principles of our faith. The quote I remember (and use with delight whenever I can find an excuse -- it just rolls off the tongue) was for the believer in Christ "doubts are the ants in the pants of faith."

A favorite passage from that time I still return to is II Peter 1:16-21 Read it.

You catch that?
v16 "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales...
...but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
v19 "So we have the prophetic word made more sure,"

Peter's belief in scripture was the foundation for his belief in Jesus Christ. However, that belief was "made more sure" by his experience.

He didn't start with his experience or feelings and try to understand questions of faith and eternity. He started with "the prophetic word," aka the Old Testament Scriptures.

Put differently for the fans of big words: his faith and message was based in objective truth of scripture and validated by his subjective experience on the Mt of Transfiguration (and I'm sure the rest of his personal experience with Christ).

I believe (and cling to) Peter's testimony because Peter believed even to the point of dying for his belief. I believe he was a rational man. No high falutin' private college education for Peter. Just a hard man of the sea with hard hands who dealt and lived with hard realities -- not fantasies. I have no reason to believe Peter was a nut job of the sort who believed 9/11 was an inside job.

Jesus Christ Son of God Savior. ixthus to you

Polish Sausage

Everyone is in a hurry to scream 'racism' these days!

'In what aisle could I find the Polish sausage?'

The clerk looks at him and says, 'Are you Polish?'

The guy (clearly offended) says, 'Well, yes I am.

But let me ask you something.
If I had asked for Italian sausage,
would you ask me if I was Italian?

Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst,
would you ask me if I was German?

Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog.
would you ask me if I was Jewish?

Or if I had asked for a taco,
would you ask if I was Mexican?'

'If I asked for some Irish whiskey,
would you ask if I was Irish?'

The clerk says, 'Well, no, I probably wouldn't!'

With deep self-righteous indignation, the guy says,
'Well then, why did you ask me if I'm Polish
because I asked for Polish sausage?'

The clerk replied, "Because you're in Home Depot."

The Better Part of Wisdom

Thank you John Lott. That just about nails it -- numbers and all. A perfect echo of conversation earlier in the day with my wife.

Some perspective is needed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the seasonal flu infects 28 million to 56 million Americans each year. Of these, 100,000 are hospitalized and about 36,000 die. This averages out to almost 150 deaths a day during the eight months of a normal flu season.

Perspective indeed. That's something sorely lacking and is perhaps the better part of wisdom.

I reckon it (lack of perspective) explains why people continue to play the lottery.

Well, that and the fact that the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math.

Virtue Mine Honour

Went to hear the Son&Heirs band play Friday night at Church youth group annual battle of the bands. He had borrowed a t-shirt from the lead guitarist. The sleeves were torn off and exposed his rib cage.

Surprise, surprise Sgt Carter. His mom noticed that the young man has got himself a largish tat on his ribcage under arm area. He's been hiding it from us since his 18th b'day last October!

Oi.

I've always tol' him, "You're old enough for tattoos, you're old enough to pay room and board." Guess he decided to call my bluff. Sure hope he finds a way to pay for his eats at Cal Maritime next year. :-)

On the upside he's got good taste in artwork. It's a one color family crest (McLean of Duart).
That explains why his great concern last fall about determining exactly which of the many McLean crests was ours. His 86 yr old Uncle Tommy, who immigrated as a wee laddie and goes back to McLean reunions, gave him the straight gouge on which crest was which.

...and to think I held off all those years in the Navy so as to be a good example to my kids.

Paying tribute to Tripoli

$891M from Qualcomm to Broadcom, the latest winner of the California Lottery. LINK

Good news for both parties. Cash in the bank for Broadcom and massive distraction and stock price fear eliminated for QCOM.

Check back in 3 years and see how Broadcom's doing. Only time will tell if they do better than the typical lottery winner with their "found" money.

If you can't innovate you gotta litigate.

Check back in three years and see who else has decided to sue Qualcomm. Piracy seems to be all the rage these days...

Pool Deck Pour

What a day. Started early with re-bar still not all done. Wrong mix ordered. Pumper couldn't handle it. Had to scramble for extra wheelbarrows and run a bucket brigade.
Yeah, the chute couldn't get up high enough to directly fill wheelbarrows. We had to shovel most of that load off the ground into wheelbarrows.


Then up the plank 3 steps high and across to the back side.


Yes it was warm and dry and the mix sat in the truck waaayy too long. Yeah the slab's already spider cracking in spots. Oh well, least I won't be upset about first earthquake and those inevitable cracks.



Paid over $200total wait time and the Jefe' ordered too much mud (~5 yds too much) in shortload to finish up. At least I was able to dump ~2 1/2 yds as retaining wall backfill. That's some expensive fill. My achin' wallet.


oh my achin'...

Is there a problem Officer?

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Traffic Cop: Yes ma'am, I'm afraid you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Traffic Cop: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: Well, I would give it to you but I don't have one.
Traffic Cop: Don't have one?

Older Woman: No. I lost it 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Traffic Cop: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.
Traffic Cop: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.

Kinks T-Shirts

Traffic Cop: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Traffic Cop: You what!?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.

The traffic cop looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car while calling for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older Woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: My colleague here tells me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman: Murdered the owner? Are you serious?!

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please. The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The traffic cop is quite stunned.

Officer 2: My colleague claims that you do not have a driving license. The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license quizzically.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, but I am puzzled, as I was told by my officer here that you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner!

Older Woman: Bet the lying son of a gun told you I was speeding, too.