tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80646441695697088842024-03-23T10:58:00.750-07:00Whistling Badger BlogMy name's Thomas. I carry a whistle.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-74308175867695513842024-03-23T10:55:00.000-07:002024-03-23T10:57:28.753-07:00What Non-Christian History Says About Jesus, His Followers, and His Resurrection<p><span style="color: #cccccc;">Table of Contents</span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">I. Introduction: Personal Notes<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">II. Sources<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">III. Facts About Jesus Confirmed From History</span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">IV. Conclusions Drawn from These Facts<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">References<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #cccccc;">I. Introduction and Personal Notes</span></b></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For almost a year before beginning this research, I had been struggling with my faith in the God of the Bible. In dealing with past struggles, I had read just enough to make myself feel better, and that has been enough, at least until another challenge came along. When I began struggling with uncertainty again, I decided enough is enough. Jesus said “The truth shall make you free.” The best way to deal with doubts is to pursue them and see if they have any substance. If doubts proved groundless, then faith would be that much stronger. If not, at least I would know the truth.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At first I didn’t know where to begin, but I finally decided to focus my search on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 15, says that Jesus’ death and resurrection is “of first importance.” In the Acts chapter 17, Paul is quoted as saying that the resurrection is God’s proof that salvation in Jesus is real. This makes sense to me: If Jesus actually conquered death, proving that he was the Son of God, then I know he is the truth. If the Biblical claims of Jesus’ resurrection are false, then the foundation of the entire faith is crushed.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is difficult to be objective while searching for evidence of these things. I have been a Christian for a very long time; my entire world-view is based on Jesus’ wonderful teachings. I am absolutely certain that I am a much better person as a Christian than I would be as a deist, agnostic, or atheist. Jesus is more than an abstract principle or historical figure—like many Christians, I consider him my closest friend, confidant, and inspiration. Pondering the possibility that this Jesus might not exist has been extremely painful. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To avoid fooling myself, I have been very careful of the sources I have used, as described below. Any time I have felt a twinge of uneasiness or dishonesty, I have attempted to pursue it rather than ignore and let it stand. Finally, I subjected my findings to several friends and acquaintances from various academic and spiritual backgrounds—historians, scientists, mental health professionals, philosophy professors, Christians, atheists, and agnostics—asking them to point out to me where I went wrong. Their feedback resulted in some changes to this paper, but did not change my mind on the meaning of my findings.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">The Nature of Biblical Faith</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Faith is a much misunderstood concept. In the Bible, faith is more than just believing something is true. Real faith is a relationship based on convictions, which in turn are based on evidence of various sorts. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But evidence can only get us so far. The Bible is mostly concerned with living, relational faith. It is possible to be convinced that God exists but not act on that knowledge/belief. Thus, purely intellectual faith is really no faith at all. James comments on this extensively in chapter 2 of his letter (interesting aside: this is thought to be the same James the Brother of Jesus mentioned by Josephus, see pg.19). He plainly states that it is not enough to simply believe God exists—even the demons have that kind of belief. True faith must show itself through actions/works. (of course, good works without relational faith in God are no good either, c.f. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Matthew 7:22-23).</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hebrews 11 also gives some interesting perspective on faith. It starts with a definition: Faith is the substance (reality, foundation) of things hoped for, the evidence (confidence, conviction) of things not seen. In other words, the writer is not telling us to say “I know this is true, because I have faith in it.” Rather, “I have faith in it, because I am convinced it is true.” This is a key difference.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reading on through Hebrews 11, we find that all of the examples of faith involve people trusting a God they know, and acting on that belief. In verse 6, we learn that in order to get anything good out of seeking God, we have to trust, at least provisionally, that he exists, and that it is worth our while to seek him. All of the stories themselves deal with matters of trust and action, not knowledge and assumption. <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible is very consistent on this point. Active faith can indeed be based on wishful thinking, but such a faith is seldom stable, robust, or honest. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Honest questioning is not condemned in the Bible. In fact, honest skepticism combined with humility is often commended. Examples of this would include Job’s honest questions (Job 42:7), Nathaniel (John 1:45-47), and maybe even “doubting” Thomas (John 20), to whom Jesus gives exactly the evidence he had asked for. Also see Proverbs 12:15, 14:12, 15:22, and 18:13 and 17. The Bible does not discourage honest questioning, investigating, thinking. It does discourage lack of trust among those who have already seen the evidence and become believers. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Of course, faith is only a virtue if it is directed at a worthy object. The only good reason to believe in something is to be convinced of its trueness. Is there adequate evidence for a reasonable person to conclude that Jesus really rose from the dead? If so, the honest Christian has nothing to fear from intellectual, scholarly pursuit of a basis for faith. If not, if the basis of the Christian faith is a hoax, is it not better to know the truth? </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is important to remember, with all this in mind, that evidence, be it scriptural, scholarly, or experiential, can only support the platform of faith. It is still up to us whether to jump up on it. Conviction can sometimes be forced upon us by overwhelming evidence, but faith remains a choice. Matthew’s gospel tells us that even some of those who saw the resurrected Jesus still doubted, after all.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Four Basic Starting Assumptions</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are four basic assumptions I made going into this project, and it seems necessary to get those out in the open from the start.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1. God, in some form, exists. I consider the existence of some sort of intelligent creator to be a given. My reasoning for this is beyond the scope of this paper. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Miraculous events, though unlikely, are not impossible. This assumption flows naturally from the first. By miraculous, I mean outside the realm of normal human experience and unexplainable by naturalistic reasoning. If one takes a strictly naturalistic bias, a discussion of the evidence for a resurrection from the dead is pointless. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. We have the ability to know things. Some philosophers say it is impossible to know anything with absolute certainty, and they make a good point, since our perceptions can deceive us. Be that as it may, I am working under the assumption that my senses are generally reliable, that what I see, hear, touch, taste, smell are what really exist. Unless there is reason to think otherwise, I assume this is the case for others, as well.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. Humility is always necessary when claiming to know something, because it is, again, difficult to know anything with absolute certainty; there is always a possible “Yes, but…” Again, faith is not blind belief in spite of the evidence. It is, at its best, based on reasonable conclusions, which in turn are based on evidence of various sorts. The kind of faith I am pursuing requires a great deal of thought, humility, and at times a great deal of uncertainty and discomfort. Perhaps this is as it should be. “Through many hardships we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22</span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #cccccc;">II. Sources</span></b></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the effort to achieve and maintain objectivity in consideration of the evidence, fairly rigorous standards have been applied to the sources of evidence considered.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>First of all, no Christian sources have been used. This excludes both early church historians (Clement, Ignatius, Justin, Africanus, et cetera), the New Testament letters of Paul etc., and the gospel accounts. Occasionally, New Testament writings have been cited to shed light on other sources and on the character of the early church, but with one exception (page 23-24), they have not been considered as direct evidence for the resurrection. Many Christians—and even some non-Christians--will insist that leaving them out is a mistake, and perhaps they are right. There is a remarkable amount of information which speaks favorably toward the overall accuracy of the gospel accounts, and considering some of the historical details which follow, it is hard to imagine what motive the early writers would have had for falsifying their reports. However, for this study only neutral or hostile sources have been cited.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Second, whenever possible, an effort has been made to trace all information to primary sources. Besides resulting in some truly remarkable library fines, this procedure has revealed some inaccuracies on the part of some popular apologists (see “Secondary sources,” below). When consulting primary sources has not been possible, all quotes have been verified from multiple independent sources. For the sake of brevity only two have been cited in most cases, but a simple internet search will generally reveal many more.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Secondary Sources </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since the author has neither the time nor resources to read all the writings of antiquity since the time of Jesus Christ, some compilations have been used as guides of where to look. By far the most valuable of these has been The Historical Jesus by Dr. Gary Habermas (1996). Dr. Habermas has done an excellent job compiling the available evidence. He is honest about problematic texts and very thorough in his references, making it easy to trace primary sources and assuming the reader will want to do so. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josh McDowell’s writings have also been consulted, especially A Ready Defense, compiled by Bill Wilson (1990). In a few cases, McDowell’s information has proven disappointing due to what appears to be either sloppiness or dishonesty on the part of McDowell and his compilers. Though much of the information is valuable, a few of the references are inaccurate, out of context, or otherwise do not stand up to scrutiny when examined against primary sources. The author’s requests for clarification from Josh McDowell Ministries have not been answered satisfactorily. Readers are urged to use all sources (including this one) with caution and do their homework. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the early stages of this study, the author used a video presentation entitled The Case for Christ by Lee Stobel (2007), a decent if rather shallow and incomplete overview of the available evidence. The troubling thing about this source is that while Strobel claims to have been a reluctant convert who was almost forced to believe by the overwhelming evidence, this claim is not consistent with Strobel’s failure to interview anyone other than conservative Christian scholars. While the information is valuable, this discrepancy strikes the author as perhaps less than completely honest.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have also frequently consulted non- and anti-Christian sources. The Secular Web (Internet Infidels, Inc. 2008) has been especially useful in keeping me honest. Don Lindsay’s (2005) list of logical fallacies was also a huge help to me in spotting flaws in my own reasoning and that of others.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Primary Sources </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Outside the gospel accounts and other early Christian writings, I have found six primary sources which contain pertinent and reliable information about the incidents in question. They are presented here in approximate chronological order.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flavius Josephus (c. 94 A.D.) Antiquities. Josephus was a soldier, historian, and statesman who lived and wrote during the first century AD, when Christianity was still a relatively new phenomenon. It is a shame that his life has never been made into a movie: it would be a great one. There are two passages of particular interest to this study.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first, often called the “Testimonium Flavianum,” is to be used with caution because almost all modern scholars agree that it has been severely tampered with by medieval Christian scholars. Interestingly, Whiston, one of the most widely used translators, considers the passage entirely authentic (Whiston, William, 1998, pg. 977ff.), but he seems to be in a small minority. There is an Arabic text of the Testimonium dating to the tenth century and discovered by Pines (Tabor, 1998; Habermas, 1996, page 193), which is considered by most scholars to be much closer to Josephus’ actual words, though parts of this passage remain in dispute. When quoting this passage, I have used this Arabic version, and whenever possible I have verified the basic claims contained therein from other sources.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The other passage refers to the trial and execution of James, brother of Jesus, called Christ. It is almost universally considered to be genuine.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Suetonius (C. 110 A.D.). Another Roman historian who makes one indirect reference to Jesus (Crestus, an alternate spelling of Christ) and the disturbance he caused among the Jews in the mid-first century A.D. (Halsall, 2000. Habermas, 1996, Page 191), and another to Nero’s persecution of the Christians, not cited here.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pliny and Trajan (c. 112 A. D.). Letters. Pliny was governor of Bithynia (in Asia Minor) during a rather turbulent period. A fascinating set of letters has survived to the modern day between Pliny and his mentor, Emperor Trajan. Among the many problems Pliny faced were how to rebuild after a catastrophic fire, how to provide water to an outlying city, dealing with out-of-control spending by local governments, and dealing with a rather troublesome religious movement. (Halsell, 1998. Habermas, 1996, Page 197 ff.)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cornelius Tacitus (c. 116 A.D.) Annals, Book 15. Tacitus was a Roman historian. He obviously had no sympathy toward Christians, as his few direct references to them are certainly not complimentary. Indeed, he seems to think Nero’s excessive cruelty toward Christianity was a shame, not because of the suffering caused, but because the people’s sympathies were aroused toward a criminal sect that did not deserve any mercy (Tacitus, c. 116 A.D., Page 381).</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some writers assume that Tacitus (as well as Lucian, Pliny, and even the Talmud) used Christian writings as a source. Considering the lack of evidence for this link and the obvious scorn these writers demonstrate toward Christians, this seems highly unlikely.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lucian of Samasota (2nd Century, A.D.) The Passing of Peregrinus. Lucian was a satirist and historian who, for all his keen sense of the ridiculous, claimed to be very concerned with historical accuracy in his writings (Holding, N.D.). Peregrinus drips with sarcasm and is fairly entertaining reading. In it, he makes fun of a would-be public religious figure named Peregrinus, especially the manner and circumstances of his death. In doing so, he confirms several important facts about Jesus and his followers. (Holding, N.D. Harman, 2001)</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud (prior to 200 A.D.) The Talmud is a compilation of writings by Jewish scholars. According to Habermas (1996), it consists of the Mishnah, a collection of oral teachings passed down for generations and put in written form between 135 and 200 A.D., and the Geremas, an ancient commentary on the Mishnah. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are several alleged references to Jesus Christ in the Talmud, but most of these cause considerable difficulty. First of all, Jesus (Yeshu) was a common name in ancient Israel. We cannot assume that a reference to Yeshu in the writings of the ancients refers to the alleged founder of Christianity, any more than we would assume that a reference to Thomas in a modern newspaper refers to this author. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Second, many of the alleged references to Jesus Christ in the Talmud do not even mention him by name. In many cases, the reasoning connecting these passages to Jesus is very shaky.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Third, the Talmud is foremost a theological and legal collection, not a historical one.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The author has avoided using these questionable passages from the Talmud, focusing only on Sanhedrin 43a (Habermas, 1996, page 203; Valentine, N.D.). This passage almost certainly refers to Jesus Christ, and is included here as a source due to its early date of writing and the unique circumstances described therein.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is also a great deal of literature available regarding the evidence for and against the authenticity and early dating of the New Testament gospel accounts. This topic, too, is very worthy of research, but beyond the scope of this paper.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #cccccc;">III. Facts Confirmed from History</span></b></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">A man named “Jesus Called Christ” lived, was believed to have performed miracles and/or practiced sorcery, taught, gathered a considerable and diverse following.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Antiquities, 18:3. (quoting from the Arabic text, rather than the widely disputed Latin text. See explanation in “Sources,” also see bibliography) <i>At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a: <i>It was taught: On the eve of the Passover, Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth, crying, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.”</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This passage contains several interesting things about Yeshu (the Aramaic form of Jesus) which will be explored later. Pertinent to the current point are the stated reasons for Jesus’ condemnation: He practiced sorcery, and led the people into apostasy. This confirms that Jesus did--or at least was believed to have done--miracles (considered here to be deceptive and/or Satanic) and taught against the prevailing Jewish orthodoxy.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Jesus was tried by the Jewish court and found guilty of heresy and sorcery. When given the opportunity, no one came to his defense.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a: <i>It was taught: On the eve of the Passover, Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth, crying, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.” But since nothing was brought forward in his favor, he was hanged on the eve of the Passover. </i> The passage then goes on to mention Yeshu’s connections to the rulers--possibly a reference to Pilate’s efforts to free him and/or to members of the Sanhedrin who took his side--and gives an account of the trial of several of Yeshu’s followers.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yeshu was condemned to be stoned, which was proper punishment for sorcery and heresy, among other things, under Jewish law (see Leviticus 20:27, etc.). However, Yeshu was not stoned, he was “hanged,” an execution mentioned in the O.T. (Deuteronomy 21:22), but not prescribed for any specific crime. Paul, in Galatians 3:13, equates this “hanging” with crucifixion, a punishment carried out by the Romans, but never, as far as we know, by the Jews. Thus, Jesus was tried by the Jews and condemned to be stoned, but execution was carried out by the Romans. This second fact is confirmed by Josephus, Tacitus, and Lucian.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The “forty days” are interesting in that they are not mentioned specifically in the gospels. The gospel accounts do record that in the days before Jesus’ death, it was widely known that there was animosity between Jesus and the Jewish leaders (Matthew 23, Mark 11:27-28, 12:12, John 7:25, 11:8, etc.) who on at least one occasion had sent officers to arrest him (John 7:32). On several occasions it is mentioned that stoning was the determined fate for Jesus (John 8:59, 10:31). So it is hardly surprising to read that the Sanhedrin is said to have issued such a proclamation, though according to the gospel accounts, Jesus would have been at large at the time, and his final arrest was not public. It is also possible that this proclamation was fabricated as a reaction to anti-Semitics who used the gospels’ account of an unfair trial as justification to persecute the Jews. It is interesting to note that, according to the gospel of John (John 12:42), the Jewish leaders had also determined that anyone professing Jesus as the messiah would be excommunicated. If this is accurate, small wonder no one came to his defense!</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Jesus was crucified (hanged) by the Romans, with Pontius Pilate presiding.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tacitus, Annals 15:44. <i>Christus, from whom the name [Christians] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a: <i>It was taught: On the eve of the Passover, Yeshu was hanged.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Antiquities, 18:3. <i>Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die…</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lucian, The Passing of Peregrinus. <i>…that other, to be sure, whom they still worship, the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world.</i></span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">At Jesus crucifixion, the Christian religion effectively died out, only to be reborn shortly thereafter in Judea, the same place where Jesus was crucified.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tacitus, Annals 15:44. <i>Christus…suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome… </i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Antiquities, 18:3. <i>But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. </i></span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Early Christians believed that Jesus was divine and had risen from the dead. </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tacitus, Annals 15:44. <i>…and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea…</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Antiquities 18:3. <i>But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive…</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pliny, Letter to Trajan. <i>[Those found innocent of being Christians] called upon the gods, and supplicated to your image, which I caused to be brought to me for that purpose, with frankincense and wine; they also cursed Christ; none of which things, it is said, can any of those that are really Christians be compelled to do…they were wont, on a stated day, to meet together before it was light, and to sing a hymn to Christ, as to a god…</i> </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lucian, The Passing of Peregrinus. <i> …that other, to be sure, whom they still worship, the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world…Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded them that they are all brothers of one another after they have transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshiping that crucified sage himself and living under his laws. (emphasis added)</i></span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Their belief was the source of conflict in the Jewish community. Some early Christians died for their faith, specifically James the brother of Jesus, an early leader, along with other disciples.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a. <i>Our Rabbis taught: Yeshu had five disciples, Matthai, Nakai, Nezer, Buni and Todah. When Matthai was brought [before the court] he said to them [the judges], Shall Matthai be executed?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">The passage goes on to describe the trials of these five men, with the resulting decision that they be executed. While this passage strikes this author as non-historical (with its clever and humorous use of puns), it does serve to demonstrate the early conflict between Judaism and Christianity.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Suetonius, Claudius 25. <i>Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is possible that Suetonius refers here to some other Jew named Chrestus, rather than to Jesus Christ. Considering the on-going, sometimes violent controversy recorded in the New Testament writings (see Acts 17:5-9 for a typical example; 18:2 refers to Claudius’ specific command), it is reasonable to assume that Chrestus does in fact refer to Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Antiquities 20:9:1. <i>Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought forth before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned…</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Also see Pliny and Tacitus (cited elsewhere) for evidence of first and early second century Christian persecution under the Romans.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Early Christians were given the opportunity to recant in Roman courts, and surely had every motive to do so.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tacitus, Annals 15:44. <i>Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty…mockery of every sort was added to their deaths.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">Presumably, those who “pleaded guilty” were those who refused to recant and deny belief in Christ, as recorded by Pliny. The fire for which these Christians were blamed occurred in 64 A.D., thus establishing that, within only two or three decades of Jesus’ death, Christians were already choosing to die rather than deny him.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pliny, Letter To Trajan. <i>I asked them whether they were Christians or not. If they confessed that they were Christians, I asked them again, and a third time, intermixing threats with the questions. If they persevered in their confession, I ordered them to be executed; for I did not doubt but, let their confession be of any sort whatsoever, this positiveness and inflexible obstinacy deserved to be punished…[others accused of being Christians] called upon the gods, and supplicated to your image, which I caused to be brought to me for that purpose, with frankincense and wine; they also cursed Christ; none of which things, it is said, can any of those that are ready Christians be compelled to do; so I thought fit to let them go.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Emperor Trajan, Letter to Pliny. <i>...he who denies himself to be a Christian, and makes it plain that he is not so by supplicating to our gods, although he had been so formerly, may be allowed pardon, upon his repentance.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a: <i>For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth, crying, “…Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.”</i> Of course, this passage refers to Jesus, not to the early Christians. Since the incident is cited as an example of a legal precedent, it is highly probable that this was standard procedure, and early Christians would have been given the opportunity to defend themselves and/or recant. </span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Early Christian converts were drawn from many facets of society: All ages, both genders, city and country.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pliny, Letter to Trajan. <i>This seems a matter worthy of your prompt consideration, especially as so many people are endangered. Many of all ages and both sexes are put in peril of their lives by their accusers; and the process will go on, for the contagion of this superstition has spread not merely through the free towns, but into the villages and farms.</i></span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">Outside of the New Testament documents, there is no known record that those with the greatest motive to discourage belief in the resurrection (the Roman and Jewish authorities) had the ability or inclination to factually refute the story. </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The earliest attempt to contradict the resurrection story found by this author is the Toledoth Yeshu, a Jewish parody of the gospel resurrection accounts dating from the middle ages, which practically no one considers to be even remotely historical due to its late date of writing, unreliability and inconsistency of the existent texts, historical inaccuracies, and satirical nature. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is truly said that absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence. In other words, just because we haven’t found evidence of something, that doesn’t mean it never happened. It is possible that factual contradiction of the resurrection story did happen, but was not recorded or has been lost. It is, however, most remarkable that there is no record of any such refutation, in light of the wealth of information about the story itself. Since so many non-Christian and anti-Christian writers make reference to this widespread story (and the trouble caused by belief in it), surely at least one of them would have mentioned any widely known attempts to discredit it. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>IV. A Few Conclusions Drawn from These Facts</b></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">1. Jesus himself claimed to be the Messiah. </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus was seen as a threat to both the Jewish religious establishment and the Roman empire. In the climate of the day, someone claiming to be the messiah would have threatened both institutions enough to be considered worthy of execution at the hands of both authorities, because the coming Messiah was both a religious and political figure. The fact of Jesus crucifixion at Roman hands, after trial by the Jews, is especially significant. According to Allan D. Callahan, Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School:</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>…whatever he was doing, it was considered dangerous enough that he'd be <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>crucified for it. And, that's exactly what they did.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">John Dominic Crossan, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at DePaul University, continues in the same vein:</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What would happen to a peasant who caused trouble in the Temple and maybe <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>endangered a riot at Passover? Standing orders, I would take it, crucifixion, as fast as possible. Hang him out as a warning. We're not going to have any riots at <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Passover. That's, I think, what happened to Jesus. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;">Numerous other scholars point to the same conclusion (White, 2008). </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Of course, the strongest argument of all for Jesus’ claims comes from the writings and oral traditions of his followers. From earliest times, Jesus’ followers claimed his messiah-ship. Here we must break our self-imposed rule of neutral/hostile sources and look into the writings of the Christians themselves. The earliest Christian creeds attest to belief in Jesus’ messiah-ship (Habermas, 1996), as do each of the gospel accounts and, presumably, whatever written, oral, and/or personal sources the gospel writers used. It is highly unlikely that Jesus’ earliest followers would have made these claims for him, and been willing to die for those claims, if Jesus had not made them for himself.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The popular modern view of Jesus as merely a good teacher does not hold up to historic scrutiny. The Jews didn’t stone, nor did the Romans crucify those who simply wandered around telling people to be nice to each other. Obviously Jesus was seen as a revolutionary and/or a troublemaker by both the civil and religious governments. Yet we do not have specific records of Jesus committing violence or inciting people to rebellion.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So, what was Jesus crime? The Roman charge, as recorded in all four gospel accounts, makes the most sense: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Jesus was tortured to death, not for doing good deeds and telling others to do the same, but for who he claimed to be. The mere threat of claiming the title messiah was sufficient.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">2. After Jesus’ death, his body was missing. </span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This conclusion is hotly disputed by scholars, but it seems to be most reasonable in light of the facts.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It has already been demonstrated that the Jewish and Roman authorities had an interest in preventing the spread of Christianity. Remember that Christianity first rose in Judea, where conclusive proof of Jesus’ demise should have been readily available. It seems safe to assume that, if the authorities could have simply pointed people toward the still-occupied tomb of Jesus, they would have done so, as this would most likely have put an end to this “mischievous superstition” then and there. Of course, it can be dangerous to draw hard conclusions from a lack of evidence; however, the apparent failure of the early leaders to directly refute the early Christians’ resurrection story does force one to ask why. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There have been various attempts to explain the missing body: The idea that the disciples or someone else stole the body; the “swoon theory,” which claims that Jesus was not really quite dead, and he revived in the tomb; several rather bizarre conspiracy theories. Habermas (1996) gives thorough refutation of most of these, so I will defer to him.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It might seem strange to dismiss these theories as unlikely or “bizarre,” considering that we are discussing the likelihood of someone actually rising from the dead. The irony is not lost on this author, but a good argument can be made that such theories are no more likely and no less miraculous than the resurrection story.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Take the swoon theory, for example, which has once again become popular in recent years. In all of written antiquity, this writer is aware of only one instance recorded of someone surviving crucifixion. Josephus (c. 99 AD), in his Life (IV: 75) describes finding three friends who had recently been crucified. He appealed to General Titus, who had the three immediately taken down and given the best available medical care. Even with this, only one of them survived. The other two died from their wounds.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Romans were very proficient at executing people. Crucifixion, being both extremely painful and publicly humiliating, was a strong deterrent against rebellion and other crimes, and the Romans took it very seriously. But the swoon theory postulates that Jesus survived Roman crucifixion, then revived in a cold tomb with minimal, covertly-administered medical care if any at all. Escaping the tomb, he then appeared to his former disciples, surely a bleeding, sickly wraith of his former self, and somehow inspired them with the boldness to change the world, confidently going to their deaths if necessary. Is such a scenario any more likely, or any less miraculous, than full resurrection?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whatever explanation one chooses, the fact is that apart from Christian sources, there is a rather deafening silence surrounding the tomb of Jesus: The ancients neither confirm nor deny that the tomb was empty. Considering the amount of trouble caused by the Christians, and the desire of the rulers to stop them, this silence could reasonably be interpreted as a concession on their part, that the body of Jesus was, in fact, missing: Lost, stolen, dumped in a mass grave and forgotten, or resurrected.</span></span></p><p><u><span style="color: #cccccc;">3. The early Christians were convinced, from the beginning, that Jesus was the divine, risen Messiah.</span></u></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Neutral and hostile history records that Jesus’ disciples believed in his divinity and resurrection from the very earliest times, and that they held to this belief in spite of persecution, humiliation, and painful death, when recanting would have saved them from such. The stoning of James, Jesus’ brother (along with some of his associates), is especially significant to this conclusion. These facts, along with textual/outside evidence for early writing of the gospel accounts, effectively eliminates the argument that these messianic ideas of divinity were put into Jesus’ mouth by overzealous followers. Even if the apostles and other early Christian leaders had had any motivation to do so, they would have not been able to spread such a lie in Judea, where it would have been so easy to refute.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Again, the popular modern view of Jesus as a simple teacher whose words were twisted by overzealous or dishonest followers after his death does not hold up to historic scrutiny for the simple reason that said followers had no reason to tell such a lie. Any time such a theory is posed, there has to be a motive. The early followers of Muhammad, for example, had every worldly motive for claiming he had ascended into heaven: Their position as religious leaders was one of great power, wealth, and prestige, so it is easy to imagine them agreeing to make up the story (or, to assume the best about them, allowing themselves to believe what they wanted to believe) in order to secure their position. (Interestingly, Mohammed is said to have ascended during his life, then returned; he is not claimed to have resurrected)</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Did the early Christian leaders have such a motive? Early on, we see James, whom Paul describes as a pillar of the Church (Letter to the Galatians 2:9), stoned to death along with some of his associates. Later Roman writings are in agreement with the Biblical accounts that persecution, while not always intense, was ongoing, painful, and humiliating. Christians faced ostracism, humiliation, poverty, and death for holding to their beliefs. The policy of releasing them if they recanted gave them every motive to give up, and at very least they had every motive to examine the factual basis for said belief. Those in Judea, where both Christianity and the persecution thereof started, would have had every opportunity to do so.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What possible motive did they have for holding to such a strange belief other than a sincere, well-founded conviction that the whole thing was true? Were they self-deceived fanatics? Leaders of a suicidal cult? Insane? Or were they telling the truth?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>How does it add up?</u></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here is a man who claimed to be, or at very least allowed people to believe that he was the messiah, God’s deliverer of Israel. He convinced enough people of his claims that he was considered a threat to the governing authorities, though he never committed violence.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After his execution, Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem almost immediately began spreading the word that he had risen from the dead and appeared to many people. Jesus’ opponents persecuted those who held to this belief, but did little or nothing to refute it, indicating that his body probably was missing.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These same followers willingly went to painful and humiliating deaths rather than deny Jesus’ divinity and resurrection. This included at least some of the early leaders, Jesus’ immediate, eyewitness followers. They had absolutely no sane motive for lying about it. Would they have remained loyal to this belief if they had known it to be a lie?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus’ tomb truly remains empty, in the sense that there is simply nothing written about it, either for or against the resurrection, in the sources considered here. While the resurrection itself cannot be conclusively, historically proven or disproved, it seems one is forced to conclude that either the early Christians were telling the truth, or they were a suicidal cult of the David Koresh, Jim Jones, Heaven’s Gate variety, with leaders who were either deluded by a mass hallucination or intentionally lying. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On the cult possibility, I will defer to the experts on the shared characteristics of such cults (Brauns, N. D. Langone, 2008) and note that, from all we know, the early Christians did not meet these characteristics. Citing both historical documents and New Testament writings, we can say that early Christian leaders did not financially or otherwise benefit from their teachings (quite the contrary!); their claims were based on a falsifiable, historical event; members of the church were encouraged to search and study for themselves; salvation was taught as an individual issue; members were drawn from all facets of society; they do not appear to have been isolated in any way from the world in which they lived; they were commanded to submit to rightful laws; their rituals appear to have been relatively transparent, simple, and largely comprehensible to outsiders. All of these characteristics run counter to mind-controlling cults.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It seems that, in the end, we are faced with “Lewis’ Trilema,” first posed by C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity (1960). Lewis proposes that either Jesus was the messiah, or he was honest but deluded and/or insane, or he was “the Devil of Hell” for perpetrating such a lie on humanity. Modern scholarship has added to the trilema the possibility that Jesus’ miracles, resurrection, and messianic claims are simply myths, thus making a nicely alliterative quatrilema: Lord, Liar, Lunatic, or Legend. The Legend possibility, however, does not seem to stand up to history. So again, either Jesus was telling the truth about who he was, or he was evil and/or mentally ill. It seems the same could be said of Jesus’ early followers who spread the story. If the claim of Jesus’ resurrection was untrue, it was not an innocent embellishment that happened naturally over time; it was an intentional, horrifying lie with devastating personal consequences for those who believed it.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Which is it? As one familiar with Jesus’ teachings, this writer must side with those questioning followers who engaged in a similar debate 2,000 years ago: “These are not the words of a demon possessed man.” (John 10:21) That leaves only one option.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The resurrection of Jesus is not a historical certainty. There are other possible explanations for what happened. But this writer is convinced that, if one allows for the possibility of miracles, it seems the most probable explanation for the facts. All other possibilities are weakened by various aspects of the story, by consideration of human nature, or by history itself. The resurrection possibility is weakened only by the presupposition that resurrection is impossible. Without this presupposition, the resurrection becomes by far the most likely explanation.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nevertheless, this historical likelihood of Jesus’ resurrection only goes so far. Historical study, along with other valid lines of Christian scholarship which are beyond the scope of this paper, can only constitute one leg on the stool. After this study and other ongoing studies of a similar nature, this leg of the stool seems in no danger of collapse. But there has to be more. To paraphrase an atheist friend’s reaction to the above research: “Yes, perhaps he rose again. So what?”</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is difficult to enumerate, in a scholarly manner, all of the reasons behind the choice to trust God, in the same way that it would be difficult to write, in a scholarly manner, about why one loves one’s spouse. Some subjects call for scholarship, others for poetry and music. Speaking personally, I must consider experience. I must consider that trusting God not only brings the most devastating circumstances out to my good, but also brings out the very best in who I am, in direct proportion to the depth of trust. Again and again. Without fail.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Above all, I must consider the man Jesus. History tells us he existed, but scripture tells us why. In the teachings and life of Jesus, I see the highest ideal of mankind, alive with dirt under his finger nails. Completely masterful without a hint of arrogance. Completely selfless without a hint of codependency. Completely courageous without any need to prove it to anyone. Completely focused on his goal, and completely lacking in selfish ambition. Completely trusting in God, and showing that trust not by sitting around waiting for something to happen, but by going to work. Subject to human weaknesses, but not constrained by them. Possessing all the riches of the universe, all the power of God himself, but under absolutely no compulsion to use any of it. Completely self-possessed, and completely sacrificed to God.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not only is Jesus these things, but—here is the truly miraculous part—he offers me the means to become these things myself. Everything I want to be but cannot be, packaged up and given to me freely, a gift which costs me nothing, and everything.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> My much-maligned biblical namesake did not say “My Lord and my God” merely because he saw nail prints and a spear scar. (John 20:28) He knew who Jesus was; he simply needed his mind to be convinced of what his heart already knew. Here is a vision, a man, a God worth living for and dying for.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Lord and my God.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>References</b></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brauns, John (N.D.). What Are the Characteristics of a Religious Cult? Retrieved March 2008 from http://www.prem-rawat-talk.org/forum/uploads/CultCharacteristics.htm</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Habermas, Gary (1996). The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, Missouri: College Press.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Halsall, Paul (1998). Ancient History Sourcebook: Pliny and Trajan: Correspondence, C. 112 CE. Retrieved February 2008 from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/pliny-trajan1.html</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Halsall, Paul (2000). Ancient History Sourcebook: De Vita Caesarum—Divus Claudius, c. 110 CE. Retrieved February 2007 from http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/ancient/suet-claudius-rolfe.html</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Harman, A. M. (2001). Lucian of Samosata: The Passing of Peregrinus. Retrieved November 2007 from http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/lucian/peregrinus.htm</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Holding, J.P. (N.D.). Lucian: The Ancient Monty Python. Retrieved January 2007 from http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/lucian.html#lucrel</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Internet Infidels, Inc. (2008). The Secular Web. Retrieved February 2008 from www.infidels.org</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Flavius (c. 94 AD) Antiquities of the Jews. From Whiston, William, translator (1998). Josephus: The Complete Works. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Josephus, Flavius (c. 99 AD). The Life of Flavius Josephus. From Whiston, William, translator (1998). Josephus: The Complete Works. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Langone, Michael, PhD (2008). Cults: Questions and Answers. International Cultic Studies Association. Retrieved March, 2008, from http://icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/langone_michael_cultsqa.htm</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lewis, C. S. (1960). Mere Christianity. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lindsay, Don (2005). A List of Fallacious Arguments. Retrieved March 2008 from http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/skeptic/arguments.html</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>McDowell, Josh, and Wilson, Bill (1990). A Ready Defense: The Best of Josh McDowell. San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishing, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shanks, Hershel (1995). Jerusalem: An Archaeological Biography. New York: Random House, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strobel, Lee (2007). The Case for Christ: The Film. La Mirada, California: La Mirada Films.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tabor, Dr. James D (1998). Ancient Judaism: Josephus on Jesus. Retrieved March 2008 from http://www.religiousstudies.uncc.edu/jdtabor/josephus-jesus.html.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tacitus, Cornelius (c. 116 AD). Annals, Book 15. From Church, Alfred and Brodribb, William, translators. (1942). The Complete Works of Tacitus. United States: Random House, Inc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Valentine, Carol, compiler (N. D.). Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sanhedrin. Retrieved November 2007 from http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_43.html</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>White, L. Michael, for PBS Online (2008). From Jesus to Christ: Jesus Many Faces. Retrieved December 2007 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/arrest.html#crucifixion</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-45724721634317347972023-08-11T09:55:00.003-07:002023-08-12T19:07:58.249-07:00Singing vs. Drinking: What Music Does for Us<p style="text-align: center;"><i>"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."<br /></i><i>Ephesians 5:18-20</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">God gives us what we need. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In the final three chapters of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul frequently uses a "not this, but that" formula: Lay aside falsehood and instead speak truth. Quit stealing and instead work so you have something to share. Knock off the rotten speech, and start using your words to build others up. Replace foolishness with an understanding of God's will. Over and over, Paul tells Christians not to just give up the trappings of worldliness, but to replace them with God's good things. The point is clear: Yes, as Christians we have to leave some things behind. But God, in His goodness, promises to replace the world's counterfeit pleasures with the real thing. </p><p>I was struck by this a few years ago while leading a study on the Ephesian letter. In chapter five, Paul includes singing on his list of Godly alternatives to drunkenness, along with Spirit-filling and thanksgiving. I knew we had some members in our church who had been redeemed from alcoholism, so I asked a question. "What are some reasons that people get drunk?" The various answers boiled down to three recurring ideas:</p><p>1. Alcohol feels good. It causes short-term feelings of well-being and relaxation, diminishes stress, and reduces anxiety. </p><p>2. Alcohol makes socializing easier. By lowering anxieties and producing euphoria, alcohol can turn timid, socially awkward people into the life of the party. One brother laughingly said that he used to drink "to make other people better-looking." This is why alcohol is so popular at social gatherings. Relaxed, confident people are more fun to be around. Closely tied to this are issues of peer pressure and belonging. Everybody wants to fit in, and having a drink in one's hand makes one feel like part of the group.</p><p>3. Alcohol can be a way to cope with an overwhelming world. People suffering from depression and anxiety often self-medicate with alcohol to take a break from their problems.</p><p>Most of us are aware of these effects, and they are well-documented scientifically. But of course, it isn't all parties and relaxation, and the dark sides of alcohol are just as well-known. According to the Centers for Disease Control, excessive alcohol use over time can weaken immune systems, make consumers more susceptible to (or even directly cause) certain cancers, and reduce cardiovascular performance. By slowing down various areas of our brains, alcohol quite literally makes people dumber, so it comes as no surprise that chronic overuse can lead to many learning and memory problems, including increased chances of age-related dementia. Ironically, long-term alcohol use can also cause depression, anxiety, and a wide variety of social ills, thus counteracting the very reasons that so many people choose indulge in the first place.</p><p>When we consider the reasons that so many people enjoy indulging in alcohol, singing might at first seem like a strange alternative. But in recent years, science has begun catching up with what musicians like me have known all along: Singing is good for us. But why does Paul list it as an alternative to alcohol?</p><p>1. Singing feels good. It actually alters our brain chemistry in ways that make us more alert, less anxious, and more relaxed and optimistic. These effects are cumulative and long-term. One study found that singing increased feelings of well-being even more than talking with a friend about positive life events.</p><p>2. Singing makes socializing easier. Group singing has been found to forge social bonds with remarkable quickness, creating an almost instant sense of belonging and togetherness. Research shows that people who sing together are better able to work together creatively and experience less conflict. Group singing fosters trust, social cohesion, and cooperation.</p><p>3. Singing can be a way to cope with an overwhelming world. While music can obviously provide a valuable break from the stresses of life, active musical participation is much more than mere escapism. Regular singing actually helps us engage more positively with our fallen world. Studies have found that people who sing in choirs have stronger social networks, are more likely to vote, are less lonely, and are more likely to contribute positively to their communities than their non-singing cohorts.</p><p>But there's more. Singing on a regular basis actually strengthens our immune system and makes us more resistant to some cancers. Singing can have huge benefits for our cardio-vascular systems. It can make us smarter by strengthening connections within our brains, and several studies indicate it can prevent and even reverse the effects of dementia. The emerging field of music therapy is widely used to treat long-term depression and anxiety associated with aging, mental illness, and traumatic brain injuries. Some studies even suggest that, by toning our facial muscles and improving our posture, singing might make us better-looking!</p><p>See? Paul knew it two thousand years ago, and science is finally catching up. Singing does everything that alcohol does, but in ways that strengthen rather than weaken, that build up rather than tear down. God never takes away anything without giving us something better. So next time you find yourself wanting to lift a bottle, get together with some friends and lift your voices instead. You'll be better for it.</p><p>Sources and further reading</p><p><u>Why people drink:</u></p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730732/">Why We Like to Drink: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Rewarding and Anxiolytic Effects of Alcohol - PMC</a></p><p><a href="https://rrtampa.com/why-people-drink/">Why Do People Drink Alcohol? | 5 Reasons Why People Drink</a></p><p><br /></p><p><u>Health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption:</u></p><p><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm">Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC</a></p><p><a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body">https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body</a></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u>Social and health benefits of singing:</u></p><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-singing">Benefits of Singing: 10 Ways Singing Boosts Your Health</a></p><p><a href="http://performancescience.ac.uk/singwithus/">Archive | Sing with Us – Centre for Performance Science</a></p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/25/singing-with-others-mental-physical-health/">Growing research shows singing with others is good for your health - The Washington Post</a></p><p><a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/choir-singing-improves-health-happiness-%E2%80%93-and-perfect-icebreaker">Choir singing improves health, happiness – and is the perfect icebreaker | University of Oxford</a></p><p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8817-music-therapy">Music Therapy: Types & Benefits</a></p><p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00518/full">Frontiers | The neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin</a></p><p><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.150221">The ice-breaker effect: singing mediates fast social bonding | Royal Society Open Science</a></p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-74796305398433131282022-12-15T15:08:00.004-08:002022-12-15T15:51:48.289-08:00My recipe for legendary venison stroganoff<p>A couple notes: This recipe started from the ancient and venerable "Game Cookbook" by Geraldine Steindler, but it has evolved considerably since I first learned it. Traditional stroganoff uses the tenderest cuts of beef or venison, but I like to save those cuts for broiling or smoking, so this recipe uses less prime cuts. Also: Amounts are more like guidelines than rules. Don't get too uptight about it. Life's too short.</p><p>Beyond that, you can tell I'm not a real food blogger, because I'm going to skip my life story, historical notes, and an essay on the spiritual meaning of stroganoff, and just get straight to the recipe.</p><p><b>What you need:</b></p><p>2-3 lb elk or deer round , trimmed of all gristle (easier when it's still partly frozen) and cut into small strips or cubes (beef will work if that's all you've got; I once was told it's good with sage grouse but I'm not sure I believe that)</p><p>1/2 c whole wheat flour</p><p>1 tsp salt</p><p>1/2 tsp ground pepper.</p><p><br /></p><p>1/2 c olive oil</p><p>1 medium onion, cut into 1" chunks</p><p>1 cup bullion, game stock, or salted bone broth</p><p>1/2 cup red wine. The cheaper the better.</p><p>1 lb mushrooms</p><p><br /></p><p>Blend together:</p><p>1 cup sour creme</p><p>1 small can (6 oz) tomato paste</p><p>1 tsp worcestershire sauce</p><p><br /></p><p><b>What you do:</b></p><p>1. Coat meat with flour, salt, and pepper. I put it in a gallon ziploc and shake it for a while.</p><p>2. In a really big pan with a tight fitting lid, brown the meat in olive oil over medium high heat. I do it 1/2 at a time.</p><p>3. When the meat is almost cooked, throw in the onion and brown for 2-3 more minutes.</p><p>4. Pour in the broth and wine, cover tightly, and simmer over very low heat until the meat is tender. I usually let it stew for about an hour; less if it's a tender cut of meat, more if it's gristly.</p><p>5. Meanwhile, slice the shrooms and saute them in olive oil for a couple minutes. Don't overcook them. Blend together the sour cream, tomato paste, and worcestershire.</p><p>6. Once the meat is tender, add the shrooms and the sour cream mixture. Stir until all is well blended. Let cook another five or ten minutes.</p><p><br /></p><p>Serve over egg noodles, saffron rice, or just spoon it straight out of the pan. Some people garnish it with fresh parsley, but around here it never lasts long enough to be worth the effort.</p>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-76690499065575477172021-09-15T07:06:00.015-07:002024-03-21T16:27:16.901-07:00Assorted Pictures<p> I'm going to use this post as a place to put a few pictures for posting on other forums, with no particular rhyme or reason. Mostly bow tillering pictures. Feel free to enjoy if you're interested in that sort of thing. If you aren't, my feelings aren't hurt.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a ruffed grouse. My first kill with a home-made bow! It was <u>delicious</u>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHrExv7x45WHyRpdBXQpwkFNinVMJOGKLiUFAYbobmXw82PUOdZSw_2BRDUqkwvaa2eNwln9mGxU6WQuHyNiW31Zcb2I-xx8nlKhyphenhyphenCosLtKCkqc1Zu7oS_2deStRMNxEMtq1Nf9QmqU/s2048/100_0795.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHrExv7x45WHyRpdBXQpwkFNinVMJOGKLiUFAYbobmXw82PUOdZSw_2BRDUqkwvaa2eNwln9mGxU6WQuHyNiW31Zcb2I-xx8nlKhyphenhyphenCosLtKCkqc1Zu7oS_2deStRMNxEMtq1Nf9QmqU/s320/100_0795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>hickory pyramid bow on the tillering tree</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yICYS2VzH8Q9PRf9BGIYJqkRJMsPMx2B1Jz6-q9vOLTdQks8GtkTdJ9fAFXoGxr8hxgXaerh0zJ5vBYALPhJk24pn89jWWTKb_FdB6z0LCHuS8drtrViYMqstjye7l99Lo3Ozb1-2CI/s1365/bow1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="1365" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yICYS2VzH8Q9PRf9BGIYJqkRJMsPMx2B1Jz6-q9vOLTdQks8GtkTdJ9fAFXoGxr8hxgXaerh0zJ5vBYALPhJk24pn89jWWTKb_FdB6z0LCHuS8drtrViYMqstjye7l99Lo3Ozb1-2CI/s320/bow1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ-1TEhwLKGTeZLHAB1ZvHfdGXpkFeUrknN99tTfu7Wiq7Y5cazhp062tYmtBvg2c06sdQvFkdKiytyZztdk4UpysuhaCfw8E7Vzl5Oa4S0Zh8a_CJAXL65uaJRRIxPXXKH60PRdtbOM/s1082/bow2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1082" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ-1TEhwLKGTeZLHAB1ZvHfdGXpkFeUrknN99tTfu7Wiq7Y5cazhp062tYmtBvg2c06sdQvFkdKiytyZztdk4UpysuhaCfw8E7Vzl5Oa4S0Zh8a_CJAXL65uaJRRIxPXXKH60PRdtbOM/s320/bow2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p>After whacking two inches off the top limb:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNyZ5stD55IVGI8OptzZts0oxjBrp8Ve1OQIgPBI9UGI3oz8n-PA8EY9HQTjLyWEqVV161Kga-X1oLPxtWcRI6korTLS82gqEVZQA7PBZnR38CD6jw0ydSQIcWOx0eXM1z9lFL-xDwYY/s1600/full+draw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNyZ5stD55IVGI8OptzZts0oxjBrp8Ve1OQIgPBI9UGI3oz8n-PA8EY9HQTjLyWEqVV161Kga-X1oLPxtWcRI6korTLS82gqEVZQA7PBZnR38CD6jw0ydSQIcWOx0eXM1z9lFL-xDwYY/s320/full+draw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIw5YEhxUNTkKIgltg4jhfxDh-FAU79J-lj58BnB0uAHJz0B1QuSKL42yydqBQw3oS0GF_Lf39W1m0coB7jRYdxr6crYnwmUPhb0qfVrunp7QuUiyjXbkIhFDVur1fZyoUu2aEI_pC_k/s1600/braced.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIw5YEhxUNTkKIgltg4jhfxDh-FAU79J-lj58BnB0uAHJz0B1QuSKL42yydqBQw3oS0GF_Lf39W1m0coB7jRYdxr6crYnwmUPhb0qfVrunp7QuUiyjXbkIhFDVur1fZyoUu2aEI_pC_k/s320/braced.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More tillering 12-5-21</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Braced.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDk0ogeAeZyByiIYAW3qesiMJdt7YUHjLwoxgPdwAaKMbPG56x0yXHUbkQhsUAfdo3ZvGOas4BpPhPZe6VwNpybUjmxMiqVAYvcMbzXsUi13MyW7KnwGt4towZgp-8A9AJP-W5LZBrdSZWGN1Cp1OvLDjXH0AVxK3tSAQDLbDuqPAmIrOwhBxwJO1o=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDk0ogeAeZyByiIYAW3qesiMJdt7YUHjLwoxgPdwAaKMbPG56x0yXHUbkQhsUAfdo3ZvGOas4BpPhPZe6VwNpybUjmxMiqVAYvcMbzXsUi13MyW7KnwGt4towZgp-8A9AJP-W5LZBrdSZWGN1Cp1OvLDjXH0AVxK3tSAQDLbDuqPAmIrOwhBxwJO1o=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">24" draw. </div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4pPOtTdq7M3swq0U2kscZ9WkjMAPXwDygW8oKC6m83su-oW7OJOKWoYhgrisB88DYOqPV-QCcZkSTTJX_9VyTS_8xFENZf5X-TJZAyehrtv3S0mlCDBndIoCoP1jfNBcA_9_NZGo3OMbN1GWuaTC5haf14HRUrxpe2P3saCd0Jdpg7nIDJh6DpCEF=s1155" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1155" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4pPOtTdq7M3swq0U2kscZ9WkjMAPXwDygW8oKC6m83su-oW7OJOKWoYhgrisB88DYOqPV-QCcZkSTTJX_9VyTS_8xFENZf5X-TJZAyehrtv3S0mlCDBndIoCoP1jfNBcA_9_NZGo3OMbN1GWuaTC5haf14HRUrxpe2P3saCd0Jdpg7nIDJh6DpCEF=w400-h213" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Full Draw. Looks a little stiff through the right mid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBk6E9D3g4a7avtPTFU2lC2og-S7DfFdW4bWhgjvvN7BWkXtpJJRla6A3ejWuEHTxlYtdC41jNCy_4THbg6qxYZBQpNTbzSqhbA6cw6ykXGTk3dFfKZg5V2YqKa9TgiQ7omKjPvhax_tHJTKn7U7qwRcYJ_4X37fbm0ak2WH_QQ1n2YoQ4Sdaj9DeV=s1361" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1361" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBk6E9D3g4a7avtPTFU2lC2og-S7DfFdW4bWhgjvvN7BWkXtpJJRla6A3ejWuEHTxlYtdC41jNCy_4THbg6qxYZBQpNTbzSqhbA6cw6ykXGTk3dFfKZg5V2YqKa9TgiQ7omKjPvhax_tHJTKn7U7qwRcYJ_4X37fbm0ak2WH_QQ1n2YoQ4Sdaj9DeV=w400-h179" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12-9 Full Draw.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1MchmOEtYavW3OY-AYf0owONG_G5wAZnoWFw0O33V866roA2ek0pnESQ2Gc9F4nuDkjq7WW12rHf2vpO5WNQBGdyUamBF2dkFtWS96sAsD8_LiJseYbBwoYWItsFRhoNhO5dN0bDwd-_Iag05lX28vrZryxF4QdxHiDUEIaXOcYaa7dIKAVUOqhNh=s1425" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1425" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1MchmOEtYavW3OY-AYf0owONG_G5wAZnoWFw0O33V866roA2ek0pnESQ2Gc9F4nuDkjq7WW12rHf2vpO5WNQBGdyUamBF2dkFtWS96sAsD8_LiJseYbBwoYWItsFRhoNhO5dN0bDwd-_Iag05lX28vrZryxF4QdxHiDUEIaXOcYaa7dIKAVUOqhNh=w400-h263" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12-18 Full Draw. After heat treating hinge on right side fade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIFrSXdrGeF8jvdL28mWSQFY3uNDK_GzBoO7nB2yRw-SyWI8C3V0b7N6Nwi3ZL4ov_bGauO2qBC4xD-uIBttEmkU84O39TDgLROyLioLVrB1sxyOYTdTcr2dC8dpwA8r-ZoAMchipdUFPlHo5yI5SedM6erEIE5WdMkp1nho5xVf42In2JalNMnxRj=s1022" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1022" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIFrSXdrGeF8jvdL28mWSQFY3uNDK_GzBoO7nB2yRw-SyWI8C3V0b7N6Nwi3ZL4ov_bGauO2qBC4xD-uIBttEmkU84O39TDgLROyLioLVrB1sxyOYTdTcr2dC8dpwA8r-ZoAMchipdUFPlHo5yI5SedM6erEIE5WdMkp1nho5xVf42In2JalNMnxRj=w640-h365" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>12-18 Full Draw with stiff spot highlighted<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsQEvDpHIf_nbDH4pb9bIpZtranzS77WPvbvbG23xELLYf96Rkvj7K87ZtB3S_dqan-SxK7Ze8C6vQiCO1FC12DbuGuBtL0WTRfacp9uFwgY1F7ICWtMCMnkZiHM754Bg3K-AJy6FW1rGPvPq71UA4fjk841vr4ftfn6ysAdsQ0WLAfeDyOjeqlR3S=s1022" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1022" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsQEvDpHIf_nbDH4pb9bIpZtranzS77WPvbvbG23xELLYf96Rkvj7K87ZtB3S_dqan-SxK7Ze8C6vQiCO1FC12DbuGuBtL0WTRfacp9uFwgY1F7ICWtMCMnkZiHM754Bg3K-AJy6FW1rGPvPq71UA4fjk841vr4ftfn6ysAdsQ0WLAfeDyOjeqlR3S=w640-h364" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12-14 Full draw, after some work with the Gizmo to eliminate the stiff spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcIcFocobS-ZvcZwrIkMWwkm-9ejDRP4oKF4w-kI9htrhSSOwzlHCEZRXGfR0O-McoCtnEpxxlr5sfKdLo1QJNCVCpiPiiCZygdfZwOQSR_ervxK8DSuO-7dwnMeNLnC2YNkZQTVBJIkGwcwrBoiOhHiOOdFh2DPioUE9JVzpz_iUqST2fvhk23VEj=s1044" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1044" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcIcFocobS-ZvcZwrIkMWwkm-9ejDRP4oKF4w-kI9htrhSSOwzlHCEZRXGfR0O-McoCtnEpxxlr5sfKdLo1QJNCVCpiPiiCZygdfZwOQSR_ervxK8DSuO-7dwnMeNLnC2YNkZQTVBJIkGwcwrBoiOhHiOOdFh2DPioUE9JVzpz_iUqST2fvhk23VEj=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A juniper stave. My first locally-harvested bow stave. Excited to try to get a bow out of this one.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhMZw6AQS4e7cMybBrBQmKqd8C_871BqLlTY4un2ttRCVsaHDgQ3wsJxE10ECCsNj1OcVH_chk58FWtdc8wYW7yucCPu9lsyxstq_u-3tMjN2yjMOPlLDBDWij1vRilgNS-nRxtctOCVxb_8P1NsJuxmhdqlROYeXuZkbOzjsGw2-_vYb0qANk-5Zh=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhMZw6AQS4e7cMybBrBQmKqd8C_871BqLlTY4un2ttRCVsaHDgQ3wsJxE10ECCsNj1OcVH_chk58FWtdc8wYW7yucCPu9lsyxstq_u-3tMjN2yjMOPlLDBDWij1vRilgNS-nRxtctOCVxb_8P1NsJuxmhdqlROYeXuZkbOzjsGw2-_vYb0qANk-5Zh=w270-h360" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRQiHiQdTMsdtrLJjCXTx1_4VrVTSrNrVnjxZYangvN3NlbvsuJgbsz9FuFdiAZEI3tnQhzGl_Xis6TxA7Cs6r2Hhzhu9MiAi7suOQxw8_qJkHL-7JenNyz2LcEskVMWXEsSlExR-pwHXfDqcBZv_hWhinwYqZf7rEH-0ddqcPvcHVvlH90YNGcCLO=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRQiHiQdTMsdtrLJjCXTx1_4VrVTSrNrVnjxZYangvN3NlbvsuJgbsz9FuFdiAZEI3tnQhzGl_Xis6TxA7Cs6r2Hhzhu9MiAi7suOQxw8_qJkHL-7JenNyz2LcEskVMWXEsSlExR-pwHXfDqcBZv_hWhinwYqZf7rEH-0ddqcPvcHVvlH90YNGcCLO=w272-h363" width="272" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Attempting to chase a ring on a juniper heartwood stave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAPkwA-ZrQQCCCJQFPk9Lv9JNokktW-FFR-oq9oR2OTpytOu4DDtFw3tWYAd-gLvZaok9_6Ii7psDzSzGijuGcAAmWwQhlIHPwaHO-MjRN5LdWbWVg_GO1CzAPxrwUVliMC572wAoJnX9rXGQkEBkVnruiEuhQWYBoq1GpbGiNhlCUbXVF1ZGibzaj=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAPkwA-ZrQQCCCJQFPk9Lv9JNokktW-FFR-oq9oR2OTpytOu4DDtFw3tWYAd-gLvZaok9_6Ii7psDzSzGijuGcAAmWwQhlIHPwaHO-MjRN5LdWbWVg_GO1CzAPxrwUVliMC572wAoJnX9rXGQkEBkVnruiEuhQWYBoq1GpbGiNhlCUbXVF1ZGibzaj=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sinew on the back!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysI4lftCOBljEWwf65Et1xd0rfEsS_HzuuLLzS14Te5sPwE9N0J9GsXzvp2PzJtGUrGEJuL_MwvGYg167MmgLvEfxOYmOQ7svn9Qr-BALrwOZD7jNCJn4e0cgJvElurl4YxLB-gjNe0Sbj9GQj3w8dWfb5MSDTgIwDDG8Mxo66NkYf8ghgndc-Adt/s3241/100_0899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="3241" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysI4lftCOBljEWwf65Et1xd0rfEsS_HzuuLLzS14Te5sPwE9N0J9GsXzvp2PzJtGUrGEJuL_MwvGYg167MmgLvEfxOYmOQ7svn9Qr-BALrwOZD7jNCJn4e0cgJvElurl4YxLB-gjNe0Sbj9GQj3w8dWfb5MSDTgIwDDG8Mxo66NkYf8ghgndc-Adt/s320/100_0899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uF_L75yHq63hcCd7-sz2fUhANhdPgNxaeef2GCBvGHImC3Ukv_Zd14QQkijIJBDd1RGZBYjW_oQaPS9HcJ2C7LSI7NRXZC-_km4SlSeUKSCqpG_5CS4_pauDkKEw4bzFI9DNxpcmoCf_SDaLpW7NLbRdMiE32RhCrx6NPLqHOTaiAQ-_pXidg_LJ/s4608/100_0900.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uF_L75yHq63hcCd7-sz2fUhANhdPgNxaeef2GCBvGHImC3Ukv_Zd14QQkijIJBDd1RGZBYjW_oQaPS9HcJ2C7LSI7NRXZC-_km4SlSeUKSCqpG_5CS4_pauDkKEw4bzFI9DNxpcmoCf_SDaLpW7NLbRdMiE32RhCrx6NPLqHOTaiAQ-_pXidg_LJ/s320/100_0900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>I got it tillered to 30# before tragedy struck.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPbvsLAI8GKYksyIzIIgyfuP8_HU0LzCynZT_uc6lNhZXLdmB6FmIt8QchO1wl3eQXf-fpb0aJ4cqGiRIb-F027-dXG8_WFRw_j9GxsZUHu2NXF_eA_o8hgnM3Dx1euDP4qcM2gyv8Y_HqLNCS5OloBHUNkR2qmiPBHszhXc3IxoO_J63cUFypvbA/s1600/20220601_114748%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPbvsLAI8GKYksyIzIIgyfuP8_HU0LzCynZT_uc6lNhZXLdmB6FmIt8QchO1wl3eQXf-fpb0aJ4cqGiRIb-F027-dXG8_WFRw_j9GxsZUHu2NXF_eA_o8hgnM3Dx1euDP4qcM2gyv8Y_HqLNCS5OloBHUNkR2qmiPBHszhXc3IxoO_J63cUFypvbA/s320/20220601_114748%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwFty3KVtuGKTONc2DIDJYGjsxpxQOv1d-APeg39zd3-sZu-1_feEGe33Xt3_Cm42atq7vSj6tx6DnpNxvmqGcveLDcMQzVmwAWshoyBVD4uYbaQCNdtIe_c4VqqnTK4Y6nRJDvNMj3lkj8-AXbj4Ig-3SYulPMOYu3wHRd8nCFvIs6HLcEuXIPnv/s1600/20220601_114741%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwFty3KVtuGKTONc2DIDJYGjsxpxQOv1d-APeg39zd3-sZu-1_feEGe33Xt3_Cm42atq7vSj6tx6DnpNxvmqGcveLDcMQzVmwAWshoyBVD4uYbaQCNdtIe_c4VqqnTK4Y6nRJDvNMj3lkj8-AXbj4Ig-3SYulPMOYu3wHRd8nCFvIs6HLcEuXIPnv/s320/20220601_114741%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Finally blooded Big Red. It ain't an elk, but it's a start.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR02ezu3YOQQ16rSsOMgzGI8Ax26eTUTfLhonjPD3Qtql_7N6M_0DwfA5JbJIQubQFEdIUx_KoSf1iGeDNVn1nlcwQKARJAjjNRsLLCzv6QI_BnnbGZw5sEzbDBrWSHzhAIGZDJAj1dE_AeWP2P_hald0qh7-EDn0NE7865a5EG6PFkmXidVb_IA_lH4I/s4032/IMG_0538.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR02ezu3YOQQ16rSsOMgzGI8Ax26eTUTfLhonjPD3Qtql_7N6M_0DwfA5JbJIQubQFEdIUx_KoSf1iGeDNVn1nlcwQKARJAjjNRsLLCzv6QI_BnnbGZw5sEzbDBrWSHzhAIGZDJAj1dE_AeWP2P_hald0qh7-EDn0NE7865a5EG6PFkmXidVb_IA_lH4I/s320/IMG_0538.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Hickory short bow: Process pics</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvJpG9V3t-gJZlTjik3t_h8wyH8byQiuRH1FD2CEcQp9fQ-bI7JbKQzR7T8Fn7ET0D2481xM2Pl_Ciy_oguyXGgwxsuIfe4WCWgS_3e70nur0Ed2U0zk1HW9-rdl8pb9RHptrbbko-4-UqIVSmBDTIxvq9-84cLzaKglO5zsKAY1PydH4QHmR1Bb47bQ/s4032/IMG_0796.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvJpG9V3t-gJZlTjik3t_h8wyH8byQiuRH1FD2CEcQp9fQ-bI7JbKQzR7T8Fn7ET0D2481xM2Pl_Ciy_oguyXGgwxsuIfe4WCWgS_3e70nur0Ed2U0zk1HW9-rdl8pb9RHptrbbko-4-UqIVSmBDTIxvq9-84cLzaKglO5zsKAY1PydH4QHmR1Bb47bQ/s320/IMG_0796.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBpkxgu9skQtssRy4sBfDGXOzrCsiTx2yStyciECFFdiSY_zQZvrhaTUKJdIxMJ1Pr2Gt7FMZuUkTZqHFVOOgtQAjimMwuCXVYBR89HeK9Th68xF43UVIXGgR4L7Ff-Z2c85FigHzrQBbC9qYAbxrBW-PrPzO5dnJoa9I9ab18jN-EnGlS4toCSwEtaE/s4032/IMG_0795.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBpkxgu9skQtssRy4sBfDGXOzrCsiTx2yStyciECFFdiSY_zQZvrhaTUKJdIxMJ1Pr2Gt7FMZuUkTZqHFVOOgtQAjimMwuCXVYBR89HeK9Th68xF43UVIXGgR4L7Ff-Z2c85FigHzrQBbC9qYAbxrBW-PrPzO5dnJoa9I9ab18jN-EnGlS4toCSwEtaE/s320/IMG_0795.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhxDp-sinKPwYnFTzWxvcnSAiym4daCwFEV4sfbDC3FTb2QSgfJebJXKEEnAvMSrveuxs0UFJKtXwdbAJqxCbGtn8nYx3cnHlM_tuGmnuVP5SEMcHw79rXD_k9BIUXWhOT6V72Ph0p8n2zXTMd0M2mWSPVqRGBrfBIGP3B7N3UVdXrbTdJu_pQZXvuEs/s4032/IMG_0794.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhxDp-sinKPwYnFTzWxvcnSAiym4daCwFEV4sfbDC3FTb2QSgfJebJXKEEnAvMSrveuxs0UFJKtXwdbAJqxCbGtn8nYx3cnHlM_tuGmnuVP5SEMcHw79rXD_k9BIUXWhOT6V72Ph0p8n2zXTMd0M2mWSPVqRGBrfBIGP3B7N3UVdXrbTdJu_pQZXvuEs/s320/IMG_0794.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>Scorched the inside curve</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_-8T3gJYCZT8xhfBntclDTZAH23kAg_qMEWvGUNhpTmxIM8zrlfHW5lcQG3zfoRr-GefxtLqug_wOuQM156GbIIsYCD_X90bTUrlj4oaIJGLMSH94a6lTXheqTD38TsR3nSNha6EYY703DsC2YysH163em0Xxfyye1zKTH7yPFOpH4trplv82KjBfMg/s1159/scorch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1159" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_-8T3gJYCZT8xhfBntclDTZAH23kAg_qMEWvGUNhpTmxIM8zrlfHW5lcQG3zfoRr-GefxtLqug_wOuQM156GbIIsYCD_X90bTUrlj4oaIJGLMSH94a6lTXheqTD38TsR3nSNha6EYY703DsC2YysH163em0Xxfyye1zKTH7yPFOpH4trplv82KjBfMg/s320/scorch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Knot in the handle. Cut out?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA8LCJC5ALGdNsiOeuhL4rhdoNxkXURp0uWB0pMn5HeHhCsa2bLnrbrNPsteyKowV9iJW2BtkG2FFjuGj-6oI0IRul2mnWMOp7txoInEx0KdjsvyORxC2xATzNz7VuRbj0Imk_f-rtTREzM0sp7ab-RXVE4ESFk33C9HvuV3koV6gHtkDi2GlN2Yi3Nw/s869/IMG_0808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA8LCJC5ALGdNsiOeuhL4rhdoNxkXURp0uWB0pMn5HeHhCsa2bLnrbrNPsteyKowV9iJW2BtkG2FFjuGj-6oI0IRul2mnWMOp7txoInEx0KdjsvyORxC2xATzNz7VuRbj0Imk_f-rtTREzM0sp7ab-RXVE4ESFk33C9HvuV3koV6gHtkDi2GlN2Yi3Nw/s320/IMG_0808.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Broken backing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-jfIBCvyae2UOX44EDucciYxTziiClamFLzFCnerSwNtCm7hebO8TuEtjOBI4wZBIIPjkH0Chf72XUFDGJMRcV_q9rjiaRL0rFs23dN_ZCJvAxiaY05hOer3so0zrtvwiBIebXyVWUdUMiEltRZpwJ_m22QJ0iQZUvhAZaHH8eJ9gYrCYsV07BY5WKY/s4032/IMG_0909.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-jfIBCvyae2UOX44EDucciYxTziiClamFLzFCnerSwNtCm7hebO8TuEtjOBI4wZBIIPjkH0Chf72XUFDGJMRcV_q9rjiaRL0rFs23dN_ZCJvAxiaY05hOer3so0zrtvwiBIebXyVWUdUMiEltRZpwJ_m22QJ0iQZUvhAZaHH8eJ9gYrCYsV07BY5WKY/w300-h400/IMG_0909.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-18203888789010456292020-06-28T12:50:00.002-07:002020-08-29T16:59:55.023-07:00I released a CD. Sort of.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LF7LaYvp1JY" width="320" youtube-src-id="LF7LaYvp1JY"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>The world continues to alternately shut down and open, but the music goes on. I released a CD in March. Sort of. I had scheduled a performance right at the beginning of the covid mess, which I had to cancel. As of right now, there's no realistic prospect of doing a live performance (my lead cellist is about to head off for college, among other things). This makes me very sad: Getting all those musicians together to do a live performance would have been absolutely magical. But, onward we go.<br />
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So. I actually didn't release it all. But it's done, and it's out there, and I'm fairly pleased with it. It's been getting some play on Wyoming Public Radio and Pilgrim Radio (the regional Christian station), so that's good for the ego.<br />
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The album is called Strengthen. Some of you might remember that I lost my mom a few years ago; these songs were inspired (and a few of them were written) by her. All of them deal with various aspects of meeting adversity with faith, courage, and an ornery smile.<br />
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I'll tack on a little video sampler that I made. If you, dear reader, would like to part with some of your hard-earned money, you can buy CDs or digital songs through my website, www.whistlingbadger.com. If you're broke, ask me nicely and I'd probably send you a free copy.<br />
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And please, by all means share this video on social media, with friends, family members, random strangers you accost on the street. I would really like people to hear this music.<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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<br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-72864932437656945982020-06-10T07:33:00.001-07:002020-07-08T20:36:14.362-07:00A Few Points About Covid MasksPoint #1: It's a health device, not a campaign poster. I'm so libertarian I make <u>myself</u> uncomfortable at times, but when I go into a business, I wear a mask. As far as I am aware, Wyoming residents are not required by law to wear them. That means you aren't gaining any anti-big-government/libertarian/rebel/tough guy cred for going face-commando. It's just a choice you make.<br />
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Point #2: The mask isn't to protect you; it's to protect people around you. If you wear a mask it doesn't mean you're scared, and if you don't it doesn't mean you're brave. Recent research suggests that a lot of people might be spreading Covid 19 without showing symptoms. You might have it and not know it, and wearing a mask is a way of keeping your germs to yourself.<br />
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When I go into a business, I don't wear a mask because I'm afraid. I wear a mask because I'm trying to be courteous to others. Do you wash your hands after you take a dump? Same thing. It isn't about you.<br />
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Point #3: Masks are a pain in the butt. They look stupid, and they feel awkward, and they're hot, and they make it hard to understand verbal and non-verbal communication. Mine is pretty cool as masks go (thanks to my mother in law), but I hate it. And I wear it anyway. See Point #2.<br />
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Point #4: My family is considered high risk, and the overall consensus of the medical experts is that your wearing a mask might help them stay healthy. My daughter, despite being an otherwise robust and healthy kid, is asthmatic, and she goes down with pneumonia every couple years or so. I'm a reasonably healthy, reasonably brave guy with a great set of lungs, and if it were just me, I would deep-down be wishing that I'd just catch the thing and get it over with. It's a risk, sure, but one I'd be willing to take. But it isn't just me.<br />
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Still, you're entitled to your opinion. Maybe the pundits and conspiracy theorists are right, and this is all a big scam to take away still more of our freedoms, or to keep third-party candidates down, or to reduce American sovereignty, or to make rich people richer, or to make the president look bad in an election year, or whatever. A brief reading of history shows that conspiracy theories aren't always crazy: Governments are often dishonest in their dealings, and powerful people will sometimes go to appalling lengths to stay that way. These things happen. There is even some information out there that suggests that maybe masks don't really help that much.<br />
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But I don't know that yet. Neither do you. The best info we have to go on right now says that masks help keep this thing from spreading. If that changes, I will be delighted to light the match at the great neighborhood mask burning party.<br />
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But until that happens, I'm going to wear a mask, for one simple reason: Maybe <u>your</u> kids are prone to pneumonia. I'm not willing to risk their safety to make some sort of statement about how tough or rebellious or anti-government--or simply thoughtless--I am.<br />
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I sure wish you'd show me the same courtesy.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-37364454939096638022020-04-30T06:46:00.001-07:002020-04-30T06:46:59.145-07:00On GraceWhat is grace? As a follower of Jesus, it's something I think about a lot. It comes up over and over again in his teachings, not to mention in all those great old songs. <br />
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Did you know that in Koine Greek (the language in which the New Testament of the Bible was written) grace, favor, good-will, blessing, gratitude, joy, delight, and thankfulness are all the same word? The word is <i>charis</i>. It is a word of many conjugations and derivations, a word of rich, layered meaning, bringing to mind a gift, unearned and freely given. And that's what grace is: A gift, a source of joy and thankfulness, a state of living in delight and gratitude. It's something I don't have to earn; I simply get to enjoy it.<br />
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Christians often equate grace with forgiveness, and rightfully so: Forgiveness is not something one can earn; it is a gift to be given with sincerity and received with gratitude. But grace is so much more than that. Grace is the meadowlark singing out in my back pasture as I write this. It's a hug from my daughter, a smile from my wife, an unexpected call from a friend. Grace is a big laugh shared with my students, the memory of an amazing experience, a satisfying meal after a hard day of work. Grace is sunrise on a mountain lake, the tug of a fish on the line, a glimpse of a fox in the tall grass. <br />
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Grace is the freedom and safety I get to enjoy because of another's sacrifice. Grace is a second chance, a redemption, an opportunity to right a wrong. Grace is the calm assurance that there is absolutely no circumstance, no matter how difficult or painful, that God cannot turn into something beautiful. It is the ability, indeed the responsibility, to live each day abundantly and let tomorrow worry about itself, to love those who would hurt me, to let go of resentment and fear. It is faith, hope, and love.<br />
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Grace is the humble acceptance of all God's many gifts. It is the narrow gate, the difficult path that leads to life. Grace is the opposite of all that is selfish, proud, envious. And yes, all those old songs are right on the money: Grace is amazing. It is wonderful. It is all-sufficient; it reaches me; it is greater than all my sin and strife; it has brought me safe thus far, and it will lead me home.<br />
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Grace is the goodness of God, free and simple. And I don't have to earn it. I just have to trust in it. I just get to enjoy it.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-30084318405091353662020-03-24T20:04:00.002-07:002020-03-24T20:04:26.365-07:00A Badgerling, a Bow, and a Perforated Milk JugWell, gentle reader, this corona virus/toilet paper apocalypse thing is getting to me a bit. The night before last I was feeling pretty anxious about the state of the world. I'm not usually a big worrier; I generally try to focus on the stuff I can do and refuse to think much about the rest. But I have to admit recent events have been getting me down. So, I was up a lot during the night. I spent a lot of time praying, singing, trying to get my head on straight.<br />
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Yesterday was a busy day. Did a lot of school work in the morning. I'm a teacher, and yeah, we're all having to re-learn how to reach kids in this new and hopefully temporary reality. After lunch Katie (my 10 year old daughter) and I went for a long walk. We saw new baby lambs, friendly people out cycling, a few drivers that waved and smiled at us. We walked down the road a couple miles to North Fork creek, where we skipped rocks, soaked up sun (it being the absolutely tropical temperature of 51F), and watched a guy not catch fish.<br />
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When we got back, Katie wanted to get out the bows. Now, my daughter has always loved the idea of archery more than the actual work. It isn't something I push on her, and more often then not she opts out when I ask if she wants to join me. Part of this might be her equipment. She has one of those semi-worthless fiberglass kiddie bows, about 10# draw weight. It's really too small for her, but the next bow up is a 35# recurve, which is a little too heavy for her. This past Sunday I told her that if she shot every day for a week, maybe I'd let her try the recurve again.<br />
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Well, we got back from this long, long walk, pretty tuckered out. We decided to rest our feet for a half hour or so, then go out and shoot. So, we snuggled up on the couch, me with the Traditional Bowyers' Bible 1 (I'm planning on starting my first home-made bow next week), she with some fairy story. Then out to the yard. She figured out on Sunday how to string her own bow, so when I walked out the door with Jubal, my hunting bow, she was all ready to go.<br />
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We had an empty milk jug handy, so we decided to forego the regular archery range and go out to the back pasture, where we proceeded to whack the living daylights out of that poor jug. Katie, having shot an unprecedented two days in a row, was really zipping out the arrows from her toy bow. She was taking shots anywhere from five to 20 yards, much further than she normally tries. There were squeals of delight every time one of her arrows whacked into that jug. (If you've never shot at an empty milk jug, give it a try--the sound they make is most satisfying) There were giggles at every near-miss, and expressions of admiration at my every hit.<br />
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It was magical. Our tired feet were forgotten. We had planned on just shooting a quick dozen arrows or so before making supper. We ended up staying out for almost an hour, and it was me, not her, who finally said, "We've gotta quit and go inside." As we came in, we were talking about upgrade bows, maybe a 20# hickory longbow, maybe a bamboo-backed little recurve, dyed purple of course. :) Maybe after I find out if I'm still going to have a job, sweetie.<br />
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About the time I had the chicken tacos going on the stove, Mrs. Badger came home, having ventured into town for the first time since the crud hit the fan. Katie was excited to show her mom the perforated milk jug. We had a good supper, then a game of Risk. The outcome of that game is still in question--I'm not at all sure whether I'll be able to hold onto Asia--but I'm feeling pretty good about my family and my community.<br />
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I guess there's no huge point to all this. Love your loved ones. Do what you can. Be grateful for whatever you can be grateful for. Make the kids in your life laugh, however and whenever you can. Share experiences. Get upset when you have to get upset, but don't let yourself live there. Trust God with the stuff you can't control, which, even in the best of times, is most of the stuff. I really think it's gonna be OK.<br />
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Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-36966132091291597732019-11-09T16:59:00.001-08:002019-11-09T16:59:20.884-08:00Red Hills are Good for the SoulToday, I got to head out to Red Canyon, ostensibly to hunt rabbits, but mostly to wander around, launch arrows at twigs and dirt clods, look for petroglyphs, confuse the daylights out of some muley does (I've been working on my fawn bleat; it still needs work), and generally let the magic of beautiful country wash the crud of a stressful week out of my head.<br />
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It is hard for some people to believe that teaching elementary music can be stressful. I won't go into the reasons here. Those of you who work in the current education system need no explanation; the rest of you will have to take my word for it. It isn't like being an EMT or an infantryman; there is no trauma or horror, but little things build up over time. For me, nothing cleans out the old attic like an afternoon in the red cliff-juniper country.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJZvzgqY7k08XokxgRpWDn9eRA-d0NkJsCMNRUKJpQMsX81D52l4OxoAYpASORQvyCeacapIMybFIf8_D-Ze-0T0PxTQvuCyODzKbJ4CbDR0-8q6e3sfxKw1C2J0Xtn3XYg9yLZwR4JM/s1600/100_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJZvzgqY7k08XokxgRpWDn9eRA-d0NkJsCMNRUKJpQMsX81D52l4OxoAYpASORQvyCeacapIMybFIf8_D-Ze-0T0PxTQvuCyODzKbJ4CbDR0-8q6e3sfxKw1C2J0Xtn3XYg9yLZwR4JM/s320/100_0243.JPG" width="320" /></a>My rabbit arrows, despite being the wrong spine for my bow, were flying well. No suicidal rabbits presented themselves as candidates for my supper, so I poked around in the cliffs, looking for interesting things. I didn't find anything overtly amazing--no shed antlers, animal skulls, historical artifacts, or rare animal sightings. But there were fox tracks in the snow; goofy chickadees, dignified magpies, and nervous robins to keep me company; a townsend's solitaire uttering its jubilant, slightly manic song, completely out of keeping with its somber colors; and at every turn those mysterious, intricately shaped, promise-filled red cliffs.<br /><br />I can drive less than half-an-hour from Badger Manor to places where I can spend a whole day exploring without seeing another person or retracing my tracks. I am very, very blessed.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-65622195861473105492019-10-09T08:24:00.003-07:002020-01-08T08:18:22.620-08:00At LastAfter all these years, I always thought that arrowing my first big game animal would be more...epic.<br />
<br />
For many years, every September has brought pictures to my mind of the screaming bull tearing apart trees even as the arrow speeds toward his ribs. I imagined multi-hour stalks on big muley bucks. I sort of figured I would have to fend off grizzly bears as I quartered my animal in the deep wilderness.<br />
<br />
As it happened, the big event took far longer than I ever imagined it would. And when it finally happened, it was surprisingly straight-forward.<br />
<br />
I've had a rather tumultuous relationship with archery for around three decades. My first bow cost me $15 at a garage sale: a 70 pound, osage longbow backed with a strip of fiberglass that was starting to delaminate. I mildly startled a few rabbits with it, but that was about as far as I got. I never could really get the thing to full draw without my bow arm shaking. I never quite understood why I missed some shots and was close on others. That developed into a pattern, through several bows and many years of haphazard practicing. I absolutely loved archery: The beauty of the wood, the arc of the arrow, the feel of the bow in my hand, the satisfaction of the occasional really good shot. And I hated archery: The elusiveness of that addictive feeling, never knowing exactly what was going to happen when I loosed an arrow. <br />
<br />
My arrows put some rabbits in the pot over the years, but despite some skill at stalking and calling, I never was able to score on a deer or elk. I'm a reasonably accomplished rifle hunter, but the Holy Grail of an archery kill kept eluding me. Truth be told, I never had the courage to try a shot at big game until a three years ago, when I called in a raghorn bull. He stood there 20 yards away, broadside, looking at me as I drew my longbow...and slammed an arrow into a tree branch. I doubt I would have hit him anyway: I had so much adrenaline in my system, it never even occurred to me to pick a spot.<br />
<br />
The following year, the same scenario repeated with a spike at 15 yards. As I drew on him, a little voice in my head said, "Something's going to go wrong. Something always goes wrong." My body was listening, and the arrow sailed over his back. That same year, I missed shots at three mule deer does. My athletic friends like to say you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. I was missing 100% of the shots I DID take.<br />
<br />
Well, phooey on that. The first thing I did was get a lighter draw bow. (I've since gotten stronger and settled comfortably into my 60 pounder) I had a couple of books on archery, and I ordered a couple more. I learned about blind-bale shooting, and began to develop a consistent form. I tried my hand at gap shooting, which didn't stick for very long but had the benefit of forcing me to focus more on the shot as a process, on being totally in control of every step. I studied my way through "Instinctive Archery Insights" by R. J. Kidwell, and began to deliberately work on the mental side of the game. I put in hours and hours (and hours and hours) of practicing, on the hay bales in the yard and shooting twigs and pinecones wherever I happened to be. And lo and behold, I started hitting stuff pretty regularly. When archery season opened this year, I was pretty confident that, if a critter came within 30 yards, it was coming home with me.<br />
<br />
That, unfortunately, was the big "if." Throughout a season of hard wilderness hunting, swirling winds tipped the odds in favor of the elk, and I never got a shot. But in the encounters I had, I felt a new level-headedness, a steadiness of thought (even as my heart threatened to explode out of my chest), a gratitude to God for the experience, come what may.<br />
<br />
None of which puts any meat on the table.<br />
<br />
September 29th. Two days until the end of archery season, and the prospect of eating my tags again was putting a slight strain on my grateful attitude. Early Sunday morning found me out at my in-laws' place east of town, trying to ambush a decent muley buck that had been passing through every other morning or so. Long story short, I saw him just before he saw me. And that was it. Back to work Monday, so I was done.<br />
<br />
I got home about 8:30 a.m. to find my wife and daughter in bed reading books. I told them I hadn't scored. They were disappointed but hardly surprised. I went in the bathroom and changed out of my camos for the last time, into some nice jeans and a nice flannel shirt for church. Opening up the blinds in the living room, I saw two small bucks feeding on the wild plumb bushes in the back field. And as suddenly as that, hunting season was on again.<br />
<br />
I pulled my boots back on and walked out the front door, in my church clothes, in full view of the deer. I live in a ranching subdivision, and the deer are fairly used to seeing people working outside, but if they see anyone approaching they turn into wild deer again. So, I walked very casually around the front of the house to my truck, where I strung up my bow, put my hat back on, and grabbed my arrows. A quick prayer of gratitude: God, thank you for this crazy chance. Give me the grace to use it well.<br />
<br />
Once I stepped out of the driveway, the stalk was on. I snuck along the front porch, crept across a small open space and along the garden fence, moving when the deer were eating, freezing when they looked up. That old, heart-pounding, near-panic feeling was happening; I noted it and then set it aside as irrelevant. I had forgotten to put on my glove and arm guard. If I took a shot, it was going to sting. This information was also discarded as irrelevant. <br />
<br />
What was relevant was that the bigger of the two bucks was neck-high in the bushes, totally unreachable, but the smaller one was feeding enthusiastically just over a little, foot-high rise behind the pond. This rise is covered in waist-high grass. A month ago, I had mowed a path across that rise, and my only hope for a shot was to get that swath in between me and the deer. So I kept sneaking along, my face to the mountains and my back to the sunrise. And suddenly I was there.<br />
<br />
The deer was facing away. I could see his chest, and I pondered whether to take a shot, but no, it wasn't a good angle. So I waited. Within a few minutes, he turned broadside. There, just behind the point of his elbow, was a little dark patch of fur. I zeroed in on it.<br />
<br />
The kyudo masters of Japan, who seek enlightenment through the practice of archery, say that the focus on the spot, the desired point of impact, is so intense that the spot becomes the entire universe. Thus the arrow cannot possibly miss, because nowhere else exists, and there is nowhere else for it to go. I always thought that was an admirable but rather hokey sentiment. But that Sunday morning, for one transcendent moment, I became a Zen master. Nothing existed--not me, not my bow, not my arrow, not even the deer. Just that little spot of fur.<br />
<br />
Then, with no further conscious effort from me: Swish-thump. The arrow existed again! Whack. The deer existed again. He was running out into the back pasture, with a limping, stumbling gait. He had blood running down his far leg, and my rational side knew this was a dead deer, but why was he still moving? The old doubts crowded back into my mind--What if I gut-shot him?--but they were too late, powerless to affect the outcome. The deer's buddy was across the field, looking puzzled. Neither of them had any idea what had just happened. My deer stopped around 20 yards from the bush he had been feeding on. There he stood, head down, slightly hunched up. I watched him, willing him to go down. Maybe 30 seconds, maybe a couple minutes, and he flopped to the ground. And that was that.<br />
<br />
I went back to the house, in a bit of a daze, and walked into the bedroom. "Guess what I just did. I just killed a deer." My daughter, accustomed to my habit saying silly and absurd things, cocked an eyebrow and said "Are you serious, dad?" And then something in the look on my face told them the truth, and suddenly the inner pressure valve released, and all three of us were laughing our heads off at what I had just accomplished, after all these years of trying, in my own back yard. Then I changed back into my grubby camos, grabbed my knife and saw, and headed back out to get to work.<br />
<br />
The value of a trophy is determined, not by the size of the antlers or the number of points, but by the work that goes into winning it. That little forky deer's skull will hang in the place of honor next to the stovepipe, and the hide will proudly serve as a new arrow quiver. The hunt itself was surprisingly uneventful: An ideal opportunity, flawless weather, a remarkably business-like stalk, and an effortless heart-shot, all within a hundred yards of my house. I still think it's pretty funny that it went down that way, after a couple decades of chasing game up and down the mountains.<br />
<br />
But when I think of all that lead up to that kill--all the years of learning to stalk deer and talk to elk, the close calls and misses, the doubts to overcome, the many hours of mental and physical practice, the growing confidence, and that beautiful moment when it all came together--I figure it was sufficiently epic after all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>2019 Mule deer</em><br />
<em>28 yard heart shot with a 60 pound, black locust longbow; h</em><em>ome-made spruce and wild turkey arrow tipped with a Zwickey Eskimo broadhead</em><br />
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<br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-20526008327995931872019-06-22T19:37:00.000-07:002019-06-22T19:37:06.795-07:00A Few Pictures from Northern California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-70741571467095746332019-05-04T06:41:00.000-07:002019-05-06T20:08:40.354-07:00The Wisdom of Katito, Part 2<b><u>AGE 4</u></b><br />
<img alt="Image may contain: one or more people and swimming" height="240" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10419597_10204229724767144_4567109562478859358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=e6d31b4ded3779d2864664979f9672c0&oe=5D2CAFA1" width="320" /><br />
July 18, 2013<br />
Guy at the restaurant: Are you going to be a musician when you grow up?<br />
KT: No, I just wanna be a normal people when I grow up.<br />
<br />
July 18, 2013<br />
On the trail Tuesday, with no context or preamble: I bet a forest fire would take out a mosquito.<br />
<br />
August 30, 2013 ·<br />
Katie is performing a medical procedure on one of her princess dolls, using the tiny blow dryer from her dollhouse bathroom set. She is very intense about it.<br />
"I'm giving Jasmine some very special soap medicine. It hurts way more than a LOBSTER! But it's the ONLY WAY!"<br />
Dean Lehmkuhler: "On a scale from 0 to LOBSTER, how bad is your pain?"<br />
<br />
September 16, 2013 ·<br />
You know it is a wet September in Wyoming when there are shore birds in the yard! We spotted this flock of snipe (the real kind, not the kind you send kids out to hunt) in the yard Sunday morning. I saw four; Katie saw "about a hundred." And she thought they were kingfishers, which resulted in some fun explorations in the bird field guide.<br />
<br />
September 20, 2013<br />
The pearl gouramis in the fish tank are named Sparkle, Glory, and Helios. The angelfish is named Arthur.<br />
<br />
October 4, 2013 · Lander ·<br />
Katie: "Know why I call Misha [our very large, extremely hairy german shepherd] a little pup?"<br />
Dad: "Why?"<br />
Katie: "Cause she's smaller than a elephant."<br />
Hard to argue with that.<br />
<br />
November 1, 2013 · Lander ·<br />
Katie has taken to setting a doll crib on its side, with her toy laptop on top. A doll goes in, complete with little stickers on its chest, for a heart scan while she types on her toy computer. She calls it her "picture taker."<br />
It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry, sometimes…<br />
<br />
When I told her she should be a doctor when she grows up, she replied, "No...I'm gonna be a mom."<br />
<br />
January 1, 2014 ·<br />
Katie: Want to hear a joke from the swimming pool?<br />
Dad: Sure.<br />
Katie: How did the swimming suit cross the road and get to the other side? HA HA HA!<br />
Dad: How?<br />
Katie: Heh heh...Prob'ly it rode on a person or something.<br />
<br />
January 17, 2014 ·<br />
Katie, looking at the Walmart feeder goldfish tank: "There are too many fish in that tank. If those were kids, they wouldn't even be able to WALK!"<br />
<br />
February 3, 2014 ·<br />
Katie (while escorting Ariel the Little Mermaid to a doll bathtub): "She needs to get her game on! She's going to run like crazy all the way to the pool!" Well, at least one of us benefited discussing the Superbowl yesterday.<br />
<br />
March 13, 2014 ·<br />
Katie's take-away message, while being read "The Little Mermaid" picture book: "You should never ask a witch for help."<br />
<br />
March 13, 2014 · Lander ·<br />
(We get in the car last night, and "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and the Sunshine band is playing on the radio)<br />
Katie: "I can't understand what they're singing."<br />
KC and the Sunshine Band: "I'm your boogie man aha ...<br />
I'm your boogie man aha ...<br />
I'm your boogie man aha ...<br />
I'm your boogie man aha ..."<br />
Katie: "I think maybe they're singing in a different language."<br />
<br />
April 2, 2014 ·<br />
Dad: *incoherent grumbling*<br />
Katie: What's wrong, dad?<br />
Dad: The chainsaw is broken.<br />
Katie: Why?<br />
Dad: I don't know.<br />
Katie: Maybe it got hit by lightning.<br />
As a working theory, that's better than anything I've been able to come up with.<br />
<br />
April 10, 2014 ·<br />
Mr. Gradyn gave Katie a horny toad. She named it "Horny, and made the following observation: "Gradyn Ellsworth must be some sort of desert explorer scientist." She is reading "Horny" her sea turtle book because she figures he has never seen one.<br />
<br />
April 18, 2014 ·<br />
"Know what the *best* thing is for crying? Some books on a rainy night."<br />
<br />
April 25, 2014 ·<br />
Katie, whispering conspiratorially: "Know what I noticed, Dad? Mommy gets a lot more worrieder to me than you do."<br />
Whatever, kid. Go play in the pond, or something.<br />
<br />
May 29, 2014 ·<br />
Looking at the field guide.<br />
Dad: "That is called a Rock Chuck. Mommy calls it a Marmot. You can call it whichever you want."<br />
Katie: "I call it Julie."<br />
<br />
June 13, 2014 ·<br />
The cicadas are out in force and the hills are alive with the sound of buzzing.<br />
K: Cicadas are smaller than rattlesnakes, right? So they're different.<br />
Mom: Yes. Rattlesnakes are also poisonous and have fangs.<br />
K: Of course. That's how we'll tell them apart!<br />
<br />
June 16, 2014 ·<br />
In Denver. Springhill Inn and Suites. This hotel was a gift from a very generous friend, and a good bit nicer than we are used to. When we first walked into the room, Katie was asking if we would have our own bathroom. Having confirmed that this was indeed the case, she said, "Perfect. Now I can use the potty."<br />
I guess this is an indication of the calibre of hotels we usually stay in.<br />
<br />
June 21, 2014 ·<br />
Katie, watching the pelicans fight over scraps from a charter fishing boat: "They are overjoyed with their fish treats!"<br />
<br />
June 22, 2014 ·<br />
Dad: Sure, I think I'll grab this little crab and see if it will pinch. AAAAAAAIIIIGGHHH!!!!<br />
Mom and Katie: *Hysterical laughter*<br />
<br />
<b><u>AGE 5</u></b><br />
<img alt="No photo description available." height="320" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11059917_10207119339485706_5950929725539110993_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=5003be149f6ba189f81b6a1ebc0e4aa9&oe=5D6E192A" width="240" /><br />
<br />
July 23, 2014 ·<br />
Looking at Wind River Peak.<br />
Dad: See that big mountain with the snow on it? I want to climb that with you someday when you're bigger.<br />
Katie: (dubiously) That sort of looks like a hanging-on challenge!<br />
<br />
July 29, 2014 ·<br />
Dad and Mom are having a heart-felt discussion about the importance and fragility of marriage. Katie, listening in from the back seat, chimes in with this bit of wisdom:<br />
"But you know, the great thing about mice is that they will clean up your garbage."<br />
We now return to our regularly scheduled conversation.<br />
<br />
July 29, 2014<br />
"You know, the thing I really like about air is that it isn't solid." Me, too, kid, me too.<br />
<br />
August 29, 2014 ·<br />
Dear God,<br />
Thank you for our silly, picky cats, and thank you for our crazy punk puppy who chases them and bites them but we love her anyway, and thank you for our wonderful trip to Florida, and thank you for my pet okapi. Amen.<br />
<br />
August 29, 2014 · Lander ·<br />
Our cartoon protagonist is walking her pet ladybug, which mysteriously starts feeling under the weather. The vet comes and discovers that the bug is not sick, but is about to lay eggs. The next scene shows our hero walking not one, but ten ladybugs. All is well.<br />
Katie: "Yep, guess she shoulda got her lady bug fixed."<br />
<br />
August 29, 2014 ·<br />
Dad: "Katie, how many times have I told you not to scream like that in the house?!"<br />
Katie, deep in thought: "I just can't really remember that number."<br />
Next up: Work on the concept of "rhetorical questions."<br />
<br />
September 19, 2014 ·<br />
Katie, singing at the top of her lungs on her swing set, blissfully unaware that anyone is listening:<br />
I can swing by myself!<br />
I can swing by myself!<br />
And I...can choose to be...happy<br />
Or unhappy!<br />
But I should always choose...<br />
to be brave!<br />
<br />
October 3, 2014<br />
Watching a nature video.<br />
David Attenborough: This is the trail...of the BIGGEST of the big cats, the Tiger...and the biggest of the tigers, the Siberian tiger: Surely the most formidable predator of all.<br />
Katie: Then why is he tracking it?!<br />
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November 3, 2014 ·<br />
Katie: "We are having a lot of trouble getting anywhere on time. We might wanna buy a race car."<br />
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November 8, 2014 ·<br />
KT: "Mom, may I have zero pieces of candy, please?"<br />
Mom: "Ummmm...OK. Why do you want zero pieces of candy?"<br />
KT: "I just thought it would be easier to eat."<br />
<br />
November 14, 2014 ·<br />
It was -25F a couple mornings ago at Casa Wilson. Katie got up, opened the living room curtain, and said, "Ice, Ice, Baby!" Then she went back to bed.<br />
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November 29, 2014 ·<br />
Taking off out of Denver on Grandpa’s flight simulator.<br />
Dad: Should we fly up into the mountains?<br />
Katie: Yes! So I can go hiking.<br />
Dad: How are you going to get out of the plane?<br />
KT: Well, we'll have to bring a big ladder.<br />
<br />
December 19, 2014 ·<br />
Katie, explaining to Lucky Dog how to make the world a better place: "If you love someone, and they love someone, and they love someone, everyone will be happy. And puppies can love by licking, 'cause that's kissing for dogs."<br />
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December 19, 2014 ·<br />
Katie has a piece of cardboard that she uses as a chalkboard when she teaches Doll School. The other day, she was explaining the day's lessons to me:<br />
"This is a picture of a greyhound chasing a mouse. And I put an X through it because they shouldn't eat mice because they are allergic. And this one is a man feeding a fish to an alligator. I put an X through that one because it isn't safe to do that."<br />
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December 31, 2014 ·<br />
Last night, Katie was scared of the dark, sleeping in Grammie and Grampa's basement.<br />
Dad: What are you scared of?<br />
Katie: The blanket on that chair looks like a giant camel head in the dark.<br />
Dad: Well, at least camels aren't particularly dangerous.<br />
Katie: Yeah, and it would be strange to see one around here. Especially in this weather. Camels kinda like hot places.<br />
And thus did logic consign the Boogie Camel back into the abyss whence it came.<br />
<br />
January 16, 2015 ·<br />
Katie: "It's frustrating trying to see Santa, or the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny. They're all nocturnal."<br />
Poor kid, growing up with a science teacher and a nature enthusiast for parents…<br />
<br />
January 30, 2015 ·<br />
On the way home from church Wednesday night.<br />
Dad: Why didn't you come when I called you?<br />
Katie: Me, Danika, and Addie were hunting Booogers.<br />
Dad: What is a Boooger?<br />
Katie: It is a gloppy old troll with spikes. Danika found one in a box. She let it out and I stomped on it.<br />
Dad: Well, that's good. We don't want any Booogers running lose in the church building.<br />
Katie: Yeah. We found another one under some blankets, and we used our weapons [a pencil and a clothes pin] to fight it. Danika and I TOOK THEM OUT!<br />
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February 13, 2015 ·<br />
"Dad, you know what? Peacocks' feathers can be up to SIX METERS LONG!...How long is that, anyway?"<br />
Morning at the Wilsons'...<br />
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February 20, 2015 ·<br />
Katie and mom are getting out of the car at the library. Someone is smoking on the sidewalk. Katie can't see them, but she can smell the smoke. So she says, quite loudly, "SMELLS LIKE SOMEBODY'S BURNING GARBAGE OUT THERE!"<br />
She doesn't even know how right she is…<br />
<br />
March 27, 2015 ·<br />
KT, looking at the aquarium:<br />
"I long for a snorkel."<br />
<br />
April 18, 2015 ·<br />
I just finished building my very first from-scratch birdhouse. It is ugly.<br />
Dad: Wow, this is one UGLY birdhouse!<br />
Katie: I don't think it's that ugly, dad.<br />
Dad: I do not have the gift of birdhouse building.<br />
Katie: Well, you have the gift of guacamole!<br />
[An aside: At risk of being immodest, I do in fact make killer guacamole]<br />
Dad: I suppose so.<br />
Katie: And guacamole is healthier than birdhouses!<br />
Dad: How do you figure?<br />
Katie: Well, you can't eat birdhouses!<br />
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May 16, 2015 ·<br />
The neighbors are shooting off some pretty impressive fireworks. I go to check on Katie and make sure she isn't scared. She is out of bed, with the lamp on.<br />
Dad: What are you doing out of bed, Katie?<br />
Katie: Well, I heard the fireworks, so I got up to look out the window and make sure everything was OK. Then, I was breathing on the window and writing with my finger to practice my math problems.<br />
Well, make the most of the time, I always say…<br />
<br />
June 7, 2015 ·<br />
Katie is impressed with the fiddler in the cowboy band. "Wow, he's good... I bet he could totally play 'Mississippi Stop Stop.' "<br />
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June 7, 2015 ·<br />
Driving in Utah, at sunset. Sarah is navigating.<br />
Sarah: Head West on center street.<br />
Me: Katie, do you know how I know how this way is West?<br />
KT: Well, yeah.<br />
Me: How?<br />
KT: 'Cause if you went the other way, it would be something else.<br />
Me: Well, there's that...but also, see how we're going toward the sun? The sun always goes down in the West. So if you take the road toward the sunset, that's West.<br />
KT: Yeah. Plus, West is gonna look more Cowboy-like.<br />
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June 18, 2015 ·<br />
KT: "I think Stup watched too much TV when he was a kitten. Or maybe drank a lot of alcohol."<br />
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June 27, 2015 ·<br />
"Daddy, when we talk to God, do we have to pray, or can we just use normal talk?"<br />
Hmm...might need to re-think how we're doing some things!<br />
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<u><b>AGE 6</b></u></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5b854d0a-7fff-147c-d3ac-2d4653fcccfa"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My little naturalist writing down observations about nature (and rocking Mom's sunglasses) during a swamp walk.</span></span></div>
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August 8, 2015 · </div>
<div>
Watching the freshwater shrimp in the aquarium.</div>
<div>
KT: Look, dad! They've eaten almost all the algae off that branch!</div>
<div>
Dad: Yep. If we got about five or ten more, they'd take care of all of it.</div>
<div>
KT: What will they do when they run out of algae?</div>
<div>
Dad: Then they can eat the fish food pellets.</div>
<div>
KT: Oh, yeah...but if that algae ever springs back up, Boom! It's goin' down!</div>
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August 21, 2015 · </div>
<div>
Katie is humming "Home on the Range" as she eats her oatmeal. Things are going to be OK.</div>
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August 28, 2015 · </div>
<div>
I showed a water-bomber video to Katie, and she said, "I bet those guys got lots of badges for that!</div>
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September 25, 2015 · </div>
<div>
Katie was impressed by my long-distance lob of a pear core into a dumpster when we were walking the other day. "If you could get that close to a deer, you could hold a bullet in your hand and throw it at the deer to kill it."</div>
<div>
Dad: "Well, bullets usually work better when you shoot them out of a gun."</div>
<div>
KT: "I think you could throw it hard enough to break his backspine."</div>
<div>
Her confidence in my arm is inspiring.</div>
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October 9, 2015 · </div>
<div>
I took Katie into the jewelry store this afternoon to check out the sparklies while we were waiting for mom to hit town.</div>
<div>
Dad: Wow, look at all these diamonds!</div>
<div>
KT, in a reverent whisper: Yeah...they must have their own mine!</div>
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October 23, 2015 · </div>
<div>
Warning: This is really disgusting. But pretty funny. And fairly typical of how things work here at Casa Wilson.</div>
<div>
Sarah and I have been wanting to try our hand at making brain-tanned buckskin, so we saved the hide and the head off this year's deer.</div>
<div>
The hide went in the freezer, but what with PT conferences and all, I didn't get around to removing the brain from the deceased critter's head until today. It was, to put it mildly, spoiled. I'm not grossed out easily, but when I cut open the skull, the smell about did me in.</div>
<div>
I came inside, coughing and trying not to wretch, to find that my sweet daughter had fixed me lunch. Baloney sandwiches. With extra mayo. Yum.</div>
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November 7, 2015 · </div>
<div>
Hiking in the mountains today.</div>
<div>
Katie, pointing at a random pine tree: "Is a grizzly bear THAT big?"</div>
<div>
Mom and Dad, in unison: "No."</div>
<div>
Katie: "WHEW!"</div>
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November 10, 2015 · </div>
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Katie's book: "Cobras live in a wide variety of habitats. They can even live in large cities."</div>
<div>
Katie: "I'm glad our city isn't large."</div>
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December 17, 2015 ·</div>
<div>
As many of you know, we are adding on to our house. As we were leaving for school, Katie asked, "What is the cement on the bottom for?"</div>
<div>
I explained that the concrete is a foundation: A great big chuck of man-made rock that goes way underground. The house is attached to that big chunk of rock with very strong steel called rebar. Because the house is attached to such a big rock, the house doesn't fall down, even in a really big storm.</div>
<div>
Seizing the opportunity for a bit of spiritual training, I asked her if she could think of any stories of Jesus that were like that. She immediately started singing, "The wise man built his house upon the rock..."</div>
<div>
Carried away in the ecstasy of connecting spiritually with my sweet daughter, I joined her in singing the whole song together (very enthusiastically). When it was finished, I asked her, "So, what is the point of that story?"</div>
<div>
She replied, "Don't build your house by the ocean!"</div>
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We'll keep trying…</div>
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December 24, 2015 · </div>
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Katie, on the annual Christmas Eve lights cruise: "Wow, look at that pretty Activity scene!"<br />
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January 10, 2016<br />
<img alt="No photo description available." height="400" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12552533_10153971596869131_1093892195286760028_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=013062fcc2cd02fbef075b643b8b7377&oe=5D60FB93" width="225" /></div>
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January 29, 2016 · Lander · </div>
<div>
A little survey Katie and I did together. Dad asking the questions; Katie answering.</div>
<div>
1. What is something I always say to you?</div>
<div>
Silly stuff.</div>
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2. What makes me happy? </div>
<div>
Lucky [dog--she was being sarcastic. Much giggling]</div>
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3. What makes me sad?</div>
<div>
When mom is sad.</div>
<div>
4. How do I make you laugh? </div>
<div>
All the day!</div>
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5. What was I like as a child? </div>
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Silly.</div>
<div>
6. How old am I?</div>
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I don't know that.</div>
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7. How tall am I?</div>
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Not 10.</div>
<div>
8. What is my favorite thing to do?</div>
<div>
Be silly.</div>
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9. What do I do when you're not around?</div>
<div>
Work.</div>
<div>
10. What am I really good at?</div>
<div>
Being silly.</div>
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11. What am I not very good at? </div>
<div>
Dog trainer?</div>
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12. What do I do for a job? </div>
<div>
Music class.</div>
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13. What is my favorite food?</div>
<div>
Toast.</div>
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14. What do you enjoy doing with me? </div>
<div>
Playing Inky Pinky.</div>
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January 30, 2016 · </div>
<div>
It is amazing how fast kids transition from fantasy to reality and back. Katie's three Barbies are all hugging, and she has just told me a long, convoluted story about their lives and family relationships.</div>
<div>
Dad: Wow, they are a huggy family.</div>
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KT: Yeah, they're sisters. And they haven't seen each other for a really long time!</div>
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Dad: How come?</div>
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KT: Barbie was in my closet, Skipper was in the church bag, and Chelsea was out in the car…</div>
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January 31, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Sunday morning, and Dennis Oman is speaking about how quickly time passes.</div>
<div>
Dennis: "Yesterday, Shawna was four years old, and now she's forty-three!"</div>
<div>
Katie, in a stage-whisper: "WHAT?!"</div>
<div>
[Dennis continues speaking]</div>
<div>
Katie: "Oh, I get it--today must be her birthday."</div>
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February 7, 2016 · </div>
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Katie's take on the halftime show: Hey, that lady isn't wearing any pants!</div>
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February 28, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Katie has been reading a book on Ancient Greece (I know--she's a nerd like her dad).</div>
<div>
Katie: "I want to go there and see the statue of Nick and the scared olive tree." </div>
<div>
Dad: ~puzzled dumb look~</div>
<div>
Katie: "You know, Nick? The goddess of victory?"</div>
<div>
Ohhh, OK. Nike. And that would be the *sacred* olive tree. Hey, not too bad for a kindergartener.</div>
<div>
I then told her that Greece was still a country, and that it is very beautiful, and that I used to have a pen-pal there when I was a kid. She immediately asked, in complete seriousness, "Was it ancient then?" I'll give her an answer after I let her out of time-out.</div>
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March 3, 2016 · </div>
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Katie, on the complexities of co-ed kindergarten social interactions: "Actually, I seriously think boys AND girls drool."</div>
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March 4, 2016 · Lander · </div>
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Katie: "I'm trying to learn how to steer my jellyfish." It just gets weirder and weirder…</div>
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March 12, 2016 · </div>
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Katie: What are you cooking? Bacon and eggs?</div>
<div>
Dad: Breakfast burritos. That's what mom wanted, and today is her birthday, so she gets what she wants!</div>
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Katie: Mom is so kind, she should just get what she wants everyday.</div>
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April 1, 2016 · </div>
<div>
KT: four wheel drive is just to use in emergencies. [whispered] But sometimes we just use it to play.</div>
<div>
Ah, I have taught her well.<br />
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April 2, 2016 ·<br />
Katie: I wish I had freckles. I don't have very many. But I will.<br />
Mom: How do you know you will get them? Because I have some?<br />
Katie: No. Because the first graders are selling freckle juice!<br />
Oh dear.</div>
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May 5, 2016 </div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3c21f097-7fff-9612-b03e-afdd986be9a5"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="553" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/K3gLLOdnXweI0mCySZ93AkaMFKVb8JBl7YsDuI0P51Oxym1eIl-uKCTJs5IaEqPC7Foozu2tdNTpIBgp5OgxQ9mCdMQTKrWhILDyqdFz70h4e7awgAmf4LartCV2wlsFH7INvS3N" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="640" /></span></span></div>
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May 23, 2016 · </div>
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Watching Riverdance for the first time with Katie.</div>
<div>
Katie: Is the blue stage the river?</div>
<div>
Dad: I think the lady dancer symbolizes the river.</div>
<div>
Katie: Hm...That's a right bouncy river!</div>
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June 5, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Katie, getting ready for church: Do we have pot-lick today?</div>
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<br /></div>
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June 14, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Watching Star Trek (the original) with Katie. The landing party beams down. KT: "There's a bunch of them wearing red shirts. How do we know which one's going to die?"</div>
<div>
Also, whenever they visit a planet with a pretty girl, and one of the male crewmen give her a second look, she says, "Aw, no, they're gonna kiss, aren't they?"</div>
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<b><u>AGE 7</u></b></div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: one or more people, sky, mountain, outdoor and nature" height="240" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13690841_10210038794710262_1715343142960165103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=c22a0c5a2df774f433ff706cc57d7b75&oe=5D325DED" width="320" /></div>
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July 16, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Driving down the Montana side of Bear Tooth Pass a couple days ago. I've seen some mountain roads before, but this thing takes the prize for crazy. There was one place I could have spit and hit the bottom of the canyon, 1000 feet or so below. Anyway, Sarah is driving, and doing a great job, concentrating hard, a bit stressed.</div>
<div>
Katie: "It will all be worth it when we get to the bottom, Mom. Unless we go off the cliff." *maniacal laughter*</div>
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October 20, 2016 · Lander · </div>
<div>
Cutting up venison. Katie wants to hear the story of how I killed the deer, so I'm telling her about it. I point out that I didn't hit it perfectly, and had to take a second shot, and I am bothered by that.</div>
<div>
She wants to know why it matters, so, hoping that she will be my hunting buddy some day, I talk a bit about the importance of shot placement. "When you hunt an animal, you want it to die quickly. You don't want it to suffer."</div>
<div>
Katie thinks this over a bit, then says, "If I was a deer, I think I'd rather just suffer."</div>
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December 5, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Last night, Katie met a friend of hers at Safeway. They spontaneously started singing "Old Brass Wagon" at full voice. Complete with the dance, right there in the middle of the grocery store.</div>
<div>
My work here is done.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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December 8, 2016 · </div>
<div>
Katie, talking to Grandpa Wilson: "I need to ask you, what do you want for Christmas? I am in contact with Santa."</div>
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December 13, 2016 · </div>
<div>
We are introducing Katie to the original Star Wars. Luke and Vader have completed an agonizing, heart-breaking fight. The Emperor is frying Luke, who cries out for help. A conflicted, tormented Vader, in a poignant sacrifice, picks up the Emperor and chucks him down the reactor shaft, an action which kills him. He collapses, helpless, next to his only son, who takes him in his arms.</div>
<div>
Katie, speaking for Luke: "OK, cool. Thanks, dad."</div>
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December 19, 2016 · </div>
<div>
This morning, I was in typical overwhelmed, brain-is-mush Monday morning mode. At one point, I asked, "Ah! Where is my brain?" At that moment, Katie walked into the room singing, "SomeWHEEERE over the rainbow..."</div>
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January 10, 2017 · </div>
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Katie's lego monkey is named "Screensaver." I thought you'd want to know.</div>
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January 22, 2017 · </div>
<div>
This morning, I was looking at old pictures and videos, a tear on my cheek, working myself into a sad funk appropriate for the day. In comes my daughter, oblivious to all this, chattering happily (and endlessly) about some funny plot twist in her latest Nancy Clancy book.</div>
<div>
I resisted for a while, but my sadness was no match for incessant Katie chatter, and before long I was wiping off my eyes and giggling along with her.</div>
<div>
Thank God for goofy little kids. Sometimes this grieving gig ain't all it's cracked up to be.</div>
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January 23, 2017 · Lander · </div>
<div>
"I think Hillary should have won. This election came down to hair. And let's face it, Hillary has nicer hair." --My politically astute seven-year-old, being completely serious.</div>
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February 21, 2017 · Lander · </div>
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Katie, appearing at our bedroom door in the middle of the night:</div>
<div>
"Pardon me for not having any pants on, but I just lost my tooth."</div>
<div>
We just roll with it.</div>
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April 14, 2017 · </div>
<div>
While examining Katie's globe last night, we found an island (in French Polynesia) called "Puka Puka." This makes us happy.</div>
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May 28, 2017 · Lander · </div>
<div>
Tonight I said something about "the meat of the story." Katie was puzzled, so we explained that it meant the substance, the important parts, or the meaning of the story.</div>
<div>
Katie paused thoughtfully, then asked, "Is there the vegetables of a story?"</div>
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June 26, 2017 · </div>
<div>
Katie, watching the herd of mulie bucks in the yard: "Wow, they are beautiful. Soon, they will be tender and delicious."</div>
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My girl.</div>
</div>
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<div>
<u><b>AGE 8</b></u></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f7bc3eb5-7fff-3195-dcf5-3791be3c335e"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="422" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TkDKx8PNZ0xqaltRs8TS4Z3-TwZ9PJrR6C2UuTIujn0UVngLFfT2qPsFS7mLTsr1lOrqp6vKjiUJNiD6e4o9UH1JOL3S-OiVE96kencHo_lja0O7Iaku8ON70_e1nqFZpuE19WAI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="317" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First fish on a fly rod!</span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 21, 2017 · Lander · </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie was up late singing last night. When asked about it, she said, "I felt like there were monsters in my room. But when I was singing, it felt like little warriors were charging out of my mouth and fighting the monsters."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 24, 2017 · </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">My fridge magnet poem ("Cool cowboys don't consume crack") lead to a discussion about the harmfulness of drugs. This grows into a discussion about things that are bad for us in excess. Mom mentions several: Sugar, caffeine, bacon. Mom makes the point that all of these things feel good at first, but often lead to a let-down that leaves you feeling even worse than before.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie, thoughtfully: "Bacon doesn't lead to a let-down. Except when you realize there's no more bacon."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nailed it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 5, 2018 · </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, tonight Katie asked Sarah, "How come things far away look smaller than they really are?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">She’s got me there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 2, 2018 · </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">My daughter is in her room, absentmindedly singing the 4/4 Massed Band snare drum rhythm, with gibberish words.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 7, 2018 · </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just watched "the Man From Snowy River" with Katie for the first time. As the credits are rolling, Katie says, "No! I want more! That's a terrible place to end the story!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dad: What? He got the horses; he and Jess are going to get married, and he'll have some gold to start up his ranch. What more do you want?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie: Yeah, but, but...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mom: You want to see Jessica in a pretty white dress, don't you?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie: Well, YEAH!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 9, 2018 · </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; white-space: pre-wrap;">My daughter is cleaning her room, mindlessly humming "The Imperial March" in her sweet little voice.</span></span></div>
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<u><b>AGE 9</b></u></div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: one or more people, shorts and outdoor" height="240" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39891652_10217143102873526_7952348792852840448_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=f299600671faca3a14558b77612971ac&oe=5D330A55" width="320" /></div>
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January 12 · </div>
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Katie named the bristlenose plecostomus "Brissleplacky." </div>
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January 23 ·<br />
Tonight Katie was looking at the Lander Journal. She put it back on the table and announced, “The news is too depressing to read. Except Mrs.Masson because she got an award."<br />
(Mrs. Masson is Katie's music teacher, who had just passed her National Boards)<br />
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January 26 ·<br />
Katie set the table and lit a candle and made us a menu to order from tonight. She seems to have a bias against Thai food....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5rrMsqciEh81NJaP0qtpR1MfU9sRm7ByM3j8Y3GmZ-lJfoIDpK_ZuEX4wo2iuJcB-Kc4ie814TJVvxAQr4667oBnTY5yGCnujq2omdt7D_llhIQ2dLKI81ck2XH6M_VUGexnbP-qYJo/s1600/menu1+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="709" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5rrMsqciEh81NJaP0qtpR1MfU9sRm7ByM3j8Y3GmZ-lJfoIDpK_ZuEX4wo2iuJcB-Kc4ie814TJVvxAQr4667oBnTY5yGCnujq2omdt7D_llhIQ2dLKI81ck2XH6M_VUGexnbP-qYJo/s320/menu1+-+Edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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February 2 · </div>
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Katie: Rabbits are SO cute!</div>
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Dad: Yes! Unfortunately for them, they are also delicious.</div>
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Katie: See? Multipurpose animals.</div>
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March 6 · </div>
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I was playing the song "Sail On" by the Imperials this morning. Katie kept randomly shouting, "Lawn!"</div>
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When I asked her why, she said, "I'm doing what the song says. 'Say Lawn.' "</div>
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April 17 at 7:04 AM ·<br />
I have been reading Lord of the Rings to Katie and Sarah reads her Harry Potter. Katie said she had a dream where Harry was fighting orcs and Ron was attacked by Gollum. Sarah told her if Darth Vader and Captain Picard show up, we will officially need a nerdy fiction break.<br />
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April 20 at 7:52 AM · </div>
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Meadowlarks, robins, and my little girl. I am surrounded by beautiful songs.</div>
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April 24 at 7:26 AM · </div>
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Dad: I want to stay home and read Lord of the Rings with you today.</div>
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Katie: Sorry, dad, no can do!</div>
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*******</div>
<div>
I don't write Katie's sayings down as often these days, partly because her speaking has gotten a bit less odd as she's gotten older, and partly because her sense of humor has developed to the point where she seldom says serious things that are completely hilarious. But her oddly insightful mind and imagination continue to work overtime. I'm sure there will be more. Stay tuned!</div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-2017138609610115822019-05-04T05:51:00.001-07:002019-05-06T19:29:28.053-07:00The Wisdom of Katito, Part 1Katie has been part of our world for the better part of ten years now. I know everyone thinks their kids are amazing, but...well, mine really is. She is not without fault, of course, but I know her to be kind, obedient, humble, confident, and about as smart as any kid could possibly need to be. She is also one of the happiest, most imaginative, most oddly insightful kids I've ever known.<br />
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And yes, she still does that fluttery, Monty-Python-face thing when she's really happy about something or her imagination is working overtime.<br />
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She also has a gift for words. As a young child, she would play with words and ideas almost the way she played with toys: Arranging them, making them into new forms, trying things out to see how they worked. Sarah and I have collected some (not nearly enough) of her funny and odd little sayings on Facebook through the years. Now at last I have collected them in one place.<br />
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And so, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: The collected sayings of Katito. Enjoy.<br />
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Born: July 8, 2009.<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-392e8631-7fff-38fb-b8bc-2d89b948360a"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="453" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zq1UgpvMAkPVJ7oUaAnr-zBAZp_gquWyNvPXBFWC-5HiDIxKuf09DDYbebBJaEbLxu5gvv5IIMucLSsAufDSAhCrX2iOQFF1TlG02IFXhLb37IhVV5LkgSUZ7NcKg9J7toPa_vOj" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="604" /></span></span><br />
Always eager to devour a good book!<br />
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November 2, 2009<br />
I am listening to my baby talk to the goldfish. I'm not sure what she's saying, but they seem to understand each other adequately.<br />
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May 4, 2010 ·<br />
We are proud to say that in this era of rampant financial irresponsibility, Katie tore up her first credit card application today.<br />
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July 3, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter officially knows three words now: Hi, Happy, and Rocky (the dog's name). "Happy" and "Rocky" actually sound an awful lot alike. I think, as far as Katie is concerned, they might be the same word. If you know my dog, you realize that this is not inappropriate.<br />
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<u><b>AGE 1</b></u><br />
<img alt="No photo description available." src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72773_464508649130_6980860_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=4b0a303c393e418e9cdfac239d8f2137&oe=5D339F7A" /><br />
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August 14, 2010 ·<br />
I'm watching my one-year-old daughter play with my toy badger while saying "bashr" over and over. Most satisfying.<br />
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August 29, 2010 ·<br />
In Katie's world, all the animals are horses. And they all say "Baa."<br />
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September 6, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter just said "elk" for the first time. I am overwhelmed with fatherly pride.<br />
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September 15, 2010 ·<br />
I saw a flight of ducks against the sunrise this morning. Then had a bacon, tomato, and cheese omelet. Then got a hug from my wife and heard my little girl say, "Daddy." So, yeah, I'm pretty much doing OK.<br />
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October 7, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter said "Viacom" yesterday. Pretty advanced stuff for a one-year-old. Nevermind that Sarah was trying to get her to say "macaroni."<br />
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October 14, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter thinks the blender is absolutely hilarious. I don't know why, but this makes me very happy.<br />
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October 17, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter saw me swat a fly this afternoon and yell, "Die!" (I've been really annoyed with flies lately) Now, whenever she sees the swatter, she starts saying, "Die! Die!" in her sweet, sing-song little one-year-old-girl voice.<br />
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October 24, 2010 ·<br />
I love how my daughter calls bears "beer."<br />
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October 30, 2010 ·<br />
My daughter saw a picture of a caterpillar, and called it a "fly." (her word for butterfly, among other things) I prefer to think she's not wrong, just thinking ahead.<br />
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November 9, 2010 ·<br />
Update from the home front, and I quote: "Katie is walking around the<br />
living room, saying 'Baby yeah, baby yeah,' over and over. We have a<br />
strange kiddo."<br />
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November 20, 2010 ·<br />
I put the girlie to bed last night, thinking she was ready to crash. As soon as she hit the mattress, she opened her eyes, grinned, and yelled, "BOOM!" When that failed to get a response, she said, "Oh, MAN!" Two minutes later she was asleep.<br />
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November 23, 2010 ·<br />
Katie said "pika" today. I'm so proud.<br />
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December 23, 2010 ·<br />
We went up the mountain today. Katie rode in the pack with mom, while dad cut and carried the Christmas tree. Katie was whispering, "Dad." "Snow." "Tree." the whole time. And "Caw." (there was a crow)<br />
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March 8, 2011 ·<br />
Dad: Are you feeling very negative?<br />
Katie: No. No. No. No. No.<br />
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March 29, 2011 ·<br />
Katie: "Cracker? Cracker? Cracker?!"<br />
Dad: "Say 'Cracker, Please.' "<br />
(Repeat 20 or 30 times)<br />
(Dad gives up and gives Katie the cracker)<br />
Katie: "Please! Please! Please!"<br />
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March 30, 2011 ·<br />
Looking at the Big Cats book. It is a grown-up book, which means it actually shows big cats doing what they do best.<br />
Dad: "What do lions eat, Katie?"<br />
Katie: "Zebras."<br />
Dad: "And what do zebras eat?"<br />
Katie: (slight pause to ponder this riddle) "LIONS!"<br />
Mom: (singing) "It's the cirrrrcle of liiiife!"<br />
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April 29, 2011 ·<br />
I just taught my daughter to say, "Forth Eorlingas!" while riding her rocking horse. It sounds more like, "For ningas!" when she says it, though.<br />
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June 1, 2011 ·<br />
Katie: God...made a clouds.<br />
Mom: Yes. What else did God make?<br />
Katie: (glancing at kitchen table) God...made a cheese.<br />
Well, I suppose indirectly…<br />
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June 25, 2011 ·<br />
Katie, holding the Woodie Guthrie book: "This is your land, and my land.....And California."<br />
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June 26, 2011 ·<br />
Katie, looking out the window, "That tree is very big outside. Trees grow in roots. It is confusing."<br />
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June 28, 2011 ·<br />
Picture this: Katie walking around the living room, with underwear draped over her head, loudly proclaiming to anyone who will hear: "I need special medicine!"<br />
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<b><u>AGE 2</u></b><br />
<img alt="No photo description available." src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/149479_3766288839608_1627231199_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=85cb942b5e846974d71fb5464d8c840c&oe=5D5ED15D" /><br />
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July 10, 2011 ·<br />
Dad, while adjusting the ipod, "We're going to listen to Mozart." Katie, hopefully, "Is it kinda like Veggie Tales?"<br />
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July 21, 2011<br />
Katie’s heart surgery went OK. She is currently alternating between napping and slamming sippies of apple juice as fast as the nurse can bring them...and telling the nurse that she "likes tigers really much."<br />
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August 2, 2011 ·<br />
Katie playing her xylophone: "I hear the song of the cricket ball, bouncing back to me! It is a happy song." Don't know what it means, but it sounds sort of poetic, don't you think?<br />
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August 14, 2011 ·<br />
Me: Katie, would you like to go for a walk?<br />
Katie: NO!!!<br />
Me: No??<br />
Katie: Just yes.<br />
Mom: Well, she's got that part of being female figured out.<br />
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August 15, 2011 ·<br />
I just learned, from my two year old, that lions taste like spinach.<br />
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August 17, 2011 ·<br />
Katie (while managing to walk around the house in mom’s sandals): I am wearing Mommy's shoes to Laramie.<br />
Mom: You are wearing mommy's shoes?!<br />
Katie: Yes.<br />
Mom: You are a goofy goof.<br />
Katie: No. Just goofy goof.<br />
Mom: We will have to tell Daddy you are a goofy goof.<br />
Katie: Daddy is just a goofy goof! (while giggling)<br />
Katie (while examining my shoes): Daddy is a spider.<br />
Mom: How is Daddy like a spider?<br />
Katie: He crawls so much...to Laramie!<br />
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August 26, 2011 ·<br />
Dancing with Katie last night, and she says, "I'm dancing with Daddy like a prince!" (She's big into disney princesses)<br />
Mom: "Are you his princess?"<br />
Katie: "I am a little princess. Mommy is a big princess."<br />
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September 1, 2011 ·<br />
It's a special moment in any daddy's heart when his little girl first says those three immortal words: "Slow-Witted Brute."<br />
Thank you, Beauty and the Beast.<br />
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September 5, 2011 ·<br />
Uh oh. Katie just excitedly proclaimed, "We are going to take a bike ride to the p-a-r-k." What do we do now that she's caught onto our spelling trick?<br />
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September 10, 2011 ·<br />
We just got back from the air show. Missed the P-51, but got to watch the AT6 do some fly bys. Katie kept saying, "It is not scary. It is not scary." Then stopped for a burger at the Gannett, and blew a tube on the bike trailer on the way home. An eventful morning!<br />
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November 7, 2011 ·<br />
Taking an after-dark walk with mom, Katie in the stroller. A car rolls by.<br />
Katie: "Is that someone driving?"<br />
Dad: "I believe it is."<br />
Pause...<br />
Katie (singing) : "Someone's driving, Lord, kum ba ya..."<br />
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November 17, 2011 ·<br />
Katie has decided that the fish in the fish tank are smoked salmon.<br />
"They will be so yummy!" If only it were true.<br />
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November 19, 2011 ·<br />
Katie, looking at a toy wolf: "The wolf has sharp toes."<br />
Dad: "Those are claws.<br />
Katie: "Does the wolf have claws?"<br />
Dad: "Wolves have claws so they can run fast."<br />
Katie: "And catch tasty animals!"<br />
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November 29, 2011 · Lander ·<br />
Katito woke up this morning and said, in her sweetly matter-of-fact way, "I miss my pacifiers and my jumparoo, Daddy." It makes me sad. I hope the joys of growing up eventually outweigh the bummers.<br />
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November 29, 2011 ·<br />
Katie was in her bath tonight with her rubber ducky singing, "There's a duck in the sea of Galilee." I think Jesse, Jared, and Joe can pretty much take credit for that one.<br />
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December 7, 2011 ·<br />
Tonight, we thanked God for hair spray, wipes, and sanitizer. It was Katie's idea.<br />
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December 14, 2011 ·<br />
I just burned my finger with a match lighting the wood stove, and told Katie as much. She decided to "pretend to be a doctor and make daddy better." She did this by waving various kitchen utensils over my body, touching the affected finger with the handle of a frying pan, and listening to my heart with a spatula.<br />
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December 16, 2011 ·<br />
Sarah has been teaching Katie about cooking. Today, at the store, Sarah was looking for a bag of sugar. Katie wanted to know where the "whole wheat sugar" was.<br />
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December 16, 2011 ·<br />
Katie (while "reading" a science spider book to her stuffed animal): "Once upon a time in a magical kingdom there was a spider. He was friends with this spider. And that spider. And that one. And that one. He liked all the spiders the favorite. The end."<br />
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December 19, 2011<br />
Katie: I am strong, daddy.<br />
Dad: Good. It's good to have a strong body, a strong heart, and a strong mind.<br />
Katie: And a strong Popsicle!!!<br />
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January 2, 2012 ·<br />
After an evening of extreme goofiness ("Super swimming!" with assorted zoo animals in the pretend ocean on our living room floor, among other things), I was changing Katie into her PJs. Out of the blue she closed her eyes, folded her hands, and said, "God, thank you for soft blankets, and for marshmallows that feel us happy, and for water to drink and swim in, and for mammals and fish. Amen."<br />
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January 7, 2012 ·<br />
Tonight, we thanked God for walls, baskets, and changing tables.<br />
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January 14, 2012<br />
Katie has already figured out the problem with diets. This morning, while munching her apple spice pancakes, she whispered conspiratorially, "Calories is FUN."<br />
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January 21, 2012 · Lander ·<br />
So, we were watching bugs bunny this morning, the one where he's a matador fighting this big, shaggy, foul-tempered bull. Katie says, "Is that yak being naughty?" That's my girl.<br />
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January 22, 2012<br />
I told Katie we were sad because it is Baby David's birthday and we miss him. Now she is in the Pretend Kitchen making him a birthday cake.<br />
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February 7, 2012<br />
Last night for dinner: Grilled venison sirloin smothered in mushrooms, bacon cheddar hash browns, and Katie's stories about the elk she shot with her pretend rifle.<br />
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February 15, 2012<br />
Katie: "The aquarium is very deep. The fish are eating the plants. They should not eat the plants! They have their own food."<br />
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February 21, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: An ambulance is kinda like a big, noisy truck. It has sirens to help sick people not get burned.<br />
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February 27, 2012 ·<br />
"Mountains are big, big rocks. They are too heavy to throw into the pond."<br />
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February 27, 2012 ·<br />
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Mom and Katie were playing with the numbers on the fridge. She would say a number, like, "twenty-four," and I would put a "24" up. So she picked 24, 26, 23, 21, and then she paused and said, "How about twenty-zero?" And then she wanted to know why you couldn't just write twenty with only a 2.</div>
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February 18, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, looking at a picture book: "That baby's attitude is squishy."<br />
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February 22, 2012<br />
Sarah told Katie we were going to "camp out" in her hospital room tonight. Katie thought about this for a moment, then asked, "Are you gonna roast marshmallows?"<br />
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February 23, 2012<br />
This morning, Sarah was lying under one of those loosely knit hospital blankets. Katie pointed out, "Mommy's hospital blanket is leaky!"<br />
<br />
February 27, 2012 ·<br />
Katie's random phrase for the evening is 'dumbstruck amazement.' She has no idea what it means, so it's making for some creative sentences. So everyone, please try to use it in at least one sentence tonight.<br />
<br />
Also, "I thought I saw a man deep sea diving in the fish tank."<br />
<br />
March 6, 2012 ·<br />
My daughter just said "otocinclus" for the first time. I'm so proud.<br />
<br />
March 6, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: Today is Tuesday so Daddy has to work. Auntie Liz has to work. But she does not have instruments in her classroom. She teaches scientists. Grandma does not have to work. She is in Michigan. I wish I had to go to Michigan with her.<br />
Me: Michigan is an even longer car ride than Cheyenne.<br />
Katie: Oh.<br />
<br />
March 6, 2012 ·<br />
Katie (one train of thought): We could play Moon dough today. Yaks make milk for their babies. Tarantulas are predators. I think that is a very big pumpkin. I bet the biggest one would be even cool and bigger to make pumpkin pie. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...<br />
It's like watch someone flip through Tv channels. Gotta love her mealtimes dialogue.<br />
<br />
March 19, 2012 ·<br />
I just taught Katie to say, "I repeat myself incessantly!" She is now repeating this fun new phrase, well, incessantly.<br />
<br />
March 31, 2012 ·<br />
Last night, Katie was in her pretend kitchen making me "yummy apple slices and banana corn beef." This morning, she thinks the fish want some ice cream. I am so grateful that God designed small children so that they are too short to actually do these things...<br />
<br />
Clarification: The fish are sick, and she will make 'em better with ice cream. So.<br />
<br />
April 11, 2012 ·<br />
Any time the toddler is trying something and asks, "Is this a good idea?"...you pretty much already know the answer.<br />
<br />
April 15, 2012 ·<br />
Was just out walking with Katie in the pea-size hail. She called the hail stones "Snow drops." Makes sense to me. Katie was trying to pick one up and eat it, but she's so pokey they kept melting. She'd finally get around to bringing her fingers up to her mouth, then say, "HEY! It's GONE!"<br />
<br />
April 18, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, while contemplating a beans-and-peppers dish, was singing,<br />
"Peace and Joy,<br />
and happiness,<br />
be-ean bean bean<br />
Some day..."<br />
<br />
April 21, 2012 ·<br />
As I was helping her get ready for bed, my sweet daughter asked me, with a completely straight face, "Daddy, what does 'peace and quiet' mean?"<br />
Good question, sweetheart...<br />
<br />
May 4, 2012 ·<br />
Katie just informed me that grizzly bears are not good to eat. Good to know.<br />
<br />
May 6, 2012 ·<br />
Katie is lying in bed singing her own version of "All Creatures of our God and King" at the top of her lungs. Never a dull moment...I love her!<br />
<br />
May 15, 2012 ·<br />
We have a couple mallards hanging out on the pond. Tonight, Sarah and I were talking about eating mangos, and Katie, the great toddler linguist, noticed the similarity and starting talking about eating mallards. I asked her how she would accomplish this. "We will get scuba dice and go under the pond. Then we can get the mallards and eat them. They will be so yummy."<br />
<br />
May 16, 2012 ·<br />
The duck's name is Kersook.<br />
<br />
May 20, 2012 ·<br />
Mom: "We're going to a graduation party, because your big buddies are growing up today!"<br />
Katie: "... Will there be cake???"<br />
<br />
May 26, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, getting ready to go out and play in the rain: "I'm tough. I don't need pants."<br />
<br />
June 3, 2012 ·<br />
Katie just informed me that I "will never get stale." Can I have that in writing, please?<br />
She also said she wants to live in Lander close to us when she grows up. She's quite upset that her "big buddies" (the youth group) are growing up and moving, so she was quite concerned that people move away.<br />
<br />
June 4, 2012 ·<br />
Katie just used the word "wedgie." Correctly. This makes me happy.<br />
<br />
June 10, 2012 ·<br />
Me: "What book do you want to read, Katie?"<br />
Katie, with the Amelia Bedelia book: "Let's read Medilia...Nemelia...this one!"<br />
<br />
July 4, 2012 ·<br />
"Daddy, I think you look very pretty *without* a dress."<br />
<br />
July 8, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: "I have a new tri-apple-on to do. It has ballet, biking, running, and swimming."<br />
<br />
July 8, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, triumphantly holding aloft her straw: "The Straw says, 'I AM A STRAW!' "<br />
It is hard to argue with such logic.<br />
<br />
<b><u>AGE 3</u></b><br />
<img alt="No photo description available." height="320" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/398683_10200256833207338_302804287_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=93f772ea84cbf04d0b9dbad99d5e5c05&oe=5D68778E" width="240" /><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
July 12, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, enthusiastically whacking the porch with a stick: "This is a thrail stick."<br />
Dad: "A frail stick?"<br />
Katie: "No, a Thrail stick. And when an animal comes in the house, you thrail 'em with it. TH-RAIL! That is what Spanish men say to bad animals."<br />
It just gets weirder and weirder…<br />
<br />
July 20, 2012 ·<br />
Katie's balloon is named Cornelius. I thought you'd want to know.<br />
<br />
August 7, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: "Nimrod [the small cat] dashed into my bed, faster than a slug!!!"<br />
And you know, she's right! Unlike some cats around here…<br />
<br />
August 8, 2012 ·<br />
Dad: "I have to go into town and get a hair cut."<br />
Katie: "Why? Is your hair all saggy and not looking very good?"<br />
Well, yes, I suppose that is the problem.<br />
<br />
August 9, 2012 ·<br />
"The straw says, 'Yay! I'm in the apple juice!' "<br />
<br />
August 13, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, talking about a big buck deer we saw: "I think that deer is a mommy deer. And I think now she is laying down. And I think she was laying eggs for her babies. And I think the daddy deer hatched out of the BIG egg."<br />
Sometimes you just don't know where to start...<br />
<br />
August 23, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, looking very seriously at a picture of Saturn in an astronomy book:<br />
"Do planets live in space? I think they look like...like big space oranges."<br />
A few pages later, looking at a diagram of the planets lined up, I point to earth and tell her that is where we live. She points at Jupiter. "Is that where Cody is?"<br />
A few pages still later, she suddenly turns to me and says, "Dad, this stuff wears me out."<br />
<br />
August 28, 2012 ·<br />
Earlier this evening, I heard Katie petting Nimrod and calling him "Precious." One Kitten to Rule Them All…<br />
<br />
August 31, 2012 ·<br />
Dad: "Good night, little girl."<br />
Girl: "Good night, big man."<br />
<br />
September 16, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, dressing up her doll: This princess is more perfect than I thought she could be!<br />
Daddy: But you know, it isn't a dress that really makes you beautiful.<br />
Katie: What makes you beautiful?<br />
Daddy: Your heart. How nice you are to people.<br />
Katie: Yeah, and you know what? Jewelry can make you beautiful, too!<br />
Well, we'll keep trying.<br />
<br />
October 14, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: "Obama is a funny sounding name." Stay tuned for opinions on "Mitt."<br />
<br />
October 14, 2012 ·<br />
While riding her bike yesterday, Katie observed that riding her bike was "harder than watching Tv." Guess she is an American.<br />
<br />
October 26, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: "Actually, some ballerinas hate dancing."<br />
Complex critters, those ballerinas.<br />
<br />
October 27, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: What does 'apply' mean?<br />
Mom: It usually means to put something on.<br />
Katie: I need to apply my PJs.<br />
<br />
November 12, 2012 ·<br />
I love my daughter. We were listening to some Enya while playing tonight. During bath time, she asked for her boats. While pushing them around, she started singing, "Sail away, sail away, sail away..."<br />
Then there was the part where she requested the Guacamole Song...<br />
<br />
November 15, 2012<br />
Katie: Daddy, do you have to do to work?<br />
Daddy: Yes, I to.<br />
Katie: Why?<br />
D: Because if I don't go to work, there is no money.<br />
K: (thinking hard) Wellllll...Sometimes people shearch around the house and find lots of money that way.<br />
D: I like how you're thinking, but that money still comes from work.<br />
K: Wellllll...(thinking very hard) Sometimes people find money in a piggy bank! THAT could solve our problem!<br />
I was tempted to go into a quick lesson on economics, but decided to just savor the cuteness.<br />
<br />
November 18, 2012 ·<br />
Katie: Brrrrr!<br />
Dad: Yep, that breeze is pretty chilly, isn't it?<br />
Katie: Yeah, I think there's gotta be some sort of cold thing goin' on!<br />
<br />
November 30, 2012 ·<br />
Katie, looking at the "The Universe" book: Space is quite beautiful.<br />
Dad: It can be.<br />
Katie: It is dangerous, too.<br />
Dad: Yes.<br />
Katie: You have to be careful, because I don't want to get whacked in outer space!<br />
<br />
December 2, 2012 ·<br />
Katie and Mommy are decorating a gingerbread house. Mommy has just reminded Katie (again) that if she eats this candy, there will be nothing left to decorate the house. Katie says, sadly and earnestly, "Well, it's a problem, mommy. They're just so tasty."<br />
<br />
December 7, 2012 ·<br />
Did some sword-fighting with my wife and daughter tonight, using empty wrapping paper tubes as weapons. Much hollering, giggling, and goofy-mean faces. And Katie, my alliterative daughter, yelling "This is a funny family fight!"<br />
Ah, it's these peaceful, heart-warming moments at home that make the holidays special…<br />
<br />
December 13, 2012 ·<br />
News from the home front: Katie jumped (was lowered, according to mom) off the low dive today in swim class. "I just dived right in there!!!"<br />
<br />
December 29, 2012 ·<br />
Katie wanted to give thanks for dinner--cereal with blueberries--so I told her to go ahead. She warned me that it would be a very short prayer, and I said that was OK. She folded her hands and said, "God, thank you for donuts. Amen."<br />
<br />
January 8, 2013<br />
Tonight, Katie was telling stories about when she "Used to be a grown up." Apparently, she was quite a polar explorer, back in the day, since she regaled me with stories of going to Antarctica to see penguins, and also to the North Pole. And here we pick up the conversation:<br />
Dad: What did you eat at the North Pole?<br />
KT: Mostly polar bear meat.<br />
Dad: Do polar bears taste like chicken?<br />
KT (scandalized) : No!!<br />
Mom: What do they taste like?<br />
KT: Muffins.<br />
Let us hope this is not true, and if it is, let us hope it does not become common knowledge. Polar bears are in enough trouble as it is...<br />
<br />
January 14, 2013 ·<br />
My three-year-old just spent a half hour watching, with rapt attention, a youtube video of Masur/New York playing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. We were halfway through the fourth movement before she lost interest. It's in her blood, I guess. Observations from my budding music critic:<br />
"There are some fiddles!"<br />
"This is powerful music!" (She might have been quoting me, there, so I don't know if that counts)<br />
"This is a really good band!"<br />
"That director sure is hairy!" (NOT quoting me on that one, though she was quite correct)<br />
"Where do the string basses live?"<br />
And best of all: "I want to join an orchestra like that one."<br />
<br />
January 16, 2013 ·<br />
"Remember when Mr Phil was being a bad example to LaRhea's cat?"<br />
<br />
January 30, 2013 ·<br />
Listening to some quiet music (George Winston) on Pandora.<br />
Katie: This sounds like some sad music.<br />
Dad: No, it isn't sad, just calm and peaceful.<br />
Katie: Well, maybe if we play this for Lucy Dog it will help her calm down.<br />
If only it were that easy…<br />
<br />
February 9, 2013 ·<br />
Katie marches into my room, wearing a grimace and a pair of wrap around sunglasses (upside down and crooked) and asks earnestly, "Do I look scary, dad?"<br />
<br />
February 16, 2013 ·<br />
"Colds are really boring...and sad...and it <i>makes</i> me sad to have a cold, cause...it kinda hurts my body." --Katito<br />
<br />
February 17, 2013 ·<br />
Naming the new dog.<br />
Katie: I like "Ursa."<br />
Dad: Are you still going to like it five minutes from now?<br />
Katie (completely serious): Six minutes.<br />
I guess that's about as good as you can expect…<br />
<br />
February 24, 2013 ·<br />
I love the way Katie says "cobbler." It has three syllables: Cobbuhler.<br />
<br />
February 24, 2013 ·<br />
Katie: "Doncha think being a princess is more fun than *not* being a princess?"<br />
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one.<br />
<br />
March 1, 2013 ·<br />
The fire siren just went off, provoking Katito to share fantasies about being a slurry bomber pilot. I have mixed feeling about this idea…<br />
<br />
March 2, 2013 ·<br />
Katie, singing:<br />
"A goldfish went swimming, swimming swimming<br />
A goldfish went swimming<br />
Then she met a shark and it swallowed her."<br />
<br />
March 2, 2013 ·<br />
Katie is playing a song on the piano. It is called, "Dictionaries to the Film."<br />
<br />
March 6, 2013 ·<br />
"Jesus is the boss of death."<br />
<br />
March 10, 2013 ·<br />
"My brain doesn't feel fancy."<br />
<br />
March 14, 2013 ·<br />
"Know what, dad? You always catch flies if ya waste more vinegar!"<br />
<br />
March 17, 2013 ·<br />
"Pretty much everything is fun. Except kidnapping."<br />
<br />
March 28, 2013 ·<br />
"Does 'I don't see why not' mean 'yes'?"<br />
<br />
April 22, 2013 ·<br />
"Below the sky is people; below people is dirt, and below the dirt is the ditch." Crumble before my daughter's irrefutable logic.<br />
<br />
April 28, 2013 ·<br />
Riding home from church.<br />
Katie: I'm hot.<br />
Dad: Don't talk in a whiny voice.<br />
Katie: I'm hot, please.<br />
<br />
May 25, 2013 ·<br />
"Flip flops are like rafts for your feet."<br />
<br />
May 29, 2013 · Lander ·<br />
Well, we finished planting the garden. But, as Katie just pointed out, "We didn't plant shells or pigment." *shrug*<br />
<br />
May 31, 2013 ·<br />
Last night, instead of a bed time book, Katie asked me to tell her the story of Paul and Silas in jail. I did. There followed a long, very detailed, mostly one-sided discussion of what the jailer might have fed them for that midnight snack. Top candidates were peanut butter and jelly, guacamole, salad with celery, and bananas. Maybe it's time we start giving our daughter a bed time snack, hmmmm?<br />
<br />
June 7, 2013 ·<br />
"My imagination is a purple Christmas tree that glows in the darkness."<br />
<br />
July 1, 2013 ·<br />
Katie: How long ago were YOU three, daddy?<br />
Daddy: Oh, about thirty-nine years ago.<br />
Katie: Wow... ... ... How long ago did the dinosaurs live?<br />
<br />
*****<br />
Tune in next time for part two...<br />
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Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-66427933439734023772018-12-24T15:23:00.004-08:002021-05-09T16:20:11.320-07:00Self-nocksI have been learning a lot of new skills lately: Nixtamalizing corn from the garden, sewing, leatherworking, and this one: Building arrows from scratch. This is a store-bought sitka spruce shaft with store-bought feathers, but it has something I've never tried before: A self-nock. That means the little notch that goes on the string is carved into the wood itself, rather than a little piece of plastic glued on the end.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWs0n7ND-pF3-J9QQyH-1vOtA5PJpZREWLIec7A0eNtl4Z7Cwwuyhm4OaU-If5G8nQHImFnirSH-5UNDKRSEuLS1ksA5jd5OEIxK05b4zdVTk2j-jueEqAJxuTOj42na5NKLj8z8jb7w/s1600/IMG_20181224_161143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="731" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWs0n7ND-pF3-J9QQyH-1vOtA5PJpZREWLIec7A0eNtl4Z7Cwwuyhm4OaU-If5G8nQHImFnirSH-5UNDKRSEuLS1ksA5jd5OEIxK05b4zdVTk2j-jueEqAJxuTOj42na5NKLj8z8jb7w/s320/IMG_20181224_161143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I carved it out perpendicular to the grain with 4 mini-hacksaw blades taped together; finished with a 1/8" file and 140 grit sand paper. Wrapped with silk thread coated in Duco.<br />
<br />
I am having a devil of a time getting the cuts dead center on the shaft. I've been practicing on some old, broken POC shafts. This is the first one I've tried that might actually shoot. I plan on giving it a try tomorrow once the glue is all cured up. I hope I've done it right. I'm guessing an exploding arrow coming out of a 60# longbow isn't going to feel good.<br />
<br />
Once I master this, I'm going to try fletching with some raw turkey feathers. Then I'll try making my own shafts from chokecherry shoots. That's a ways off yet, but the direction I'm going. Hopefully by then, I'll be able to actually hit something with this new bow of mine.<br />
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Edit: My second nock is a lot better, and went a lot faster. Progress!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFKkG_Ru1fg5lBaFLyDImJLh-O1sDvUKFtfLctYGl6sw_uKw-eZzLN6GpxvuIlb2FSW1L_XhV-eWa4Gm2wIdxyaCBR2Gtwh4RjgrPx6fZx6Av_yQm-cgBUyuah_LKWTRAVUaBnLjGH64/s1600/IMG_20181225_181003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="654" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFKkG_Ru1fg5lBaFLyDImJLh-O1sDvUKFtfLctYGl6sw_uKw-eZzLN6GpxvuIlb2FSW1L_XhV-eWa4Gm2wIdxyaCBR2Gtwh4RjgrPx6fZx6Av_yQm-cgBUyuah_LKWTRAVUaBnLjGH64/s320/IMG_20181225_181003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Edit: Here are some I made with home-processed turkey feathers, sitka spruce shafts, self-nocks wrapped with silk, and "stained" by rubbing them with dandelion flowers. </div>
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(It takes about six blossoms per shaft to arrive at this depth of yellow. Sometimes it's good to have a nine-year old daughter)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTMW-HQDtIcHWEjbVBtoNKLGppLLjzRO35BSeOxO2cYmABrJnMfBlZ3kBlbsCGWjWtC7MdhIgKCPaLlKf79QNmcoocDxJwyYWdyhKQ_vpFjD9_aoCm88jO65wy4Ld9Z8ouZljrIJc4F8/s1600/IMG_20190625_165237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTMW-HQDtIcHWEjbVBtoNKLGppLLjzRO35BSeOxO2cYmABrJnMfBlZ3kBlbsCGWjWtC7MdhIgKCPaLlKf79QNmcoocDxJwyYWdyhKQ_vpFjD9_aoCm88jO65wy4Ld9Z8ouZljrIJc4F8/s320/IMG_20190625_165237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLn6Vf7Xxu1r5_eW2Y1EZeOP5korXMPPNnv1mjhMKt2EQPLSB5FBdwANEzSK-_ZMx_rYeaF-S64clThLrrGkqCdHD1tkdhKmKEmSFa0cAafD-bqj7Gffs4W51YnP0d33zMo1T4ruQ6OQ/s1600/20210509_170639%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLn6Vf7Xxu1r5_eW2Y1EZeOP5korXMPPNnv1mjhMKt2EQPLSB5FBdwANEzSK-_ZMx_rYeaF-S64clThLrrGkqCdHD1tkdhKmKEmSFa0cAafD-bqj7Gffs4W51YnP0d33zMo1T4ruQ6OQ/s320/20210509_170639%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-38008203308958097832018-07-26T06:41:00.001-07:002019-05-03T08:03:38.315-07:00Some Thoughts on Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I often hear people say that God answers prayers one of four ways: Yes; No; Wait; and I've got something better. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">That sounds nice, and contains some truth, but scripture doesn't really articulate it that way.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A while back, while struggling with the fact that so many sincere prayers seem to go unanswered, I did </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">some very deep study on what the New Testament actually promises about prayer. I did a lot of digging </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">i</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre;">nto the Greek, and found some very important nuances I had not noticed before. I did not find what I </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">wanted to find, but I did come to a much more difficult yet more satisfying understanding that I believe </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">might just be worth sharing.
This is just a quick survey, not a full-blown study; I am just going to share some conclusions without really </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">going into how I reached those conclusions, because I know how busy you are.
To greatly oversimplify, the New Testament teaches that God answers prayer one of three ways:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1. Yes. I'll give this to you. Here you go.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2. You have my blessing. Now get to work and go get it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3. You are asking for the wrong thing. Let go of your selfishness and learn wisdom and humility. Let </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; white-space: pre;">me redirect you and bring you closer to my will.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">These three answers are worth considering when, for example, the loved one with cancer does not </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">recover, the desired job opportunity does not pan out, or the desperately needed relationship falls apart, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">all in spite of your most fervent, most faith-full prayers.
Interspersed through these teachings are three other very important concepts: Waiting, Jesus’ name, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and misplacing of belief.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1. Wait. This idea comes up again and again. God acts on his time scale, not mine, and I should have </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">enough faith to remain calm if things don't happen when I think they should.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2. In Jesus' name. Rather than being an all-purpose addendum I mindlessly say at the end of a prayer </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in hopes of getting my way, "in Jesus' name" should serve as a big speed bump in my thinkin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">g: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am praying </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on Jesus' authority. Is this </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> what Jesus, with his eternal perspective, would want me to request</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">? If I don't have a completely honest answer for that, I should pray for wisdom instead</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, because the </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">point of prayer is not for me to get my way in my worldly desires. The point is for me to be included in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">God's desires.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3. Don't misplace your belief. This misunderstanding is, I believe, responsible for most of the confusion </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">about prayer, including my own. So while still trying to keep it simple, I will spend a bit more time here.
"All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22 NAS) This promise is </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">conditional on one’s belief. But in what are we believing? It should not be taken mean, "If you really </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">force yourself to believe in the thing prayed for, no matter how selfish it might be, you'll get it." Rather, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">it means "If you really believe (in God's identity, character, and the things he has actually promised you, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and if that belief informs everything you do and everything for which you ask) then you will receive what </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">you ask for (because you will be asking for the right things, and be willing to wait for, work for, and take </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hold of them)." See also Proverbs 16:3. Do you know why all our plans succeed when everything we </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">do is committed to the Lord? Because our plans come into line with his plans. And when that happens, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">we can't go wrong.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Similarly, Mark 11 says that when you pray, you should “believe that you have [already] received it, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and it will be yours.” I no longer believe that this means, "When you pray for rain, bring your umbrella." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It means what it says: Pray for, and believe in, what we have already received. So, what is it that I have </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">already received? What promises, provisions, and blessings has Jesus already made available to me? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Do I really want those things to fully be part of my life? (This is not a question to be taken lightly) Those </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">are the things I should be praying for, and (duh) of course I will receive them: They are already mine. I </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">just need to reach out and take them.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Here’s the key: The belief Jesus speaks of is in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>the Source</u></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of the blessings, not in the specific thing </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">prayed for. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Once more: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the point of prayer is not for me to get what I want; it for me to be granted the honor of </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being the instrument through which God gets what he wants. Once the disciple gets his/her head around that, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayer becomes much more challenging, but infinitely more satisfying.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-42066804698293002032016-10-31T19:05:00.001-07:002016-10-31T19:31:59.657-07:00A Halloween StoryHis name was Lon. Looking back, he was a rather pathetic fifth grader with a big mouth who got a feeling of power by terrorizing younger kids. But at the time, he was the Lord of the Neighborhood. His word was law, and usually, his word was something frightening and humiliating. He was a Big Kid. And he had two big, dumb buddies to back him up.<br />
<br />
My dad didn't know about Lon when we made Jack O' Lantern Man. It was just a fun thing to do: Stuff a set of his coveralls, set the resulting body in a lawn chair, and put a pumpkin on top for a head. It was my dad's creativity and love of taking things a step further that made him prop the old car speaker up behind Jack's head, with a wire hooked in that led up to a microphone in our upstairs window. We could sit up there, in the dark, and give Jack a voice. To the little ones, his voice was friendly and happy. To the bigger kids, the ones who enjoy being scared just a bit, his voice was menacing (but still funny). It was a beautiful thing, good for lots of laughs, jumps, and Halloween cheer.<br />
<br />
Things had pretty much wrapped up for the night, and the porch light had just been turned off--the universally understood signal for "We're out of candy and we don't want any more trick-or-treaters"--when the three Big Kids came up the sidewalk. Even in the dark, I recognized Lon by his swagger, and his two buddies by their knuckles dragging on the ground. It was obvious that they were too cool to wear costumes, and they were just out causing trouble. And, in a brazen breech of small-town ethics, they ignored the darkened porch light and rang the door bell.<br />
<br />
Dad wanted to know, "Who are these clowns?" I told him this was Lon, and he and his buddies were not nice guys. I might have mentioned the fact that he was mean to younger kids. I might have, oh, possibly whispered a few details about how he had threatened to hurt me and my friends. Fatherly wisdom dictated no candy for such scum of the earth, so the doorbell went unanswered.<br />
<br />
Lon rang it again. And again.<br />
<br />
No answer.<br />
<br />
Jack's candle burned, casting an eerie, orange glow about the yard.<br />
<br />
The tension mounted.<br />
<br />
Convinced that no one was home and the house was undefended, Lon began poking around, looking for some petty damage he could do, and his attention almost immediately turned to the jack o' lantern. Backed up by his smirking buddies, he strutted over to Jack, preparing with an exaggerated wind-up to knock Jack's head off.<br />
<br />
And at that moment, out of the darkness, in the thundering voice of my father...Jack spoke.<br />
<br />
YOU TOUCH ME AND I'LL RIP YOUR ARM OFF!<br />
<br />
I don't think, up to that moment, I had ever seen what utter terror looked like. Lon's eyes bugged out and his mouth gaped as he leaped several feet up and several yards backwards, landing flat on his back in the grass. Lon's Neanderthal buddies, who were standing several feet back and thus only mildly startled, immediately saw what had happened. The guffawing from the upstairs window might have tipped them off; I don't know. But in a moment, they were laughing too.<br />
<br />
At Lon. The Big Kid.<br />
<br />
Lon, of course, picked himself up immediately and feigned bored disdain for the whole thing, but the damage was done, the armor of Big Kid invincibility cracked. And somehow, the next day, all my friends at school knew what had happened.<br />
<br />
I guess that in a perfect world, Lon and I would have become friends. I can't say that happened--his scare sure didn't cure him of being a jerk. But I sure don't remember him seeming all that scary after that, or having quite so big a mouth.<br />
<br />
I guess it was a learning experience for both of us: A bully's humiliation was a scrawny third-grader's liberation. <br />
<br />
Happy Halloween!<br />
<br />
<br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-26985615256426427402016-06-12T06:44:00.002-07:002019-05-24T08:58:32.191-07:0045 Things I Have Learned<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I complete my forty-fifth trip around the sun. If the numbers pan out, I should be about halfway to the finish line of this race we call life. I'm happy to announce that some of the aid stations in this race have bacon. And I'm pretty sure I'm on my way to a PR. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've tried to keep my eyes open and pay attention along the way, and I have picked up a few lessons that I try to live by. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here are 45 of them--just one per year, because that's about as fast as life-lessons can penetrate my skull.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Determining the right thing is seldom complicated. Doing the right thing is seldom easy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. A person who will not ask for help in time of need is just as morally screwed-up as a person who will not offer it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. If you ever hear yourself saying, "God wants me to be happy," beware. God wants you to be faithful. The happiness will follow.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Here's the cure for boredom: Find something that needs done. Go to it.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. There's really no point trying to</span> change anybody but myself.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. If you really want to fight for your family, quit fighting with your spouse. In the long run, peace is often more important than vindication, and winning is seldom worth the damage.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Depression is real, and it is true what they say about it: You cannot just "get over it;" you cannot just will it to go away. All you can do it fight it, with every spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational weapon that comes to hand. When that crushing, unreasoning despair comes down, just finding the courage to fight is a major victory.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Always accept when someone offers you a breath mint.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Being a Christian isn't about being right; it's about submitting to Jesus, because he is right.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. There are very few obstacles in this world that cannot be cut down to size by love, hard work, and perseverance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Make kids laugh whenever and however you can.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 17px;">
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">12. </span>No matter how badly I want it to be otherwise, very few things are about me. The more I make peace with this truth, the happier I am.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. "But" is one of the most powerful words in our language, and it gives its power to whatever comes after it. "I'm sorry, but..." is a pretty poor excuse for an apology. "This is hard, but..." are the words of someone on the verge of overcoming. Don't ever say "I love you, but..."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Act like a kid when you can. Act like a grown-up when you need to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15. </span>Sometimes God answers my prayer by changing the situation to suit me. Sometimes he changes me to suit the situation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. "The Golden Rule" doesn't go away when the other person is wrong; indeed, that is the only time it really becomes necessary. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. If the person across from you admits that they were wrong, that doesn't necessarily mean that you were right.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. The more important and complex the topic--politics, religion, parenthood, ethics, the environment, that sort of thing--the more important it becomes to approach it with calmness, open-mindedness, and humility. Bring your best spirit and your best thinking to these topics; approach them to learn, not merely to win; don't bother engaging with those who do not do likewise, especially if they agree with you. The implications are too big for anything less than your best.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. Aging gracefully has a lot to do with learning one's limitations without being imprisoned by them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. The Bible tells us to confess our own sins, so that we may be healed. It's a whole lot easier to confess everybody else's sins.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. No matter what you see in the movies, angry outbursts almost always make things worse, not better.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. There is nothing that happens--Nothing--that God cannot redeem and turn into something beautiful, if we just trust him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. Gratitude is the great stabilizer of the soul: It contains the remedy for arrogance and shame, for laziness and perfectionism, for despair and over-confidence. Thankfulness brings humility without humiliation, contentment without apathy, confidence without pride, and great riches without greed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. There is always something to be thankful for. Always.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25. Don't be shocked and outraged when life is hard. It's supposed to be. If hard times take you by surprise, you haven't been paying attention.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26. If someone offends you, it probably isn't worth taking it all that seriously.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27. It takes great courage to love and serve in the face of injustice, heartbreak, pain, brokenness. Those who choose to do so are worthy of recognition and great respect.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28. Sometimes it's easy to ignore the acre of wild flowers and focus in on the dog turd over in the corner.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29. We cannot teach our children to be creative risk-takers by forcing their teachers to play it safe, teach to the test, and go with the flow.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30. There's nothing like a long rainstorm in the back-country to make people hoist their true colors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31. If you don't know what to say, there's no need to open your mouth and demonstrate.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32. Being a parent frequently feels like grabbing the child's hand and leading them on a tight-rope walk between adventure and safety. Sheltering and equipping. Confidence and humility. Work and play. Independence and respect for authority. Compassion and toughness. Moms and dads tend to come down on opposite sides of these extremes. I guess that's why kids need both.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33. Faith is a journey, not a destination. When you start thinking you've arrived, you can be pretty sure you've lost your way. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">34. </span> Pride and shame are the same problem. If you are stuck looking in the mirror, focused on your own self-image, you are just as enslaved whether you like what you see or not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">35. "S</span>truggling with sin" is a good thing. It's when we quit struggling that we're really in trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36. If the scenery doesn't match up with the map, go back to the last place that looked familiar, and just relax for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">37. If you're going to make threats or ultimatums, you'd better be good and prepared to follow up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">38. W</span>orship isn't just something that happens on Sunday morning. Worship has to be a way of life, if it's to be worth anything.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39. It's pretty hard to feel stressed while running up and down mountains. It's pretty hard to feel angry with a fish on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40. You really shouldn't do yoga in a kilt.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">41. When in doubt, put down the phone, turn off the computer, and get in the real world with family and friends, sunshine and wind.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42. Love people for who they are, not for what you need from them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">43. "Weep with those who weep" means just that. Sharing another person's suffering is very uncomfortable, and it is all too easy to minimize or explain away the suffering, not so much to comfort the sufferer, but to diminish our own discomfort. But consider how God deals with us in our suffering: He seldom makes it go away and he hardly ever explains it to us; he walks with us through it. He expects us to do the same for each other. It isn't supposed to be comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">44. A person who has stopped learning has no business teaching.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">45. Growth takes time. Learning the right way, and learning to walk in that way, is a long process. If you're a friend of mine, you've probably had to be patient with me at some point. Thanks. I'm getting there.</span></div>
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Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-20212226484620557552016-05-23T06:52:00.000-07:002019-05-24T08:56:03.013-07:00NC-217's Dream: A Short Screenplay<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">Setting: <i>An empty cafeteria, with a large window looking out upon a starry sky.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">Two armored Imperial Storm Troopers walk into the room, chatting amicably, carrying lunch boxes. They sit down and remove their helmets. NC-217 is a young, blond man in his late teens. PG-8115 is a few years older, with dark hair. They open their lunch boxes and begin to eat.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: [Around mouthfuls of food] So, I had the craziest dream last night.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: Yeah?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: Yeah. You were in it, too. There was this big rebellion against the Empire...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Snorts loudly] Like that's gonna happen. I'm telling you, kid, this Death Star is the key to peace in this galaxy. Once we finish welding those blast grates over the thermal exhaust ports...Nobody's gonna make trouble now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: Yeah, but in this dream, there was a rebellion, and get this--you and me were in it. I think we were even some kind of leaders. It was awesome--We got to fly around in fighters, be big heroes, and kiss pretty girls, and...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Laughs] Wishful thinking, kid. Wishful thinking. Just once I'd love to get behind the controls of one of those Tie fighters. Lemme tell you something about pretty girls, though...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: [Laughing] No, no, no! I was flying a fighter of some kind and brought down an ATAT...With a HARPOON! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Snorts and nearly chokes on a mouthful of food; grabs a thermos and takes a drink]</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: We had civilian names, too. Check this out: I was...[with exaggerated drama] Luke...SKYWALKER!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Spits coffee across table] Oh, that's beautiful! Suits you. How 'bout me? Do I get a name in this dream universe?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: Han Solo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: Hmmm...I like yours better.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: Oh, but the name of your ship--get this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: I had my own ship? This gets better and better!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: Yeah. The Millennium Fahlcon.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Snorts again] Well, that's more like it. Millennium Fahlcon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: It could make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Glances at clock on wall, stands and begins rapidly repacking lunch box] Hey, kid, we're gonna HAVE to run if we're gonna make it to target practice on time. Come on!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">217: [Stands up and begins packing box] Target practice! So in this dream, you and me? Rag-tag rebels with no training? We couldn't MISS with our blasters. But the Imperial Storm Troopers? Couldn't hit anything. It was crazy--like they were missing on purpose or something.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">8115: [Pulling on helmet and walking off stage] Yeah, that's great, kid. Next you're gonna tell me we got massacred by teddy bears, or something. Come on! [Exits stage]</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">217 Stands staring longingly out the window...</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">Voice from Off Stage: NC-217! Your nourishment interval ended 30 seconds ago. Why are you still here? Are you ill?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">217 Quickly finishes loading lunchbox, looks out window again, heaves a deep, regretful sigh...then grabs helmet and rushes off stage.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;">The End</span></div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-58305481637236822652015-12-22T07:28:00.001-08:002015-12-22T07:33:36.631-08:00SolsticeThose who claim to know say today is the first day of Winter. Those of us who live in northern climates, who have been bundling up and plugging in our block heaters for a couple months now, often get a good laugh out of that. <br />
<br />
I went outside early this morning to do a couple quick chores. Early: Still dark, the stars still burning, the blue-silver just starting to touch the eastern horizon. And I could smell magic crackling in the cold air.<br />
<br />
Not goofy, Harry-Potterish, turn-kittens-into-mushrooms magic, nor fluffy, New-Ageish, dance-barefoot-in--the-rain magic, but the kind of magic grounded in hard science and certain hope: Today is <a href="http://sunrise-sunset.org/us/lander-wy" target="_blank">four seconds longer than yesterday</a>. Today, the sun begins its journey back north. <br />
<br />
First day of Winter? Heck no. Today, Spring starts coming. It takes a long time, and there are still storms to endure, but it's coming, and nothing will stop it.<br />
<br />
Happy solstice, my friends.Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-54175156378291593522015-12-02T10:48:00.005-08:002015-12-02T10:52:19.173-08:00A Christmas Story<div>
<i>Sometimes it’s painful to turn on the news this time of year. It seems like there is something about the Christmas season that brings out the worst in people. Or maybe the selfishness that is endemic to humanity is thrown into sharper contrast against the ideals of “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” Sometimes it seems as if the whole season is nothing but greed and guilt, disillusionment and broken dreams, wrapped up with a pretty ribbon.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>But sometimes, things work out just like they should. Sometimes, the simple kindness of a complete stranger reminds you that the Christmas spirit is alive and well, in ways that can’t be bought with money. This story, told in the emails below, is about Christmas. Enjoy.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
November 17, 2014</div>
<div>
To zoo info</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dear Denver Zoo,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have a request with a story behind it. If you aren’t in the mood for a story, feel free to skip to the last paragraph for the request. I know how busy you must be this time of year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Three years ago, my wife was very sick at P/SL Hospital, trying to recover from a burst appendix and the loss of our son (she was 23 weeks pregnant when her appendix burst), and I was staying at the Ronald McDonald house just down the road from you. Over our two-month ordeal, Sarah suffered many complications, many of them life-threatening, all them extremely painful. In addition to all that, we were separated from our then-two-year-old daughter for almost two months. It was a lonely, dark, painful time for my wife.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had promised Sarah that I would not go to the zoo without her, even though I had a free pass from the RMH, and I frequently passed by on walks around the park. I would go back to the hospital and tell Sarah that I heard birds screaming or lions roaring. Sarah’s favorite animal is the giraffe, so on one of my walks I stopped in your gift shop and bought her a stuffed baby giraffe. For a person in extreme pain, who couldn’t quite bring herself to believe that she was ever going to get out of that hospital room, this gift meant a lot. Sarah would snuggle with that baby giraffe to comfort her in the loss of our baby. We would talk about how fun it would be when she got better and I could take her to see the real thing. It was something to hold onto, something real, something to hope for. And almost a year later, I finally took her. We have been there twice since then. The giraffes were awesome. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently, as happens in a house full of children and animals, that baby giraffe was torn apart by a playful puppy. Sarah cried—that little stuffed animal had some serious memories behind it. It isn’t something that can be replaced, but I would like to do the next best thing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have looked around your site and can’t find a link to your gift shop, which makes me think that you don’t sell gifts online. Still, if it is possible, I would like to ask if you could send my wife one of those baby giraffe stuffed animals. I know I could find one online, but that wouldn’t be the same—I need one from the Denver Zoo. I would be happy to pay for it and the postage, of course, and whatever packaging fee for your trouble. Please let me know if this is possible.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for your consideration.</div>
<div>
Tom Wilson</div>
<div>
Lander, Wyoming</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marlina Schleuger</div>
<div>
December 1, 2014</div>
<div>
To me</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hello Mr. Wilson,</div>
<div>
I can only imagine how sad your wife must have felt when the baby giraffe was torn apart. I would love to assist you in the purchase to help replace the baby giraffe. Do you know what size the giraffe was, how much it was and who the company who made the giraffe is?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We have a $9.99 fuzzy giraffe from Aurora that is approx. 6 to 8 inches and I have a 12” cuddlekin that sits and neck stands tall that is $16.99. And I also have a large stuffed giraffe that is on promotion normally $30 for $17.99.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please email me back or call the store and we would love to help with your purchase and replace your memory. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy holidays to you and your wife Mr. Wilson!</div>
<div>
Regards,</div>
<div>
Marlina Schleuger</div>
<div>
Retail Operations Manager-Denver Zoo</div>
<div>
Service Systems Associates, Inc.</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
December 1, 2014</div>
<div>
To Marlina</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marlina, thanks for your kind reply! I believe it was the 6-8 incher that Sarah had before. I don’t know the brand. It was very soft and sort of floppy. Do they have a Denver Zoo logo or tag on them? I want her to know it’s the real deal.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tom</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marlina Schleuger</div>
<div>
December 1, 2014</div>
<div>
To me</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hi Thomas,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes we have the super soft giraffe somewhat floppy and I would be happy to put a Denver Zoo Medallion and Holiday ribbon that says Happy Holidays from the Denver Zoo. Where would you like it shipped? And because of your touching story, I would love to buy it for you and your wife. Please let me know; thanks!</div>
<div>
Regards,</div>
<div>
Marlina</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
December 1, 2014</div>
<div>
To Marlina</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wow…I don’t know what to say. That is very sweet of you, and that would make it mean even more. If you don’t mind, I will have you ship it to me at work, because if Sarah sees a box from the Denver Zoo in the mail, she’ll get suspicions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you, thank you, thank you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tom</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marlina Schleuger</div>
<div>
December 1, 2014</div>
<div>
To me</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No, thank you for the touching story and I am so sorry for the loss of your baby. I hope the baby giraffe helps to comfort and bring joy. I wish you both happy holidays.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Marlina</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
December 5, 2014</div>
<div>
To KMSSA info</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dear KMSSA,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am writing to request contact information for the supervisor of Marlina Schleuger, Retail Operations Manager of the Denver Zoo; I would like to inform said supervisor about a recent interaction I had with Ms. Schleuger.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have searched your website and am not sure whom I need to contact. If you could point me in the right direction, I would be most grateful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sincerely, </div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
Lander, Wyoming</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mark Kathman</div>
<div>
December 7, 2014</div>
<div>
To me</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hello Mr. Wilson,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My name is Mark Kathman, and I have management oversight responsibilities for the Food and Retail Operations at the Denver Zoo. I was forwarded your email request that you submitted to our info email on our website. Let me thank you for reaching out to us—feedback (positive or otherwise) only helps us improve and work towards achieving our “EXTRAordinary” service goals. That said, it is my responsibility to receive feedback and to address accordingly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to share.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Respectfully,</div>
<div>
Mark Kathman</div>
<div>
Regional Vice President</div>
<div>
Service Systems Associates, Inc.</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
9 December, 2015</div>
<div>
To Mark Kathman</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dear Mr. Kathman,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you for contacting me so promptly. Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, sir, but you need to give this person a raise. If people like this are normal for your company, you have a remarkable company indeed. I have attached our correspondence below.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Merry Christmas—</div>
<div>
Thomas Wilson</div>
<div>
Lander, Wyoming</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>[I attached my conversation with Marlina, which you have just read]</i></div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mark Kathman</div>
<div>
December 9, 2014</div>
<div>
To me</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mr. Wilson,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story. I am deeply saddened for the tragedy that your family went through. As a husband and father, I was quite touched by the story—I definitely held my wife and daughters a little longer after reading this last night. And, as a man who strives to be a servant leader, I was even more touched by your story, and extremely proud of Marlina’s response. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do believe that I am part of a remarkable company, and stories like yours only validate this. With your permission, I would like to share this story with the entire company for a couple reasons: to recognize Marlina with her peers for making the extra effort and doing the absolute right thing; and also to share this as an example with all of our employees to never take any guest interaction for granted. For some, a stuffed animal may just represent a simple souvenir of a (hopefully) fun day, but to others it could represent a priceless symbol of remembrance—as is the case with your wife, Sarah. What a remarkable opportunity we would have to utilize this as a mechanism for training. Please advise if you would allow us to share.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And as for Marlina—rest assured, you can bet that the recognition I mentioned above is not the only thing she will receive for this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you again for sharing, and Happy Holidays to you and your family!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mark Kathman</div>
<div>
Regional Vice President</div>
<div>
Service Systems Associates, Inc.</div>
<div>
<div>
______________________________</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>A few days before Christmas, I received an elaborately wrapped box from the Denver Zoo gift shop. On Christmas morning, we were delighted and shocked to find not one, but three different stuffed giraffes in the box, all wearing “Happy Holidays from the Denver Zoo” ribbons.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Next time you are saddened by news stories about people getting trampled in the rush for the latest fad toy, remember the kindness of a complete stranger in a big city gift shop (whom I really hope is enjoying a big raise). Remember, this Christmas season, that there are still people out there for whom “Peace on Earth, good will toward men” is not just an ideal. Remember that there are still people out there who Get It.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Remember that you have a choice, every day, to be one of those people.</i></div>
<div>
<br />
*******</div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-13598847265855529392015-01-22T05:47:00.001-08:002015-01-22T05:47:40.160-08:00Footprints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5_yydGyZWI/VMA9TM7DZBI/AAAAAAAAAgs/DgwozJjaR_w/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a5_yydGyZWI/VMA9TM7DZBI/AAAAAAAAAgs/DgwozJjaR_w/s1600/image.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
One of my most treasured posessions is a set of hand and foot prints.<br />
<br />
Four years ago today, <a href="http://whistlingbadger2.blogspot.com/2011/01/good-bye.html" target="_blank">when we lost our son</a>, the beautiful nurses at P/SL Hospital made an impression of David's feet and hands in plaster--a keepsake to remind us that he was a real, flesh-and-blood person. This plaster oval sits on the piano, largely forgotten in the business and beauty of getting through the day. Once in a while, though, the prints catch my eye, and I run my fingers over them. They are so tiny.<br />
<br />
Footprints are the perfect symbol for loss. The print itself is not an object, but a lack of one--an empty space left by something that was here, and is no longer here. <br />
<br />
Occasionally I indulge the urge to think about what life would be like if he hadn't died. I imagine what it would be like to raise a son, to teach him how to be a man, even as I continue to learn myself. I watch Katie taking such meticulous care of her dolls, and wonder what she would have been like as a big sister. I ponder, and sometimes even smile at, the craziness that would result from having not one, but two young kids in this tiny house.<br />
<br />
But not often. None of those things can be, and there is no point torturing myself with things that I can't have. So most of the time, I try not to think about him. Sometimes it seems wrong, this choice I make to forget what should have been. Sometimes it seems like I am doing my lost son a disservice. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I have to remind myself that he is beyond my reach or influence: My being happy does not hurt him in the slightest, nor does my being sad help him. Might as well be happy--We don't get extra credit for being miserable. The only good I can do in this world is to the living--my wife, my daughter, my family and friends, my students. Doing my best for them means trying to dwell on what I <u>do</u> have, what I <u>can</u> do.<br />
<br />
The other day I tried to literally count my blessings, you know, like that song we've all sung? Ever try to do that? I highly recommend it as a spiritual exercise. I had to stop after an hour and get ready for work, but I was nowhere near done, there is so much to be thankful for. Life, overall, is pretty good to me, here in this fallen world.<br />
<br />
And not a day goes by that I don't feel that fallenness. Every day I feel that loss in some way. I have heard it said that grieving parents never get over it; they simply learn to get on with it. This is true. When I look around, it is sobering to realize that I'm not special. Everyone experiences it, somehow: A lost child, spouse, relationship, opportunity; regrets, hurts, bad decisions, bad health...nobody gets out of this fight completely unscathed. And that, of course, is the very reason that we have to keep fighting for the good, that we need to keep "getting on with it." We need each other.<br />
<br />
God has blessed the garden of my life with soil that is is rich and deep, and there usually seems to be a bit more growing here than I know what to do with--a fairly good problem to have. <br />
<br />
And under it all, permanently pressed into the soil of me, is a deep, David-shaped set of footprints. <br />
<br />
***Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-6269938019030630182014-07-29T15:30:00.002-07:002019-05-24T09:08:23.904-07:00Why Jesus Did Not Have Pets<div style="background-color: font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<i><span style="color: #999999;">Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place to pray.</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<i><span style="color: #999999;">Mark 1:35</span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I often get up at first light to go sit in the yard, read my Bible, pray, and watch the sun rise. Life is wonderful but exhausting, and this "mountain top" time is very important for me to get my head on straight at the start of the day. Jesus often did the same thing, we're told. And of course there are all those song writers who come to the garden alone, and who love to live on the mountain top, and who rest them in the thought of birds and trees and skies and seas...so I feel like I'm in pretty good company.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">Six a.m. finds me fixing myself a cup of tea in the dark kitchen, being very sneaky so as not to wake up my wife and daughter. The Puppy hears me moving around and asks to go out. She is not trained to stay in the yard or come when called yet, so I take her out and slip her leash over the garden fencepost. Then I go back in and finish making my tea.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">Having accomplished this, I head outside, put the Puppy on her tie-out so she has some room to run and play while I study and pray. We have an unfenced yard, so for now the tie-out is a necessity. I set up a lawn chair for myself near the Puppy--she barks if I don't keep her company--and go back inside for my Bible and cup of tea. Before I can make my escape, our Hunter Cat appears and loudly asks to be let in. I oblige, then grab my tea, head outside, and settle comfortably into my lawn chair. The sun is just starting to touch the mountains. The beauty is soul-enlarging.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I get up and go back inside to retrieve my Bible, which I have forgotten on the table.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">Arriving back outside, I untangle the Puppy's tie-out from the the lawn chair. I set the chair back up, sit down and open my Bible. Today's reading is a particularly rich passage that I have been anticipating digging into. The mountains are glowing, as with an inner light, and my tea tastes even better than usual as I take a deep breath and begin to read.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">From inside the house, I hear the Hunter Cat letting me know that she is out of cat food. This is nothing short of pet black-mail, and I'm pretty sure she knows it: If the pets aren't kept quiet, my wife and daughter will wake up, and in addition to three crazy pets I'll have two grouchy girls on my hands. So I rush inside, fill up the food bowl, express a few quiet but heart-felt opinions on the the Cat's vocal performance, then go back outside to my quiet time.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I untangle the Puppy from the lawn chair. Most of my tea is all over the lawn. The Puppy looks very sweet and innocent with tea dripping off her nose. But my Bible is unscathed, the mountains are still beautiful, and the birds are in full voice. I get comfortable and begin to read. So much to unpack in this passage of scripture...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">Our Special-Needs Cat arrives at the back door and clamors to be let in. His finding the house on his own is something of an occasion, so I rush open the door, cringing at the noise. The Puppy, upset by all this coming and going, begins to whine. I go inside with Special Needs Cat, who is now complaining that he can't find the cat food. I place him next to the bowl, and he happily begins eating. I express a few quiet but heart-felt opinions about both his ancestry and his mental capabilities.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">The Puppy is yipping, in that shrill, peel-paint-off-the-walls voice that can only be made by a puppy at 6:15 in the morning when the family is sleeping. I rush back outside and untangle her from the lawn chair. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I sit down to read, just as the Hunter and the Special Needs Cat both decide they want back outside.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;">I get up, put down my Bible and what remains of my tea, and get out of my chair, careful this time to place everything outside puppy range. I thoughtfully eye the .22 rifle hanging over the door as I let the cats out. I return to my lawn chair, get set up with my Bible and remaining sip of tea. The dog is still whining, so I put everything down, throw a few sticks for her, scratch her ears, and tell her in a quiet but perhaps less-than-heartfelt way what a great puppy she is. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: ; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">About the time she finally calms down and I get set to read, the Cats--first Hunter, followed by Special Needs--begin parading back and forth just outside the Puppy Perimeter. The Puppy, who loves chasing cats more than she loves life itself, goes berserk. It takes me every ounce of Christian patience not to follow suit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Five minutes later: The Cats have been chased out of sight, the Puppy is happily eating dirt or chasing bugs or whatever puppies do. And I, having expressed several less-quiet but no-less-heartfelt opinions about the possible origins and eventual destination of our pets, am once again settled down in my chair. The sun is high now, and I am ready at last to enjoy some focused quiet time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">"GOOD MORNING, DADDY!! CAN I COME OUT AND PLAY?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Jesus didn't have kids, either.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999;">...</span></div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-25564671194184590482014-06-09T15:55:00.003-07:002023-07-27T15:46:35.402-07:00The Parable of the Irrigation Ditch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fz6_pRA5YHPJSndCUFT8WU2s5kD1aSOE3gWSB5rArvrIhy2z1VP_E5WrQ8DVTtOOw-qOXaBwAaNq8qYvXsc5LMnCYI8w9mXBcC6u_-zFiFEJRgiixBJvzWwpdBe7PVfJscTRPR63Z1E/s1600/Ditch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fz6_pRA5YHPJSndCUFT8WU2s5kD1aSOE3gWSB5rArvrIhy2z1VP_E5WrQ8DVTtOOw-qOXaBwAaNq8qYvXsc5LMnCYI8w9mXBcC6u_-zFiFEJRgiixBJvzWwpdBe7PVfJscTRPR63Z1E/s1600/Ditch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is not my ditch. This is a pretty ditch.</span></div>
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"...by grace you have been saved, through faith..." Ephesians 2<br />
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Summer has arrived at Casa Wilson, and that means a lot of things: Naps, long walks, longer runs, play time with the Badgerling, lots of outside work, and occasionally, time to think. Lately, while drilling screws, cutting firewood, and setting irrigation dams, I have been thinking about grace, faith, and works. There seems to be a lot of confusion about those things. But after twelve years or so of growing hay, I don't think it's all that hard.<br />
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We live in the middle of a big hay field, and every year we have the grass mowed and baled. We keep a few bales for the garden and the chickens, but we sell most of it. It's fairly easy money; it feels good to know our land is productive, and there is nothing like the smell of a fresh-cut hay field. It's the smell of life, the smell of growth, the smell of money.<br />
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Of course, the thing that makes it a hay field, instead of a patch of dirt, is water. And here in Wyoming, water is rather hard to come by. That means irrigation. Our water comes out of Baldwin Creek about a half mile away, flows through a series of ditches, and if all goes well, it eventually reaches our field.<br />
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Now, Baldwin Creek flows out of the mountains a few miles north-west of here. It is a reliable body of water, and even in drought years it never goes dry. So if the field doesn't get irrigated, the problem lies with the ditch. There is a lot that can go wrong. Sometimes the ditch gets clogged up or choked with weeds; often it gets diverted elsewhere. Sometimes the problem is that I don't set the dams correctly, so the water doesn't get where it needs to go. And sometimes I just get too lazy or too busy to get it done. But assuming everything works, the water leaves the ditch and flows onto my field. Then it can start doing its real work: Making the grass grow.<br />
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The grass is nourished by water. That water comes through the ditch. The result is a good hay crop. By water. Through the ditch.<br />
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Pretty simple.<br />
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God's grace--his goodness, his mercy, his beauty, his blessing--is reliable and sure, never running dry even in the hardest of times. Like the water on a hayfield, grace makes us grow, makes us useful and beautiful, gives us what we need to endure hardship. <br />
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God's grace is the water.<br />
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But God does't force himself on us. Even though he sends rain on the just and the unjust, blessing even those who don't acknowledge him, his saving grace can do its work only if I choose to let it into my life. Faith is a relationship, a way of life, an ongoing choice I must make to trust and obey, even when I don't understand. That faith is the conduit by which God's grace can reach the dry spots of my being, making the barren ground grow and produce. Doubt, disobedience, distraction, bitterness, laziness, greed, and such things can block my faith, creating dead areas which God's grace cannot reach.<br />
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Faith is the ditch through which God's grace can flow.<br />
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Thus, Paul tells us we are saved by grace, through faith. Of course, there is a sense in which my faith saves me (Matthew 9:22), just as it would not be wrong to say that the ditch waters my hay. But don't confuse the ditch with the water. The real action is in God's grace. It would be absurd for the grass to take credit for the water, likewise the ditch. The ditch is just a conduit, and the grass can only respond by growing and producing a crop, just like I planned for it to.<br />
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Reading on in Ephesians 2, Paul puts it this way: "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God--not by works, so no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to do."<br />
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God's grace flows though my faith. The result of this gift, when things go according to his plan, is a further gift of good works. It would be absurd for me to take credit for this; I just get to enjoy it.<br />
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By grace. Through faith.<br />
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This really isn't that hard, is it?<br />
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Of course, there is a lot more to it than the water and the ditch: The quality of seed with which my field is planted; the fertility of the soil; the control of weeds and pests; the role of time and patience, courage and hard work. But Jesus already covered those things much better than I could.<br />
<br />May your faith be unobstructed; may you be drenched in God's grace, and may the field of your life be productive. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-86597076467449666422013-07-10T09:18:00.001-07:002013-07-10T09:47:02.936-07:00The Big Turn-OffI type this from Old Town Coffee, an establishment peopled by attractive, cool-looking people wearing fashionable, outdoorsy clothing. Seriously, every person in this place, including the baristas, looks as if they just finished a race or a wilderness adventure. Except they're clean. I don't quite fit in, being a bit non-clean (having just finished a trail run) and decidedly non-fashionable. But it is happily noisy and busy and it's a good place to reflect and type a few thoughts about real life.<br />
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This is my first time online in over a week, and a rich and eventful week it has been: an explosive- and friend-filled Independence Day, huge PRs for Sarah and me in<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> the 4th of July 5k</span> and a 2nd place finish for me (I've never earned prize money in a race before; I have to say I rather like the feeling), an utterly fascinating all-day guided tour of the Red Desert, a birthday party involving an insane number of sugar-buzzed small children and their exasperated-but-amused parents, and the usual work outs, hikes, garden misadventures, Sarah love and Katie laughs.<br />
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All of this has been lived, experienced, digested, and remembered with nary a peep on Facebook. This is a big deal for me. I am, at my baseline, a lazy and undisciplined person, and it is far too easy for technology to subtly shift from servant to master. I found myself, at moments of high adventure and rich living, thinking about how I was going to describe it on Facebook, rather than simply immersing myself in the moment. I found myself putting off requests for hide-and-seek games because I was busy typing emails or (cringe) playing video games. I can hardly tell you how foolish I feel putting that into words, and I don't suppose I have to.<br />
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The urge to simplify coincided with some shifting financial priorities, and thus the Internet is no longer part of the household Wilson experience. Where self-control fails, one can always flee from temptation. Email and Facebook have become a once-a-week special occasion for me. I like it. Things feel more streamlined, <i>cleaner</i> somehow. Going off line isn't easy and perhaps isn't for everyone.<br />
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Whatever. I'm off to the library to meet my wife and daughter for story time. As soon as I finish checking my email.<br />
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<br />Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064644169569708884.post-77652031985222249352013-06-15T09:14:00.000-07:002013-06-15T10:47:26.675-07:00And Now, Some Trail-Running Haiku.<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stop counting the miles.</span><br />
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Stop longing for the finish.<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just enjoy the ride.</span><br />
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Feeling pretty fast<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">til I surprise some <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/antelope/" target="_blank">pronghorn</a>:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">humbled, but inspired.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Running unknown trails</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">my memory is stirred: I wish</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I could find the truck.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Easy, light, smooth, fast</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">just like Caballo Blanco</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the first mile or so.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have seen elk run</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">five miles through these same mountains</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And not break a sweat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
Altitude training<br />
In triumph, I top the ridge<br />
Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">No past, no future,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just now: each step a journey</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Every breath a prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Living God, thank you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for aspens, flowers, good health,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for strength that humbles. </span></div>
Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14305578651940555592noreply@blogger.com0