Friends,
Just found out that my mom's brother -- Uncle Wesley passed away this afternoon. Please keep our family in your prayers.
Don
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
End of an Era
Friends,
Space...the final frontier... Oops, wrong show. As a young person interested in astronomy, I was naturally drawn to sci-fi. I grew up watching all of the original star-treks over and over as well as all of the newer incarnations (TNG, DS9, Voyager). Those were great shows, but none of them hold a candle to the greatest of all sci-fi shows ending its original ten year run this week; this would be Stargate SG-1. There is a legion of fans who have followed this creative show with its wonderful actors. It has been fun to follow all of the characters throughout the series, but none were greater than Col/Gen. Jack O'Neill played by Richard Dean Anderson (of McGyver fame). Unfortunately, he left the series after the eighth season; although it has not been the same, it has continued reasonably well with new characters the past two seasons. This show will air indefinitely on the sci-fi channel, so for those of you who have not had an opportunity to see it (and if you enjoy science fiction), it will be around. Stargate Atlantis continues and a new series, Stargate Universe, will begin next season -- so the show lives on in its own incarnations. So, I tip my hat to a show that has held my fascination for many years now and look forward to new versions. Take care,
Don
Space...the final frontier... Oops, wrong show. As a young person interested in astronomy, I was naturally drawn to sci-fi. I grew up watching all of the original star-treks over and over as well as all of the newer incarnations (TNG, DS9, Voyager). Those were great shows, but none of them hold a candle to the greatest of all sci-fi shows ending its original ten year run this week; this would be Stargate SG-1. There is a legion of fans who have followed this creative show with its wonderful actors. It has been fun to follow all of the characters throughout the series, but none were greater than Col/Gen. Jack O'Neill played by Richard Dean Anderson (of McGyver fame). Unfortunately, he left the series after the eighth season; although it has not been the same, it has continued reasonably well with new characters the past two seasons. This show will air indefinitely on the sci-fi channel, so for those of you who have not had an opportunity to see it (and if you enjoy science fiction), it will be around. Stargate Atlantis continues and a new series, Stargate Universe, will begin next season -- so the show lives on in its own incarnations. So, I tip my hat to a show that has held my fascination for many years now and look forward to new versions. Take care,
Don
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Space Clouds
Friends,
I have this article on my bulletin board that regularly reminds me that God is not only in control, but that he has a sense of humor. The article "Space Clouds Puzzle Scientists" is the result of some images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The article is as follows, "The Hubble Space Telescope is presenting astrophysicists with a tantalizing puzzle -- the existence of hydrogen clouds in space that should have dissipated billions of years ago. The Hubble spotted the clouds between Earth and the nearest quasar (a bright and distant active core of a young galaxy) about four or five months ago. Until then, scientists were comfortable with the theory that hydrogen clouds resulted from the Big Bang that created the universe 15 billion years ago -- that they slowly formed into galaxies, stars and planets over the next few billion years. The scientist were in for a further shock. Not only were the clouds there, but their density was more or less the same as it would have been 10 to 12 billion light years ago."
Facinating. There are a lot of good scientists out there who believe in God; for those that do not, it is funny when He throws them a curve ball. I praise God for these little reminders that He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and not man or circumstance.
Don
I have this article on my bulletin board that regularly reminds me that God is not only in control, but that he has a sense of humor. The article "Space Clouds Puzzle Scientists" is the result of some images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The article is as follows, "The Hubble Space Telescope is presenting astrophysicists with a tantalizing puzzle -- the existence of hydrogen clouds in space that should have dissipated billions of years ago. The Hubble spotted the clouds between Earth and the nearest quasar (a bright and distant active core of a young galaxy) about four or five months ago. Until then, scientists were comfortable with the theory that hydrogen clouds resulted from the Big Bang that created the universe 15 billion years ago -- that they slowly formed into galaxies, stars and planets over the next few billion years. The scientist were in for a further shock. Not only were the clouds there, but their density was more or less the same as it would have been 10 to 12 billion light years ago."
Facinating. There are a lot of good scientists out there who believe in God; for those that do not, it is funny when He throws them a curve ball. I praise God for these little reminders that He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and not man or circumstance.
Don
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Jr Lands at Hendrick
Friends,
I know that it is not too shocking that Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended up at Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. Still, I believe that most fans figured that this would be the third choice behind Joe Gibbs and Richard Childress. Nevertheless, if Jr. wants to win and win now, could he have chosen a better team? No. The Hendrick crew is hitting on all the right cylinders with the Car of Tomorrow and just seems to be getting better. They have won most of the races this year and do not seem to be looking back. Combining Jr. with Gordon and Johnson really does create a "super team" of sorts. As to whether some fans think that Jr. is "selling out" by going to the team with his biggest racing rival (Gordon) -- not so. He had to do what was best for his career and he has done it. I believe that the rivalry with Gordon will be well-intact. Good luck in 2008 Jr. and hopefully we'll see you in the #5 car.
TMM
I know that it is not too shocking that Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended up at Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. Still, I believe that most fans figured that this would be the third choice behind Joe Gibbs and Richard Childress. Nevertheless, if Jr. wants to win and win now, could he have chosen a better team? No. The Hendrick crew is hitting on all the right cylinders with the Car of Tomorrow and just seems to be getting better. They have won most of the races this year and do not seem to be looking back. Combining Jr. with Gordon and Johnson really does create a "super team" of sorts. As to whether some fans think that Jr. is "selling out" by going to the team with his biggest racing rival (Gordon) -- not so. He had to do what was best for his career and he has done it. I believe that the rivalry with Gordon will be well-intact. Good luck in 2008 Jr. and hopefully we'll see you in the #5 car.
TMM
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Serendipities
Friends,
We received a call from Kim's parents on Monday that their friends Bill and Sally had some furniture (a couch and two chairs) for us. All we had to do was go over and pick it up. They said the color for all of the above pieces was aqua and we thought -- "wonder if it will match our glider rockers?" We called our friend Johnny who gracefully was willing to go to San Angelo with us to help retrieve it. We went on our way and arrived safely. Then we enjoyed the blessing of a wonderful visit and dinner with Kim's folks. When we arrived to pick up the furniture, it was all ready to go. We had been talking about getting another couch -- and here was one as a gift; and not only this, the couch and chairs would be a perfect match to our rockers! We expressed our gratitude and then we were on our way home. Serendipities -- the little blessings from God that happen along the way in our daily walk with Him. How often do we thank God for "the little things" that He sends our way? We need to be discerning and thankful for how wonderfully the great God of the universe cares for even our most minute needs. Thanks Lord for the furniture, for the visit with Kim's parents, for our visit with Johnny, for Bill and Sally and their generosity, for the good dinner, for safe travel, for places to stop along the way, for wonderful weather...where do I stop?
Don
We received a call from Kim's parents on Monday that their friends Bill and Sally had some furniture (a couch and two chairs) for us. All we had to do was go over and pick it up. They said the color for all of the above pieces was aqua and we thought -- "wonder if it will match our glider rockers?" We called our friend Johnny who gracefully was willing to go to San Angelo with us to help retrieve it. We went on our way and arrived safely. Then we enjoyed the blessing of a wonderful visit and dinner with Kim's folks. When we arrived to pick up the furniture, it was all ready to go. We had been talking about getting another couch -- and here was one as a gift; and not only this, the couch and chairs would be a perfect match to our rockers! We expressed our gratitude and then we were on our way home. Serendipities -- the little blessings from God that happen along the way in our daily walk with Him. How often do we thank God for "the little things" that He sends our way? We need to be discerning and thankful for how wonderfully the great God of the universe cares for even our most minute needs. Thanks Lord for the furniture, for the visit with Kim's parents, for our visit with Johnny, for Bill and Sally and their generosity, for the good dinner, for safe travel, for places to stop along the way, for wonderful weather...where do I stop?
Don
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Prodigal
Friends,
I was thinking about some old friends of mine yesterday. I have shared this story before, but it is such an blessing to me that I wanted to share it again in this form. Wilmer and Iona Brown moved to the area where we were working with the church in the early 90's. Iona came to visit us several times and soon became a member. She had been a member where they had been living previously, but Wilmer had not been attending worship services with her. Over the next couple of years, I would go out to visit Iona and Wilmer would be there, but he would be distracted with other things. So, although we would have friendly exchanges, we never really got to know each other.
After we had been working with the church for about four years, (three years after the Browns had moved there), Wilmer came to see me in my office one day. He wanted to visit, so I asked him to sit down. I really did not know him at all, so I didn't know what to expect. He said, "Don, I became a Christian when Iona and I were first married and I went to church with her, but after a few years, I had a disagreement with some of the people where we were attending -- so, I quit. I have been gone for thirty years now, but the Lord has put it on my heart to come back." I was amazed and pleased to hear this all at the same time. It seems that he had enjoyed getting to know a number of the folks from the church who had gone up to visit with him and Iona and it prompted him to want to come back. Praise the Lord! The next part of our conversation was just as amazing to me. He said, "Don, I feel like I need to be baptized again." I said, "okay, but why?" He said "I have been gone for so long, that I just believe that it is the right thing to do." I explained to him that the blood of Jesus was still sufficient to cleanse his sins (1 John 1:5-10), even though he had been gone so long. He persisted and I prayed with him. I did not want him to have an unclean conscience, so based upon 1 Peter 3:21, I baptized him. He was a faithful member with Iona after this event until he passed away a few years ago. It just reminds me of how thankful that I am for the grace and mercy of my Lord. Even though an individual could be gone from the Lord and His church for so long, that he could still respond to a second opportunity for life (like Peter did with his Lord, John 21:15ff). This simply reveals the power of God -- nothing more, nothing less.
Don
I was thinking about some old friends of mine yesterday. I have shared this story before, but it is such an blessing to me that I wanted to share it again in this form. Wilmer and Iona Brown moved to the area where we were working with the church in the early 90's. Iona came to visit us several times and soon became a member. She had been a member where they had been living previously, but Wilmer had not been attending worship services with her. Over the next couple of years, I would go out to visit Iona and Wilmer would be there, but he would be distracted with other things. So, although we would have friendly exchanges, we never really got to know each other.
After we had been working with the church for about four years, (three years after the Browns had moved there), Wilmer came to see me in my office one day. He wanted to visit, so I asked him to sit down. I really did not know him at all, so I didn't know what to expect. He said, "Don, I became a Christian when Iona and I were first married and I went to church with her, but after a few years, I had a disagreement with some of the people where we were attending -- so, I quit. I have been gone for thirty years now, but the Lord has put it on my heart to come back." I was amazed and pleased to hear this all at the same time. It seems that he had enjoyed getting to know a number of the folks from the church who had gone up to visit with him and Iona and it prompted him to want to come back. Praise the Lord! The next part of our conversation was just as amazing to me. He said, "Don, I feel like I need to be baptized again." I said, "okay, but why?" He said "I have been gone for so long, that I just believe that it is the right thing to do." I explained to him that the blood of Jesus was still sufficient to cleanse his sins (1 John 1:5-10), even though he had been gone so long. He persisted and I prayed with him. I did not want him to have an unclean conscience, so based upon 1 Peter 3:21, I baptized him. He was a faithful member with Iona after this event until he passed away a few years ago. It just reminds me of how thankful that I am for the grace and mercy of my Lord. Even though an individual could be gone from the Lord and His church for so long, that he could still respond to a second opportunity for life (like Peter did with his Lord, John 21:15ff). This simply reveals the power of God -- nothing more, nothing less.
Don
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Dwell on These Things
Friends,
I attended a counseling seminar in college which was, more-or-less, concerning the "the power of the mind." It was conducted by a counselor whose one focal point for the four sessions was: "Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds; what you produce will be flowers or weeds -- inevitable so." What a tremendously helpful statement! I have thought about this frequently over the years and have shared it with others. The mind is indeed a powerful tool which can be used for good or ill. Paul tells us we need to submit our minds to the Lord (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:2). We must pray and ask God for wisdom -- to help us to focus on those things which are beneficial. Paul gives us a great "list" of principles for consideration: "...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8) -- a good list to keep in front of you for your quiet time or on the fridge, just to see it regularly. This can be make a great difference in our Christian walk.
Don
I attended a counseling seminar in college which was, more-or-less, concerning the "the power of the mind." It was conducted by a counselor whose one focal point for the four sessions was: "Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds; what you produce will be flowers or weeds -- inevitable so." What a tremendously helpful statement! I have thought about this frequently over the years and have shared it with others. The mind is indeed a powerful tool which can be used for good or ill. Paul tells us we need to submit our minds to the Lord (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:2). We must pray and ask God for wisdom -- to help us to focus on those things which are beneficial. Paul gives us a great "list" of principles for consideration: "...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8) -- a good list to keep in front of you for your quiet time or on the fridge, just to see it regularly. This can be make a great difference in our Christian walk.
Don
Saturday, June 2, 2007
LeBron Takes Over
For all of the criticism LeBron James has taken for not being a clutch player, he didn't look too shabby Thursday evening, did he? How old is he again? 20? -- Awfully young to already be tagged with this label. Michael Jordan had played for several years before he made it to the NBA Championship. He ended up being pretty good :-). LeBron only scored 29 of the 30 of his teams points, completely taking over the game in overtime to propel his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the win. Tonight the Cavaliers have an opportunity to make it to the finals for the first time and we'll see if LeBron will step up again. I think that certain sportswriters and sportscasters may be best friends for people like LeBron. Their constant criticism of him as a "choker" has just served as motivation for him (see also Phil Mickelson, Payton Manning :-). I, for one, hope that LeBron and the Cavs make it to the finals.
Don
Don
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