Friends,
As many of you know, we believed that we had our house in Grandview sold in May, only to have it fall through. This put us in a difficult position. We have been praying for a buyer, as have many of you on our behalf -- and we thank you. Please continue to pray earnestly as we are about to enter a new phase. There are a lot of homes for sale in Grandview at this point in time, and we really do not want "to give our house away," so to speak. But, we really need to sell it in the next week or two or we will have to try to get new renters to move in, which we really do not want to do! It is a big challenge. For those of you in Washington, if you know of anyone who would be interested in buying or renting our home, please contact us through comment or e-mail. We would appreciate all of the help that we can get at this time. Take care and God bless,
Don
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Good For Him
Friends,
Jon Lester, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma last year and it appeared that it might put an end to his promising professional baseball career. Fortunately, this form of cancer has become much more treatable in the past several years. I am happy to report that the 23 year old Mr Lester returned to the pitcher's mound after eleven months on Monday. With his parents in attendance, He pitched six innings against the Cleveland Indians, giving up only two runs to win his first game back. Thanks be to the Lord for His success!
Don
Jon Lester, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma last year and it appeared that it might put an end to his promising professional baseball career. Fortunately, this form of cancer has become much more treatable in the past several years. I am happy to report that the 23 year old Mr Lester returned to the pitcher's mound after eleven months on Monday. With his parents in attendance, He pitched six innings against the Cleveland Indians, giving up only two runs to win his first game back. Thanks be to the Lord for His success!
Don
Saturday, July 21, 2007
The Gravity Of It All
Friends,
Gravity is pretty important...without it, we fly away, for one. We also would not be able to enjoy the ocean tide, since it is gravity from the pull of the moon which triggers tidal force -- and this is not to mention that the University of Alabama would have to find a new mascot :-). This is the main reason that we have not yet been able to send people to Mars; we have not perfected an artificial gravity environment that would sustain human life for the several years' journey (and back) that would be required -- weightlessness wreaks havok (atrophy) on the human body over extended periods of time. We are okay to be able to get astronauts to the space station and even the moon for shorter periods of time. (In fact, Sunita Williams just completed the longest stay by a female astronaut at the space station -- 195 days). This is all fine and dandy around the environs of earth, but when we go out into deep space, we begin to understand what a monster gravity can become. The gravity well of a black hole (where not even light cannot escape) is so powerful that it can pull stars and planets apart. Something far more impressive occurs on a galactic scale, where a process called "tidal stripping" can occur. This is where a smaller galaxy comes into close enough proximity with a much larger galaxy that the larger one pulls the smaller one into an orbit where it then begins to pull it apart. The larger galaxy strips stars from the smaller one and absorbs them into its own domain. Amazing! If you think about gravity from this perspective, it gives it a whole new weight...ha ha.
Don
Gravity is pretty important...without it, we fly away, for one. We also would not be able to enjoy the ocean tide, since it is gravity from the pull of the moon which triggers tidal force -- and this is not to mention that the University of Alabama would have to find a new mascot :-). This is the main reason that we have not yet been able to send people to Mars; we have not perfected an artificial gravity environment that would sustain human life for the several years' journey (and back) that would be required -- weightlessness wreaks havok (atrophy) on the human body over extended periods of time. We are okay to be able to get astronauts to the space station and even the moon for shorter periods of time. (In fact, Sunita Williams just completed the longest stay by a female astronaut at the space station -- 195 days). This is all fine and dandy around the environs of earth, but when we go out into deep space, we begin to understand what a monster gravity can become. The gravity well of a black hole (where not even light cannot escape) is so powerful that it can pull stars and planets apart. Something far more impressive occurs on a galactic scale, where a process called "tidal stripping" can occur. This is where a smaller galaxy comes into close enough proximity with a much larger galaxy that the larger one pulls the smaller one into an orbit where it then begins to pull it apart. The larger galaxy strips stars from the smaller one and absorbs them into its own domain. Amazing! If you think about gravity from this perspective, it gives it a whole new weight...ha ha.
Don
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Faith of the Freshman
Friends,
I found this interesting...
This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC.
There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone against him because of his reputation. At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"
In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool". If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He can't do it." And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but! For 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.
Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and then ran out of the lecture hall.
The young man, who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.
God always has His way -- it may not occur at the time or in the form that we think that it should happen, but He does have His way.
Don
I found this interesting...
This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC.
There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone against him because of his reputation. At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"
In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool". If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He can't do it." And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but! For 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.
Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and then ran out of the lecture hall.
The young man, who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.
God always has His way -- it may not occur at the time or in the form that we think that it should happen, but He does have His way.
Don
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Old Team, New Focus
Friends,
I don't get it. After a number of years of futility, my old favorite MLB team, the Mariners are having a breakout year. Was it really that long ago that they won 116 games? (2001) Nevertheless, I move -- they win; it's just not right :-) I hope that they keep on winning, because my other favorite team is the Astros, and well... not exactly their year. The best thing that they can do is re-sign the most exciting player in baseball -- Ichiro. He is so amazing and they need him if they are going to contend in the future (not to mention the present). It is unfortunate that Mike Hargrove left. Did his unhealthy relationship with Ichiro have anything to do with his resignation and the upgrade of the M's chances of resigning their star? My guess is that it did, although no one will say this. Grover did a great job turning the team around this year -- I wish him (and new skipper, John McLaren) well. Here is hoping the M's catch the Angels, or at least secure the wild card position. See ya.
Don
I don't get it. After a number of years of futility, my old favorite MLB team, the Mariners are having a breakout year. Was it really that long ago that they won 116 games? (2001) Nevertheless, I move -- they win; it's just not right :-) I hope that they keep on winning, because my other favorite team is the Astros, and well... not exactly their year. The best thing that they can do is re-sign the most exciting player in baseball -- Ichiro. He is so amazing and they need him if they are going to contend in the future (not to mention the present). It is unfortunate that Mike Hargrove left. Did his unhealthy relationship with Ichiro have anything to do with his resignation and the upgrade of the M's chances of resigning their star? My guess is that it did, although no one will say this. Grover did a great job turning the team around this year -- I wish him (and new skipper, John McLaren) well. Here is hoping the M's catch the Angels, or at least secure the wild card position. See ya.
Don
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Trip
Dear Friends,
I want to thank you for your thoughts and prayers while we were on our trip. We had a good visit with our family and friends in Wenatchee, Cashmere, Grandview and Puyallup. My uncle's funeral went as well as could be expected. Please continue to keep my folks in your prayers, as I know that this is a difficult time for them. Still, God is amazing how He is able to work things out in so many different situations. Our flights went well -- no delays. We were able to get a lot of work done on our house last Monday. Please pray that it will sell soon.
Upon returning home, we had Troy and Jodi's rehearsal and wedding Friday and yesterday. Things could not have gone better. We are so proud of them and their growth as a Christian couple. We are pleased to be able to work with them here in Hamilton, Texas. We believe that God is doing great things here and has other wondrous things in store for the Park Heights Church of Christ, if we let Him. We can see His Spirit moving and working in the church and helping others in the community and beyond to be drawn to us. This is so refreshing and real to so many. Keep us in your prayers as we preach, evangelize and minister. God bless,
Don
I want to thank you for your thoughts and prayers while we were on our trip. We had a good visit with our family and friends in Wenatchee, Cashmere, Grandview and Puyallup. My uncle's funeral went as well as could be expected. Please continue to keep my folks in your prayers, as I know that this is a difficult time for them. Still, God is amazing how He is able to work things out in so many different situations. Our flights went well -- no delays. We were able to get a lot of work done on our house last Monday. Please pray that it will sell soon.
Upon returning home, we had Troy and Jodi's rehearsal and wedding Friday and yesterday. Things could not have gone better. We are so proud of them and their growth as a Christian couple. We are pleased to be able to work with them here in Hamilton, Texas. We believe that God is doing great things here and has other wondrous things in store for the Park Heights Church of Christ, if we let Him. We can see His Spirit moving and working in the church and helping others in the community and beyond to be drawn to us. This is so refreshing and real to so many. Keep us in your prayers as we preach, evangelize and minister. God bless,
Don
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