Friends,
An article ran this week in Abilene about Brad Mills, one of our young men at church. He was player of the week for the second round of the playoffs for our greater region. This follows his honor as player of the week for the Ft.Worth Star-Telegram earlier in the year. Not too surprising...he has been doing it all year. He started the game off last Friday with a 74 yard touchdown run...and he just ran from there. :-) He is a great guy...and we are proud of him. Blessings,
Don
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Stephenville running back takes Player of the Week
Monday, November 24, 2008
BIG COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brad Mills, RB, Sr., Stephenville -- Revenge is a dish which is best served through a punishing ground game.
And in Stephenville's 31-6 romp over Wichita Falls Rider on Saturday, running back Brad Mills was the Yellow Jackets' weapon of choice.
Avenging two straight season-ending losses to the Raiders, Stephenville returned the favor in back of 204 yards rushing and two scores from Mills.
Stephenville now advances to face El Paso Parkland at 1 p.m. Saturday at at Odessa's Ratliff Stadium.
"He was a huge factor," first-year Stephenville coach Joseph Gillespie said. "Then again, he's been a huge factor in a lot of our games."
Mills scored on runs of 74 and 6 yards, but had a 60-yard touchdown run called back because of a penalty.
He also caught two passes for 25 yards while Stephenville rolled up 435 yards in total offense.
"He's a heckuva football player, but Brad Mills will be first one to give credit where credit is due, and that's up front," Gillespie said. "It was a big night for Brad because of his athleticism but also because of the offensive line."
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P.S. Speaking of Abilene. I understand that we are getting in to basketball season, but what is it with the basketball score at the ACU football playoff game last weekend(?) -- they beat West Texas A & M 93-68. That is absolutely crazy! Go ACU.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Satellite Photos
Friends,
Here are some wonderful satellite photos of earth...check them out. Note the places that show day and night! :-) http://www.greatdanepro.com/Blue%20Bueaty/index.htm
Blessings,
Don
Here are some wonderful satellite photos of earth...check them out. Note the places that show day and night! :-) http://www.greatdanepro.com/Blue%20Bueaty/index.htm
Blessings,
Don
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Funny Stuff
Friends,
As we have had some leaky roof problems with our church building recently...that now have been repaired, this comic came along and I just thought it was poignant. :-)
Blessings,
Don
As we have had some leaky roof problems with our church building recently...that now have been repaired, this comic came along and I just thought it was poignant. :-)
Blessings,
Don
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Greatest GM of Our Time
Friends,
I have to say that Pat Gillick must be living right. This, or that maybe he is just the best general manager that baseball has seen in a long time...maybe ever. Mr Gillick was the architect of the great Toronto Blue Jay teams of the late '80s and early 90s as he was able to help guide them to two World Series wins. The Blue Jays had accomplished little up to that point...but Mr.Gillick turned them into champions. He then came to the other expansion team of the mid-70s, the Seattle Mariners in the mid-90s. Seattle had not history of winning whatsoever -- believe me, I was one of their long-suffering fans. :-) My friend Art and I used to joke that we would be ancient before the Ms ever made the playoffs. Yet, thanks to Mr.Gillick who was able to come in and perform some of his "managerial magic," he was practically able to turn the Ms into an instant contender. He led them into the playoffs in '95, '97, 2000, 2001, which was remarkable. Since Gillick left, the Ms have returned to their former status of "not-so-loveable losers." So, what did Mr.Gillick do after he left Seattle?...why he went to Philadelphia. You mean the same Phillies that just won the World Series for the first time in 28 years? Yes...he was also the architect of this team. And now...he has retired. Three MLB teams with a history of losing...he turned them into winners and gave the fans of Toronto, Seattle and Philadelphis something to cheer about. Thank you Mr. Gillick for all of the good that you have done...and enjoy your retirement -- you deserve it. Blessings,
Don
I have to say that Pat Gillick must be living right. This, or that maybe he is just the best general manager that baseball has seen in a long time...maybe ever. Mr Gillick was the architect of the great Toronto Blue Jay teams of the late '80s and early 90s as he was able to help guide them to two World Series wins. The Blue Jays had accomplished little up to that point...but Mr.Gillick turned them into champions. He then came to the other expansion team of the mid-70s, the Seattle Mariners in the mid-90s. Seattle had not history of winning whatsoever -- believe me, I was one of their long-suffering fans. :-) My friend Art and I used to joke that we would be ancient before the Ms ever made the playoffs. Yet, thanks to Mr.Gillick who was able to come in and perform some of his "managerial magic," he was practically able to turn the Ms into an instant contender. He led them into the playoffs in '95, '97, 2000, 2001, which was remarkable. Since Gillick left, the Ms have returned to their former status of "not-so-loveable losers." So, what did Mr.Gillick do after he left Seattle?...why he went to Philadelphia. You mean the same Phillies that just won the World Series for the first time in 28 years? Yes...he was also the architect of this team. And now...he has retired. Three MLB teams with a history of losing...he turned them into winners and gave the fans of Toronto, Seattle and Philadelphis something to cheer about. Thank you Mr. Gillick for all of the good that you have done...and enjoy your retirement -- you deserve it. Blessings,
Don
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A Better Path, Perhaps
Friends,
I have seen this message several times and just wanted to share some thoughts...
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I wish the old paths were before us instead of behind us.
THE OLD PATHS...I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children! Crime did not pay; Hard work did; And people knew the difference. Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; And children looked decent. People loved the truth, And hated a lie; They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT! Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere. Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable. The flag was honored; America was beautiful; And God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called a Christian was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame! Preachers preached because they had a message; And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY! Preachers preached from the Bible; Singers sang from the heart; And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED! A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; Following Christ led to eternal life. Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God; Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you! Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible; And churches taught the Bible. God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; And the Holy Spirit was respected. Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, Or being entertained somewhere else. I still like the old paths the best!
“The Old Paths” was written by a retired Minister who lives in Tennessee.
**********************************************************************************
Consider...
Solomon says...Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. (Eccl 7:10, NIV).
I understand the concern and the sentiment being made in "the Old Paths" message, but in my life and experience...I simply do not agree with it in many respects. This is a retiring statement...so as to say, nothing can be done to make today better in the church than yesterday; the church of yesterday will always be better, therefore why even try. At least this is how I have seen it work itself out in the lives of too many people that I love...senior saints and others that I have known and loved. The message appears to reflect that..."the Spirit did all of His best work then." I refuse to give in to this. If this was the case, why should we even be open to learning, or spiritual insight, because it doesn't really matter -- preaching and ministry were better then anyway. For example...why should I even be preaching today, because it will never measure up to what some individual was saying a generation ago. I do not believe that this is true. In fact, I believe that preaching could very well be better today in many respects...(although I cannot disprespect yesterday's or tomorrow's preaching). Today's preaching generally does a better job of trying to remain expository, that is, true to the context of what particular passage is being presented. I think we need to be very careful about what we say or think is "better" or "worser" in relationship to the church or life itself. I think that these judgments can and do trap us and do not permit us to grow and continue to be all that we can be for the Lord. We must remember that, in relationship to the subject at hand, in the Lord's hands all things can be a blessing and bless!
If we are overly compelled by or dwell on the past (or the future, for that matter), we may very well have very little to offer the present situation. The Thessalonians were admonished by Paul for being as overly concerned about the future as many today are about the past. The church and the world would be a much better place if people of all ages, races, social status, genders (that would be both :-)...would do their best to come together to be open to God's leading and be a blessing and try to understand what God's Spirit is doing today. In many respects, societal life was good a generation ago...in other ways it was not so good. In some ways life is better today...and in other ways it is worse. It is what we choose to make it! :-) Blessings,
Don
I have seen this message several times and just wanted to share some thoughts...
**********************************************************************************
I wish the old paths were before us instead of behind us.
THE OLD PATHS...I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children! Crime did not pay; Hard work did; And people knew the difference. Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; And children looked decent. People loved the truth, And hated a lie; They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT! Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere. Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable. The flag was honored; America was beautiful; And God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called a Christian was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame! Preachers preached because they had a message; And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY! Preachers preached from the Bible; Singers sang from the heart; And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED! A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; Following Christ led to eternal life. Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God; Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you! Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible; And churches taught the Bible. God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; And the Holy Spirit was respected. Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, Or being entertained somewhere else. I still like the old paths the best!
“The Old Paths” was written by a retired Minister who lives in Tennessee.
**********************************************************************************
Consider...
Solomon says...Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. (Eccl 7:10, NIV).
I understand the concern and the sentiment being made in "the Old Paths" message, but in my life and experience...I simply do not agree with it in many respects. This is a retiring statement...so as to say, nothing can be done to make today better in the church than yesterday; the church of yesterday will always be better, therefore why even try. At least this is how I have seen it work itself out in the lives of too many people that I love...senior saints and others that I have known and loved. The message appears to reflect that..."the Spirit did all of His best work then." I refuse to give in to this. If this was the case, why should we even be open to learning, or spiritual insight, because it doesn't really matter -- preaching and ministry were better then anyway. For example...why should I even be preaching today, because it will never measure up to what some individual was saying a generation ago. I do not believe that this is true. In fact, I believe that preaching could very well be better today in many respects...(although I cannot disprespect yesterday's or tomorrow's preaching). Today's preaching generally does a better job of trying to remain expository, that is, true to the context of what particular passage is being presented. I think we need to be very careful about what we say or think is "better" or "worser" in relationship to the church or life itself. I think that these judgments can and do trap us and do not permit us to grow and continue to be all that we can be for the Lord. We must remember that, in relationship to the subject at hand, in the Lord's hands all things can be a blessing and bless!
If we are overly compelled by or dwell on the past (or the future, for that matter), we may very well have very little to offer the present situation. The Thessalonians were admonished by Paul for being as overly concerned about the future as many today are about the past. The church and the world would be a much better place if people of all ages, races, social status, genders (that would be both :-)...would do their best to come together to be open to God's leading and be a blessing and try to understand what God's Spirit is doing today. In many respects, societal life was good a generation ago...in other ways it was not so good. In some ways life is better today...and in other ways it is worse. It is what we choose to make it! :-) Blessings,
Don
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The People Have Spoken...What Are They Saying?
Friends,
Well...the people have spoken. We have a new president. "What exactly are the people saying" is the question that has been on my mind? This is not intended to be anything personal against any candidate or party, but just some general observations about human nature and "the system"...of the world in general and politics in particular.
I do believe that this election, like most elections of yesteryear, is about reaction. I get the strong feeling that this election was really about ABBOALH -- anybody but Bush (like he has any opportunity left) or anybody like him (in their opinion or estimation)...and especially so when we take a good look at the final tally. It matters not so much what the stakes are morally, or perhaps in other significant ways -- the people wanted change and this is what they have received. Like most elections, we have candidates that are either more or less somewhat known to the people. I do not think that candidates that are elected are really, truly known for what they believe. We really don't know what they are going to say or do...we may have ideas or opinions about it...we may speak reasonably or fearfully about it -- but we don't really know. Most of the time, it is that the candidate is "charismatic" and "looks presidential" (in other words, we like him, even if we don't really know him)...and most of the time they "tell us what we want to hear" in order to get elected. The most intelligent are the ones who are able to package it in such a way that is most believable. (Is that a bit cynical? Naw :-). It all could end up being better or worser than what we believed was going to be the case. I am not trying to say that "people in general are dumb" as it pertains to politics, just that they are militantly pragmatic -- if it works for me today, great...if it doesn't work tomorrow, then change it. Now this does and could all end up being "Dumb" or "Smart," but we always need to remember Who is in control. This is important.
One thing is certain, I believe that most Christians are concerned about the course of our country. It seems that at least for "a season," the overall votes have been more for "secularism" or "humanism" than anything else...once again, this is an observation or an opinion, and it could be wrong. I am wondering, as my friend "onedaysoon" says, that if this all could be "a statement from the Lord." It is possible. What "the statement" is or could be will certainly be revealed as days, weeks, months and years go by. (Remember the wisdom of the woodcutter :-).
Nevertheless, we all need to be reminded, that even though we Christians live here and are citizens of the United States of America -- and I continue to say God bless the USA :-) -- we are truly citizens of another place...working, serving, blessing until we really get home.
Blessings,
Don
Well...the people have spoken. We have a new president. "What exactly are the people saying" is the question that has been on my mind? This is not intended to be anything personal against any candidate or party, but just some general observations about human nature and "the system"...of the world in general and politics in particular.
I do believe that this election, like most elections of yesteryear, is about reaction. I get the strong feeling that this election was really about ABBOALH -- anybody but Bush (like he has any opportunity left) or anybody like him (in their opinion or estimation)...and especially so when we take a good look at the final tally. It matters not so much what the stakes are morally, or perhaps in other significant ways -- the people wanted change and this is what they have received. Like most elections, we have candidates that are either more or less somewhat known to the people. I do not think that candidates that are elected are really, truly known for what they believe. We really don't know what they are going to say or do...we may have ideas or opinions about it...we may speak reasonably or fearfully about it -- but we don't really know. Most of the time, it is that the candidate is "charismatic" and "looks presidential" (in other words, we like him, even if we don't really know him)...and most of the time they "tell us what we want to hear" in order to get elected. The most intelligent are the ones who are able to package it in such a way that is most believable. (Is that a bit cynical? Naw :-). It all could end up being better or worser than what we believed was going to be the case. I am not trying to say that "people in general are dumb" as it pertains to politics, just that they are militantly pragmatic -- if it works for me today, great...if it doesn't work tomorrow, then change it. Now this does and could all end up being "Dumb" or "Smart," but we always need to remember Who is in control. This is important.
One thing is certain, I believe that most Christians are concerned about the course of our country. It seems that at least for "a season," the overall votes have been more for "secularism" or "humanism" than anything else...once again, this is an observation or an opinion, and it could be wrong. I am wondering, as my friend "onedaysoon" says, that if this all could be "a statement from the Lord." It is possible. What "the statement" is or could be will certainly be revealed as days, weeks, months and years go by. (Remember the wisdom of the woodcutter :-).
Nevertheless, we all need to be reminded, that even though we Christians live here and are citizens of the United States of America -- and I continue to say God bless the USA :-) -- we are truly citizens of another place...working, serving, blessing until we really get home.
Blessings,
Don
Monday, November 3, 2008
Fireproof
Friends,
A majority of our congregation went to see the movie "Fireproof" starring Kirk Cameron last night. I have to say that it was a powerful presentation. It is not necessarily an easy movie to watch in many respects, but it is so good. There were very few dry eyes by the end of the movie, as the producers make a great case for strengthening, reenergizing marriages. Our whole family went and we enjoyed it.
Too many marriages are troubled and on the rocks...as the one depicted in the movie. I will just put out a shout out to every married couple...that they should go to see this movie, whether their marriage is on solid ground or struggling. Marriage is one institution that has taken some serious hits, in the past couple of decades particularly. The divorce rate is running over 50%. Unfortunately, this number is not any better for those who are Christians. It is a sad thing when a marriage does not make it. Some are preventable...others simply do not work for a host of reasons. Too many marriages die from selfishness, with one spouse or the other (or both) unwilling to part with their addiction(s) -- alcohol, drugs, gambling, pronography, shopaholism, materialism, etc. -- in order to keep the proper perspective and priority for their relationship. Another undeniable certainty...the world system of today continues to assault the sanctity of marriage as it seeks even to redefine the very core of what marriage is supposed to be, which is one man, one woman -- for life. This was God's plan from the beginning...and it will be so until the end of the world as we know it. Thanks to those who put together the movie "Fireproof"...it gives us a story to show us that a marriage that is in trouble can make it with the help of the Lord.
Blessings,
Don
A majority of our congregation went to see the movie "Fireproof" starring Kirk Cameron last night. I have to say that it was a powerful presentation. It is not necessarily an easy movie to watch in many respects, but it is so good. There were very few dry eyes by the end of the movie, as the producers make a great case for strengthening, reenergizing marriages. Our whole family went and we enjoyed it.
Too many marriages are troubled and on the rocks...as the one depicted in the movie. I will just put out a shout out to every married couple...that they should go to see this movie, whether their marriage is on solid ground or struggling. Marriage is one institution that has taken some serious hits, in the past couple of decades particularly. The divorce rate is running over 50%. Unfortunately, this number is not any better for those who are Christians. It is a sad thing when a marriage does not make it. Some are preventable...others simply do not work for a host of reasons. Too many marriages die from selfishness, with one spouse or the other (or both) unwilling to part with their addiction(s) -- alcohol, drugs, gambling, pronography, shopaholism, materialism, etc. -- in order to keep the proper perspective and priority for their relationship. Another undeniable certainty...the world system of today continues to assault the sanctity of marriage as it seeks even to redefine the very core of what marriage is supposed to be, which is one man, one woman -- for life. This was God's plan from the beginning...and it will be so until the end of the world as we know it. Thanks to those who put together the movie "Fireproof"...it gives us a story to show us that a marriage that is in trouble can make it with the help of the Lord.
Blessings,
Don
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
How Low Can You Go? (Updated)
Friends,
It is not a pleasant time to be a football fan in the NW, or a fan of NW professional sports this year in general. The Seattle Seahawks, Washington Huskies and WSU Cougars are a combined 3-19. Oh, to be living in the glory days again of Don James with the Huskies and Mike Price with the Cougars...and even up to last year with the Seahawks. At least the 'hawks have an excuse, since they have been decimated with injuries. But, things are compounded by the fact that the Mariners lost 100 games this year... frighteningly like waaaay too much of their history, hearkening back to the 70s and 80s. The biggest blow was that the Sonics vacated Seattle and will begin play this week as the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. (Didn't see that one coming -- not ;-). Something has to give, right? Well, at least the Trail Blazers are still doing well in Portland. They are no longer the Jail Blazers, having revamped their image. And now they have Greg Oden back this year after he missed all of last year with injury. He is supposed to be the second coming of Bill Russell...except that he is hurt yet again and is beginning to look more like the second coming of Sam Bowie. As if to add insult to injury, ESPN interviewed Sam Bowie about Oden...an ominous sign. Hopefully, he will be more like the Blazers' Bill Walton, at least as far as his production goes. (Warning: you are now about to enter the satire zone -- why do they even play 82 regular season games in the NBA...we could just do the dozen or so that is necessary to get to the Lakers, Hornets, Celtics and Cavaliers, who are likely going to be the final four anyway, right? :-).
Speaking of Portland...on a seriously sad note, news came out yesterday that Cascade College is going to be shutting its doors after the Spring 2009 commencement. Having graduated from Columbia Christian College, before it reopened as Cascade College, it is unfortunate news, and a huge setback for Christian education in the NW. Thanks goes to OC for sustaining Cascade for the past 15 years, but with the economy and other factors, it made it so that CC could no longer stay operational. I have a lot of great memories of my time spent there and cherish the friends that were made. I thank the Lord that Cascade has made it possible this year for alumni to connect up through their connections website. It has been great to get reconnected with many friends that I had been out of touch with for quite awhile.
At least there is some good news :-)...for the third week in a row, the #1 Texas Longhorns are playing "the game of the century." This week they "lock horns" (pun intended) with the Red Raiders from Texas Tech. Both are undefeated and have the #1 and 2 QBs in the Heisman trophy race. So, it should be an exciting weekend. I am betting that whoever loses the game will still have over 40 points...we'll see.
An update on the World Series...although I have said very little about it (in fact, this is it...after all what is there to say -- it was the Phillies and the Rays (of sunshine) ;-), I have to give a shout out to one of my all time favorite players. Congrats to Jamie Moyer of the Phillies, a long time Mariner who carried the M's pitching staff for a number of years. Jamie is on or around 45 years old, which is like Methuselah in baseball terms. I remember when Jamie came up with the Cubs organization back when I was a late teenager and he has pitched so well for the past 15 years or so. It is just great to see one of the good guys in the game get rewarded for a job well done.
Blessings,
Don
It is not a pleasant time to be a football fan in the NW, or a fan of NW professional sports this year in general. The Seattle Seahawks, Washington Huskies and WSU Cougars are a combined 3-19. Oh, to be living in the glory days again of Don James with the Huskies and Mike Price with the Cougars...and even up to last year with the Seahawks. At least the 'hawks have an excuse, since they have been decimated with injuries. But, things are compounded by the fact that the Mariners lost 100 games this year... frighteningly like waaaay too much of their history, hearkening back to the 70s and 80s. The biggest blow was that the Sonics vacated Seattle and will begin play this week as the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. (Didn't see that one coming -- not ;-). Something has to give, right? Well, at least the Trail Blazers are still doing well in Portland. They are no longer the Jail Blazers, having revamped their image. And now they have Greg Oden back this year after he missed all of last year with injury. He is supposed to be the second coming of Bill Russell...except that he is hurt yet again and is beginning to look more like the second coming of Sam Bowie. As if to add insult to injury, ESPN interviewed Sam Bowie about Oden...an ominous sign. Hopefully, he will be more like the Blazers' Bill Walton, at least as far as his production goes. (Warning: you are now about to enter the satire zone -- why do they even play 82 regular season games in the NBA...we could just do the dozen or so that is necessary to get to the Lakers, Hornets, Celtics and Cavaliers, who are likely going to be the final four anyway, right? :-).
Speaking of Portland...on a seriously sad note, news came out yesterday that Cascade College is going to be shutting its doors after the Spring 2009 commencement. Having graduated from Columbia Christian College, before it reopened as Cascade College, it is unfortunate news, and a huge setback for Christian education in the NW. Thanks goes to OC for sustaining Cascade for the past 15 years, but with the economy and other factors, it made it so that CC could no longer stay operational. I have a lot of great memories of my time spent there and cherish the friends that were made. I thank the Lord that Cascade has made it possible this year for alumni to connect up through their connections website. It has been great to get reconnected with many friends that I had been out of touch with for quite awhile.
At least there is some good news :-)...for the third week in a row, the #1 Texas Longhorns are playing "the game of the century." This week they "lock horns" (pun intended) with the Red Raiders from Texas Tech. Both are undefeated and have the #1 and 2 QBs in the Heisman trophy race. So, it should be an exciting weekend. I am betting that whoever loses the game will still have over 40 points...we'll see.
An update on the World Series...although I have said very little about it (in fact, this is it...after all what is there to say -- it was the Phillies and the Rays (of sunshine) ;-), I have to give a shout out to one of my all time favorite players. Congrats to Jamie Moyer of the Phillies, a long time Mariner who carried the M's pitching staff for a number of years. Jamie is on or around 45 years old, which is like Methuselah in baseball terms. I remember when Jamie came up with the Cubs organization back when I was a late teenager and he has pitched so well for the past 15 years or so. It is just great to see one of the good guys in the game get rewarded for a job well done.
Blessings,
Don
Monday, October 27, 2008
Live Long and Perspire :-)
Friends,
Dan Vergano of USA Today shares…Star Trek fans, take heart — Mr. Spock's fabled home star, the nearby Epsilon Eridani, could harbor an Earth-like planet. NASA astronomers today report that the triple-ringed star has an asteroid belt and a Jupiter-like giant planet in roughly the same orbits as in our own solar system. Only “850 million years old” (in humanist years ;-), a fifth the age of Earth's sun, Epsilon Eridani resembles a younger twin to our solar system. About (only...ha ha) 62 trillion miles away, it is the closest known solar system.
It was borrowed by the creators of the TV series 'Star Trek' as the location of Vulcan, the planet that gave us the super-logical science officer Mr. Spock. "We certainly haven't seen it yet, but if its solar system is anything like ours, then there should be planets like ours," say astronomer Massimo Marengo of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.
The NASA Spitzer space telescope results, which measure the infrared heat given off by dust and ice rings circling the star, suggest Epsilon Eridani possesses three jumbo worlds, revealed by dust-free circular lanes in its asteroid belt and more distant comet belts. The circular asteroid belt that, like ours, orbits within 300 million miles of the star is particularly surprising, Marengo says, because earlier studies had suggested the star's Jupiter-like planet followed a looping path that would have destroyed the narrow belt. Instead, it must follow a nearly circular orbit.
Because Epsilon Eridani is smaller, dimmer and younger than the sun, the "habitable zone" for Earth-like planets there is closer to the star, says planetary theorist Sean Raymond of the University of Colorado-Boulder. "An Earth-like planet could actually form in the (star's) habitable zone," he says, if the report of a well-behaved Jupiter-sized planet bears out. Another planetary theorist, Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institute of Washington (D.C.), is doubtful, suggesting such a planet is "likely to be too massive and too close to allow Earth-like planets to form in the habitable zone." Jokes Marengo: "Of course there is disagreement among Star Trek fans about whether the planet of Mr. Spock could be at Epsilon Eridani, because it is such a young star and Vulcans are supposed to be an advanced civilization." (Truth is stranger than fiction... or in the case of this article, perhaps it is the other way around -- science fiction can certainly be stranger than truth :-). Blessings,
Don
Dan Vergano of USA Today shares…Star Trek fans, take heart — Mr. Spock's fabled home star, the nearby Epsilon Eridani, could harbor an Earth-like planet. NASA astronomers today report that the triple-ringed star has an asteroid belt and a Jupiter-like giant planet in roughly the same orbits as in our own solar system. Only “850 million years old” (in humanist years ;-), a fifth the age of Earth's sun, Epsilon Eridani resembles a younger twin to our solar system. About (only...ha ha) 62 trillion miles away, it is the closest known solar system.
It was borrowed by the creators of the TV series 'Star Trek' as the location of Vulcan, the planet that gave us the super-logical science officer Mr. Spock. "We certainly haven't seen it yet, but if its solar system is anything like ours, then there should be planets like ours," say astronomer Massimo Marengo of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass.
The NASA Spitzer space telescope results, which measure the infrared heat given off by dust and ice rings circling the star, suggest Epsilon Eridani possesses three jumbo worlds, revealed by dust-free circular lanes in its asteroid belt and more distant comet belts. The circular asteroid belt that, like ours, orbits within 300 million miles of the star is particularly surprising, Marengo says, because earlier studies had suggested the star's Jupiter-like planet followed a looping path that would have destroyed the narrow belt. Instead, it must follow a nearly circular orbit.
Because Epsilon Eridani is smaller, dimmer and younger than the sun, the "habitable zone" for Earth-like planets there is closer to the star, says planetary theorist Sean Raymond of the University of Colorado-Boulder. "An Earth-like planet could actually form in the (star's) habitable zone," he says, if the report of a well-behaved Jupiter-sized planet bears out. Another planetary theorist, Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institute of Washington (D.C.), is doubtful, suggesting such a planet is "likely to be too massive and too close to allow Earth-like planets to form in the habitable zone." Jokes Marengo: "Of course there is disagreement among Star Trek fans about whether the planet of Mr. Spock could be at Epsilon Eridani, because it is such a young star and Vulcans are supposed to be an advanced civilization." (Truth is stranger than fiction... or in the case of this article, perhaps it is the other way around -- science fiction can certainly be stranger than truth :-). Blessings,
Don
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