Replica of Noah's Ark

SCHAGEN, Netherlands — The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was thrown open Saturday — you could say it was the first time in 4,000 years — drawing a crowd of curious pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.

Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible. Reckoning by the old biblical measurements, Johan's fully functional ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide.

That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.

Read the whole FoxNews story here.

Just Alike, But Different

That's what my Mom used to say when we were growing up. It meant two things were similar, but not exact matches. This is our new car...just like our old one, but different. We have been very happy with Saturn over these past four years.

On Thursday, we got a flier in the mail from Saturn saying we could get into a new car for $x more than we were paying on our current car. They wanted a down payment equal to a car payment. I called and told them I was interested, but not in the down payment. They immediately did away with the down payment and scheduled us for a "visit" at 10:30am on Friday.

Short version: I calculated what would be a good deal for us based on what we had left to pay on the old car and what we were getting with the "upgrade". In the end (after FOUR hours at the dealership), we got a good deal but had to play the games (I HATE CAR BUYING GAMES!) . I gave in a little more than I had planned, but not so much that it was not a great deal for us. By the way, the color is called "deep blue" even though it looks black from a distance.

So this really was an "upgrade" for us. We've never had power windows, power locks, cruise control or the little remote thingy to unlock your doors, pop the trunk, etc. And all Saturns come with one year of OnStar, and that's a pretty cool toy, too (although very expensive after the free year). But I think my favorite upgrade is the stereo. It has a lot of nice features, but my favorite the is audio "in" jack in the front. We can now plug in our MP3 player and have it play through the stereo system.

One other really nice upgrade. Granted, I paid for it, but I think it will more than pay for itself. We got a 100,000 mile/5 year warranty on the car. It is bumper to bumper, no deductible. If anything goes wrong with the car (other than the clutch or body damage), I do not have to pay a cent to get it fixed. If my car breaks down, they will come tow it at no cost. If we run out of gas or get locked out of our car, they will come take care of us at no cost. We also get a free rental car if necessary. And then I also got a 4 year/48,000 mile maintenance warranty that gives me no charge oil changes, air and oil filter changes and a radiator flush treatment. I am not a "car guy", so the extra cost of the warranties is worth my peace of mind.

Scratch HERE to smell that "new car smell"...just don't scratch my car!

Lessons on Love From Today's Journaling

Lord, do You never tire of waiting for me to come and spend time with You? It almost seems like the epitome of arrogance to think You would want to spend time with me, to spend intimate time with me, when I seem to do little more than "check in with You" from time to time. That is not my heart, and I ask you to forgive me.

Rob, you will never understand the depth of my love for you. You have been given a measure of my love, but you could not contain the love that I have. My love for you, my love for broken people, my love for the lost and even my love for those who despise and hate me. And that is why it is so important that you never quit growing in love...love for Me, love for your brothers and sisters in Christ, love towards those who do dumb things and cause their own problems and a genuine love for the lost. Your lesson for today is LOVE.

{So I turned to I Corinthians 13 in the NET Bible and wrote what came to mind as I read concerning love}

• Love is ultimately patient
• Love is ultimately kind
• Love is never envious of anything
• Love does not make oneself better than others
• Love always responds with grace (is not rude)
• Love serves others, not self
• Love does not become angry easily and does not pout
• Love puts up with a LOT of stuff (all things)
• Love always sees/believes the best in people
• Love trusts God at all times
• Love never gives up no matter how difficult the trial

More Conversations with the Humanists

This post ran in the Humanist News blog today:

The New York Times reported today that the Bush Administration filed a settlement agreement that will allow the Wiccan Pentacle to be inscribed on government-issued memorial markers--such as headstones, grave markers, and memorial plaques--for deceased veterans. The religious liberty watchdog group, Americans United, had originally sued the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in November, citing evidence that the VA refused to recognize the Pentacle due to bias toward the Wiccan faith.

The VA isn’t the only one to show bias against Wicca. In 1999, while he was governor of Texas, George W. Bush appeared on “Good Morning America” to talk about Wiccan soldiers being allowed to worship at Fort Hood: “I don’t think witchcraft is a religion," he said. "I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made.”

In an Americans United press release, AU legal director Ayesha N. Khan commented, "It is rank hypocrisy for this administration to claim publicly that it cares about religious freedom and equality but then to quietly and deliberately discriminate against a minority faith like Wicca.”

Bravo for Americans United. If the government is going to sanction some religious symbols they must recognize them all. Let’s hope this principle is kept in mind the next time someone tries to erect a Ten Commandments statue on a courthouse lawn.

(BTW – the VA has recognized the Happy Humanist as an approved symbol for government memorial markers since 2001.)

Having read this blog for...maybe a year now, I realize they claim to be about freedom from religion, but in reality, they are about freedom from Christianity. I felt this post pointed that out quite well, so I commented. The writers for the blog usually respond politely enough, but recently other readers have been trashing me. I sure am glad Christians are the only "intolerant" people! Anyway, I'll let you know what happens.

This blog claims that a belief in God is foolish, yet it seems you spend more time arguing about God than anything else. If it is so obvious that God does not exist, why does a belief in him threaten you so?

Does this post really make sense to you? You commend a Wiccan religious symbol being approved/accepted, yet you rail against the 10 Commandments being displayed? Does that not tell you something? If there is nothing to this "God thing", why does it get under your skin so badly?

In this great country, you are free to despise the faith that made it great and you are free to share your opinions. I try to understand your beliefs (or at least where you are coming from), and that is why I visit here. But I am continually amazed that it doesn't seem odd to anyone that such a simple "foolish" faith bothers you so much so as to consume so much of your time and energies.

But I do appreciate the honesty in this post. You are not so much about freedom from religion as you are about freedom from Christianity. That's not what you claim you believe, but that is what the content of this blog often seems to show. Ever asked 'why'?

Not As Allegorical As You Might Think

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
shout aloud, O earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
he displays his glory in Israel.
(Isaiah 44:23, NIV)

Astronomers have recorded heavenly music bellowed out by the Sun's atmosphere....

The study, presented this week at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Lancashire, England, reveals that the looping magnetic fields along the Sun's outer regions, called the corona, carry magnetic sound waves in a similar manner to musical instruments such as guitars or pipe organs...

Read the whole story, Sun's Atmosphere Sings, here.

Playtime

Amanda bought bubbles with her allowance at the Dollar Tree...blueberry bubbles. Yes, they really smelled like blueberry. Anyway, here she is doing her magic.


After the bubbles, we let the turtles out of their pen for a little exercise. Here is Amanda Kay with Little George.

My College Roommate and Best Friend is Coming to Visit

Dad

My Dad is sweet.
He likes to tell jokes
It makes me giggle.
He wrestles with me.
He plays prancs on me.
But what is spesholl
about him is he is my Dad!

By: Amanda

Today's Journaling With God

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am tired of living my life my own way and not truly acknowledging You. I am a sold-out Christian, at least in my convictions, yet way too much of the time I just go about my life as if You are not there. Actually, it's not as if You're not there, but I just don't spend enough time seeking You and trying to advance Your kingdom. Please forgive me and help me to do better.

It is my desire to get up early this morning so that I can spend some time in Your Word and have the mind of Christ today. I want to further Your Kingdom and not just go about my own business today. Father, what would You have me do today?

Rob, you are dong the first thing I would have you do today, and that is spend time with Me. Yes, there is always Kingdom work to be done, but my first desire is just to be with you. Yes, I have a will for your day today, but first and foremost, I want time with you. I did not die on the cross in your place so that you could do things for Me, I died on the cross for you so that you could be with Me. I will give you assignments during the day, but what I want most from you today is YOU! I want to be not just in your heart, but in your head, too. I want you to include Me in what you are thinking, feeling and doing. Don't just think about things yourself, share them with Me. You had so many things to think abut after greeting the troops, reading your book and watching your movie this weekend. I shared My heart with you through these. I know what was in your heart, but you didn't share it with Me. I want to share what's in your heart. As you share with Me what's in your heart, I will share with you what's in Mine.

The only way you will ever advance my Kingdom is by spending this time with Me. You cannot do it by working FOR Me, you must do it by working WITH me. If you want to advance my Kingdom today, take Me with you everywhere you go, share everything with Me, tell Me what's in your heart and I'll tell you what's in Mine.

A Most Excellent Family Day

We started out our day at 7:00am so that we could get to the church in time to get on the bus and leave for DFW airport by 7:35. A group of us went to greet the troops coming home from Iraq. This is the second time our church has done this but the first time we have been able to go. It was touching. Kinda puts a lot of things in perspective when you see soldiers walking home with their families. It looked like one soldier was seeing his baby for the first time. Made me thankful that I get to see my family every day. Here is a picture of Amanda and her friend Alec handing out "treat bags" to the troops.


In the afternoon, Amanda was reading to her "class". HINT: The one next to the heater is real!


We played Chicken Foot before dinner.


After Chicken Foot, we played some RPM {music}. Here's Brooke and Amanda struttin' their stuff...


...and here is Brooke gettin' her groove on!

Two Books In Two Days

This is some sort of record for me, "Mr. Slow Reader". I defend my slow reading by telling people I have a high comprehension level (that's what they measured in school, right?). Actually, I've tried to read faster. I've even tried those speed reading computer programs, but I just don't enjoy reading when I feel rushed. So I read slowing, but enjoy what I am reading.

Anyway, I finished two books in two days. Actually, the first book, We Die Alone by David Howard, took me a couple weeks to read but I finished it last night. So then I started The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall and finished it today. But still...in two days I "finished" two books.

We Die Alone is a story about a Norwegian soldier named Jan Baalsrud who was trying to help set up resistance to the Nazis during WWII in northern Norway. His team of 12 was sold out and he was the sole survivor. And "survivor" is the best way to describe his story. For two-and-a-half months he faced freezing temperatures, front bite, gangrene, snow-blindness and much more in an effort to get to Sweden. He doesn't talk about God seeing him through his ordeal, but it is nothing short of a miracle. The story details how {literally} hundreds of people were involved in helping him to safety. He would have been a dead man many times over had it not been for all the people who, at great personal risk helped him. My friend George told me he thought I might like it, and he was right.

The Ultimate Gift is a book we received in the mail from Fox Faith Movies. After The Passion of the Christ, somebody realized there was a market for family, Christian-value movies. The Ultimate Gift is one of the books Fox Faith Movies has made into a film. I don't think it is a movie I would buy to watch again and again, but I would definitely pay to see it at the theater or rent the DVD. It is a story about a rich oil tycoon who died and wants to teach his great nephew lessons about life. There are 12, one month "lessons" the the nephew must learn. If he passes each "test", then he will receive the ultimate gift. It was an easy read, enjoyable and made me think about what is important in life. I enjoyed it.

So now I'm debating on whether to travel to Duncanville tomorrow to borrow a couple WWII books from my Dad or head to the library on Monday. If I go to the library, I will be looking for a book from my favorite author, Patrick Robinson, who writes Navy novels (SEALs, submariens, aircraft carriers, etc) or perhaps another medical thriller by Peter Clement.

Does This Bother You?

Let us review (and there will be a test). Fifteen British Royal Marines were patrolling 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters. This little fact is important, as Iran will and does claim that the Brits were in its waters. At first, Iranian rubber boats approached the British rubber boats in a friendly manner. Then, in a less friendly manner, they challenged the Brits, pointed guns at them and took them hostage.

Now, how do we know all this? Well, for sure the Iranians told us, but we first got word of this from the Brits themselves, who had a destroyer-sized boat and armed helicopters right there on the scene. But, hold on, it gets better — the captain of the HMS Cornwall, a boat as big as a building, whose job it is to protect the Royal Marines and sailors, was required to ask permission to interfere in the hostage taking.

Yes, that’s right; he had to ask permission. The captain called London and said, “Mother may I” protect the British Marines? And, London said, “NO.”

Read the whole Fox News story Take Down the Union Jack and Raise the White Flag here. What do you think?

I Never Knew I Was Obsessive-Compulsive...

...until I borrowed a power washer!

It all started last year. I looked out the front doors at church (they are glass, I do not have x-ray vision) and saw one of our members using a power washer on our sidewalk. He said he noticed it was dirty/stained and decided to make it look better. I was impressed, and so he took me over to my house and showed me what a good job it did of cleaning my foundation.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. We were talking about the Easter picnic at church and I mentioned that we needed to wash the picnic tables. Last time we had a picnic, the tables were really nasty. When I said that, I remembered the power washer. So that afternoon, I emailed our friend with the power washer and asked him if he could come power wash the picnic tables.

Last week. I was looking at my back porch and thinking about the power washer. I had an idea. I called our friend again and asked if I could come get the power washer and clean the picnic tables myself. And then, could I keep it for another day or two and wash my back porch? He said "sure".

Yesterday. Stan and I power washed the picnic tables (with a little help from 409 Cleaner and a scrub brush). I was going to wait until my day off today to start on the back porch, but just looking at the dirty bricks was too much for me. I was just going to do the porch and two areas where water runs down the wall (it makes stuff grow on the brick!). But if you sweep past the area you are aiming at with the power washer, it makes a mark on the next dirty brick. So you have to clean that one too...and then you see that the brick next to that one is dirty. Well, there is no sense in having a clean brick if the one next to it is so obviously dirty. And so there is one more. And now, the brick that was two bricks away from the clean one is right next to a clean one, and you can see how dirty that is one is. So you clean that one, too. And this is where the obsessive-compulsive disorder kicks in. I ended up washing my back porch and the entire back wall of my house! Since there was nothing else in sight, I cleaned the machine up, put it back in the box and set it by my front door to take back to church.

Today. I was on my way to get something from church so I grabbed the power washer to take it with me. But then I stepped onto the front porch and what did I see? A DIRTY STONE PORCH! These need to be power washed!! So I washed the front porch, the front walk, the walk beside the front porch, the stones under the front window, the side door of the garage, the pillars that hold up the porch and much of the front wall of my house. And I thought I was done...until I just realized as I was typing this that I washed only the SIDE door of the garage. I have this huge door in the front. How could I miss that? It's a good thing I haven't taken the washer back to church yet!

A Shout Out to Brian

A friend of mine sent me this article thinking I might be interested in posting it to my blog.

I was...and I am.

The article, Collins: Why this scientist believes in God is interesting to me for several reasons. First of all, I get so sick and tired of debating the existence of God with people who try to hide behind "science". Here is a guy who can "out science" most...and he believes in God.

It also interests me because I often think, after having a debate with an Atheist (most recently, the Humanist variety), "I wonder if they can really believe that when they are all alone with just their thoughts lying in bed at night?" Dr. Collins said it was questions as to the meaning of life and death that caused him to study further and ultimately encounter God.

I like what Dr. Collins said about the role of faith: But reason alone cannot prove the existence of God. Faith is reason plus revelation, and the revelation part requires one to think with the spirit as well as with the mind. You have to hear the music, not just read the notes on the page. Ultimately, a leap of faith is required. If this fact is not clear enough in Scripture, just try debating with an Atheist for any period of time and you will experience this truth for yourself.

Just for the record, I do not agree with Dr. Collins ideas about God and evolution. I believe the two are mutually exclusive. Although I believe creation is an extremely important teaching of Scripture, Scripture also teaches this is not the question that will get us in or keep us out of heaven. It's all about Jesus and who we say that He is. Dr. Collins and I agree on that one.

And you cannot read the article without reading the comments at the end. If you've never debated with an Atheist before, the comments at the end will give you a taste of what you'll encounter.

Thanks, Brian. An interesting read and great blogging material.

Texas Bluebonnets

At this time of the year driving down I-20 near the Duncanville/Cedar Hill area, you will see cars stopped alongside the highway taking pictures in the Bluebonnets. Amanda spent the night with Gema and PaPa D in Duncanville last night, so we took the camera and stopped ourselves on the way home today.

GeoPunkin's 300th Geocache Find