Tanque Verde Ranch

We've been in Tucson the last week at Tanque Verde Ranch. Our daughter and son-in-law and their kids joined the rest of the family on a little adventure in the warm Southwest mountains in Arizona, 28 of us in all. Most of us went horseback riding everyday, mixed in with mountain biking, and lounging around the pool and hot tub. The pool was about 84 and the hot tub maybe 100 degrees. Last night we all enjoyed a big bonfire and a full plate of ribs, beans, and corn bread. Ole Pete sang Western songs till everyone left. This morning, Seth and I got up early, and rode up the mountain with a small group (saw a few deer on the way) and we all enjoyed a big breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs! Mmm!

A white Christmas

A white Christmas is a special time. The sun is shining, there's a chill in the air, and the hot chocolate is especially good. What's even more special is reclining on the couch writing this while sitting next to my grand daughter Daisy! Gotta love it.

I take it back

Well I finally figured out my computer problems causing my blogging issue. I take back everything I said about Google, my Blogger account, and all their affiliates. I gazed into the mirror and with the help of my son-in-law Seth realized the error of my ways in roughly 10 seconds flat! Have a happy new year! I know I will...

I believe it

Merry Christmas! I believe in it. I believe that God alone brings ultimate satisfaction. It comes from nowhere else. In my thinking, we either live under pressure to grow to be something more to be authenticated and loved by others, or we celebrate His beautiful and breathtaking grace.

Too many people are set in their ways and convinced. They clench their fists and wave at God declaring the same as poet William Ernest Henley, "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." And so they move into life determined to survive and do it on their own.

You can see this sentiment exhibited in the lives of wealthy people and even successful actors, actresses, and athletes. There is a familiar sound of arrogance in their attitude, then when difficulty hits, there is a scrambling for a solution and some plan of action. They want something bad to turn into something good. This attitude permeates American culture. We think we have the wherewithal to take care of ourselves. But money won't always cure your cancer or bring your spouse back. God isn't necessarily going to give you a good night's sleep or less anxiety.

People don't want to know God, and when they do, they pursue the satisfaction God provides more than they pursue God. Neither is obtained as a result. We don't want to know God better and knowing him isn't really going to satisfy the need. Rather, we want to use God to get what we want. Fixed ideas like this are like a cramp, in the foot for example. And the best remedy is to step on them.

Knowing God does bring about many blessings and for me he has brought unpredictable times of peace and joy. And one day I know I'll live in an unimaginably wonderful place with unspeakable joy and happiness. So, we should enjoy the blessings when they come and persevere when they're absent and even when all good feelings are gone.

I know that today's advice to follow God is probably weak, but the rich fullness and nourishment of life is only available from God and through trusting him. He gave up all the riches of heaven and in humility came to earth as a child. Then he suffered as the poorest peasant, serving others, healing them, and teaching them about God. Then he was crucified for you and for me. That is the greatest present of all. Merry Christmas my friends!

Computer

Merry Christmas to everyone! I've been having trouble with my blogger account (computer) and it just doesn't seem to like me very much. In fact, it's been down so often it has canvas burns. As of today I am unable to post any photos, but at least I can print this. And I'm calm about it. At work things are so stressful our computer has an ulcer!

This post slipped through before the machine knew what was happening!

My day off

I took the day off yesterday and got a few things done. Here was my list:

1. Fix bed frame in the guest bedroom (how a bed frame breaks, I have no clue)... done

2. Throw out the pumpkin (I thought the neighbor kids would do that six weeks ago!)... done

3. Put ice in the freezer (the ice maker is broken upstairs, so I have to bring ice upstairs now)... done

4. Clean up, lube, and tune the mountain bikes for Arizona trip... done

5. Sweep out the garage... well maybe tomorrow

6. Fix the car door... okay maybe I just need to find someone to fix it

7. Get a string of faulty Christmas lights going or replaced... hmmm... awfully close to Christmas

Maybe tomorrow...

Lorrie Line

Tuesday night we went to a Lorrie Line concert at the Newman center with Mark and Teena. It was really very good and lots of fun. She brought all the kids in the audience up during the concert, dressed them in costumes and played, On the Third Day of Christmas. See photo below. During the intermission her husband came into the audience and interviewed a couple people with the microphone. Of course I was selected. How does this happen? Do I have stupid written on my forehead?

Pronghorn Antelope

Trips to Tucson are always special. I can count the antelope on the way, and there are usually hundreds to see. Several times I've stopped the car, got out, and taken photographs like this one. It's a good thing I'm married to Nancy! I'm not sure anyone else would find it as amusing. The best place to see them on I-25 is between Raton and Las Vegas, NM. Did you know that pronghorn antelope are the world's second fastest land animal?

Today

Today a savior is born to you - and yet it was night when he was born. It's a metaphor, an eternal one. The word "Today" is a declaration of eternal time. God says Today, and its repeated from generation to generation, because every individual among those millions who become a Christian it says: Today a Savior is born to you.

Learning comes from a quest for truth

Allan Bloom in his book The Closing of the American Mind, concludes that the average student attending college or university today has determined that everything is relative and there is no truth. In such an environment, there is no longer a search for truth. In the absence of searching, there can be no real learning, and therefore we are witnessing the gradual closing of the American Mind. The acceptance that there can be no truth and the continued process of searching for how truth can be understood and applied is at the heart of the company where I work.

There is a principle which allows us to confront life and it's problems and challenges and even our failures with the reassurance that our starting point never changes and provides a reason and a hope for today and the future. It provides a standard of integrity as we teach and learn with the potential to improve. We can enhance who we are becoming.

Our company first objective is to Honor God in in all we do. But Andy you say, "in a diverse pluralistic world with people holding different views and beliefs this objective must surely offend some people."

The issue of whether there is a God is not something that we need to avoid for shy away from. People have a choice as to whether they will respond to God, ignore him, or reject his existence. But no one should seek to hide the possibility of God or fail to examine the result when one begins with God in the learning process. In a pluralistic society, there is room for God and for people who put the value of others ahead of their own self-interests or gratification. God is in the workplace, the Church, the football field with Tim Tebow, and everywhere else.

Dolores River

I spent 20 minutes shoveling snow off the driveway. Now that winter has set in, my mind is wandering back a couple of summers to this little cabin where we stayed a couple of days. It was right on the Dolores River in SW Colorado. It was a beautiful spot in the mountains. I think we should go back there again.

Sunrise and teenagers

The other day on my morning walk I enjoyed this sunrise. I recently met a teenager who told me that he'd never seen one, a sunrise! I assume that's because he can't get up in the morning. Male teenagers have real problems. They're too old to say anything cute, and not old enough to say anything intelligent. They now have a teenage doll you know. You wind it up and it resents you for it.

Lisa

My computer can specialize in altering anything on almost every aspect of the face -wrinkles, warts, beauty marks, noses big and small, straight and crooked, thick or pointed, earlobes, punctured or otherwise, and any facial feature that can be targeted. In this case, I tried but the computer said, "Nope, such specialization wouldn't be fair to the rest of us." Thanks Lisa! You always keep us entertained.

Thanksgiving photo expert, not

On Thanksgiving we all went to the lake near my house for a family photo session. The photos came out reasonably well, considering I was the photographer. I try to never say I'm an expert at anything. If you want to find some experts, start to do something. In ten minutes, people will come from all around the world to tell you how you're doing it wrong.

The weather was nice but that's where it ended. Getting everyone to smile at the same time, open their eyes while looking into the sun, the kids to stand still, keep people off of the goose poop, the sticks out of the baby's mouth, and decide what combination of people will be photographed... whew! Forget about photography, I'd like to see an expert do all that!

Break a leg

Skiing is really fun. You drive up to the mountains for an hour (and don't forget the 2 hour drive back), you brave the cold, try to get your cross country skis on while you're wearing gloves, you start down the trail, pick up speed, maybe a little too much speed and then bam! So why do it? Hey buddy! Get that ticket out of your mouth! And where did you get those cute white boots? You bought those?

Broncos win again!

Tebow was 10/15 for 202 yards and 2 TD's. McGahee rushed for 111 yards and Thomas had 4 receptions for 142 yards and 2 TD's. While it was another ugly game, we won another and now tie the AFC West for the number 1 spot. Denver is rocking now!

Marijuana shops

The other day I went out to lunch with my friend Leon. We were driving North on S. Broadway here in Denver and saw one marijuana shop after another. In one place there were two right next to each other! What did all those people with back pain do for all these years?

They don't even look like medical shops, they look like head shops. It is such a joke. I understand you can even get marijuana flavored toothpaste. You still get cavities, but you don't care. Some of these people smoke so much grass - once a month they have to mow their stomachs!

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful thanksgiving time together with the family. Last year we had dinner at a roadside diner. I had to say grace over grease! Of course 200 years ago the pilgrims ate venison, shell fish and swan. In 2011 we put the turkey in a microwave oven and then ate it at seven-thirty in the morning! So, we had the same thing this year as last year... relatives! Now I have a cold! Thank God for daughters!

Weather

I got up this morning to this... a blizzard in progress. You know it's winter when you see a dalmatian with thermal spots. It's also pretty cold. In fact, today my overcoat will be wearing a sweater.

The good news is, it's only supposed to snow today. It will clear up tomorrow, at least that's the prediction and you know how reliable a prediction is.