My time at the dentist

My time at the dentist is almost done. In two weeks I go back for a final crown. On Monday I went in and got my tooth fixed! Really, he did a great job. They say that being exposed to too many X rays can make you impotent. I was going to ask my dentist about it, but he was too busy trying on new heels!

While I was visiting him the other day he said, "I have bad news and good news for you."
I said, "What's the bad news?"
"You need root-canal work."
"What's the good news?"
"I birdied two holes yesterday!"

Did Christ know who he was?

I've always wondered how evident it was to Christ that he was indeed divine, that He was the very Son of God. There is one expression He used that comes to mind and it boldly gives us an affirmative answer. He knew who He was. In a world where status meant everything, Christ says in Matthew 10, "And whoever gives to one of these least ones even a cup of cold water for my sake shall receive it again tenfold."

This is another example of God's love toward man. In I John 3 we read, "He who sees his brother in need, yet shuts his heart," this person at the same time shuts God out. Love to God and love to neighbor are like two doors that open simultaneously, so that it's impossible to open one without opening the other, and impossible to shut one without also shutting the other.

God is Love

The Bible says that "God is Love." This points to the very heart of the message of the New Testament. The message that God is Love, is something wholly new in the world, even though it's old. We understand this and try to apply this statement to the divinities of the various religions of the world: Wotan is Love, Zeus, Jupiter, Brahma, Ahura Mazda, Vishnu, Allah, is Love. All these combinations are wholly impossible. Even the God of Plato, who is the principle of all good, is not Love. Plato would have met the statement "God is Love" with a bewildered shake of the head and considered it nonsense. He would have thought God has no relationship with men.

The Love of God, the Agape of the New Testament, is very different. It does not seek value, but creates value or gives value; it does not desire to get but to give; it is not attracted to some lovable quality, but is poured out on those who are worthless and degraded; love is unfathomable, and passes all understanding; the highest expression of love is loving fidelity toward the unfaithful, the love of the Holy God for those who desecrate His sanctuary, the love of the Holy Lord toward the rebellious and disobedient, that is the sinner. All God desires is to seek the fulfillment of value and nothing for himself. All he desires is to benefit the one he loves. "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should no perish, but should have eternal life."

And this indeed took place while we were yet sinners. Christ died for the ungodly. Think about this.

Babies

As many of you know, our daughter Noelle is expecting again. She is due sometime in late April. We're very excited. We know of course, because of a Democratic Congress and multiple earmarks, that every baby born in America is endowed with life, liberty, and owes about a quarter of a million toward the national debt! And Seth must never forget that a baby is an addition that becomes a deduction!

Of course the process of creation is unique and not something commonly talked about by the parents of the mother. So, I thought I would make an exception here and discuss it with you. If you're bashful, just x this out and move on. There is a story about a Martian who listened to an earthling describe how babies were made. The Martian laughed and said, "Amazing! That's how we make bicycles."

It's cold up there

Okay, one more just for fun. Here's a little history. In March 1909, William Howard Taft's inaugural had to be moved inside due to the worst blizzard to strike Washington in many years. Taft said, "I've always said it would be a cold day when I get to be President of the United States," In 2009, at least one candidate will be used to the cold.

To quote a Democrat

This will hopefully be my last political comment for a while. I will quote a Democrat who I think is right on with this comment. When he was a U.S. Senator, Lyndon Johnson had the following sign in a prominent place in his office: "You ain't learnin' nothin' when you're talkin'."

More on lipstick and other findings

Some friends of mine found my last post on Obama to be a little unfair. I think they felt that Obama was referring to something else and was totally unaware of the connection with Sara Palin's joke on hockey moms. Therefore, in an effort to be fair toward all politicians I have attached the following photo taken from an article in a scientific journal. In case you can't read the writing, it says "An archaeological team, digging in Washington DC, has uncovered 10,000 year old bones and fossil remains of what is believed to be the first politician.

Lipstick on a pig

Nancy and I watched Sara Palin's speech the other night. At one point she asked the delegates if they knew the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom. "Lipstick," she said. We all laughed and knew she is or must have been a hockey mom at one point. "Pretty cute" we thought.

Now Obama gives a speech about change (nothing new here, especially since he's chosen a VP who is part of the "old political machine" he's trying to distance himself from). In the speech he says, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." WHAT??? You heard it right. In essence, he's called Sara Palin a pig.

I just decided who I'm not voting for. Any politician who says something like this shows an enormous lack of judgment and good sense. This was not a slip, but a planned dig. With Palin, the hockey joke was cute and funny. The trouble is that Obama's joke isn't nearly as funny as the idea of putting this clown in office!

Another baby!!

Yes it's true, Noelle is expecting another baby! We're all excited about it. And, Noelle is such a good mother. I could tell you the sad story of the baby who was born gray-haired and remained that way until someone discovered that the mother had bad eyesight and was always powdering the wrong end. Noelle would never do that!

I think it's amazing that mom's have such a short memory, causing them to want more children. Few of you know this but not long ago little "Andy" was really born of British royalty. The Prince of Wails! How quickly mom forgets. Anyway, things are pretty exciting around here again.

Cool email

Here is the email I got from my daughter and son-in-law today! Guess what's happening again in our family!

You're

Clownlike, happiest on your hands,
Feet to the stars, and moon-skulled,
Gilled like a fish. A common-sense
Thumbs-down on the dodo's mode.
Wrapped up in yourself like a spool,
Trawling your dark, as owls do.
Mute as a turnip from the Fourth
Of July to All Fools' Day,
O high-riser, my little loaf.

Vague as fog and looked for like mail.
Farther off than Australia.
Bent-backed Atlas, our traveled prawn.
Snug as a bud and at home
Like a sprat in a pickle jug.
A creel of eels, all ripples.
Jumpy as a Mexican bean.
Right, like a well-done sum.
A clean slate, with your own face on.

- Sylvia Plath

Call us when you get it.

A good read

As Dostoevsky stood before a firing squad with rifles aimed at his head, a horseman rode up with orders from Nicholas I to commute his sentence to hard labor. Someone gave him a bible on the way to Siberia which he read in prison. After 10 years in prison he developed Christian convictions and decided to follow Christ. He writes, "If anyone proved to me that Christ was outside the truth... then I would prefer to remain with Christ than with the truth."

In the novel The Idiot, Dostoevsky presents a Christ figure in the form of an epileptic prince. Prince Myshkin runs in upper circles, exposing their hypocrisy and brings goodness and truth to their lives. Dostoevsky understood that Jesus was about love and grace, not laws and rules, and being a good person. This book brings it to life.

The dentist

I made an appointment with the dentist today. I love going to the dentist. Where else can you read Collier's today? The problem is when my last dentist got through doing a canal, I didn't know whether it's root or Panama. He pulled a lot of silver out of my pocket by putting silver in my teeth. I have a new dentist now that I met at my cycling class. I know I should be careful about what I say to the dentist. That's because there are two good ways to keep your teeth: brush after meals and keep your mouth shut.

Segment 28

On our hiking trip we met an accountant who saw Craig's hat which said Deloitte Touche, and thought he was an accountant too. Craig wisely said he was just a consultant. It reminded me that America is a land of untold wealth. Most of it is untold on the tax forms. But I know it's a privilege to be able to pay taxes. If they keep going up, I may have to give up the privilege!

We enjoyed our hike and few good laughs along the way. I'm looking forward to our next trip.

Kennebec to Durango

Here we are at Kennebec Pass in the La Plata range near Durango. Tyler and I met Craig in Pagosa Springs and drove up to the pass to meet David as he finished the Colorado Trail. Our objective was to hike Segment 28 with him from the Pass to Durango. We waited over an hour for him and decided to hike back up to 12,000 ft Taylor Lake and wait for him there.

When we arrived at Taylor Lake we found David, and he had another "through hiker" with him, Elizabeth from Breckenridge, CO. This 25 year old hiked the entire 500 mile Colorado Trail, mostly alone except for her trusty dog Nanook. She told us that Nanook had encountered a porcupine earlier on the trail. Evidently, she couldn't pull the eight quills from Nanook's rear end with her hand, so she had to do it with her teeth. We found our three days with Elizabeth to be delightful. After the trip we enjoyed pizza with her at Farquarts in Durango.

Our campsite at Taylor Lake was perfect. The weather was great and the campfire that night was perfect. We ate well and laughed a lot.

David and Tyler decided to go for a swim at this 12,000 ft. lake. BRRRR. It couldn't have been too cold though, they stayed in the water for at least 10 minutes.

The next day we got up and "enjoyed" a two day 23 mile hike into Durango, mostly in the rain. As a result, I have no more photos beyond this one of Craig near Kennebec Pass. I would imagine that my toes and feet will recover within the next few weeks. My stuff is now dried out from the rain, rain, and more rain.