Reflections on Mohammedanism during Easter

SK writes about Mohammedanism and agrees with Rosenkranz that Mohammedanism is "abstract monotheism" and sees "God as one." While Judaism he says is "concretized monotheism" and that is why God is "I am who I am." (Exodus 3:14). He then compares it to Christianity. He says that in Mohammedanism everything "stops" at the half-way point since it does not go beyond its abstract point of departure." The relationship can best be described in the symbol that Mohammedans use themselves: "the moon, which borrows its light from the sun," that is, from Christianity.

SK quotes Galatians 3:20 where Paul writes: "Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one."

In other words, the law given to Judaism was mediated through angels and Moses, and the covenant with Abraham was given directly by God (Gen 15:12). The presence of a mediator assumes two parties, and the need for a mediator shows the inferiority of the law.

And as Christians, who was our mediator? Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). And, he now stands before God completely able to mediate for you with God. This is the outcome of belief. We now have the mediator of a new covenant. This is because Jesus rose from the dead after paying our debt to God for us. By believing in Him, he is our mediator. If God is "One" then there is no mediator.

Pronghorn antelope

There is something very special about Colorado. Did you know that pronghorn antelope are the second fastest land animals in the world, right behind the cheetah? And, if you pay close attention when you drive around our lovely state, you'll see them all over the place.

Colorado

One of the benefits of living where we do, is the opportunity to see lots of balloons. Every week they fly over our house and land nearby. Below is one of the balloon festivals at Chatfield Lake. We can walk about a mile down the trail to the lake and see them takeoff. I took this photo of them on a multiple ascent.

These balloons are different from the flying saucers which go over us all time. Those occupants want to talk to our responsible leaders, but they're having trouble finding one!

The snowstorm

A number of you have asked me about our recent storm. Well I can tell you it wasn't pretty! I had to be at the airport on Wednesday morning which meant I was up at 5:00a shoveling the snow off our drive so we could get out. My car wouldn't start running and my nose wouldn't stop! How come a snowbank is never overdrawn?

Trip to Canada

Last week I was in Vancouver, BC to speak to our Canadian Group on sales skills. My friends at the Y asked me if I was going to the Olympics, and since it's already over how much fun it would be. Ha Ha. I explained I was going for the T-shirt. Trips like this are great, and I like Canadians. And, they like us too. Trying to get back into the country through customs, well that's another story. I think it would be easier to sneak across the border someplace. Nevertheless, it's great to be an American. That's why I wear Italian suits, eat Mexican food, drive a Japanese car, and on holidays put out an American flag made in Korea!

Doc, my ears are ringing, "Don't answer it."

My Doctor decided it's finally time to cut back on expenses. He made this new private exam room for his patients. He's trying to make a point I think. He told me how Dr. Obama got his health care plan through congress and past the American people. In his last speech before a joint session and on national TV he said, "All in favor, stick out your tongue and say, 'Ah.' " I told my Doctor about my problem and that I couldn't hear. He told me I was better off, the way things are today.

There's nothing a fisherman can do if the worm ain't tryin'

Good fishing is a matter of timing, you have to get there yesterday. But in this case, who cares? You see there are sport fishermen, and then there are those who catch fish! This lake is up near Lake City, CO of course. It's a sublime spot, with plenty of fish. Below is a good Colorado story.

"Catching any?"
"About twenty."
"Nice. Do you know who I am?"
"Nope."
"I'm the game warden."
"Know who I am?"
"Nope."
"I'm the biggest liar who ever fished this lake!"

Cycling with Joe

Here's my cycling buddy Joe. His nickname is Chewbacca. He hasn't been to our winter cycling class lately because he's been sick. But, he'll be okay. Joe has a fancy Doctor. You have to make an appointment to make an appointment. I told Joe he needs to be careful with Doctors like that. The difference between an allergy and an itch is $1,000. Anyway, we miss Joe. In the summertime, we ride along the South Platte River and around Chatfield Reservoir. Then we always end our rides by going up Jackass Hill back to Joe's house. There's a reason they call it Jackass Hill. There's very little difference between being in a rut and being in the groove. Of course I get flats on the hill and have to push my bike up.

Amnesia is natures way of saying, "forget it."

Woodrow Wilson once remarked, "There are blessed intervals when I forget by one means or another that I am President of the United States." Just exactly what did Dr. Obama forget? It looks to me like the doctor just gave our country a strong laxative. Now we're sitting pretty! And so I started thinking about the older people and what will happen to them. Medicare is great for many of them. They get so many tranquilizers they don't care what shape the country is in. You want socialized medicine? This is it... call the acupuncturist and tell him you're in pain. He'll tell you to take two safety pins and call him in the morning! You want to know how I really feel? CHANGE the cost problems first. Don't just change who pays for it and leave it at that.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world,
that he gave His only begotten son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life."

Snow and sleet

This morning we left for the Y at 6:30a and it was 10 degrees. I took this photo looking out the front door just a few minutes ago and it's climbed up to 16 degrees! See, the snow is already melting off the driveway. I don't mind the freezing snow and sleet, but I wish they'd come in the summer when the weather is nice.

Snowy March

Today was a difficult day in Denver. Yesterday the temperature was 72 degrees with lots of sunshine. Today was a different story. It's been snowing all day with accidents all over town. I'm just very thankful I work from home now and don't have to drive in all of this mess.

Anchorage

My time in Anchorage has been more fulfilling shall we say, in the summer than the winter. While I do dislike the constant daylight during the night in the summer (too hard to sleep), I don't like the dark during the day either. Gee, I'm beginning to sound like a complainer! Anyway, in the summer the food is always fresh, unlike the winter (and most restaurants today), the food is frozen and the waiters are fresh. I like to kid around with waitresses. I'm playing for big steaks!

My hotel rooms

Being on the road for so many years with my company, I've spent most of my life in strange rooms. You know they don't have closets in most rooms anymore. They have cabinets for closets. They're so small they had to re-design the hangers. They're now hunchbacked hangers! A hotel is a place where you give good bucks for poor quarters. My last hotel was just a little suspicious. The Gideon Bible was on a chain!

Democrats

It's probably a good thing that the health care bill is being promoted by Democrats. They can't seem to agree on what they want without threatening and bullying members of their own party over very important issues like abortion (who will pay for it) and fiscal responsibility. Here's what Dwight Eisenhower said about Democrats, "The Democratic Party is not one, but two political parties with the same name. They unite only once every two years, to wage political campaigns."

Babette's Feast

We watched the movie Babette's Feast last night based on our daughter Noelle's recommendation. The movie was taken from a story by Isak Dinesen. It got an academy award for best foreign language film and spawned an interest in "foodie" movies about the liberating effects of good food.

Of course if that's all you get out of this film, then you've taken "shallow" to a new level. There was a lot going on here about God's Grace and how it's unconditional, lavish, and given freely with no expectation of anything in return. I also saw simple, yet profound examples of how Grace transforms people. There were no "rules" here, just Grace at work. What does it make you want to do? Return something to God because He is so good and has done so much for us and He was so humble in the way he did it.

I highly recommend this film to everyone.

House slippers and Chinese

Friday night, Nancy and I went out for Chinese food. We were in a hurry to beat the crowds because it was Friday and when I got there I realized I was still wearing my house slippers. They'd been on all day! Now that I work out of the house, new habits are hard to break too!

The food was pretty good at this place. They brought out a little iron campfire thing flaming away, and put it in the middle of the table with our meat cooking on it. There were six or seven little bowls around it with shrimp, chicken, pork and other delights. And that was just the appetizer! Where do the Chinese go when they want to eat out? Anyway, in case you're wondering, here was my fortune: "There is no time like the pleasant."

Grand Canyon

A friend asked me recently what I see in Grand Canyon. To look at it from the top is to see little more than a big ditch with a nice interpretive center. Hike inside and you see God's creation exposed. In that creation you'll see diamonds in the sky, and tiny points of exquisite beauty like delicate water. You'll see a grandeur that surpasses anything imaginable and if you'll only take your time and look at all the little things, the small creatures, the desert flowers, and the polished stones from centuries of wear, you'll see more than you thought possible. You'll see history exposed by time and violent waters. You'll see something truly grand.

2:00 Feeding

A bachelor is a man who prefers to have loved and lost to getting up for the 2:00 A.M. feeding. Tyler was just lucky enough to visit his sister Noelle in Tucson and take over the 2:00 P.M. feeding with Daisy. It's a good thing you're not a real baby-sitter Tyler. At one time or another all baby sitters get rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. To remove a phone from their ear!

Bless election years!

As I read the papers and watch the news, I am struck by the image of our country's leaders chasing after something (nationalized health care) that none of them have read, few understand, is a deep problem that can't be fixed in a year, and may very well cause a tragedy. The trouble with health care today is, people will do anything in the world to feel better but give up what's hurting them. And, politicians have become self-made men and women. I'm so thrilled that they took the responsibility off the rest of us.

Christmas in March

My friend asked me for help taking his Christmas lights down, in March for crying out loud! I'll always cherish the memories of Christmas, the tree, and getting up to see everything lying under it, the kids all excited about it running around the house, pancakes in the morning with the aroma of freshly cooked bacon and coffee brewing in the kitchen. Ahhhh, so sweet and wonderful. At the end of the day though, Christmas is a time when you get lots of gifts you can't wait to exchange.

Anyway, in the suburbs people do the strangest things. It's a good thing I had my camera. Otherwise you wouldn't get a Christmas blog in March!

Cold in Alaska

Alaska is beautiful place, even in the winter. This was not really early morning, it was only about 8:30a and just getting light. And even though Wasilla was in the 40's during the day, well it was still zero in the morning and Starbucks was mighty good. While I was at Starbucks I saw this guy with a weird, funny hat on. What was that thing on his head? As he walked out the door and I saw him from behind, I figured it out. You know it's cold when the guys wear their toupees upside down!

My pressurized cabin

When I left Denver to go to Alaska it was 9 degrees and snowing here. When I got to Anchorage it was 41 degrees and sunny. Too bad I forgot my sunscreen. By the way, I now understand why most airports make passengers walk a long way to the plane. That's so the luggage can get a head start.

Anyway, while I was there, I had to fly up to Fairbanks for a day long meeting. When I left Fairbanks at 5:00p it was snowing so hard we followed the snowplow out to the runway. That's my favorite thing in Denver... following the snowplow, but I digress. As we lifted off, the plane was experiencing great turbulence. Fearful that our lives were endangered, a passenger sitting across the isle from me said to the priest sitting next to him, "Do something religious!" The priest started to call Bingo.

Anyway, I'm home safe and sound now, at least until my next flight. The picture below was taken after my arrival in Fairbanks. Conditions change fast up there.

Tunnel thinking

Now this is different! Do I go in there or not? And, what's on the other side? Not to worry little buddy, we adults have been asking similar questions about careers, having children, asking someone out on a date, marriage, you name it. Go for it! If your Mom is concerned just tell her, "Worry is the interest you pay on trouble Mom, before it's due." So what if you can't squeeze through there and get me out, it looks like a lot of fun!

Each plane has two bathrooms and a chapel

Sorry it's taken so long to post anything. I've been travelling in Alaska on business. Of course the long flights are always exciting for me. Some airline seats are very narrow. Turning the other cheek isn't a virtue anymore, it's a necessity.

"How often do those big jets crash?" You ask. "Once, I imagine." I had my camera with me, well... you know I was in Alaska. I never want to miss out on a good photo opportunity. They didn't need a movie on this flight. Every ten seconds my life passed before my eyes! When we landed I ran over and kissed the wing. It must have been glad to have landed, because it kissed back!