KC Royals

It is with great disappointment that I bid farewell to any hopes of the Royals amounting to much more than an also-ran this year. The season started out with great hope: the pitching was excellent, and the offense, while not powerful, was providing just enough offense to win games. So, the logical question is, "What happened?"
The stand-up comic answer is "The Kansas City Royals finally realized that they were the Kansas City Royals."
A more serious answer, though, requires discussion of three problems, one of which was evident from the start of the year: lack of offense. As the weather heated up, the Royals' hitting did not. The offense consistently has shown that it will not be able to produce 4+ runs on a frequent basis. While it is true that the Royals are averaging 4.07 runs per game, the offense has produced more than 4 runs in only 10 of the past 34 games. Half of those were at the start of May, during the Royals' 5-game win streak. In the last 10 games, the Royals have scored more than 4 runs only once. (And I don't even have time to talk about the problem of players striking out a lot. There are several Royals' starters who average 100+ strikeouts a year. A team can survive with 1 guy who strikes out a lot. To have more than 1 is nearly impossible to overcome.) So, the offense needs to produce more runs and to produce them early in games in order to put pressure on the other team's offense. Right now, the Royals are constantly having to play from behind, and part of the reason for that is that they are not scoring runs in the early part of the game.
The Royals' problems, however, also lie in pitching. The team started to struggle tremendously when its closer, Soria, went down with an injury. The bullpen turned into the "blowpen," blowing saves left and right. With Soria back, things have improved little because the starting pitching has not been good. Now, starters do have bad games. A couple of the Royals' loses were the result of a bad outing by one of the starters. Several more were the result of bad pitching by the bullpen. The statistics overall show that the pitching needs to be better, but the pitchers can only do so much. The offense has to help the pitchers out when they have bad days.
In addition to offense and pitching problems, though, the biggest problem the Royals face is an economic problem. They simply cannot afford the players necessary to put together a consistently winning team. For example, the Royals had a potential 30 HR/30 SB player on their roster (Carlos Beltran) a few years ago. They couldn't afford to keep him around because his salary demands were too high. The money that the team gets from revenue sharing is not enough to help offset the vast costs required to put together a team of high-quality players. Unless something changes in the overall salary structure of baseball (i.e. a salary cap), then I see little hope of the Royals putting together a team that consistently is competitive in its division. The only chance that the Royals have is for a bunch of young players (all under relatively-inexpensive long-term contracts) all to mature at the same time, resulting in huge output for a couple of seasons. That could happen, but the Royals need about 5-6 position players and 4-5 pitchers to have those sort of years. That probably is not going to happen.
This year, certainly, it is not going to happen, which means many a day of turning off the radio broadcast early.

Euler's Identity

e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0
Few things in mathematics fascinate me as much as this simple, seemingly-trivial statement. Inside this one equation, we have all of the basic constants of mathematics (e, i, pi, 1, & 0), but we also incorporate trigonometry (admittedly, it's behind the scenes, but it's there). To understand this identity requires knowledge from several different areas of mathematics. Thus, fully understanding it sort of brings about a sense of fully understanding elementary mathematics. (And, for me personally, it doesn't hurt that my favorite mathematician, Leonhard Euler, figured out the mathematics behind the identity.)
So, how does the identity work? (I'm so glad I asked! [grin]) It turns out that e^(ix) can be evaluated as the sum of cos x and i sin x, that is,
e^ix = cos x + i sin x
(The explanation for this is far behind the scope of a simple blog post. If you want to find out why, consult a good mathematics textbook.)
In the case of the identity above, x = pi, so
e^(i*pi) = cos pi + i sin pi
cos pi = -1, and sin pi = 0; therefore, we have
e^(i*pi) = -1 + i*0 = -1
This result means that the first term in the identity is simply -1, making the result of its addition to 1 be 0.
That is how the identity works, in case you were curious.

Sad Incident

I saw this news earlier today, and it shocked and saddened me. Abortion provider George Tiller has been murdered by a man whose motive at this time was unknown.
Let me be absolutely clear: I do not agree with abortion, except for extreme emergencies to say the life of the mother. Dr. Tiller's regular practice was disappointing to me.
Let me be absolutely clear, again: I wholeheartedly condemn this murder. I may disagree with Dr. Tiller's actions, but killing someone for that reason is as evil as killing an unborn child. No human being has the right to take the life of another. Even the state, which has the power of capital punishment, has limits in executing that power.
This event is a sad day in our nation, a day that shows how irrational we have become as a society. Instead of using appropriate means to prevent the travesty of abortion, we see some maverick foolishly engage in the travesty of murder. No justifiable reason can be given for such a heinous act.
I am concerned, too, about the backlash that could occur as a result of this tragedy. I can see people who are pro-life being mocked or looked on with distrust after this. And I have to wonder: it is possible that anyone who holds a pro-life position could begin to be consider a "domestic terrorist" and that those who engage in making pro-life statements will be considered guilty of "hate speech?" I don't think that will happen, but given the current political climate, I guess anything is possible.
For now, please be in prayer for the Tiller family as it mourns and for America as a whole as we seem to be careening down the dangerous path to moral anarchy.

No Excuses...I Forgot

I was supposed to post something yesterday. I didn't. I don't have a good reason, and I'm not going to try to make any excuses. I forgot.
I had a good idea about what I wanted to post my blog. Unfortunately, I forgot it.
I keep meaning to plug up the empty carpenter bee nests that in the roof over my back deck. I keep forgetting.
There's a story that is halfway edited, and once it's done I'll start posting. I said to myself yesterday that I needed to edit it. I forgot.
It may be that there was a time in my life that I could remember everything without writing it down. If there was a such a time, I've forgotten it.
There's a theme to this entire post, but, like everything else, I forgot. :-)

Remembering Those Who Served

As tomorrow is Memorial Day, I thought I would make a brief post mentioning those in my immediate family who served to protect this country and to secure the freedoms that we now enjoy. My ancestors came from Germany (and Scotland) to seek out a better life and greater freedom in this land, and their descendants served honorably in securing those freedoms.
My uncle Wayne served in the military during the Korean War in a support role, ensuring that the soldiers were able to fight with fewer distractions. He retired from the military and lived a quiet life in Colby, KS, until his death a few years ago.
My maternal grandfather, Marion, served as a cargo pilot during World War II, transporting prisoners, troops, and goods to different places throughout the Pacific Theater. After the war, he returned home and eventually became a pilot trainer and pilot for one of the aircraft companies in Wichita. He died many years ago, and is buried in Wichita, along with my maternal grandmother.
These heroes in my family tree may never have had to endure the horrors of combat, but I know that without them, the brave men who fought to provide me with the freedoms I enjoy today would not have been able to do their jobs as well as they did. Thanks be to God for their years of sacrifice and service.

Thoughts on News

A story caught my attention this morning. It appears that a mother has run off with her son to avoid being forced to allow him to undergo chemotherapy. As odd as it sounds, it appears that the courts have ordered that this boy undergo chemotherapy, something that is apparently against the (slightly unusual) religious beliefs of the mother.
This story raises some interesting questions that I can't fully answer. Where is the line between protecting children from abuse/neglect and the government meddling in the family's personal affairs? Is it right (ethical) for the government to be involved in this family's personal business in this way? Is it right (ethical) for the government to be involved in family affairs, ever? (I think the answer to this last one is "Yes," but I'm having trouble figuring out where its limitations should be.)
While I think it is a bit silly for the mother to refuse her son treatment, it seems to me that the actions taken by the authorities are more likely to make the mother want to continue to run. Issuing an arrest warrant for her and holding her in contempt of court are not actions that would give her motivation to return home or turn herself in. Logically, she's going to see running as her only viable option, since not only will she see her son undergo something that she (I think incorrectly) believes is wrong but she will also have to endure legal penalties for running in the first place. It's a double-lose situation for her. I don't agree with her decision, but I do see that the course taken by the government is more likely to cause harm than good.
As I read through the story, it also seems to me that the government took incredibly strong action in rapid succession. The family refuses to continue chemotherapy, so the government steps in and tries to take custody of the child. That seems a bit authoritarian to me. And it seems to be a bit of dangerous precedent. What's to stop authorities from deciding (say, 40 years from now) that teaching children to believe in Jesus is abuse. Based on this set of court actions, it would appear that it would be legal (not ethical, mind you, but legal) for the court to take the children away from their parents.
That scenario is not likely to happen, I know. I'm considering an extreme case to try to help myself get a solid, logical grasp on where the boundaries should be between the social spheres of government and family. And all I'm left with right now is the same unanswered questions that I posed near the start of this post. I'm going to have to think this one through some more.

On Week Left

So, I forgot to post yesterday. Yeah. I was just a little tired and distracted thanks to the end-of-the-year rush. Anyway...
There's a week of school left, a little less, actually. I have three days of Finals to give and grade, and then one work day before the real work begins of summer. I've already talked about all that teachers do over the summer, so I can't decide if I'm looking forward to it or not. It will be a welcome break to have a more flexible schedule, but I know that I will be ready (at least psychologically) for school to begin again in August.

High School Soccer Rules Thoughts

I just read through the rule changes to high school soccer for next year. As a referee and coach of high school soccer, I need to be a little bit careful about what I say about the rules, since it will be my job to comply with these rules once the season begins.
I am fascinated (and a bit annoyed, sometimes) by the different rules for high school.
Here are some examples of the differences between NFHS (high school) and FIFA (everywhere else) rules.
In NFHS, the clock counts down. It is stopped by the referee for goals, yellow & red cards, and penalty kicks. When the clock reaches 0:00, the half is over, and no time is added. In FIFA, the clock counts up and runs continuously. Time is added at the end of each half to allow for time lost due to goals, yellow & red cards, penalty kicks, and any other stoppage of play.
In NFHS, the home team must wear white jerseys and white socks and the away team must wear non-white jerseys and non-white socks. In FIFA, the home team can wear whatever color they wish, provided that it does not match the color of the away team. In the event of two teams in similar colors, the home team changes.
In NFHS, a throw-in that does not enter the field of play is illegal and the ball is given to the other team. In FIFA, a throw-in that does not enter the field of play is still a dead ball, and the ball is re-thrown.
In NFHS, a player receiving two yellow cards is shown a yellow-red card and is unable to play for the remainder of the game. He may be replaced. In FIFA, a player receiving two yellow cards is shown a red card an is unable to play for the remainder of the game. His team plays a man down for the rest of the game.
In NFHS, substitutions are open and unlimited. That is, players may be substituted in and out as often as the coach wishes. In FIFA, substitutions are closed and limited. That is, a player may not re-enter the game once leaving, and each team may make a maximum of 3 substitutions. (I should note, however, that FIFA allows the substitution rules to be modified for youth games.)
In NFHS, the referee is required to give a signal to indicate the type of foul called in addition to indicating the direction of the kick and whether the kick is direct or indirect. The signals, some of them a bit bizarre looking, are shown in this PDF document. In FIFA rules, the only required signals are the direction of the kick and whether the kick is direct or indirect.
In NFHS, at least 2 ball handlers placed out of the field are required in order to keep play moving. In FIFA, no such requirement exists.
In NFHS, if play is stopped for an injured player and one team is in possession of the ball, play is restarted with an indirect free kick for that team. In FIFA, if play is stopped for an injured player, play is restarted with a dropped ball.
Now, these differences might seem minor. Stopping the clock and adding time, for instance, have functionally the same effect. The effect of this difference, however, lies in who controls the game. In FIFA rules, the referee is in control. In high school rules, he is a slave to the clock. In my experience, I have seen this rule difference cause a team to be denied a goal because they took a shot less than a second after the time expired, creating the need for an overtime period when the game could have already ended. In other words, the quality of the game was detrimentally affected.
I would love to see the NFHS revise its rule book to bring the high school game more in line with the rest of the soccer world. Since that is unlikely to happen, however, I will just have to live with the differences, whatever I think of them.

Summer Approaches

This school year is on notice: there are two weeks left before the grand chaos of activity that is summer begins! Now, most of you who are reading this know that I am a teacher and perhaps can't quite bring yourself to see how my summer could be a chaos of activity. After all, don't teachers have the summer off?
The myth of teachers having the summer "off," like the myth that single people have more time, is far too common. Somehow, people think that because teachers don't have students, we aren't working. I can easily dispel the myth of summers off by simple observation. I'm going to spend half of my summer at school, preparing for the coming school year. When I'm not planning for next year, I'm going to be work on graduate classes, and in my spare time, I'll be working on personal projects and taking a mission trip to Romania. It all adds up to a summer that will be just as busy as the school year, if not possibly busier.
So, my summer is not going to be a summer "off," a summer of sleeping in and relaxing and not accomplishing anything useful. Far from it. I'll be working just as hard as the next man in the summer, perhaps harder. So, enjoy your summer and the relaxation that will come with it. I'll be busy living out proof that teachers do not have summer off.

Last Caspian Quiz

Because I won't be posting on Wednesday, here are today's post and Wednesday post in one massive bundle. This is the last quiz that relates to the differences between Prince Caspian the book and Prince Caspian the movie. I hope you've enjoyed the quizzes. If not, then they're gone after this post.

85. Why do the Pevensies go through the door? (Choose as many as apply)
A. They are fleeing angry Telmarines
B. It’s time for them to return home
C. They see their mom and dad on the other side
D. To show the Telmarines that it’s safe to go through the door

86. What happens as the Pevensies say goodbye to the Narnians?
A. The wave goodbye and wish everyone good luck
B. The sing a farewell song to the different Narnians, recounting the deeds of each
C. They say farewell to the different Narnian animals, then to Trumpkin, and finally Caspian offers Susan her horn back. She tells him to keep it.
D. Peter gives Caspian his sword, Susan points out that she and Peter won’t be returning, Lucy hugs Trumpkin, and then Susan and Caspian *snog!*

87. How do the Pevensies wind up back in their original clothes?
A. They quickly change in the train depot’s washroom after returning
B. The change into them before the go through the doorway
C. They magically are wearing them when they arrive on the train platform again
D. They don’t

88. What do the Pevensies see when they walk through the door? (Choose all that apply)
A. The train platform
B. The Narnians
C. The island of Telmar
D. The director

89. Where is the train platform located?
A. We don’t have any idea
B. In a city
C. In the country
D. Beside a river

90. Where is Edmund when he realizes that he left his new torch (flashlight) in Narnia?
A. On the train
B. In the bathroom
C. At school
D. On the train platform

Prince Caspian Quiz 34

82. When Trumpkin meets Aslan, what does Aslan do?
A. He says, “Hi, there!”
B. He playfully pounces on Trumpkin
C. He roars at Trumpkin
D. Trumpkin never meets Aslan

83. After the Battle of Beruna, how does Aslan send any willing Telmarines home?
A. He makes a doorway in the air
B. He makes a doorway out of a twisted tree
C. He calls in gryphons to fly the Telmarines there
D. He roars and they magically disappear

84. How many Telmarines initially step forward to take Aslan’s offer?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. Come on, baby, say you love me

Severe Weather

The story today is definitely the severe weather already occurring throughout much of the Central Plains. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has put portions of Oklahoma and Texas in a "High Risk" area for severe weather. The "High" label is something the SPC does once or twice a season, so to have it occur today indicates that all the necessary factors are present for a severe weather outbreak.
The main threat area is southwest of Topeka, so I don't expect there to be much happen around here, except for the occasional downpour and maybe some hail and high winds.

Prince Caspian Quiz 33
79. Why do the Telmarines not cross the river?
A. There is no bridge, so they surrender
B. They cross the river and flee Narnia altogether
C. The bridge is destroyed under them as they try to cross
D. They don’t want to get to the other side

80. Who destroys the bridge at Beruna?
A. Peter
B. Aslan
C. Bacchus
D. The river god

81. When do the other Pevensies (except for Lucy) and Trumpkin see Aslan?
A. At the final battle
B. At Beruna
C. As they travel to Aslan’s How
D. At Miraz’s castle after the Telmarines are defeated

Prince Caspian Quiz 32

Drawing near the end, for any of you who wish to know.

76. How long does the battle between the Telmarines and Narnia last before the trees show up to save the day?
A. Not very long at all
B. After one assault is beaten back and the second wave is continuing
C. After most of the Telmarines are already dead
D. Trees? What trees?

77. When does Lucy first meet Aslan in real life?
A. While the final battle with the Telmarines is being fought
B. At Beruna after the final battle
C. She only sees him in dreams
D. As the Pevensies are trying to reach Aslan’s How

78. Why do the Telmarines retreat from the final battle?
A. They don’t retreat
B. They think that they can win if they regroup at the river
C. They are scared of the trees
D. They are French

Busy, Busy, Shockingly Busy

The weather is warming up. Life is good. God is good. And I'm really busy and really tired. Thank you; good night.

Prince Caspian Quiz 31
73. Who are Peter’s marshals during single combat?
A. Glenstrom the Cenatur and Reepicheep the Mouse
B. Glenstrom the Centaur, Bulgy Bear, and Wimbleweather the Giant
C. Edmund and Glenstrom the Centaur
D. No one

74. While single combat occurs, what are Susan and Lucy doing?
A. Trying to find Aslan in the forest
B. Watching the combat
C. Knitting
D. Traveling with Aslan as he frees Beruna from Telmarine control

75. After Peter defeats Miraz in single combat, what happens next?
A. Miraz surrenders and leaves
B. Peter gives Caspian the sword to kill Miraz
C. Sopespian and Glozelle shout, “Treachery!” and in the confusion, Glozelle kills Miraz
D. Peter kills Miraz

Prince Caspian Quiz 30

70. Who manipulates Miraz into accepting the challenge of single combat?
A. No one
B. Edmund
C. Edmund, Lord Gozelle, and Lord Sopespian
D. Lord Gozelle and Lord Sopespian

71. What does Susan say to Caspian as she and Lucy leave to find Aslan?
A. She doesn’t meet Caspian until right at the end of the story, so nothing
B. “Why don’t you hold onto it [the horn]? You may need to call me again.”
C. “You’re an arrogant little prince, aren’t you?”
D. “For some reason, you remind me of Zorro.”

72. What does Caspian do during the single combat?
A. He makes his plans for leading the army in case Peter dies
B. He follows Susan and Lucy and saves them from Telmarine scouts
C. He sneaks around behind Miraz’s army to launch a sneak attack
D. He watches the single combat

This Joyful Eastertide

Easter has to be my favorite holiday of the year. Now, I've explained why in previous year's blog posts, so I'll simply leave my observations to this one statement: Christ is risen!

Prince Caspian Quiz 29
67. When does Miraz’s army arrive around Aslan’s How?
A. After the Pevensies arrive
B. At the same time as the Pevensies
C. Before the Pevensies arrive
D. They never get there

68. Why do Susan and Lucy leave Aslan’s How?
A. They have had enough of fighting
B. They never go to Aslan’s How, but instead follow Aslan on another errand
C. To go find Aslan in the forest and get his help
D. They plan to go to Cair Paravel

69. Who suggests the idea of single combat with Miraz?
A. Peter
B. Edmund
C. Reepicheep
D. Caspian

Election Results

We had a local election here yesterday, and the results were particularly interesting to me as a voter and as an observer.
As a voter, I faced the perplexing dilemma of a no-win situation. The city residents were asked to vote on a 0.5% increase to our sales tax, the purpose of which was to raise money to pay for repairs to streets, guttering, street lights, curbs, etc. The city has been deferring maintenance on streets for the past 10 years, spending money that should have gone to maintenance on other, less important items. So, I found myself trapped in a no-win vote. If I voted "Yes," I voted to give the city more money to waste because it has already shown that it will not spend its funds appropriately. If I voted, "No," then I'm guaranteeing that the infrastructure will decay because the city already has shown the inability to assess budget priorities correctly. So, when I went to vote yesterday, I just stood there, debating between "Yes" and "No" for several minutes. I finally voted "No" because I was not convinced that the city would use the funds properly.
As an observer, this election also was fascinating. First of all, the headline in the local paper about the sales tax vote was a classic case of media bias. "Sales Tax Receives Emphatic Yes" ran the headline. The vote, though, was 57%-43%, which I would hardly call emphatic. If the vote were 67%-33% or 75%-25%, I would call that emphatic. But a measely 4% spread is hardly emphatic. The headline, then, tells us two things: the opinion of the headline's author about the sales tax increase (he supports it) and the general political outlook of the author (politically towards the liberal side). I can't believe that the media try to deny that they have a liberal bias!
The second interesting aspect of this election was the vote over allowing the city council to be able to override a mayoral veto. Because of a mistake in the city charter, the mayor was allowed to veto any decisions by the council, but the council could not override the veto. The ordinance was designed to fix that. It explained its purpose, and anyone who followed the news at all would know that such was the purpose of the ordinance. Unfortunately, there were quite a few uninformed voters on this issue: 35% of voters voted "No" on this ordinance. There is no logical reason to vote "No" on this ordinance, unless, of course, they didn't understand the ordinance, which means that they were not following the issues at all. That lack of awareness saddens me a little. If we are to vote on issues as a society, what good is voting if a significant portion of the electorate is unaware of what they're even voting on?
Thankfully, this election cycle is over. The presidential elections last year soured me on the political process a little, and these results have not improved my attitude towards the efficacy of the process. Unfortunately, our process is the worst form, except for all of the others. I guess I'll just have to live with it.

Prince Caspian Quiz 28
64. How far does the process of summoning the White Witch go?
A. The White Witch appears in crystal and nearly comes back to life, only to be interrupted at the last second
B. It brings her back
C. The beginnings of the ceremony are interrupted
D. It fails. They wind up conjuring up Arwen instead

65. Who is present when the ceremony to start the White Witch begins? (choose as many as apply)
A. Caspian
B. Nikabrik
C. Dr. Cornelius
D. Trufflehunter
E. A werewolf
F. A hag

66. Who interrupts the ceremony to summon the White Witch? (Choose as many as apply)
A. Peter
B. Edmund
C. Trumpkin
D. Lucy
E. Susan
F. Dr. Cornelius

If You Don't Like the Weather...

The old saying, "If you don't like the weather in Kansas, wait 30 minutes, and it'll change" has never been more true than these past couple of weeks. We've had several strong cold fronts push through the region in that time, causing temperatures to fluctuate rapidly. It's April, and yet here I am planning on covering many of my plants up tonight to prevent them from freezing. Lows are supposed to be in the 20s these next two nights.
In reality, we were spoiled during the early part of this decade with warm Springs. These past couple of years, however, we're seeing a return to more typical weather. It's not odd, or unusual, or alarming. But it does take some getting used to.

Prince Caspian Quiz 27
61. What event motivates Nikabrik to suggest summoning the White Witch?
A. He is bored
B. Several days of resounding defeats of the Narnian army
C. Because she told him to call her
D. The failed attack on Miraz’s castle

62. When is the bridge at Beruna completed?
A. Well before the Pevensies even arrive back in Narnia
B. While the Pevensies and Trumpkin try to get to Aslan’s How
C. After the failed castle attack by the Narians
D. It is never built

63. When is Miraz crowned king?
A. Immediately after his son is born
B. Before the story begins
C. Right before attacking Caspian’s army at Aslan’s How
D. He is never crowned king

Prince Caspian Quiz 26

58. How does Edmund signal the troops during the castle attack?
A. A giant white flag
B. A flashlight
C. The Bat Signal
D. They never attack the castle

59. How many minotaurs do we see die during the castle attack?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 0
D. What castle attack?

60. What is the outcome of the castle attack?
A. The Narnians are forced to retreat and loose a significant part of their army
B. Miraz surrenders
C. Miraz dies
D. For the last time, they don’t attack the $@#! Castle!

Government and Caspian Quiz 25

We're continuing the Truth Project in Sunday School at church, and today was an interesting day: the State. This examination of the role the Bible lays out for government got me thinking about two different aspects of government: its basic role and the idea of sphere sovereignty.
The basic role of government, of course, is social order, to condone good and punish evil. To do so, of course, the government has to know what good and evil are, something I fear is becoming lost in American society in general. Still, I think our government is still doing a decent job here. It's not perfect, of course. It couldn't be. Overall, though, this country is not lawless.
The other interesting aspect, sphere sovereignty, was popularized by Abraham Kuyper. Basically, the concept says that the different social institutions that God has created (government, family, church, education, community) have specific rights, responsibilities, and structures, and that no one sphere has the right to exercise authority over another. The American concept of Freedom of Religion derives in part from this idea: the government is one sphere and it should not be directly controlling the church. Still, if we examine this idea and then look at the state of governments around the world, we see to varying degrees that sphere sovereignty has been violated. In many places, the government has sovereignty over areas in which it has no business being involved (such as the family size limits of China or the attempts in the US to re-define marriage.
I like the concept of sphere sovereignty, but bringing it to a practical level is tricky. These institutions all involve the same groups of people, and the part that's hard for me to grasp is where the boundaries are. For instance, is it a violation of sphere sovereignty for the government to enact child labor laws? Is it a violation of sphere sovereignty for the government to enact minimum wage laws? I instinctively want to say no to the first and yes to the second, but I feel like I'm contradicting myself.
While we are blessed here in America to have a decent government and to be able to be involved in government, I am becoming increasingly concerned that as a country, we are looking to government to be for us what it cannot be: God, our source and our provider. But that is a discussion for another post.

Prince Caspian Quiz 25
(This one should be easy)
55. How does the Narnian army sneak into Miraz’s castle to attack?
A. They don’t sneak in; they launch a frontal assault
B. They ride in on gryphons
C. They scale the walls
D. They don’t attack Miraz’s castle. They know better.

56. When Caspian reaches Miraz’s bed chamber, what does he do?
A. He offers Miraz a chance to join him
B. He doesn’t ever reach Miraz’s chamber because they never attack the castle.
C. He puts a sword to Miraz’s throat and almost kills him.
D. He says, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die.”

57. How does Dr. Cornelius escape from the Miraz’s castle?
A. He is rescued by Caspian during the attack on the castle
B. He sneaks away before Miraz can do anything
C. He pretends to be going to gather herbs and never comes back
D. He rappels out using a bed sheet

500th Post! And Caspian Quiz 24

According to the official blog statistics, this is post 500, quite a milestone, I guess, for a blog that only publishes twice a week (usually). So, yay for 500. Now, on to the quiz...

52. Once Peter arrives at Aslan’s How, what course of action does he first suggest?
A. Challenge Miraz to single combat
B. Attack Miraz’s army by night
C. Attack Miraz’s castle
D. Attack Miraz’s army by day

53. What is Peter’s attitude toward Aslan once he arrives at Aslan’s How?
A. We don’t know
B. He thinks that Aslan won’t help them this time and that they will have to fight on their own
C. He trusts Aslan, but knows that Aslan has given him the task of dealing with Miraz
D. He wishes Aslan were there

54. Whose idea is it to attack Miraz’s Castle?
A. Peter’s
B. Reepicheep’s
C. Trufflehunter’s
D. Dr. Cornelius’s

Springs Begins, As Does the Weather & Caspian Quiz 23

Astronomically-speaking, Spring began on Friday. As far as the weather goes, I would say that Spring begins tomorrow, with our first real chance of significant severe weather in the region. Unfortunately, the factors all are forecast to be in place tomorrow for some sort of severe weather to occur throughout the Central Plains. From what the Storm Prediction Center has said over the past couple of days, it appears that they think the main threat for significant weather lies just to the south of Topeka (and by just, I mean about 10-15 miles) and then roughly along I-35 down to Oklahoma City. Still, that risk could shift slightly north or south as we draw nearer to Monday and as we see how the weather system evolves. The models have been wrong plenty of times before. Still, it appears that the late afternoon and early evening hours tomorrow could contain some active weather for many living nearby. Hopefully, nothing serious occurs. Severe weather would be a terrible way to start off Spring.

Prince Caspian Quiz 23
49. Which of the following enters Aslan’s How first?
A. Caspian
B. Peter, Edmund, and Trumpkin
C. Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy
D. Peter and Edmund

50. How do the Pevensies find out what Aslan’s How is?
A. They discover the Stone Table on their own
B. Caspian shows them the Stone Table
C. Peter figures it out based on Trumpkin’s description of it
D. The tourist guide to Narnia that they picked up at Beruna tells them

51. How many of the Pevensies visit Aslan’s How?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Flu, Spring Break, and Prince Caspian Quiz 22

It's been a beautiful week in terms of weather, so far. I had great plans to get some yard work done, to do some little errands around the house, maybe take a day trip out of town, etc. Unfortunately, those plans were thwarted by a nasty case of the flu. If you haven't had the flu virus that's floating around, let me tell you that it's one nasty bug. I get colds aplenty, about 1-2 times a year, but it's a rare thing for me to get the flu. This time, though, I got it in its fullest: high temperature, body ache, stuffiness, and nausea. By the grace of God, the high fever has vanished, but I'm still not 100% back, yet. It could be another day or two before I'm 100%, and I sure hope so. There's a lot coming down the pike over the next couple of weeks.
The only good thing about getting the flu is that I got it over Spring Break. Now, don't get me wrong. I would have loved to have had a week of rest and relaxation instead of a week of sickness. But if I have to be out for a week, it's far easier on me psychologically to be out on a week when I don't have to do anything than to be shut down on a normal week when I would have 6 classes for which I have responsibility. Still, I'm ready to be up and about, again. I'm sick of being trapped inside the house, and I'd like to get a little bit of real rest prior to the last leg of the marathon sprint that is 4th quarter.

Prince Caspian Quiz 22

46. How does Caspian’s army get weapons? (Choose all that apply)
A. Reepicheep leads a party to raid the Telmarine army at Beruna
B. They make them
C. They find them hidden in Aslan’s How
D. We don’t know

47. How does Caspian feel about Peter?
A. He never meets Peter
B. He both likes and dislikes Peter
C. He sees him as a challenge to his authority
D. He likes him and defers to his authority

48. Who decides that Aslan’s How will be where the Narnian army sets up camp?
A. Peter
B. Caspian
C. Dr. Cornelius
D. We don’t know

How I Read When in a Hurry and Prince Caspian Quiz 21

I find it quite interesting how I read when I'm in a hurry. I only read the first couple of sentences and then the last sentence or two in each paragraph, skipping that's all in between. As a result, I can say without disagreement that the proliferation of biscotti has led to an increase in tea consumption throughout the macro-economically under-performing sectors of the global economy. This fact in no way diminishes the fact that gerbils taste great when cooked on a grill after being marinated in a light orange sauce. Using an orange sauce, however, barely beats out the drilling of ice cores in the South Pacific as a way of determining historical temperature records. And we must never forget that baking soda and baking powder are two different substances. Have you ever read only the first and last couple of sentences in something? If so, then what's in the middle will be as meaningful to you as what I just wrote in the middle of this paragraph.
Too often, it seems, authors waste time on meaningless details in the middle of their paragraphs instead of just making their point. Admittedly, however, the meat of many arguments can be found in the middle. So, whether I skim or not depends on the era the author is from and how interested I am in the subject matter.

Prince Caspian Quiz 21
43. How do the Pevensies and Trumpkin meet Caspian and his army?
A. They encounter the army as it moves through the woods
B. Aslan leads the Pevensies and Trumpkin to Aslan’s How
C. Caspian meets them at Beruna
D. They never meet

44. What is the nature of the first encounter between Peter and Caspian?
A. Peter helps Caspian in a fight that breaks out in the war council under Aslan’s How
B. Aslan introduces them
C. They fight
D. They bump into each other at the grocery store

45. How many of the Pevensies meet Caspian?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Prince Caspian Quiz 20

41. When does Lucy see the trees dancing/alive, and is she awake or dreaming?
A. Before they cross the river, awake
B. Before they cross the river, dreaming
C. After they cross the river, awake
D. After they cross the river, dreaming

42. How many of the Pevensies and Trumpkin see Aslan by the time they reach Aslan’s How?
A. 3
B. 2
C. 1
D. 5

On Ideas that Disappear and Prince Caspian Quiz 19

It seems like during the week, I have all sorts of good ideas about what to write about on this blog, but when the time comes for me to write something, all of them have vanished into the same hole that a portion of our country's economy has gone. I guess it's time for me to write down these ideas as they come to me. That way, I'll have something meaningful to post here. For now, I'll have to settle for posting this lament.

Prince Caspian Quiz 19
38. When the Pevensies and Trumpkin arrive at Beruna, why can they not cross the river?
A. They are attacked by sentries from Miraz’s outpost at Beruna
B. Miraz’s army is busy building a bridge
C. The river is flooded
D. They cross the river

39. How do the Pevensies and Trumpkin cross the River Rushing?
A. They swim
B. Lucy falls through a weak place on the edge of the upper bank, which leads them to safe path across
C. Aslan leads them up the gorge of the river and across far upstream
D. They ride gryphons

40. At what time of day do the Pevensies and Trumpkin cross the river?
A. At sunrise
B. Day
C. At sunset
D. Night

Prince Caspian Quiz 18

36. To where are the Pevensies and Trumpkin headed in order to meet Caspian?
A. The Shuddering Woods
B. Aslan’s How
C. The Fords of Beruna
D. The Pit of Despair

37. What is the response of Old Narnians to the thought of Caspian helping them?
A. They flatly reject him
B. They all recognize him as king and accept him with relative ease
C. They decide to let Roonwit the Centaur lead instead
D. They do not accept him until a centaur convinces them otherwise

Prince Caspian Quiz 17

33. When is Trumpkin first called “dear little friend” or “DLF?”
A. When the Pevensies bring him ashore at Cair Paravel
B. After Edmund beats him in a sword fight at Cair Paravel
C. While the Pevensies and Trumpkin are walking towards Aslan’s How
D. At the very end of the story

34. Who first refers to Trumpkin as “dear little friend” or “DLF?”
A. Peter
B. Susan
C. Edmund
D. Lucy

35. What is Trumpkin’s response to being called “DLF?”
A. “Oh, that’s not at all patronizing, is it?”
B. “Quite the nickname, eh? Why don’t I start called you PESL?”
C. “No more of that, your majesty, if you love me.”
D. “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Interesting Statement about Climate Change

I ran across an interesting statement given before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by Dr. William Happer on February 25, 2009. In it, Dr. Happer lays out some solid, scientific reasons why global warming is not the major cause for alarm. You can read the original statement, in PDF form, from the U.S. Senate Archives, or in HTML form from Captialist Magazine. The two are identical, so choose whichever will work in your browser. I'm partial to original sources, myself.
The debate about global warming is far from over, despite attempts by many to stifle it. Read Dr. Happer's statement for some fascinating scientific arguments.

Prince Caspian Quiz 16

31. How many times are Caspian and company attacked by Telmarine soliders as the seek out Old Narnia?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

32. Who gets wounded when the Telmarine soldiers attack Caspian and Company?
A. Caspian
B. Trufflehunter
C. Nikabrik
D. No one. They are never attacked

Prince Caspian Quiz 15

29. What member(s) of Old Narnia does Caspian meet first after he leaves Trufflehunter’s cave?
A. The Bulgy Bears
B. Pattertwig
C. Reepicheep
D. The Centaurs

30. How does Caspian meet Reepicheep?
A. Reepicheep shows up at the Council of Old Narnians
B. Reepicheep tries to attack Caspian, mistaking him for a Telmarine solider
C. Trufflehunter introduces them as he takes Caspian around to meet all of the Old Narnians
D. He shows up at Aslan’s How

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1, NIV).
The past two weeks in Sunday School, we've been focusing on the purpose of science, on how the universe declares God's glory if we'll stop long enough to look, and on the materialistic view of science that has produced modern Cosmology and Evolutionary Theory. Part of what fascinates me is that many of the theories advanced in the last 150 years are starting to fall apart. The Standard Model, for instance, cannot explain why there was a singularity from which it says everything came. And Darwinian Evolution is on the ropes. Between a lack of gradual transition forms, the irreducible complexity argument, and the intricate workings of even the smallest cell, scientists are discovering that life is so vastly complex that it cannot have evolved as Darwin proposed. The vast complexity of life and the wonderful intricacies that make up this world in which we live point strongly to the possibility that everything in this world, including us, has been designed by Someone greater than ourselves. As Christians, we know that this Someone is the Triune God of Scripture. The skies do indeed proclaim that they are the work of God's hands.
Interestingly, despite the evidence from all aspects of Creation, most scientists are not willing to say that there had to be an intelligent designer. This reluctance is partially understandable. We've taught our children for the last 150 years that science deals only with what can be measured, analyzed, and probed. A Creator outside of the system cannot be scientifically investigated in this manner. Another aspect to this reluctance, however, is a moral/philosophical one. If there is a Creator, then we are all accountable to Him. And we humans do not like to be accountable to anyone but ourselves. We want to live how we want to live without anyone telling us how to live. The Bible calls that "sin," and unless they repent and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, they have set before them an eternity without the blessings of our loving Creator. Given that every good and perfect gift is from God, this separation from Him is not something to be desired, cynical comments from atheists notwithstanding.
And I digress. My point is that many scientists who continue to cling to Evolutionary Theory are doing so not because of the scientific evidence but because of a philosophical predisposition. As a result, whenever the Theory of Evolution (for example) comes into question, they have very little evidence to support the Theory, instead resorting to ad hominem attacks. It is disappointing that a true scientific debate cannot occur on these issues, but I've already shared some of my thoughts on this part of the issue in my post about the movie "Expelled."
The debate, obviously, will rage on, ad hominem attacks or not. The "particles-to-people" theory of evolution is on the ropes, but it's not down, yet. And even if it is shown to be false, I would be shocked if Intelligent Design took its place as the dominant theory. Too many scientists are too committed to materialistic science to allow I.D. to become the main theory. After all, if I.D. is right, and God exists and has a legitimate claim on them, then they have a lot to lose.

Prince Caspian Quiz 14

27. When Caspian leaves Trufflehunter’s cave, where is going?
A. To find his horse
B. To meet the other Old Narnians with Trufflehunter and company
C. Out on his own to try to find the other Narnians
D. To his agent to check on whether he’s won the Oscar for Best Actor, yet

28. Who goes with (or follows) Caspian? (Choose all that apply)
A. Trufflehunter
B. Nikabrik
C. Trumpkin
D. Saruman

Tempus Fugit and Prince Caspian Quiz 13

Every so often, I have a sort of existential moment, where I find myself wondering, "What happened to the last 4 or 5 years of my life? In some ways, I don't feel that far removed from 24, yet here I am, more than a couple of years older." I noticed it today, when I was looking over the people in the sanctuary at church and noticed that a lot of them seemed like kids. Then, I realized that these "kids" had toddlers with them. And then I started feeling sick.
I realize that a part of life is getting older, but why does age have to creep up on us so subtly? I'm not that old, yet, and yet I'm obviously older than I think I am. In my mind, I'm still at about 27, maybe even 25. Yet, when I look in the mirror and see the first hints of gray hair, or when I look around church like I did today, I can't help but feel that, somehow, time is getting away from and I'm not doing with my life everything that God would have me do. I feel like I'm missing something, but I can't quite put my finger, yet, on what it is I'm supposed to do.
Maybe I'm just over-thinking everything. I could be doing exactly what God wants me to do. And there certainly have been some wonderful blessings in the past 7 years of living here in Topeka. But at the same time, I don't ever want to become complacent. I need to be as responsive to His leading as I was 7 years ago, when I moved here. He may not have me be here the rest of my life, or He might. The important thing is that I stay aware of His voice and His leading, so that if it becomes time for the Lord to lead me elsewhere, my response is, "I'll start packing."

Prince Caspian Quiz 13
25. Under what circumstances does the bear attack Lucy?
A. It bursts at her from out of the trees
B. It sneaks up on her from behind
C. It charges at her from in front of her
D. Lucy tries to talk to it and it charges her

26. Who kills the bear?
A. Peter
B. Susan
C. Edmund
D. Trumpkin

Prince Caspian Quiz 12

23. What happens to Dr. Cornelius after Caspian escapes?
A. He switches sides and helps Miraz locate Caspian
B. He is arrested by Miraz and thrown into the dungeon
C. He sneaks away from the castle before Miraz can detain him
D. Nothing of any consequence

24. Where are the Pevensies and Trumpkin when Lucy gets attacked by a bear?
A. At Aslan’s How
B. On the shore of a river
C. In the forest
D. At Cair Paravel

Stimulus Plan and Prince Caspian Quiz 11

I'm not an economic expert, and I don't know exactly what it will take to bring our struggling economy back into shape, except maybe time. I'm not convinced that a massive amount of government spending, which is still over 50% of the current stimulus plan, is the answer. Any spending that the government does will have short-term effects at best. Once the public works projects and other infrastructure improvements are done, the workers that were employed will be unemployed again, unless the private sector begins to hire more workers, again. The private sector will only start to hire workers, though, when it can afford to. Right now, the current situation is one where companies are not hiring. Clearly, something needs to be done to try to find a way to encourage businesses to hire. I don't know what that something is. Lowering tax rates on businesses would, in theory, give businesses the extra capital to make infrastructure improvements and hiring more workers. In practice, though, we've seen some of the stupid things that businesses have done with their excess capital: insane executive pay and benefits, luxury items like private jets, etc. In the end, the best thing to do, to my mind, is to let the economy correct itself. I realize that such a laissez faire approach to the situation will look like apathy on the part of politicians, so there is little hope that they will take a hands-off approach. They want to be able to say, "Look what I did!" to their constituents. The danger, of course, in trying to do something to fix the economy is that 2 years from now, the economy might still be struggling because of the interventions of government. Then, the constituents of these politicians might well be the ones saying, in frustration, to their representatives, "Look what you did!"

Prince Caspian Quiz 11
21. What are Caspian’s first words to the Narnian creatures?
A. “If we’re taking a vote, I’m with him.”
B. “Could I have some of that soup, please?”
C. “Gentlemen, whatever you do to me, I hope you will be kind to my poor horse.”
D. “Hey, Trufflehunter, Wisconsin called. They want their mascot costume back.”

22. What does Caspian do first when he regains consciousness?
A. He lays in bed, dazed, and Trufflehunter gives him something to drink
B. He gets out of bed and tries to fight his way out of the wave with a fireplace poker
C. He breaks into a song and dance number
D. He counts his fingers to make sure that he doesn’t have a concussion

Prince Caspian Quiz 10

19. What are the first words that Caspian hears upon regaining consciousness?
A. “Pass the bacon, please.” “
B. “And now, before it wakes up, we must decide what to do with it.”
C. “This bread is so stale.”
D. "What are we going to do tonight, Brain?”

20. How many Narnian creatures are there in Trufflehunter’s cave?
A. 0 – Caspian is alone in the cave
B. 1 -- Trufflehunter
C. 2 – Trufflehunter and Nikabrik
D. 3 – Trufflehunter, Nikabrik, and Trumpkin

February & Prince Caspian Quiz 9

February. Bah. Humbug.
Okay, so I'm exaggerating, but of all of the months of the year, February always seems to be the one I least look forward to. It's not that good things don't happen in February, and it's not that I don't enjoy myself during this month. I just have to work a little harder at it in order to survive this shortest of months, which Gilbert and Sullivan referred to as a "beastly month." There are several factors that work together to create this challenge.
First, this month features the celebration of things that are not really worth celebrating. I think February ought to be designated "National Month Month" because it seems like (although it's not true) that the majority of the "National __________ Months" are all in February. Some are worthy of celebration, like National Black History Month, but most, such as National Boost-Your-Self-Esteem Month and National Canned Food Month, are hardly laudatory.
Second, this month features a holiday that I, as a meteorologist, dislike: Groundhog Day. If you've ever seen the movie of the same name and remember the scorn poured on the "holiday" by Phil Connors, then you'll know about how I feel, although with less disdain and cynicism. (Besides, there's always this nagging fear in the back of my mind that I'm going to get stuck in an endless cycle of living the same day over and over again. [grin])
Third, this month is often the coldest month of the year, and, since I know that Spring is right around the corner, it seems like one of the longer months of the year. With warmer weather looming, the anticipation makes time seem to come to a crawl.
Finally, this month contains February 14th, enough said.
Like I said, those are all reasons that February is a hard month for me to enjoy. That doesn't mean that I won't enjoy it, however. I'm determined to persevere through these annoyances and live my life enjoying the blessings that God has given me, now that I've vented a little about some of the minor annoyances.

Prince Caspian Quiz 9
17. What are Trumpkin’s first words to the Pevensies?
A. “Drop him?! That’s the best you could come up with?”
B. “Next time, try shooting them before they drop me in the water, ok, missy?”
C. “Well, whatever they say, you don’t feel like ghosts?”
D. “Where’s Legolas?”

18. How do the Pevensies convince Trumpkin that they are indeed the old Kings and Queens of Narnia? (Choose as many as apply)
A. Edmund beats Trumpkin in a sword fight
B. Susan beats Trumpkin at an archery contest
C. Lucy heals Trumpkin’s wounds with her cordial
D. Peter gives Trumpkin a tour of Cair Paravel

Prince Caspian Quiz 8

15. What do the Telmarines do after Susan fires her warning shot into their boat?
A. Start rowing frantically away from Cair Paravel
B. Drop Trumpkin in the river and attempt to shoot back
C. Panic. Susan fires a second arrow and they both abandon ship
D. Break out into a song and dance number

16. What instrument is used to cut Trumpkin’s bonds?
A. Peter’s sword
B. Edmund’s pocket knife
C. One of Susan’s arrowheads
D. Lucy’s dagger

Prince Caspian Quiz 7

13. What time of day is it when the Pevensies go down into their old treasure vault at Cair Paravel?
A. Day
B. Night
C. Sunrise
D. Sunset

14. How many Telmarines does Susan kill when the Pevensies rescue Trumpkin?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

Rant: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Last night, I went along with a couple of friends to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I normally don't see many movies in the theater, nor do I usually review them, but I need to get my feelings about this one out of my system. One caveat: I am not a huge movie person, nor a movie expert like some of my friends. So, don't expect me to provide an expert-style review.
Button, very loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, follows the titular character's adventures as he ages backwards. The idea holds quite a bit of potential. This movie could have successfully and intelligently dealt with issues such as death, the meaning of life, the value of relationships, and the dignity of human beings.
[rant]Instead, however, it deals with none of them, at least, not well. It mentions death as "a frequent visitor" and implies that it's normal and okay, but that's far as it goes in dealing with the issue. It never makes any deep statements about the issue.
Likewise, the meaning of life gets short shrift. The meaning of life, according to the movie, is to live hedonistically, drinking a lot and sleeping around.
Relationships also take a hit. Hardly any relationship is seen as having any value, especially marriage, as none of the main characters in the movie ever even bother to marry. Living together is fine and seen as completely acceptable, even though the movie starts out in the 1920s, an era where such things were not looked on kindly.
On top of being shallow, the movie also is insanely long, nearly 3 hours. It seems to me that the editors fell in love with every aspect of the movie and couldn't figure out how to cut the material that wasn't essential to the plot. Speaking of plot, there really wasn't much of one. There really isn't a central conflict. Instead, it's more of a "Forrest Gump" style following of one man's life.[/rant]
The only positive I found in this movie was the acting. Brad Pitt, the make-up team, and the special effects guys did an excellent job of portraying this man who ages backwards. That is not an easy task to pull off.
[rant]Obviously, I did not enjoy this movie. After it was over, I thought about going to the box office and asking if I could get a partial refund. After all, if I'm going to spend nearly 3 hours of my time and over $9, I'd like to enjoy, at least partially, what I purchased.[/rant]

Prince Caspian Quiz 6

11. What is Miraz’s title when the story begins?
A. Duke
B. Earl
C. King
D. Lord Protector

12. How do the Telmarine lords react to seeing Trumpkin?
A. Fear
B. Shock
C. Amusement
D. They don’t ever see Trumpkin

Phrase Origin and Prince Caspian Quiz 5

I was pondering the phrase "confirmed bachelor" the other day. No, it's not because I'm afraid that I'm going to become one (at least, not most of the time). Rather, it's just an unusual phrase. Confirmed by whom? Is there a "bachelor confirmation entity?" Does one receive a certificate in the mail? Is there a "marriage confirmation agency?" Who has ever heard of a "confirmed married man?" And a serious question: at what age does one cease to be a single man and become a "confirmed bachelor?" My answer to that last question: at least 55. Maybe older.

Prince Caspian Quiz
9. Which of the four Pevensies first realizes that they have arrived at Cair Paravel?
A. Peter
B. Susan
C. Edmund
D. Lucy

10. When does Trumpkin get captured by Miraz’s men?
A. While defending Caspian in the old forest as Caspian is initially fleeing for his life
B. While fighting against the Telmarines to steal arms from them while the Telmarines are encamped next to the River Beruna
C. He doesn’t
D. When he sneaks through enemy lines to see if the Pevensies have arrived at Cair Paravel in response to Caspian blowing the horn

Prince Capsian Quiz 4

7. How well are the Pevensie children adapting to life back in England?
A. Everyone is fine, except Lucy who just cries and cries
B. Fine. They have sold their story to a tabloid for millions of pounds.
C. Very well, thank you
D. Not well. Lucy nearly gets run over by a car, Susan lies to a boy about her name, and Peter and Edmund get into fights.

8. The Pevensies find themselves magically transported to Narnia. What is the nature of the terrain immediately around them?
A. Blank plains
B. A cave by the beach
C. A forest
D. A tall mound known as Aslan’s How

Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing & Caspian Quiz 3

In just a few days, this country will experience a changeover from a Congress controlled by one party and the Presidency by another to a government fully in the hands of one party. This one party has promised large amounts of change to the way that the country works, in everything from energy policy to economic policy to health care. How much of this change is merely rhetoric? I suspect quite a bit. First of all, it's important to note that the President-elect has changed his position at least once on just about every significant issue, as have many other politicians on both sides of the aisle (although isle might be a better word to describe a government that seems increasingly disconnected from reality). Second, many of the ideas being proposed simply are impractical or quite obviously have negative consequences. Surely the politicians in our nation's capital have not yet reached the point of being so disconnected from reality that they will fail to realize that "green energy" and "universal health care" are ideas that sound great in theory but fail in practice. Third, there's the tendency of the party not in power to exercise every parliamentary tactic to obstruct the agenda of the majority. It happened in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It could well happen again. For the sake of America, I do indeed hope that this new government in Washington, D.C., accomplishes far less than they have promised. Many of the promises have the potential to backfire on America and hurt this country more than it helps. On that, of course, only time will tell.

Prince Caspian Quiz 3
How does Caspian wind up getting knocked unconscious during his flight?
A. His horse gets spooked by a thunderstorm, and in its panicked run, Capsian hits his forehead on a tree
B. He doesn’t
C. He gets hit on the head by one of the dwarfs
D. Little Bunny Foo Foo mistakes him for a field mouse and bops him on the head

6. When does Caspian blow the horn of Narnia?
A. As soon as he enters the forest
B. Right before the Dwarfs knock him unconscious
C. He doesn’t
D. At dawn a few days before a major battle with Miraz at Aslan’s How

Prince Caspian Quiz 2

3. How does Capsian escape his bedroom?
A. He draws his sword and kills the guards sent to kill him
B. He sneaks out through a secret passage in the wardrobe
C. He and Dr. Cornelius leave through the antechamber because Cornelius has put the guards to sleep using a magic potion
D. He climbs out the window using a sheet for a rope

4. How many guards try to stop Caspian as he escapes?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

Narnia Movies & Prince Caspian Quiz 1

I just found out a couple of days ago that Walt Disney Co. has pulled its support of making the movie adaptation of the next book in the Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. More details, although they are scant, can be found at IMDB. I'm disappointed to see Disney pulling the plug on what hopefully was going to be one of the most movie-friendly books in the series, one that could generate quite a bit of income. Of course, one of the possibilities is that Disney execs saw that the script was as unfaithful to the book as Prince Caspian's and backed out because they knew that they wouldn't make enough money with another poor adaptation. On the other hand, no one knows exactly what happened. All we know is that Walden Media is shopping the Dawn Treader around. Hopefully, they find someone to help with production while also having a script that stays closer to the book than Prince Caspian.
Speaking of Caspian, I've had the chance to go back and watch the movie, again. I've already written my opinions about Prince Caspian in a previous post, so I won't rehash that review. Instead, I've made a series of quiz questions that highlight the differences between the movie and the book. The point of this quiz is simply to have a little fun with the changes that occurred between the book and the movie. At times, I will still post blog entries on other topics and tag the quiz questions on the end.
The rules for the quiz are as follows: you will be given two or three multiple choice questions that deal with some aspect of the story. Answer either according to the movie, the book, or both. I’ll post the answers as a comment. Because of the vast differences between the book and the movie, give yourself 5 points for answering correctly according to the movie and 10 points for answering correctly according to the book. Give yourself 20 points if you get both right. Read on to try the first two questions. (Note: I am following the movie’s chronology.)

1. How does the story begin?
A. At a train station somewhere in the English countryside, where the Pevensie children are headed back to school
B. At Aslan’s How, with a counsel called by the red dwarf Nikabrik
C. In Trufflehunter’s cave
D. With a son being born to Miraz and Caspian fleeing for his life

2. Upon being wakened by Dr. Cornelius in order to flee for his life, what are Prince Caspian’s first words?
A. “Five more minutes…”
B. “Are we going to do a little Astronomy, Doctor?”
C. “What time is it?”
D. “My, but you look a lot like Dumbledore!”

New Happy Year!

(No that's not a typo. It's a reference to an old New Year's television special. If you can correctly identify it, give yourself 5000 brownie points.)
One of the most random holidays that we celebrate in America is upon us: New Year's Eve/Day. I still don't quite understand the fascination everyone has with reaching the same orbital position as we occupied 365 days ago. I mean, I could see if we celebrated at the end of a certain season (say, March 22, the end of winter) or the end of a certain time frame (May 31, the end of school for most students). But to celebrate on the arbitrary day that we do just seems unusual to me. I guess we have to take time and look back over the year at some point, and this time is as good as any. It's still odd to me. Oh, well. I don't make the culture. And it's not that big a deal. I just needed to write something today, so there you go. Have a wonderful New Year, and even though January 1, 2009, will look an awful lot like December 31, 2008, may you be able to look back at 2008 and see the many blessings that God has bestowed upon you!

Semester in Review (Brief)

Several of my friends have sent out the traditional Christmas/end of the year letter that summarized all of the big events that happened in the past year. Being a teacher, I function on the academic calendar, so for me, the year is only halfway started. And it really divides into three pieces: two semesters and summer. So, for those of you who read this blog that aren't nearby, here is a brief overview of this past semester.
The semester began with a sense of foreboding, as if several unusual or bizarre events were just waiting to unfold. And those concerns proved true when a few of my students unexpectedly left the school during the school year. Now, having a few students leave at the end of the year or even at the end of a semester was not unusual. But to have some students depart part of the way through a quarter was completely unexpected and a bit shocking. The changes, though, proved good for the students involved, although we miss them at school.
Outside of school, life continues much as it always has. I've been blessed to have the chance to facilitate the discussion a couple of times in Sunday School class. I still referee soccer and serve as an assistant for the school's soccer teams, although I'm not sure how much longer I'll have the desire to do either. And the Scholars' Bowl team, which I sponsor, has started to get involved in more tournaments, even winning one.
And that's all the news that is news here in heartland of America.

Merry Christmas

May God bless you with a joyous Christmas and a wonderful time of rest as you celebrate the birth of our Savior!

I Wish You a Gratitude-Producing Period of Late December

It seems that in our pluralistic society, people are afraid to wish each other Merry Christmas, even Christians speaking to other Christians seem to suffer from this malady. The attempts to deny the existence of Christmas, even when many people who are not substantially Christian celebrate it, annoys me. Below are some of the common politcally-correct euphemisms for Christmas, and my initial thoughts when I hear them.
Statement: "Seasons Greetings"
My thoughts: "Which season? Spring? Summer? Fall? Baseball season? Oh, I love baseball season!"
Statement: "Happy Holidays"
My thoughts: "Which holiday? Groundhog Day? Veteran's Day? Yom Kippur? May Day?"
Statement: "Wishing you all the best this time of year"
My thoughts: "What about the rest of the year? And are you wishing it to me or to all of me, since I'm single and there's not a 'you all' in my life."
(And I'm sure there are others, but since my brain is still fried from having to speak in and listen to Spanish for 3 hours straight, I can't think of them right now.)
Now, I don't say these initial thoughts. Rather, I politely say, "Thank you. Merry Christmas to you!"
So, let me wish you now, dear reader, an early, merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!

Snow Is Great (To Look At)

It's a beautiful winter wonderland here in Topeka right now, with cold temperatures and 3" of snow on the ground. Unfortunately, that same 3" of snow is still clogging up most of the side streets, making driving quite the adventure. Admittedly, though, it could be worse. I could live in the country. Gravel roads become especially nasty in snow/ice conditions, so I am quite glad right now that I live in the city. If only the city would plow residential side streets. I can guarantee you that my street will probably not get plowed at all, which means that the packed-in snow will have to melt on its own. I would have no problem with this plan, except that the snow on my street doesn't melt easily because it is an old, tree-lined street. Beautiful, of course, but quite slick once snow is on it. I wouldn't be surprised if some of this snow stuck around a while, say, until March. :-)
Seriously, though, the beautiful of the argent landscape just helps set the mood for Christmas, which is now just over a week away. It would be wonderful to have the snow stick around to create a picturesque Christmas scene. Snow is wonderful to look at. Too bad it doesn't drive on quite as well.

Snow! Again!

Since I missed a post last week, I've decided to do an extra one to compensate.
The big news around Topeka today is the snow. I received 3.5" here at my house in the heart of Topeka. It's nice to see snow, again, and nice to be able to clear off my sidewalks and driveway in under an hour. The first snowfall of last year saw me shoveling for almost twice that long. There's nothing quite like shoveling snow to Christmas music as the Christmas lights on the house kick on! Below is a picture of one of the small boxwoods in front of my house covered in undisturbed snow.

College Football Turmoil

It seems like everything in society is in turmoil. The Big 3 automakers, the financial industry, and many other related industries are all struggling. And so are both college football teams that I follow: Kansas State and Iowa State. Earlier this year, K-State suddenly fired its football coach and within a day of the season ending, announced the return of its former head coach. It was strange and surprising. Now, in the past couple of days, news reports indicate that ISU's head coach, Gene Chizik, has been hired away from ISU to be the head coach at Auburn. Chizik was only at ISU for 2 years, and his first two teams struggled, but every indication was that he was going to stay at ISU for several more years. The opening at a prestigious school where he formerly worked apparently was too great a lure for Coach Chizik. His sudden departure certainly leaves the ISU Athletic Department in a lurch.
While I should be in shock at all of these sudden coaching changes, given how much chaos has been happening lately in the world, not much surprises me, anymore. And since it's football, not life, I guess it's not that big a deal, anyway. It is, though, just another bit of turmoil in a tumultuous world.

The Fall of America?

In Sunday School class today, one of the side notes focused on what happened to Rome as it began to decay from within. The scary part about the list was that it could easily have been 21st-century America. Now, I'm sure that everyone thinks that his generation is the most wicked and that it will be in his generation that society will collapse. But in this case, I would not be surprised if, within my lifetime, America loses its place as a military and economic superpower. Perhaps that is a good thing. So many other cultures right now try to imitate us, but the view of America that they get is a skewed view based on television and movies. What a horrible legacy to be giving to other countries! Perhaps it is better if we cease to be in such a prominent place, since our entertainment, I fear, is only heading farther into the tank. Of course, I don't expect the barbarians to come storming over the 7th hill any time soon, but I do know that the rest of my life will probably be lived in a society in turmoil. All the more reason that I am going to try to live with the attitude that Paul urges, using "the things of this world as if not engrossed in them" (1 Cor. 7:31).

Random Thought

The musical "The Music Man" came up in conversation over lunch today, and it got me thinking. That musical, to my mind, is one in which a less-than-stellar character (a con man) gets the girl (and he doesn't really seem to repent but rather converts her to scheme with him). "Guys and Dolls," which is from that same genre, also has a similar plot line. So, I was wondering how many stories (true or otherwise) I could think of where a man of character gets the girl. And, at first, I couldn't think of any. Then, I came up with 3:
1. Boaz and Ruth in the Bible
2. Aragon and Arwen in Lord of the Rings
3. Faramir and Eowyn in Lord of the Rings
There are probably more, and if you know of any, feel free to add them in the comments section.

No Pouting

As a single man, the month (and a little more) starting at Thanksgiving and ending at New Year's can be one of the most difficult times in the year. It's not that I don't love my family and being around my parents and all of my siblings. I do. But the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's are all family-oriented holidays to me. And in the past, the lack of a family of my own (meaning a wife, kids, etc.) has been the cause of a negative attitude on my part towards my circumstances. This year, by God's grace, my goal is to make this next month a "No Pouting Zone." I am determined to enjoy what God has blessed me with instead of focusing on what He has not brought to pass. I've wasted far too many Decembers lamenting instead of celebrating. No more. It's time to rejoice as we enter Advent, a time of preparing to the celebrate once again the mystery of the Incarnation.

Ketchup.,..err...Catch-up Day

What a beautiful day that it is, and what a wonderful day to have a day off! Although ketchup will figure prominently in my plans for supper tonight (mmmm...sloppy joes), catch-up was the operative of the day. So far, I've accomplished many errands that I haven't been able to get to due to weather, Scholars' Bowl, or both. At this point, the only items left on today's to-do list are a long bike ride, supper, and relaxation. I'm looking forward to it, with a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude to God for a beautiful day that made catching up possible.

ISU-KSU Game Thoughts

Here are a few thoughts on a game that my alma mater could have won, if we had played better.
*ISU is a young team, and it played like one. It had three turnovers, one of them on a dropped option pitch that would have been a touchdown if the ball hadn't been fumbled. A holding penalty on an 88-yard touchdown run further showed signs of youth.
*If the ISU defenders could catch passes, they could have had 2-3 interceptions
*On the bright side, ISU ran the greatest fake punt that I have ever seen, a beautiful, "screen" like fake that fooled everyone, including me. I was not expecting it at all, K-State wasn't expecting it, and the result was amazing.
*Next year looks bright for ISU. A team that's a year older, a coach that is entering his third year, and a good chance to winning a conference game. ISU is still about 2 years away from being out of the Big XII North cellar, but there are signs of improvement. Who knows? ISU might well be challenging for the North division title here in a couple of years.

Raking Leaves...When?

I've got one more application of fertilizer (a "winterizer" batch) to apply to my minuscule front lawn. To complete that task, however, I need to get the leaves raked out of the way so they fertilizer lands on the grass and not the leaves. Finding time while the sun is up and the weather is nice has been difficult. Every day this week I've said to myself, "Self, I'm going to rake those leaves today once I get home from school." Invariably, though, something prevents me from getting home in time to get the leaves raked. I feel like I'm never going to get these leaves raked. I may just have to bite the metaphorical bullet tomorrow and rake leaves in the cold and wind. Or, I might just wait until next Tuesday.

Scattered Thoughts

Here are some scattered thoughts on a warm-ish, mostly cloudy Sunday:
--It's been quite a while since I've seen even a hint of snow falling in Topeka this early in the year, and yet, I saw snow flurries Saturday afternoon. It's not an unwelcome sight, although it is a bit surprising.
--Leaves must spontaneously generate, or be attracted to my yard somehow. It seems that I have more leaves in my yard than I have trees to generate them. Raking them will make for a couple of busy afternoons. Thankfully, it looks to be warmer than it was last week.
--My brother's new house is really nice.
--Do what you can. Start where you are. Use what you have.

Rant: Please, Not Until After Thanksgiving!

[rant]It's already started. From the moment November 1st dawned, some people--groups of people, really--have started to the inexorable march towards Christmas. Christmas decorations are already showing up in store windows and along city streets. Christmas (well, at least winter) music of the most saccharine kind is being blared from speakers in many stores. And I don't want to know how many radio stations started playing Christmas music already.
"So," you ask, "what's wrong with that?" Quite a bit, in my opinion. First of all, we have another holiday before Christmas, one that we should all be taking far more seriously than we currently do: Thanksgiving. Of course, in modern America, with its slowly-dying belief in God, the idea of giving thanks to the One who provided us with so much is becoming unthinkable. I guess I could understand why skipping it might be preferable. Second, and this is admittedly a personal taste issue, Christmas/winter music is a bit saccharine. Listening to it for two months is to me like eating a bag of sugar followed by drinking about 10 diet soft drinks in a row. The results just make me sick.
Once Thanksgiving is over, and the Advent season proper begins, I have no problem with Christmas music. In fact, I relish the thought of it. Which is why I don't want it spilling out into the streets right now: Christmas music loses its charm (its "specialness") when it becomes the default standard for 2 months. Give me 4 1/2 weeks of it, and I'll be good. But please, don't start roasting your chestnuts on an open fire until Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, which won't happen until after Thanksgiving.[/rant]

Interesting

I simply post this story here without comment. Read it and come to your own conclusions.
Planning Under Way for Obama Holiday.

Pondering Evolution/Intelligent Design

The theme of this weekend has been examining the debate surrounding Evolution. First, on Friday night, I finally got to see the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." The movie does a great job of looking at how academia is currently stifling debate over flaws in Evolution. In particular, those who espouse Intelligent Design (not to be confused with Creationism) face constant harassment or are forced to remain silent because they suggested that Neo-Darwinian evolution may not be valid. What especially disappoints me is that my alma mater, Iowa State, is one of the schools that stifled academic freedom. A few atheistic professors were able to convince the university to deny tenure to an Astronomy professor simply because he co-wrote a book that argued that the Earth could not have evolved as the result of chance. The fact that diverse opinions were not allowed to flourish at the university is just one incident in an attempt by many evolutionists to stifle any debate over Intelligent Design.
"But," many will say, "isn't evolution already establish as scientific fact, like gravity?" No, evolution is not a fact, neither is gravity, at least not in the sense of fact as we use it. (This was a part of our discussion in Sunday School, where we examined Darwinism's flaws in detail.) Gravitation and evolution are both theories that attempt to describe general patterns of reality. Theories always can be expanded or adjusted as more data comes in. In the case of gravitation, the theory has been updated and expanded over time thanks to Einstein's theory of General Relativity. In the case of Evolution, however, as we learn more and more about the complexity required for even the simplest organisms and simplest cells, we're discovering that blind Darwinian evolution simply could not have occurred. However, Evolution has been the dominant theory for so long (and its atheistic implications so important) that many mistakenly think that it is fact.
Given, however, the amount of irreducible complexity in even the simplest machines (and the lack of sufficient support from the fossil record), Evolutionary theory faces many, many challenges. It simply cannot continue as it is. As "Expelled" points out, rather than adjust their theories, some Evolutionary theorists have instead chosen to (with an almost-religious fervor) cling to the Theory of Evolution. The result has been a stifling of academic freedom and a lot of ad hominem attacks on those who attempt even a critique of Evolution.
I'm sorry to report that many of us who think that the Theory of Intelligent Design better explains life than Darwinism are neither ignorant nor stupid nor wicked. We simply are scientists who see significant discrepancies between the data and Evolutionary Theory and think that Intelligent Design Theory does a better job of explaining it. Unfortunately, in this current academic climate of "political correctness," Intelligent Design is anathema. Hopefully, one day there will be a recognition that Evolution is so deeply flawed that it must be rejected. But I won't be holding my breath.

Post-election Thoughts

*I had no confidence in the wisdom of the Americans voters. Now, I would say that my confidence is in the negatives, if that's possible. When the majority of Americans identify themselves as conservations and yet go vote for someone whose policies are, at best, left of center, it disturbs me greatly.
*The media won the election for Obama. Don't get me wrong; he ran a great campaign, but he could have run a C- campaign and still won because the media was so infatuated with him that they wouldn't run many negative stories about him. If we ever needed an example of what a sycophant looks like, I think we have found it in this year's media coverage.
*Whoever ran the McCain campaign should be disappointed with himself. The media were obviously against McCain (or at least not for him), and there were questions galore about whether he was young enough for the office. At the same time, his opponent was so far from the center and shifted his positions so constantly that McCain should have easily had the upper hand simply by pointing out the obvious. He didn't, at least not until it was too late.
*I wonder if I should live it up now before my taxes go through the roof in July, or whether I should save like crazy so I actually have a chance of eating something besides Ramen (or however you spell it) noodles for the next 4 years.
*It's interesting that when faced with the choice between 2 almost-identical candidates (Jenkins and Boyda), Kansans will vote for the Republican over the Democrat.
*In the end, I guess it all doesn't matter much. People have lived under far more horrible regimes than any that might occur in the next 4 years, and God ultimately is in control. So, I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing and adjust to the circumstances as they come.

Beautiful Morning

When I got up this morning, the sun was already up, yet it was still very quiet. On my way back inside from my daily check of my rain gauge, I had to stop. The birds were silent, and the wind was at a whisper. No traffic had yet assaulted the roads. The only sounds were the intermittent click of leaves hitting the ground and a distant church carillon playing "Come Ye Thankful People Come." I stood there for what seemed like forever, breathing in the cool morning air and letting the near-silence wash over me.
Thanks to God for such a peaceful and beautiful start to the morning. If every day this autumn is going to be like that, I think I'm going to like it.

Election Season

Mercifully, election season all comes to an end in just under a week. And then, we have to live with the consequences for 2 years. Of course, we have "nothing to fear but fear itself."
To all the undecided voters, I urge you to ask yourselves "not what your country can do for you," but rather "what you can do for your country." Government simply cannot solve all of our problems, and in some cases, it can make them worse.
Questions of all sorts keep cropping up. Is McCain too old? Is Barack Obama really ready to lead the country? Are voters going to vote on the basis of policies or on personality? I guess "it all depends on what your definition of 'is' is." I mean, we could be facing a "nu-cue-lar" stand off with Iran, and I would hate to see that part of the "axis of evil" triumph because we chose the wrong guy.
For those of you who have reached the point of apathy long ago, let me say, "Read my lips: I feel your pain." The good news is that in 2 years, we'll have mid-term elections, which will allow us to make changes to our government if we don't like the way things are going. The only question, then, is whether any group can destroy a country in two years. Let's hope not. May God have mercy on America!

Exhausted

Wow, this past week took more out of me than I expected. I was going to try to post about 1 Corinthians 7, a passage that is quite hard for me to understand, but I simply don't have the mental energy right now to process anything that complex or deep. I guess it's one passage where I often find myself wishing it said something different than what it says. But that is human nature, is it not, to wish for things to be our way instead of God's?

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

As often is the case in Kansas, it's the weather that's making the biggest story around. It's been raining nearly non-stop for the past 24 hours, and I would guess that we must be near 1.5 inches in the past 24 hours. That's a lot of rain in a short time. It's been a cool, wet year overall, and that's made for a welcome change after several hot, dry years. For now, I'm going to go enjoy being inside where it's warm and dry.

Singleness

Some rambling thoughts on singleness in a rough draft form. Critiques, disagreements, suggestions, and notifications of typos are always appreciated.

It's amazing to me how often at church, the pastor feels it necessary to mention marriage and romantic relationships in sermons. It seems that a Sunday doesn't go by that the whole idea of marriage isn't brought into a sermon, whether it validly fits or not. And each time he asks, "Do you remember when you first started dating your spouse," I catch myself thinking, "No, and I have no idea what that was like." And more than once, I've caught myself, to quote Caedmon's Call, wondering if "Maybe I have the gift that everyone speaks so highly of / Funny how nobody wants it."
The gift that everyone speaks so highly of is singleness (or celibacy), and it amazes me how we (myself included) react with such dislike to the idea of such a state being a gift. It's almost like we treat singleness not as a gift but as a curse. I know that I often react with disdain to the idea that somehow, I may be single the rest of my life. I want to scream to God that it's not fair. Men who see women as objects wind up married, while men who would make excellent husbands (perhaps I'm in that group; I'm hardly an objective judge of myself) are bachelors. It makes no sense. Most people in the Church react similarly, and prefer not to think about the issue since they can't make it reconcile with all of the "marriage language" in Scripture.
Jesus, however, addresses this very issue in commenting on marriage. He says, "For some For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage [or made themselves eunuchs] because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it" (Matthew 9:12, NIV). (I think that, based on the context, it seems safe to say that Jesus is thinking about marital status when he uses the word "eunuch" here, which is probably why the NIV renders the last of the three phrases "renounced marriage" instead of "made themselves eunuchs.")
Based on this passage, there seem to be at least three classes of people who never marry. One is those who were born with some sort of physical condition (severe mental retardation, e.g.) that prevents them from functioning in a marital relationship. A second are those who because of something done to them, never marry, and the third group are those who forgo marrying in order to devote themselves fully to God.
The vast majority of single people in churches today fall into the second class. They are unmarried because of something done to them, whether by others or by themselves. The key here is that these people often do not want to be where they are. The Church, I'm afraid, has not handled this group very well. They too often try to treat them as if they belonged in the first or third classes, instead. Some unintentionally treat those who are single as if there is something wrong with them, and shuffle them off into singles' groups, where their "needs" can be addressed. The thinking seems to be a sort of "put the mutants all at table 9" attitude. This sort of approach does nothing to help a person with the gift of singleness learn to treat singleness as a gift. Instead, it simply devalues the person by telling him, "You're anathema because you're not married. Get away from us, you freak!" The result is a feeling of being worthless not only in the eyes of others but also in the eyes of God.
At the same time, other people try to treat everyone who is single as if they are single because they are on some sort of "mission from God." The most frequent refrain of these people is "just remember that Jesus was single and that Paul was single." This attempted encouragement, while well-meaning, tells the single person that his singleness is God's way of making the single person more spiritual. It ignores, however, that Paul and Jesus both chose singleness "for the kingdom of God." Most people who are single, however, did not choose their state. It was forced upon them in some way, meaning that they don't want to be in the condition that they are in. Thus, when someone tells a single person that his singleness makes him more spiritual because he is like Paul or Jesus, the single person invariably feels inferior because he isn't super-spiritual the way people say they should be. The end result of this sort of counsel is a feeling of inferiority.
I've talked a little about how not to treat those who are in the second classification of those who have the gift of singleness. I want to take a moment, as one who may well be a part of the second group (even though I pray daily that I am not), to suggest some ways that the Church might better handle those who are single. First, remember that they are human beings just like anyone else. They are no more broken than any married person, and need friendships with others who share their interests, not just their marital status. Second, remember that just because a person is single, do not automatically assume that he doesn't understand the time pressures that families face. Single people face time pressures far worse than any family because if a chore has to be done, the only person to do it is the single person. Third, be careful how marriage is held up in services and teaching. Discuss it, treat it with honor, and use it sometimes as an analogy, but don't refer to it constantly. Constantly talking about marriage will only accentuate the pain a single person feels and make them feel inferior. Lastly, while singles-only small groups are great, all single people to be part of small groups with married people if their natural inclinations so lead. This will allow the single person to feel less isolated from the rest of the Body of Christ.
Again, these ideas are my first attempt to delve into this issue in a logical fashion. I'm sure that they overstate (or understate) certain aspects. I welcome any thoughts or corrections. And I hope and pray daily that God, in His mercy, will see fit to bring into my life a woman of God with whom I can happily share many years of worshiping and enjoying Him and the life He has given us. Yet, I also know that at my age and in my circumstances, I may well be one of those who has "the gift that everyone speaks so highly of." If I do indeed have this gift, then it's getting to the point where I need to stare the facts square in the face and begin to try to be a member of class three: those who renounce marriage for the glory of God.

Soccer and Cool Weather

I just got home from refereeing 2 soccer games at Hummer Park. With the cool weather setting in, I was definitely cold by the time I got done with game #2. I'm glad that soccer season is starting to wind down. I'm ready for a break.

Weird Writer's Block

I'm suffering from an odd form of writer's block: I have about 5 half-formed ideas and nothing yet worthy of posting. So, here's a picture of a beautiful sunset. Maybe my thoughts will get reset by Wednesday.

Post-Debate Thoughts

Some random thoughts after watching the debates last night:
Senator Obama's claim that most small business make less than $250,000 is a bit of a stretch to my mind. Yes, there are a few business that don't have a gross income of over $250,000, but I'd be surprised if 95% of small business gross less than $250,000. As far as profits go, of course, most small business have a net profit far less than $250,000.
Senator McCain just looks old.
Senator Obama is all about style. Whenever he talks, I feel like he's speaking a lie but is doing it eloquently so that he hopes no one will notice.
Senator Obama's "Oh, yeah, me, too" moment on Russia was pretty amusing. After Senator McCain had said what he thought we ought to do about Russia's aggression in Georgia, Obama's first statement was that he agreed with McCain. I wonder what Obama would have said if he went first...
At the end of the debate, Tom Brokaw had an embarrassing moment. When he couldn't see the teleprompter, he didn't know how to end the debate and had to ask the candidates to move by saying, "You guys are blocking my script." It played to every stereotype of news anchors as being incapable of thought because all they do is read off teleprompters. I'm sure that Mr. Brokaw is not that dense, but it was amusing.
And the most sickening part was the post-debate analysis by one columnist from the New York Times. He said that he thought Obama won. When pressed as to why, he gave an answer that was so fawning, I will paraphrase it this way: "Obama's so smooth, so personable, and so likeable, that if I were a woman and he weren't married, I'd want to marry him." It sickens me how much the media seem to obsess over Obama. Listening to the media talk about Obama is a bit like listening to a bunch of groupies at a rock concert.
This election, more than any other, has served to increase my cynicism for the entire political process and for any hope for this country. Like a lot of voters, I really would like a legitimate third option, one that isn't so old he looks like he'll die 2 years into office and one that also doesn't come across as so arrogant that you have to wonder if he's running for President because he loves his country or because he's enjoying the ego boost. Sigh. Oh, well. It's what we've got. It's a good thing that in the end, it is God who is ultimately in control of it all.

More Twists

The twists and turns that make up this year keep coming, both good and bad. This year has been full of more unexpected occurrences than I have ever encountered in one year. From misplaced computer files to leaky water heaters, from unusual soccer senior nights to the unstable economy, and from unexpected affirmations and encouragements from parents at the school to the rare moments of unplanned time off, this year has been full of challenges and blessings that I never could have predicted. In the midst of all of this uncertainty, the hardest part is staying focused on allowing God to be the Lord of my circumstances, trusting Him to work out the details that I am powerless to affect. If I can find a way, by His grace, to rest in Him more and enjoy the ride, this year, like a roller coaster, promises to be an exciting and enjoyable year. Now, the challenge becomes enjoying the "roller coaster."

Good Expectations

Last time, I wrote about expectations and how they can detrimentally affect our perception of reality. Expectations do not always, however, serve such a negative purpose. Indeed, without expectations, we easily sink into apathy and failure (like '90s grunge rockers). Expectations serve the legitimate purpose of motivating us (or someone else) to achieve more than we would otherwise accomplish.
Consider the case of a soccer team. If a coach sets low expectations for his team, the end result will be a team that accomplishes little. If, however, the coach sets high (yet realistic) expectations for his team, the team will perform well. Likewise, in our own lives, if we expect nothing from ourselves, nothing is precisely what we will get. If, however, we expect ourselves to live to a certain standard, we will try to live up to that standard. (Obviously, some of us set the standard too high, but that's another story.) Therefore, expectations function as a driving force, urging us onward to become something more than we otherwise would become.
As a side note, just as unmet expectations are a source of anger and conflict in relationships, so exceeded expectations are a source of joy and wonder. To eliminate expectations in order to avoid the anger of unmet expectations means that we often would have to live without the joy of exceeded expectations. While I know first-hand the pain of unmet expectations, I also know that I would not trade the joy of having people around me surpass my expectations.