A nurse prepares a flu vaccine shot at a hospital in Budapest in a file photo. (Credit: Reuters/Karoly Arvai)

There’s good news and frightening news in today’s headlines.  Let’s start with the good.  First, a universal flu vaccine may be on the way.  Researchers in Britain and Switzerland have identified an antibody which neutralizes both main groups of influenza A viruses.  Since the flu kills 36,000 people every year in the United States, this is significant progress. Read the rest of this entry »

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Quasar Drenched in Water Vapor (Credit: NASA/ESA

We’ve been dealing with a difficult subject this week, so let’s change the tone today with this announcement: I have solved the drought problem plaguing much of our country.  We simply need to siphon water from a galaxy 12 billion light-years away, where the most massive cloud of water yet discovered in the universe resides.  According to today’s National Geographic website, the cloud would fill 140 trillion Earth oceans. Read the rest of this entry »

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Michael Young taking a cut at an early season game in 2006 (Photo by Keith Allison via Flickr)

I’m old enough to remember when the only way to watch a baseball game was as it was being played.  Last night I recorded the Texas Rangers‘ game, then turned on the TV an hour or so after it started.  Before playing the recorded game, I checked on a sports website to catch the score and highlights, then fast-forwarded the recording to the plays I wanted to see. Read the rest of this entry »

A sign of love for Oslo is seen inside of a sea of flowers and lit candles placed in memory of those killed in Friday's bomb and shooting attack in front of Oslo Cathedral July 25, 2011 (Credit: Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay )

Where were the Norwegian police while Anders Breivik was shooting innocent civilians last Friday?  They have only one police helicopter; its crew were on holiday at the time of the attacks. Today their chief of staff states, “You always try to be better but I don’t see how we could have been faster.”

God is not limited to a single helicopter.  Where was he in Norway last Friday? Read the rest of this entry »

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my fortune cookie from Panda Express

Janet is out of town this week, so I’m cooking dinner for myself.  On Sunday night I cooked Chinese.  Actually, I drove up to the Chinese restaurant, placed my order, took it home, and ate it out of its Styrofoam to-go container.  Janet will be pleased to know that I did the dishes afterwards.

As you can see, my fortune cookie contained this piece of sage wisdom: “Wise men learn more from fools, than fools from the wise.”  Looking back, I realize that nearly every mistake I have made in my life was the result of violating that statement.  God wants me to know his will more than I want to know it.  He is adept at sending people, books, emails, etc. across my path to guide me in his word and wisdom.  His Spirit will speak directly to my spirit if I will listen.  He uses his word and world to lead me in his “good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).  But he can lead only those who will follow.

When last did you learn from a fool?  From the wise?

Survivors and relatives of a shooting rampage mourn following a memorial service in the Oslo cathedral July 24, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay)

As each day passes, we learn more about Anders Behring Breivik.  As you know, last Friday he killed 76 people in the bloodiest act of terrorism Norway has seen since World War II.  Before launching his attacks, he posted to his Facebook page a 1,516-page document which explains his motive.

His manifesto blames multiculturalism for the destruction of Western culture.  In it he states, “I do not hate Muslims at all… This does not mean that I will accept an Islamic presence in Europe.  Muslim individuals who are not assimilated 100% by 2020 will be deported as soon as we manage to seize power.” Read the rest of this entry »

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a blast from the past

I was walking in our neighborhood last Saturday morning and came across signs proclaiming: “Garage Sale Today, 7:30 to 1:00.”  It gave the address, but I had no idea where that is.  Janet would know, but I’m directionally challenged.  However, a few minutes later I happened to walk past the very house offering its treasures to the world.  So I turned around, went down the alley, and found the advertised sale.

It was a blast from the past.  Computer monitors larger than a sofa, tennis rackets from the era before they were the size of snowshoes, golf clubs with heads made of actual wood.  The only items they lacked were polyester leisure suits and white patent leather shoes.

Time changes things.  There was a day when everything now cluttering a garage floor was a sophisticated innovation.  The same will be true one day of the technology you and I are using today.  People will be as amazed that we had to type on our computers as we are that our grandparents lived before color television.

But God doesn’t change, nor does human nature.  The Bible is always relevant because it speaks to the unchanging fears we feel and problems we face.  Jesus will be with us always (Matthew 28:20), even when your computer has gone the way of the floppy disc.

The electric drill my grandfather bought for me

The NFL lockout has been called “millionaires deciding how to share billions.”  Since the NFL makes $9 billion a year and the average player salary is $1.8 million, it’s been hard to generate sympathy for either side.  The collective bargaining agreement expired on March 11.  The players filed a lawsuit against the owners, who locked out the players from their facilities.  Owners want to limit salaries; players want more money. Read the rest of this entry »

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My latest technological challenge

Our office got a new refrigerator recently.  It dispenses and crushes ice, filters water, and dispenses that as well.  But there are two problems, both of which have so far proven nearly insurmountable for me.

First, you have to tell it which to do.  If you put your water bottle under the spigot but the “cubed ice” button is dispensed, icebergs began cascading onto the floor.  Second, once you remember to push the “water” button, you have to line up your water bottle where the water will be dispensed.  Since this tube is not visible from the front of the refrigerator, much trial and error is involved, along with mops and wet sleeves.  I’m closer to mastering this new technology than I was a week ago, but more practice is clearly needed. Read the rest of this entry »

Carribbean reef shark (Courtesy of user Albert Kok at en.wikipedia.org)

As you read this article, Diana Nyad may be swimming from Cuba to Key West, Florida.  She’s been waiting on water temperatures to warm up; now that they have, nothing stands in her way.  Nothing, that is, except 103 miles, countless stinging jellyfish, and sea salt which will swell her tongue and rub her skin raw. Read the rest of this entry »

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:44 — 1.3MB)