Happy Anniversary to us!
It was 26 years ago that I married the love of my life. How she's managed to put up with me and stick by me is a testament to her stong will and love.
Happy Anniversary, Chris! I love you.
John
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Intentions vs. Actions (a stolen topic)
A recent post on Random Magus bore the same title and generated a lot of comments. It is a topic worthy of discussion and a hate to respond with a post that is longer than the author's original. (unless we're talking about David Stone's blog, then I feel free to rant!)
If you've already read Random's post, then you can consider this my response. If you haven't, go ahead and read it. I'm sure that you'll enjoy reading the responses as well.
Side note: I've added this link to the Blogs I Frequent. You'll find posts that vary from thought provoking to humorous, some that are challenging and all that are expressed with a creativity that I've come to enjoy.
We have asked these questions often in our society. How many times have you heard it asked, "Does the end justify the means?" "Can we do whatever we want to do as long as the result is admirable?" "Is there a wrong way to do the right thing?"
In the Old Testament there is a great story of the Israelites bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark has been held by the Philistines and because of the trouble it brought to them, they have shipped it back to the Israelites. They placed it on a cart along with guilt offerings and sent it on its way. The Ark made its way back to the land of the Israelites. Later, when the Israelites where ready to transport the Ark back to Jerusalem, they built a new cart and began the journey home. On the way, the cart rocked on the rough road and when the priests touched the Ark to steady it, they were struck dead by God.(1Kings 6, 2Kings 6)
This was a case of pure intentions to bring the Ark back to the Holy City but they were disobedient because they did not follow God's law for transporting the Ark of the Covenant. Right intent, wrong action. Doing the right thing the wrong way.
In the Book of Amos, the Israelites have fallen away from God. They are no longer following His laws for living, yet they continue with the ritual sacrifices at the Temple. God recognizes that these actions are not real worship. He says, " I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listed to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."
In this case, they were doing all of the right actions but the intent of their hearts made their actions meaningless.
Clearly both actions and intentions are important to God. As for the question, "Who is to be the judge?" I'm comfortable leaving that job to God. As I've grown older (and perhaps a little wiser) I've started to pay more attention to the part in the Bible that Jesus says that the measure by which we judge others is the same measure by which we will be judged. It makes me want to be as tolerant, as forgiving and as gracious as I can be. I hope that others (both in this life and as I stand before the final Judge) might judge me with tolerance, forgiveness and grace.
John
"A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and throw into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Jesus of Nazareth
If you've already read Random's post, then you can consider this my response. If you haven't, go ahead and read it. I'm sure that you'll enjoy reading the responses as well.
Side note: I've added this link to the Blogs I Frequent. You'll find posts that vary from thought provoking to humorous, some that are challenging and all that are expressed with a creativity that I've come to enjoy.
We have asked these questions often in our society. How many times have you heard it asked, "Does the end justify the means?" "Can we do whatever we want to do as long as the result is admirable?" "Is there a wrong way to do the right thing?"
In the Old Testament there is a great story of the Israelites bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark has been held by the Philistines and because of the trouble it brought to them, they have shipped it back to the Israelites. They placed it on a cart along with guilt offerings and sent it on its way. The Ark made its way back to the land of the Israelites. Later, when the Israelites where ready to transport the Ark back to Jerusalem, they built a new cart and began the journey home. On the way, the cart rocked on the rough road and when the priests touched the Ark to steady it, they were struck dead by God.(1Kings 6, 2Kings 6)
This was a case of pure intentions to bring the Ark back to the Holy City but they were disobedient because they did not follow God's law for transporting the Ark of the Covenant. Right intent, wrong action. Doing the right thing the wrong way.
In the Book of Amos, the Israelites have fallen away from God. They are no longer following His laws for living, yet they continue with the ritual sacrifices at the Temple. God recognizes that these actions are not real worship. He says, " I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listed to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."
In this case, they were doing all of the right actions but the intent of their hearts made their actions meaningless.
Clearly both actions and intentions are important to God. As for the question, "Who is to be the judge?" I'm comfortable leaving that job to God. As I've grown older (and perhaps a little wiser) I've started to pay more attention to the part in the Bible that Jesus says that the measure by which we judge others is the same measure by which we will be judged. It makes me want to be as tolerant, as forgiving and as gracious as I can be. I hope that others (both in this life and as I stand before the final Judge) might judge me with tolerance, forgiveness and grace.
John
"A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and throw into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Jesus of Nazareth
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Labor Day
It is late Sunday as I sit to write this post. Many of us in the US have spent today with friends and relatives celebrating the last holiday of summer. Tomorrow, banks and government offices will be closed, schools will dismiss classes and many other American workers will have the day off. I'm not sure that there is another country that has a holiday quite like Labor Day.
Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the accomplishments of the American Worker. Growing up as the son of a self-employed businessman, Labor Day was a day that wasn't alot different from most other days. As an air traffic controller, tomorrow will be a pretty typical Monday and I'll work my normal Monday 3pm to 11pm shift. But I do think that it is a holiday worth mentioning and wish that more Americans realized that the great gains in employee benefits, wages and working conditions came at a cost.
In today's USA, the perception of Labor Unions has diminished to that of a nuisance to employers and a drain on the economy. The Unions and the working people of the United States are being sold out as companies continue to ship our jobs overseas and across our southern border where they can pay a fraction of the cost for labor. Today's workforce in the US is becoming more and more service oriented and we are much less of a manufacturing workforce. It is a rare product that bears the label, "Made in the USA."
Though my father was never a Union member, I'm thankful for the hard work and the example of a good work ethic that he set for me. As a past member of the International Assciation of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 9 (AFL-CIO), and a present member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (AFL-CIO) I am proud to be an American Worker and a part of Organized Labor in the US.
I hope that you have an extended weekend and can enjoy the day off on Monday. And if your country celebrates a day like our Labor Day, I'd love to hear about it.
John Hill (SGF)
National Constitution Committee
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the accomplishments of the American Worker. Growing up as the son of a self-employed businessman, Labor Day was a day that wasn't alot different from most other days. As an air traffic controller, tomorrow will be a pretty typical Monday and I'll work my normal Monday 3pm to 11pm shift. But I do think that it is a holiday worth mentioning and wish that more Americans realized that the great gains in employee benefits, wages and working conditions came at a cost.
In today's USA, the perception of Labor Unions has diminished to that of a nuisance to employers and a drain on the economy. The Unions and the working people of the United States are being sold out as companies continue to ship our jobs overseas and across our southern border where they can pay a fraction of the cost for labor. Today's workforce in the US is becoming more and more service oriented and we are much less of a manufacturing workforce. It is a rare product that bears the label, "Made in the USA."
Though my father was never a Union member, I'm thankful for the hard work and the example of a good work ethic that he set for me. As a past member of the International Assciation of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 9 (AFL-CIO), and a present member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (AFL-CIO) I am proud to be an American Worker and a part of Organized Labor in the US.
I hope that you have an extended weekend and can enjoy the day off on Monday. And if your country celebrates a day like our Labor Day, I'd love to hear about it.
John Hill (SGF)
National Constitution Committee
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Another--Did You Know?
Did you know that merchant caravans once travelled great distances to bring products from far away regions? They would trade/sell items that were unavailable to local merchants and purchase items that were plentiful to be sold elsewhere. The caravan merchants didn't like selling to individuals because individuals rarely wanted to buy an entire lot of an item and the merchants didn't want to divide a lot. They wanted to sell to the local merchants who would then divide the lots and sell to the individuals.
These caravan merchants--the ones that would only sell whole lots of an item--were known as wholesalers. And the local merchants that bought the items by the lot(or by the gross) were called grossers. Today's variation is grocer!
John
These caravan merchants--the ones that would only sell whole lots of an item--were known as wholesalers. And the local merchants that bought the items by the lot(or by the gross) were called grossers. Today's variation is grocer!
John
Thursday, August 30, 2007
How Many More?
This morning I was working in the tower when a charter airline, Kalitta Charters, brought home one of our country's fallen soldiers. There were military personel and a hearse on the ramp waiting for the plane to arrive. I imagine that there will be video on the news later today.
When I got the chance for a break, I called a friend that I knew would be deploying soon. It turns out that I caught him at the airport, getting ready to say his goodbyes to his wife and two little girls. Not wanting to take the time away from his family, I said my goodbyes quickly and left him to his girls. From time to time he reads these senseless ramblings and I'd like for him to know that I am praying for him and his family and will check on them when I can.
How I wish that they could all be safely on their way home instead of being rotated back for another tour of duty. If you have a moment and are willing, I'd ask for prayers for all of our service men and women--especially for my friend Chad and his family.
When I got the chance for a break, I called a friend that I knew would be deploying soon. It turns out that I caught him at the airport, getting ready to say his goodbyes to his wife and two little girls. Not wanting to take the time away from his family, I said my goodbyes quickly and left him to his girls. From time to time he reads these senseless ramblings and I'd like for him to know that I am praying for him and his family and will check on them when I can.
How I wish that they could all be safely on their way home instead of being rotated back for another tour of duty. If you have a moment and are willing, I'd ask for prayers for all of our service men and women--especially for my friend Chad and his family.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Looking Up
Last night, as I was looking to the stars, it suddenly came to me that summer is almost over. Really. It was the stars that reminded me. Tonight, just after the sun sets, look high in the southern sky. That really bright "star" that you see is actually the planet Jupiter. Just below Jupiter is a reddish star. This is Antares. Antares is one of my favorite stars.
The name Antares means warlike because of its similar look to the red planet Mars, named for the Roman god of war. It is a red super giant and is many times larger that our own sun. Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpio and points us towards the center of the galaxy. Just below and left of Antares (in the tail of the Scorpion) is the most dense part of the Milky Way and it ribbons through the sky back towards the north east. 
You'll have to find a dark area and get out early tonight as the moon will be rising about an hour after the sun sets. Once we enter into late fall, our night sky will point us away from our own galaxy and the Milky Way will become invisible to us for several months. But the winter sky is beautiful. So many bright stars! I need to note here that I've never seen the night sky from the Southern Hemisphere and have noted several readers are from below the equator. It's on my list of things to do. Here are some interesting pictures. On the one hand, they can certainly make you feel small and insignificant. On the other hand, the Bible says that your Creator knows you; knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head! That should make you feel very special.
John
You should be able to click on each picture to enlarge it.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Reflections
Yesterday morning I slipped into my pastor's Sunday school class. The class is for parents of young children and called "Family Matters." I heard him ask a question that was something like, "What is your religious heritage?"
Since I was disengaged from the class anyways, I was free to stop listening to the rest of the lesson and enter my own little world. I thought about that question in a way that would have been quite different from the discussion that was taking place in the class. If you were to ask me that question, I would have to say that I grew up knowing about God. I knew who Jesus was and what Jesus did. But I never really knew God. This is important because I sense that we (the Church) are still doing the same thing today. We want to tell people all about Jesus. We talk of God's great love. But the reality still exists that we are not helping people to know God.
Many of you that are reading this blog actually know me. Many others can only say that they know about me. There is a difference. I believe that as a church, as the body of believers in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have to stop telling people about Jesus and really start modelling His behavior. God will become relevant to people when they begin to relate to a living God. I wish that I knew how to pull this off. I'm supposed to be the evangelist--the guy that's the expert on sharing Jesus. Unfortunately, I think that we have to change our mind set in this area. I guess I would be crazy to say that it's time that we stop telling people about Jesus. But I think that it is time for us to stop telling people about Jesus--at least in the way that we always have been. He is a better story than the way we've been telling it. He is a story of love and forgiveness. We tell it as a story of judgement and punishment. If I were an unbeliever today, I would be turned off by people that are telling me that I'm wrong, I'm lost, I'm going to hell and they have the answer. Guess what? I'm not listening!
If somebody out there has the answer, I'd love to hear it. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus lived and died because of a great love for us. I believe with all of my heart that each one of us needs to know Him. I just don't know how to make that happen...and I believe that I'm supposed to have a part in making it happen. Perhaps you can sense that I'm a little frustrated today. I feel like I've been given a job that I'm ill-equipped to do. And yet I know that I must do it well. God, help me!
John
Since I was disengaged from the class anyways, I was free to stop listening to the rest of the lesson and enter my own little world. I thought about that question in a way that would have been quite different from the discussion that was taking place in the class. If you were to ask me that question, I would have to say that I grew up knowing about God. I knew who Jesus was and what Jesus did. But I never really knew God. This is important because I sense that we (the Church) are still doing the same thing today. We want to tell people all about Jesus. We talk of God's great love. But the reality still exists that we are not helping people to know God.
Many of you that are reading this blog actually know me. Many others can only say that they know about me. There is a difference. I believe that as a church, as the body of believers in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have to stop telling people about Jesus and really start modelling His behavior. God will become relevant to people when they begin to relate to a living God. I wish that I knew how to pull this off. I'm supposed to be the evangelist--the guy that's the expert on sharing Jesus. Unfortunately, I think that we have to change our mind set in this area. I guess I would be crazy to say that it's time that we stop telling people about Jesus. But I think that it is time for us to stop telling people about Jesus--at least in the way that we always have been. He is a better story than the way we've been telling it. He is a story of love and forgiveness. We tell it as a story of judgement and punishment. If I were an unbeliever today, I would be turned off by people that are telling me that I'm wrong, I'm lost, I'm going to hell and they have the answer. Guess what? I'm not listening!
If somebody out there has the answer, I'd love to hear it. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus lived and died because of a great love for us. I believe with all of my heart that each one of us needs to know Him. I just don't know how to make that happen...and I believe that I'm supposed to have a part in making it happen. Perhaps you can sense that I'm a little frustrated today. I feel like I've been given a job that I'm ill-equipped to do. And yet I know that I must do it well. God, help me!
John
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Did You Know...
Did you know that back in a time when dirt floors in homes were still common, home owners would often spread straw on the floor during the winter months? This served a couple of purposes. It helped with moisture that was tracked in on shoes and also helped give the floor a warmer feel. One problem, however, was that each time the door was opened for somebody to go in or out, the straw would be blown out of the door as well.
This problem was solved by placing a board (about an inch thick) in the doorway to hold the straw in the house...a thresh hold (threshold)!
John
This problem was solved by placing a board (about an inch thick) in the doorway to hold the straw in the house...a thresh hold (threshold)!
John
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Trivia
On Bilbo's post, he's been blogging about reading. On Amanda's, I responded about discipline. All this got me thinking about word origins. I've always loved finding out about how certain words or phrases came to be. I think that is is interesting that some words started out as acronyms. Scuba, for example--from Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Or laser--Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
When things get messed up, we may say that we've hit a snafu. Snafu is from Situation Normal, All Fouled Up (although I don't think that fouled is the original "F" word that was used!). That reminds me of another one.
It really wasn't until that mid 19th century that prisons as we know them came into existence. Until then, prisons were primarily for political purposes and housed those that were rebellious to the King or present form of government. Criminals were punished quickly and publicly for their crimes against society and everybody would then know of their particular crime. An adulterer may find himself (or herself) in the stocks on the town square with his (or her) crime written for all to see--For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, now one of our more vulgar words.
Manure, used as a fertilizer, was dried, bagged and shipped in the holds of barges and steamboats along our country's rivers. All was well until the bags started to get wet. Then the once dry manure would rehydrate and begin to form methane gas. The smell was the least of the problem. When the crew would enter the dark hold with their lanterns the trapped methane would explode. After many deaths and damaged vessels, the cause for these explosions was discovered and then to keep the manure from getting wet it was labelled--Ship High In Transit.
Imagine with me what it would have been like to live without the media that we have today. What if the only way to spread news was by word of mouth. No books, no newspapers, no television, no radio, no internet. It was once like that. Travellers and merchants would share news that they picked up on their journeys and a place where roads intersected was a place where much information was shared. At the rare place where three roads came together, all kinds of information was exchanged. I'm sure that plenty of it was very useful information. However, most of it, though interesting, was mostly useless. This useless, interesting information was given a name; a name that would indicated the source of the information. And where did it come from? From that place where the three (Tri) routes (Vias) intersect.
That information, like the information in this post, is just trivial information!
John
When things get messed up, we may say that we've hit a snafu. Snafu is from Situation Normal, All Fouled Up (although I don't think that fouled is the original "F" word that was used!). That reminds me of another one.
It really wasn't until that mid 19th century that prisons as we know them came into existence. Until then, prisons were primarily for political purposes and housed those that were rebellious to the King or present form of government. Criminals were punished quickly and publicly for their crimes against society and everybody would then know of their particular crime. An adulterer may find himself (or herself) in the stocks on the town square with his (or her) crime written for all to see--For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, now one of our more vulgar words.
Manure, used as a fertilizer, was dried, bagged and shipped in the holds of barges and steamboats along our country's rivers. All was well until the bags started to get wet. Then the once dry manure would rehydrate and begin to form methane gas. The smell was the least of the problem. When the crew would enter the dark hold with their lanterns the trapped methane would explode. After many deaths and damaged vessels, the cause for these explosions was discovered and then to keep the manure from getting wet it was labelled--Ship High In Transit.
Imagine with me what it would have been like to live without the media that we have today. What if the only way to spread news was by word of mouth. No books, no newspapers, no television, no radio, no internet. It was once like that. Travellers and merchants would share news that they picked up on their journeys and a place where roads intersected was a place where much information was shared. At the rare place where three roads came together, all kinds of information was exchanged. I'm sure that plenty of it was very useful information. However, most of it, though interesting, was mostly useless. This useless, interesting information was given a name; a name that would indicated the source of the information. And where did it come from? From that place where the three (Tri) routes (Vias) intersect.
That information, like the information in this post, is just trivial information!
John
Friday, August 24, 2007
Untitled
As I was reading my favorite blogs the other day, I noticed that I had been dropped as a link on the Magic Utopia page. I guess that's okay because I haven't had a lot to say about magic lately. I have been looking at some different venues although I realize that the ministry aspect is really where I spend most of my magic work. I do know that I'll need to branch out a bit as I near the end of my ATC career--both for something to do as well as a supplemental income. For now, magic is not the center of my focus. In fact, I only really spend a lot of thought on it as I prepare for a coming event.
Besides, I am extremely honored by some of the blogs that have added a link to this page and I am enjoying reading their blogs and the pages that they read as well. Even though we have varied backgrounds and interests, people are people. We love our families and bragging on them from time to time. We love to laugh and realize that not everything is a laughing matter. We are curious about each other and about life in general.
So we read and we write. We use our imaginations. We entertain. We teach and we learn and we find out that though we may be worlds apart, we are more alike than we are different.
If you've come here looking for something about magic, I guess I owe you an apology. If you've come because you know me as an evangelist and have come here looking for more in the way of spiritual matters or theology, I suppose that I owe you an apology as well. What you will find when you read these posts will just be me, John. The posts will be as varied as my interests and weighted toward the things that I am most passionate about. I hope that you will visit often, laugh occasionally, and leave a comment when you feel inspired to do so.
In person, I'm trying to be a nicer John. You know, a bit more tolerant, a bit less negative, a bit more helpful. In short, I'm trying to be a bit more like Jesus. I've got to tell you, it's not easy. In fact, it's pretty hard. In some way, I hope that it will come through in these posts as well. If you ever want to know more about my motivation to follow the teachings of Jesus, e-mail me directly or better yet, give me a call. The information is on the right side of the page.
John
Besides, I am extremely honored by some of the blogs that have added a link to this page and I am enjoying reading their blogs and the pages that they read as well. Even though we have varied backgrounds and interests, people are people. We love our families and bragging on them from time to time. We love to laugh and realize that not everything is a laughing matter. We are curious about each other and about life in general.
So we read and we write. We use our imaginations. We entertain. We teach and we learn and we find out that though we may be worlds apart, we are more alike than we are different.
If you've come here looking for something about magic, I guess I owe you an apology. If you've come because you know me as an evangelist and have come here looking for more in the way of spiritual matters or theology, I suppose that I owe you an apology as well. What you will find when you read these posts will just be me, John. The posts will be as varied as my interests and weighted toward the things that I am most passionate about. I hope that you will visit often, laugh occasionally, and leave a comment when you feel inspired to do so.
In person, I'm trying to be a nicer John. You know, a bit more tolerant, a bit less negative, a bit more helpful. In short, I'm trying to be a bit more like Jesus. I've got to tell you, it's not easy. In fact, it's pretty hard. In some way, I hope that it will come through in these posts as well. If you ever want to know more about my motivation to follow the teachings of Jesus, e-mail me directly or better yet, give me a call. The information is on the right side of the page.
John
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