Rain "dance"? Try Rain "bike"

After an entire week with better than a 30% chance for showers, and clouds like those Amber described, we have gotten only a pittance of rain: 7.7mm. Yes my rain gauge is metric -- I'm a science teacher, go figure(convert it here.) So, no real rain that is, until we threatened to go "bicycle."

Megan, after learning to ride without her training wheels, has asked every day, "Can we go bicycle?" We had a fellowship after church last night, so we promised to go bicycle with her this evening-- and not just dad, but mom on her bike and Madelyn on the back of dad's. We have a child's seat that converts to a book rack. It's easy on and easy off (amazon has one). So as I walked through the door from school the first thing I heard was, "Daddy!... when are we going to go bicycle?"

After supper, we got down the bikes, I put air back into Brandy's mountain bike tires, and we all got strapped in... just in time for the rain to start...

Long story short, the rain let up long enough for us to get in twice around the block, and Megan got her ride, Brandy and I got our exercise, and the yard got watered. Everybody's happy (at least for the next 20 minutes...)

Studies in Corinthians - Part 8

This study looks at how Christians should resolve conflict, and their appropriate use of judicial systems. We focus on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

Megan w/o Training Wheels

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires."
- Dorothy Parker

Brandy had one of those "Mommy, why are you crying?" moments this evening, when we took the training wheels off the bike. Megan did really good, and after a couple of tries, dad let go of the back of the bike seat, and the girl took off.

The image above is actually a video. Just use the play button (>) to watch Megan without the training wheels.

And you think you had a bad day?

Brandy said she didn't notice our "little friend" until she rounded the back of the car to get Madelyn out of her seat. It startled her, but then she noticed it was already dead-- its head crushed. Brandy and I figure the snake was trying to get into the garage, and Brandy closed the door on him when she left to pick up Megan from Pre-K.

Call it a small case of "sympathy for the devil." When I got home and saw, I almost felt sorry for the thing...Almost...

My sympathy for things that could hurt my family doesn't run very deep.

This is the second rattlesnake we have killed since living here. They are on the move with the weather changing, and the changing of the season. This was a little one. The previous one we killed during fall was much larger. We took the "teachable moment" --again -- to tell the girls to tell Mommy and Daddy if they see a snake in the yard, and never to get close to one.

I believe in learning from the world around us. Sometimes it a been a bad day, cause we find ourselves dealing with difficult issues as the consequences of our actions (sometimes not). We all get stuck in situations its hard to get out of, but... I guess we could say the lesson for the day is:

"One way to keep from getting crushed by the things of this world, and to keep from getting stuck in situations you can't get out of, is to never stick your nose where it doesn't belong."

Studies in Corinthians Part 07 - Withdrawing Fellowship

This lesson looks at withdrawal of fellowship, its reason, and appropriate use. Our passage of study is 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.

Par for a Livingroom Course?

Winter is turning the corner toward spring, and with it, time to go outside, put off yardwork and my wife's "Honey-Do List", for a round of frustration and humiliation -- that's right, "golf." For many months now, the weather has kept us away from the links, and we had resorted to practicing the time honored tradition of "living room putt-putt."

The carpet in the house has a natural "break," probably due to parts of the pad breaking down under high traffic spots. So upon learning to read it, I have become accomplished at making putts from within 8-10 feet, between the legs of a toddler, and around baby dolls. I occasionally though have to pull out the wedge, in order to chip over larger items like riding toys, or piles of Lego blocks. I've decided that one way I could fund a golf habit might be to loan out my eager, albeit very young, "livingroom caddies" to other "livingroom golfers." One (Madelyn) is even adept at returning your ball to you before it comes to a complete stop. Also, she places said ball right in front of your putter. If you move the putter, she moves the ball, which makes for a very humorous scene while trying to line up your shot.

Studies in Corinthians - Part 6: Do not go beyond the Word.

This is the audio from Part 6. The lesson looks at the negative effects of self-interests in God's Church. The powerpoint for the lesson is available.

Science for Kids - Globe at Night

This month, from March 8-21, your children can participate in helping a group of scientists collect data on the affects of lights, and our ability to see the night sky. Megan and I started it tonight, and she really enjoyed it. I started by showing her an image from the website of the constellation Orion, and then they had a link where she could practice finding it. We drew it a couple of times, and she had no problem finding it in the sky. After we came in from spotting, I asked her to look at some of the Magnitude charts, and we talked about which one looked most like our sky in the backyard. It was very easy to do. The website details these steps:

Five Easy Star-Hunting Steps:

1) Find your latitude and longitude.
2) Find Orion by going outside an hour after sunset
(about 7-10pm local time)
3) Match your nighttime sky to one of our magnitude charts.
4) Report your observation.
5) Compare your observation to thousands around the world.

A family activity packet has any observation sheets or Magnitude charts that you may need. After a couple more observations, I'll ask Megan why she can see different stars at different times, and we can discuss the idea of light pollution. She also wants to learn more of the constellations, so tomorrow we will find Orion and one of the dippers. Anyway, it's an easy way to do "real" science. The data that is collected is used for real research, and as a participant, you can use everyone's observations as well.

"Thank You for not Understanding Statistics"

In light of our "Grand State" being upon the eve of the biggest payout for Mega Millions, I would like to tell you why teachers have trouble with the state funding education with the lottery. It has to do with the fact that we teachers like to teach think we teach logic, reasoning, and sound thinking... all of which would tell people that playing the lottery is a waste of money.

First, let me put into perspective the "9-billion dollars" the Texas Lottery has "given" to public education in over the last 10 years. According to a legislative document, during the 2002-2003 Bienium, the budget for education was $56.9 Billion (28.5 Billion annual). Other sources place the annual budget to as much as 33 Billion. I will use a conservative figure of 28 billion per year, and over 10 years, that would mean a total of at least 280 Billion dollars was spent on public education -- making the $9B "kicked in via quick-pick" at the very best only 3.2% of total revenue keeping the system running. Gee... they didn't mention that anywhere in that commercial did they?

But that's not really that important to the players... they want to win!!! So Let me share with you the chances of "winning" some things here in life:

1. Chance of winning Mega-Millions: 1 in 175,711,536.

2. Chance of dieing in a workplace accident: 1 in 2,000,000.
3. Chance of dieing in a fatal streetcar accident: 1 in 1,874,034.
4. Chance of dieing by the ignition or melting of nightwear: 1 in 1,249,356.
5. Chance of being struck by lightning: 1 in 700,000.
6. Chance of having breast cancer-- if you are male: 1 in 100,000.
7. Chance of dating a supermodel: 1 in 88,000.
8. Chance of dieing by drowning in your bathtub: 1 in 11,289.
9. Chance of finding a four-leaf clover on your first try: 1 in 10,000.
10. Chance of dieing through legal execution: 1 in 6,248.
11. Chance of finding out your child is a genius: 1 in 250.
12. Chance of getting hemorrhoids: 1 in 25.

Well, one last thing... the average Texas Lottery player spends 20-30 dollars a month playing the games of the Texas Lottery. So lets say you invest that $30 a month in a mutual fund earning an average of 12% annual return, between the ages of 20 and 65. At the end of the 45 years, you would have a little over $600,000.

So, I leave you to "figure" it out.... but not without saying.....

"Good Luck from The Texas Lottery."

Fact: I am not the one buried in the "Jesus Tomb"

If you missed the Discovery Channel airing of the documentary that stated Jesus had been buried with his wife Mary Magdalene and they had remains to prove it....well so did I. I had watched a lot of politicians on CNN earlier that day, and had listened to my quota of liars for one day.

After some internet research, I figured out the documentary was produced by James Cameron (the same guy responsible for bringing us "Titanic" with that Leonardo DeCrapio guy). The Discovery Channel article detailing the documentary claims that a specific tomb was that of Jesus of Nazareth, and his wife Mary Magdalene (insert Da Vinci Code flashback here.) Although you can imagine the response from Christian websites, I found it rather interesting that science periodicals and websites, that normally look at Christian beliefs as the product of neuroses, even dispute the "facts" and "evidences" purported within this piece. Scientific American had a number of articles on their website including one where detailing several researchers who were upset at the way their research was used. One went as far to say she was angered. Another stated that his figures on the probability of a tomb containing ossuaries with the names of Jesus and Mary(used as a key piece of evidence) was misrepresented. In one of the articles Scientific American states:

"Even if scholars conclude the whole thing is bunk, I have a feeling this will become a permanent part of the our culture's conspiracy lore, like the JFK conspiracy, the staging of the moon landing, the Turin Shroud, and all the rest before it."

As believers, we don't need "evidences" for those things we accept on faith. The Gospel is evidence enough.

Isaiah 53:8-9

"By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth."

'nuff said.

Studies in Corinthians - Part 5: Spiritual Maturity and Growth

This lesson looks at Corinthians 3:1-7, in light of how spiritual growth will help to achieve unity. The powerpoint is available here