The free download of the month at ChristianAudio.com is Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God.

You don’t realize how many journalists you like until they die.  I liked Tim Russert and I liked Tony Snow.  I don’t think there’s anyone else I really like.

A month ago my dad helped me connect an antenna to our TV.  Last night I watched a (fuzzy) hour of the All-Star game with my kids.  Actually, most of it was the pre-game show.  In any case, I was a bit chagrined to be watching it with them.  The baseball was fine, but the commercials, yikes.  My boys like to ask me about words they don’t know yet, and some of the ones they use, I’m not ready to explain (link for the ultra-curious out there; see side effects; I’ll stop doing this when my boys find out where my blog is).

There’s a column in the JPost about the destruction of Iraq’s nuclear facilities in light of the possible Israeli strike on Iran.  Interesting reading.

In some ways, Plano is like Israel.  Fortunately, they’re not yet doing full body searches when you enter a store or restaurant.

On the other hand, Plano was just ranked #1 place to build personal wealth by Salary.com.  That would mean more to me if I had a job.  Apparently Forbes.com recently ranked our county as the 14th best place in the country to raise a family.  I don’t think I would disagree, knowing what I do.

Categories: Family
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One year ago yesterday we moved to the States.  In some ways I feel like we’ve come a long way since then, and in other ways I wonder how I wasted so much time.

On the positive side:

• We landed with a few suitcases and now have wheels, a place to live, and a church we’re getting to know.
• The boys were reading (English) slowly and mostly because they were pushed; this weekend they both won prizes in the church reading contest (they really did well).
• We have enjoyed having many family members and friends spend time with us.
• Kelli has been a part of several great women’s Bible studies.
• More publishers have shown an interest in licensing my photos.
• The boys are nearly swimmers.
• Mark has had the opportunity to show everyone that he  is really good at soccer.
• Luke may have a remarkable medical opportunity that would not have been possible elsewhere.
• I had only two masters degrees and now I have three.
• Our family has spent much more time together than in previous years.
• I have really benefited from opportunities to study more carefully Matthew, Genesis and 1 Samuel.
• The kids are now going to Vacation Bible School.  In all the years, they’ve never had the chance for any such thing.

On the negative side:

• Kelli could walk, but now cannot (though she started putting a little weight on the ankle today).
• I have completed a mere 6 (of 32) units for the PhD program.
• Parts of the Bible that I thought I knew before I feel are more difficult for me to understand now.
• I have made very little progress on completing some photographic projects.
• We have learned that there is a downside to renting.
• I don’t think I have developed one relationship to the extent that I would usually develop 20+ each semester.
• Many things cost less here, but the things that cost more make up for everything else (like electricity).
• Some existing friendships have not developed like I had hoped.  I think part of this is simply owing to the great distances between places in the metroplex.
• Most of the piles that I didn’t have time to organize before we moved are still…piles.
• I don’t think anyone would call me a better husband, father, son, or servant.
• I have nothing to blog about, but I blog anyway.

Check-ups like this are good times to remember that our confidence is in God and not in ourselves.  He is faithful and he will accomplish all that he has promised.

Update (7/15): One more thing to add to the “positive” list above: I just learned that I passed the French test.

Categories: Life
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Today is July 11, which means that it’s “free slurpee” day at 7-11.

DALLAS, (July 2, 2008) – It’s that time of year when the sun is hot and the Slurpee® drinks are free-zing – emphasis on the FREE part. July 11, aka 7/11, is the day that 7-Eleven, Inc., the world’s premier convenience retailer, celebrates its birthday and says “thank you” to its customers with free Slurpee drinks at participating stores. This year’s 7-Eleven® Day marks the company’s 81st birthday. Customers can pour their favorite Slurpee flavor in colorful, 7.11-ounce “Birthday” cups throughout the day, while cup supplies last.

So if the temperature is going to hit 100 today, you might get your kids over there before jumping in the pool. Bring money for yourself, unless you think that 7.11 ounces will slake your thirst.

Categories: Uncategorized
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I was talking today on the phone to a friend in California and he was telling me about a new law so that you can’t hold a cellphone while driving.  He asked if Texas had this law.  Actually, we do not. In Texas it is legal to drive with a cellphone in one hand and a gun in the other!

The LA Times has a story on why you should not give your money to National Right to Life Committee or the Heritage Foundation (among others).  If you give money to any organizations that use fundraising companies, you might want to give this story and database a look.

These rabbis are pretty smart.  They finally figured out that smoking is dangerous and are forbidding it.

Has my life been a waste?  Yes, according to George Adam Smith.  I did have a chance to go once and figured I’d go next time.  Next time has never come.

Of the two hills beside Shechem, Gerizim is the more famous historically, but Ebal is higher, and has further prospect. The view from Ebal virtually covers the whole land, with the exception of the Negeb. All the four long zone, two of the four frontiers, specimens of all the physical features, and most of the famous scenes of the history, are in sight. No geography of Palestine can afford to dispense with the view from the top of Ebal (Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land, 120).

Categories: Advice, Humor
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I’ve figured out how to retire young (or feed Africa for a year).  Just write one song.  It could be worth more than $500 millon.

When I started watching this video, I first thought that I had seen it before.  Then I thought that it was going to be lame.  I was wrong.  If you’re like me, you’ll laugh at loud at least once, even if you’re all by yourself.

For a long time, Obama ran a campaign against other Democratic candidates, distinguishing himself largely by grand rhetoric and positions more liberal than the rest.  Some of these ideas (like meeting with the U.S.’s enemies without preconditions and repealing NAFTA) made him look like a lunatic.  Now that Clinton has dropped out, Obama is reversing himself on some of these issues, and taking a more moderate stance, but suggesting that he is a liar (examples here and here; a black political scientist has more eloquently called him a “vacuous opportunist“).  In four months the people will have a chance to decide if this liar and lunatic should also be lord.  Let’s pray not.

What a day without news would be like.

Somebody please help this recent immigrant to Texas.  What is a “tailgate party”?  I can make a few guesses, but probably shouldn’t.  Is it ok to take my boys?  Are they supposed to be fun?

Categories: Things I Don't Like, Things I Like
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A poll by Ynetnews found the following were the most popular stories in the Bible.  It doesn’t say whether participants were allowed to choose stories from the whole (OT) Bible or not, but you can see that all are from the Pentateuch/Torah, 6 of them from Genesis.

1. Creation of the world (Genesis 1) – 21%

2. Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 36-50) – 20%

3. Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14-16) – 13%

4. Binding of Isaac – (Genesis 22) – 10%

5. Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai (Exodus 18-20) – 10%

6. Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood (Genesis 6-9) – 7%

7. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3) – 7%

8. The 12 spies sent to explore Canaan (Numbers 13) – 6%

9. Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) – 4%

10. Sin of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32) – 2%

If you were limited to these 10, what would your favorite story be?  I have to say that my opinion would probably be different this year than last, given my new(er) appreciation for literary aspects.  It’s interesting too what important stories are omitted from this list.  There is nothing related to the Abrahamic covenant or Passover, both critical in salvation-history.

Categories: Faith in Israel
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June 30, 2008.  Today Bill Gates retires from Microsoft.  Today I retire from Master’s.  He goes to improve the world.  I go to improve myself.  He goes to spend lots of money.  I am going to spend lots of money.  Microsoft will be different when he leaves.  Master’s will be different when I return. 

When I was in high school, my parents bought me the NIV Study Bible.  I used it faithfully through college and have always regarded it as the best study Bible, even though I don’t usually carry it around because of its size.  I like the translation, but what sets this study Bible apart are the notes, which are relevant and helpful.  Some study Bibles have notes that don’t answer the questions that I have.  This fall two new study Bibles are coming out, and you can compare the contributors of the notes in this handy chart at Rejoice Software.  It won’t help much if you aren’t familiar with the scholars in the field.  Another study Bible at the top of the class is the NET Bible, though this is more appreciated by those with some knowledge of Hebrew and Greek.

This blog will not become a political zone, but if I see articles I think are worth reading, I may mention them here.  This column in the JPost tells some things about McCain that you may not know.  This article in the Washington Post argues why a McCain win would be dangerous for the Supreme Court (but you can read it the other way).

Categories: Things I Like
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Today’s mail brought some copies of the new Bible Atlas & Companion.  You can’t tell from this book cover image at Amazon, but my name is on the front cover (the authors’ names are printed in the blank space at the bottom left).  I believe this is the first book that has my name on the front.  Now, before you get excited and say that because Todd Bolen wrote this Bible Atlas that it must be the best (or worst) one ever written, let me hasten to add that my contribution was primarily photographic.  The editor wrote the text, another guy created the maps, and I supplied the photos.   We all interacted on everything, which included my fine eye reading over all of the text and maps, but someone else gets credit (or blame) for anything not said by a photo.  There’s a lot that I like about the atlas, even though I didn’t get my way at times with suggestions made concerning the text or a map (and no, I never saw the Introduction which says that Joshua ambushed the Philistines).  The atlas is very colorful, very catching, and very easy to access.  It was written for laymen who are looking for a good introduction to the lay of the land and its history.  I can think of a number of atlases that this one should replace, many of which are listed in the best-selling atlases list at Amazon.  Anyway, thought I’d mention it while it’s fresh.

Categories: Things I Like, Accomplishments, BiblePlaces
1 Comment »

Doctoral programs usually do not have many exams.  None of my classes, as far as I know, will have an exam of any kind.  Two major writing projects, which will take about 2 years total, have no exam component apart from an oral defense of the dissertation.  All the exams for the PhD program are concentrated in a space of 15 days, and for those you only have to know…everything.  I’m looking forward to the study for those exams but not the ordeal itself.

There are two exceptions to the above in my program.  I must pass reading proficiency tests in French and German.  This summer I have to pass one, and next summer the other.  The school offers non-credit (but for-pay) courses for each in alternating summers.  I opted to learn French on my own and tomorrow is the exam.  If I fail, I can take the test again on July 31.  If I fail again, I have a whole semester to do whatever I want.  (Assuming they let me take the test a third time and thus continue classes in the spring.)  I really want to pass it the first time so that I can get on with my life.

All I have to be able to do is to read.  There is no need to be able to speak, understand, or write the language.  The intent is that I will be able to access books and articles in French that could be useful for my research.  You can use a dictionary, but it is a timed test.  I feel pretty good about it, not knowing how long the test will be or how precise the grading will be.  You have to score an 86 to pass.  Overall I am surprised at how easily it came and how similar French is to English.  It may help that I used to know Spanish and have studied other foreign languages.  There is a sense of accomplishment when a page that looked like gobbledy-gook only a few months ago now makes sense (with a dictionary at hand).  It’s also cool that now I can understand much of what this amazing website says.  Listening to it, of course, is another story; it all sounds like a bunch of vowels strung together.

Update:  The test was hard.  My take is that they intend for students to fail, at least the first time.  I won’t know if I passed for a week or two.

Categories: PhD coursework
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If you’ve ever considered getting certified to scuba dive, take a look at Sam Neylan’s pros and cons.  Now that I’m convinced, I live in the middle of a barren wasteland.  (While you’re there, you might note that she has at least 7 links to me on her blog.)

In the “I know that person” category: Heather Donckels won first prize in a national contest on religious writing.  If you know her, write her and tell her that she rocks!

In the “that could’ve been us” category: Last Sunday a family of five was driving home from church about one mile from where we live when they were hit by a car and all killed.

In the “these guys are brilliant” category: One Texas congressman makes fun of the law to require CFL lightbulbs (video; gets good about halfway through).

In our family, Mark has now passed to swimming level 4, all the kids are enjoying the swimming pool in the nearly 100-degree heat, Kelli is moving around better on her “scooter,” and I am preparing for a French reading exam on Friday.  The boys are in a “reading contest” sponsored by the church and are reading a lot.  It’s amazing how far they have come in one year.

Categories: Things I Like, Family
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