Steamboat Springs Trip Day #1

Laura and I left Ft. Worth this morning and made most of the journey today. There is still about five hours for us to drive tomorrow, but at least most of it is out of the way. Thanks to the wireless Internet here at Quality Inn of Pueblo Colorado, I am able to post pictures from the first part of our trip. Since we drove our new truck, I decided to feature it in many of the pictures:

The journey begins at 7 AM. . .(Don’t look directly at the chrome)

Sign says “Dumas Visitor Center.” I couldn’t stop giggling about alternate pronunciations of this town’s name (Dumas) and the wonderful possibilities this would allow.

I shed a tear each time my windshield was hit by a bug.

We are not lost, just admiring the view. . . .

A picture without the truck.

Laura is watching some made for TV movie (on Lifetime. . .) that is a blatant modern remake of the classic film Rebbecca. The difference is it is slightly more comic (although I am not sure it is intentional), and the FBI play up an added layer of intrigue. There is always the pool?

Maturity Quiz

I was talking with a friend of mine lately about how young I felt. He mentioned he was only a couple years my senior, and I realized I was thinking more about my perceived maturity rather than age. Although we were both the about the same age, his three children added ten years to his resume.

After much too little thought I have come up with my own quiz: “How Mature are You?” For our purposes “mature” will from now on in the post be pronounced ma-too-er. You will need a sheet of paper to calculate your score. This quiz is meant for people above the age of 20.

1. Write down your age
2. Do you have a college degree? +2 yrs. for each degree
3. A. Do you have a job? Motherhood counts as a job.
   • Yes: +2 yrs. (continue to 3B)
   • No: -2 yrs. (continue to 4)

   B. How are you paid?

   • Salary: +1 yr.
   • Wage: +0

   C. What do you wear to work?

   • Suit: +3 yrs.
   • Business Casual: +2 yrs.
   • Uniform: +1 yr.
   • Dosen’t Matter: +0
   • Jorts: -3 yrs.

   D. Can you fire someone? +1 yrs.

4. Marital Status
   • Married: +2 yrs.
   • Single: +0
   • “Cohabitation”: -2 yrs.
5. Where do you live?
   • House you own at least 10% of: +4 yrs.
   • Condo or townhouse you own at least 10% of: +3 yrs.
   • House, Condo, Townhouse you rent by yourself or with family: +2 yrs.
   • House, Condo, Townhouse, or Apartment in which your name is on the lease: +1
   • You pay rent to someone, but your name is not on the lease: +0
   • You live with someone for free: -2 yrs.
   • You live with your parents: -5 yrs.
6. Children
   • Each legitimate child you have custody of: +3 yrs.
   • Each illegitimate child you have custody of: +2 yrs.
   • Each child you have visitation rights to: +1 yr.
   • Each child you aren’t allowed to, or don’t want to see: -3 yrs.
7. Pets: Due to the popularity of tiny, yappy, annoying dogs, which seemed to owned by people who have very little maturity, years will be given on the basis of animal poundage for all animals except cats (see 7B for cats).
   • A. For every 30 pounds of animal you care for add 1 year, then divide by the number of adults who are responsible or participate in care for this animal. (ex: an 80 lb. dog owned by a husband and wife would net you 1 yr. of maturity.)
   • B. Do you own 1 or 2 cats? +1 yr.
     Each cat you own over 2 is -1 yr.
8. Have you ever argued with someone about whether Prof. Dumbledore is really dead or not? -1 yr.
9. Do you have your own blog? -1 yr.
10. -1 yr. for each speeding ticket you have gotten within the last year.
11. Do you subscribe to a newspaper, or news magazine like Time, World, or Newsweek? +1 yr. (Entertainment/Celebrity and Sports magazines don’t count)
12. Do you own an X-Box, PlayStation, or Nintendo game system? -2 yr.
13. Have you participated in a “LAN” party within the last year? -1 yr.
14. Can you name all nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring? -1 yr.
    • Do you have NO idea what the Fellowship of the Ring is? -1 yr.
15. Do you watch ET, Extra or some other celebrity news show at least once a week? -2 yrs.
16. Can you name at least 3 winners of American Idol? -1 yr.
17. -1 yr. for EACH of the following vegetables you can’t or won’t eat: onions, green peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, artichoke, eggplant, cabbage, spinach, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, olives, cauliflower, water chestnuts.
18. If you eat a sandwich does NEED to be on whitebread (-1 yr.) or MUST have the crust removed (-1 yr.)?
19. Do you own the song “Sexy Back” or turn up the radio when it comes on? -1 yr.
20. While you are in your car do you only listen to music? -1 yr.
21. Do you have anything hanging from your rear-view mirror? -1 yr
22. Do you have any decals or bumper stickers in your vehicle? -1 yr. for each (-5 yrs if you have Calvin doing anything on your car)
23. Have you seen all six Star War movies in a theater? -1 yr.
24. Have you ever seen a movie more than once in a theater? -1 yr. for each movie
25. Do you know which TV show “Dr. Bailey” is from? -1 yr.

After you have totaled up your score, compare it to your actual age. If you are 25 but act like 35, then you are pretty mature. If you are 25 but scored something closer to 55, then you might want to go to a few more movies.

New additions to the quiz are welcome.

Quote of the Week

“. . . .and Hell’s coming with me!”–Kyle (Diesel) Newcomer

Last night the WPC softball team met for our first practice of the Summer season.  I was at my preferred first base position, and Kyle was taking batting practice.  On your tenth hit, you are supposed to “run it out.”  Kyle hit a nice grounder to the short stop, and headed towards me attempting to beat the throw.

As I lift my glove in anticipation of the ball from the short stop, I hear Kyle announcing he is running down the base line at me, apparently accompanied by Hell itself.   It was only through an extraordinary display of will power that I was able to catch the ball instead of doubling over in laughter.

American Idol Finals Mix of Talent and Mental Instability

Last night I watched the final AI for this season. Unfortunately I think I might have lost the respect of my wife when I jumped up and did a little dance as Jordin was announced this season’s winner. Let it be known that I had picked Jordin to win from the moment the top twelve were announced. Let it also be known that Jordin looks like Ugly Betty star, America Ferrera:

Most awkward moment of the show: when Bush-Baby-Boy and his large, obviously mentally troubled friend were brought on stage and shown what a bush baby actually looks like. I must admit, I think the picture proved Simon right.

Saddest moment of the show: when Joe Perry lost any and all music credibility for playing guitar while Sanjaya did his trademark under-singing and creepy dancing around him.

Creepiest Sanjaya Persona: Latin Sanjaya entreating me to “besa him mucho.”

Why Presbyterianism is the truest Apostolic Church Government

I have been trying to keep up with the mounting comments on The Creep’s blog, and am getting a head ache. As I read the debate about about how many hands were required to be laid on a man in order to make him a deacon, I kept thinking that the discussion was going in circles. The issue at hand seemed to have shifted from authority of scripture to proper church government. For this reason I thought I would summarize the best argument I have read about why Presbyterianism has better scriptural support. Everything I write here is taken from Thomas Witherow’s “The Apostolic Church- which is it?”

If you start from the premise that Christ has a plan for how he wants His bride to function, then there must be some source the Christian can go to to find out how to order the Church. I don’t think too many people would disagree that the best place to look is Scripture. The following are six facts or principles which can be said of the Apostolic Church. It would stand to reason that the modern church which most closely resembles these principles would be the truest to the Apostolic Church.

1. Officers in the church were chosen by the people
   • Acts 1:13-26 The writer takes care to mention that there were about 120 present at this meeting (which is most likely the entire Church at this time). While Peter does the speaking, verse 23 says “they* put forward two.” Now even if “they” refers to just the Apostles it is interesting that those Apostles nominated two. The ESV translates it “put forward.” Put forward for whom? The only logical explanation is the rest of the local church assembled. They then chose the person by casting lots: a practice many ancient cultures used as a form of popular consent.
   • Acts 14:23 While many might think this an odd verse to justify popular election of officers, I don’t think most translations do the verse justice. The verb χειροτονησαντες would (in my humble former Greek student opinion) be better translated “having chosen by a show of hands.” If you want to get a Greek New Testament or concordance you can check it out for yourself.
   • Acts 6 I think it is obvious that the Deacons were selected by the people, and not by the Apostles.
2. Office of Bishop and Elder is Identical : I really don’t want to argue this point, because it seems very natural in each passage that the two words simply describe different functions of the same office.
   • Titus 1:5-7
   • Acts 20:17-28 Paul sends for the “elders”, gives them advice, then calls them “overseers.”
3. There was a plurality of elders in each local church
   • Acts 20:17
   • Acts 14:23
   • Phil 1:1
4. Ordination was the act of a plurality of elders (aka Presbytery)
   • 1 Tim 4:16
   • Acts 6:6
5. Churches can appeal questions of practice to an assembly of elders
   • Acts 15 This passage speaks of an internal dispute in a local church, which went to a higher court. I think it is important to note that there was “much debate” between the Apostles and Elders present. While Peter did get up and make a great comment on the primacy of salvation through Christ, it was James who made the motion for action. Then it was not decreed by Peter, but agreed to by “the apostles and the elders, with the whole church.”
6. The only Head of the Church was the Lord Jesus Christ
   • Gal 1:1 Paul makes it plain that he has no “man” to thank for his position in the church. Although I do admit Paul was a pretty extraordinary guy.
   • 1 Peter 5:1-5 The writer relates to the elders in the churches as a “fellow,” equal. He then encourages these other elders to shepard the flock that is “among you.”
   • 2 Cor 1:24 Even the apostles did not claim to have a rule over other people’s faith.
   • Eph 1:20-23
   • Eph 5:23
   • Col 1:18
     

*emphasis added

Goodbye Melinda Doolittle

“She’s really got me through some tough times.”
–Crazy Melinda Doolittle Fan on American Idol

What possible hard times could Melinda have helped this person get through? The show has been on for about three months. Maybe it is because I don’t have a Hi-Def TV? I feel that many of my “hard times” would be made easier if I could watch Mythbusters in an absurdly high quality picture.

A group of friends and I have been following AI (that’s what we call it) this season in order to take part in our own cooked up version of Fantasy American Idol–soon to be America’s favorite family board game.
While I am excited that my girl, Jordin, has made it through to final two, I am overwhelmed that judge favorite, Melinda, has been given the boot! Week after week, she has been the one that people have thought would be in the finals.

One thig is for sure in this crazy-mixed-up-world. Elliot spent a small fortune to make sure he was never called snaggletooth ever again:

I Want to Ride My Bicycle!

It has been over two weeks since I have been able to ride my wonderful Klein Q-Carbon Pro bike. It sits, hooked up to my trainer calling out to me for exercise: “How ’bout a few PowerIntervals, eh? Maybe we can just work on some long distance miles. . .take it nice and easy. . . .” But Laura and my doctor would be very upset since it turns out my comic little cough was really something closer to pneumonia.

Yep! My five year record of not having to see a doctor was shattered Friday when my magic cough syrup was simply not enough to bring my temperature under 101, and keep my chest from the cough. The pills seem to be working, although I feel I have robbed my body of the victory it could have won on its own. Now it seems like antibiotics will take all the credit–much like a pitcher who has battled for innings, keeping his team close only to be yanked, an out away from a decision. At least we live to fight another day.

In spite of Laura’s pronouncement of rest, I have stolen furtive glances at my bike. I don’t dare venture into the room, because the temptation would be too great. Instead, while I was sick I devoted myself to coming up with a playlist of cycling songs I will listen to on my triumphal return to the saddle. The most important song I downloaded from i-Tunes this weekend was Queen’s Bicycle Race. After that, the pickings get slim for songs specifically about cycling. But I will press on, and hopefully post the completed playlist next weekend.

Quote of the Week

“Half the fun of anything is dressing the part.”–slackerman

 

I know it is bad to quote myself.  I should come up with something inspiring from a really smart person, but I do want to show off the latest edition to my softball ensemble.

Look out Fielder’s Indifference I plan on beating out a few of those pathetically weak grounders this season!

Donde Esta Cinco de Mayo?

Since we have already taken the TAKS test for the year, I am finally able to teach for the first time in a few months with out having to worry about test taking strategies, or which factoid is most likely to appear in the form of a multiple choice question. It is a pretty slow week, and I have some educational time to kill in a class that is always ahead; so, I thought it would be nice to allow them to do a little research that hits closer to home than Indian Wars of 1880’s.

I posed the question, “why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?” to my 4th period class. For a moment of was I afraid I had stumbled into every teacher’s worst nightmare: a large number of students who already knew the answers before I had a chance to teach them first! Luckily, however, the students only said the standard “Mexican Independence Day” answer and I was able to tell them with a wink and a smile, “that’s what everyone thinks is true!” Ahh, the joys of being an 8th Grade Social Studies teacher.

After I had shown my students how woefully ignorant they were of their own cultural heritage, I suggested they make a presentation about the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo, and differences between how it is celebrated in Mexico and the United States. I showed my students the Bryan Eagle website and how to search for articles about Cinco de Mayo. I was hoping for them to include local celebrations and happenings in town over the past weekend.

You can only imagine my surprise when I did the following example search:

“Well, many of the real celebrations were held on Friday night, right?”–says my overly eager and sometimes annoying A student.

“Good point, Billy! Let’s expand our search to include articles written within the last ninety days just to be safe.”

TWO! Two articles which mention “Cinco de Mayo!”

1. Get up and Dance. . . .Here is the full text of the story:
   “The Fiesta 505 event Sunday at Rudder Plaza in College Station kicked off Cinco de Mayo celebrations.Alex Gomez, (left) 11, Elizabeth Marquez, 7, Marcos Titado, 10, and Elizabeth Mendez, 9, all of the Bryan Independent School District’s Ballet Folklorico Los Altos de Jalisco, dance to El Jarabe Tapito.”
2. School Lunch Menu. . . .If the title does not, the quote speaks for itself:
   “Friday: Taco, enchilada, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, jalapenos, fruit (for Cinco de Mayo).”

What a rich cultural heritage we have in this town. The first story speaks of a “kickoff to Cinco de Mayo” that happened on April 22. What did it kickoff? By definition the kickoff can’t be the only act of celebration.

As for the Lunch Menu, I can attest as a loyal BISD employee that every Friday must be Cinco de Mayo, because we have the same tacos each week.

I guess now all I can do is wait until Juneteenth.

Quote of the Week

“Walking around in the downtown area is a box that Life Insurance Agents ask you to check upon filling out your application.” –Jared Harrell

 

 

In an amazing joint “outing” The Bloggertons and RTSS are posting the hidden link of our friend Jared Harrell’s private blog. We all look forward to your thoughts, Jared.