The Drinking Gene

If you’ve got any “westering” blood in you, you probably also carry the “drinking gene.” Just think about it. Why would men leave the cozy safety of fireside and feminine company for the wilds of the unsettled if they didn’t have something that drove them to it?

You might respond that they were looking for opportunity. Well, that’s all and good except there’s opportunity about everywhere one looks. It’s just a matter of hard work and stick-to-it-ness that turns anything into success.

I suspect many a lazy drunk headed west because his wife drove him to it. Can’t you just hear the conversation?

Her: “Get your lazy rear up and get to work. You won’t never accomplish anything settin’ there with that jug!”

Him: “Ain’t nothing here to accomplish! All the good land is already taken and so are all the good jobs.”

Her: “We got land that could be cleared, wood that needs cuttin’, huntin’ to do and hogs that need butchered and here you sit, sippin’ from a jug and complainin’. All it takes is some industry to turn it into a pretty good livin’!”

A few days go by during which he makes a trip to town where he and his buddies share a jug and a little conversation. They hear tales about the glorious west with furs for the taking, gold for the plucking and land that stretches clear to the horizon. So, filled with liquid courage, our good man goes back to his young bride and says, “You’re right honey, you deserve the good life. I’m gonna head west and make us a fortune and then send for you to come out and join me.

She responds, “You just do that. It can’t be any worse than what I’ve already got. I already do most of the work around here. Don’t come back ‘til you’ve made your fortune.”

That was one scenario. Here is another.

Lewis and Clark are putting together an expedition to map the Louisiana Purchase. They scratch their heads in perplexity at the daunting task of finding a group of men to go with them. They realize they will face hardships and hostile Indians. They know that many of them won’t return. Finally one looks to the other (I’ve no idea which) and says, “Jefferson gave me a good bit of money to get this expedition going, why don’t we head down to the waterfront to one of those bars and see if we can make us a few friends. We’ll get ‘em drunk and then get ‘em to sign on. We need lots of booze because we may have to keep ‘em drunk ‘til we’re half way there. It will need to be far enough out that they will be safer sticking with us than heading back on their own.”

So, they went to the bar and ordered drinks for everyone. Then they issued a challenge: “I’ll bet there ain’t a one of you sorry cases that’s tough enough to join us on a little expedition out west. We only want the meanest, toughest, orneriest types to go with us. We’ll cross some of the wildest lands and fight some of the deadliest Indians on the continent until we get all the way to the Pacific Ocean and I’ll bet there ain’t a one of you that can handle the trip!”

Well, you know that courage pours out of those bottles right along with the colored liquid they contain. Nearly every man in the joint took offense at the challenge and signed on immediately along with belittling and bullying any laggards into doing the same. It only took one stop to fill the quota of men needed and the expedition was ready to go. It only needed two wagons of rotgut booze to make it to the Mississippi and another boatload to start west.

Or, let’s try another scenario.

This one occurs in the Deep South in the early 1800’s after a round of drinking that impaired the judgment of the participants.

“You have impugned my honor for the last time, sir. I challenge you to a duel at 30 paces!”

After the challenger and the challenged have raised their level of courage to a point sufficient to the event by sipping from the little brown jug, they meet at the appointed time and place. Such events were generally considered outside the law even in those perilous times, yet they occurred nonetheless. The trouble was, often the victor became outside the law but was in a better position than the loser who was perhaps, dead. Hence, the victor often traveled west where his past could easily disappear into, well, the past, and no questions were asked.

So, you see, many of the ancestors of us folks out west had a little of the “drinking gene” that drove them beyond the borders of civilization and into the wilds. It makes you wonder if the West would ever have been settled without the little brown jug.

[The idea for this brief piece came from the 1927 book, “Trails Plowed Under” by Charles M. Russell.]

[Since this was published I came across the following linked article:  Genes Influence Your Response to Others' Drinking Habits  -- hmmmmm......]

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

We frequently hear celebrities on the "bandwagon" about some cause or the other.  They typically are poorly informed about their subject but believe themselves to be experts.  The article linked below is an exception.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts2851

I appreciate the fact that Costner put up $21 million of his own money to develop the system.  I wish him well as it is deployed.  It is a worthy use of some of that box-office cash he has raked in.

Now, if we could just get a few more of them investing their money intelligently instead of putting it in the hands of a bunch of lawyers under the guise of a benevolent charity such as HSUS (which is probably the worst wolf in sheep's clothing out there in my opinion).  They play on the heartstrings of gullible people with their appeal for money using images of pitiful dogs and cats that have been mistreated.  Less than 1% of their $100 million warchest has been spent on rescue efforts.  In fact, their stated goal is to eliminate animal agriculture in the United States.  They use deceptive practices to raise that money.  It mostly goes to advertising, lobbyists and for huge salaries for a handful of individuals.

A Difference in Viewpoints

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." __ Alexis de Tocqueville

Therein lies the difference between Democrats and Republicans of today.

Craving Relevance

Blogging is often an expression of one's desire for relevance -- to be heard -- to believe that one's opinion has value.  It can be a record of events in one's life that says, "I was here!"  It can be an expression of views on politics, religion or other subjects that says, "Look at me, I have something to say!"

Everyone wants to have "followers" of their blog.  Otherwise, all blogs would be set to private.  That is also an indicator that bloggers want others to see their opinion.

Bloggers like to respond to comments.  Instead of meaningful dialogue with one's friends -- or, perhaps it is not meaningful dialogue with one's friends -- the commentary dialgue on a blog offers a degree of anonymity that allows the expression of opinions that might not otherwise be voiced for fear that others would look down on one's views.  Maybe that is why so few truly engage in meaningful dialogue on a face-to-face basis.  Comments also allow the freedom to be rude, mean or denigrating to other commentors -- at least within the "rules" allowed by each individual blog owner.  Venting is a therapeutic release, I suppose.

Why is there such a craving for relevance? -- to be noticed?  -- to believe that one's thoughts and opinions have value?  Is it part of the survival mechanism of our species?  Sounds a bit anti-survival to me.  After all, it is the one out front waving the flag that tends to get shot first.  For most species survival means blending into the background and not being seen -- except during courtship.

Are we courting others?  Seeking followers?  Why are so many people uncomfortable as part of the "herd"?  There is safety in the herd.  Yet, we risk exposure by allowing ourselves to become vulnerable to others through what we write in our blogs.

It reminds me of a little child who craves the attention of a parent.  "Look at me!" is the cry -- just before the bicycle crashes and the knee is skinned.  Is it a remnant of the infant's need for care because it is helpless to care for itself?

Just suppose that the craving for relevance is part of our design.  Suppose that our physical life is in fact a period of gestation for our spirit.  We crave relevance because we are made for a purpose.  If we don't know our purpose, we are programmed to seek it.

Only through God is our purpose revealed.  Until we seek Him we cannot find the purpose for which he made us.  Without Him we continually seek and strive for "success" or "recognition" that says, "I'm relevant."  What we truly need is to realize that we ARE relevant to God.  He has called us to Himself.  He justified us through His sacrifice.  He gives us purpose when we submit to Him.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." __ John 3:16

Queen of the Missions

The Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo is considered the "Queen of Missions" and was the second of the missions founded in what grew to become San Antonio, Texas.  On our recent trip to San Antonio we spent some time touring the mission complex.

The view above is of the restored entrance to the mission which was founded in 1720.  The compound is very large and from outside the entrance we were unable to see the church.

Once we entered the gate I turned around a took this photo from the inside.  Notice the platform and gun ports above the gate.

In the first photo you should have noticed the round structure to the right.  The photo above is the inside of that building.  Note the cannon ports as well as the gun port at the top.  A platform at slightly higher than head height encircled the room giving the guards a place to stand from which to fire through the ports.  This mission was more than just a church.  It was a fortified city able to resist attack by Comanche and other tribes.

The above view is from the gate, looking toward the church.  In the foreground you see the foundation of another structure -- possibly officers quarters for the troops stationed at the mission.

The interior of the walls was actually a continuous series of apartments that housed the Indians (native Americans if you prefer) that had been converted to the Catholic faith.  In many ways, these Indians were slaves in service of the church -- tending fields, digging the system of acequias, and providing labor for other tasks as needed.  There were also compartments used for storing arms and ammunition and store rooms of other sorts.  Note the oven for baking.

As we approached the church complex we began to realize the size of the structure.  Again, note the oven on the right and the foundation of another building ahead.

This is another view of the church complex.  The mission was constructed over a period between 1768 and 1782 using the labor of the Indian converts.

Most people would call this yucca -- I grew up calling it Bear Grass.  Yucca is generally a broader leaf.  The showy blooms on these caught my eye.

I like the arches.  The contrast beween the greenery and the stone of the ancient structure emphasizes the "Old World" look of the church and attached buildings.

The different layers of this perspective were interesting to me.  Note that there are three rows of arches.

This was a rare moment that the walk beneath the arches had no people in it.

Water is always a necessity.  There were a couple of wells within the property as well as the acequia flowing just to the rear of the church complex.  An acequia is an irrigation canal.  If the inhabitants of the fortified city were cut off from the San Antonio River and irrigation canals, they would always have a supply of water at hand within the walls.

Behind the church complex were the Friars quarters and beyond them, a flour mill.  The mill you see in the photo was probably the most intriguing part of the mission complex to me.  What you see is a guess as to the way the original mill appeared.  This is a restoration that was done in the 1930's.  The grindstone is a monolithic block of chert.  The short post on the left supported a beam beneath the floor which in turn supported the water wheel and grindstone mechanism.  The wedges driven through the slot in the post were used to adjust the tolerance of the grindstone by slightly raising or lowering the mechanism below the floor.  The taller post was a crane that could be pivoted and used to lift the stone for cleaning or replacement.

This mill could produce about 50 lbs. of flour per hour -- more than enough to supply the approximately 300 residents.  The wheat was poured into the hopper at the top and the flour caught in a bucket.  This mill house has a stone floor.  It is more likely that the floor was made of wood so that in the event the grindstone was dropped it wouldn't break.  Such stones were prized possessions and difficult to come by -- likely being imported from France.

The wooden arm protruding through the window controlled the water flow by raising and lowering a gate.  The water fell approximately 9 feet to turn a horizontal waterwheel attached to the shaft which in turn rotated the grindstone.

Above is a photo of the church and you can just make out the Friars Quarters on the left edge of the photo.

Stonework above the entry to the church.

The Madonna and Child.

Mission Concepcion, San Antonio, Texas

The Mission Concepcion in San Antonio, Texas, was another stop on our recent travels.  Established in 1716, it was re-located to its present site in 1731 and is the oldest un-restored church in America.  The mission is located at 807 Mission Road.  At its height, around 1762, the mission boasted a population of 207 and had seen 792 baptisms.  It had ceased to exist as an independent mission by the end of the century.

Mission Concepcion

The ruined area to the right contained the living quarters of the Franciscans.

I'm always facinated by arches which were critical to the strength and stability of the structure.  It's too bad the park service finds it necessary to place modern benches and garbage containers in the structure.

The orginal paintings on the interior are very interesting.  Note the steel supporting rod at the top of the photo -- not original equipment.

The church continues to be used today.  It is interesting to see the contrast between the modern greenery and rug and the painting on the plastered walls.

The seating is very old although not, I'm sure, as old as the structure itself.  Note again the arched ceiling necessary for strength.  The dome that can be seen in the first photo covers the altar area at the front of the chapel that you see in this photo.

Enchanted Rock

This past weekend my wife and I took a brief trip to Central Texas.  We just needed to "get away" for a few days.  We left home with no specific plans but did have a general idea of the various "opportunities" in the area where we were headed.

One of the places we visited was Enchanted Rock State Park.  I have included a few photos.

Enchanted Rock is one of the largest batholiths in the United States.  A batholith is an underground rock formation that has been uncovered by erosion.  It consists of the distinctive pink granite which is the same used to build the Texas state capitol building.

The rock rises 425 feet above ground and covers approximately 640 acres.  The view from the top is outstanding.

If you click on the picture it should open in a larger size so that you can get an idea of the view.  The photo above includes an interesting feature of the dome.  There were a number of places where enough soil had collected in "low" spots on the batholith that plants have become established.  There is enough rainfall (about 28 inches per year) to maintain the plants.  This was a thicket of dewberries.  You can see the berries in the photo below.

Enchanted Rock is located a few miles north of Fredericksburg, Texas.  It, like many other batholiths throughout the world, was considered sacred by some.  The Tonkawa tribes believed that it was the home of various spirits.  This was likely due to the flickering lights that they claimed to see dancing on the giant dome of granite.  There are many legends about the rock.

The first well-documented exploration of the area was in 1723 when the Spanish sent parties to the area northwest of San Antonio for the purpose of establishing missions in the Apacheria.  Although the area that was to become San Antonio had been explored at least as early as 1691, the city was not established until 1718.  It quickly became the heart of Spanish Texas.

Many areas of Enchanted Rock are enjoyed by rock climbers.  We observed a number of individuals rappelling on the west face.  Following the trail, the hike to the top doesn't take long and is a fairly smooth walk.  It will give you a workout if you aren't used to climbing.

Insolent Weakness

"Insolence is the armor of the weak.  It is a device to induce courage in the face of one's own panic."  __ Henry Kissinger

When I first read the above statement it caught my attention.  It was spoken by Henry Kissinger during the period in which he was attempting to negotiate an honorable settlement to the Vietnam war.  Nguyen Van Thieu, Chief-of-State of South Vietnam, became insolent toward both Kissinger and President Richard Nixon in the weeks prior to the 1971 Presidential election when he felt he was being forced to accept a settlement with North Vietnam that left Communist forces within the borders of the South.  He was in a powerless position and yet used the U.S. election as a lever against giving in to the terms of the agreement which had been negotiated bilaterally between the U.S. and the North Vietnamese in the Paris talks.  He saw that Nixon was vulnerable to opposing Presidential candidate George McGovern's "peace-at-any-cost" position in the election.

Upon reflection, I saw that the statement was applicable beyond the context in which it was spoken.  My first thought is that it sometimes applies to teenagers -- especially those who are attempting to flex their "independence muscles" and are rebellious to their parents.  They fear leaving the nest and yet feel instinctually driven to do so.  They become belligerent toward first one parent and then the other.  In a two-parent household there is usually at least one parent that retains some level of communication with the teen.  In a single-parent household the result is often disaster for the teen and the already broken family.

I have also seen the quote to be an accurate description of situations encountered in business.  It is usually manifest in posturing within a company meeting -- perhaps a planning group or committee.  It is an attempt to overcome powerlessness and inadequacy with a bluff.  When one is in a true position of strength there is no need for the bluster.  It is frequently the quiet one in the room that holds the power.

Insolence appears to be just another expression of insecurity.  When one is confident in one's place in the world there is no need to either lash out at others or to attempt to dominate them -- either physically or in conversation.  Such confidence can only come from the security of a relationship with Jesus.  Through His power we can experience a quiet peace that comes from His Spirit within us.  In Him alone is our strength and confidence.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  __ Phillipians 4:13

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

I am learning about something new -- yet, not so new.  It is the name of something which I have observed among my peers first, and also among other generations -- both older and younger than me.  It is called "moralistic therapeutic deism."  I suspect it is a prime reason for the observed current decline in the Christian churches of both this country and Europe.

The article linked here is a good place to begin understanding.  Then, it should be followed by reading this rather lengthy discussion.

If you regularly attend church, let me ask you the following question:  Have you noticed a decline in attendance?  If so, to what do you attribute that decline?

If you do not regularly attend a church, my question is this:  Why?

Please feel free to answer the questions in the comments.

Mission: Backyards and Haiti

My friend Matt is going to Haiti this summer.  His life will be changed by his service to the Haitian people.  He told me that I inspired him to go.  I am humbled.  I am praying even now for him and the other men from his church that they will touch lives, that the people there will be prepared for their coming and that their own lives will be transformed by the trip.

I just completed the book "The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out"
by Mark Driscoll.  It talks about the mission in our own backyard and how we are called to reach our neighbors with the message that Jesus is the only way to life.  The book talks about how we must reach people where they are -- not expect them to come to us.  We must seek them out, just as Jesus did.  We must share their life, their pain, their struggles and their fears.  We need to show them that the Bible holds the answers to their life questions.  But, it also addresses the fact that we must confront them with the truth -- in a loving way.

Life is messy.  Christians are imperfect.  Only Jesus can cure our imperfections and reach into our messy lives and show us something better.Too often we allow our imperfections to get in the way of our sharing the truth.  We show non-Christians a false front with false expectations.  We fail to confront humanity with our own human frailty.

Jesus didn't shy away from those who were struggling with life's issues.  Instead, he sought them out where they lived.  He ate and drank with them.  He crossed cultural and racial barriers without hesitation.  He touched the untouchable.

We see in Jesus a willingness to confront the wealthy, the political and church leaders, the thieves and the liars with the truth.  He did so with the goal of showing them the way to life.  He didn't hide within the confines of his comfortable existence with those "like" him -- instead, he went to people of all stations.

In his book, Driscoll points to Jesus as the example we should follow.  He doesn't point to the church -- but to Jesus.  I highly recommend the book for anyone serious about the Christian faith.

Matt, I pray for you as you prepare to face the messiness that is Haiti.  Hold fast my friend.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" __ Matthew 28:18-20

Random Note

It is amazing to me sometimes to suddenly realize how quickly time is flying by.  This blog reminds me frequently because of the amount of time that passes between posts.  I might think that I "just" posted something only to realize that it has been several days -- or weeks -- since the last post.

I am in Kentucky this week.  It is beautiful and green and a bit cooler than I expected.  I packed short-sleeved shirts.....

I know that I should post something profound but that is beyond me.  Instead, I'll post a link from USA Today.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-27-1Amillfaith27_ST_N.htm

Techno-dependency

I have become outrageously dependent on my Blackberry.  It is my mobile office.  That has become painfully clear to me because the e-mail has not been feeding to it correctly this week.  I don't know if it is a problem with the local cell provider or something bigger -- like a problem at ATT.

Normally, I am "buzzed" throughout the day by a steady stream of electronic communications hitting my Blackberry which is perpetually in "vibrate" mode.  Some of them are newsletters and things of that nature, but many of them are e-mails that keep me informed about what is going on within the company that I manage.  Yes, I use my Blackberry as a key piece of my management communications.

I get brief e-mails from personnel making sales calls, or if something out of the ordinary occurs at one of our seven locations.  I also receive frequent e-mails from key suppliers about various things going on in the industry.  I sometimes am involved in groups putting together meetings or other functions where coordinated activity results in frequent e-mail communication.  At certain times each day, I receive reports from each of our locations which let me know their activity for the day.

All of those things are important but, there is one that to me is critical.  I receive e-mails from many customers that expect rapid responses.  I'm not getting those in a timely fashion and therefore can't respond as quickly as I should.  To me, one of the keys to the success of our business is exceptional customer service.  When I don't get those e-mails almost immediately, I can't deliver the kind of service that they have come to expect.

Fortunately, I still carry a laptop.  I spent a good deal of time last night dealing with e-mail which normally I would have handled through the day.

I suspect this dependence on technology is not such a good thing but, it does make me more efficient when it is working!

Muster

Aggie Muster. 

San Jacinto Day.
YouTube of last year's ceremony below.

On the Eve of Muster

"Give me an army of West Point graduates and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win the war." - U.S. General George S. Patton

Two If By Sea

Two hundred and thirty-five years ago Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride.  On this night in 1775 the British army had begun to move across the Charles River toward Lexington.  John Pulling held two lanterns aloft momentarily from the steeple of the Old North Church to let the Sons of Liberty in Lexington know that the British were crossing the river rather than taking the long way around by land.  The next morning, on the 19th of April, the battle of Concord was fought, signaling open hostilities in the war that would eventually result in the establishment of a new country on the North American continent.  That new country was founded on principles of individual liberty and limited government.

Today, we see an increasingly controlling government and the gradual erosion of individual liberty in that very same country.  The idea that one might achieve a level of happiness through personal pursuits of industry and innovation has been replaced to a large extent by one of dependency on the federal government for daily provision.  The enemy is no longer a power based on shores geographically removed, but is instead housed in halls philosophically removed by a much greater distance from the founding principles of this nation than were the halls of Parliament from the colonies.

The results of the Revolutionary War left our nation independent yet, divided in ways not dissimilar to what we see today.  At the time of the founding of our country, the divide was between those who would see a strong, centralized government and those who would prefer decentralization, with power concentrated locally or in the states.  The divide continued to grow until it ruptured in a civil war.

Perhaps our system of government can avoid a similar rupture from the current philisophical division in our country.  The system works best when the citizens become involved. 

A Fearful Disposition

“Not everything that is plausible is true, for those who put forward plans for action have a psychological disposition to marshal the facts that support their position.” __ Henry Kissinger


I would add that we each have a psychological disposition to a particular “worldview” or “yardstick” by which we evaluate input. Each of us lives within a “point-of-view” shaped by our location, history, experiences, friends and family. It is difficult to truly see the “point-of-view” of another individual. We each have been shaped uniquely. That individuality is a key point of the concept of self.

This uniqueness of “worldview” presents the greatest difficulty between individuals greatly removed in each of the key shaping factors. The greater the difference in those shaping factors, the more difficult it is to find understanding.

Mr. Kissinger’s remark was made in reference to foreign policy arguments during the Nixon administration. I find particularly interesting his reference to the marshalling of facts to support a particular position. What makes this interesting to me is that when dealing with different “worldviews” we must consider that each accepts some things as “fact” that the other views as fallacy.

If we consider that some view it acceptable to lie in order to advance one’s own position, we enter into a world in which there is nothing that can be accepted at face value. We each must “prove” the “facts” offered. We also must weigh them against our personal self-interest and the “facts” that we can muster in support. The result is a world in which we can trust nothing and no one.

Is the lack of trust important? Yes, it is. Without trust there is only fear.

Who Is God?

John 3:13-17

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

So, we must ask, “What is eternal life?”

John 17:1-3

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Now, we must ask, ”Who is God?”

He is the infinite
The almighty
The everlasting
Omniscient
Omnipotent
Omnipresent
Father of light
Creator
Sustainer
Righteous One
Beginning
End

How can we of finite mind fathom the unfathomable? How can we truly know God? We describe the infinite yet cannot grasp what we define. How can we know the unknowable?

He revealed himself to us in his Son. He reveals himself to us in his word. He makes himself known to us through his actions. He works in our lives by his love. Yet, like the wind, we only see the result of his passing. We see through a glass darkly. Faith must do the rest.

Shopping iTunes....

For Christmas I received $30 worth of gift cards to iTunes.  I thought -- no big deal.  I'll just load 'em up and buy some tunes.  I'm still shopping on that $30.

I don't know if it is because I'm too picky or what -- I have spent hours browsing songs and playing the brief snippets available to help you decide if it's what you want -- and I've only used about 1/2 of it up after all this time.  Holy Cow!  What does that say about my personality?

I like all kinds of music but there is only a small percentage of it that I would consider to be of enduring quality -- something that I want to listen to over and over again.  I don't want to just get best sellers, I want some eclectic stuff -- the ones that didn't make the Top 40 but, are still good.  I want some of the off-the-wall artists like the ones my daughter comes up with.

Then, after I've worked at it for a couple of hours and only chosen five songs, I wonder what makes it so difficult!  Oh, well, at least it generated a blog post.

Searching --- Relatively Speaking

Have you noticed the commercial on television about the person who is suffering from search engine overload?  About how they talk in snippets of information but their conversations are not cogent?  I understand the feeling.

There is an amazing wealth of information available to us on the Internet.  Weeding out the trash and finding the gems for which one is searching is a monumental task at times.  Just when I think that I've figured it out, I hit one of those frustrating times when I search and search and can't find something that should be readily available.

What, you might ask, prompted such statements?  I was searching for the date on which Einstein first introduced his Theory of Special Relativity.  The only sources that I am able to find are not especially credible.

Now, the next logical question is, why would I be looking for the date on which Enstein first introduced his Theory of Special Relativity.  Well, that was one of those search leads to question leads to search leads to question chain of events that sent me off on a tangent.  I guess it really doesn't matter anyway.  Perhaps I AM suffering from search engine overload!

Rough Transition

Spring sprung,
But winter hasn't given up yet.
Blossoms bloomed;
The freeze tonight will turn them brown.

Dust rises
As southern winds bring warmth.
Tumbleweeds roll
As northern winds bring cold.

Seasons change
But none transition smoothly.
People age
Few can do so gracefully.

Vegetating

Best of intentions
Don't get it done
Whatever IT happens to be.

I put it off
And make excuses
If it's not important to me.

Like those minor repairs
That seem to pop up
Every week or so

Or those projects I think
Would be really worthwhile
That I just seem to let go.

It makes me wonder
Why Saturday morn
Motivation seems to evaporate

While I just sit back
And accomplish nothing
Except perhaps, vegetate.

Travel, Travel and Travel!

Home from Fort Worth.  It was a whirlwind week.

Monday, I worked from the office in Hereford and then we drove to Mansfield for the night.  Tuesday we drove to my daughter's house and got to see our granddaughter.  Wednesday we drove to the in-laws and spent the night with them.  Thursday we went to Fort Worth for the Texas and Southwestern Cattlemen's Convention.  Today we drove home.  A lot of miles in a short/long week.

There are only remnants of the snowstorm that blew through yesterday.  Today is sunny and spring-like.  I hope the good weather continues.  I'm getting Spring Fever.

It looks like I will be back in East Texas this week.

This blog wasn't intended to be a travel journal, but that's what it looks like today!  I will see if I can come up with something more creative later in the week.

Optimist or Pessimist

There is an old saying
That you can tell the difference
Between an optimist
And a pessimist
By how they view the cup.

One sees only what is gone
And thinks that he is doomed
Because his share --
That which remains --
Cannot possibly be enough.

The other has a different view
And sees what lies therein
With the thought that he is blessed
To have something
In his cup from which to drink.

Me, I'm more of a realist
When I view the cup half-full;
I see what coffee there remains
And wonder,
Should I drink it cold or put it in the microwave?

Spotted Cattle, Vodka, and Boat Rides

Dairy genetics is one of the more esoteric fields of modern animal husbandry.  The selection process in the U.S. is finely tuned to the productivity of the animal and their ability to provide a steady stream of profit to the ailing industry.

The art has reached such a pinnacle of success upon this continent that prize specimens of the species are in great demand throughout the world.  Therefore, it was no surprise when Ivan (whose country of origin you might guess) came calling on an organization known for developing such prime specimens to the point that their genetic potential was ready to burst forth with amazing productivity.  The problem being that a large body of water as well as a couple of extensive land masses lay between the developer and the ultimate recipient of said genetic wonder.

So, Ivan, through the good offices of a broker for such phenomenon, came calling. 

The ordeal of extensive time within the confines of the large silver bus with wings was quickly overcome by the selective offerings of various libations carried on large carts pushed by comely servants who soon found that Ivan was depleting their stocks quite rapidly.  But, never worry, the duration of the flight would eventually end and the charge would be handed to one whose skill at communication was limited to two languages -- that of Ivan and that of his intended victim -- er, I mean business acquaintance.

Ivan came with an entourage:  A Veterinarian whose years alone must have been the prime qualifying factor for his services, a government official whose youth indicated acquaintance with the most modern practices of animal husbandry, and a business partner whose nervous character was probably due to the lack of body guards which likely accompanied him in his native country.

Their visit brought the clash of cultures into sharp focus when they finally arrived in Southwest Kansas and immediately began to deplete the local supply of vodka.  Every brand.  Every bar.  Every liquor store.  It created something of a celebrity stir when they found that Crowne was but a poor substitute for their preferred libation.

Finally, however, they faced the task at hand -- selecting by careful inspection, the candidates for the long boat ride back to Ivan's homeland.

The process took several days as well as the timely review of each specimen and then the requisite battery of tests which proved no disease of consequence could possibly be contained within their ample frames.  Each patterned heifer, bulging with their growing progeny, passed through the confining strictures which allowed the Veterinarian and the budding government official to pass judgement on their individual merits.

It soon became apparent that merit was in the eye of the beholder for many exceptional specimens were passed off as unacceptable due to minor blemishes in favor of more questionable individuals that exhibited perfect eye-color, or perhaps a special pattern of markings which appealed to the judges.  Of course, the requisite fuel for judging consisted of barley, hops and the results of a fermentation process that had previously been confined to brown glass bottles.  That was before lunch.  After lunch, a higher octane was required to maintain an equilibrium that must only have developed in the womb and been carried to perfection through proper medication in liberal amounts.

Nevertheless, after hours of evaluation, the perfect specimens had been selected for the cruise.  They were loaded on trucks and shipped to port to await their pampered journey which by-the-way was delayed for ten days while appropriate paperwork was completed, stamped, sealed, signed and delivered.  For you see, stamps and seals are the sign of authority -- in spite of the fact that the local Staples can deliver -- custom-made, to-your-door -- the stamp or seal of your design and choosing within the same ten days.

Deal completed, selectees delivered, the entourage and Ivan departed.  The local bars celebrated their record sales and the U.S. export balance was momentarily moved in a positive direction.  Or, at least that was the thought until recently discovered that all was funded by the American taxpayer through the good offices of our current Administration in Washington.  For you see, it was our own USDA funding the enterprise.  It is now time for Paul Harvey to speak his famous line -- "And now you know......"

Looking Out

Why do we love to look out of windows?
What is it that causes us
To sometimes stop and stare
At nothing in particular?
We sit and gaze out the window.

Do you think perhaps
It is some deep-seated behavior
Wired into our very being
That is a residual of that time long ago
When we feared what might be out there?

Or, could it be a longing
To be out-of-doors
Where we feel less trapped –
Less surrounded --
Less fettered?

Maybe it is dissatisfaction
With what we are doing
And with what we are accomplishing
As we busily battle
Seemingly endless daily assignments.

Is it guilt bearing down upon us
When indeed we long for light?
Or, is it a shadow of our true self,
Trapped within an earthly vessel
Yet longing for freedom?

I choose freedom……

Lessons for Old Hands

Good lesson today.  Even us old guys can still learn.

I went out to visit a good customer -- one that has been a long-time customer.  I learned that there were some problems brewing that needed to be addressed -- and NOW.  There were no signs.  There were no clues.  There had been no red flags.  It was a situation where some issues were percolating on the back burner that needed attention but no one was noticing.

I had an hour and a half with 3 of the top 4 individuals in the organization.  A very open and frank discussion.  Within an hour of the conclusion of the meeting I was able to respond to the concerns.

The lesson is this:  Never take a customer for granted.  Take time to touch base on a regular basis.  Ask probing questions.  If there are concerns, address them.  Don't ever think their concerns are immaterial.  Deal with them.

We are now back on track.  I will be back at their operation tomorrow to observe and train.  The lines of communication are open and there is an even stronger sense that we are all on the same team -- trying to make things better.

Life is good.

John 14:6

Batteries and Wires

Are you a battery, or a copper wire?

A battery is designed to accept a charge and store it until needed.  It then allows the power to flow out of it until it is empty.  It then must be re-charged to be useful again.

A copper wire doesn't hold a charge but it is a wonderful conduit of power.  It must be hooked into a power source in order to be useful.  However, as long as it is "plugged in" the power will flow through it.

I think Christians can fall into either category.  There are many who spend a large part of their time "soaking up" the power through attending church, praying, being with other Christians.  They often just store it up inside and only rarely, or possibly never, allow the power to flow out of themselves.  If they do, they are quickly emptied and need re-charging.  Often, if they don't find a useful task, the power seems to slowly seep out of them until they become useless -- sometimes not even able to hold a charge anymore.

There are others who seem to be constantly "plugged in" to the source of power.  They are a constant supplier of energy to those around them.  They are obviously connected because "things" happen around them that are unquestionably from God.

I don't know about you, but I would prefer to be the copper wire rather than the battery.  I want to be continually plugged into God's power.  I want Him to use me to work His will.

Jesus demonstrated that prayer is the way to stay plugged into God's power.  That is my prayer.  That I will be a conduit and not a battery.

Life is good.

John 14:6

Gardening Lessons for Budding Entrepreneurs

Spring seems to be knocking on the door here in the Texas Panhandle.  The high temps all week have been in the 60's.  I'm getting in the gardening mood!  That's not a good thing though because I expect to be traveling much of the time through the Spring and Summer and won't be here to tend a garden if I planted one.

I tend to be fairly traditional in my gardening -- when I do plant one.  My gardens in the past have been fairly simple.  I like to plant tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, green beans, black-eyed peas, squash and okra.  Rarely do I add anything else to the mix -- UNLESS one of the kids wanted to plant something else.  In the past we have added pumpkins for a roadside pumpkin stand that was going to make tons of money but yielded only experience.  We also planted ornamental corn one year.  Similar source of experience.

If they were young and still at home and wanted to do something similar, we would plant some more "experiential" crops for them to tend.  It is the seeds of entrepreneurship that were the most important part of that experience.  Teaching them how to risk their capital, provide their labor, and approach the marketplace in the hopes of profit was the real benefit of planting those pumpkins and ornamental corn.

As a society, we have for the most part failed future generations in the area of teaching them about free enterprise.  It is obvious in the trends we see in our government today.  They believe that a great and benevolent government is the source of their livlihood.  They don't understand that it is not the government that creates the wealth, it is private business.  It is individuals who wake up every morning and risk their capital, their labor, their time, their future -- in the hopes of turning that small seed into a bountiful harvest.  It is time that we return to teaching our children those concepts.

I see hope in some areas.  There are many in the Millenial Generation who see the failure of our government.  They are looking for a better way.  I pray that the pendelum will swing back to a time of personal initiative and self-reliance rather than a collective dependence on Big Brother.

Life is good.

Not For This World

Have you ever felt as though you were sitting still yet moving at the speed of light?  It is as though everything around you is in constant motion -- including yourself -- and yet there is a peace and stillness that you sense that you are calmly sitting in.  If you do not believe that God holds your life in His hands, you probably have not experienced that peace.

Sometimes I get a glimpse of utter serenity.  Maybe it is just my simple mind letting things flow by me.  I don't think so.  I think it is because I know deep down that God is in control and that everything is filled with purpose.  I know that in all that happens, God is working for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going." -- John 14:1-4

This world is only temporary.  Live for eternity -- not for the things of this world.

Life is good.

A Political Note

Tuesday -- election day -- will soon be upon Texas voters and we will find out who the Republican nominee for Governor will be.  I just now saw a Perry commercial on t.v.  He was wearing a Carhart jacket and sitting in front of the Texas flag.  Some of the Hutchinson commercials try to pull off the "good-ol'-country-gal" look but somehow it doesn't quite work.  She just has a hard time fitting that image. 

The article linked below might be of interest to those of you following the race:

http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2010-02-01/feature

So, what do you think?  Is Perry positioning himself for a national race?  Perhaps.  I hope he can handle the attacks from the left if that is his plan.

What about Hutchinson?  She might come back as an Independent and face Perry again in the General election if the primary is close.  I don't think it will be.  The real question is her Senate seat.  Will she really retire?  If so, I think Michael Williams is our best candidate for the seat.  It may be an interesting year.

Productive Week in TN and KY

It has been a productive week in Tennessee and Kentucky.  The Mid South Stocker Conference was excellent and we had several producers commit to doing business with us.  The setting for the Conference was beautiful (Montgomery Bell State Park).

Last night we headed for Bowling Green, Kentucky, and spent the morning visiting with customers and recording testimonials and then met with a prospective customer who is now a customer.  We finished the evening back in Nashville with dinner at J. Alexander's in Brentwood, Tennessee, with a good customer and his wife.  WOW!  The food was out-of-this-world good!  I highly recommend it.  It is actually located near the Cold Springs Galleria just north of Franklin.  Check out the link.

Yep, life is good.

Tennessee Traveler

Nashville, Tennessee, for the night.  I barely made it out of Amarillo before the snow moved in.  They had to de-ice the plane before we could depart.

I read about 150 pages in the book "Same Kind of Different as Me" on the way out here.  It is written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  It is a MUST read for anyone and everyone.  The best way that I know to give you a clue as to what the book is about is to quote from the back cover:

"A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking

cotton in virtual slavery.

An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world

of Armani and Chanel.

A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream.

A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it."

It is the story of a friendship between a wealthy, white art dealer and a black man who grew up in rural Louisiana as the orphaned son of a sharecropper.  It is an amazing story.

Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together

Tomorrow, the Mid-South Stocker Conference near Burns, Tennessee.

Life is good.

Refreshed But Not Rested

Sundays are often very busy days for us.  Today was no exception.  In fact, it was probably fairly representative.  Here's how it went....

7:55 -- Stop at Ministry Center and turn on the coffeepot so it will be ready to make coffee later.
Early Service (Traditional):  Sing in the choir.  Be there at about 8:00.
Leave Early Service at halftime:  Go over to Ministry Center and make coffee and get refreshments ready for Sunday School.
9:45 -- Sunday School starts.  Some Sundays I do the music for "The Celebration" which is an alternative Sunday School/Church Service/Small Group function for those who prefer something other than the traditional services.
10:30 -- leave Sunday School because we have to warm up for our Adult Ensemble, B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers and Sisters in Christ), which is singing in the 11:00 service. 
11:00 -- Contemporary service -- we usually attend this one.
12:30 -- Lunch
3:00 -- Personnel Committee Meeting -- seems like this happens all too frequently -- lasted 2 hours
5:00 -- B.A.S.I.C. rehearsal
6:00 -- Church
7:30 -- Dinner celebrating the completion of our Truth Project small group (see note below)
9:30 -- home

The Truth Project has been great.  It is produced by Focus on the Family and is a DVD series that focuses on the question: "How do you know that what you know is really real?"  It seeks to dive into the thinking behind many of the current popularly held beliefs that permeate our culture and how those beliefs compare to what the Bible says.  I highly recommend it.  Follow the link.

So, am I rested?  I must admit that I missed my nap.  My "day-of-rest" was full, but I do feel refreshed and ready for the week.

Life is good.

Not Where Expected

I was supposed to be in Kearney, Nebraska, all day today, but I decided to head home instead.  It was snowy and cold with slushy roads for about half of the drive and then it was just cold, misty/foggy for most of the rest of the way.  Somewhere between Pampa and Amarillo I drove out of the cloud cover to clear blue skies.  That all changed though -- now it is foggy, misting and occasionally thundering. 

It's a good thing that I decided to come on home though, it is supposed to snow anywhere from 4 to 6 inches tonight over most of the area that I passed through.  I might not have made it home tomorrow if I had waited.

Shortly after arriving at home and surprising my wife by coming in early, we decided to go to the show with some friends.  We went to see "The Book of Eli."  It was interesting.  It was unnecessarily profane.  It had some good messages in it.  It also had some really "messed up" messages mixed into it.  I will leave it at that.  If you can stand the violence and profanity, go see it.  It was then off to Jorge's for Mexican food.  Nothing better than good Tex-Mex to end the week.

Life is good.

A Coup in Niger

Things became interesting in the country of Niger today.  I touched base with a friend of mine who lives in Niamey and he indicated that everything is OK.  Below is what he had to say about the coup:

"I'm doing well.The situation is under control.The President lost all his power.The population appreicated the COUP and they are ready to help the military to fullfil the goals of that coup.



The days to come we will go on election to determine who will be the President elect.Tandja is safe and sound.The military is making sure he will not loose his life.That's all I know about the COUP."

It really changes your perspective on things when you've been there.  In fact, the governmental crisis which led to today's coup was of real concern while I was in Niger this past summer.  I pray that a truly free election and good governance will be the result.  That is unlikely in a country where the literacy rate is extremely low and poverty is the norm.

The above photo was taken in a small village about 30 minutes from the capital city of Niamey, Niger, in July, 2009.  It illustrates the poverty of the people.  The scene is from the village market.  (Ignore the Anasari -- white people -- in the picture)

Twice

The challenge of a blog is that you sometimes fall into the rut of just typing nonsensical things -- whatever comes into your head -- just to maintain some consistency in posting.  Obviously that is how I am starting out tonight.  Until last night it had been far too long since my last post.  Now, I'm attempting to change that pattern -- the trouble is, I don't want to be disciplined about writing; I just want to "let it flow" and yet somehow turn out creative or profound.

I spent the afternoon training a couple of individuals for one of our laboratories.  Both were very good students and seemed to catch on quickly.  That isn't really surprising considering that one is a Veterinarian and the other a Vet Technician.  Hopefully they felt as good about the training as I did.  Time is the only true test of how well it went.

Being in Nebraska presents one particular challenge for me -- The Omaha World Herald.  The newspaper out of Omaha must be one of the most liberal in the country.  Sometimes I think there is more common sense among the writers of the New York Times than I see in some of the articles in the Omaha paper.  If I was a good journalist I would post specific examples (see yesterday's post) and carefully refute the obviously slanted positions taken by the writers of the articles, but I'm in a lazy mood tonight and don't want to put in the effort, so, I will do like they do and just state an opinion as though it was fact, not research the item carefully but take quotes out of context and "facts" from dubious sources and present them in a way that supports my undisputably correct opinion and then package it in lots of lengthy, run-on sentences that are an attempt to make me sound especially erudite through the use of judiciously sprinkled words that require the "average Joe" to wish he knew what those words meant but is too lazy to seek a Dictionary and look them up and thus remains blissfully ignorant and incorrectly informed into an erroneous opionion based on the lazy journalism of a writer with a leftist agenda that was embedded into their undisciplined brain while attending journalism school in some East-coast, Ivy League, overpriced university.

Did I tell you that it is supposed to snow tonight?  Oh, I forgot.  Well....it is supposed to snow tonight and possibly continue snowing here through Sunday.  I hope I can get home.  If I can just make it to Kansas it should be a cinch -- but I probably ought to swing by Cabela's before I leave town and see if they have any ruby-red hiking boots just in case.  Clicking the heels on my Ariats probably won't do the job.

Life is good.

Random Thoughts After a Long Dry Spell

OK, so it's been almost 2 months since I've posted anything on here.  That says a lot all by itself.  My travel schedule has been challenging to say the least.

Since the first of the year I've been to Kentucky, Nebraska, San Antonio, Central Texas, Alabama and now back to Nebraska.  Next week is Tennessee.  I need a break from it but it doesn't look like one is coming any time soon.

Don't you find the following story hilarious?

Obama to sign order for fiscal commission Thursday

It is all about political image -- nothing to do about seriously tackling the debt.  Do you suppose he really thinks we're that stupid?

Below is a good one --

Texas takes legal steps to stop EPA from regulating GHGs under CAA

The ABC News story is slanted to indicate that it's because Texas is the biggest producer of GHG's.  I don't know where they get their information but this list puts Texas in the middle.  Hmmm -- I think they need to look at the East and West Coast -- it is automobiles that cause the problem (California had over 32 million registered in 2005).  Texas just keeps them rolling with oil & gas production (think refineries).  The oil & gas production to fuel vehicles throughout the states is the only thing keeping Texas out of the top of the rankings in cleanest.  Picture wind power. 

The best thing that has happened for GHGs recently is the week-long shut-down of D.C. because of snow.  Kept the hot air in their high-rent townhouses instead of on the floor of the House and Senate.

Then there's the stimulus bill.  Crazy.  The reason I haven't been posting is because I've been building a business and creating jobs.  Tell 'em to send us our money back from D.C. and we'll take care of jobs and stimulating the economy.  At least we get results.  That would probably help the debt situation too.

Life is good.  Oh, and all that travel -- just stimulating the economy.  Thank you, Southwest Airlines!