Life in a small town

I had the privilege last night of saying the Invocation at our prom banquet. I wasn't really sure what to say, or what they were expecting. As it turned out...neither did they! I was at first asked to open and welcome everyone. Just as I was about to do that, the faculty member sitting across from me said, "Wait, the senior class president is supposed to open this up!" I sat back down while he went to the class president and reminded her of her duty. It was funny...then it took her several uncomfortable (for the rest of us) minutes to gather her thoughts. I'm sure most of the people in the room were wondering what my problem was!

She finally stood and did a very nice job thanking the volunteers, welcoming everyone and introducing me. I prayed a prayer I had written for the occasion and sat back down and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

It struck me as I was observing the event how precious the banquet was. It was so simple. The parents had spent the day decorating and preparing the food. The kids had spent the day preparing for the dance. I think every Junior and every Senior attended - even if they didn't have a date. Following the banquet the young people went to the nursing home and "promenaded" through the halls so the Seniors Citizens living there felt a part of this community event.

It was a very good evening....in the heartland.

The Blizzard of the Century

They warned us. They gave us a full week's worth of warning! The Blizzard of the Century...hide the children! Dig deep holes! RUN AWAY!!!! Sheesh...what little snow we have received is already melting. Weather people...they must lose everything in Vegas.

Reminds me of the current debate about Global Warming. Why is it that some people are soooo concerned that we may be destroying our planet? Why is it that they are so busy cultivating fear in the minds and hearts of so many people? Doesn't it make you wonder...what do they have to gain?

Why do people use fear tactics? When you were little..did your parents ever tell you that the boogeyman may get you if you ... didn't do what? What they told you. What were they trying to do with the fear they engendered? Control your behavior.

And in the current debate...that is exactly what the motives are for the Al Gore's and others running around like Chicken Little...they want to control our behavior. I ask you...who is controlling their behavior? Al Gore flies all over the country...the world even...in his own private jet. A bit hypocritical you say? Yes...indeed.

We began this slippery slope...in my humble opinion...when the Left started bashing cigarette smokers. Controlling their behavior by posting no smoking in all restaurants. Do I smoke, you ask? No...but you have every right to! No one should be allowed to take that from you. We are free individuals...you want to make stupid choices...go right ahead.

But the left...the hypocritical left...they want control. Imagine if they have their way regarding global warming. We will be driving dinky little cars with no power...as they (the elite) flit about in jets and Ferraris. Oh...you think they too will drive dinky little cars with no power? Get real.

Global warming is at best a debatable event. The mainstream media makes it sound like it is happening...that all scientists are in agreement. But there is a wide diversity of opinions on the subject. Oh...you haven't heard of scientists who disagree...? Well, of course not! If they disagree the media either ignores them or ridicules them. Google "global warming" and you will not find one who disagrees...but they are out there. And they are reputable.

Here for your amusement are some examples of contrary facts to the current global warming mania:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v415/n6871/abs/nature710.html
The McMurdo Dry Valleys have cooled by 0.7 °C per decade between 1986 and 2000, with similar pronounced seasonal trends. Summer cooling is particularly important to Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems that are poised at the interface of ice and water. Here we present data from the dry valleys representing evidence of rapid terrestrial ecosystem response to climate cooling in Antarctica, including decreased primary productivity of lakes (6–9% per year) and declining numbers of soil invertebrates (more than 10% per year). Continental Antarctic cooling, especially the seasonality of cooling, poses challenges to models of climate and ecosystem change.

http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0442%282000%29013%3C1674%3AVATIAS%3E2.0.CO%3B2
It is thus quite surprising that despite apparent increase in global temperatures during the last 20 years (e.g., Jones et al. 1999), the Antarctic region in general shows slight cooling during the period. Such cooling could partly explain the slight positive trend in sea ice extent observed during the 1979–96 period by Cavalieri et al. (1997).

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/5554/476
We have used ice-flow velocity measurements from synthetic aperture radar to reassess the mass balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica. We find strong evidence for ice-sheet growth (+26.8 gigatons per year), in contrast to earlier estimates indicating a mass deficit (20.9 gigatons per year).

So...global warming? Antarctica is cooling...not warming. "Quite surprising" says one author. But, these little tidbits are hard to come by and are virtually ignored by the media and scientists who only support the theory of global warming. There are other sites one could go to but for the sake of time...I'll stop here.

For us older folks...remember about 30 years ago...when scientists were warning of a coming Ice Age and global catastrophe? And now...they blather about global warming and coming catastrophe? I'm no scientist, but could it possibly be that our earth..our big globe in the sky...suffers from (gasp!) climate change...regularly? That we mere mortals simply haven't been around long enough to see how things can change?

Don't let those who have an agenda dictate how you live your life. If it makes you feel better to live in such a way that you feel you're helping the climate, go for it. Just don't try to force me to follow.

A change in directions

Wow...haven't been here in a loooong time. It feels a bit like coming home to a long vacant house...kind of musty and dusty!

So many changes...so little time. The big change is due to take place pretty soon...not soon enough for me! I'm leaving the ministry...for good this time. Time to move on with life. The ministry has been like being a lightning rod for me. I got struck a bit too often for my taste. So, it's on to insurance...in a new town. Sidney, NE...a great, growing place in the panhandle of Nebraska. Cabela's is headquartered there...that will be fun!

I may start blogging again...we'll see. Kind of miss it...but I don't know what I have to say at this point.

Issues with God...life...make this my complaint place? We'll see. Soon, I'll be down to one job, albeit a busy one. I look forward to moving to Sidney...I think it will be a good move.

Well...all for now...check back in a while..perhaps there will be something that pops into my head to discuss.