Be Still

Observing Yom Kippur this past week had a way of focusing me that I did not expect. I woke up on Thursday morning hearing the Lord speaking over and over to me, "Be still and know that I am God." I lay frozen in my bed for quite a while. While I lay under my cozy blankets, I experienced a peace and calm that was wonderful. Although the phone calls that had gone to my voicemail earlier that morning plagued me a little, I realized that those calls could wait until the next day. Since then, I have felt a sense of calm that I haven't had for a long time. It is a realization that God is in charge and I need to trust Him. If I get fully stressed about a situation, it does not change what needs to be done to accomplish the task. Why do I work myself into mental exhaustion? What is the benefit?

One of the things that I have realized from observing God's appointed times is that I am more open/able to hear what He is saying on those days because distractions are nearly gone. The best part is that He speaks, wants to communicate with us, and desires good things for us. Blessed be His Name.

Speaking the truth

The period of time between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur is know as the "Ten Days of Awe." This is a time of introspection; a time to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to show us areas of sin. This year has been particularly interesting in that I am encountering some emotionally intense situations. When emotions rise to the surface, underlying motives are sometimes more readily identified. I have also been observing how delivering the same message in even slightly different ways can produce dramatically different results.

There are a few Scriptures that I have been mulling over lately.
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (Pro 27:17 ESV)

"but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Messiah; from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love." (Eph 4:15-16 HNV)

"For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12 HNV)

Sometimes, truth is cutting, but if it is spoken in love and humility, it is easier for the recipient to accept and incorporate the truth into his/her life. If both the truth teller and the truth receiver remain humble, the sting will be lessened. It is the difference between gently removing a sliver from the hand of a person who is remaining still, and brusquely pulling the sliver out of the hand of someone who keeps moving around. In both cases, the sliver may be removed, but the amount of emotional and physical pain present in the process will be significantly different.

Clean, purposeful, pruning hurts and may not be pretty in the moment, but the results are beautiful.

From the Archive

Because tomorrow at sundown begins another Yom Teruah (Day of Blowing), I thought I would repost something I wrote a couple years ago relating to this day. It was one of those "aha moments" for me in the desert. Maybe it will speak to you as well.

I had a memorable experience as I was making my way back to the US from Kenya. I needed to get to Nairobi from the remote area where I had been, which was about 16 hours by land vehicle, but only about 3 hours by plane. A Mission Aviation Fellowship plane made a stop every Tuesday and Friday at Korr. The missionary I was visiting had one of the ambulance drivers take me to catch the 6-seater propeller plane. He drove me two hours in the sand and heat to Korr.

I was told that the plane could arrive anytime between 11 am and 1 pm (typically). We (the ambulance driver and I) got to Korr a little before 11 am. For the first 20 minutes or so, the driver took care of a couple errands and I visited with someone I had met a year earlier. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know exactly where the plane would land, and I didn’t want to be preoccupied with something else when it came. My driver assured me that we would know when the plane arrived. Nevertheless, I told the driver that I wanted to wait close to the airstrip. He drove me to a Catholic compound, which was right next to the airstrip and where there was some shade. We sat and waited. I looked in the direction of the "runway," or where I was told it was. It just looked like a flat open space of sand right next to another flat open space of sand. Cattle were walking along a path near it.

As I sat in the dusty heat in a Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance waiting for the little propeller plane to appear in the clouds, I began to doubt. Airplanes in the northern desert of Kenya are not a common sight. The only things I saw in the sky were a few clouds, birds, dust, and the hot sun. I kept watching the sky while I listened for an airplane. I started to wonder if it was really going to come. You never know in Africa what type of delays can take place and there is no fast or reliable way to communicate a delay in that part of the country. What an unlikely place for an airplane to land--in the middle of the desert. Still, there shouldn't have been much reason to doubt since I arrived in the same place two weeks prior in a plane operated by the same organization. It was only 12:20, so it was still within the expected arrival time, but for some reason, I was really starting to worry. How long would I wait? What if it got to be 2, 3, or 4 pm and it hadn’t arrived yet? At what time would I decide to quit waiting? Then what would I do?

I started thinking about how much faith it required for me to believe that the plane would actually arrive. It was much more difficult to believe it here in the desert than at “real airports” where monitors list the expected arrival time and gate agents assure customers that the plane is coming. This time I was trusting the word of a person I talked to a week earlier on a satellite phone.

As I sat there and looked at the sky, I realized that it was just a few days before Yom Teruah or Day of Blowing (Sept 2006), where we look forward to the day when the trumpet will sound, the whole world will hear it, and the Lord will return in the clouds. I was actively listening & looking at the sky waiting for a plane...do I wait and watch as intently for the Lord to return? Do I believe God's Word that the Messiah is coming again? How often do I grow impatient and start thinking that maybe He really isn’t coming?

Suddenly, the driver said, "It's coming. I hear the plane!" I didn’t hear anything. But as I listened I started to hear it. The driver heard it much sooner than I did because his ear was trained to hear the plane. In a similar way, I want my ear well-trained to hear the Lord.

I was reminded of these verses:
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2Pe 3:8-14 ESV)

New way to make stem cells is safe: research

Another interesting article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080925/sc_nm/us_stemcellssci

I have been of the opinion for the last several years that there can be much gained from taking the time to really understand how stem cells actually work. There is so much that is not known in the area of adult stem cells, which makes wanting to use embryonic stem cells rather reckless. We are now seeing more and more what can be done with regular old skin cells. The fact is that people around the world have been doing research using embryonic stem cells, and it does not seem that they have had any greater advances than those researchers using adult stem cells.

Too Busy

Clearly I haven't posted anything for a while. There is a reason for that--I have been very busy. I thought my busyness would be through August and then ease up in September, but that did not prove to be the case. September has been almost more stressful that August was. When will it end? I guess there is a point where I have to say "enough is enough--I need my life back." I want to blog again. I want to sit and think about things other than the mountain of work sitting on my desk. I recall those projects that I put off several months ago thinking that I would get to them in September, and now it is almost October. They say time flies when you are having fun. It also flies when you are really busy.

Interesting study

Antibodies still protect 1918 flu survivors: study
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1647217720080817?sp=true

A woman in a male-dominated field

Those of you who know me know that I work in male-dominated fields (engineering and construction). For the most part I feel like I am treated fairly and am respected by the men with whom I work. However, there continue to be remnants of male chauvinism that rear their ugly heads. Even though I am the one making the final decisions, some of the men tend to ask the other men on my team rather than talking to me. The other day, one of the engineers with whom I am working blatantly challenged my request, but listened to the men who reiterated what I had requested of him. I try not to be paranoid about it, but sometimes it is hard to ignore the fact that being a woman in this field is still a bit of a novelty, and some men don't know how to respond. When I see or hear gender-biased responses toward me, I usually choose to ignore them and act as if the person didn't mean it. I am of the opinion that if I act with the expectation that they respect me, they will in respond in such a manner. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't happen, but I am learning to live with it.

The day that went wrong

I had one of THOSE days. You know the type--when it seems that everything that can go wrong does. Some things that I didn't think were possible to go wrong went wrong today, or so it seemed. I made my list, and from 7am until 9:30 pm the number of items on my "went wrong" list was over 14. These were not little items either. Ugh. Sometimes I wonder if I can face another day of such problem solving. I guess the good news is that I was able to reach a semi-reasonable solution for most of the items on my "went wrong" list. The problem is that these solutions will definitely have a negative impact on my schedule--just when I thought I had a schedule that would work. Maybe tomorrow will be a day when everything goes right for once. I hope I can write that post.

A modern day moral tale

Last week I gave an employee a coupon, which I had been given, for a $2 grande cold beverage at Starbucks. He proceeded to try to determine the most expensive drink he could order to maximize the coupon. He returned from his trip to the coffee shop with his receipt in hand telling me that he had ordered a 13 shot, venti, soy, hazelnut, vanilla, cinammon, white mocha, with extra white mocha, caramel beverage. The total price of the drink was $11.50. He was upset that they did not honor the coupon by giving him that drink for $2. I was not surprised that he had to pay for such a crazy order, especially when he ordered the wrong drink size (venti rather than grande). I was however rather dumbfounded that he even attempted such a strategy. He said the drink tasted terrible, and after he had drunk just a little from the top his hands were visibly shaking. I told him he couldn't finish the drink on the job because I wanted him to be able to think clearly. So, I retell this tale because it is so outrageous and because it illustrates a moral lesson. Don't try to take advantage of someone else's goodwill. You will probably end up paying for it in the end, and the other party will be less likely to offer their benevolence again.

Wasted Energy

If you have worked in a wood shop you have probably heard the saying "Measure twice and cut once." I wish there was more of this type of attitude in industry. I have to believe that if we were to live by this motto a little more often we would consume less of our precious resources. One obvious area of savings would be time. I don't know how much time I have spent fixing other people's gross negligence. It is very frustrating. We all know that time relates to money, so we could save some of that too. In a more subtle way, it could be the new motto for "going green." Think about the amount of electricity, gasoline, and raw materials that are wasted by producing and transporting products that are not made to specifications. I would venture to say that the amount of precious natural resources that are wasted due to people's careless inaccuracy is astounding. Maybe we could start a new saying "Think twice, act once." That's something to think about.

Percentage Errors

I have been surprised lately by some common errors made when people are calculating/reporting percentages. At first I thought it was just one person who made a simple mistake, but in a matter of a week, I saw 4 people make similar errors. Maybe those are the only 4 people to make this mistake, but I had to post this in the event that I might spare you from making this type of error too. Here is an example:

By what percentage is $1400 higher than $600?
Typical incorrect response: (1400-600)/1400=57%
One way to show that this is incorrect is to add 57% of 600 to 600: (600 *0.57 )+ 600=943
The correct response is: (1400-600)/600=133%

Now, if the question was phrased as "By what percentage is $600 lower than $1400?" the answer of 57% would be correct. It is all about choosing the correct base number to answer the question being asked.

Familiar Features

Recently I was able to see relatives from both sides of my family. As our extended family expands, I am noticing strong familial traits. Of course physical similarities are present, but the more interesting ones come in the form of common behaviors, thought processes, and methods. It is quite intriguing to try to determine how much is passed on by environment or genetics. My immediate family is a laboratory of sorts in answering the nature vs. nurture question. Of us four children, two are biologically linked and two are not, but we all were raised by the same parents and lived in the same home. I see the influence of my parents on all of our behavioral patterns in one form or another. I wonder about my grandparents and great grandparents. Did they have any idea as to what behavioral influence they would pass on to the next generations? Could the familial behaviors be teased apart and be attributed to specific ancestors? What if one of the prevailing familial traits is one that the ancestor did not wish to possess and never wanted his/her children to receive?

Facing a giant

I had to "face a giant" recently. It was not easy. Actually it was with much fear and trembling that I did it. I know that I could not do it by my own strength, but the Lord was with me. The giant doesn't seem so large and looming anymore--funny how that works.

Cooking for engineers

I found a website this weekend called "Cooking for Engineers." It presents recipes in a way that is absolutely wonderful--so succinct and logical. The recipe format takes away the the need for including paragraphs of instructions after the ingredients list. Tonight I made ratatouille using this recipe card. Check it out.

Polishing a diamond

The message at the service this weekend was very thought-provoking. In a nutshell, the speaker talked about how we are being shaped and polished as diamonds. The process is not easy. Because the diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material, it is not easily scratched or marred by its environment and it can only be polished by another diamond. Chipping away the impurities and getting to the pristine core leaves only a fraction of the rough stone. In the same way, we as believers are being refined and polished, so that we will reflect the Light of the Lord while remaining uncompromised by the world.

When all the pieces fit

I have been in a situation at work where I always feel overworked and understaffed. I have recently hired 2 more people to off-load some of the work, and they were immediately very busy (and I am still very busy). What was I thinking? I guess I bite off more than I can chew sometimes. It all sounds simple on paper.

I have learned a couple things from this experience. The first is that I can be many times more effective by delegating (I have had to work on retraining my brain in this area because as a grad student I had to do everything myself for my projects). The second lesson is that there is no substitute for quality workers. Finding people who are dependable and attentive to details is not always easy but so valuable. I don't know what I would have done at this point in time if I had not taken the risk to hire more people. Fortunately, the Lord put good people in my path--I am blessed.

When God doesn't answer

I have been thinking a lot lately about a few situations where I or others have been praying, and the answer is not coming the way that I would want or expect. Clearly, I know that God has a plan that is far greater than what I could ever imagine, but I feel confused. Why do we feel compelled to pray for something when the outcome doesn't happen? Are we praying the wrong things or with the wrong motives? Maybe.

But I think about the Scripture that tells us to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." People have been praying that for millennia, but it has not been fully answered yet. Still, the Scriptures instruct us to pray for it. If we don't see the answer we are expecting, does that mean we shouldn't pray for it? From this example, I believe it is clear that we should pray for it regardless of what we see.

We are to pray God's will. The difficult thing for me is knowing God's will in a situation. Is it God's will that we should never experience pain or suffering? I know that He is a good God and does not cause harm for His children, but He allows us to be tried and tested, which we see in the book of Job. God did not forget His servant Job, but He allowed him to endure much sorrow and pain. So, how do we pray? We cannot pray according to what we see, but according to the Spirit of God. Sometimes I wonder why we even pray if God is going to do what is best anyway. But then I think of how much I have grown through those moments of deep intercession even if what I was praying was not granted.

Great Orchestration

I think of when I was in concert band in high school and the marvelous feeling that I felt when the band was "on" --the timing and notes were right. It was a feeling of awe to be part of beautiful music when we played our parts according to the direction of the conductor. I felt a similar awe over the last few days as I traveled to little Helena's funeral and then visited my family. I saw how the Great Conductor was orchestrating people to intersect at the right time, how weather was changed in a moment, and how seats on a plane opened.

One notable happening was when I was returning home last night. I had a small little paperback book that was evangelistic in nature. I was wondering who the Lord wanted me to give it to. I wasn't sure, so I kept it in my hand rather than put it in my backpack as I got off the plane. I was talking to the man who had been sitting next to me on the plane as we took the train back to the main terminal. He asked me, "What is that book that you have in your hand?" I said, "Do you want it? Here you can have it." He was a little surprised at my offer but gladly took the book. How easy was that? May the Lord work in that man's life.

I wasn't booked for that flight but I got on as a standby passenger even when one of the agents told me that my chances of getting on were slim. I see it as the Great Conductor doing some intricate orchestration. I am left with a sweet feeling of awe.

Fragility and Resiliency

I was thinking in light of yesterday's sad news how the human body is both resilient and fragile all at the same time. These are very opposite properties (it reminds me a little of the light/particle discussion I posted a few months ago). I think of Helena and how her little body went through so many medical procedures and rebounded quite well. Then it was over, and they don't know exactly know why. Her heart and lungs seemed to be functioning fine independently, but somehow she wasn't able to maintain high enough blood O2 levels. I imagine that God decided she had endured enough, and He took her home.

His ways are not our ways

Today is a sad day for my mother's side of the family. My cousin's 19-month-old daughter died of a cardiac arrest a couple days after she had undergone a seemingly successful heart surgery. Although I never met little Helena, she looked like a little sweetheart in photos (see her blog). I talked to my cousin (her mother) today and was moved with compassion for her and her husband. I was reminded that our Father in Heaven knows what it is like to see his Son die, and He will help them through their grief.

I must remember that God has a plan through it all even if we can't see and understand it. It is at times like this where all I can do is lean on the fact that God is good, and He will never leave or forsake His children.

3 days and 3 nights

It was probably 10 years ago when I was plagued with a question that I asked everyone I saw (including pastors and theologians). The questions was this, "If Jesus died on a Friday how can you reconcile the fact that Jesus said 'Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so must the Son of Man be in the heart of the Earth.'" No one that I asked at that time had a satisfactory answer for me. The responses were either that Jesus was speaking figuratively, or else you had to do some fancy way of counting partial days and forget about the nights.

A year or so after I first had the question, someone pointed out to me that in John it is noted that Jesus died the day before a "Special Sabbath" and not on the 6th day of the week. Now, there was some hope for me to be able to reconcile this seeming inconsistency. Naturally, my next question was, "Why does the church so dogmatically say that He died on a Friday then?"

It wasn't until I started attending a Messianic congregation that I was finally able to see how the Christendom has made a lot of things fit the stories that it wants to tell. Well-meaning believers swallow the stories without checking out the facts. The Scriptures never say that "Palm Sunday" happened on the first day of the week. The "Last Supper" was not eaten as depicted in the paintings and did not happen on a Thursday. Jesus death could not have been on a Friday if we take His words literally. The time of the resurrection was during Passover, not set according to the vernal equinox (as is the case with Easter). Yet, if someone who is just reading the Bible points out these inconsistencies, he/she is labeled as a trouble-maker or as someone who is trying to stomp on tradition. I think tradition is fine if it does not contradict with Scripture.

It seems to me that remembering Jesus death and resurrection at the time of Passover is a logical thing to do. Why not actually be reminded that Jesus is the Passover Lamb? Why not eat the Passover meal? Why not use the Biblical calendar rather than a pagan calendar to remember His death and resurrection? Instead, the church has decided to remember a day based on the cycle of the sun rather than the moon , serve up an Easter ham rather than lamb, and promote a fictitious bunny who brings children candy in eggs that represent the goddess of fertility...I am confused.

Bumper Sticker Inspiration

My neighbor's car has a bumper sticker that says, "The meaning of life is to live it." This has made me think. Usually bumper sticker messages are read and then forgotten, but this is a simplistically profound statement. Sometimes we over-think our existence. Don't get me wrong, I believe God has designed us with purpose and each person has tremendous value. I just think that we are sometimes putting too much focus on doing something grand or accomplishing the "one thing" you have been placed on the Earth to do. We forget that our value is not in "doing," rather our value is intrinsic to who we are as human beings. A flower is not any more beautiful because it was in the White House. It is beautiful because it is beautiful. We are not made more valuable by what we do. The Scriptures say that those who have been redeemed by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) are children of God. By faith we can know that by living our lives to the glory of God, even in the little things, our purpose is being fulfilled.

Experience or Watch

Here is the question of the day: "Do you live life or observe life?" I must admit that my tendency is to observe rather than to be "living in the moment." The funny thing is that I have now observed myself observing. It seems safer. If we watch, we don't have to take as many risks. The problem is that observing is not as rewarding as engaging. Sometimes we can "seemingly engage," but just be going through the motions. I want to live life to the fullest and experience full joy. What about you?

Daylight Saving Time

For some reason I have been especially impacted by the change to DST this year. It could have something to do with the fact that I stayed up way too late on Saturday night/Sunday morning, but nevertheless, I feel the loss of that hour. I still don't understand why we change our time. Does it have something to do with the fact that we wish we could be like God and make time stand still? Probably not. The true reason is probably as ridiculous. People taut it as energy savings, but in today's world our schedules do not hinge that much upon daylight hours (well, maybe a little bit). Manufacturing and shopping happens around the clock. People work and play 24 hours a day. Back before working to a clock, people adjusted their day according to the position of the sun. Ok, maybe it is a silly thing to get worked up about, but the whole concept seems rather silly to me.
If we don't like the fact that it is dark at 10pm, then maybe we should just move our clocks 5 hours ahead and it would be light at 10 pm all year long.

I just saw that a new study shows that implementing DST can actually affect health. Check it out

Back at home

So now I am back to the northwest United States after being in Finland for a couple weeks, and it feels like spring here. After being in the cold and snow, coming back to 50 degrees feels very nice. It has even been a little sunny. The worst part about traveling is readjusting. A 10-hr time change can have a dramatic impact on a persons physiological responses. I am now very tired early in the evening and fully awake at 6 am. Is that what it's like to be a morning person? I am not quite sure what to do with myself so wide awake at that time in the morning. The other part of readjusting is catching up with things at work. So much to do...I even tried to keep up a little while I was away.

Such is life--full of adjustments. We like to be in a routine and tend to be creatures of habit. It is really amazing how God created us to have bodies that are programmed according to the sunrise and sunset. Physiologically we adjust to the world around us. At the same time, we have been created to be able to adjust to changes as well. There are always changes (seasons, weather, etc.) around us, which provide interesting variety. However, it nice to know that we have a God who is constant.

"for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you." (1Pe 1:24-25 ESV)

Some Finnish Observations

I have been enjoying my trip to Finland. It has been interesting to see it now with new perspective. The last time I was here was in 1996. Below is a brief list of some of my current observations (although my window of observation has been only one week).

1. Finnish people are very punctual--much more so than Americans. We attended a conference this past weekend, and I couldn't believe how every session started and ended on time (to the minute). It seems that every conference or retreat I have attended in the US starts a little late and the sessions and breaks go overtime.

2. Finns are direct and to the point. They say what they mean without beating around the bush. They don't waste a lot of time with flowery speeches. This probably helps them to be punctual.

3. Finns take hospitality very seriously. People go out of their way to make their food look beautiful and taste wonderful. Coffee is served with home baked goods and served in a creative way. Last night I got to eat smoked reindeer baked with cheese and onions on a rye crust--it was excellent. Tea and coffee is always accompanied with nice breads, cheese, meat, and some vegetables (usually cucumbers, tomatoes, and red peppers). Coffee also usually includes multiple dessert options with perhaps some sort of tort, cake, ice cream, chocolates, fruit, etc. Of course they are served with the proper silverware and dishes. A guest feels quite special here.

4. Traffic seems to be remarkably light here. I have a hard time believing how such large cities could have such little traffic. Cars, parking fees, and gasoline are not cheap. In addition, public transportation is readily available. When I think about it, much of American life is spent in an automobile. I think about all of the time per week that I spend in my vehicle going from place to place and sitting in traffic. It seems that the radius of daily activity is much smaller here than in America.

5. Design is sleek, simple, efficient, of high quality, and practical. This makes me feel quite at home. I like the sensibility of being efficient, practical, with a streamlined pleasent appearance in households and clothing. Wood, glass, and brushed metal are common materials.

6. Finns appear to be as informed and maybe more informed about American politics than the majority of Americans. In nearly every conversation I have had, one of the first questions that comes up is related to the Presidential candidates. They all want to know what we think about Hillary and Obama. The general thought here is that Obama will win (probably because of the media hype in the US about him). I of course let them know that I support Mike Huckabee. Many say they like him, but have not heard much about him (that seems to be a consensus in the US as well). One man told me that he heard that Huckabee has some ancestors who were from Finland. I have not been able to confirm this, but that would be pretty cool. I had one man ask me to help him understand a caucus, a primary, and super delegates. Most Americans would probably have the same question. Finland currently has a female president, so they are of course interested to know if the US will vote one in as well.

Below are a few pictures from my trip thus far.

Above is a pen pal from when I was about 8 years old who I was able to visit. She is a 3rd cousin once removed who found me a few months ago on Facebook after over 20 years. It was a lot of fun to meet her husband and to stay at her home (the conversation and hospitality were delightful).

Above are photos of a newly installed sauna that uses fiber optic lights in the ceiling. The design was very nice.

Above is a photo of the coffee table at one home. This woman does some catering, so her spread was a bit more extravagant than at other homes, but here you can get the idea as to some ideas here regarding evening coffee.

A little family history

Today I had a chance to see the hotel that my great grandfather helped to construct in the late 1880s. I understand he was some type of foreman or construction manager for the Hotel Kämp in Helsinki. Now this is considered as one of the top hotels in Helsinki. They have restored it, and it is quite impressive. It was a lot of fun for me to see how he left his mark in this part of the world. As I looked at the columns, stairways, and exterior, I thought about how much effort he put into getting it all looking so beautiful. Above is a photo from inside the lobby.


Above is a view of the stairways upward from the lobby.
My parents sitting in the lobby. Below is a view of the exterior of the building.

Washington Republican Caucus Results

Again, people are projecting winners prematurely. The Washington State Republican party has declared McCain the winner with 87% of precincts reporting and only a 242 delegate difference between McCain and Huckabee. I sent the following email to Luke Esser (luke@wsrp.org) of the Washington State Republican party. See reported results.

See what Mike Huckabee's website says about this.


Mr Esser,

I am very disappointed that a winner of the Republican caucuses was projected to the press prematurely. According to the numbers reported, if 13% of the precincts have not reported, approximately 1750 delegates have not been counted. It is hardly possible to accurately predict the winner when the spread between McCain and Huckabee is only 242 delegates (less than 14% of the outstanding delegates), and the difference between McCain and Ron Paul is only 669 delegates.

The state of Washington does not have a good record for counting ballots, and we as the Republican party do not want to be accused of pulling similar tricks as what happened in the last governor's race. Please rescind your projected winner statement, and at least wait until all precincts have reported.

In addition there are a large number (1729) of "uncommitted" delegates who will be free to vote as they wish in the next round. As I understand it, we do not know a "winner" in Washington until the convention process has been completed.

Just in...Romney leaving race

The latest headline is that Romney is leaving the race.

Now some of his delegates will be free to vote for Huckabee! This is really getting exciting.

The most efficient candidate

Check out this article in the NY Times today. It begins like this, "If political victory was measured in the wise use of scant financial resources, Mike Huckabee would be the front-runner in the presidential race." Then goes on to compare how Huckabee has spent $45,000 per delegate in comparison to Mitt Romney's $654,000. Ouch, that hurts for businessman Romeny.

I want someone running this country who is fiscally responsible--don't you too? I can't understand why radio talk show hosts keep saying that Romney is more fiscally conservative--that is not evidenced by his campaign management. Actions speak louder than words.

By the way, money does actually help the campaigns, so consider chipping in to Mike Huckabee's campaign (use donor code: R6111). He will effectively use your donation.

A little surprise for the pundits

I am guessing that the political pundits were a bit surprised by the results of Super Tuesday because it didn't go exactly they way they were predicting. In fact, Huckabee did much better than they expected. This proves that this is not a 2-man race. I am tired of the media calling Huckabee a spoiler. He is a real candidate. Now its on to my state of Washington (Feb 9) where I am hoping we can surprise some more people.

It's not over

The primary race is not over yet. Political pundits are claiming that the race in the Replican party is between McCain and Romney, but I beg to differ. Only a small percentage of the overall delegates have been determined. Some people say they like Huckabee, but aren't going to vote for him because they don't think he will win. That is crazy. Vote for who you believe will be the best candidate! Below is another reason why I am supporting Mike--once again he demonstrates forward-thinking ideas.

Most people are aware of the recently announced economic stimulus package that our government is planning to implement. I am a bit skeptical of how effective such a package actually will be. From what I have read, the average American will get about $600 with the idea that we will spend it. But the larger question is "how will each American spending a quick $600 help us in the long term?" I think there are other methods for strengthening the economy rather than trying a quick-fix solution. Unfortunately, America is known for its "I want it now" attitude. A little patience would do us a lot of good. Rather than sending checks to each individual, what if the government was to offer funding for developing alternative energy technology. It could be like the space program twenty some years ago (the entire country benefited in numerous ways because of the development for NASA). Not only would it provide jobs to those developing the new technology, but it would be a huge benefit to our country in the long run to not be so dependent on foreign oil. We could save a tremendous amount of money by moving to more renewable energy sources--the problem is that the initial costs for converting technology is high. The US as a whole would benefit from such a program in many ways.

The idea that Huckabee has suggested is also intriguing--to improve our national infrastructure (such as roads and bridges). Many American jobs would be created by requiring the use of US materials and labor. People would benefit from these improved systems for years to come.

It seems to make much more sense to look further ahead than just a couple months. We will soon forget what we bought with our rebate check, but just think of what could be done with a little more patience and careful thought.

Who won the debate?

This is a very interesting video of a focus group who watched the debate the other night.

A Biased Debate

I was totally disgusted by the moderating of the CNN Republican debate in CA. Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were barely included in the discussions. Anderson Cooper blatently cut off these candidates after a very short amount of time and then let Romney and McCain ramble on for minutes. At least Huckabee stood up for himself during the debate and was able to communicate part of his message in spite of the bias. The most disappointing thing is that Anderson shot down the ones who actually had something to say to make the debate interesting. I thought a debate was supposed to be an honest exchange of ideas. It is unfortunate that America was robbed of a good solid debate by silencing candidates who make thought-provoking comments. Even if I may disagree with some of Ron Paul's statements, I still think he should be allowed the opportunity to state his opinion.

The Republican race is still far from over although the media would like everyone to believe that this is just a 2-person race between Romney and McCain. However, the reality is that in terms of delegate count the story has not been told. Huckabee has strong support in southern states, which could earn him a lot of delegates. The main problem is that the media is portraying him as not having a chance, which is absolutely not true. Don't buy the lie that he can't win. Now is not the time to switch because you don't think he has a chance. Now is the time to stand up and support Huckabee by voting, volunteering, or donating.

Rewarding Irresponsibility?

There is a local insurance company's slogan that is "Rewarding Responsibility." That is a pretty good principle to stand on. I think most people would agree that the fundamental purpose of government is to encourage good behavior and punish evil. Sometimes I think that we get a little confused as to what we should expect from the government and what its role should be. Should the government bail people out for making poor decisions? For example, the housing industry is struggling right now because people made some poor decisions. Is it the government's responsibility to keep people from foreclosures? I know it sounds harsh, but I don't think so. That would be rewarding bad behavior on both the part of the borrower and the lender, which in turn, punishes those who have maintained good behavior. Perhaps it could be argued that the government should have stepped in sooner to punish the bad behavior of the lenders before this happened, but now to bail them out would be inferring that what they did was not their fault.

Objective observers of the housing market predicted that it was overinflated because of the low interest rates and easy credit. However, many people chose to ignore the signs because they were hoping to make a bunch of money. The market will eventually correct itself. Yes, some banks and some people will probably lose in the process, but that is the risk they took when they decided to loan/borrow high-risk mortgages.

There are some Presidential hopefuls encouraging a bailout of the mortgage industry, but I don't think there is a enough money in the already depleted coffers to easily remedy this situation. Plus, as I said above it will only continue to encourage irresponsibility.

FYI: Listen to this interesting interview on NPR that I heard in December.

Does it really matter?

I have had people ask me several times "Does a President's position on abortion really matter? They can't really do anything about it anyway." My immediate response is, "Yes, his/her position matters a lot." Sure, the President might not be able to immediately stop abortion-on-demand, but there are two big reasons to vote for a pro-life Presidential candidate. The first is that his/her approach to the issue is surely telling of their view of the value of human life. Don't we want a President that will truly believe these words of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"? Shouldn't unborn children be given the right to life? The fundamental view that life is precious and given by God is something ingrained into the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If we take away the respect for life, we have undermined one of the foundational principles of this nation. The President is also able make a significant influence on this issue through the the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. So, yes, a Presidential candidate's position on this issue really does matter. (Mike Huckabee's position on this issue is another reason I support him.)

A pro-life President alone will not be able put an end to reverse Roe vs Wade. We all need to speak out for those who don't have a voice. There is an interesting video suggesting that even the smallest voice may make a huge impact.

Who wants some cloned beef?

Today the FDA made a rather foolish (in my opinion) ruling by allowing products from cloned animals to enter the national food supply. What's even better is that no labels or warnings are needed on these products. They suggest a several month prolonged ban, but as far as I can tell these products (milk, meat, etc.) can start being sold tomorrow. This seems crazy to me. Yes, I understand that the FDA has "evaluated" the risks and has not found these products to be hazardous, but they were also the ones to evaluate Vioxx, Aprotinin, Valdecoxib, Bextra, Zelnorm, Baycol, etc. and then subsequently pull them later due to overlooked adverse effects. I am not sure that I want them to decide whether or not cloned meat is good for me. I think the Europeans had a better approach. As I understand it the EU will allow the cloned products to be sold, but they have to be labeled as coming form a cloned animal. This makes much more sense to me. Maybe I should look into starting that farm...

Wisdom is the best weapon

Yesterday at our worship service, someone made the statement "Wisdom is better than weapons of warfare" when talking about a passage in Ecclesiastes. That immediately caught my attention. I started thinking about what wisdom is and how it is demonstrated. We know that the Scriptures say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. A person who fears the Lord demonstrates a humble spirit. He/she is teachable and moldable, and is not swayed by popular opinion or the folly of this world. A wise person can look at a situation and understand the root of the issue.

I think about Gideon, and how by being obedient to the Lord he defeated the Mideanites with clay pots, torches, and trumpets. Those weapons were not so formidable, but the God behind the weapons is not one to contend with. Gideon might have looked silly to others, but because of his obedience (fear of the Lord), true wisdom defeated the enemy in a remarkable way. Likewise, the power of God was behind Joshua as the Israelites obediently marched around Jericho (and the walls fell with a shout).

Are the strong and powerful wise? Sometimes yes, but often they become foolish because arrogance creeps in. A wise person never becomes so wise that they no longer need to seek the Lord, listen, and learn. I will continue to ponder this one for a while.

An Overlooked Issue

Well the results are in from the NH primary. Everyone knows the big stories from it regarding Hillary and McCain. Mike Huckabee did quite well finishing 3rd when just last week the polls showed him in 4th or 5th. He is definitely gaining momentum and is being noticed by both Democrats and Republicans. In many ways, he is a different kind of candidate--one that neither party really knows how to handle. I am extremely excited about Huckabee as a candidate. Call me a little crazy, but I have been watching a bunch of YouTube videos of him and try to catch him on the debates and interviews. It seems that every time I see him, I am impressed. He is quick on his feet, holds up well under pressure, and seems like he is actually enjoying himself. If you haven't seen Mike Huckabee speak, at least take a look at this video posted on YouTube.

The one issue that is rarely mentioned or discussed by the press is about Israel. Israel is and will continue to be a pivotal issue in the years ahead. If a national leader does not have a sound approach, he/she will fail miserably at home. I am actually concerned about the current administration's methods to "bring peace" to Israel by entertaining the idea of splitting up the land again. It could be a total disaster. Mike Huckabee is the only candidate I have found that actually appears to understand the importance of supporting Israel and is committed to doing so. He is opposed to the common notion that Israel must give up land to bring about peace. Every time Israel has conceded land, it has only brought about more problems. "Land for peace" is not a viable solution. This may be the most significant issue of the entire race, but no one is talking about it.

Watch this video of an interview between Huckabee and Wolf Blitzer on CNN on the Israel situation.

I Like Mike!

I have been very fascinated with the Presidential politics this year for several reasons. The main reason is that it is not totally predictable (although the media likes to act like it is and then they change their pick). It is still very fluid in both parties, which I think has been very good for the political process. It has allowed real discussion of serious issues instead of people being corralled along "party lines." Maybe this year we will get a candidate who has actually thought "outside of the box" a little bit. I am hoping for one anyway. That is why I am supporting Mike Huckabee--he is one candidate who appears to have approached issues with some critical thought before spewing out an expected "party line." Yes, perhaps there are others who are outside the box as well, but I actually like most of the conclusions Gov. Huckabee has reached on the issues. His principles appear to align with Scriptural principles, and it has been shown time and again that when Biblical principles are properly applied, all of society (not just small sectors) will benefit. Take a look at him and see if you might agree too. I want someone who will take practical approaches to issues. So many politicians know how to speak rhetoric with no reasonable plan of action. The media is trying to paint a very flat picture of him, but I think they will have a hard time denying the fact that he is actually a very well-rounded candidate who has fresh ideas and the interests of the people in mind.


NOTE: No political figure will be able to solve all the problems in this world. Only God can do that.

Time

We have reached the beginning of a new calendar year again. Time seems to fly by. In recent months I have thought about how on this earth we are confined to 3-dimensional space and time, and how God is not limited to time or space. He is eternal and can see the past, present, and future all at the same time. When I was a kid, I would get myself worked into a vicious circle trying to understand infinity. Now, I don't even try, but it is helpful for me to not even think about eternity in terms of time as we know it on this earth. Similar to the fact that God is omnipresent and not confined to space, He lives outside of time. Heaven will be pretty cool without the constraints of this earth (gravity, time, etc.).

We have all been allotted an unknown finite amount of time on this earth. What are you doing with yours?