Here are ten trivia questions about the states.
1. For a generation, the United States flew a 48-star flag. Then in 1959 and 1960 Alaska and Hawaii became states. Which two states are the 47th and 48th (the order is extra)?
2. Which state was an independent republic before being annexed to the USA?
3. Which state was a kingdom before being annexed to the USA?
4. Before Alaska became a state, which state was the westernmost?
5. Before Alaska became a state, which state was the northernmost?
6. Before Hawaii became a state, which state was the southernmost?
7. Before Alaska became a state, which state was the largest?
8. Are the highest and lowest points in the adjoining 48 states in different states?
9. Which state has the longest coastline?
10. How many states have four-letter names? Name them.
Answers
1. New Mexico then Arizona
2. Texas
3. Hawaii
4. Washington
5. Minnesota
6. Florida
7. Texas
8. No. They are Mt. Whitney and Death Valley, both in California
9. Alaska
10. Three - Ohio, Iowa, Utah
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Date to Remember
WARNING!
This is a fictional account. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is strictly coincidental.
____________________________________________________
Janet remembers her first date with a young man called Barry. He was charming, though a little bashful and awkward at times. She had just arrived in town to enroll in college. He was beginning his second year.
Janet met Barry at a popular pizza parlor near the campus. Looking for a place to sit, she spotted the empty seat at a small table. On the other side sat a young man with a serious expression reading a thick book.
"May I take this seat?"
The man looked up. A smile broke out, spreading across his face. "Why, sure! It's my pleasure." He rose, stepped around the table and pulled out the chair. "Here."
Janet set her food on the table and sat down. "Thank you. Thanks a whole bunch!"
He returned to his seat, secured a bookmark and closed the volume.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I will finish registration today."
"Are you a freshman?"
"Yup. This is all new to me. I'm from Yreka, up north near Shasta."
"Welcome to the metropolis. This place was new to me last year."
"By the way, who are you?"
"Pardon me for not introducing myself. I'm Barry."
"I'm Janet." She took a bite of her meal. When she had swallowed, she dabbed her mouth with the napkin.
Barry, who had reopened the book, rested his hand on the page, then asked, "What's your major?"
"Sociology and Psychology. I want to be a social worker. What do you study?"
"Political Science and Government. I'm planning on going to law school."
"To be a lawyer?"
"To start with, yes. One can go a long way from there."
"Hah! My dad said, 'If you want to go a long ways, become a lawyer. It'll take you all the way to Hell.' Have you ever heard that?"
"I think I have. I've also heard that about other professions and businesses, such as used car salesmen."
"Me, too. It really depends more on the person."
"I'd better let you finish your meal before it gets stale."
"Thanks." Janet resumed eating, while Barry resumed reading.
____________________________________________________
Just as Janet was picking up the food tray, Barry looked up. "What are you doing when you finish registration?"
"I don't know. I don't really know anyone here, and I don't know this town."
"Would you like a guided tour?"
"That sounds great! When does it start? Does Gray Lines operate that late?"
"They do have evening tours during the tourist season, like summer and Christmas week. I was thinking of something in a sports car, not a bus."
"Are you a tour guide?"
"I know this area well enough to be one. I can put on cabbie cap if you like."
"I'm on. Where does the tour start and when?"
"When does registration end?"
"I should be done about 3:30. But I have to get back to the dorm and file my papers."
"When can you get back to here?"
"About quarter-to-five."
"See you then."
"Okay."
____________________________________________________
At 4:45 Janet saw Barry standing by the door as she walked down the street toward the pizza parlor. A lightweight sweater was draped over one arm, ready to ward off an evening chill. She lightly brushed her hair with her hand to corral any stray strands.
Barry was looking up the walk the other direction. Janet was only two doors away when he turned and spied her. He waited to speak until she was only ten feet away. "On-the-dot! You have a very good sense of time."
"I honed that skill with summer jobs in high school. It really helps when you have to keep track of several things all at once."
"It helps in college, too. Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am" She hand-brushed her hair again. "Where's the tour car?"
"Around the corner, in the parking lot. The top's down to improve the view." He flipped out a duster cap and pulled it onto his head. His hair was just bushy enough to hold it firmly.
"How's this?"
"Classy!"
____________________________________________________
Barry drove south to York Boulevard and turned west, then headed north onto a freeway, talking all the time like a tour guide: "The first thing to learn in this city is the freeway system. It is a network which ties the whole metropolis together. This is the Glendale Freeway, which goes from I-5 to the Foothills Freeway."
They followed a ramp to the right. "Now we're on the Ventura Freeway, which will take us to Pasadena, home of Cal Tech and the Rose Bowl." In Pasadena, Barry exited the freeway and showed Janet the local icons.
From Pasadena, Barry took the Ventura Freeway to the Hollywood Freeway, pointing out all the well-known places as they went by. They exited in Hollywood, then followed Santa Monica Boulevard through Beverly Hills to the San Diego Freeway. From there, Barry drove south to the Santa Monica Freeway and headed east to the Harbor Freeway, north to the Hollywood Freeway, and south to the N. Broadway exit.
On North Broadway, they went north. "Here is something you definitely don't see in Yreka. Now this is mostly Chinese, but not all. It is more or less international, but it is still called 'Chinatown.' Different, isn't it." To Janet this was like visiting a foreign country, all the quaint Oriental stores and signs. Being in a convertible, they could hear non-English, sing-song conversation.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Let's find a good place to eat."
"You know the area. What's good?"
Barry pulled to the curb in front of door with a marquee reading "Mai-Chu Sing" above a string of Chinese characters. "This is what I like."
____________________________________________________
The food was good, but not exactly exotic. Janet, with her family and friends, had frequented Chinese restaurants in Yreka. After the meal, she said, "I'm feeling global. For dessert, can we try another nationality?"
"Sure. I know of an interesting place. How does Manchurian sound?"
"Now that's different! I'm game."
"Now this place is not exactly in Chinatown, but it's close."
South and east about a half mile a sign hung over the sidewalk: "The Yak Shack."
"What a name!"
"I know it sounds almost American, but it is genuinely Manchurian. They have confections found nowhere else in the world except in Manchuria --- and places like this, of course. There is a candy I especially like. The flavor is (how shall I say it?) over there."
Barry was right. The confections were deliciously exotic, the best she'd ever had. This was the defining memory she would carry of this day. For the rest of her life, she would remember it as "the Manchurian Candy Date."
© 2010, Wesley G. Vaughn
This is a fictional account. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is strictly coincidental.
____________________________________________________
Janet remembers her first date with a young man called Barry. He was charming, though a little bashful and awkward at times. She had just arrived in town to enroll in college. He was beginning his second year.
Janet met Barry at a popular pizza parlor near the campus. Looking for a place to sit, she spotted the empty seat at a small table. On the other side sat a young man with a serious expression reading a thick book.
"May I take this seat?"
The man looked up. A smile broke out, spreading across his face. "Why, sure! It's my pleasure." He rose, stepped around the table and pulled out the chair. "Here."
Janet set her food on the table and sat down. "Thank you. Thanks a whole bunch!"
He returned to his seat, secured a bookmark and closed the volume.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I will finish registration today."
"Are you a freshman?"
"Yup. This is all new to me. I'm from Yreka, up north near Shasta."
"Welcome to the metropolis. This place was new to me last year."
"By the way, who are you?"
"Pardon me for not introducing myself. I'm Barry."
"I'm Janet." She took a bite of her meal. When she had swallowed, she dabbed her mouth with the napkin.
Barry, who had reopened the book, rested his hand on the page, then asked, "What's your major?"
"Sociology and Psychology. I want to be a social worker. What do you study?"
"Political Science and Government. I'm planning on going to law school."
"To be a lawyer?"
"To start with, yes. One can go a long way from there."
"Hah! My dad said, 'If you want to go a long ways, become a lawyer. It'll take you all the way to Hell.' Have you ever heard that?"
"I think I have. I've also heard that about other professions and businesses, such as used car salesmen."
"Me, too. It really depends more on the person."
"I'd better let you finish your meal before it gets stale."
"Thanks." Janet resumed eating, while Barry resumed reading.
____________________________________________________
Just as Janet was picking up the food tray, Barry looked up. "What are you doing when you finish registration?"
"I don't know. I don't really know anyone here, and I don't know this town."
"Would you like a guided tour?"
"That sounds great! When does it start? Does Gray Lines operate that late?"
"They do have evening tours during the tourist season, like summer and Christmas week. I was thinking of something in a sports car, not a bus."
"Are you a tour guide?"
"I know this area well enough to be one. I can put on cabbie cap if you like."
"I'm on. Where does the tour start and when?"
"When does registration end?"
"I should be done about 3:30. But I have to get back to the dorm and file my papers."
"When can you get back to here?"
"About quarter-to-five."
"See you then."
"Okay."
____________________________________________________
At 4:45 Janet saw Barry standing by the door as she walked down the street toward the pizza parlor. A lightweight sweater was draped over one arm, ready to ward off an evening chill. She lightly brushed her hair with her hand to corral any stray strands.
Barry was looking up the walk the other direction. Janet was only two doors away when he turned and spied her. He waited to speak until she was only ten feet away. "On-the-dot! You have a very good sense of time."
"I honed that skill with summer jobs in high school. It really helps when you have to keep track of several things all at once."
"It helps in college, too. Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am" She hand-brushed her hair again. "Where's the tour car?"
"Around the corner, in the parking lot. The top's down to improve the view." He flipped out a duster cap and pulled it onto his head. His hair was just bushy enough to hold it firmly.
"How's this?"
"Classy!"
____________________________________________________
Barry drove south to York Boulevard and turned west, then headed north onto a freeway, talking all the time like a tour guide: "The first thing to learn in this city is the freeway system. It is a network which ties the whole metropolis together. This is the Glendale Freeway, which goes from I-5 to the Foothills Freeway."
They followed a ramp to the right. "Now we're on the Ventura Freeway, which will take us to Pasadena, home of Cal Tech and the Rose Bowl." In Pasadena, Barry exited the freeway and showed Janet the local icons.
From Pasadena, Barry took the Ventura Freeway to the Hollywood Freeway, pointing out all the well-known places as they went by. They exited in Hollywood, then followed Santa Monica Boulevard through Beverly Hills to the San Diego Freeway. From there, Barry drove south to the Santa Monica Freeway and headed east to the Harbor Freeway, north to the Hollywood Freeway, and south to the N. Broadway exit.
On North Broadway, they went north. "Here is something you definitely don't see in Yreka. Now this is mostly Chinese, but not all. It is more or less international, but it is still called 'Chinatown.' Different, isn't it." To Janet this was like visiting a foreign country, all the quaint Oriental stores and signs. Being in a convertible, they could hear non-English, sing-song conversation.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Let's find a good place to eat."
"You know the area. What's good?"
Barry pulled to the curb in front of door with a marquee reading "Mai-Chu Sing" above a string of Chinese characters. "This is what I like."
____________________________________________________
The food was good, but not exactly exotic. Janet, with her family and friends, had frequented Chinese restaurants in Yreka. After the meal, she said, "I'm feeling global. For dessert, can we try another nationality?"
"Sure. I know of an interesting place. How does Manchurian sound?"
"Now that's different! I'm game."
"Now this place is not exactly in Chinatown, but it's close."
South and east about a half mile a sign hung over the sidewalk: "The Yak Shack."
"What a name!"
"I know it sounds almost American, but it is genuinely Manchurian. They have confections found nowhere else in the world except in Manchuria --- and places like this, of course. There is a candy I especially like. The flavor is (how shall I say it?) over there."
Barry was right. The confections were deliciously exotic, the best she'd ever had. This was the defining memory she would carry of this day. For the rest of her life, she would remember it as "the Manchurian Candy Date."
© 2010, Wesley G. Vaughn
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Watch the Porcupine (Look Past the Quills)
My niece has been digitizing 8 mm movies my dad took decades ago. I have several of them on DVDs from her. Most of these are in color, but some are in black & white. There are quite a few interesting scenes. The earliest films were shot while Dad was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Alaska. Sometimes someone else took the camera and Dad ended up in the picture.
When Dad first went to the "Last Frontier" in 1940, he worked on building communications facilities connected by land lines, undersea cables and radio. These were in a variety of settings, from windswept tundra to coastal rainforests. The movies show fellow soldiers at work and at play. They also show landscapes, weather and animals.
Several wild animals became camp pets. The most intriguing I found were porcupines. At least two of these prickly rodents made themselves at home among the servicemen. Th.jpg)
ey were being fed by hand, rubbing against a soldier’s leg and being held. One even crawled up Dad’s arm to nuzzle his neck.
This is not what we expect from a creature with a "touch me not" reputation. We think of these pine pigs (that’s what "porcupine" means) with their quills erect, bristling against anyone and anything. But these "walking pincushions" had their quills laid back, giving them a somewhat sleek, non-threatening appearance. They obviously appreciated warmth, affection and companionship.
Sometimes people seem to be porcupines. It may be a stranger or someone we know. It may be at work or at school, in a store or on the street, in church or at home. Sometime, somewhere, we encounter a "porcupine," someone who bristles, quills spread out like a pincushion. The message is, "Touch me not."
People usually bristle for the same reasons as porcupines: fear, hurt, anger, territory. When threatened, sharp quills deter attackers. When hurt and angry, barbed quills punish perpetrators. When intruders appear, erect quills protect perimeters. For both humans and animals, attacks and threats can be real or imagined. Either kind elicits the same bristling response. Yet within there are non-bristly desires.
So how did porcupines become camp pets, friends of a bunch of soldier technicians stringing wires in the wilderness? They responded to kindness. These spiny rodents came looking for food, and the soldiers fed them. When they were not chased off nor threatened, the pine pigs began to trust these two-legged strangers who had invaded their habitat. Eventually they accepted, responded to and returned affection. That is how many wild animals have been tamed. Kindness drew them in. On our part, there is something inside us which wants to return to Eden, where all of God’s creatures lived in harmony.
How then shall we deal with the prickly people in our lives? How do we tame the human porcupines? Let’s see what the Bible says.
Perspective
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) *1
First we must see our porcupine people as God sees them. God told Samuel that He "looks on the heart." He sees what a person is inside, regardless of outward appearances, just as Jesus did:
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36) People may be grasping, greedy, hateful, fearful, ignorant, defensive, etc., but Jesus saw them as hungry, sick, neglected, and misled, as Dotty Rambo wrote, "He looked beyond my fault and saw my need."*2 So too, we must look beyond the quills to see porcupine people as God sees them, hurting, hungry, threatened, needy.
When Dad first went to the "Last Frontier" in 1940, he worked on building communications facilities connected by land lines, undersea cables and radio. These were in a variety of settings, from windswept tundra to coastal rainforests. The movies show fellow soldiers at work and at play. They also show landscapes, weather and animals.
Several wild animals became camp pets. The most intriguing I found were porcupines. At least two of these prickly rodents made themselves at home among the servicemen. Th
.jpg)
ey were being fed by hand, rubbing against a soldier’s leg and being held. One even crawled up Dad’s arm to nuzzle his neck.This is not what we expect from a creature with a "touch me not" reputation. We think of these pine pigs (that’s what "porcupine" means) with their quills erect, bristling against anyone and anything. But these "walking pincushions" had their quills laid back, giving them a somewhat sleek, non-threatening appearance. They obviously appreciated warmth, affection and companionship.
.jpg){kind=link}
Sometimes people seem to be porcupines. It may be a stranger or someone we know. It may be at work or at school, in a store or on the street, in church or at home. Sometime, somewhere, we encounter a "porcupine," someone who bristles, quills spread out like a pincushion. The message is, "Touch me not."
People usually bristle for the same reasons as porcupines: fear, hurt, anger, territory. When threatened, sharp quills deter attackers. When hurt and angry, barbed quills punish perpetrators. When intruders appear, erect quills protect perimeters. For both humans and animals, attacks and threats can be real or imagined. Either kind elicits the same bristling response. Yet within there are non-bristly desires.
So how did porcupines become camp pets, friends of a bunch of soldier technicians stringing wires in the wilderness? They responded to kindness. These spiny rodents came looking for food, and the soldiers fed them. When they were not chased off nor threatened, the pine pigs began to trust these two-legged strangers who had invaded their habitat. Eventually they accepted, responded to and returned affection. That is how many wild animals have been tamed. Kindness drew them in. On our part, there is something inside us which wants to return to Eden, where all of God’s creatures lived in harmony.
How then shall we deal with the prickly people in our lives? How do we tame the human porcupines? Let’s see what the Bible says.
Perspective
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) *1
First we must see our porcupine people as God sees them. God told Samuel that He "looks on the heart." He sees what a person is inside, regardless of outward appearances, just as Jesus did:
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36) People may be grasping, greedy, hateful, fearful, ignorant, defensive, etc., but Jesus saw them as hungry, sick, neglected, and misled, as Dotty Rambo wrote, "He looked beyond my fault and saw my need."*2 So too, we must look beyond the quills to see porcupine people as God sees them, hurting, hungry, threatened, needy.
Response
A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.(Proverbs 15:1)
When we encounter bristles, it is natural to be bristly in return. But Solomon says that leads to more trouble. When we are defensive in return, it justifies the other person’s defensiveness. To be honest, most of us know this from experience. Solomon’s advice is to answer softly, to defuse anger, to disarm defensiveness. And Moses said, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18) Similar advice is found in the New Testament:
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:17-18)
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)
"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you,
Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39)
Forgiveness
An oft-quoted saying is "Hurt people hurt people." Porcupine people usually hurt us because they have been hurt. When we hurt them back, the cycle of hurt continues. God’s key to breaking this cycle is forgiveness. We can forgive with God’s forgiveness as our example. In fact, Jesus connected our forgiveness of others to our forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:12,14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4). Jesus Himself set the example on the cross, when He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
It is a fact of life that, intentionally or not, we will be hurt and will hurt others, so mutual forgiveness is to be a way of life among Christians:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 )
Kindness
Just as the soldiers won over the porcupines by feeding them, we can try to win over the difficult, defensive person with acts of kindness. This speaks to him or her at the point of need. The Bible applies this to even our outright enemies.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.(Proverbs 25:21)
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (Romans 12:20)
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27)
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, ..." (Romans 5:10a)
There is also an example in how the prophet Elisha urged King Jehoram of Israel to deal with enemy soldiers miraculously delivered to him:
[Elisha] answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." So [the king] prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. (2 Kings 6:22-23)
Prayer
Another tool for dealing with porcupines along our way is prayer. For one thing, if we pray for someone, it affects how we think of that person. Also, God can do to and through someone what we could never do on our own.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45)
Again, Jesus set the example with His prayer from the cross (Luke 23:34), as did Stephen when he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:60).
The hardest Porcupines to deal with are the ones we encounter in the mirror. We find it so hard to tame ourselves. We may not see ourselves as porcupines, but when we bristle others do.
Thank God we have help. Paul says that the Holy Spirit in our lives brings self control (Galatians 5:23). He also said, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) It is easier for me to understand a porcupine when I remember that I myself am also one.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:17-18)
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)
"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you,
Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39)
Forgiveness
An oft-quoted saying is "Hurt people hurt people." Porcupine people usually hurt us because they have been hurt. When we hurt them back, the cycle of hurt continues. God’s key to breaking this cycle is forgiveness. We can forgive with God’s forgiveness as our example. In fact, Jesus connected our forgiveness of others to our forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:12,14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4). Jesus Himself set the example on the cross, when He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
It is a fact of life that, intentionally or not, we will be hurt and will hurt others, so mutual forgiveness is to be a way of life among Christians:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 )
Kindness
Just as the soldiers won over the porcupines by feeding them, we can try to win over the difficult, defensive person with acts of kindness. This speaks to him or her at the point of need. The Bible applies this to even our outright enemies.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.(Proverbs 25:21)
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (Romans 12:20)
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27)
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, ..." (Romans 5:10a)
There is also an example in how the prophet Elisha urged King Jehoram of Israel to deal with enemy soldiers miraculously delivered to him:
[Elisha] answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." So [the king] prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. (2 Kings 6:22-23)
Prayer
Another tool for dealing with porcupines along our way is prayer. For one thing, if we pray for someone, it affects how we think of that person. Also, God can do to and through someone what we could never do on our own.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45)
Again, Jesus set the example with His prayer from the cross (Luke 23:34), as did Stephen when he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:60).
The hardest Porcupines to deal with are the ones we encounter in the mirror. We find it so hard to tame ourselves. We may not see ourselves as porcupines, but when we bristle others do.
Thank God we have help. Paul says that the Holy Spirit in our lives brings self control (Galatians 5:23). He also said, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) It is easier for me to understand a porcupine when I remember that I myself am also one.
Wesley G. Vaughn,
© 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Salt or Light?
"What?!" you may ask. "Why do you say, ‘Salt OR Light?’ Isn’t it both . . . and, not either . . . or?"
Yes, you’re right. We are to be both salt and light. Jesus told us, "You are the salt of the earth. . . You are the light of the world." [Matthew 5:13-14] The title is actually part of a question.
My friend Harry (not his real name) was over, and I asked this question, "What is harder, being salt or being light?" Harry responded, "Without Jesus, both are impossible."
"That’s true," I said. "But for those of us who are already Christians, is it harder to be the salt of the earth or to be the light of the world?"
"I really don’t know," Harry said. "How would one be harder than the other?"
Let’s look at what it means to be salt and light to try to answer that question.
First, Jesus used two metaphors, both alike and different. Salt and light affect the world around them, but in different ways. Jesus’ explanation of the light make it clear that we are sources and transmitters of light, like lamps, lenses or reflectors. A lamp, lens or reflector does not have to have contact with it’s surroundings to shine light on them. Those the light shines on do not necessarily interact with the lamp, though they may. If someone likes the light he or she may come closer. Someone who does not appreciate the light may try to block it, or even become hostile and attack the lamp. Many others will simply ignore the light and eventually become insensitive to it.
How are we "the light of the world?" Those around us see what we do and hear what we say. This is important, our witness to the watching world. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Being light also means speaking out, giving verbal witness to the truth. We are to be witnesses, but in more ways that what we say or others see.
But being salt is harder. It is more interactive. Salt affects its surroundings through contact. Therefore, it is affected by its surroundings. People don’t just see what we do, but what we do impacts them. In everyday life, it is how we treat others, how we react and interact. Those who are close enough to the candle feel the heat and smell the wax, even touch it. In other words, they not only see and hear our witness, they feel it.
Why did Jesus use the metaphor of salt first? Because it has more impact. When we come into contact with other people, we influence them more by how we impact them than what we say. They are impressed less by the language we use and more by how we use the language. We may avoid obscenities and profanities while exposing obscene and profane attitudes. We may be strictly honest in very visible things, but not in how we deal with others in daily life. We can proclaim love to God while being unloving to those near us. For most of my life I’ve heard, "People don’t care what you know until they know you care." The talk is easier than the walk.
Jesus warned us against losing our saltiness. Just as we need power or fuel to produce light, we need a continuing source of saltiness to remain salty. Salt used to be produced in this area. Men drilling for oil found brine. So they drew the brine from these salt wells, evaporated the water and sold the salt. Jesus is not only our artesian well of living water, He is also our salt well. Living in close communion with Him keeps us salty.
The salt of ancient times was made by evaporating sea water. If the salt leached out, what was left was powdered silica and chalk, useful for paving pathways. It’s saltiness could not be restored. But if we have let our communion with God down and have lost our saltiness, He can restore it when we submit to Him again.
Back to the question, "What is harder, being salt or being light?" For many of us it is harder being salt than being light. It is not all that hard in today's society to make a profession of faith, to mouth things like "Thank God" and "Bless the Lord." We can say what ought to be done and be seen in our "Sunday best" on our way to church. But the real test is when we are tempted to cheat "just a little" to gain an advantage or save a little. Or when a co-worker gets a promotion we thought WE deserved. Or any other much-too-close situations. Then, when it really counts, it can be hard to "walk the talk." The same God who said to love Him, love our family members and love our neighbors, also said to love our enemies. He didn’t just say it, He set the example (Rom. 5:8-11). It is harder to be salt than light, but "with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." [English Standard Version]
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." [English Standard Version]
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
The Fulfillment of the So-Called “Curse of Ham”
What does it mean at Christmas?
Genesis 9: 24-27
Even an 8th or 9th grade student can figure some things out and see the fallacy of a long-held argument. This is especially true when the youth has been raised free from the prejudices which spawned the argument.
Such was the case when I was in the 8th or 9th grade. In American History class I learned of the so-called “Curse of Ham.” This was used to argue that God had destined the Negro race to be slaves. It was an interpretation of Genesis 9:24-27. Noah’s youngest son, Ham, had dishonored his father’s decency, so Noah had put a curse on his descendants. Since the Hamitic people of Africa (the Blacks, or Negroes) were from Ham, Southerners argued that all Negroes were cursed by God to be slaves.
Well, I was in a Christian school, and had been taking Bible classes. I looked up the passage and read it for myself. The error of the “Curse of Ham” leaped right off the page. The curse was not on Ham himself, but on his son Canaan. It was Canaan’s descendants who were to be servants to others. They were the ones conquered by Israel in 1400-1395 BC. I concluded that the argument was a misinterpretation of Scripture fueled by racial prejudice and economic self interest.
Decades later, I revisited the Curse of Canaan and saw that it was actually three-fold. Here is the text (from the New American Standard Bible):
24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.
25 So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant* of servants* He shall be to his brothers.”
26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant*.
27 “May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant*.”
* Note: “Servant” literally means “slave.”
First, Canaan would serve his brothers, meaning his descendants would serve the descendants of the other sons of Ham. Then he would serve Shem. After that, he would serve Japheth. This was literally fulfilled in history before New Testament times. First, the Canaanites were subject to the Egyptians (from Mizraim, son of Ham). Then they were conquered by the Israelites, sons of Shem. Then they were subject to the Greeks, sons of Japheth.
This is also fulfilled in Jesus. It is at Christmas we think of his genealogy, if we ever do. Of course he was a descendant of David and Abraham, but who else was in his line? Let’s see:
Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah, was a Canaanite. David came from her. So was Rahab of Jericho a Canaanite. Then David’s wife Maacah was a Canaanite princess. Her great great granddaughter, named after her, was the mother of King Abijah and grandmother of King Asa.
Another Canaanite princess, from Sidon, was Jezebel, wife of Ahab, King of Israel. She was the grandmother of King Ahaziah of Judah, from whom all the rest of Judah’s kings came. Both Joseph and Mary were descendants of Zerubbabel, grandson of Jeconiah, the exiled King of Judah. So Jesus was also her descendant. He descended from at least four Canaanites.
What does this mean to us? Two things:
First, Jesus came to be a servant. “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” He was the example of servanthood for us. He said that the greatest among his followers would be the servant of the others. First he served his brothers, the Jews, then he served the whole world.
Second, on the cross Jesus became cursed for us. It was there he bore the curse of our sins, not for ours alone, but the sins of the whole world.
At this season, let’s remember why he came and what he did.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
Friday, November 27, 2009
Peace & Thankfulness
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
Here peace and thankfulness are in close association. We are called to peace and also called to be thankful. How closely are peace and thankfulness linked?
War is in opposition to peace, and covetousness is in opposition to thankfulness. James 4:1 begins, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? You want something, but don’t get it.” (NIV) Here the Lord’s brother says that covetousness and greed cause conflict, even among believers. For instance, fighting over an inheritance has divided many families.
In his letter to Roman Christians, the Apostle Paul attributes the state of war between people and God to unthankfulness: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks . . .” (Rom. 1:21 NIV) He then outlines the progression of estrangement from God into total depravity and reprobation. It began with unthankfulness.
Thanklessness and covetousness are linked. One can lead to the other, then they progress together. Thanklessness may begin with thoughtlessness, forgetting the source of what we have. The Bible warns us many times not to forget God’s provision, lest we slip into idolatry. In the Ten Commandments, the first one is, “Don’t worship any other gods,” and the last is. “Do not covet.” (Ex. 20:3,17) These are linked, look alike like matched bookends. Paul says that covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). When we covet something, we worship it beside God. Since God does not accept this, it comes between us and Him. So covetousness leads to conflict with God as well as with other people. But thankfulness leads to peace.
Being genuinely thankful to others and to God can be a guard against coveting. It keeps us mindful not only of where it all comes from, but of the proper place of things in our lives. It helps to focus on the giver rather than on the gift. Taking Job and David for our examples, we should love God for Himself, not just for what He gives us.
Here is something to ask ourselves:
Which do we value more, God’s presents or His presence?
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
Monday, October 12, 2009
Family Membership
Mr. Parks is the Biology teacher at Brown County High School. One day in Botany class he held up a jar of Pedro’s Taco Salt, showing the front label to the class.
"What is this?" he asked
"Taco salt."
"Let’s see what’s in it?"
Mr. Parks turned the jar and read from the back label. As he spoke, the ingredients appeared on a screen. "The ingredients are ‘salt, dried red and green bell peppers, granulated sun-dried tomatoes, celery, parsley, cilantro, onion powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne, and silica to prevent caking.’ All natural, I see."
Mr. Parks set the jar down then addressed the class, "You will notice that all but two of the ingredients come from plants." Using a laser pointer, he highlighted ingredients on the screen "The peppers, tomatoes and cayenne are members of solanaceae, the nightshade family. The celery, parsley, cilantro and cumin are members of umbelliferae, the parsley family. And the onion and garlic are from liliaceae, the lily family. Any questions?"
A hand shot up.
"Yes, Tom. What is your question?"
"What family is the salt from?"
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
http://www.wyzant.com/Blogs/Wesley_G_V/Students__Questions_and_Answers/ViewBlogPost.aspx?id=293
"What is this?" he asked
"Taco salt."
"Let’s see what’s in it?"
Mr. Parks turned the jar and read from the back label. As he spoke, the ingredients appeared on a screen. "The ingredients are ‘salt, dried red and green bell peppers, granulated sun-dried tomatoes, celery, parsley, cilantro, onion powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne, and silica to prevent caking.’ All natural, I see."
Mr. Parks set the jar down then addressed the class, "You will notice that all but two of the ingredients come from plants." Using a laser pointer, he highlighted ingredients on the screen "The peppers, tomatoes and cayenne are members of solanaceae, the nightshade family. The celery, parsley, cilantro and cumin are members of umbelliferae, the parsley family. And the onion and garlic are from liliaceae, the lily family. Any questions?"
A hand shot up.
"Yes, Tom. What is your question?"
"What family is the salt from?"
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
http://www.wyzant.com/Blogs/Wesley_G_V/Students__Questions_and_Answers/ViewBlogPost.aspx?id=293
Mnemonic Sentences Help Distinguish Homophones
The English language abounds with homophones, words which share the same sounds, but have different meanings and, especially, spellings. There are also near homophones. These can be confusing to writer and reader alike. Most of the time the context tells the reader which word is intended, but sometimes it may mislead the reader. Therefore, it is important to properly spell the word you are using to clarify your meaning. The wrong choice among homophonic spellings may not only confuse your readers, it can make them stumble in reading your material. And it can make a poor impression when a good impression counts. Examples of this are resumes, cover letters and reports.
So how do we keep homophones straight? We may memorize many sets of homophones. But many of us have trouble just remembering what amounts to another list. I suggest using mnemonics. A mnemonic is a device which aids memory. What I am suggesting is mnemonic sentences or phrases which use the homophones in a set together in the same context. Just bringing them together reminds us that there are different spellings of same-sounding words which carry different meanings. I will give a few examples. You may create others to assist you in your writing.
Homophones: there, their, they're
They're over there with their luggage.
Near Homophones: weather, whether
I wonder whether the weather will be rainy or sunny.
Homophones: to, too, two
You have to mail two letters to Mr. Jones too.
Homophones: accept, except
They will accept all of these except that one.
Homophones: affect, effect, effect
This decision will affect every one of us adversely. The effect is unacceptable. Please do not effect this policy.
Homophones can be on the humorous side:
Tutu taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants. He was teaching Phan and Thu [pronounced "TOO"]. Phan learned fast, and soon moved from Level One to Level Two. One day Tutu's ESL supervisor came to him and asked, "Phan is almost through Level Two. When will we get Thu to Two too, Tutu?"
(This was posted on my tutoring blog on WyzAnt: http://www.wyzant.com/Blogs/Wesley_G_V/Mnemonic_Sentences_Help_Distinguish_Homophones/ViewBlogPost.aspx?id=276 )
So how do we keep homophones straight? We may memorize many sets of homophones. But many of us have trouble just remembering what amounts to another list. I suggest using mnemonics. A mnemonic is a device which aids memory. What I am suggesting is mnemonic sentences or phrases which use the homophones in a set together in the same context. Just bringing them together reminds us that there are different spellings of same-sounding words which carry different meanings. I will give a few examples. You may create others to assist you in your writing.
Homophones: there, their, they're
They're over there with their luggage.
Near Homophones: weather, whether
I wonder whether the weather will be rainy or sunny.
Homophones: to, too, two
You have to mail two letters to Mr. Jones too.
Homophones: accept, except
They will accept all of these except that one.
Homophones: affect, effect, effect
This decision will affect every one of us adversely. The effect is unacceptable. Please do not effect this policy.
Homophones can be on the humorous side:
Tutu taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants. He was teaching Phan and Thu [pronounced "TOO"]. Phan learned fast, and soon moved from Level One to Level Two. One day Tutu's ESL supervisor came to him and asked, "Phan is almost through Level Two. When will we get Thu to Two too, Tutu?"
(This was posted on my tutoring blog on WyzAnt: http://www.wyzant.com/Blogs/Wesley_G_V/Mnemonic_Sentences_Help_Distinguish_Homophones/ViewBlogPost.aspx?id=276 )
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Family Ties
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity." (Psalm 133:1)
**** All Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version
*
Over the July 4th weekend, I attended a family reunion. Actually, two. The one on Dad’s side was held Friday-Saturday at my home church. The other, on Mom’s side, was a picnic Sunday afternoon at a church camp. It was good to see many so family members I had not seen in years, even decades. I also met many not seen before, especially younger ones, such as great nephews and my cousins’ grandchildren. The event went well. It is nice to see good, working relationships between people, especially those bound by bonds of blood.
*
Over the July 4th weekend, I attended a family reunion. Actually, two. The one on Dad’s side was held Friday-Saturday at my home church. The other, on Mom’s side, was a picnic Sunday afternoon at a church camp. It was good to see many so family members I had not seen in years, even decades. I also met many not seen before, especially younger ones, such as great nephews and my cousins’ grandchildren. The event went well. It is nice to see good, working relationships between people, especially those bound by bonds of blood.
*
Appropriately, the affairs were staged in Christian facilities. Christian faith and values have been strong on both sides of my family for generations. Both sets of grandparents were born-again believers in Jesus Christ, as were my parents. As good as it is to maintain earthly family ties, it is essential to maintain unity within the Family of God. Those of us who are Christians are bound by a bond of blood, not genetics but the Blood of Jesus: ". . . knowing that you were ransomed . . . with the precious blood of Christ . . ." (1Peter 1:19-20).
*
*
The New Testament sees Christians as members of a family. Paul quotes the Old Testament, where God said, "I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me" (2 Cor. 6:18). We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Believers are referred to as "brethren’ in Acts (Acts 11:1, 29). The Apostles called their readers "brethren" (Rom. 12:1; James 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:13). And Paul advised Timothy to appeal to the members of the church as family (1 Tim. 5:1-2). In a sense, we can refer to weekly services as "family meetings," and annual campmeetings, conferences and conventions as "family reunions," because that is indeed when the Family of God gets together. The first verse of Bill Gaither’s well-known song says:
*
******** You will notice we say "brother and sister" ‘round here;
********** It’s because we’re a family, and these folk are so near;
******** When one has a heartache, we all shed the tears
********** And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.1
*
********** It’s because we’re a family, and these folk are so near;
******** When one has a heartache, we all shed the tears
********** And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.1
*
One thing I did not expect. A book. A sister presented a book Dad left for me when he passed away. She found it among Mom’s things. This is a very special book, 123 years old. The Gospel Delineator and Survey was written by my great great grandfather George R. Hand, a Christian minister from the nineteenth century. I will read this book not only for its information, but to get in touch with my ancestor, to know his mind and spirit. I cannot sit down and talk with him, nor walk with him, but I can read what he wrote.
*
We do have a book left for us by our Father in Heaven. It is jam-packed with information: history, personal stories, poetry, advice, rules & principles, etc. There is a lot we can learn by reading this book. That is why many people use it as a reference guide, a how-to book, a referee to settle arguments, etc. But it is much more than that. The best benefit of reading this book is getting in touch with the author, getting to know him better - his character, his intentions, his thoughts. Unlike my ancestor, we can sit down with God, the author of the Bible. We can talk with Him and walk with Him if we have a relationship with Him, if He is our Father.
*
*
In our family, the Family of God, we look forward to a family reunion, to meet not only the family members we already know, but also those whom we have never seen. We do not know the date and time of this reunion, but we do know the place. Until that time, many of us will go on to the "Foyer of Heaven" to await the grand event. Even better than meeting all the brothers and sisters, we will finally see our Father.
*
1. Bill & Gloria Gaither, "The Family of God", © 1970 by William J. Gaither*
Article © 2009, Wesley Vaughn
Thursday, June 18, 2009
What Flower is This?
What flower is this?
I know.
I just want to see how many of you can figure it out. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Give your answer as a comment
After posting your guess, look for the answer on this page.
© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)