Busted!

We got pulled over in the most unfortunate place this morning. Let me set the stage. I am in the passenger seat of our Ranger, asleep as usual! I wake up to Jenny shoving her mug at me as she scrambles to fasten her seatbelt. We see the lights on the street parallel to the school but do not pull over until we are 100 feet from the parking lot. We happened to arrive at the same time as 3-4 busses. Perfect! When asked why we got pulled over, I have been telling the kiddos that they finally caught up with us f0r that bank robbery we did last month.

On a much lighter note, why on Earth would the secretary at the District Court of Augusta answer the phone at 8:00 if they did not open until 8:30? Why is she even there at 8:00?

I made the suggustion that we sponsor a buisness math workshop for Officer 113 of the Augusta Police Dept. He wrote on the ticket that we in fact were traveling at the rate of 46 mph. He also noted that that was in a 25 mph zone. If math serves me correctly, 46-25 is 21. He, however, marked that we were only going 15-20mph over. Too bad, Augusta's loss. I know what some of you are saying already: "He was letting you off easy." My answer to you is, "No he wasn't, he just can't subtract." I know this because he was a jack hole from the beginning.

EDIT: I am in no way mad at my wife for this moving violation. It makes us even for my offense on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at the river. I LOVE YOU HONEY!!!

UPDATE: This infraction will cost us a sum of $190. Hopefully much less than that if we can bribe someone...

Here is my research idea. What do you think?

Question:
How does living in a traditional home vs. nontraditional home affect state test scores throughout the school career?

The population would be k-12 students
Sub populations could include:
Mother & Father
Mother
Father
Mother & Step Father
Step Mother & Father
Grandmother & Grandfather
Etc.

A student once again...

Tonight I will begin my course study in the Masters Program at ASU-Jonesburro. I will be taking classes at Beebe. I am taking Intro to Stats & Research. Should be fun. I opted not to purchase the $98 Software that comes along with the class. Hopefully the nerd who wrote the program did not have the forsight to protect it form piracy! Anywho...Wish me luck...

If you're not a gator then you're gator bait.

Live from the Embassy Suites Business Center:

Noah, this ost is especially for you:

In your eyes UF might not have deserved to be in this game but as it turns out they were the team for the job, actually the only team in the last 19 or so games.

Yes indeed. Who cares what penn state, wisconsin, and others did. What happened last night was nothing more that a big fat shut your stupid mouths to all you no respect, big mouth, over confident, tunnel vissioned, big headed Big 10 Fans out there. Troy, you have your trophy but the Gator Nation has reclaimed its crown. 61 yards of offense in first half...give me a break. Oh no, you lost Ginn in the first series...was that your only plan? More poits scored than any other opponent since 1998? Oh yes. Your secondary had no solution to the onslaught of passing offense to 11,000yd passer Leak. I hope it stings, I hope it burns all off season. Any comeback on the OSU fans out there would be too little too late. I believe the challange to the SEC was to put up or shut up...well I believe the "Ole' Boys From Florida" did just that last night. To all you haters out there: "Hail to the 2-sport Ntl. Champions, the Florida Gators. Oh, It's Great to Be a Florida Gator.

I may eat my words for this...

The countdown has begun...3.5 hrs or so...I predict an upset...Go Gators!

Duck Season starts Saturday Morning. Whoo Hoo!

Things are turning out pretty interesting in College football. If the Hogs end up winning their next two games and win the SEC Championship they may have a shot at the Ntl. Championship...If several key teams lose between now and then. It may be a long shot but it is a shot.

In other news, we just got a Dish DVR. It is sweet. No more commercials...ever... Except during the superbowl.

Queers, Ford, & Democrats

WARNING: If you read this BLOG, please read this entire post.

The 5th Sunday at 4 Mile Hill has been reserved for question and answer night. The elders have asked that all questions be turned in ahead of time.

One of last night's questions goes something like this: Can a Christian support things like Walmart, Ford, or the Democratic party based on their stands with homosexuality?

I have to say, I saw this coming. People in Arkansas (specifically, Searcy) are typically sheltered people. For example, there is a Chili’s being built on Race St. Typically, Chili’s serves alcohol. I've heard people state what they believe to be fact on both sides of the alcohol issue. Some people say they will serve it, some say they aren't. To me it doesn't really matter one way or another. I grew up in a state where someone (if they wanted to) could buy alcohol 7 days a week. You couldn't really go to a restaurant that didn't serve alcohol unless it was fast food or a buffet style place.

The elder giving the answer to that particular question cited scripture from Rom 1, Eph 5, and I Jn 4. Rom 1 is clearly talking about homosexuality but then goes on to say in v 28-31

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:"

The latter part of Rom 1 is obviously talking about more than two guys bumping uglies. It is talking about folks who "did not like to retain God in their knowledge."

The real question comes down to verse 32: "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. by shopping at Wal-Mart, ford, or voting democratic are we, like Paul says in Rom 1:28 having "pleasure in them that do them"?

I think not!

I don't want to leave any of you with the impression that the eldership took a position on this matter. The elder said it is a matter that should be left up to the individual Christian. Something that should be prayerfully considered.

There are plenty of reasons not to shop at Wal-Mart
There are plenty of reasons not to shop at Ford
There are plenty of reasons not to vote for a Republican OR a Democrat
...but do any of these reasons have to do with decisions of a few high ranking executives?

They shouldn’t. Please, dear voter, try to ignore the right wing extremists and left wing radicals and decide what the pressing issues are for your community and vote on those issues. Gay rights and abortion are not major campaign issues in most stats on Nov. 7.

I ask you, reader, prayerfully consider the above. Think about it, use your common sense, and respond.

School, Weddings, and Politics

It has been a very stressful fall. When school started my assignment was to teach 6th grade everything. When after two weeks the administrator in charge of scheduling changed me to 6th grade math and science. Four weeks later I was given the responsibility to teach a 7th grade science as well. I am cool with all of that, I just feel bad for the kids having to get used to new teachers part way through the year. My principal has been great. I just approached him about getting some additional funds for the science class. I will purchase frogs, worms, and pellets. It will end up okay I guess.

Andy is getting married. I am real glad he has found a nice Christian woman to marry. Erin has been Jenny's good friend since childhood, now they will be sisters. I really hope we do not have any snow days this year. If we do, I will have to leave for the wedding then return to finnish the year on the following Monday.

I have not had any time to fish the last 4-5 months. I will have to hit it pretty hard the beginning part of November for the spawn. Duck hunting season starts November 19. It is cold this morning which makes me want to be out there in the blind! I really need a new pair of waders, but I may just have to make due this year.

Sunday night I was put into a wierd position. Someone from church asked me if I would place a political sign (someone for whom I do not plan to give my vote to) in by front yard. I politely declined. I think it is important to note that there are faithful Christians in both parties. Party line voters kill me! To say that Christians need to vote for a certian party is ignorant and wrong. I say, get out there, learn about the issues, and vote accordingly. Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green Party...There are faithful Christians running in each!

Uneventful summer...

OK, so new plans. Instead of driving to Florida for a week, going back for a week for workshops and what not, then to Alabama to ride back to Florida with the rug rats for another week we just decided to extend out stay in Jax for a few days and show up early in Alabama a few days early. I figured it would save us a couple of bucks in gas. Not much has been going on the last few weeks. Before we came to Florida we went on a workshop for Arkansas History to Blanchard Springs Caverns. It was pretty cool.









(Jenny and I are not High in this picture...It was dark and the flash took us by surprise)

Scientists say these caverns were made when water and carbon dioxide (carbonic acid) seeped down through cracks in the bedrocks and deposited minerals on the roof of the former water table. They say it could take thousands or even millions of years. That brings up the interesting question. How long has the Earth been here, thousands or millions of years? When God created (or allow it, as some theistic evolutionist think) the Earth did he create a young Earth or an old Earth?

Often people will ask me, "Bryan, what to you say when the book discusses evolution?" Some people will ignorantly say, "well evolution is 'only' a theory." I smile and go on about my business. You see,

"the word 'theory' has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on the context. In common usage, people use the word 'theory' to signify 'conjecture', 'speculation', or 'opinion.' In this sense, 'theories' are opposed to 'facts.' In science, a theory is a proposed description, explanation, or model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation (Wikipedia)."

When I teach evolution I do not teach it as truth. I like to give students an option. I want to give them a way out, so to speak. Who am I to TELL them that they evolved from a tiny nonliving protein? Who am I to tell them that they were created. Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I believe God created the Universe in seven literal days. But why should I tell/make them believe anything? I hope that by my life choices, by my example, and by my nature they know by the end of the year what I believe without a doubt. You see before we begin the year I have a discussion about the ways of knowing. Before I only knew of 4: Science, Philosophy, Rationalism, and Religion. All four ways are good ways of knowing what is real. But for 50 minutes a day we are only going to discuss reality as it relates to science. That is not to say, I tell them, that religion is not valid, philosophy is not valid, or rationalism is not valid, They are! Science tries to explain things naturally and God is not natural. That statement usually gets them going. I quickly respond by giving the example of Jesus walking on water. That is NOT natural. So, I tell them, Science fails to explain how God can exist.


Anyways, ranted for far too long about that. For those two of you who may still be reading, After Blanchard Springs we were on our way to Florida after a brief layover in Fayetteville, TN to drop the bitches (er hem, dogs) off at the inlaws. We went camping with the parents and had a blast. One day dad and I went to the intercostal and went fishing. We did very well. I have pretty much gotten used to doing pretty poorly when fishing with dad but today was the day! We caught over 25 fish and dad landed a 26.5" Red fish. These are beautiful fish. If possible I will post. There is a slot limit on these fish; you can only keep them if they are between 19" and 27". So this one was at the max! Tuesday we are off to Atlanta then to Tennessee then to Alabama then back to Florida. The trip BACK down to Florida is the one I dread the most! 1 Suburban + 4 screaming kids = Pissed off Bryan. Anyway, for the one who is still reading this (who am I kidding?) my posts are few and far between simply because we can't get high speed where we live and I refuse to get dial up. So my posts come when I can bum a wireless feed from someone else.
Peace, I'm Out!