My Trip to Space

For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued with looking into the skies. I remember as a youngster laying on the porch or in the yard and staring off into the blue skies, following the clouds or planes as they passed overhead. I can stare at a full moon for hours just wondering what it would be like to walk on its surface.

Since I’m a realist, I realize that I have no chance in this life to experience a moonwalk or fly on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic civilian space flights. However, I did get a pretty good substitute when I got an insider’s look at the NASA Johnson Space Centerin Houston.

One of the members of a church we were visiting in Houston is a senior engineer at NASA and he generously gave us a tour through the Space Shuttle training facility. The Houston training center is where the astronauts learn the ins and outs of going into space. Their training includes everything from how to put on their space suits (which cost 12 million dollars each) to making emergency exits from the shuttle aircraft.

Our guide told us that it is common to see astronauts moving about the floor doing various training exercises. However, he said we may not recognize them because they wouldn’t necessarily be dressed as astronauts. So, I questioned everybody that we met: “Are you an astronaut.” Unfortunately, “no” was always the answer I received. Not meeting a real live astronaut may have been the only disappointing thing that happened (or didn’t happen) that day.

During our tour we were allowed to go into the training module where the astronauts learn to flip all the switches that control the aircraft, which was really impressive. With so many switches, how do they remember which is which? From this same cockpit, they fly the shuttle and control the mechanical arm in the work bay. Just below the flight deck is a storage area, which is also where the astronauts sleep and go to the restroom. Really cool stuff.

The kids in our group were most impressed with the shuttle restroom. It was quite compact, smaller than a Johnny-on-the-Spot portable potty. The seat was very small, but adequate for its purpose. On either side of the seat are two L-shape bars, which rotate over the astronaut’s thighs to hold him/her appropriately in place. Don’t forget, the shuttle travels at 17,000 miles per hour and is in a zero gravity environment, which means it might not be easy to stay in place.

The adults snickered most at the restroom’s “rear-view” mirror, which is exactly that – a rear-view mirror. This particular tool helps the astronaut make sure his/her hygienic needs are adequately managed.

After the shuttle restroom, we had the opportunity to walk through the training module for the next section of the Space Lab. The Japanese science lab is the next section scheduled to be added to the Space Lab. I was probably most surprised at how small this section really is. I can’t imagine being confined to this small area for six months. And I’m guessing it seems much smaller when you realize you are surrounded by the vastness of outer space.

If you ever get to tour the Johnson Space Center, I would definitely recommend doing so.

What I Learned at Chuck E. Cheese's

As a reward to Grace for graciously spending so many hours locked down in her car seat as we travel the country, I try to find a Chuck E. Cheese’s or something similar along the way, or in our destination city. Grace runs from game to game pressing buttons, watching flashing lights and occasionally she will park long enough to play a game.

In a recent trip to the pizza arcade, I learned a couple of things. The first thing I learned is how to guarantee a higher skeeball score, thereby increasing the number of tickets distributed by the machine.

I’m not sure if the manager of the establishment would approve, but I learned that if you walk up the deck and simply place the balls in the highest number hole (as demonstrated by the girl in the photo at the top right), you can really run up the score.

It’s not a very competitive approach, but it does increase your average score.

The second thing I learned is that there is generally a big difference in the way men and women approach playing arcade games with their children. My observation is that women tend to patiently watch their children play the games and rarely interfere, regardless of the outcome. By that I mean, it matters not if the child wins redeemable tickets or not. On the other hand, men tend to “help” their children play the games, eventually taking over for the child. It seems that the dads have good motives: they want the kid to get as many redeemable tickets as possible, and there’s no sense in not winning tickets just because a kid can’t push a button quick enough or throw a ball through a particular hole.

I’ve also noticed that dads scan the games for tickets that have been carelessly left behind by inattentive children. Women, it seems, couldn’t care less if 100 tickets sit abandoned in front of an arcade game – they will not touch them. Let’s just say that men will generally react to said find in a completely different manner.

At first, I thought this was simply a difference between Colleen and me. But, after taking a step back and watching many families at different pizza arcades, I’ve come to believe that my observations reveal a general rule. Obviously, there are exceptions, but they are just that, exceptions.

There is one rule, though, that has NO EXCEPTIONS: No matter how many tickets you win, the amount of tickets it takes to get any prize is not reciprocal to the value of the prize. No exceptions.

Happy Thanksgiving

Why I Don't PS3

The events that occurred here, here, here, here and here are some of the reasons I don't Playstation 1, 2, or 3.

The limited release of Sony's PS3 (Playstation 3) has been described as mayhem, dangerous, even deadly by various news agencies. From what I have seen those are true descriptions.

Question: Why would anyone camp out for 3 days to get the chance to buy a PS3? Is it really worth all the trouble? Surely, there will be plenty of opportunity to get this vaunted gaming machine in the near future.

In addition to my desire to avoid the danger, save the money and not waste my time, I don't know how to play the games on PS3, or 2 or the original Sony Playstation. Until about 2 months ago, I had never even touched one of Sony's machines and that encounter proved fruitless. I couldn't figure out which button to push to get started.

Besides that, these are my favorite games. Additionally, I like the original Asteroids and Galaga. Yes, I'm old school in my gaming choices.

Friday Fotos - Keep Smiling

Things are so good in Texas that even on an overcast day, this water tower in Bastrop can't keep from smiling.

You Know it is Hunting Season...

You know it’s (deer) “hunting season” in Texas when you see 50 lb. bags of corn stacked like this in front of all the convenience stores.

Hunters use this corn to draw deer closer to their stands. While it is sometimes scattered by hand, the corn is most commonly distributed by automated feeders like this one. These feeders are generally located in a clearing that allows the hunter a clear shot at the deer as it munches on the bait.

Some hunters are critical of this method, suggesting, “It isn’t really hunting.” But I don’t have a strong opinion since I have only hunted deer for one (unsuccessful) season.

In my one-season foray into deer hunting, I did use a feeder, but never saw a single deer in about 8 trips to our lease. The reason? Hunters with whom I shared the lease sabotaged my site. They realized early in the season that I had some deer coming to my feeder and none had been to theirs. So before I got the chance to see any deer, my “partners” decided that if they weren’t going to see any deer, then no one would. Nice guys, they were.

In case you are wondering how I responded, for the first time in 20 years, I’ll publicly admit to using all my unused ammo on their stands and feeders. By the time I was finished pulling the trigger, there wasn’t enough of their stands or feeders left to take anything home after the season ended.

After that bad hunting experience, I sold my gun and haven’t been in the woods since.

A Personal Psalm

Following is a personal psalm that I wrote ten years ago for the occasion of my ordination. It is based on the model of Psalm 136 and served as a wonderful opportunity to identify and proclaim the many ways that God has worked in my life. I commend the exercise to you for your personal edification.

A Psalm of Thanks

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for His mercy endures forever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods; for he is good: for His mercy endures forever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endures forever.

To Him who alone doeth great wonders: for His mercy endures forever.

To Him who has given me loving parents: for His mercy endures forever:
Who have always been supportive even when they didn’t understand the direction of my life: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who gave me someone who would become a “best friend”: His mercy endures forever:
Who first invited me to church: His mercy endures forever:
And expressed a concern for my soul: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who sent a preacher with the message of salvation: His mercy endures forever:
Who preached with passion and love: His mercy endures forever:
And clearly communicated to me salvation in Christ: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who gave me men and women who would train me in godliness: His mercy endures forever:
Who opened the Holy Scriptures to me: His mercy endures forever:
And guided me in wisdom: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who allowed me to live in Zion: His mercy endures forever:
And gave me a family and ministry in the Holy City, Jerusalem: His mercy endures forever:
And set within my heart a love for his people, Israel: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who shall sustain me through trials and temptations: His mercy endures forever:
When the tempest shall rage about me, He is sure: His mercy endures forever:
When burdens are heavy, He is strong: His mercy endures forever:
Though darkness may encompass me, He giveth light: His mercy endures forever.

To Him who now sends me out by the laying on of hands: His mercy endures forever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endures forever.


Modeled after Psalm 136 by Craig Dunning - October 30, 1996

Friday Fotos - Cowboy Up

Though they are harder and harder to come by in America, there are still some real, live cowboys left. (Click here to see a larger version of this foto.)

Bonner Bolton (at left) had just helped his dad, Toya Bolton, move a small herd of cattle across the highway near Odessa, Texas.

Bonner and his brother Brody are following in their dad's footsteps as professional bull riders. Bonner also rides bulls on scholarship at Odessa College, the winningest junior college in the nation.

More fotos from the life of a modern cowboy are available here.

Mine is Bigger Than Yours

In an effort to be faithful to Deuteronomy 6:9 ("And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates."*), Jews typically attach a "small" box, containing Bible texts from Deuteronomy**, to most door frames in their homes. (NOTE: Technically, the parchment paper with the Bible texts is the mezuzah, but it has become common practice to refer to the box containing the paper as the mezuzah as well.)

In Israel, it is unusual to find a home or building without a mezuzah, so it is quite easy to recognize that there is “freedom of expression” allowed in the design of a mezuzah; and that freedom extends to the color, size, symbols and type of material used. For example, some are fun like the 4.5 inch (11.43cm) ceramic Noah’s Ark mezuzah (at the right), which is available from The Mezuzah Store. Additionally, The Judaica Mall has a collection of over 250 to choose from. If you are interested in more details about the ins and outs of the mezuzah you can see their information page here.

I’ve heard it said, “There’s always room for a little healthy competition.” However, I never expected to find such competition in the world of the mezuzah. After all, isn’t it enough to “do the commandments” without rubbing your friends’ noses in it that you can do them bigger and better than they can? Well,…apparently not.

I recently came across the following advertisement (bold added for emphasis):

Adorn your mansion with a Mezzuzah Fit for a King.

We know that BIG is BEAUTIFUL.
A BIG lulav. A BIG succah. A BIG shul.

The standard size mezuzah is 12-15 cm. Twenty cm would be a big
mezuzah. Now you can get a HUGE Mezzuzah. Forty centimeters tall,hand-written on hand-crafted parchment.

Honor Hashem [G-d] in a scale that none of your friends or neighbors have yet achieved. Show your love for the Mitzvot by proudly displaying a mezuzah that can't be missed.

Maybe, I’m missing something, but this advertiser seems to suggest that a major reason to purchase their particular mezuzah is to show off. Is that the purpose of the mezuzah?

"It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what HaShem doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d."***

Footnotes:
*The Holy Scriptures, Jewish Publication Society, © 1917, 1945, 1955.
**The passages contained in the mezzuzah are Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21.
***Micah 6:8, JPS Electronic Edition ©1998 by Larry Nelson, emphasis added

And the Winner is...

Now that the winners of Iran’s “Holocaust Cartoon Contest” have been announced, does anyone think the reaction from the Jewish world will be similar to the Muslim reaction (February 2006) to cartoon depictions of Muhammad that were initially published in Denmark and subsequently in many newspapers around the world?

Hamshahri, the Iranian daily newspaper who co-sponsored the contest, suggested the motivation behind the event was to test the West’s tolerance of the cartoon depictions of the Nazi efforts to eliminate the Jewish people, eventually killing some 6 million Jews and others.

While many (perhaps, most) in the West will find these cartoons despicable or worse, I’m certain that there will be VERY few, if any, violent responses. In fact, if there are any violent responses, they will be the exceptions and NOT the norm.