Yesterday I was involved in a unique and interesting experiment. A couple weeks ago I was chosen to be one of the subjects to participate in an aviation weather study. I am very committed to safety especially in and around airplanes. I believe education can make a difference in accident rates. I try to attend every flying related class and seminar I can, so I was thrilled to be involved.

Yesterday's session was held in one of the computer science labs at Clemson University. Oh my what a dream place for computer geeks. I guess I am one of those because I couldn't help grinning like a nerd. There were computers of every shape and description. Some were running the most stunning programming I've ever seen.

After filling out the basic forms answering simple questions I was placed in front of a really large very interesting monitor. It had tracking camera(s) mounted within its borders. Around the edges. The camera(s) were to track my eye movements as I looked at the images to be shown on the screen. You may have seen or used something like that before but I was amazed. (Btw I did not use the chin rest shown in the photo.)

In the first part I was shown a series of aerial photos all weather related and asked if I would continue my flight based on what I saw. The tracking would show which parts of the images I looked at and for how long before making my choice.

After that I was asked to take a computer based weather course. I had completed something like this before so it was a snap. Completing that I was then shown another set of images. Again tracking the area of my gaze. There were several more studies some computer based and some with a tutor. Finally I was shown the first set of photos again and my answers compared.

There will be more of this study in the coming weeks, but I admit it was a blast.




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Yesterday at my church we covered one of my favorite stories. Let those without sin cast the first stone. I love the wisdom of Jesus in the face of an obvious trap. I believe accusers set the woman up in their attempt to back Jesus into an answer they wanted to hear. Another question ...where was the man? I mean they caught the woman in the act with a man but where was he, why was he not accused as well? Was he in on it, a part of the trap for Jesus? I like the answer Jesus gave while writing in the sand. Have you ever wondered what he wrote? I believe he was listing all the sins of the accusers. That's just my opinion, because the bible doesn't record the answer. What a fantastic example of wisdom. Funny how when confronted the would be, stone throwing cowards retreated back into the shadows.

Last night our homegroup met for our thanksgiving supper. Because we all have family obligations during the holidays we bumped it up a little. Celebrating Thanksgiving started me thinking about our blessings.

This has been an eventful year for Kristie and me. There have been tough challenges, and almost brutal hardships, but we have also seen some overwhelming rewards and truly the good far exceeds the bad. It was a hectic year filled with ups and downs. I am thankful for all of it. God has used even the hard times to teach me lessons and to show me his plan. Well at least a part of his plan. (I am not ready to see it all.) In the highs and the lows, the good and the bad he has always been right there. God is answering prayers, a lot of times almost quicker than I can pray them.

Our homegroup is another area where God has been showing me amazing things. Leading a group is well beyond anything I could do myself. But God has been opening my eyes to his word in ways I've never seen before. Our members have all developed into close friends, ones we can count on. That is one of the blessings that have come my way.

It's not yet Thanksgiving Day, but I am thankful for all these things. I can't wait to see what next year brings.

Today was sports filled with both the Clemson Tigers and the University of Georgia Bulldogs playing on national television. The bad part was that the UGA and CU games were on at the same times with only a few minutes starting time difference. My poor remote control got a workout. I suspect it'll need new batteries now. The good is Clemson under their interim head coach moved to two and two with a big victory ( 5-5 overall ) . The final in Death Valley was 31-7. Goooo Tigers! The Dogs also won but it was a nail biter down to one second left on the clock. The Georgia / Auburn rivalry is the oldest in the south at over 100 years. The Bulldogs came away with a win, but barely with only a four point margin. 17-13 was the final. Get 'em Dawgs sic 'em !!

As quickly as the final gun sounded in the UGA game Kris and I hopped into our car headed to Anderson University for the opening game of the boys basketball team. It's tough to switch gears from football to hoops so quickly. But Greg and the guys had a fiesta set up in the club box for us to dine on during the game. It was fantastic.

The boys look headed to a great season with a serious win tonight against Tusculum. The Trojans rolled to a 71-57 victory despite being the underdog to a ranked team. Way to go guys .. you made us proud!!!!

I was riding along today and tuning the radio in my truck when I ran across a radio preacher. You know the old school kind. The ones who nearly shout with every word and sound as if their mouth were filled with something wet. One of those type preachers who put an “ah” sound at the end of every sentence. I’m not making fun here just trying to set the stage clearly.

I listened for a few minutes as he “went off” on men with long hair. He told how it was unholy to have long hair and how it was an abomination in the eyes of God. His message was filled with harsh words bordering on hate.

I guess he never saw a picture of Jesus and other men of the Bible.

Condemned by hair style.

Never once in the 10 minutes I listened did he tell of Gods love for mankind. How Jesus gave his life so that ALL might be saved. At no time did he offer any hope for his audience. It is so sad.

Hair styles are a product of man, not God. In some places maybe long hair is not the style. In other worlds short hair is a weird look.

I worry about the potential harm a sermon like this could do. How many radio listeners were turned away or caused to harden their hearts? I don’t believe in tolerance to all things or all behaviors, but I do believe in Christian love for ALL people. And shouldn’t those people, the outcast, down trodden, the nobodies be the ones we welcome with “Arms Wide Open”? . Casting Crowns has a song that’s addressing this subject well. It speaks of a woman who is an out cast because of her life, her fashion or her past and made to feel unwelcome in church. How many people are lost and dying without Jesus within the “Shadow of Our Steeple”? Those “secondhand people”. A newspaper once ran a headline, Local Church Filled with Sinners. Imagine that.

John 3:16 says “whosoever”. That means everyone. Drunks, Junkies, Prostitutes, people of any color and every past …EVERYONE!! Even Long Haired men.

I have a 25 plus year tradition of watching the new James Bond movies on opening day. “Quantum of Solace” the 22nd or 23rd Bond Flick depending on your method of accounting. Some fans don't include "Never Say Never Again" which was made by a rival company yet still starred Sean Connery as James Bond.

“Quantum of Solace” is a direct sequel to the previous film Casino Royale, the first sequel ever for 007. It picks up just minutes after the final scene of Casino Royale and follows Bond who is on the trail of the organization and people behind the events of that story and the ones who are responsible for the death of Vesper.

As is my full tradition I always see the movie again within a few days. I plan to attend another screening next week. I'll hold off on a full review until then.

Ultimatum" was mired with this style and now it seems Bond has caught it too. Of course a lot of the people involved in But I do have one observation and comment. I know it is an action film, and action films require action, but why is it Hollywood is so fascinated with the fast-paced hand held filming with choppy edits? It's hard to watch and impossible to follow the action. The otherwise fantastic "BourneBourne were involved with “Quantum of Solace”. It did not ruin the movie but in my opinion it did not improve it. “Quantum of Solace” was a much faster paced 007 story. Some of that is understandable given the revengeful thoughts and rage Bond wrestles with. Still at only an hour and three quarters it clocks in as one of the shorter Bond movies. Maybe they should have made closer to the two hours and 15 minute Bond flick average and used the extra time with back story and fleshing out some of the excellent characters they created.

All in all I love it. Daniel Craig is a fantastic Bond and has both the action skills and the action look to pull off a true 007 adventure.

Go see it !!

Less than twelve hours remain


....UNTIL

DAD UPDATE

It started with a distorted cell call, dropping out badly. It was my sister on the road and calling about our dad. Through the distortions, drops and static I was able to make out that dad may have had a massive stroke and was in serious danger.

That was a total shock. We had moved dad to the hospital a few days previous when he was having labored breathing and a raspy cough. At that time the rehab center was concerned he had congestive heart failure. That turned out a false alarm and it was just the ordinary but severe congestion that comes with the change in seasons. He seemed to be recovering. Then this.

Immediately I called his hospital room and the nurse picked-up. Though she was busy she took the time to talk to me. There was obvious concern in her voice. I could hear other people working in the background. She told us the entire family needed to get there fast. We dropped everything and jumped into the car. We headed out in the middle of the night, wondering if dad would be ok when we got there.

It’s an hour and a half drive in the best of conditions. I’ll not tell you how long it took, but thankfully God was protecting us from possums, cows, deer and other night creatures. We arrived and finally found an open door (it was late night). In his regular room dad was sitting-up in the bed and talking. The early tests were ruling out a stroke. It was another false alarm. A prayer answered. But the danger was very real. Dad’s blood pressure had dropped so low that for a while they thought he would not make it. He did, the problems were a result of reactions to some meds.

Dad is more or less back on track after all this. There have been a couple other related setbacks but his outlook is good once again. But for almost two weeks it has required almost continuous monitoring. I have fallen well behind once again with everything, including my blogs. But I am now back home and will soon be catching up.

The good news is that we got dad placed in a much better rehab center. They have proven caring and are proactively involved in his recovery.

Please continue to remember my father in your prayers. Not only for his eventual return to a normal life, but that we as a family make the correct choices during his care.

Thank You so much.

DID YOU ?

What are you doing today?

How about joining me and taking time out to pray for our nation and it's leaders.

It's time to pray diligently, and ask God to continue to have mercy on this country, and cause the candidate who keeps closest to GOD'S values- to be the one elected into office.

God has blessed this nation And one of the reasons is because our founding fathers held HIS values. We were founded as one nation under God. Our Constitution was based on biblical principles, and our early laws after the ten commandments.

I believe that is the main reason our country has prospered and been showered in so many blessings.

But things are changing, because of how we are conducting ourselves; in business, economically, socially, and spiritually. Everything that the founding fathers stood for, has been "on the way out" even in our families.

Prayer was taken out of schools, and in some homes as well. Abominations are now taught to our children as "acceptable, normal and 'alternative' lifestyles". Our lives are surrounded by lust, greed and the quest for temporary pleasures. All that matters to many is self. How can I get more, be more, have more power. This is leading to a downfall.

We need to pray and pray hard about the tomorrows elections. Pray, specifically for our leaders. They need to guided by Godly principles and our laws need to follow those as well. We need to do only what is right for our nation and our people. We need to allow God back into every choice we make. Both on a national level in our country as well as on a personal basis within our lives.

Please pray for tomorrows outcome and when you vote keep the will of God for us in your mind.