I'm sure we all have had our difficulties parking our cars at various times in our lives. However, check out these three short videos and maybe your parking problems won't seem so bad.
Enjoy.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday Reflection -- Justice and Mercy
One of my favorite movies/plays/books is "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo.
It's a story that encompasses the French Revolution, but the essence of the story is the impact that justice and mercy can make in two different lives.
The story starts in 1815 when the peasant prisoner, Jean Valjean is released from prison after 19 years for stealing bread for his starving sister. An angry and bitter man, he takes refuge in the graciousness of Bishop Myriel who takes him in and gives him food and a place to sleep. During the night Valjean steals the Bishop's silverware and runs.
He is caught by the police and returned to the Bishop to identify the silver. Instead of identifying him as a thief, Bishop Myriel chides Valjean for "forgetting" the silver candlesticks he wanted him to have in addition to the silver. The police let Valjean go and the Bishop reminds him of his promise (which Valjean did not make) to use the silver to make a new life for himself.
This act of mercy changes his life and Valjean changes his name to Madeleine. He becomes a respectable man of means who uses his good fortune to help others.
The man of justice is Javert, the town's inspector, who was a guard in the prison when Valjean was there. He sees Madeleine and thinks he recognizes him as the prisoner Valjean.
The rest of the story is Javert's efforts to prove that Madeleine is the prisoner Valjean and it's Javert's sense of justice that drives him on.
At the end of the story Valjean has Javert at his mercy and Javert expects Valjean to kill him. However, Valjean shows him mercy and lets him go. Javert cannot understand mercy and ultimately kills himself.
"Les Miserables" shows the nature of God -- justice and mercy. God is a righteous God who cannot abide sin and if that was his whole nature none of us would stand a chance before the justice seat of God.
Fortunately for us, God's nature is more than justice -- he is love -- and as followers of his son, Jesus, we face not the justice seat, but the mercy seat of God.
It's a story that encompasses the French Revolution, but the essence of the story is the impact that justice and mercy can make in two different lives.The story starts in 1815 when the peasant prisoner, Jean Valjean is released from prison after 19 years for stealing bread for his starving sister. An angry and bitter man, he takes refuge in the graciousness of Bishop Myriel who takes him in and gives him food and a place to sleep. During the night Valjean steals the Bishop's silverware and runs.
He is caught by the police and returned to the Bishop to identify the silver. Instead of identifying him as a thief, Bishop Myriel chides Valjean for "forgetting" the silver candlesticks he wanted him to have in addition to the silver. The police let Valjean go and the Bishop reminds him of his promise (which Valjean did not make) to use the silver to make a new life for himself.
This act of mercy changes his life and Valjean changes his name to Madeleine. He becomes a respectable man of means who uses his good fortune to help others.
The man of justice is Javert, the town's inspector, who was a guard in the prison when Valjean was there. He sees Madeleine and thinks he recognizes him as the prisoner Valjean.
The rest of the story is Javert's efforts to prove that Madeleine is the prisoner Valjean and it's Javert's sense of justice that drives him on.
At the end of the story Valjean has Javert at his mercy and Javert expects Valjean to kill him. However, Valjean shows him mercy and lets him go. Javert cannot understand mercy and ultimately kills himself.
"Les Miserables" shows the nature of God -- justice and mercy. God is a righteous God who cannot abide sin and if that was his whole nature none of us would stand a chance before the justice seat of God.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death...
Fortunately for us, God's nature is more than justice -- he is love -- and as followers of his son, Jesus, we face not the justice seat, but the mercy seat of God.
1 John 4:16 - God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Been Busy
It's been a busy few days. I had to work on my new computer getting files transferred from the old and putting software on. I also put Windows 7 on Betty's current laptop and it seems to be working well for her.
Last night we went to a presentation at Steve Komandina's house in Corrales. He's a former NM State Senator and he's pretty well off. He owns a facility called Vista Hermosa Farms which used to be a race horse facility. He was hosting a Pat and Linda Parelli-trained instructor named Julia Ryman from Idaho. She was in town to do a Parelli clinic at the Farm today.
The Parelli's use a training style incorporating what they call games. Betty and I don't know that much about it so we attended the presentation last night and the clinic today as auditors. It was a fun time and we made some new friends.
Here are some pictures from today's clinic.
Our instructor, Julia.
Talking to the particpants in the morning that focused on ground work.
Riding the "Bronco Billy" to help the participants to developed their independent seat.
Riding the rail as part of a riding exercise.
A final view of our instructor, Julia.
It was a beautiful day and we had a good time.
Last night we went to a presentation at Steve Komandina's house in Corrales. He's a former NM State Senator and he's pretty well off. He owns a facility called Vista Hermosa Farms which used to be a race horse facility. He was hosting a Pat and Linda Parelli-trained instructor named Julia Ryman from Idaho. She was in town to do a Parelli clinic at the Farm today.
The Parelli's use a training style incorporating what they call games. Betty and I don't know that much about it so we attended the presentation last night and the clinic today as auditors. It was a fun time and we made some new friends.
Here are some pictures from today's clinic.
Our instructor, Julia.
Talking to the particpants in the morning that focused on ground work.
Riding the "Bronco Billy" to help the participants to developed their independent seat.
Riding the rail as part of a riding exercise.
A final view of our instructor, Julia.
It was a beautiful day and we had a good time.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wednesday Fun
Today was a good day.
Betty and I took a nice ride down the North Ditch and both Sugar and Morgunn did very well. It was a beautiful morning for a ride. The air was cool and the Cottonwoods are in full color.
Then I went out and bought a new laptop. My old laptop was shutting down because of overheating. I went to our trusty Bestbuy and bought a Sony VAIO. So far, I'm very pleased with it. The new Windows 7 is pretty good.
I am using the new computer to do this post.
It will take me several days to get all my files transferred and programs set up on this new computer, but I enjoy that kind of geeky stuff.
Betty and I took a nice ride down the North Ditch and both Sugar and Morgunn did very well. It was a beautiful morning for a ride. The air was cool and the Cottonwoods are in full color.
Then I went out and bought a new laptop. My old laptop was shutting down because of overheating. I went to our trusty Bestbuy and bought a Sony VAIO. So far, I'm very pleased with it. The new Windows 7 is pretty good.
I am using the new computer to do this post.
It will take me several days to get all my files transferred and programs set up on this new computer, but I enjoy that kind of geeky stuff.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Water Softener Saga
If you recall, our old Culligan water softener went on the blink.
After some internet research and talking to a few sales people we decided to go with a new system -- Kinetico. As you can see from the pictures below, it's a much smaller system.
The brine tank is about 1/4 the size of the Culligan system which means it will be much easier to clean every six months or so. Another reason we liked it is it has two tanks which means that when it is regenerating, you still get soft water. With single tank systems, you get hard water while the system is regenerating.
It also has a pre-filter that filters the water coming into the softener which means our softened water is filtered when it comes into our house.
Finally, the main selling point for me is it's a mechanical system -- no electricity or electronics -- that runs off our water pressure. Ever other company is trying to outdo each other with their technology while Kinetico has gone the opposite direction -- simplicity.
The cost is comparable to other systems and the company that sells them, TLC Heating and Plumbing, has been a delight to work with.
Time will tell, but our initial impression is we're very happy.
If you're interested, here's the TLC web site: http://www.tlcplumbing.com/water_softners.php
After some internet research and talking to a few sales people we decided to go with a new system -- Kinetico. As you can see from the pictures below, it's a much smaller system.
The brine tank is about 1/4 the size of the Culligan system which means it will be much easier to clean every six months or so. Another reason we liked it is it has two tanks which means that when it is regenerating, you still get soft water. With single tank systems, you get hard water while the system is regenerating.It also has a pre-filter that filters the water coming into the softener which means our softened water is filtered when it comes into our house.
Finally, the main selling point for me is it's a mechanical system -- no electricity or electronics -- that runs off our water pressure. Ever other company is trying to outdo each other with their technology while Kinetico has gone the opposite direction -- simplicity.
The cost is comparable to other systems and the company that sells them, TLC Heating and Plumbing, has been a delight to work with.
Time will tell, but our initial impression is we're very happy.
If you're interested, here's the TLC web site: http://www.tlcplumbing.com/water_softners.php
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday Video -- A Guy's Got to Run
Some times a guy just has to run. Check out this miniature horse foal stretching it out at the Minnesota Horse Expo.
Hopefully, this will bring a smile to your face.
Enjoy.
Hopefully, this will bring a smile to your face.
Enjoy.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday Reflections - Watoto
For the second time, our church had the privilege of hosting the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda, Africa.Watoto means "the children" in Swahili and is the name of a Christian ministry that tries to bring a normal life to children orphaned by the Aids epidemic in Africa.
The ministry builds Watoto villages that are made up of homes that house 8 kids and a "mother." These kids and the house mother become the child's family. Each village includes a clinic, school, and chapel.
Many of these children were living on the streets in Uganda when they were brought to Watoto.
Besides being great singers, they are incredible dancers with an energy level that defies imagination. Their personal stories are moving.
Here's a video from another church:
It's hard to sit still while watching these young people sing and dance their love for Jesus. Your toes just want to dance to the music.
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