Thursday, December 3, 2009

I am Mr. Mom every day

Think it's a sin to quit a job? Conventional wisdom is "never quit your job, unless you have another one." Plus, the Bible tells us that "those who will not work, should not eat." Yet, there is also scripture about quitting one's vocation and taking up another. 2 years ago, I began a new journey as a stay-at-home dad. At first, my daughters were in a pre-school, but 6 months later, I brought them home for several reasons. Now I am their primary caregiver and my wife works.

Who in the Bible quit their job? No less than the closest human beings to Jesus, his disciples. "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. " - The Book of Matthew Chapter 4. These two disciples didn't even work a 2 week notice or train their replacements. They just dropped the nets and followed.

We must challenge ourselves to think of work roles and home roles in new ways in this ever-changing society. As the corporate world strives to balance the scales of gender and racial diversity, so long tipped in favor of Caucasian males (like me), more and more men are joining the ranks of stay-at-home dads. Why should we fight this trend? If it is better for one's family to let the wife continue her career, may God bless that home. I cherish the extra time I am getting with my kids. But there are some who struggle with the idea of a stay-at-home dad.

Last week, the man who bagged my groceries commented "playing Mr. Mom today?" I replied, "I am Mr. Mom every day". I could see by the look on his face, this rocked his world. He finally let loose "Oh, you are unemployed." So, even though I told him I did this by choice and that it was mostly fun, his expression showed his doubt. I thanked him for his efforts and we went about our business. People can get locked into thinking one way, until they read some words like "They just dropped their nets and followed."

Thursday, November 19, 2009

How many 18 wheeler truck trailers would have fit into Noah's ark?

By my approximation, 298 trailers could have fit into Noah's ark. This line of trucks would stretch 4.2 miles on a highway if placed end-to-end. The line would be much longer if you allowed normal spacing for transport.

I was inspired to calculate some of this as I am reading Kevin's Roose's excellent book, "The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University." Kevin writes about one of the Liberty University professors making a point that Noah's ark was 475 feet long and was akin to "a floating skyscraper." I think some people have their doubts about this. First, how could one man and his small family (three sons, wife) build this? My faith answers me: Time. Noah was 600 years old when the floods came. Now how many houses could you build if you have 600 years to live? A LOT.

And you would probably get pretty efficient and smart about it after the first few years.

Some people may doubt that the Bible is right about Noah's age, but there is some evidence that is pointing to the long lives of our ancestors. Genetic mutations often create negative consequences. Over a long period of time, those mutations can add up and cause people to be less resistant to disease. Some ancient fossils show that ancient man may have looked different because man simply lived longer and the facial appearance and stature (think stooped) would reflect these long lives.

Here are a few of the calculations and I have made the entire spreadsheet public on Google docs. Enjoy admiring God's idea and Noah's work.

Noah's Ark
Calculate the square footage and volume of the ark.

Ge 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

Assuming a shape approaching a solid box… (for now)
Length 300
Breadth (width) 50
height 30
Cubit = 1.5 feet (length from elbow tip to fingertips)
Convert cubits to feet
Length 450
Breadth (width) 75
Height 45

Volume equals L x W x H
1,518,750.00 cubic feet
1.5 million cubic feet
Volume of a standard 18 wheeler truck trailer
length 60
width 8.5
height 10
Volume 5,100.00 cubic feet

How many fully loaded 18 wheeler trailers could fit in Noah's Ark?
298
How many miles would a line of 298 trucks stretch?
4.2

Free spreadsheet with all the formulas and data

Follow Kevin Roose on Twitter.

While you're at it, follow me on Twitter. :)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Why is retirement is a spiritual virus?

I have dreamed many years of a day when I would retire or be financially independent. After that day, I would have enough resources to live without working in a job that I did not like. I equated this retirement or independence goal with a utopia of freedom. Freedom to work, or not work and the freedom to choose what to do with my time. People of all ages have this dream. From the twenty-somethings in the movie, "Office Space", to my college-age friend, who was already planning his exodus from work, before really beginning the journey, young and old dream of this same utopia.

Rabbi Daniel Lapin has said that "belief in retirement as a life goal is so destructive that it seems to form a kind of spiritual virus that infects all of your thinking. The thought of retiring becomes a distorting lens that corrupts your view of the world around you and misleads you into missteps." Rabbi Lapin explains in his book, "Thou Shall Prosper", that retirement as a concept was not around until the 1950s. He says that people are productive until they die and that the ideals of retirement give us subtle and damaging messages that work is not valuable in itself and that our productivity should slow as we age. There are many cases of people who continue to work and reach their highest level of success in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.



Truly, I hope to continue to find work that helps others reach their potential and enrichs my life and those around me. If one can achieve that, then retiring is the silliest notion of all. Walk away from what?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Truth Project




I am excited about taking this class at church after seeing the first session. There is some material in this that I have never really thought about before. If the world tells us that all truth is relative, then how do we know what is right and wrong? If it is wrong if someone thinks I am wrong, then should I be imprisoned for driving my car slower than someone else wants me too? What is our basis for truth?

If we really were to "progress" to the point where we re-thought all the fundamental rules and maxims, what would our new world look like? Would it be better? Would there be more or less suffering? More love or more selfishness?

Monday, August 17, 2009

Divorce: The Cancer of Marriage

On August 16, 2009, Sam Woods spoke at Rocky Creek Baptist Church on the topic of marriage and divorce. You can listen to the message on you ipod or your computer.

"Divorce: The Cancer of Marriage"- Sam Woods of Family Fortress Ministry

Sam's message is so important today as cohabitation, divorce, and non-traditional definitions of marriage become more common. What is the ideal marriage? How are we to act when married? Are marriage definitions changing? Find out so many wonderful truths about marriage by checking out this message.

I was also very excited to find out that Sam has copies of a movie version of "Pilgrim's Progress." I had no idea someone already had made a movie of this book. I cannot wait to get a copy and watch it.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Saturday, February 21, 2009

eBay store open (again)

I am opening an eBay store again. I want to do my part to help our ailing economy but still keep the lifestyle flexible.

eBay store for Cox Computer

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Heard this song on WYEP today.

Dance Like a Monkey (New York Dolls)

It's quite funny and I liked the "evolution is obsolete" message:



"wooooooo wooooooo

You're designed so intelligent
Ain't no way that was an accident
C'mon shake your monkey hips
My pretty little creationist

Oh yeah!

Ain't gonna anthropomorphise you
Or perversely polymorphisise you - yeah
Little girl you look so sweet
You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
You just started ten thousand years ago
Presto Adam and Eve and go man go
Abel died, Cain took his life
And headed straight to the jungle to find a wife - wow!
Non-believers blame it all on apes
It's monkey time - I want to see you shake
Evolution is obsolete

You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
Stomp your hands and clap your feet
You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
Oh one more time yo!It's monkey time!!"

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Book review: "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis


This is the first book that I would use to introduce Christianity to a atheist or secular humanist. It has a very scientific and historical case for the Christian faith using the logical pathways of an atheist.



Also, as a person trying to be a better "little Christ" as Lewis puts it, I strengthened my faith and desire for Christ by reading this book. Being a Christian is not outdated, old-fashioned, or simplistic. It is difficult, and requires a great deal of willpower and brainpower while at the same time being easy. Christianity is no 48 day or 12 week program. It takes a lifetime and an eternal one at that.

Highly recommended for atheists, non-Christians, and Christians alike.

One of my favorite sections was on page 222:

"Again and again [the world] has thought Christianity was dying by persecutions from without and corruptions from within, by the rise of [Islam], the rise of the physical sciences, the rise of great anti-Christian revolutionary movements. But every time the world has been disappointed. Its first disappointment was over the crucifixion. The Man came to life again. In a sense - and I realise how frightfully unfair it must seem to them - that has been happening ever since. They keep on killing the thing that He started: and each time, just as they are patting down the earth on its grave, they suddenly hear it is still alive and has broken out in some new place. No wonder they hate us."

Other book reviews of mine on Visual Bookshelf.