Are you a Monkey peddler?

Here is a little parable I received from the Meme God, the internet. Just because the source isn't holy doesn't make it any less thought provoking.

Once upon a time in a place overrun with monkeys, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.

The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and as supply started to diminish, they became harder to catch, so the villagers stopped their effort.

The man then announced that he would now pay $20 for each one. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. But soon the supply diminished even further and they were ever harder to catch, so people started going back to their farms and forgot about monkey catching. The man increased his price to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so sparse that it was an effort to even see a monkey, much less catch one.

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys for $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on his behalf.

While the man was away the assistant told the villagers. "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has bought. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each."

The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys. They never saw the man nor his assistant again and once again there were monkeys everywhere.

Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

Okay, so it is funny. There is a message here though. The villagers think the man is crazy for wanting so many monkeys. Money talks though. If speculation is evil, who is evil in this parable? Certainly the man and his assistant are con men. But it is the greed of the villagers that make the con possible.

Worth as opposed to perceived worth. It all comes down to valuing what we have.

This little story is such a strong Meme in my mind

Look for the beauty

Since my most recent Marathon in November, I haven't been running very much. Mo suggested that I get out there and talk to the PBGs'.

It is a big, scary, dangerous world out there. Everywhere I looked, there was garbage strewn around. I asked the PBGs' why the world was in such a mess. Mute as usual, except for the briefest comment, "Look for the beauty, be the beauty".

There will always be vomit to encounter. But if you look closely, three are flowers to see, bird songs to hear and laughing children.

But you have to look closely.

Anti War

Here is an interesting statistic..

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the U.S. involvement in Iraq, here is a sobering statistic:

There has been a monthly average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,867 deaths. That gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 persons for the same period.

That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capital than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: The U.S should pull out of Washington.

Taken from an email titled "War" by unknown.

Boy to Man

My boy is growing up. We came to visit Grandma tonight for dinner tonight. We talked at dinner about the discussions Mo and I have been having on WonderCafe.ca, teenage attitudes and growing up.

After dinner, Grandma asked my son how people reacted to his getting his long hair cut short. He thought it was awesome how the teachers didn't even know who he was when he walked into their classes.

Then Grandma offered to let him try my Dad's old electric razor to shave off the fuzz on his lip. He has always been resistant when *I* ask him about shaving. Well, this time, he thought he would try it.

AND HE DID. He doesn't realize it yet, but he has just joined the shaving male world. In my case, I shaved out of desperation so people would stop teasing me. Then I found that the faster I shaved it off, the faster it grew back!! Before I knew it I had a full beard.

I am clean shaven now, but I had a beard for a lot of years.

We'll make a man out of that boy yet.

He'll be moving out soon, I shouldn't wonder. "Can I have his room?"

Providence Center

I spent some time at the Providence Centre last weekend 'assisting' the second program of the Pursuit of Excellence series call 'The Wall'. This program is very thought provoking for the participants and the helpers too. The Centre has inspirational posters and painting scattered throughout the halls. This painting leaped out at me and the message attached, even more so.

Your Providence, O God, is what steers the ship You have opened a pathway even through the sea A safe path over the waves, showing that you can save Whatever happens so that even without skill A person may sail abroad. Book of Wisdom 14:3-4

Michael O'Brien illustrates this message in his icon entitled: "The Angel of Providence"

Why debating religion doesn't work

Debating difficult issues like Same sex marriages is a pointless task. I have participated and watched from the sidelines many of these discussions and there is a pattern. While there as many viewpoints as there are people traveling the Internet, here is my summary of the beliefs and positions of the major players in this debate:

1. Conservative Christians (CC) believe the Bible is written by God who is unchanging and perfect. Ipso facto, the Bible is perfect and not up for interpretation or debate.
2. Liberal Christians (LC) believe the bible is an historical document created by people influenced by God. The bible has metaphorical stories with important moral messages. How far LCs go with depends on how liberal they are.
3. CCs believe it is their duty to convince non-Christians (NC) that "Jesus loves them and that they should accept Jesus into their hearts" and that "Jesus died for our sins". To them acceptance of these facts are the only way to forgiveness. They also think that other religions are wrong especially if Jesus is anything other than Messiah.
4. CCs also believe that because they have done 3 themselves, their sins are forgiven, even though they should not support sinful behaviors in themselves or those around them.
5. CCs refer to the bible and assert that Homosexual relationships are sinful, not approved by God (see 1), that these sinners should do 3 and that same sex marriages should not be supported (see 4).
6. LCs and NCs will take issue with CCs stance on homosexuality and call them either intolerant or hypocrites for not accepting everyone, as they are instructed to in the bible (see 1).
7. LCs will then often state their view of the bible (see 2) and then start pointing out parts of the bible that contradict 1. It is my personal opinion that many have trouble accepting the statements in 3 as useful statements of faith, but LCs don't generally come out and say this.
8. The CCs will point out the well used sections of the bible that prohibit same sex relations, referring to 1 as support of their case. The LCs and NCs may at this point dispute these examples with different interpretations of what they were meant to mean at the time of writing (see 2) and the CCs might object using 1.
9. LC and knowledgeable NC, will use counter examples of things even CCs do not believe are true in the modern world. Examples: "Should not eat shellfish", "Prohibition on eating pork", "Men should have multiple wives".
10. At this point CCs will retreat to "My faith is unshakable", because that is essential to them (see 3), "I pray for you and hope that you will change your mind" (also covered by 3).
11. LCs and NCs will shake their heads and mutter about how closed minded and intolerant the CCs are. The CCs will shake their heads and mutter prayers for the NCs and think that the LCs should know better and that the LCs will be really surprised when they wind up in hell.

At this point the discussion is pretty much over. Everyone feels they have not been heard (perhaps they haven't) but that they have cleared the air, that they scored some pretty good points for their side (not likely), and that the world is a better place because of their contributions to the debate. If you feel like debating this post, I would welcome your thoughts. However, lets try to keep to the meta level that I started at and not delve into the details of what is or isn't in the bible. That has been discussed to death and regardless of what the CCs say, is almost entirely open to interpretation and a matter of faith.

Mist over Jackfish Lake

I know it sounds cliche, but this photo, taken by my brother reminds me of my Happy Place. You know that place you go to when you imagine yourself in nature?

Pronunciation of Star Names

Here is a list of stars, which constellation they are in and how you say them. Also included is a list of constellations, their abbreviations and how you pronounce them as well.

My Web Pictures

This Father's Day, I would like to remember my Dad who died in mid March of this year. He inspired many people and will be missed. TerminalMan's Web Pictures and especially My Dad

Flying Spaghetti Monsterism

Touched by His Noodly Appendage
I love this picture and the inverse crazyness of this attack on 'Intellegent Design'

Highest Law

Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is Jesus's restatement of the most important commandment.

The PBGs have been going on about this too. I have been taking a course recently that has been helping me improve my life. Early on, I felt a nudge of encouragement from the PBGs to follow this path. There is no doubt in my mind that the value I gain from taking these courses will increase my abilities to play my part in the PBGs plans.

On the other hand, it may just tempt me to try to take control of the plan or take credit for the wonderful accomplishments I have attracted into my life. Pride goes before the fall, don't you know.

My fantasy visions of my future include loads of friends, lots of money, a fleet of yachts, a studio with loads of beautiful artworks made by my hands.

Hmmm, not a lot of OOPBGB going on in all that. And where in all of that is the True Connection? Sounds a bit greedy now that I think about it.

Those PBGs brought this clever advertisment about a marathoner to me. How could I resist taking a look. Not only a marathoner who is clever, with business savy, but a ladies man and a smooth talker. "Is this how you picture your future?" they asked me.

Next on the hit list, they suggest I do the next church Rotation -- the temptation of Christ. This lesson is about Jesus staying in the desert for 40 days and nights with no food and only a little water. He is tempted by the serpent. So is that it Guys? Am I being tempted by the serpent here? Are you telling me that my pride will get me into trouble?

And what is with the picture of a boat covered with sexually appealing girls and me in the center? Do you mock my dream or dare me to accomplish it?

It seems likely that you are saying to me that there is Only one Lord. That the pursuit of money/power is evil and that I should put it behind me.

If I am looking for true connection, it should not be with these things it should be with God.

Recently I was using Google's new RSS feed viewer in my gmail account. It brought me to a link on how to create and remember your strong passwords for online banking and such. Very good advice now that so much of our personal information is online. Sometimes we need a little help remembering things that are very important.

Over the years, the PBGs have helped to make God and Jesus palatable for me. If that sounds strange to you, you don't know me very well. Or perhaps you have just come to know me recently.

I was visited by the PBGs on my run this morning. They spoke to me about belief.

I said:"Go ahead and believe whatever damn fool thing you want. The Facts will always beg to differ."

The PBGs whispered: The 'facts' shouted from the roof-tops may bear little resemblance to the Truth.

I am reminded of a scene in the book, "The Silver Chair" by C.S. Lewis. This is one of the Narnia books, though it isn't nearly as well known as "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". In this scene, the Green Witch, who is really a poisonous snake in disguise tries to convince the protagonists that there is no sun, no overworld and no Aslan. She calls these ideas fantasies and children stories. She uses her magic smoke, harp music and lilting voice to dull their senses, addle their brains and put them to sleep.

Puddleglum, a marsh wiggle, breaks out of her powerful spell and says

Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up... trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself... all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones... We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.I'm going to live like a Narnian as I can [sic] even if there isn't a Narnia.

It is a powerful message placed in a powerful and memorable scene in a wonderful story. Encoded in these wonderful books are concepts to save a world by. A story like this helps us remember what is truely important. It encourages us to stand up for what is right regardless of what the 'facts' are telling us is prudent or acceptable

And a child's story (the Narnia books, in this case) help us to remember what is important. "Remember what silly old Puddleglum said..." For a wiggle, he sure had his head on straight.

What Was Your 23rd Post?

Rules:

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

Here's mine:

Also swam with the family today.

This was an uninspired post from a blogging dry-spell. This was in a period where my blog was still mostly a running log; prior to my involvement at church. I suppose the most interesting part of this post is the fact that it celebrates the first day of training for my first marathon.

I've come a long way from there. I'll go a long way further.

Taken from Sisters' Weblog, and all the others who participated along the way.

Two or More Are Gathered

Convergence and other coincidences have, in the past, been what made the PBGs tick. Well, that is how they ticked for me.

But now I am beginning to wonder. Like Larry I wonder if there is more going on than meets they eye (or ear relevent ear, in his case :)

Larry wonders why, on a lonely road, cars travelling in opposite directions seem to pass each other right where he happens to be. Sounds to me like a mini church get-together. Much too short for much worship to be accomplished, however.

I wonder, like Larry, if there is more to these kinds of coincidences. In the past I have had deep thoughts on my runs with the PBGs. Where did these thought come from. It always seemed to me that they originated from within me, but that is was unlikely I came up with them all on my own. Perhaps I am not giving my subconscience enough credit. Perhaps the aspect of God I am channeling is tayloring his message (ok Mo, HER message) in a way that my simplistic faith can handle. Like a elementary primer for a grade-school faith.

I do know for certain that I am in a different place today than I would have been without the experiences I have had. Every day I feel more confident and become more involved with the world around me. I don't feel a need to take credit for these changes. I just enjoy my new-found skills. I don't know if I should give credit (and thanks) to God or congratulate myself for climbing out of my funk myself.

My faith gives me God. My God gives me courage. My courage gives me strength. My strength leads me to action. I am a hand of God! OOPBGB

Mechanical Pencil

This cartoon came to me when I was considering investing in the stock market. I was going to use my new-found "Financial Intelligence" to ramp up my Assets column.

This strip says to me that regardless of how expensive the tools you have at hand are, it is ultimately your mind and your determination (and perhaps a large dollop of luck) that determine your results. It suggests that it isn't the pencil or the flashy car that get us where we want to go, it's our choices and the way we conduct our lives.

Decide

Decide

I found this picture on the APOD site. It kinda spooked me. I visit the APOD site almost every day because I find lots of nifty pictures of galaxies and nebulas for my desktop. It usually has great commentaries about the pictures as well. But I digress.

It spooked me because it is almost exactly like a picture I was trying to create with the POVRay raytracer. I was smitten by raytracing when my kids were younger. I would walk around examining objects as potential candidates for my next project. I made a train and a Ferris wheel... Oops, digressing again.

I got frustrated with how hard it was to get something looking beautiful and polished. I often got bogged down in math problems like, how do you make a rope hang between two points without it looking like it is frozen stiff. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to pick a project and create an entire picture from start to finish

I picked an observatory. I made good start on it and came up with a pretty decent structure. Then I wanted a night sky. I played around with various lighting techniques, textures, etc. But I was never satisfied with the sky. I just couldn't get it to look right. Well, the PBGs work in mysterious ways. They seem to take their time about it, but...

The above picture is exactly the sky I wanted. The observatories (only one in my imagined picture) are even on a hill.

<Shiver>

And, I just recently got back into doing 3D graphics using the Unreal Tournament engine. I have decided (again) that I want to accomplish something and am currently bogged down on how the textures work, lighting and, you guessed it, math. There is SO much to learn and no more time now than I had before. If anything, my life is MORE full now. I really have to decide what is important.

I love doing the graphics, but is soaks up SO MUCH time.

Now UCCan

Did you know that the United Church of Canada is celebrating it's 80th year? 'S'truth. Check it out here: United Church of Canada Anniversary

And to celebrate, I have decided to join Richard Bott's UCCan Blogroll.

Well, actually, he discovered The PBGs Path and invited me to join him. I was touched and pleased to be asked, and, having now checked out the other links in the UCCan, I CCan say that we all seem to be like-minded individuals.

If you don't believe me, check out Richard Bott's statement of faith.

There is one thing that concerns me however...

All the others are either ministers or in theology school. Do you think somebody out there is hinting? Could it be the trickster PBG?

If you are involved in some way with the United Church of Canada and have a web log, please add yourself to our ranks.

(I'm all ready sounding possessive, aren't I Richard?)

The Grass is greener.

They say that the grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence. I believe that.

In my blog-reading travels (I must admit I haven't been spending much time looking others up recently) I have discovered the joy of reading the first post. I love the first post of a new blog.

When I discover a new blog-link, I usually try to get a feel of how the blog has been going by checking the frequency of posting and how long it's been since the last post. Then I skip straight to the first post. It is always so revealing.

People put all their good intentions in their first posts. They might not know what a blog is about, they may have not found their style or muse, but their determination to stick with their new blog is usually dripping from their keystrokes.

They also usually spend 5 times the effort on the first post as they do on, say, the fourth. You know that if the first post sucks, you can bet that their writing probably won't improve much with age.

Well, I wandered over to the Sisters' site (the only blog I seem to visit on a regular basis, read a wonderfully inspirational post by Katie, spotted a de-cluttering idea from, well Katie, I guess and read the first comment.

Blog comments are another place I like to spend my reading time. You find more quality blog-links in comment reading than in a hundred Google searches.

Which leads me to Simon.

Simon lives in California. Grass Valley California. And he works for Grass Roots Software. In his first post, he speaks eloquently of his life, faith family, and future plans.

To tell the truth, it doesn't sound like the grass is any greener there than it is right here. I already like Simon and I don't really know him.

Well, not much more that what I read in his first post anyway

Keep up the good work Simon. I promise I will read more. Oh and link you to the PBGs.

Like a Fern or Bamboo?

Ric shared with me an inspirational link that I wanted to share with you. If you are thinking of quitting work, sprituality, perhaps life itself, this may help you. It is a very gentle message about the grace of God done in such a way as to be accessable to even the most cynical viewer.

I include it on the PBGs Path because its core message speaks to the PBGs big Plan. We may not know the part we play on God's stage, but there are no unimportant parts. In the big scheme of things, everything matters.

 

EDIT: I have never been close to suicide, so I don't really know if this message is helpful for that. If a google search brought you here, take a look. Perhaps it will give you the strength to carry on.

Google Maps

Here is a nifty link for a new tool provided by the folks at Google.

Hey ma', I can (nearly) see my house!

Make sure you try both the map and satellite versions and play around with the navigation controls. Some other neat places in the world are:

• Cairo -- spot the pyramids?
• Paris -- how about the famous steel structure?
• Hong Kong -- look at all the 'tiny' container ships freighting trinkets to the rest of the world!
• Hoover Dam -- It may look tiny, but you can see it from space!