You Are Not a Model Horse

    Annually, thousands gather in Lexington, Kentucky to celebrate what Jane Wagner (a retired engineer) calls “The biggest closet hobby you’ll ever find.” The event, “BreyerFest”, is an annual convention for individuals who collect model horses. Collectors, typically adolescent girls from Middle America and their mothers, come from every state within the continental US and places like the UK and Austrailia. Part of Breyerfest is a live event in which judges officiate near 1,000 classes of model horses. Seemingly insignificant differences in paint job and condition separate the best from the rest. The competition is intense, with some individuals have been caught cheating. One woman enlisted her family in order to allow her to show three times as many models as she would be able to otherwise. (source, gizmodo.com)

     We all have, whether consciously or unconsciously, compared ourselves to other people. When I was very young I wanted the toys my friends had. When I was in high school I wanted to be as attractive and popular as some of my peers. When I was in college the first time, I wanted the grades and success with the fairer sex that other students had. I am overjoyed to know that my God doesn’t place us all in classes and choose winners. 1 John 4:10 tells us, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” He loves us all, even at our worse, and sent his Son to die for us. God doesn’t pick us apart, exposing only our sins. He doesn’t choose favorites. Love others as God loves you and know that you don’t have to be the best model horse to be called his children.

Two Species in One?

     One of the items on my bucket list is to visit the world’s great museums of natural history.   Within these museums lie “archives that provide clues about raging epidemics, environmental pollution, and hidden extinctions” (Yong, 2015). Museums of natural history contain records of ecosystems that continue to change and disappear.

     What I did not know is that natural history museums contain many undiscovered species. In 2011, a geneticist at Fordham University named Evon Hekkala discovered that a species of crocodile hidden within a diorama in the American Museum of Natural History (the Nile crocodile) was actually two species. She collected DNA samples from various museum collections and found that the Nile crocodile has both a Western and Eastern species, the Eastern having two fewer chromosomes than the Western Nile crocodile.

     The average animal specimen waits 21 years to be formally described. One pit viper waited 206 years to be identified. I want to be identified as a Christian. I want to be recognized as a child of God. However, lost between the pressures of life and the freedom found in Christ, I often neglect to build the strong relationship with God I need in order for my life to reveal his work in me. I love what Paul writes in Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NLT). Are you two species lost in one or are you truly living a new life in Christ?

Dedicated to the Night-Owls

     Our bodies contain internal clocks that are set to around 24-hours. We instinctively know how long a day is. I have always been a night-owl, staying up late in to the night and waking up late in to the morning. New evidence suggest that the internal body clocks of night-owls like myself run a little slower. Therefore, night-owls may be better candidates for missions to Mars as days on Mars are about 37 minutes longer than on Earth.

     A recent study found that mice with faster than 24-hour internal clocks are less likely to thrive than mice who’s internal clocks are synched with the Earth’s 24-hour rotation. The mice with the faster internal clocks died out after several generations.

     Other individuals who might not be invited to Mars are vegans or others with extreme dietary restrictions. Lots of extra money would need to be invested by NASA so that a balanced and varied space diet could be developed.

     Adjusting to God’s timing is not always easy. In Habakkuk 2:3 we read, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (NLT) We live in a world with Internet, fast food, and overnight shipping. We except to have things go the way we want them to exactly when we want them to. But, our God knows that love is patient and does not demand its own way (1 Cor. 13:4-5). Slow down. Take a deep breath. Allow God to work in your life. He knows just what you need.

Move Forward

     Today I read that 15 top European scientists met recently to discuss how the European Space Agency (ESA) might send a human in to deep space (motherboard.vice.com). More specifically, the scientists met in order to determine how they can purposefully induce hibernation. Cryosleep, putting a human being in to suspended animation using a drug, chamber, or something very cold, has commonly been used in science fiction. We see representations of cryosleep in several films including: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar, Aliens, Avatar, and Riddick.

     Since the beginning of medical history, there have been people who have used cold temperatures to treat various conditions. Hippocrates is believed to have covered injured soldiers with ice and snow in order to slow their flow of blood and give their bodies additional time to heal. Many years later, in 1945, a researcher named TB Fay purposely cooled down patients who had sustained traumatic brain injuries. Fay did this in hopes that swelling would decrease, metabolism would slow down, and the bodies of these patients would be healed. In 1999, Swedish radiologist Anna Bagenholm was trapped under ice for 80 minutes after a skiing accident. Her heart stopped for three hours and her body temperature dropped to 56 degrees. She eventually made a full recovery outside of some minor nerve damage.

     In chapter 17 of Job, we read Job crying out for God to defend his innocence. He laments his current state of being having lost everything. Job has hit a low point in his life, unable to see any more hope in the midst of experiencing tremendous loss. Within this text is a particularly powerful quote. In verse 9 of Job 17 he states, “The righteous keep moving forward”. We will face times in our lives when it seems like there is no hope. We all have times where we want to fall asleep and cease to face life’s challenges. But, the righteous don’t sleep. The righteous keep moving forward. God has something great in store for all that follow him. Don’t fall in to cryosleep. Move forward.

Ferrets to the Heart

     I couldn't resist writing about an article I read this week on bangishotyou. As my family owned several ferrets before the first corgi entered our lives, I simply had to know the history of working ferrets. Ferrets were used by the Roman legions who used them to drive rabbits out of their rabbit holes to become sustenance for hangry Roman soldiers. The modern working ferret’s roots can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries where they were used for rodent extermination aboard ships. Pokey the ferret became the official mascot of the Massachusetts Colonial Navy in 1986. 

     In the 1800s, tens of thousands of ferrets were raised for rodent extermination and “ferretmeisters” brought them to the barns and granaries the ferrets were to serve and protect. Though effective rodenticides replaced ferrets around the arrival of World War II, aircraft including B-26 Marauders and B-29 Superfortresses had their wiring installed with the help of working ferrets. Today, ferrets continue to be cable runners when simple tools just won’t do the trick. They are also therapy animals for people suffering with various ailments!

     I can already hear you thinking “That’s quite a stretch, John.” Hear me out! In Hebrews 4:12 we read, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Though ferrets do not cut like a sword, they are capable of finding their ways in to tight, twisted spaces. When you meditate on the word of God, it has a way of imprinting itself on you and transforming the way you think. Spend time in scripture daily and allow God to expose what you must rid yourself of and what you must gain.

A Taste of Kindness

     Today I read an article on Gizmodo about how ice cream was made in the 17th century. Ice cream is that one food I’ll eat no more how much I’ve gorged myself prior to having ice cream offered to me. “I am so stuffed. If I eat one more thing I will literally explode.” “Anyone want ice cream? It’s cookie dough!” “Two scoops right here… better make that three.”

     The first ice cream in history was made possible in 1671 without the use of refrigeration. The first mention of “ice cream” was made during a feast for British king Charles II. The creator of orange blossom ice cream, the first flavor until the end of the 1600s, was paid a yearly stipend to keep the recipe secret until the 1680s. Instead of mixing salt with ice as I do every few weeks to create a cold, creamy concoction, people in the 1600s used saltpeter. Saltpeter, KNO3, was first used for the creation of fireworks and gunpowder.

     No one knows how people stumbled on to the freezing properties of saltpeter but I’m incredibly glad that they did. There is verse in 1 Peter that comes to mind when I think about my adoration for ice cream. 1 Peter 2:2 reads: “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” (NLT) Once we realize how kind God really is to us, we cry out for more. God sent his son to die on the cross though we didn’t deserve it. The thought of this sacrifice has the ability to drive us to greater acts of kindness and greater devotion to the God who loves us unconditionally. When you think you’ve offered enough kindness, remember the depth of God’s kindness and continue to grow.

Teddy Bear Blessings

     The Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen hosted their annual “Teddy Bear Toss” last Sunday. After the Hitmen scored their first goal, a  record 28,815 stuffed animals were thrown on to the ice at a game with only 19,289 in attendance! Over the past 21 years, the Calgary Hitmen and their fans have donated over 300,000 stuffed animals to over 50 local charities. The game, Calgary’s first with a sellout crowd , was delayed for 40 minutes while the stuffed animals were removed from the ice.

     The news is typically populated with countless stories featuring war, death, prejudice, greed, poverty, and other subjects that cause us to shake our heads with sadness and dismay. It’s good for the suffering of others to be brought to our attention. This type of awareness can spur us on to good works or instill gratefulness towards our own blessings. However, we must understand that our world is not without hope. While I look forward to life in heaven, I know there is much to live for here on Earth. There are many people in need of God and in need of our help. Maybe you had a stuffed animal that you carried with you through most of your childhood. I had a giant parrot who constantly poured Styrofoam stuffing around my house from numerous holes in his fuzzy flesh. What joy the smallest gestures can bring to the recipient and the giver! Jesus talked often about the joy of serving others. In Luke 6:38 he states, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NLT) Who do you know that may be in need? What can you give? We must consider these questions often as live in the image of a God who provides for us. – JMW

Cerebral Confinement

     An article I read today on the Nautilus website (nautilus.us) told the story of two very different siblings, one a designer of rock climbing walls that is able to move quickly past misfortunes and another a Ph.D. immunology student that often worries herself to exhaustion. The former is very attached to the outside world while the latter lives within her own head (Sedivy, 2015).

     A study conducted in 2010 revealed that people spend half their time thinking about something other than what they are currently doing. A wandering mind allows one to plan for the future and is associated strongly with creativity. Mind-wandering also leads to distracted mistakes and is possibly connected to neuroticism, a personality style that is defined by anxiety, obsessive negative thoughts, and depression. Adam Perkins, a clinical psychologist at King’s College London, argue that “the engine of neuroticism is inward thought” (Sedivy, 2015).

     1 Peter 5:6-8 reads, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (NLT) It’s easy to become trapped within our own heads, sometimes worrying about things that will never happen. The enemy uses our distraction in the same way a lion takes advantage of distracted prey. When you find yourself consumed by negative thoughts, breathe deeply and consider the moment. What is in your control? What must you leave in God’s hands? There is always hope, no matter how troubling your circumstances. Get out of your head and live. – JMW

A Failure to Communicate

     Back in 1992,  language expert Donald Rubin conducted an experiment that revealed it’s possible to hallucinate a foreign accent. He conducted a fake class for 60 undergraduate students. The students were shown photos of two nearly identical professors, one being Caucasian and the other Chinese. A recording of a woman from Ohio reading an article from the New York Times was played while the students viewed the two different photos individually. Though the same voice was played with each photo, students gave lower ratings to the Chinese professor, claiming that she had an accent that made her more difficult to understand. A similar study was conducted this year at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. This time, the students listened to a Caucasian and a Chinese professor but could not see them. They were able to understand both professors equally.

     1 Peter 3:8-12 contains God’s recipe for good communication. Readers are told to sympathize, love each other, be tenderhearted, and pay insults back with a blessing. However, once we’ve decided the character of someone else, it’s difficult not to filter everything someone says and does through who we’ve decided they are. I’m not saying that no one gives us information from which we might draw conclusions. Some individuals disappoint us repeatedly. But, God does not see things that aren’t there. He want us to forgive, forget, and learn to live in harmony with each other. We can’t do this if we continue to over-analyze the words and actions of others. We each communicate in unique ways. Our brains find it difficult to interpret accents and forms of communication we aren’t familiar with. That doesn’t mean we should ignore each other. 

The Need to Reprieve

They say justice is blind.

Well that must be why

that time after time

I don't act so kind.

I'd rather prosecute

or start a dispute

than end every feud

or refuse to be crude.

I lay awake at night

and relive every fight.

With all of my might

I remain very trite.

We take record of wrongs.

We write angry songs.

If we were more strong

we'd all get along.

Let go of the hate

before it's too late.

You can change your fate

or divide at high rates.

Who made us judge and jury?

Who filled our hearts with fury?

Will someone please cure me

and awaken the pure me?

We serve the God of love

who sends grace from above.

It descends like a dove

when push comes to shove.

Christ was gentle and meek

while turning his cheek.

Sin free and unique

is the savior I seek.

My old self is lost.

Anger is not my boss.

Heart not covered in frost,

all sins nailed to the cross.

Stress is Bad For You

I, like most other folks, face a fair amount of stress in my life. Juggling school, work, and my personal life can be tremendously challenging. You may have heard that stress is bad for you. Do you know exactly why stress is so bad for you?
Stress promotes the release of the hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine from our adrenal gland. Adrenaline speeds up our hearts and can raise blood pressure. Cortisol causes changes to our blood vessels that can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cortisol also increases appetite which increases cytokine-releasing deep-belly fat. Cytokines increase the risk of developing chronic illnesses. When you are stressed, your brain sends signals to your gut that can lead to digestive problems and changes in the composition of your gut bacteria. This is what we refer to as “butterflies”.
There will always be stress in our lives. It’s how we deal with stress that matters. I have never been very good at defending myself against the ravages of stress. I’ve either been angry, sad, or hungry (or hangry) when the going gets tough. 1 Peter 5:6-7 reads, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” God may not take away your stress anytime soon but in his time (his perfect time), he will lift you up. It’s a far from simple task to give our worries to God, but giving all to God will save our lives. View your stressors as challenges that you can master with God’s help. You are loved. You are chosen. You may one day look back on the troubles of today as that which defines you and leads you to victory. - JMW

God is Good

     My friend Jon (you may know him) is visually quite an intimidating fellow. He’s tall, broad shouldered, and sports an epic beard. Jon is the type of person one might mistake for a folk hero. “Old Jon let out a mighty sneeze and that day the Grand Canyon was born.” It only takes a short conversation with Jon to discover that’s he one’s of the nicest and most loving individuals you are likely to encounter. He’s one of several friends that are teddy bears within and mighty grizzlies on the outside.

     I think I have always been drawn to people like Jon who could stomp you in to the ground like a tent spike but are more likely to be seen at a daughter’s ballet recital. God’s power is not as comforting as his goodness and wisdom. Psalm 107:1 reads: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (NLT) The goodness of God appears in scripture to be the sum of his various attributes.  In every action and intervention God is good. Our focus, very often, is easily turned from the goodness of God to the disappointments of our lives. It’s difficult to see that “he is good” in the midst of broken hearts and dreams left unfulfilled. I love what James has to say: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” God has good and perfect gifts he wants to give us. That will never change. Don’t lose hope. God is preparing you. He is building you. He loves you. If you’re like me, you forget all of this daily. In the times God’s goodness seems foreign to you, list your blessings.  Recognize every thing that is good in your life and know that it comes from a good God.

Bacon, Eggs, and Jesus

     In case you haven’t been subjected to McDonald’s aggressive marketing campaign, then you’ve probably noticed that McDonald’s is now serving breakfast all day. No longer do those who’ve slept late on a Saturday have to pine over a missed opportunity. Who hasn’t dreamed of a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich only to discover you’ve missed it by minutes? This unrequited love has brought many men to tears.

     Earlier this year, in Manhattan, a new restaurant called BEC opened its doors for business. BEC (short for Bacon, Egg, and Cheese) is part of a trend that takes menu items created for the working class and gives them an upscale twist. BEC’s sandwiches include sophisticated ingredients like bitter greens and spicy aioli. Some sandwiches cost as much as $11.50!  If you haven’t come across a gourmet breakfast sandwich, maybe you’ve seen a $20 or $30 burger topped with “Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, a very slow-cooked onion fondue, an herb remoulade, house-made pickles and arugula”.

     We seem to forget that the gospel of Christ is for everyone. We view others as lost, evil, or hopeless. We see failure where God sees potential. We know that God desires for everyone to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). We know that God can save anyone (Rom. 10:13). We know that everyone can afford God’s freely given grace (Isa. 55:1). The gospel is not a $30 burger and the church is not the trendiest spot in town. Church is not an exclusive club for the upper class. It’s a community of love and grace, which in the spirit of Jesus should be praying for and reaching out to all people. Who do you know that could use a sandwich? - JMW

How to Care For Your Fig Tree

     I am an aspiring gardener. I say aspiring because the only plants I have been able to grow effectively are weeds fit for a Jurassic Park velociraptor enclosure. Today, I looked up a few tips for caring for a tree. Obviously, trees need water (around 25 gallons each week). Weeds should be controlled naturally using mulch (avoid volcano mulch). Trees should be protected from lawn mowers, weed whackers, and animals. Carefully prune your tree using clean, sharp tools (trees can become diseased just like us!). Do not make flush cuts as they promote the spread of decay inside the tree.

     There is an interesting parable that Jesus tells in Luke 13:6-9. In this parable, a man plants a fig tree and becomes disappointed when the tree does not produce figs. The man says to his gardener, “I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” (NLT) The gardener defends the fig-less tree, asking the tree’s owner to give him one more year to care for and fertilize the tree. When we face frustration and disappointment, our first response is often to give up. Jobs, relationships, and other pursuits do not always produce the results that we desire. We then try to throw them away.

     A good gardener recognizes that trees need special attention. I honestly never thought to disinfect my pruning shears! When you face frustration, “dig around it and put in fertilizer.” (Luke 13:8, NASB) Be patient and be honest with yourself. Maybe you need to make some changes within yourself. Maybe you need to recognize that each failure is like feces. Frustration stinks but it feeds growth within us. 

Variation

An article I read this week on quantamagazine.org focuses on what makes individuals unique. An experiment on fruit flies revealed that even when genetically identical, fruit flies show many variations in behavior. This is true even when the flies were raised in the exact same environment. Some strains of fly move together like well-trained soldier while other strains are like dancers, each moving to their own beat. Researchers have identified a gene that, when blocked, makes it more likely that a strain of flies will be dancers. Manipulating neurons in the flies’ brains led to even more variability. The flexible brains of human beings cause us to be much more effected by individual experiences. The smallest of variations at any point in life can lead to profound differences.
We are, without question, shaped by our experiences, environment, and the people we choose to be spend our time with. Some of these influences are under our control. Some are not. For that which is under our control, we must make choices that reflect knowledge of God’s intentions. In 1 Cor. 1:2 we read, “He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (NLT). We are to be dedicated to God in every aspect of our lives. Sometimes, even with good planning, life doesn’t turn out the way we want it to. In these times, Know that God “causes everything to work together for the good of those that love God” (Rom. 8:28, NLT). God works in all of life’s variations.

Compassion

     I read a report this week from the National Center for Family Homelessness (2014) that completely floored me. According to this report, 2.5 million children in the United States experience homelessness annually. 1 in 30 kids living in our country know what it means to have no place to call home. This 2013 figure is up from 1.6 million children in 2006. The rate of child homelessness is worst in Kentucky, where 1 in 15 children experience homelessness.

     A day after reading this report, I came across an article summarizing research from the University of California, Berkeley. In three different experiments, social scientists found highly religious people to be less motivated by compassion towards strangers than atheists, agnostics, and less religious people. (Anwar, 2012) Before you allow yourself to be angered and frustrated by this research, consider that UC Berkeley social scientist Robb Willer stated the more religious “may ground their generosity less in emotion, and more in other factors such as doctrine, a communal identity, or reputational concerns.” (2012)

     Are we more motivated by doctrine, duty, or how others perceive us than we are by compassion? In 1 John 3:17-18 we read, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” When we hear that 2.5 million children are homeless in our country, we should be driven by our compassion. Yes God commands me to look after the disenfranchised but without love, I am “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Cor. 13:1, NLT)

     During this holiday season and beyond it, find a place in your heart for the poor and “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matt. 19:21, NLT) God calls us to charity driven by compassion, supported by His word, and founded in true sacrifice. John W.

Nature Versus Nurture

     According to an article on the Wired website, (www.wired.com) a consumer genomics company called 23andMe was recently granted a patent for a system that would allow prospective parents to choose the traits of their offspring. This designer baby-making system would give parents the opportunity to pick the disease risk, hair color, athleticism, and expected lifetime health care costs of their children. 23andMe currently offers genomic analysis of more than 240 genetic traits that could potentially be pre-determined.

     Currently, with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, (PGD) doctors scan an embryo’s genome before it’s implanted in a woman. PGD is currently used to prevent genetic diseases and in some cases to choose a baby’s sex. Clinics that offer PGD don’t give customers a list of possible non-medically relevant traits.

     Marcy Darnovsky, executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society, believes that “overestimating the importance of genes could lead people to underestimate the importance of everything else.” Genetics do not account for 100% of who we are. Much of who we are is due to our education, experiences, and choices. Deutoronomy 6:4-7 tells us that we are to repeat God’s commands to our children. We are to talk about them when we’re home and when we’re on the road, when we’re going to bed and when we’re getting up. 

     At Southwinds, we provide several excellent opportunities for children to learn about God and to grow in to mature followers of Christ. In addition to this, parents must continually share their faith with the children that they share their lives with. Children may make the wrong choices, but ultimately we are to direct our children so they may work out their salvation and obey God “with deep reverence and fear.” (Phil. 2:12, NLT)

Ce n'est pas un chrétien?

     René Magritte was a Belgian surrealist and is one of my favorite artists. You may recognize his piece entitled, “The Son of Man,” which features a man wearing a suit and bowler hat with a large green apple obscuring his face. Part of why I enjoy Magritte’s work is because it challenges our preconditioned ideas regarding reality. I personally require no less than three major reality checks daily. These checks often come when I view budgets, bank statements, and mirrors.

     Another of Magritte’s pieces (which I am happy to reference here, as I now own a t-shirt that parodies the work and tire of explaining it) is a deceptively simple painting of a pipe used for smoking, captioned with the phrase “Ceci n’est pas une pipe.” (translated from French: “This is not a pipe.”) An observer at first glance might say to herself or someone standing nearby, “Ummm... That is definitely a pipe. What’s the joke here?” The esoteric art critic would respond, “This is not a pipe but merely a painting that features an image of a pipe.” Queue your mind being blown or a possible “Meh.”

     In Ephesians 5:1-2, the writer tells his audience to “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do.” (NLT) We are to “live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” I long attempted to over complicate my personal understanding of scripture by adding rules, traditions, and complex theology. Paul gives us the simple directive to imitate our Lord and Savior. We are to become not just an image or idea that reflects Christ, but we are to love as He loved when he gave his life on our behalf.

Let's Create TV

I came across a very interesting public access television show recently. If you aren’t familiar with public access, it allows average folks like myself to create content and broadcast it through cable television. It is perhaps a misnomer to refer to those broadcasting through public access as “average”. Often, they are anything but.
Artist John Kilduff hosts “Let’s Paint TV”, currently broadcasting through the Internet. Some episodes of the show are conventional, recorded sessions of Kilduff showing the viewer his process of oil painting. The show is famous for the live episodes, in which Kilduff paints while running on a treadmill, taking calls from viewers, making food, and blending drinks. He is quite the multi-tasker.
Kilduff, holding a masters of fine arts from UCLA in California, aims to encourage people of all skill levels to paint or become involved in another form of creative self-expression. Some have speculated that the show is an ironic piece of performance art but Kilduff is sincere about his mission. Though many call in to the show to express prejudice, curse, insult Kilduff, or make derogatory comments about rival gangs, Kilduff continues to take calls, paint, and run.
I emphasize the importance of creativity quite a bit as it’s become my passion. I think that everyone needs to find out where he or she fits in the work of God. Rom. 12:6-8 and several other passages emphasize our varied gifts. Creativity can be a weapon used to battle depression and other forms of adversity. Plenty of people who can’t talk, walk, or see lead fulfilling lives. If a particular path you’ve chosen isn’t working for you or some outside force is working against you, it often takes creativity to find your way to God.

Consider the Flintstones

I remember using the Internet in its earliest stages. I would walk several blocks while waiting for a single picture to download. When I sent e-mail, a bird flew out of the back of my computer and made a sarcastic comment about catching a flight to Cleveland. Oh wait, that was an episode of the Flintstones. You know, there is a number of individuals out there in today's world that simply would not tolerate "back talk" delivered by a kitchen appliance. If my baby elephant vacuum cleaner even considered saying something like "It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it," I'd have it returned to Marshall Flint's or JC Pennystone immediately.
I have a special attachment to the Flintstones in that my grandparents are the modern Stone Age family. My grandfather could not be any more like Fred Flintstone unless he decided to stop wearing shoes and propel his car with his bare feet. My grandparents spend all their time with my aunt and uncle who bear striking similarities to Barney and Betty Rubble. It's downright frightening. We won't let my grandfather go bowling for fear he will land the ball on top of his noggin or get his finger glued in its holes. I wonder if my grandfather has intimate conversations with a little green Martian that only he can see? It would explain quite a bit about him, really.
Matthew 6:25-30 was the passage written in a book given to me by a good friend and mentor. He wrote it knowing how I struggle with the worries of life on Earth. When life is not convenient for me, I get frustrated. I can barely remember how I lived without computers, a cell phone, and a digital audio player. There are always new worries. Life is not easy no matter how many solutions and fixes we find for it. However, God is always good and will always provide what we need if we depend on him.