Jacksonville Bound

We are long overdue for a family trip.

I know what some of you are thinkning... didn't you get to go on a trip last August through October? No... not that kind of trip. This is a stress free not evacuating from a hurricane trip.

We have family in Jacksonville, not blood relatives, but church family. And that is as good as the real deal. 8 1/2 hours of driving and we will be there. It's gonna be great to see the people we missed and be near the ocean again.

The Gulf Of Mexico does not count...

It might be Tuesday before I post again.

If you can't tell, I am trying to make this a daily thing... slowly finding time to write a bit here and there. My main problem is I have alot to say, but not enough time to sit and do it.

Happy Easter !!!

Freedom is wonderful

Some of you may have noticed the Systema link on the right hand side of my blog. Some may have not... either way, I want to briefly touch on this subject.

I want to share how relaxed and calm I have felt since starting Systema.

What is Systema, you may ask. Well, it is a simple yet complicated answer.

On the outside, it is viewed as a way of self defense. On the inside, it goes much deeper. It is actually a complete system, and is actually as ancient as some of the popular Asian martial arts. If you can visualize it, it is kind of like a combination of aikido, yoga and pilates all rolled in to one package.

Another perk is that it is a Christian-Faith based system. *Not a martial art, but a complete system, which involves your mind, your body and your faith.*

If you are still reading this, I am not trying to sell anything. I only wish to give back the same feelings I have.

The basis for Systema is in breathing, and that is the main key to relaxing.

Our bodies are always under attack by stress, and most of us suffer from some form of tension. Yoga practitioners may know what I am saying about being able to breathe away your tension.

Even in a stressful situation, a practitioner of Systema is able to stay relaxed, and focused. It does not matter what that situation is, or when it happens.

This allows me to realize that I am not in control of anything around me- which allows me to be "free" from tension.

There is much more to it than that, I have only scratched the surface.

I just feel a need to help others, as it was not long ago that I was a stressing wreck, and now I am not.

Systema has also allowed me to become more "in tune" with my praying.

to be continued...

Her First Words...

It's Official...

My wife just called me a little while ago.

Our daughter has spoken her first words...

DA DA...

I am so excited!!! I can't believe how much she has changed in the last month.

It is really scary and exciting at the same time. It's also hard to put her down, she is such a little doll.
I'll try and encode a video that is small enough to post here. Her laugh is also quite adorable.

Go Fish Revisited...

Just in case anyone was wondering, my boys were not actually playing with actual fishing tackle. The youngest was using his blanket for a rod, reel, and lure all in one. The older one simply bit the blanket and got his tooth yanked out by the younger one.

It was easier than the old string and doorknob routine.

Just a little clarification. :)

Talk about the Weather and Faith

This certainly boggles the mind. CLICK ME
I mean, honestly... could I be that lame as to believe this?

Quoted from the link above:

*According to Florida State University oceanographer
Doron Nof, Jesus may have been walking on ice that
formed under special circumstances on the lake.

In his research of the history of lakes published in the
April issue of The Journal of Paleolimnology, Nof said
temperatures dipped low enough in Jesus's time in the
region to freeze parts of the Sea of Galilee.

Nof said the ice could have been thick enough to walk
on, although the frozen area would have been
surrounded by slightly saltier water emanating from
salty springs along the lake's western shore -- salt
water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water.*


Insert Wayne's World quote:

"Shyahhh, right. And monkeys might fly out of my butt."

This guy is just full of scientific facts...

Quoted from the link above:

*In 1992, Nof suggested that the parting of the Red Sea that
allowed the Jews to flee Egypt in the Exodus may have been
caused by very strong winds that created an unusually low
tide exposing part of the sea bottom.*

Sounds like someone using science to explain miracles...

First off... I am a Christian, and secondly, I am also a US Navy trained meteorologist and Oceanographer.

Ice thick enough to walk on... hmmm...

The average salinity (how much salt it contains) of sea water is around 3.5 grams per liter of salt water. (35%)
At that salinity value, it takes a temperature of 28.5 degrees F in order for it to begin to freeze...

The Sea of Galilee is fresh water, and is fed by some salty springs along the Western shore. So, the salinity values of the water would definitely be lower than that of sea water, but would they be cold enough to allow ice to begin forming? Maybe the ice was already there, and was in the process of melting. We know from Matthew's account that this miracle occured in the spring time. In John's account the disciples were at least 3 to 3 and 1/2 miles out, which is nearly halfway across.

This doesn't explain scientifically how Jesus was able to get out to the disciples, who were out that far. If the water near the shore had been frozen enough to stand on... (very unlikely, as we all know that water near a shoreline is subject to daily temperature changes because it is shallower and would heat faster, and be more likely to have thinner if any ice was present at all).

I would have to say, if the ice was not mentioned in the bible, it probabaly was not important enough to worry about or to argue over, and therefore shouldn't be taken very seriously as an explanation. Faith comes into play here... you cannot explain faith by proving it with science.

A great example of faith is found in John chapter 8, verses 5-13.

Faith is not easy to come by.

More on this tomorrow...