Three Sixteen

3:16 for 3/16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

John

Bartlett Again

I just keep finding these...

Shadows

How can something so small cast such an immense shadow...How can something so ornery cause so much joy...How can two eyes convey such adoration...

Spend one hour with my little girl and you too will know.

Steel Magnolia

Same place, different view.

Untitled

A worn pair of boots that seem to have walked the world because he's in them met their demise in a fire of attention-seeking flames. After many years had gone by, he kind of wished he would have kept those boots...

This is Why

Composed quite a long write-up on this, but decided to forego the rant and just sum it up into a couple of statements:

Having superior physicality and/or ability allowing one to prevail by a vast margin does not constitute poor sportsmanship. Doing so in a deceitful, demeaning, or disrespectful manner does. Worry less about leveling playing fields for the sake of feelings, and more about teaching individuals how to and the importance of working harder to overcome adversity and earning what you receive rather than blaming those that already have.

Bartlett

Some days I wish I could live here...

Snow Day

Fifty Seven

I was paid a visit from myself last night. I was thirty years older than now. I applauded myself for diligently wearing ear and eye protection beyond the recommended amounts, but politely suggested to myself that I should learn to lift with my legs more frequently. Oh, and I also told myself that I was right, soon technology is going to surpass all that our minds can handle and it will violently spin out of control. The fact that I was talking to a fifty seven year old version of myself over the internet is evidence of that.

He also told me to give up on the 'Cats...now or never. So I did.

On Faith

Of the three central pillars of spirituality, faith, hope, and love, hope and love are likely the most well known. However, faith, being the most difficult of the three, offers great rewards of peace and righteousness to those who seek it. A man who does not struggle with his faith has either been unlikely blessed above all others or is a fool. A fool will have faith for the sole purpose of having a faith. That is inadequate. The act of having faith, in other words being faithful, is the participation in the understanding of that to which you are being faithful. This should be a man's lifelong undertaking, for blind faith is the worst of its kind. A man's quest to being faithful will be filled with obstacles of temptation. However, to seek understanding of faith is to give you focus. The unfaithful man will often succumb to even the smallest of temptations for his apparent lack of the aforementioned. A man's struggle with temptation and understanding is his struggle with being faithful, his struggle with faith. However, strength in faith will come to the man that searches himself for understanding. The final reward for this act of faith will be a peaceful and righteous soul.

Rioja Crianza

He had bought a half a case of wine a few years back, 2005 he had thought. It was a Spanish Red, a Rioja Crianza with little renown. A bottle was pulled for special occasions over the course of the next four years also, with little renown. Until the time came for the last bottle, Thanksgiving, 2009. Only two glasses were poured that day, and what glasses they were. What happened next, however, is somewhat of a mystery. After four years of mild struggle to find the right time to open the bottles, the day had seemingly come where the last of the Rioja Crianza spoke to them. Was it nostalgia for the previous 5 bottles being felt that day, wishing there were more? Were the serving conditions and pairings finally, as they say, just right? Or perhaps, just maybe, had they opened up the bottle at the very moment in time that the bottle was intended to be opened? I hope for their sake it was the latter, but I'm somewhat of a romantic.

On Rationality

To be rational is perhaps the most meaningful of human traits, and conversely, irrationality, the most abhorrent. A rational man has intelligence based on their ability to understand. This, however, does not mean that the intelligent man is rational. The intelligent yet irrational man fails to grasp concepts that are tangental to the present, making them react in a myopic and self-absorbed nature. The rational man perceives, analyzes, and responds bearing all facets of the present in mind. He knows his faults and limitations using them as agents of change where the irrational man will only place blame, never admitting a shortcoming. It would be prudent though to not confuse rationality for weakness or lack of ambition. Compassion, compromise, and understanding in the long term are far stronger than the short term gains of selfish and deceitful acts. A man should strive to be rational. If he does not, he shall indeed be doomed to lonely life of self comfort.

Aperture 3

I finally broke down and, after many visits to the Aperture site, bought Aperture 3 from Apple. After it hit the App Store at an insane discount, and after my wife presented some irrefutable facts, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take things up a step. I am now on the learning path, hopefully it will be as good as I hope.

Pocketee Common

In the Way

No...your hands were not in the way of my picture.

Vader Shadow

I wear a hardhat while at work. It was cold out so I also had the hood of my coat over the hardhat. The hood has flaps that can be tied, though I left them untied letting them stick out. Upon catching a glimpse of the shadow that I imposed, I couldn't help but to notice the striking resemblance I had to that of Darth Vader. I spent the rest of the day humming the Imperial March and standing with my back to sun whenever possible.

Joy

One may find it difficult to enjoy life if he is not willing to do those things which are necessary to make life enjoyable.

C.A. Sjohman

Mo's

Mo's Pub...Beaver, KS. Overall winner: IPA

E=MC^2

Couldn't be any better. Such a classic.

Top Five

Five Reasons to Love My New Job:

1. A historical penchant for the color blue.
2. Uncovering a myriad of uses for a 10" pipe wrench.
3. No longer having a clock ticking away my life 14" from my face.
4. Pocket Tees...every day.
5. Having not yet once in seven months calculated the number of hours until retirement.

Oviedo

Life altering.