I know I asked one time but can't remember who started the SNIFF tradition here at First baptist Church. SNIFF stands for Summer Nights of Intense Fun and Fellowship. Tonight I attended my first SNIFF here at FBC. It is for the youth and college kids but many of my friends host the event at their houses so I've had opportunity to attend before but I usually go to dinner after church with other friends.
Well tonight it was hosted by 5 families that live on a quiet dead end street here in town (all members of my church) so I decided to crash the party. Obviously with so many people involved there was a large crowd and plenty of food, fun and fellowship to go around. I think 75 chicken breasts, 80 hot dogs, chile dog sauce, beans (several types) and chips and drinks were consumed. I mostly hung out on the hill and fellowshipped with several members of my SS class from church. It was a lot of fun and the kids played everything from corn hole (bean bag toss), tag, golf, hide and seek, and kick the can.
Tomorrow is the big day with the walls of my new barn/hangar/garage are supposed to start taking shape. If all goes well, the concrete should be sealed early in the morning and the wood and supplies delivered by noon. According to my builder the actual building will go up quickly and be finished within 2 weeks. Once the building is finished I will start work on the apartment. I've taken some video clips of the finished concrete slab and will try to remember to film as the walls go up.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Are we really this clueless?
A new survey of 35,000 Americans showed some not so surprising (but very disappointing) beliefs expressed by those claiming to be evangelical Christians.
Among the numbers in the survey, conducted in 2007 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in direct conflict with traditional evangelical teaching (and most importantly God's word).
My question remains ... are we this clueless? Do those of us who claim the name of Christ really have such a weak and shallow foundation (built upon sand) that we question the absolute Truth. In John 14 we are given an account of one of many discussions that Jesus had with His disciples. Jesus is assuring them that He knows and understands their apprehension and fear and tells them to trust in God and to also trust in Him. He lets them know that He is going on to prepare a place for them (all of us) and that He will return to bring them home, so that they will be with Him. When Jesus tells them that they know the way to the place He is going Thomas jumps in:
In John 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
In the next verse Jesus tells us that there is no other way to salvation but through Him.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Bible is filled with verses that reaffirm Jesus' words. Two verses that I found while doing a simple search include Acts 4:12 and I Timothy 2:5.
Acts 4:10-12:
10 "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
I Timothy 2:5:
5 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
If you claim to know and serve God you must acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to salvation. He made it clear that without Him you have no business with the Father. We can't continue to turn a blind eye to false doctrine and expect people to actually know the Truth. We must make disciples and help them to grow (as we grow) in knowledge and understanding in/through God's word.
Among the numbers in the survey, conducted in 2007 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in direct conflict with traditional evangelical teaching (and most importantly God's word).
My question remains ... are we this clueless? Do those of us who claim the name of Christ really have such a weak and shallow foundation (built upon sand) that we question the absolute Truth. In John 14 we are given an account of one of many discussions that Jesus had with His disciples. Jesus is assuring them that He knows and understands their apprehension and fear and tells them to trust in God and to also trust in Him. He lets them know that He is going on to prepare a place for them (all of us) and that He will return to bring them home, so that they will be with Him. When Jesus tells them that they know the way to the place He is going Thomas jumps in:
In John 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
In the next verse Jesus tells us that there is no other way to salvation but through Him.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Bible is filled with verses that reaffirm Jesus' words. Two verses that I found while doing a simple search include Acts 4:12 and I Timothy 2:5.
Acts 4:10-12:
10 "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
I Timothy 2:5:
5 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
If you claim to know and serve God you must acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to salvation. He made it clear that without Him you have no business with the Father. We can't continue to turn a blind eye to false doctrine and expect people to actually know the Truth. We must make disciples and help them to grow (as we grow) in knowledge and understanding in/through God's word.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Building Progress
The slab is now 80% complete. The threat of rain today (and over night last night) delayed the final pour. So far it is looking good and I think the radiant heat tubing is in its proper position with no kinks or holes. The final pour will be a little tricky since the concrete truck will have to back up and straddle some of the tubes that are in place.
After the final pour the builders will let it sit for a week or so to cure and then will start the building itself. I am getting excited and am hoping for good weather on Monday so the concrete can be completed. While we are waiting for the concrete to cure I am going to play with some stains to see if I can get my apartment the color I desire. I am going with a slate bluish gray color with just a touch of green. I'm hoping it will look like natural stone when complete. The bathrooms will have tile but the rest of my apartment will just have polished concrete floors.
I'll post some pictures of the slab once it is complete.
After the final pour the builders will let it sit for a week or so to cure and then will start the building itself. I am getting excited and am hoping for good weather on Monday so the concrete can be completed. While we are waiting for the concrete to cure I am going to play with some stains to see if I can get my apartment the color I desire. I am going with a slate bluish gray color with just a touch of green. I'm hoping it will look like natural stone when complete. The bathrooms will have tile but the rest of my apartment will just have polished concrete floors.
I'll post some pictures of the slab once it is complete.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Air Force Tradition
For years USAF pilots have had a tradition of growing out their moustaches during March. The tradition was born in WWI when fighter pilots deployed to war zones quit shaving until they rotated back to the USA or to a non-combat location. There are some great examples of this in practice and it was not always carried out in March. During the Viet Nam war one of my favorite pilots, Gen. Robin Olds, grew out a huge handlebar mustache that got him in trouble with some general officers (GO) once he got back to the states.
When I was still flying I was in the desert during Gulf War I and we had a pilot in my unit (1703rd ARWP) who grew the biggest push-broom mustache I have ever seen. That mustache was so big and thick that whenever he walked into a room people would just turn and stare. It was classic and he kept it the whole war/deployment time. Our commander made him shave it off once we rotated back to the USA after the war ended.
I was reading some AF news articles the other day and stumbled upon this interesting article. It seems that a British Air Force pilot assigned to fly in an exchange with the USAF was told to shave his mustache by his superior officer. Read below for the complete story.
>>
RAF pilot refuses US order to trim moustache
By Lucy Cockcroft
An RAF pilot has been ordered to trim his handlebar moustache by an American General who took offence at its length, but the British serviceman was not prepared to lose his whiskers without a fight.
Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball with his handlebar moustache
The British airman, who sports a handlebar moustache in the proud tradition of the RAF, refused to comply when his superior officer in Afghanistan took offence at his facial hair.
Showing a bravado akin to that of Biggles, he fought back, eventually convincing the general that his generous whiskers were in line with regulations laid down by the Queen herself.
The moustache was once such a part of the RAF uniform that rules during the Second World War stated: "The whole of the upper lip shall remain unshaven."
Flt Lt Ball was told to cut his back while on a posting with the American Air Force 366 Fighter Squadron, where he operates an F-15 fighter-bomber.
The general said that US pilots were only allowed to grow small moustaches and insisted that Flt Lt Ball followed suit, but he refused.
Instead the RAF fighter pilot decided to go above the head of his superior officer and consulted regulations approved by the Queen, which set out the permitted size of an RAF moustache.
Flt Lt Ball measured his whiskers and to his delight they did not contravene the rules. He took his findings to the general, and after a frank "exchange of views" was allowed to keep the facial hair intact.
Flt Lt Ball said: "The yanks are not allowed to grow a full-length stash. After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code."
In 2007 the RAF relaxed its restrictions on facial hair for men serving in Afghanistan, because beards are thought to be a sign of status in the country.
When I was still flying I was in the desert during Gulf War I and we had a pilot in my unit (1703rd ARWP) who grew the biggest push-broom mustache I have ever seen. That mustache was so big and thick that whenever he walked into a room people would just turn and stare. It was classic and he kept it the whole war/deployment time. Our commander made him shave it off once we rotated back to the USA after the war ended.
I was reading some AF news articles the other day and stumbled upon this interesting article. It seems that a British Air Force pilot assigned to fly in an exchange with the USAF was told to shave his mustache by his superior officer. Read below for the complete story.
>>
RAF pilot refuses US order to trim moustache
By Lucy Cockcroft
An RAF pilot has been ordered to trim his handlebar moustache by an American General who took offence at its length, but the British serviceman was not prepared to lose his whiskers without a fight.
Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball with his handlebar moustache
The British airman, who sports a handlebar moustache in the proud tradition of the RAF, refused to comply when his superior officer in Afghanistan took offence at his facial hair.
Showing a bravado akin to that of Biggles, he fought back, eventually convincing the general that his generous whiskers were in line with regulations laid down by the Queen herself.
The moustache was once such a part of the RAF uniform that rules during the Second World War stated: "The whole of the upper lip shall remain unshaven."
Flt Lt Ball was told to cut his back while on a posting with the American Air Force 366 Fighter Squadron, where he operates an F-15 fighter-bomber.
The general said that US pilots were only allowed to grow small moustaches and insisted that Flt Lt Ball followed suit, but he refused.
Instead the RAF fighter pilot decided to go above the head of his superior officer and consulted regulations approved by the Queen, which set out the permitted size of an RAF moustache.
Flt Lt Ball measured his whiskers and to his delight they did not contravene the rules. He took his findings to the general, and after a frank "exchange of views" was allowed to keep the facial hair intact.
Flt Lt Ball said: "The yanks are not allowed to grow a full-length stash. After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code."
In 2007 the RAF relaxed its restrictions on facial hair for men serving in Afghanistan, because beards are thought to be a sign of status in the country.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Ready for Concrete
Today the guys installed the aluminum foil insulation and the metal screen ready for pouring the concrete. The city code requires a turn-down at the edge of the floor slab and the builder wrapped the insulation down in the foundation so that I will have a good thermal barrier once the building is built and fully insulated. If the insulation isn't under the foundation the heat will radiate to the ground and I will lose all of my heat right out through the ground.
They are going to pour the slab in 4 or 5 sections so that we can install the PEX and still get the truck to where we need it to dump the concrete. I have attached a little video clip of the first section ready for concrete.
They are going to pour the slab in 4 or 5 sections so that we can install the PEX and still get the truck to where we need it to dump the concrete. I have attached a little video clip of the first section ready for concrete.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Finally Broke Ground
After a couple of years of thinking about and talking about building my dream hangar/garage I finally broke ground this week. The builder dug the footers/foundation and has the rock spread and almost ready to pour concrete. If the weather cooperates and all of the building gods are happy we should pour on Monday. We still have to find a plumber who is licensed so we can get the plumbing installed and ready since it will be buried in the concrete and can't be done later.
I am installing radiant heat in the whole building so we also have to get the PEX tubing laid out and tied in place before we pour the concrete. I will have 2 heat zones, one to cover the apartment and one for the rest of the building. I'm ready to see the building start taking shape. I'm hoping that the building will be finished by the middle of July and then I can start working on the interior apartment and start getting all of my stuff moved to the new place.
I'll try to take pictures along the way and post them here. That way if you care at all about the progress, you can keep up with it here. Millers Point Airport isn't too far off.
I am installing radiant heat in the whole building so we also have to get the PEX tubing laid out and tied in place before we pour the concrete. I will have 2 heat zones, one to cover the apartment and one for the rest of the building. I'm ready to see the building start taking shape. I'm hoping that the building will be finished by the middle of July and then I can start working on the interior apartment and start getting all of my stuff moved to the new place.
I'll try to take pictures along the way and post them here. That way if you care at all about the progress, you can keep up with it here. Millers Point Airport isn't too far off.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Air Force troubles
I'm sure most of you have seen on the news where the top 2 officials in the AF have been asked to resign. I'm not sure the final straw was the Minot AFB failure of a nuke handling inspection but I'd guess that added to the ammo for the final decision. I left the AF in 1992 and am not intimately familiar with top leadership but have continued to read up and follow AF matters over the years. I have several friends that are starting to get to that point in their AF careers (0-6) where I might see them on the news more often. Who knows I might be reading about one of these guys being selected to head the Air Force as a 4 star General.
While I was in pilot training 3 guys from my class and I rented a house together. It was a big house with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Jeff, Jeff and Gerry were all in my UPT class at Williams. Jeff Harrigian is the only one of the 4 of us who is still in the Air Force. He ended up flying A/OA-37 aircraft down in Panama out of pilot training and then transitioned to F-15 aircraft after that. Anyway, Jeff was the first squadron commander of an F-22 squadron while he was stationed in FL. I just recently found out that he is now the Wing Commander out at Holloman AFB, NM commanding the 49th Fighter Wing (FW) and was in the news again when he flew 1 of the first F-22 aircraft to the base as they stand up their first F-22 squadron. The picture below shows Jeff (left) with General Moseley. [USAF photo by A1C John Strong]
Another guy in our UPT class, Tom Bergeson, is also a former F-15 driver who flew F-22 aircraft as the vice commander of the 1st FW at Langley AFB, VA. I just read that he will also assume a Wing Command position but will be on the East coast at Seymor Johnson AFB, NC commanding the 4th Fighter Wing (Tom got diverted to Elmendorf AFB, AK to assume command of the 3rd FW - August 15th update). They fly the 2 seat F-15E Strike Eagle, so it looks like he will be back in a somewhat familiar aircraft. My guess is that one of these two guys will be the first person that I personally know to become a General Officer (GO). I never think about being 45 but when I see guys that I flew with taking Wing Command slots I know that several years have passed since we were at Williams AFB learning to fly AF jets. The picture below shows Tom (right) with General Patraeus before he left Iraq this year. [USAF photo]
While I was in pilot training 3 guys from my class and I rented a house together. It was a big house with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Jeff, Jeff and Gerry were all in my UPT class at Williams. Jeff Harrigian is the only one of the 4 of us who is still in the Air Force. He ended up flying A/OA-37 aircraft down in Panama out of pilot training and then transitioned to F-15 aircraft after that. Anyway, Jeff was the first squadron commander of an F-22 squadron while he was stationed in FL. I just recently found out that he is now the Wing Commander out at Holloman AFB, NM commanding the 49th Fighter Wing (FW) and was in the news again when he flew 1 of the first F-22 aircraft to the base as they stand up their first F-22 squadron. The picture below shows Jeff (left) with General Moseley. [USAF photo by A1C John Strong]
Another guy in our UPT class, Tom Bergeson, is also a former F-15 driver who flew F-22 aircraft as the vice commander of the 1st FW at Langley AFB, VA. I just read that he will also assume a Wing Command position but will be on the East coast at Seymor Johnson AFB, NC commanding the 4th Fighter Wing (Tom got diverted to Elmendorf AFB, AK to assume command of the 3rd FW - August 15th update). They fly the 2 seat F-15E Strike Eagle, so it looks like he will be back in a somewhat familiar aircraft. My guess is that one of these two guys will be the first person that I personally know to become a General Officer (GO). I never think about being 45 but when I see guys that I flew with taking Wing Command slots I know that several years have passed since we were at Williams AFB learning to fly AF jets. The picture below shows Tom (right) with General Patraeus before he left Iraq this year. [USAF photo]
Friday, June 6, 2008
New Traffic Signal Device
Well, I decided to check out ebay to see if I could find a used Traffic Signal device for sale. Surprisingly there were several listed and one of them was just down the road in Atlanta, GA. After looking through all of the ebay listings I noticed the average price for a decent 3 light device was around 50 to 60 dollars. Anyway I bid on a set from the gentleman in Atlanta and won it for only 25 dollars. He had cleaned it up and also installed a plug wire so that it could be plugged in and have all 3 lights illuminated.
I talked Rhino into driving down with me and the seller met us just South of Chattanooga to make the exchange. These lights are surprisingly large (they don't look that big hanging over the street). I would guess the signal I bought is about 36 inches high by 8 inches wide. It also has the sun shields around each light and they stick out about 10 to 12 inches. The housings are plastic and are surprisingly light for their size. Anyway, now I don't have to order lights from China and worry about selling the extras on ebay myself.
On the way home Rhino and I stopped in to eat at Famous Dave's. We both enjoyed a nice plate of ribs and discussed how a restaurant fashioned after Famous Dave's could easily make it in Sparta as long as it had good service. I was glad Ryan went with me since he did all of the work...loading and unloading lights and then he helped me get my van interior back together once we got back to Sparta.
I talked Rhino into driving down with me and the seller met us just South of Chattanooga to make the exchange. These lights are surprisingly large (they don't look that big hanging over the street). I would guess the signal I bought is about 36 inches high by 8 inches wide. It also has the sun shields around each light and they stick out about 10 to 12 inches. The housings are plastic and are surprisingly light for their size. Anyway, now I don't have to order lights from China and worry about selling the extras on ebay myself.
On the way home Rhino and I stopped in to eat at Famous Dave's. We both enjoyed a nice plate of ribs and discussed how a restaurant fashioned after Famous Dave's could easily make it in Sparta as long as it had good service. I was glad Ryan went with me since he did all of the work...loading and unloading lights and then he helped me get my van interior back together once we got back to Sparta.
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