Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Litter



On a recent walk I discovered something puzzling. Water bottles full of yellow liquid. After seeing more than a few strewn about in the underbrush I could not resist carefully removing the lid from one of them to discover what the yellow liquid might be. To my highly trained nose the odor proved most similar to that of urine. Now let us all take a journey of discovery shall we. One not for the faint of heart. Now is your opportunity to turn back otherwise let us proceed by presenting the facts of the case and then extrapolate to reach a viable theory as to the cause of this most offensive litter scattered in the underbrush between the railroad tracks and the road.

First let us consider the location.This is an out of the way place in a small industrial zone near a public school next to the railroad tracks.. The kind of place individuals who live lives outside of civil society might use to hide away or pass unnoticed. 



Let's take a closer look at the items themselves. 16oz Water bottles with urine in them and 40oz Heineken cans as well. There are at least six of each of these but most likely many more than the cursory inspection uncovered. Having gathered what was found in a five minute search into a pile we ponder the origin of the evidence. These containers undoubtedly came to be by the road side through the activities of human beings. Do we believe it is the activity of more than one or just a single individual? My vote is that a solitary human has deposited these items in this area over a few months time. Considering this theory let us now begin the process of understanding the mind of a person whose life has resulted in these items by the roadside.


 First and second can we agree that the person is a male consumer of alcohol and that his brand loyalty lies with the alcohol producer identifying itself Heineken. If you have any doubts as to gender I will explain myself as to my conclusion when we examine the next item of evidence but there is another interesting fact to consider when inspecting the cans.These cans are the modern pop tab type and on each of the cans the tab was pried only enough to make the opening partially detach along the seam suggesting that the individual imbibing the beverage is a sipper and further suggesting that the cans were all consumed by a single individual based on the modus operandi of only partially opening each can. If the individual is a sipper this would suggest someone who is savoring the liquid contents of the can which in turn might lead us to believe that the behavior is ritualistic and compulsive. 

I am a believer that humanity has been created with a primary purpose to worship. The focus of that worship is the Creator and when a human rejects the Creator, the worship, which cannot be denied, is instead redirected into an addictive behavior and that behavior is almost always self destructive. 

Operating on this belief as our standard let us continue with this theory assuming that a man with an addiction to alcohol who's behavior has become anti social is living on fringes of society and discarding the objects of his worship in the underbrush between the railroad tracks and the road near a school in this industrial area of town. 

Now to delve more deeply into the motivations resulting in the production of the most puzzling of the objects collected in our evidence. That being the water bottles containing the golden liquid discovered to be urine. This is the most compelling factor in surmising the individual is male. We would have to agree that to make a deposit of urine into the opening of an empty water bottle and not just one but upwards of a dozen would most certainly be the work of an individual with a male liquid waste removal appendage. 

Now as to the reasons behind taking the time and making the effort to deposit the waste liquid into the empty water bottle I make the claim that this also points to the compultion, albeit misguided, to worship that is placed within all of creation by the Creator. It may be that the individual in his reverence for the liquid that is his sole focus in life demands that he collects and preserves it because in his fallen mental state it would be a sin to simply allow it to be spilled on the ground to later evaporate leaving no trace of having ever existed.

 Although these are only theories if true they bring to light the tragic realities of a life enslaved by addiction. A life dedicated to the consumption of alcohol and the subsequent collection and preservation of the byproduct of this endeavor. What must it be like to have this ritual as a life's work in a society that would judge the activity as nothing more than nuisance littering?

May all who have gone astray someday see the light not only for their own sake but for the sake of a community without trash strewn about along the roadside.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Getting Old?


The Spirit is timeless but the container God knits together in our mother's womb changes over time (Psalm 139:13). The Spirit lives on after the container has returned to the ground. An eternity together in paradise or alone in torment (Matthew 25:31-46). We follow Jesus or we go the way of the world Love must give us the choice or there can be no love.


All of this become clearer as I watch dear people around me move through life. When we grow up we begin to see new life appear. As we are witness to the growing up of these new lives we gain amazing insight into how this life God has given works. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)


This Friday I had the privilege and pleasure of seeing many little people whom I have a profound love for. It was through a church fellowship that I came to see these families as they grew together or in some cases apart. I would probably not have been there but my profession gives me the opportunity and for that I am thankful.

 For many of the children I have known over the years it is that time when they take on more responsibility for their own futures. Some have already made decisions which have thrown their lives into chaos. Some with the support of their families and a reverence for God and His Word have been preserved. For them it is a sacred time and they can look forward to the future with excitement and none of the regret of having disobeyed. Father for those who are conflicted at this very moment may they respond to your pursuit and return to the peace that is found in You! May they awaken to Truth that the Love they seek is You!


This gathering was for three lovely graduates born into three blessed families and the celebration was full of light. It was thrilling to see how far they have come and the graceful young women they now are. The true tests are still ahead as they leave their loving homes and live on campuses where they will be told unequivocally that their origins are accidental and their is no truth except the truth they make up for themselves. They will tested and tried by those who will want to profit from them in a world that see everyone as a resource to be plundered. They have been trained up and know the Truth it will be up to them to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)



And the story continues as generation after generation rises.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21


Saturday, April 8, 2017

Mareli Sanchez & Julian Clawson Wedding!


Someone whom I have known for but a few month just entered into marriage. He goes by the name Julian and he is a co-worker. It did not take long for me to discover he has an abiding love for his Creator and Redeemer Jesus and I have been inspired by his humble faith and his growing love for everyone around him! 




There is a freedom in Christ that changes a man so much that the evidence is understood without even words or deeds. It is an atmosphere of love that is beyond the control of the one who experiences it. It is the power of the Holy Spirit through our weakness to bring life to us and those around us. It is God in us!



It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence.
Oswald Chambers



Thank you Julian for bringing me into your life beyond our employment. You and Mareli have been an example of Christ love and your wedding ceremony was a picture of God's healing work in our broken lives. Trust and obey God has wonderful things in store!


So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Friday, January 20, 2017

Momma Squirrel no More.

Momma Squirrel no more

Beloved squirrel who so faithfully served the Creator and brought us lots of joy met her demise yesterday afternoon. She is the second momma squirrel who made the little patch of earth we live on her's as well and she will be missed.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Cement Plant Shoot

Photo Shoot at the Cement Factory

Recorded some images at an amazing facility with colemedia recently.

Photo Shoot at the Cement Factory

The dominating feature of the plant was a huge metal tube. I was told that inside the tube walls there is 9 inches of brick and still the heat coming off the tube was intense. temperatures inside were 1500 to 2700 degrees!

Photo Shoot at the Cement Factory



The large tube is a rotary kiln used for pyroprocessing cement!

Photo Shoot at the Cement Factory

We focus on stills and video of the procedure used to blast the dust produced during process! Fire and blasting air inside the stack! Dramatic stuff for sure.