Ray Fowler .org

Professor Solomon is offering a free download of his book, How to Find Lost Objects. In the book the Professor explains twelve principles that will help you find just about any missing object.

I first read his twelve principles several years ago and have found them extremely helpful in finding things. But the most helpful principle for me was #10, what the Professor calls “The Eureka Zone.” Most missing objects are within eighteen inches of where you think they are. You just have to look more carefully. I have applied this principle again and again, and it seems to hold true. In fact I used it to find some missing electrical tape in the garage just last week.

Here is the Professor’s explanation of the Eureka Zone:

The majority of lost objects are right where you figure — once you take a moment to stop and figure. Others, however, are in the immediate vicinity of that place. They have undergone a displacement — a shift in location that, although minor, has served to render them invisible.

Some examples:

• A pencil has rolled beneath a typewriter.
• A tool has been shoved to the rear of a drawer.
• A book on a shelf has gotten lodged behind other books.
• A folder has been misfiled, several folders away from where it belongs.

Objects are apt to wander. I have found, though, that they tend to travel no more than eighteen inches from their original location. To the circle described by this eighteen inch radius I have given a name. I call it the Eureka Zone.

Check out the Professor’s other twelve principles, too. They just may help you find that something you’ve been looking for.

Click here for more Helpful Hints.

HT: Lifehacker

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) released the following statement on The Gospel and the Jewish People on March 28, 2008 (see below). The statement is being distributed in a variety of Christian and secular publications, including Christianity Today and the New York Times. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, the CEO & International Director of WEA, comments,

Increasingly, Jewish Evangelism is being marginalized and even dismissed as irrelevant, inappropriate, unethical or deceptive by some segments of the church. This statement is an attempt to speak to the evangelical community about the biblical basis for sharing their faith with all people, including Jews. It is our hope that it will be received in the spirit it is intended by the non-evangelicals who see it. Namely, that it is a statement of friendship and profound respect for the Jewish people, a commitment to stand with the Jewish people who have suffered mistreatment simply for being Jewish. And that part of our friendship and care and respect is shown is our commitment to share the love of God in Christ whom we believe is their Savior as well as ours.

Here is the wording of the actual statement:
____________________________________________________________

The Gospel and the Jewish People – An Evangelical Statement
March 28, 2008

As evangelical Christians, we want to express our genuine friendship and love for the Jewish people. We sadly acknowledge that church history has been marred with anti-Semitic words and deeds; and that at times when the Jewish people were in great peril, the church did far less than it should have.

• We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
• We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of the World (Acts 4:12).
• We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
• We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1).

We want to make it clear that, as evangelical Christians, we do not wish to offend our Jewish friends by the above statements; but we are compelled by our faith and commitment to the Scriptures to stand by these principles. It is out of our profound respect for Jewish people that we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, and encourage others to do the same, for we believe that salvation is only found in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World.
____________________________________________________________

The statement has been affirmed by a wide variety of Christian leaders including the following:

• Rev. Dr. Lon Allison—Director, Billy Graham Center
• Dr. Mark Bailey—President, Dallas Theological Seminary
• Joel Belz—Founder, World Magazine
• Doug Birdsall—Executive Chair, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization
• Dr. D. A. Carson—Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
• Chuck Colson—Founder, Prison Fellowship
• Mark Greene—Executive Director, London Institute of Contemporary Christianity
• Stan Guthrie—Managing Editor, Special Projects, Christianity Today
• Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.—President Emeritus, Professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Dr. Haddon Robinson—President, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
• Dr. Geoff Tunnecliffe—International Director, World Evangelical Alliance

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned the statement as “offensive and insulting to the Jewish people,” while the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) maintains that it is “a statement of friendship and profound respect for the Jewish people.” I agree with the WEA. What do you think?

Darrell Bock posts on the difference between Christianity and Jesusanity.

There are really two Christian stories in our culture, two things often called Christianity that are very different in their focus.

One approach sees Jesus’ teaching and person at the center of what God is doing for people. Jesus is God’s anointed one, the Christ, whose mission, life and death is at the center of God’s program. This is what is known as Christianity …

The second approach sees only Jesus’ teaching as the key to understanding who Jesus is. Jesus is like a great prophet, whose teaching shows us the way back to God, but his person, other than the example of Jesus’ walk with God and pointing the ethical path God calls us to, is not central to the divine program. This I have called Jesusanity, because in this view, it is Jesus of Nazareth, the teacher-prophet who is the central focus …

A conversation between people holding to each of these views can be confusing, because people may think they are discussing the same thing (Christianity), when their perception of that belief is in fact very different. Much cultural Christianity, as well as many presentations of Jesus in the public square, actually reflects this Jesusanity.

Bock identifies the following four characteristics of Jesusanity:

1. It tends to distance the creature’s responsibility to the Creator.
2. It places a significant distance between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.
3. It often argues for dividing the New Testament into very different theologies.
4. It often claims that many types of Christianity existed in the first century with an equal claim to go back to Jesus.

Obviously, Jesusanity is very different from the Christian faith taught in the New Testament. As Christians we accept Jesus’ teaching because of who he was – the promised Christ sent from God for our salvation.

Tony Payne at The Briefing has a great article reminding us of the importance of personal or one-to-one ministry. Although we are familiar with large church gatherings and small group meetings, we sometimes forget about the particular effectiveness of ministering one-to-one. Tony defines Christian one-to-one ministry as:

forming a relationship with another individual for the purpose of mutual growth in Christian understanding, obedience and service of others.

After fleshing out this definition, Tony gives six practical hints on how to get started in one-to-one ministry yourself.

1. Start a friendship. Think about the people you know in your street, at work, at church. Choose one or two that you think would really benefit from a one-to-one Christian friendship.
2. Use a framework. For example, you might suggest to your friend that you study the Just for Starters or Christian Living for Starters Bible studies together, Short Steps for Long Gains, or the Simply Christianity course, or work through the So Many Questions course together.
3. Read together. Reading the Bible will be a key element in any one-to-one ministry relationship. Read whole books together; do topical studies; work your way through pre-packaged Bible studies … It can also be very helpful to read and discuss Christian books together as a way of attacking a particular issue.
4. Pray together. As we read together, we should respond in prayer together. God’s word is sharp and active. It will challenge and rebuke us, and as it does, so we should confess our sins to each other, and pray for each other. We can also commit ourselves to pray for others.
5. Do things together. One of the most beneficial ways of helping each other grow in serving others is simply to do it together. Take on a Sunday school class with your friend. Do some doorknocking on behalf of your congregation. Run a Bible study group together. Help in some work of mercy or social relief together. The possibilities are endless.
6. Keep at it. Long-term Christian friendships in which there is frequent contact over many years … is far more effective than a few deep and meaningfuls. One-to-one ministry [is] … about sharing your life with another person over many years, and, through example, prayer and the truth of God’s word, seeing them grow in Christ.

That’s just a portion of what Tony has to share. I encourage you to read the whole article here: One-to-One Ministry.

How about you? Are you or have you been involved in one-to-one ministry with another person? How did it help your growth in Christ?

sǝʞoɾ ʎɐp slooɟ lıɹdɐ ʇsǝq :ʇsod pǝʇɐlǝɹ

˙ʇı oʇ pǝsn ʇǝƃ ˙uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝslǝ ƃuıɥʇʎɹǝʌǝ ˙ʇsod sıɥʇ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ ƃuıɥʇou sı ǝɹǝɥʇ ˙uǝǝɹɔs ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹnoʎ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ ƃuıɥʇou sı ǝɹǝɥʇ ˙ʎɹɹoʍ ʇ,uop

Yesterday’s message in the Church on Purpose series was called Celebration – Worshiping God. The main idea of the message was that worship is one of God’s primary purposes for the church. We looked at the following three parts of worship from the Scriptures:

    1) Proclaiming God’s excellencies (1 Peter 2:5)
    2) Worshiping in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)
    3) Offering him our very lives (Romans 12:1)

Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.

D. Roller quotes C.S. Lewis on three ways of writing for children. “There are three ways of writing for children … the third way, which is the only one I could ever use myself, consists in writing a children’s story because a children’s story is the best art-form for something you have to say.” (C. S. Lewis)

Wheatstone Academy. “Wheatstone Academy transforms the lives of Christian students by engaging their minds and hearts in an unparalleled week-long experience. This summer, young men and women will be challenged by world-class Christian teachers with the vision of a life that sees the truth of Christianity and discerns the ideas that shape our culture.”

David Kotter asks: Is a woman just an egg factory? “‘Egg Donors Wanted’ ads [are] increasingly [being] seen on the Internet, in college newspapers and on city trains … Prices are especially high for fertile college women with top test scores and picture-perfect looks. Many websites exhibit pictures of potential donors sorted by hair color, height, dress size, education and SAT scores.”

Darrell Bock reminds us that the gospel is about relationship with God. “So the gospel is not about avoiding hell or getting to heaven; it is about coming back into a healthy relationship with the living God, on His initiative and grace. It is not about going or not going somewhere; it is about … what God has done for us. So when we discuss it or present it, we should make the ongoing relationship the key topic. Otherwise people think a decision is all there is to the gospel, when it is far more.”

Eric Carpenter shares what he feels is the #1 blessing of homeschooling. “One great benefit for our children is the integration of their studies around Jesus Christ. In other words, as they are learning about math, they see that it is God who created math to be the way it is. As they study literature, they see what great gifts God has given to us to be able to read and write prose and poetry. As they study science, God’s hand in creation becomes more apparent to them. As they look at world history, they can see God’s providential care over his people and world.”

Josh Sowin quotes economist Thomas Sowell on the real minimum wage. “Unfortunately, the real minimum wage is always zero, regardless of the laws, and that is the wage that many workers receive in the wake of the creation or escalation of a government-mandated minimum wage, because they lose their jobs or fail to find jobs when they enter the labor force. Making it illegal to pay less than a given amount does not make a worker’s productivity worth that amount—and, if it is not, that worker is unlikely to be employed.” (Sowell, Basic Economics; 3rd Edition, Basic Books, 2007, p. 211.)

This is a great poem for anytime of the year, but I especially like it as winter gives way to spring.

“A WINTRY SONNET” – by Christina Rossetti

A Robin said: The Spring will never come,
And I shall never care to build again.
A Rosebush said: These frosts are wearisome,
My sap will never stir for sun or rain.
The half Moon said: These nights are fogged and slow,
I neither care to wax nor care to wane.
The Ocean said: I thirst from long ago,
Because earth’s rivers cannot fill the main.

When Springtime came, red Robin built a nest,
And trilled a lover’s song in sheer delight.
Grey hoarfrost vanished, and the Rose with might
Clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core.
The dim Moon brightened. Ocean sunned his crest,
Dimpled his blue, yet thirsted evermore.

Click here for a Good Friday Poem by Christina Rossetti.
Click here for a winter poem by Ray Fowler.

Hi everyone. This is Reina. I am Ray’s dog. You probably read about the “other” dog a couple weeks ago. (Here’s the link in case you missed it: The Amazing Adventures of Danny D.) But I want you to know that I was here first. I am the eldest dog.

I still remember those early, happy years. It was just me and my master. I had him all to myself. We went on walks together; he rubbed my belly; we played fetch; I slept at his feet as he sat reading on the couch. When we did obedience training, I learned all the commands and responded instantly. I just loved hearing him say, “Good girl!” Anything to please my master.

Then he brought the “other” dog home. Danny D. What a stupid name. Nobody even knows what the “D” stands for. I think it stands for disturbance, disruption and disrespect (or maybe just plain dumb)! Now anytime Master gives me a belly rub, Danny comes over and interrupts. He pulls on the leash when we go for walks; he jumps on the furniture; he tries to steal food from my dish. And obedience training? What a laugh! The only time he ever obeys is when he knows there’s a treat waiting. That dog is a menace! I don’t know what Master was thinking.

And then there was this whole escape episode a couple weeks back. Danny and I were both out in the backyard. I saw the hole in the fence too, but did I try to escape? Nooooooo. I am the good dog. But as soon as Danny saw his chance, he made a break for it. I must confess: I thought, “Good riddance! Finally some attention for just me again.”

But then you know what happened? Master and the whole family were so busy making up “Missing Dog” flyers and passing them out in the neighborhood, they completely ignored me. Later when they got back home, they just moped around the house. I felt like saying, “Hello people – I’m still here!”

Then the next day, when they finally got Danny back, it’s like they threw a big party for him! All the whooping and hollering — Master even took Danny’s picture and put the whole story up on the blog. And instead of calling it “The Naughty Puppy” (like he should have), he calls it “The Amazing Adventures of Danny D!” I don’t get it. Uh oh, I hear footsteps. It’s Master! I better get down from here real quick. Too late … I’m busted!

Ray: Reina, what are you doing at the computer? Wait, don’t go anywhere. Sit! Good girl. Let me read this. Oh, I see, you don’t think it’s fair the way we treated Danny D. when he came home after running away. Please don’t be upset, Reina. You should be glad along with us. You should love Danny. He is like a brother to you!

Reina: Look! All these years I’ve been loyal to you and never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never put my picture up on the blog. But when this “other” dog of yours who ran away and always disobeys comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!

Ray: My dear Reina, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Related posts:
    • The Amazing Adventures of Danny D.
    • Melody in F (The Prodigal Son)

The California ruling that appeared to declare most homeschooling in that state illegal has been vacated, and the case will be re-heard. Pacific Justice Institute has the details.

Pacific Justice Institute has just received word that the court ruling which declared most forms of homeschooling unlawful in California has been vacated. This means the Rachel L. decision, which has sparked a nationwide uproar, will not go into effect as it is currently written. The Second District Court of Appeal has instead decided to re-hear the case, with a new round of briefings due in late April. It would likely take the court several additional months to schedule oral argument and issue another decision.

HT: The Point

The following graphic plots the number of employed pastors per ten thousand people in the United States since 1850. The data was collected from the US Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Brad Wright comments:

It turns out that there have been about 1.2 pastors for every thousand people during the whole period. The stability is remarkable … In the church, there’s often a lot of talk about how Christianity is disappearing in the U.S. While the above figure doesn’t plot Christian pastors, per se, it does suggest that religion itself isn’t going anywhere.

The Boston Red Sox won their season opening game yesterday, defeating the Oakland Athletics 6-5 in extra innings. The game was played in Japan at the Tokyo Dome. Boston caught up and tied the game in the ninth inning, and then won in the tenth with a two-run double off the center field fence by Manny Ramirez. It was Manny’s second two-run double of the game. So the Sox start off their 2008 season 1-0. Go Sox!

Related posts:

• Go Sox! Congratulations, Mike Lowell!
• Go Soox!
• Click here for more Sports related posts.