Greatest Views Come With Highest Risks

At church today, one of the lessons was a discussion about safe use of communication technology such as Internet, cell phones, and all its uses--especially how it influences our youth.

Just like some of the most beautiful scenes in the world are only found at the risk of harm or death for those unprepared and careless, technology can connect us with so many wonderful people and life-improving information at the risk of destructive and even life-threatening consequences if not used wisely and cautiously.

We recently watched the Caves episode from the BBC Nature Series: Planet Earth. Incredible footage of things very few people ever see.

Lechuguilla cave scenic © Gavin Newman

The Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico was uncovered just over 20 years ago and has incredible, white sulfuric acid-created gypsum crystal formations untouched for thousands of years. Its so precious that you need special government permission to even enter the caves--it took BBC two years to finally get permission to film the cave.

The picture above was taken in the Chandelier Room, so named for the giant crystal formations hanging from the ceiling. To get to this incredible site, more than a mile inside the mere 101 miles of cave explored so far, the first thing you do is climb down 118 feet almost vertical. Then in the pitch black, silence you climb up and down piles of rock from ceiling collapses and occasionally pass through tight crawl-only passages.

The crew from BBC who filmed the cave, dragged their heavy film equipment through the pitch black cave for 10 days of filming. Can you imagine the food, water, lights, batteries, safety equipment and other things they had to be prepared with? If they weren't well-prepared and careful through their journey we wouldn't have that beautiful witness on the TV screen.

Technology gives us access to sites, sounds and information beyond imagination. Its how the common person can see unimaginable details of galaxies, planets, comets and stars. Its how we can instantly talk with a friend on the other side of the planet. It's how the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring hope, joy, and love to almost every truth-seeker on the Earth.

However, technology can also be a tool destructive to ourselves, others and society if misused. Addictive, family-destroying pornography is a click away even with the most thorough of parent controls and protective software. Text messaging and social network sites such as MySpace are used by the common high school student to socially assault others or to buy and sell drugs. Locally, the use of text messaging alerted a High School principal of the significant problem of students abusing prescription drugs. Technology is even used by predatory people to find and harm innocent victims.

So what do we do to help ourselves and our children wisely and carefully navigate these treacherous caves of technology so we can safely be magnified and uplifted by the good things that can come from the proper use of technology?

1. Create a Safe, Open Environment.

• Utilize Parental Controls and other technology-based protection: In order for people to get trapped into doing something bad, they have to be exposed to it. Technology-based protection isn't fool-proof, but it prevents a lot of accidental exposure.
• Be aware of what your children are doing: When people do things they know are wrong, secrecy empowers them to continue digging deeper into trouble. Know what your children are doing and what their friends are doing. Look at you're child's MySpace page, the cell phone bill, the Internet history. Put the computer in an open area--provide every environment and opportunity to prevent secrecy from enabling him/her to act on temptation.
• Limit personal information: Avoid providing personal information to the world. Any specific identifying information available on the web can be used by someone with malicious intent to physically locate an individual. Recently a blogger posted an innocent picture of themselves on a public blog which was picked up by a less-than-innocent forum group. Even after making the blog private, the forum was still able to locate cached pictures, and even download the picture from the picture storage site Blogger uses. Posts on the forum from people working together to find the picture again hinted of recognizing that their pursuit of the picture was not appreciated and hoped 'no one catches on.' You often hear of predators stalking individuals because they put too much detailed information on their blog, chat room, or MySpace. Its easy to put pieces together when you are talking about your High School or the store you went to across the street from your house that is unique only to your town, etc.

2. Educate yourself and your children. We can't always be there with our children and no technology-based safeguards are 100% effective, so if we can empower our children with the knowledge they need to make their own good decisions they can choose for themselves to avoid dangers.

• www.netsmartz.org This website was mentioned at the church meeting today. It gives a lot of information about Internet safety for all age groups. This would be a great activity to do together with your children.
• Let your children teach you. By the time I could type 'How R U?' in a text message, there are some youth who could have text messages the whole Lord of the Rings series to their friend. LOL (Laugh Out Loud.) Youth today know technology like the back of their hand.
• Let your children know your expectations. Help them know what to do.
• Be an example. Use the internet the way you want your children to use it. Children do what they see adults do, especially those they respect the most.

3. Develop a close relationship with your children. This is probably the most important. Generally speaking, if you are close with your children (especially starting young) you will trust them and they will trust you. Some youth may argue that all of these 'restrictions' prove that you don't trust them or 'its a violation of my privacy' for you to know what they are doing. But if you are able to maintain a good relationship with your children, they can know your intentions are based on your love for them. They can know you are only trying to protect them. And you will know the type of decisions they will make and you can be able to trust that they will be as faithful to you as you are to them. At least that's the type of relationship I hope I can develop with my children.

I'm sure there are other things that can be done to maximize our opportunity to have such wonderful technology tools at our disposal with out falling down paths of physical, emotional, social and spiritual danger. I try to be careful with my blog, but after today's education, there is still a lot more I can do to be extra safe--and certainly a lot more I can do to prepare my children for things they will face as they become older. You probably have some good ideas too...

sources: (click links)

Wildlife Photo Hunt

This summer, the eight of us travelled to far-off places to look at animals not native to our little northwest town.

So we packed up our tent and our clothes, loaded the kids in the van and started our journey. Granted the 73.6 mile trip to the Oregon Zoo, doesn't quite qualify as 'far-off places', but its a long-enough drive for me with the six kids.

Plus we didn't drive straight to the zoo, we actually spent three days playing with my wife's sister's family. The Oregon Zoo was our first full day on our vacation.

For all but two of our kids, its was the first remembered trip to the zoo. We bought an annual membership to the zoo to keep the memory alive with the opportunity for multiple visits throughout the year...(that and it was only a few dollars more than regular admission for the whole family.) Even the 'Plus' membership with added bonuses and guest admissions cost less than two visits for our family.

We saw lots of cool animals and even rode the zoo train!

Considering the crowd, we were pleased that we left with the same amount of kids as we brought...and the same kids we brought!

We did have a little scare, though, when our youngest son followed someone else and got himself lost. By the time we figured out he wasn't with my group, my wife's group or my wife's sister's group, I ended up back-tracking past the monkeys, the alligator, the meerkats, and the giraffes until I found a nice lady asking a little teary-eyed boy if he was lost.

Scared us to death, but other than that, we had a good time at the zoo and even caught pictures of the wildest of animals:

Hummingbird In Action

I've always been fascinated with Hummingbirds. I'm amazed at their ability to hover, their speed and their size. I'm in awe at how fast they can flap their wings.

On our vacation we had the opportunity to visit the Oregon Zoo. While we were there we saw a hummingbird in action and took advantage of a potential photo opportunity. Using the sports setting on our camera, we were impressed with how well the pictures turned out. (These pictures have been cropped and brightened up a little bit.)

Here is the hummingbird 'stopping' after zooming in at lightning speed. In my vast unlimited lack of knowledge about hummingbirds, my guess is that this is an "Anna's Hummingbird" (Calypte anna)--perhaps an adolescent, if not an adult female.

Here's a close-up of the same picture. I love the deployed landing gear. Hummingbirds' normal flight speed is 25 mph.

It's amazing how they can hover so still. Looking at slow motion video, they tilt their wings in a figure-eight pattern as if they are treading water. Hence the unique angle of the wings in this picture. I'm guessing this hummingbird flaps its wings around 50 wing beats per second.

I like this picture because it shows the fluorescent feathers on its back. I also like how you can see the feather's of the wings...they really are birds! The feather's are actually kind of transparent.

Here you can see its beak getting nectar from the flower.

You can get interesting hummingbird information on the web in addition to the links sited on this page (http://www.hummingbirds.net/.)

Panther Creek Falls, Washington State

I took a few days off work for our annual summer vacation attempt. This year we spent a few days camping in my Brother/Sister-in-law's backyard. We actually wereable to do a lot of stuff during those three days and three night.

Saturday morning, my brother-in-law, who is really into photography, took me to one his favorite waterfalls, Panther Creek Falls in Wind River valley, Washington, so we could practice taking pictures with our new cameras.

It is only 65 feet high, but one of the most picturesque water falls I've ever seen. Two creeks join at the falls which adds to it's features. Plus there are multiple levels forming a small chain of waterfalls. The water is crystal clear--so much so that the 'fizz' formed at the bottom of the falls and rapids is white mixed with bright baby blue. Just looking at it makes you want to dip in a glass and drink the best tasting, ice cold water you've ever had.

Here are some of the pictures I took from the falls (click the image for more detail):

Here is where the higher creek starts trickling down the 65 ft. drop. You can barely see the second creek dumping down the cliff on the bottom right corner. Note: To get that smooth 'lace drapery' look, I used a tripod and a slower shutter speed. A faster shutter speed would show rough droplets opposed to smooth lines.

Here is the full falls. Pictures don't do it justice, nor does the picture capture the size. Notice how the white water intertwines with the green vegetation.

A few hundred feet from the main falls is this smaller falls. You can see the baby blue in the water at the base of the falls. Almost every log and surface area was covered in a thick carpet of Moss.

Here you can see a mini-ledge in front of the lower falls in front of the large falls. It a little difficult to tell without the ability to decipher depth.

Can't forget the benefits of 3-D. Get your blue/red 3-D glasses!

Echos of the Storm

One month shy of a year ago, my family was enjoying the western-most point of the Fort to Sea trail. The Fort to Sea Trail represents the route Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery used to get to the Pacific Ocean (sunset beach) from Ft. Clatsop.









Tall, always-green grasses filled the forest floor where the thick moss carpet stopped. The multitude of tall trees swaying in the crisp ocean breeze, gave insight to a small creature's view of the world from the bottom of a tall, grass forest.





It was very peaceful and relaxing to be surrounded by such a neat forest spotted with small lakes, buzzing with dragon flies, guarded by seagulls, and patrolled by squirrels and other animals.



These coastal evergreen forests are very unique and amazing to walk through. It's like you enter a whole new, peaceful world with so many new things to see.

I don't know how long this forest world took to grow and develop--it looks like its been happily, peacefully guarding the coast for centuries, but I do know that things can change drastically within one year.

In early December, almost nine months ago, we had a micro burst storm whipping hurricane-speed winds into the coast. In an instant the trail was closed and was unable to open until June 2008 when the fallen trees were cleaned up.

So today we decided to visit again, hoping the damage from the storm was minor, and to seek the peace of this beautiful forest. As we drove up, we pulled into the where we thought the parking lot used to be. The road looked the same, the parking lot looked the same, but the forest looked much different. (the following pictures were taken from the same general location on the trail as the original pictures above--they are also in the same order.)

I knew there were a lot of trees down, but I didn't realize just how many. In just two days, hundreds of trees, which took decades to grow were destroyed...as if someone chopped the tops of the trees off like a kid chopping dandelions with a stick.

Greens turned to browns and sunlight now pierces the ground that was once protected by the shade of an evergreen canopy.

At this point in the trail another unexpected surprise presented itself. Not only did the wind storm unmercifully rip through the forest, but we now learned where the multi-acre sunset beach fire from a month or so ago occurred. It was heart-wrenching to see the black scar that gutted out the center of this already-wounded lush forest and the orange fire-licked trees surrounding it.

It was depressing walking through our once peaceful retreat which was now destroyed. But still there was a hope and anticipation of how much stronger future will heal this forest. Amid the fallen giants were the surviving younglings that seemed to reach up with ever more determination to reclaim their sanctuary. Tender green ferns and grass shined in contrast to the now pitch black forest floor; and surrounding the destruction were enboldened patches of mature trees and plants encouraging the newborns to thrive and be hopeful.

Notice how the trail divides the black fire destruction (right) from the surviving young trees and forest. (left)

The forest was still guarded by the seagulls, squirrels still played in the trees and a family of dear greeted us at the trail head! (can you see the dear in the first post-destruction picture?)

Although I'm depressed at the loss of one of my favorite environments, I'm exciting to watch the next generation of survivors create their own sanctuary for us to enjoy!

Chris Rice

On the special feature DVD of Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie I was instantly interested in Chris Rice's musical performance of Billy Joe McGuffrey. Being impressed with his singing style and natural sound, I decided to review his bonus video on the DVD, The Other Side of the Radio.



Again I really enjoyed the real-instrument sound and musical style, but the thing that impressed me the most was the sincerity in his voice and lyrics. I felt he really did care about his audience.

Now Chris Rice is one of my all-time favorite artists. We bought his Album, "Run the Earth Watch the Sky" and just recently we bought his Album "What a Heart is Beating For."

Not only do I like his sincerity, but I really like his optimism. I listen to his music and feel hopeful and encouraged...and, partially because he is a Christian musician I know his music and lyrics are appropriate for all ages whether or not they are hymns he's written or more secular topics.

(I'm Christian too, but my feelings for Jesus Christ are of such a sacred nature to me, I'm more picky about what Christian music I like--even though I generally like the style of music most Christian artists use, the lyrics and feeling I get when listening to the majority of Christian music doesn't always match up to those sacred personal feelings.)

I am also really impressed with how well he writes his lyrics. He uses a lot of creative metaphors that seem to expand the meaning beyond just the words themselves. I suppose I like it because metaphors are how I apply concepts in my own life.

Here are a few samples of his lyrics to illustrate:

Baby Take Your Bow: Although death can be a depressing reality in our lives, Chris Rice does a good job of bringing out the respect of life's opportunity, the hope of our eternal lives, and comfort when loved ones temporarily depart their mortal bodies until the resurrection:




Lemonade: This song captures the excitement, anticipation, and joy of true, sincere love. It illustrates his sincerity, gratitude, and optimism. I like to think of this song in relation to my wife and me:




Here are the lyrics to those two songs if these unofficial music videos don't work:

Baby Take Your Bow
Chris Rice

We're gonna miss your song and dance
The way you made us laugh
And we're so glad we had the pleasure for a while
But on the other side you'll find a better audience
Just be yourself, and you can't help but make the angels smile

Baby, all the world's a stage
Playwright pens your final page
And then he brings your curtain down
So blow us your kisses and drench our eyes
We'll rise to our feet to wave goodbye for now
So baby, take your bow

The world is lovelier because you had your moment here
And we could see a friend of heaven in your face
And in your song we heard the longing for a distant shore
And now your time has come to go, and so be on your way

Baby, all the world's a stage
Playwright pens your final page
And then he brings your curtain down
So blow us your kisses and drench our eyes
We'll rise to our feet to wave goodbye for now
So baby, take your bow
Your show is over now
It's time to lay your burdens down
So baby, take your bow

Copyright 2007 Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP) (adm. By Word Music, LLC)

Lemonade
by Chris Rice

So go ahead and ask her
For happy ever after
‘Cause nobody knows what’s coming
So why not take a chance on loving
Come on, pour the glass and tempt me
Either half-full or half-empty
‘Cause if it all comes down to flavor
The glass is tipping in my favor

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

Now take your time to answer me
For the beauty of romancing
Is to calm your trembling hand with mine
While begging love to fill your eyes
I can hardly breathe while waiting
To find out what your heart is saying
And as we’re swirling in this flavor
The world is tilting in our favor

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

I’ve got it made
Rest in the shade
And hold my love
While God above
Stirs wiith a spoon
We share the moon
Smile at the bees
More sugar please
He really loves us after all
We’re gonna need another straw!
We’re gonna need another straw!

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

Copyright 2004 Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP) (adm. By Word Music, LLC)

Summer Parades

Each year our town does a 4th of July parade. Its nothing overly fancy (just a comfortable hour-long,) but its becoming a fun tradition for my family especially since we can watch it from our front yard.

Here are some of the participants in our little parade...can you guess what they are? (hint: there are usually a lot of vehicles in the parade.) Click the picture for the answer.

Red, White, and Blue!

Keep reaching to guess this one.

Yes there are people in there, but they didn't throw candy to the kids like most of the other parade participants.

This was a new entry for this year. It was pretty cool.

This was a cool paint job.

What's that in the reflection? Godzilla?!!

From little kid's perspectives these are either cute or scary.

Our Dependence on Independence Day (repost)

[Here is a reposting of my post from July 4th 2007. (With current pictures.)]



A divinely organized miracle took place 231 years ago which has made one of the most extensive and enduring impacts on the world in its whole history of existence. On July 4th 1776, the Congress of the United States of America declared its independence from Britain and a new country was born--founded with the philosophy that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence)




Through the last 232 years our freedoms have been gratefully treasured, painfully challenged and, especially at times of greatest prosperity, taken for granted. Our ability to do what we choose in this country is dependent on upholding the principles established on that first Independence Day.



At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the unified goal was set and the commitment was made to establish a land of freedom: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." (Declaration of Independence) At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, these hopeful leaders suddenly became enemies to the most powerful nation in the world. They gave their all, figuratively and literally to stand firm in their commitment to the success of this new country. God helped them prevail. Through costly growing pains, threats on its existence, and even dents by its own people over the last 231 years, this nation presses forward under the same principles on which it was founded.



As a result we are free! The government was established--the checks, balances, and protections were set in place to allow us the freedom and accountability to choose for ourselves. We may choose to live free or we may choose to live in self-inflicted bondage. The only thing we don't choose is the consequence of our actions. Freedom is so risky for the individual--to have no scape goat for our actions. However, freedom to choose for ourselves is so valuable its benefits out-weigh any risk.



With respect for God and these men who sacrificed everything to give freedom to those who live in this great nation 231 years later, I hope I will never take for granted the freedom I have. I pray that I will make personal decisions that will keep me free on the everyday battle field of choices.


[Photo Details: The above photos are from this year's Astoria, Oregon 4th of July fireworks show. Our family drove across the river to the Dismal Nitch rest area to watch them. Sadly, due to a shaky tripod only a few of the picture actually turned out, but I was pleased at the general outcome of my first attempt to photograph fireworks with a new digital SLR. Starting with a tip from an online resource, these photos ended up being taken with an apeture of 16, a shutter speed of 2 seconds, film speed (ISO) of 800. They were shot with a Nikon D40, 6.1 megapixels; 200mm zoom from about 4 miles across the Columbia River. I did crop the pictures to isolate the fireworks from the 'empty' space, but I did not do any other manipulation of the photos. Certainly not professional, but my personal best so far. :-) ]

Guest Blogger: T

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America's Tall Ship: Eagle (WIX 327)

I've had a recent fascination with tall ships since I moved to the Oregon Coast. I first learned about the replica of the cir. 1750 freight vessel, Lady Washington, now the offical ship of the State of Washington. (It is also the ship they used as the Interceptor in the Pirates of the Carribean movies.) The Lady Washington, visits our area with the Hawaiian Chieftain each year to give rides and perform battle re-enactments. I always love seeing them when I can.

The Lady Washington returning from a battle sail with the Hawaiian Chieftain on the Columbia River

This year I was a little bummed because I didn't get to see them this year, however I had a pleasant surprise when my wife called on the cell phone to tell me there was a huge tall ship docked next to the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast. I quickly went to the Columbia River Maritime Museum's viewer-guided web cam to take a look. The first thing I noticed was the Orange Racing stripe with the Coast Guard seal and I got excited: It was the real version of the painting on the wall in my office of the Coast Guard training bargue--The Eagle!




The USCG Eagle (WIX 327) was a German Training vessel (SNS Horst Wessel) built in 1936. After WWII it became a war prize for the United States. In 1946, the United States Coast Guard commisioned it as the Eagle to continue to serve as a training vessel.

The Eagle--full sail (phot0 from the USCG website)

The three-masted Eagle is 295 feet long (docked next to the 210-ft Cutter Steadfast), almost 40 feet widewith , a displacement of 1,784 tons fully loaded and draft of.

With its 21,350 feet of sail and five miles of rigging, the Eagle can sail a maximum of 17 knots by wind power. Compare this to the 10 knots maximum speed with its diesel engine.

Cadets training on the Eagle must handle more than 200 lines of rope and learn each one. (Daily Astorian)

Up to 46 crew members, 175 cadets and instructors under the direction of 19 officers "learn the ropes."

Steering is the rudder is all mechanical, so up to six people power the steering (two on each wheel.)

For how much use the Eagle has had over the last 72 years it is in very good shape. Its almost 1/2-inch thick steel hull and three-inch teak wood-covered steel decks are well maintained. In fact, one of the crew members mentioned to us that prior to sailing to Astoria, Oregon from the Eastern Coast of the United States, it went through some reconditioning

Looking at the Eagle was a neat experience for me--in fact I went on the self-guided tour twice. One of the interesting things to me about going on the ship was seeing that the shell was designed like a early era tall-ship, yet it has all the technology of a modern ship--electricity, radar, sonar, computers, etc. It was interesting how they mixed old technology with new while still maintaining respect for the history of the Horst Wessel.

The kids enjoyed the tour too, they were able to get a collectible (plastic) coin for taking the tour. There was even a ships wheel at the stern of the ship, safely disengaged, that the kids were able to wiggle around a little.

Most of the information came from the United State Coast Guard website. The Daily Astorian article reprinted on the Goast Guard website was also fun to read. Information on the web is also available for the Lady Washington and other tall ships.