Look out Warf, cloaking technology is on the way!

I was reading an interesting article of Popular Science's web site today, check it out:

"The trick is to use metamaterial, a complex hybrid structure of metal and insulator that makes light move around an object like air flowing over an airplane wing. In a process called refraction, these materials interact with light in such a way that it travels faster through the metamaterial than it does through a vacuum, the famed c in Einstein’s special theory of relativity. Properly tuned, the light emerges from the shield as if there were no object present. But unfortunately for would-be spies, it’s very difficult to make cloaking devices that work on more than one wavelength of light at a time."

Pretty cool, huh?

weekend update

This weekend rocked! Saturday I got to visit Rachel in Tennessee. We had a great time hanging out and running in the rain. We rented a movie (which we didn't watch) and came back at were forced against our will to watch disk one of Arrested Development. Decent show, but 5 episodes back to back was a little much. Afterwards we caught the end of the OSU game (Go Buckeyes!). I must say that it was well worth the 6 hours of driving (even in the super heavy rain!).

Sunday was more of a recouping day, but it still was great. I had a good time down at Safe Harbor Church in Pelham at their Lights Out service - it's great to just attend a worship service without being in charge of anything.

crazy weather we've been having

Arrrghhh! Avast, there!

Today is national Talk Like a Pirate Day. Come on now, let's hear it! I can't believe it, but there is a nation holiday just for pirates :)






So batten down the hatches...

Avast belay, yo ho, heave to,
A-pirating we go
And if we're parted by a shot
We're sure to meet below!

Oh, My God

Here is an excerpt taken from Oh My God from the new Jars of Clay CD "All Good Monsters." This whole cd is amazing, but this song stands out to me above the rest.

Liars and fools, sons and failures, thieves will always say
Lost and found, ailing wanderers, healers always say
Whores and angels, men with problems, leavers always say
Broken hearted, separated, orphans always say
War creators, racial haters, preachers always say
Distant fathers, fallen warriors, givers always say
Pilgrim saints, lonely widows, users always say
Fearful mothers, watchful doubters, Saviors always say

Sometimes I can not forgive
and these days mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I'd dream we're better, scales were gone and faces lighter
When we wake we hate our brother, we still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes and all the fear the keeps me silent
Falls below my heavy breathing, what makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder, we all have the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up, all the times I had to give up
Babies underneath their beds, in hospitals that cannot treat them
All the wounds that money causes, all the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children, this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers, this is our greatest offense
Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God

Warning: includes technical jargon

Yesterday I spent a good portion of my day trying to figure out why in the world I wasn't able to use many of Google's services (gTalk, gmail, this blog, etc.). No matter what I tried, I kept getting nowhere. Now I get to my church and find that I can sign on from here...so I'm thinking it's my ISP.

This week is my church's annual missions conference. Tonight and tomorrow I will be spending some time with Bob Hepakowski who is the field director in Chile. I'm looking forward to hearing some great stories of how God is at work abroad. My hope is that our church will catch a fresh excitement and motivation to be missionaries here at home through this missions conference.

Security or Liberty?

Last evening, I watched a Ted Koppel special on the Discovery Channel about how America has responded to terrorism and security since 9/11. Now, 5 years later - are we safer than we were before? What liberties are we willing to give up in order to maintain our safety and freedom. How should we treat those at home and abroad who are found to be terrorists or associated with terrorists. What constitutes torture? Is torture for the greater good ever ok?

These are the kind of questions that where being raised in last night's program. Personally, I think that we need to be incredibly careful about giving up our freedoms and rights to be more secure. If you have ever seen the movie "V for Vendetta" you can catch a glimpse of what a culture would look like if they let "Big Brother" take over for the security of the Nation.

Is our fight really against Terrorism or is it against Fundamental Islamic Extremism? I think the language of our current war needs to change. If we were at fact at war with tyranny, then we'd be fighting regimes and governments from all over the world. Tyranny and terror isn't just a problem in the middle-east, it's a human problem everywhere.

As Christians, how should we respond to global terrorism (or Fundamental Islamic Extremism)? Should we kill all the terrorists? Should we hate them? Should we become fearful, racists, and discriminators of Muslims and middle easterners? Should we pray for the salvation of Osama Bin Laden? Have you ever thought of praying for and loving the terrorists? Doesn't Jesus call us to love the sinner and hate the sin?

I don't know...what do you think?

Life updates

Not to confuse, this post is about my life updates, not LIFE updates - big difference ;)

Things have been busy as usual in the Pasco household. Most of my time lately has been involved with the youth ministry at BRAC. We're going full throttle into the new school year and I'm trying to reach ahead and plan for the future. We've had a great time recently exploring the Will of God and how to understand and seek it. This week, we started our D-Groups back up and I'm already enjoying my D-Group guys (they rock hard!).

Youth ministry (well, any kind of ministry) can be hard at times - especially when you're paid to do it. The crazy thing about full-time ministry is that you get paid to do what God has called you to do. Sometimes, it feels like a "job" while other times it's a pleasure and joy. One the biggest challenges for me lately have been to get outside of our church walls to meet people who don't know Christ. When you eat, sleep, and breathe church - it can be hard to reach out to others. This is even further compounded by living in the South. It's not that everyone down here is saved...it's that they think they are. So the challenge is to find and reach the marginalized and oppressed people because often times, they are the most receptive to the message of Jesus.

I spent Saturday with Rachel and her family. Her uncle passed away Saturday so please remember to pray for her and her family (especially her aunt who is struggling with the loss of her husband).

So that's a snapshot of what's going on in my life right now and things I'm wresting with. Now that I have this new-er blog, I hope to update it much, much more. Until we meet again (in cyberspace or in person)