Egyptian Archaeologists Find Sarcophagi Near Pyramids

Acient Egypt fascinates me. We're planning a trip to Cairo, hopefully for October 2008. What caught my eye on this article though is the fact that it is 2006 and with all of the technology that we have to see things that would normally be invisible to us this is proof that there is still much to be discovered in this world.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian archaeologists have found two ancient sarcophagi close to the pyramids, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities said on Sunday.The sarcophagi, found about a kilometer (0.6 miles) south of the pyramids in Giza, dated to the late 26th dynasty, or about 2,500 years old, council chief Zahi Hawass said in a report by the state MENA news agency.

Hieroglyphs referring to the ancient Egyptian gods Osiris, god of the dead, and the sun-god Ra were painted on the larger sarcophagus, which measured about 2 meters (6 ft 6.74 in) tall, 70 cm wide and 60 cm deep and was painted red, blue and green, the report said.

The name of sarcophagus' owner, Neb Ra Khatow, and ritual incantations to the gods were also painted on the sarcophagus.

The second sarcophagus had a more human form and was found inside the first. Hawass said it was in good condition, and that a wreath made of plants encircled the mummy inside.

GPS Tracking of Sex Offenders

From Foxnews.com. Dateline May 31, 2006. "Many states are initiating programs that track registered sex offenders using Global Positioning Satellites, or GPS sometimes for life. GPS can track the exact location of the offenders at all times, making it easier for law enforcement to ensure that they're abiding with the terms of their release." Later in the article, "But opponents argue that process, particularly if it's for life, is excessively punitive and invades the privacy of offenders after they've served their time."

Political correctness and civil rights are two things most inmates lose upon their incarceration. Still those things are, and in most cases should be, considerations after a person has paid their debt to society. However, in the case of sex offenders, especially child sex offenders, I do support a permanent high tech tracking system.

The facts support the argument that a percentage of sex offenders upon release from prison will seek out and offend again. Our children are too precious and fragile to allow their innocence to be robbed from them. If it is with in our power to increase the odds of a safe environment for them then we should act responsibly and do so.

I propose surgically adding GPS tracking to the offender somewhere deep inside the body (like the pet tracking chips we have placed in our beloved pets). This would allow the offender the appearance of a normal citizen and insure that the offender could not remove it. The probation and/or parole people could simply use a device to insure from time to time that the offender still has it in place.

I propose that we take it one step further. There should be a “fail-safe” mechanism in place that would sound an alarm to authorities if a device were stationary for a period of time in an area that might be suspect or even illegal for the offender to be. For example, if the offender were to approach a school building a device inside the school would detect and log the approach silently. If the offender were to remain inside the zone of detection for more than a given period of time, (say 30 minutes), the device inside the school would send some type of alarm to the local authorities. The authorities would be required to send someone to speak with the offender.

In this manner, if a child were to be abducted in less than the 30 minute window of time the device still passively logged the approach of the offender and the authorities at least have a starting point.

Does this violate the offender’s civil rights? I maintain it does not. As I posted on 03/16/06 in agreement with a judge ruling on a murder trial, he stated, “You’ve forfeited your right to live.” Similarly, a sex offender has forfeited their right to certain civil liberties.

By doing something like this, it eases the burden on already over-crowded prisons. I do NOT advocate early release for the sake of easing crowding, but by adding a plan like this it would inevitably ease the problem.

Some might say that this adds to the “Big Brother’s Watching” complex that our nation, indeed the world, is heading for. If we do this for sex offenders, why can’t we do it for speeders? Maybe there is some logic to that argument, but we’re going to get there eventually anyway. Already our streets have cameras to record moving violations and deliver the punishment to your home courtesy of the USPS.

Civil rights for offenders of violent crimes, to include sex offenders, should have limitations even if they’ve paid their debt to society. Some states have adopted a “three strikes and you’re out policy;” this would not be all that different if employed properly.

So Now You’re A Medic ...

So Now You’re A Medic ...
By Mike Rubin, BS, NREMT-P

“Paramedic Rubin.”

I was ecstatic and astonished to be addressed that way at our 1995 commencement ceremony. The only other time I had heard those two words spoken consecutively was earlier in the semester, after I had euthanized yet another mannequin. My exasperated instructor — a recent graduate himself — asked, ‘Do you want to be a paramedic, Rubin?’ Gamely, I had answered “yes” and then wondered if the Navy might still be interested in me.

Even as I was accepting my certificate, I felt that I should go home and study something. Ten months of preoccupation with text books and test scores had earned me an upgraded card, but left me uncertain about my future as a medic. Did I know enough to treat real patients? Would anyone pay me to do that?

“Life After Medic School” was a mystery. I had learned how to become a medic, but not how to be a medic. Full Story...

Darrell Scott's Columbine Testimony

Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Joy Scott — a student killed in the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado — did make this speech during testimony on May 27, 1999 before the Subcommittee on Crime of the House Judiciary Committee. It was the first of many similar talks he has delivered on the subject.

"...I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room.

Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:"

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws." Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.

We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!" "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA- I give to you a sincere challenge.

Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Do what the media did not... let the nation hear this man's speech.

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

This is an Editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa Newspaper.

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the “politically correct” crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely composed of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!"In God We Trust” is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because men and women, on principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don’t like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don’t care how you did things where you came from.

This is OUR COUNTRY, our land and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But, once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE!!!!!!

To My Wife On Father's Day With Affection!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

2. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

3. Crying is blackmail.

4. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

5. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

6. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

7. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

8. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

9. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

10. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

11. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

12. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

13. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

14. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

15. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

16. If it itches, it will be scratched.

17. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

18. If you ask a question you don't want us to answer, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

19. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really.

20. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.

21. You have enough clothes.

22. You have too many shoes.

23. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

24. Thank you for reading this: Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know men really don't mind that, it's like camping.

A Moral Democrat?

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law a ban on most abortions, which would be triggered if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 ruling legalizing the procedure, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The ban would apply to all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, except when the mother's life is threatened. It is similar to a South Dakota law that has become the latest focus of the abortion battle.

This is evidence that redemption is possible for anyone. I never thought I'd live to see the day a Democrat would do something so moral, so publically. I bet her Democratic colleagues think she is insane. Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and Jerry Springer have probably already called her to give her a tongue lashing.

The Folded Flag

Thanks to Rachel for providing me with so much material for my blog.

I guess in reading the following definition I am surprised the liberal base in our nation has not sought to remove military rites. I was very surprised to see that there was such significant religious etiology intertwined in the burial ritual. I was equally amazed at having never heard any complaints about it.

I did find an individuals site that states that the folds of the flag are purely coincidental and that it is folded the way it is only out of a need to be compact and neat. I haven’t been able to find anything concrete to substantiate either claim, but I like what it has to say so I am posting it.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute symbolizes the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, look more closely.

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our great country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace in addition to times of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our
country, right or wrong."

The 6th fold is represents where the people's hearts. It is with their heart that they “pledge allegiance to the flag of the United! States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

The 7th fold is a tribute to the Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it is through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the Father, for he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, displays the stars reminding them of their nation’s motto, "In God We Trust."

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones; who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

Befriended

A visiting youth group to our church sang Befriended as part of our worship time at church this past Sunday. I was so absolutely moved by this song. I had never before heard this song and the teenage angelic voice backed by an amazing group to talented young singers compelled me to find the lyrics for my post and link to the song. I hope you’ll be as blessed by it as I was. Click on the link below to hear the song.

Befriended by Mark Redman

Befriended... befriended by the King above all Kings.
Surrendered... surrendered to a friend above all friends.
Invited... invited deep into this mystery.
Delighted... delighted by the wonders I have seen.

This will be my story.
This will be my song.
You'll always be my savior.
Jesus, You will always have my heart.

Astounded... astounded that Your gospel bekoned me.
Surroundered... surroundered but I've never been so free.
Determined... determined now to live this life for You.
You're so worthy my greatest gift would be the least You're due.

This will be my story.
This will be my song.
You'll always be my Savior.
Jesus, You will always have my heart.

Communicate or Disintegrate

Today is a day of reflection for me. Today I turned 34 years old. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time this week pondering what defines me and what I’ve learned over these past years. Communication is at the top of my list.

Today our pastor, Dr. Tim Alexander, spoke about the power of life and death being in the tongue and tied the verse into communication in the family. I just wanted to share some of the highlights that I came away with.

Dr. Alexander quoted an author for stating, “Good is the enemy of great.” His point was that too often we become content with good and don’t strive for great. In a marriage, we could miss out on great things if we settle for only good things.

The most powerful part of the message for me personally was his explanation of how different men and women are in communication. He broke down the physiological differences that begin at birth and how men and women use different parts of their brain to communicate. For instance, a man generally is more analytical then a woman because his thought processes are dominated by that region of the brain. Conversely, a woman tends to be more intuitive. Men are created as the thinkers we are because shortly after conception a boy is bathed in testosterone which may modify the corpus callosum affecting the right and left brains ability to communicate with each other. Therefore, when you call a man a half-wit or state that he is thinking with only half a brain, you may be more correct then you thought.

This difference in the way men and women think and communicate may be why girls tend to long for a real “bad boy.” They tend to go to great lengths to find a male that represents manhood and then once they marry him they spend the rest of their marriage trying to turn him into a woman. This is demonstrated by all the sappy love stories they make us watch and forcing us to watch the Home and Garden network. Men are more interested in watching people suffer and destruction.

When a woman speaks to a man, she has to allow for a great deal of interpretation. Men and women hear things differently and we process them differently. Nowhere is this better demonstrated then in the case of Roger and Elaine.

Roger and Elaine have been dating for six months. One night in the car, Elaine brings their six month anniversary to his attention. This proclamation is followed by a silence that is very loud to Elaine. She interprets this silence for everything other then what it really is.

Upon hearing that it was six months ago that they started dating, Roger draws a parallel between that time frame and his last oil change. His brain is now processing and analyzing this time line. This is a really cute story and I encourage you to read the whole story. This story is comical, but more importantly, powerful in demonstrating how a man hears and processes information.

Summarizing his message in all seriousness though, is the concept that our words, in deed, our communication is very powerful. It can define how bad, good, or great our relationships will be. This is illustrated plainly and clearly throughout the Bible and even secular ideology emphasizes the importance and necessity of good communication. A relationship can only be as good as its communication and our relationships affect every facet of our lives. An example is that a company’s performance is limited by how well it communicates not only with its customers, but also with its infrastructure and investors. The health of a church body is dramatically affected by the health of the families that make up the body which in turn is dramatically affected by the ability to communicate effectively.

Thank you to Dr. Alexander for the inspiration and material for this posting. The Biblical text referenced is Proverbs 18:21, 1 Peter 2:21, 3:1-11.

My Prejudice

I’ve been noticing a trend with myself lately and I am not sure I like it. I’m driving through Burger King this morning on my way to the doctor and I take notice of the accent of the attendant through the speaker is that of a Spanish origin. The first thought that came to my mind was, “are you legal?” Closely followed by, “let me see your papers.”

As I began to think about the response my mind formulated I became a little ashamed of myself. Thinking back to two days prior while going into a Chinese restaurant where I saw and heard a woman go up to a man of Latino ethnicity and ask him if he spoke English. It infuriated me that in America she would have to ask someone if they speak English.

What I’ve noticed is that this isn’t the first time I have had those thoughts. I feel strongly about the issue of illegal immigration. I feel strongly about speaking English as the primary language in America and in public. What I am wondering is how much influence the public debate on illegal immigration has had on my awareness of my now self-evidenced prejudice?

Maybe prejudice is a bit strong. Maybe it’s not and I would just like to candy-coat it for easy swallowing. Were my emotions on the subject as great prior to the national debate? Or is it simply a matter of a societal theory or trend shaping, redefining, and/or enhancing an underlying opinion?

I have nothing against Mexico or Mexicans. I have nothing against legal immigrants. I do have a problem with aliens violating our borders and our laws and then our president and other dignitaries suggesting that we reward them by affording them a means to the citizenship they seek. I think I have always had the opinions I have now, but they weren’t as important to me until our nations leaders brought them to the limelight.

I’d like to know if you’ve been catching yourself with similar thoughts. Maybe they’ve seemed insignificant to you or maybe they’ve seemed contrite. Either way, I am interested in the sociological implications of whether or not the public debate is fueling the thought process or if you’ve always thought along these lines.

Same-Sex Marriage

I saw a headline the other day titled, Debate on Same-Sex Marriages Heat’s up in Washington. Today I was reading CNN online about a lesbian couple from the Nashville area. One of their quotes struck me as odd.

She has been talking about the cost of legalities such as having their names changed, power of attorney papers, and different benefits. Then she says, "It is embarrassing to walk into a place and to have to throw out your sexual orientation just because you want to make sure that 'this is the one I love, this is the one I want you to talk to,' '' in the event of major medical decisions. "Men-Women married couples don't have to do that. They don't have to walk in and go, 'OK, well we met and we are together.' "

I want to look closely at this quote. First, why is it embarrassing? Could it be the conviction of living in such an immoral and sinful lifestyle? Could it be a futile attempt to be normal in a world that the majority still condemns the act of homosexuality? Secondly, legally married men and women do have to throw out their sexual identity. We do it when take our vows, we do it when we do our business, and we do it when we’re sick and injured. The difference here, is that it is the socially accepted norm and therefore there is no second thought given to it. It’s not wrong or sinful so we don’t think of it as throwing out our sexual orientation.

The article continues, Joan and Nancy met in Bible study in 1988, and bristle at those who bring God into the debate.

"I mean, I know my God loves me and I don't understand why that has to be -- I am sorry, I just don't understand the whole purpose of it," Joan said.

Of course God loves her and her partner. The more appropriate matter is how little they love and respect God, the creator of the universe, the creator and sustainer of life. To live in such disobedience clearly does not reflect a manner of love and respect. I have become amazed at how lacking the homosexual message is in their defenses.

The Bible couldn’t be clearer on the matter of homosexuality and no amount of twisting the words around make it less sinful or more acceptable. Every major religion of the world from Islam, to Judaism, to Christianity and everything in between overwhelmingly takes similar positions against the morality of homosexuality.

Have the homosexuals really read through God’s clearly stated position in the Biblical books of Romans, Genesis, or Judges?

In Genesis 18, God informs Abraham that he plans to destroy the city of Sodom because of its gross immorality. Abraham pleads with God not to destroy Sodom, and God agrees that he would not destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people in it, then 45, then 30, then 20, or even 10 righteous people. The Lord's two angels only find one righteous person living in Sodom, Abraham's nephew Lot. Consequently, God follows through with his plans to destroy the city.

In Genesis 19:1, the final episode in the story of Sodom is described as the angels visit Lot to warn him to flee:

4. When they had not yet retired, and the people of the city, the people of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, the entire populace from every end [of the city].

5. And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, and let us be intimate with them." Lot refused to give the visiting angels to the men of Sodom and instead offered them his two daughters. The men refused to accept this compromise. The men were struck with blindness, allowing Lot and his family, who were then instructed to leave the city, to escape, and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with fire and brimstone by God.

A similar event is recorded in the Book of Judges, 19:2, this time involving the town of Gibeah. This suggests that the occurrences in Sodom were not unique:

20. And the old man said, "Peace be to you, just let all your needs be upon me, but do not lodge in the street."

21. And he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys, and they washed their feet, ate and drank.

22. As they were enjoying themselves, and behold, the men of the city, men of wickedness, surrounded the house, (and were) beating at the door. And they spoke to the man, the elderly master of the house, saying, "Bring out the man that came into your house, so that we may be intimate with him.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The Bible is clear. Homosexuality is a sin. We cannot change the definition of marriage or our view of moral rights and wrongs to parallel the views of the perverse and immoral. God’s word is our road map and it is not open to interpretation in areas that He has spoken clearly and loudly. How more loudly can you be then to destroy whole cities? No matter how good-natured an individual is or how likeable they are, that does not change the sinful, immoral nature of homosexuality. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

Peace be on your tent.

Woody

I spent most of my childhood growing up without a father. You see, at the ripe old age of eight my biological father was taken from me tragically in a tractor-trailer accident. He was a professional driver and on a very bad blustery, icy night, he lost control of his big rig and died of massive internal trauma.

My memory of him is obscured at best due to my young age and his absence from being on the road a lot. The memories I have, have been given to me by others. I have always grown up believing that everything happens for a reason and the only coincidences are when God chooses to remain anonymous.

So I spent my childhood growing up not really knowing what I missed out on by not having a father. That is until I met a friend in my freshman year of high school named Paula. We became close friends (not boyfriend/girlfriend, but close friends). Soon I was spending all of my time with her. To make a long story short, I began to admire her father. He had all the qualities I would have hoped to have had in a dad of my own. Glenn “Woody” Schnitz is the man I have grown up thinking of as my dad.

Woody is full of kindness. He owns a small wrecker service and repair shop, but his generosity has kept him from amassing his fortune. I submit that he is rich beyond money. He loves what he does and he does what he loves. He is a devoted husband and father.

Woody has always treated me like one of his own. I have tried to treat him as a good son would. We do things for each other, but the best thing he has ever done for me was spend time with me. Those moments, (his passing on of wisdom, and his example of caring and doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do), have been priceless.

Woody is a man of integrity and moral character. He doesn’t mince words and will tell you what he thinks. One of the most giving person’s I know, he would give you the shirt off his back and offer you his pants too if he thought you needed them worse then he did. He does not comprehend the meaning of the word “no.”

I have watched this senior citizen traverse through many hardships. He has survived major open heart surgery. I’ve watched him struggle to make the bills of his business and still not charge a customer for changing their tire. I’ve watched him in his aging years and still till this day work circles around people three to five times his youth. I’ve watched him work 24 hours a day for several days on end and not complain about his lack of rest.

I’ve watched him in his wisdom take berating from customers and even his own kids all the while knowing that one day they would understand what it was he was trying to accomplish for their own good. Woody is a man of thoughtful consideration and he is gifted in not sweating the small stuff. When his wrecker was struck and totaled on the interstate, he laughed it off being thankful that he was alive and knowing the wrecker was an item that could be replaced.

I endeavor to one day be half the man he is. I hope to lead my life based largely from his example. I hope to be the kind of father to my own two boys he didn’t have to be with me.

Therefore, this Father’s Day I wish to say to Woody, I love you! I respect you! I admire you! You're my hero, my friend, my teacher, and my example.

Happy Father’s Day to my adopted Dad!