Confirmation Class

Here are pictures of the confirmation class. Since they are young, I have included the obligatory 'silly picture.' There are two sets to get all of the children in photographs. They are good kids!

A Really Good Article from the Chicago Tribune

Here is a really good article on separation and cut-off in families and ways to bridge the separation. I commend the article.

One good book not mentioned on the article's 2nd page is:
“Connecting with Our Children: Guiding Principles for Parents in a Troubled World” by Roberta Gilbert, MD outlines Bowen family systems theory and illustrates its applications with an ongoing family example. Roberta Gilbert is faculty at Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and directs a training program for clergy through Center for Human Systems. The book and CD can be ordered through www.hsystems.org.

Links and stories about Mr. Ball

Every member of our church is special and worthy of honor and love in life and death. Last summer Mr. Norman Ball of our church was honored at Casper College in Wyoming by three of his students who have gone on to world renown in American science. All three credit Mr. Ball, their calculus and engineering professor, with inspiring them to higher education.

In the photo above Mr. Ball (2nd from left) is pictured with these former three students.

Celebrating Mr. Ball's life and teaching career, we celebrate all teachers in the church and in the community.

Below is a biography of Mr. Ball and then his students for the academic conference at Casper College in August 2007 where two Nobel Laurets Roy Jay Glauber and Dudley Herschbach spoke.

Norman D. Ball began inspiring students at Casper College in 1945, on the upper floor of Natrona County High School, in the earliest days of the institution. A member of the first faculty, Norman taught mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering. When Casper College moved to its present location, he was the first chairman of the physical science department. As a teacher, he encouraged countless students to go forth from Casper College and achieve their potential. He later moved into administrative positions and served as the dean of records and admissions beginning in 1965. He became Administrative Assistant to President Lloyd Loftin in 1980. He continued to serve the institution and its students until his retirement. He received the Casper College Alumni Association’s Commitment to Excellence Award in 1993. Norman earned his B.S. degree from Baker University and his M.S. from Kansas Sate University. He also did graduate work at University of Colorado, UCLA, University of Wyoming and Wayne State University. After retirement, Norman and his wife, Anna Marie, left the Wyoming winters behind and moved to Pensacola, Florida. Their two children, Stanley and Carole Ann, have joined them in Casper for this return to Caper College.



F. Russell Huson, Ph.D. is a Faculty Emeritus member of Texas A&M University. He was honored as the 1992 Casper College Distinguished Alumnus for his contributions to physics research and education. His research has involved high energy physics experiments and participation in the discovery of two elementary particles.

Charles W. Hord, Ph.D. is a space scientist with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Hord received the Casper College Distinguished Alumnus award in 1988 for excellence in the field of physics and atmospheric research. His expertise is in conducting ultraviolet spectrometer experiments on Earth orbiting satellites, rocket flight and interplanetary spacecraft.

Marlan O. Scully, Ph.D. is a theoretical physicist best known for his work in quantum optics. He currently is a professor at Texas A&M and Princeton Universities. He has coauthored books on lasers and quantum optics and is currently writing a new book on thermodynamics with his son, Robert, geared toward both layman and physicists. Dr. Scully is also working on the remote detection of anthrax. He was honored as Casper College’s 1985 Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Scully continues to bring physics students from around the world to Casper College every other year for a summer physics institute organized by Texas A&M University and Princeton.

On Dr. King's Birthday

Today is the day America celebrates Dr. King's birthday and his legacy. His actual birth-day was last Tuesday, January 15.

I was born in 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee. So, when the sanitation workers struck against the city in February of 1968 I was three and a half years old. My family routine was slightly disrupted when Dad had to drag our round metal garbage cans to the street so supervisors and scabs could remove our trash.

We lived several blocks from Memphis' largest African American neighborhood, Orange Mound. After Dr. King was killed on April 4 there were angry protests and small riots in that neighborhood. In the early morning, dad took us from our home to my grandmother's. Later there was a curfew and National Guard tanks and armored personnel carriers on the streets. I remember describing an APC as a train locomotive with its own tracks.

Memories of Memphis in the 1960s also include segregation in restaurants like KFC, where the black patrons ate on picnic tables in the back. The garbage strike was about dignity and adulthood. The phrase "I am a man" on sanitation workers' signs meant "don't call me a boy." All of this is chronicled far better than I can do here. Here is one such book.

I think we are much better off as Southerners thanks to Dr. King, the striking men who stood up for their adulthood, and others who supported them. Imagine the drag on our economy if blacks could work in fast food restaurants, but not eat in them. Segregation was a real anchor on our culture's race forward.

On your birthday, my hat is off to you, Dr. King, for your Christian non-violent work for positive change in America.

Northminster's leaders in 2008

Here are our leaders (elders) for the coming year. What a great-looking bunch.

Baptism

This Sunday (Jan 20) we will celebrate Jesus' Baptism, baptize a child, and remember our own baptisms.

Many of us Presbyterians were baptized as infants and have no memories of the event. Others in the congregation remember cold water and a fear of drowning (death). Some remember having to trust the minister during the event.

What are your memories of baptism? Have your parents told you about an event that happened when you were an infant? Do you have pictures? Please post a comment below if you have memories, thoughts, ideas, etc.

Blogging has been a little slow

I don't have much to say now, but I'll be back soon with new thoughts and pictures.