This Blog -
Moved To:
http://professor-howdy.blogspot.com/

Dear Howdy,

This picture is taken in Chapel
Hill. Are you a professor in
disguise at UNC?

Love,
Lynda
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Dear Lynda,

Yes and you're in my class...

Respectfully,
Dr. Howdy
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"Albert Einstein once said, "I want to know [God's] thoughts; the rest are
details." His words declare a lofty feat, possibly in earnestness,
possibly in arrogance. Yet, it is a quote that can set us thinking.

Humanity's search for God is largely about humanity; what we want, what we
need, what we feel we deserve, what we think God is like. Today, we are
proud of ourselves for searching, for having an inquisitive personality,
and for openness to spirituality. But if the One we search for is the
sovereign God, isn't this line of thought somewhat ridiculous? I wonder
how much of our searching is insignificant details. And I wonder, in
humanity's quest for God, even as we credit ourselves for exploring, how
much is actually God's searching for humanity? What of God's search for
humanity, God's quest for you?

The Scriptures tell us that from the very beginning of time God has
pursued the human heart, calling out "Where are you?" when we have
strayed, "What do you want?" as we stand before Him, and "Whom are you
looking for?" even as we search. In fact, "Where are you?" is the first
question recorded in Scripture (Genesis 3:9). Sensing God's presence
after eating what was forbidden, Adam and Eve hid among the trees. And
God asked, "Where are you?" But if the God we seek and hide from is the
One whose breath brought dust to life, it was not for His sake that He
posed the question—it is you and I who needed to be asked.

C.S. Lewis paints a brilliant scene in The Last Battle of his Narnia
tales. Though many had never seen him, faith in Aslan was common in
Narnia, whereas, men of other lands followed Tash. But growing tired of
contradicting claims and hypocritical followers, the dwarfs declare
defiantly, "The dwarfs are for the dwarfs" rejecting belief in anything
but themselves, refusing to answer to anyone, renouncing everything they
can't see. Later, the Last Battle is over. Aslan has won. The scene has
transformed from a dirty stable into the beautiful Narnia. Yet the dwarfs
sit hunched as if they are still in the stable. When asked to stand up
and admire the sun and the sky, a dwarf replies, "How in the name of all
humbug can I see what ain't there?" (Footnote 1: C.S. Lewis, The Last
Battle. (Collier Books: New York, 1956), 144.)

Perhaps it was this scene Lewis had in mind when he said, "I believe in
Christianity as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it but
because, by it, I see everything else." (Footnote 2: C.S. Lewis, The
Weight of Glory. (Sans Francisco: Harper, 1980), 140.) To cut ourselves
off from God's Word is to blind ourselves from life itself. The intensity
of God's search for humanity and his desire for us to see clearly are
illumined in the questions He puts before us. "Where are you?" asks the
Lord. "Who do you say that I am?" asks Christ. His questions penetrate
all of our hiding spots and pierce the self-deception that blinds us from
seeing God and ourselves in the light of truth. "Do you love me?" He
asks. "Do you want to be made well?"

If today, you stood up, wherever you are, in your place in life, where are
you? Are you hiding? Running? Are you blinded to the truth because it
is not the truth you want to see? Or maybe the words of the hymnist ring
true for your life:

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Brought me to his precious blood. (Footnote 3: John Wyeth, Come Thou Fount
of Every Blessing.)

There is a point in God's search where the next move depends on your
answer. His questions elicit a response. Where are you?

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Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
- Pr 22:15


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October 27, 1904
The first underground and underwater rail system in the world, the
New York City Subway, began operating. Almost 8,000 men participated
in building the 21-mile (33.6 km) route. The project's chief
engineer was William Barclay Parsons.

Building the subway was such a complex and dangerous task that at
least 44 people died in the effort:
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