Poor Neighbors

Somehow, I never noticed that these two proverbs are right next to each other.

"The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
  but the rich has many friends.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
  but blessed is he who is generous to the poor."
- Proverbs 14:20-21

Summer Travel Plans

• June 12-17: We will be in Ely, MN for the MINOS Week in the Woods Collaboration Meeting at Vermilion Community College.  This will be a particularly important meeting as our far detector has recently been restored to working order after a fire.  
• June 24-26: We will be driving to Independence, WI to visit my parents and sister.
• June 30 - July 2: We will be traveling to Arlington, VA to witness the marriage of our friend Cate.
• July 16-18: Yet another wedding! Our maid of honor Kristen will be getting married in Letchworth State Park, which is near Buffalo, NY.  We will be flying there to celebrate with her and hope to visit Niagra Falls and Canada. 

Fighting Slavery

The Blogger outage of May 11 seems to have deleted the original version of this entry, so I have had to re-write it.

The Well has joined the fight against human trafficking, which is the name commonly given to modern day slavery.  This is a horrific organized criminal reality, and we believe God has called us to actively fight against it.  Our contribution to this cause is called Making Waves.

We are raising funds and raising awareness in many ways, including a garage sale this weekend that my wife and I hosted and a plant sale that another church member hosted.  Both were part of the Batavia city-wide garage sale and raised a total of more than $500.  The Well also sponsored and organized and a 5K run/walk on May 14 to raise funds for a community training class on May 21. "The training is for first-line responders (or anyone in a position to serve youth).  The training will equip participants to recognize the signs of human trafficking and will empower them with the proper tools for response."

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

  whose hope is in the LORD his God,

  who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,

  who keeps faith forever; 

  who executes justice for the oppressed,

  who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free; 

  the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; 

  the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the sojourners; 

  he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

  but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin."

- Psalm 146:5-9

Photos of the NOvA Prototype Near Detector

This photo is linked to a album showing the detector and many of the people who helped install it.

Softball Season at Fermilab!

Kelly & I are on the Boomers again, and this year the league has added a fifth team, the Prairie Fire.  The picture above shows Kelly batting during our first game of the season on Thursday.   It along with the other pictures in the album were taken by another teammate.

National Day of Prayer: My Prayer for Education

This was the prayer I gave at the 2011 National Day of Prayer gathering at Fermilab.


Lord and Father,

You are the Creator of education and teaching, and we thank you for the opportunities to teach and learn with which we have been blessed.  We come to you with petitions for this vastly influential institution.

We confess that we have all at times be timid in sharing your gospel with our colleagues, students, and teachers.  We ask your forgiveness.

For the teachers, administrators, and students in our schools, colleges, and universities who do follow Jesus, we offer our deep thanks.  For them we ask that they will always seek your understanding, insight, and knowledge above all.  We ask that they will have courage to speak your gospel with truth, love, and patience.  We ask that they will accept the truth even when it forces them to admit error or overturn their previous understanding.

We ask that you will continue to protect the freedom of your people to gather in your name in places of learning.  We ask that those who do not yet believe will se your light shining in their peers and be cultivated to receive your word.  We ask that all educators will use their influence well.

Your will be done.

In Christ's name, amen.

Starting a Fire with a Piece of Plastic...

...and the sun.

The piece of plastic is a fresnel magnifying sheet.