Haikus about Dan Marotta

Banana pudding
Dan should use it as hair gel
He won't look sixteen



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To spell Marotta
Like Climbing Mount Everest
Strenuous training



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Cool Chaco footwear
Dan crosses mighty rivers
Comfy and no slip

Prayer in Iraq

I watched a show last night called "God's Soldier." It was about an Army chaplain in a battalion stationed in a very dangerous part of Northern Iraq. It was the most fascinating thing I have seen in a long time. This is a guy who's full time job, as a soldier, is to counsel, befriend, comfort, and lead in worship soldiers who are patrolling Iraqi towns and villages where insurgents are hiding. He talks to soldiers about their relationships with their wives back home. He talks to them about faith and teaches them from the Bible and services in his tent, and at various military outposts. One of the things he encounters is questions about God and war. One question is, "how does God allow war to happen?" The other big one is, "If I am a Christian, is it OK for me to shoot and kill the enemy?"

The second question is evidently on the minds of many soldiers, which is great comfort to me. It is encouraging to know that American soldiers are trying to follow a moral code for war. The Bible talks about a time for everything, including War. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 :

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heavenC
² A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

The Chaplain used this verse, in a sermon, to encourage Soldiers that, if they are fighting the enemy, it is their duty to fight and to kill. This war is a time like in the verse above. It is a time for war. Overall, the show was incredibly uplifting. This chaplain is leading soldiers in prayer, even as they see their friends killed every day. He seemed like a very Godly man and a blessing to the soldiers around him. Here is my question: Who's call are they following, God's, or Americas, and can we assume they are the same? I think it is very important to differentiate between God and America in situations like this. America is a great nation, but it is not God's nation. America is proud to be a democracy, so it is the people's nation. We must remember that Israel was a theocracy, the nation of God. We cannot act like living in America is the same as living in God's nation. I am very very thankful to have a president who prays, but the truth is that America's direction and leadership does not equal God's direction and leadership.

I hope I don't sound too cynical here. If you hear about this show, "God's Soldier," please check it out. My best guess is that God loves that chaplains are speaking the Word of God to those Americans who have been entrusted with the deadly responsibility of fighting wars. I'm reminded to pray for our soldiers and their hearts as they encounter death, destruction, and hatred in a way I never have. I also now pray for the men and women whose job it is to try and morally and spiritually guide our friends, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters, fighting around the world.

Space Travel

Let's be honest. We've all thought about it. Whether or not you watched the broadcasts from the Apollo missions or were fascinated by sci-movies like Space Camp (A classic film about a group of campers who are accidentally launched into space during a visit to the space shuttle) Everyone has gone to bed dreaming about the elusive sensation of floating in zero gravity. The problem is, unless you are one of the best pilots in the world, have perfect vision, a perfect body, and graduated from Harvard with an engineering degree, you have no chance of ever becoming an astronaut. That was then... This is Now! I present, Virgin Galactic Airways:




Founded by British Billionaire Richard Bransen, Virgin Galactic is the first ever commercial space travel company. All it takes is a dream, some free time, and $200,000. As early as 2009, passengers will enjoy an exciting ride, and about 2 hours of zero-G time in space.

So What...

So What?! Are you kidding me? This is spectacular, a dream come true for those of us who have been dreaming of somersaulting across the cabin with a view of the Earth outside the window. I have compiled a list of things I think would be funny to play with in a zero-gravity environment:

1. a yo yo

2. a 400lb dumbell (i want video of me doing bicep curls with it so I can impress my wife

3. a squeeze bottle of coca-cola, so i can give someone a drink from across the room

4. a frisbee. Think of the distance you could achieve if there was enough room

5. break dancing. Just think of the move you could do in zero-g