Gravity

Posted by tmark on November 7, 2013
Posted in: the blog. Tagged: , , , , . 5 Comments

2005_0607Image0054this is not about the movie (I started this post before the movie came out and missed the timing of having a blog go with some recent event) (sort of) (well, let’s see..)

In school you learn about gravity or at least touch on it. Its the force that holds us to the ground and also allows us to fly by some sort of use of wind and resistance and magic. Its like a magnet- (except we are not magnetic?) Then we have centripetal force and centrifugal force that we feel when going around the rotary too fast and it makes you fly off toward the outside and we know the Earth is spinning at 25,000 mph and although we should be flung off into deep space we do not seem to be going anywhere. And the Moon’s gravity effects our tides, but our astronauts had to wear extra heavy boots to keep themselves on the surface of the moon. Not to mention that Superman’s planet of Kripton was supposed to have many times earths gravity and that’s why he was so strong- but he grew up here and was used to our… nevermind, I have no beef with Superman.

Anyways, where were we..

Did you know that gravity is still unexplained.

There are two major theories, Isaac Newtons and Albert Einstien

HowStuffWorks.com has this to say about those theories “Perhaps someday, we’ll know exactly why. But until then, we can be satisfied just knowing that planet Earth won’t go hurdling into the sun anytime soon. Gravity is keeping it safely in orbit.”

Einstiens theory, like Newtons has plenty of flaws. Einstien’s gets into the kind of awesome deep space mumbo jumbo jargon that sounds totally pot inspired. (recreational, not medicinal)

Isaac Newton was an interesting guy and you have probably heard the story of the apple falling on his head, but- the real interesting thing is: why did he call it ‘gravity’.

where did this word come from?

The Bible mentions the word gravity in 2nd Timothy 3 vs.4 “having his children in subjection with all gravity” 

My Pastor has joked that it means ‘children should behave wherever there is gravity…!’ but it means ‘seriousness’ or ‘respect’ as in ‘it is a grave situation’. The King James Version of the bible was completed in 1611 and Mr. Newton lived from 1642 until 1727. So it is possible he saw it there. 

Without being morbid- could he have felt it had to do with fact that we are all headed to the grave…. which is also a ‘downer’ (sorry)

There is some interesting wordplay involved in this whole thing… grave (death), gravity (serious), Sin (which is sometimes described as a burden or weight), heavy (feeling the weight), heave (to throw away mightily) and Heaven (a great place that God wants us all to experience)

However it got its name it is a Law of Nature and not to be messed with. (If you are just joining us- I did have a very bad fall and broke my back and have slowly recovered- thank God) If you break this Law there are consequences. If you respect and keep this law you can accomplish many amazing things, like flying. Without gravity you can not achieve any type of speed and therefore no lift. Without gravity our whole lives would be chaos and we would never have accomplished all we have. Without gravity our bodies would not work right and all of nature would be effected.

It is the one thing that makes everything else possible and it is totally taken for granted and completely misunderstood and you can’t see it or taste it or touch it or smell it but you know its real.

Just like our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ – once your eyes are opened you realize that God is behind all this and spoke all of it into existence just so we could have a free will and choose Him and get to know Him and experience love and forgiveness. And then go on to do great things. But if you break God’s laws there are also consequences. (don’t panic- this life is an open book test) (so open the book)

-next time someone says they don’t believe in God, ask them to explain Gravity.

Romans 1, v20: For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Mind = Blown

Posted by tmark on August 29, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Man is three parts: 1) body (framework, teeth, hair, eyeballs, legs, etc) 2) soul (the part of you that lives on after this life) and 3) spirit (which could be described as personality or disposition but is really more about what you are allowing to influence your behavior)

Alcohol is often referred to as ‘spirits’ because of its influence. We could go on and on about all the different aspects of that – not to mention all the bad breath jokes.

The words; respiration, inspiration and expiration all have the root word for breath which is ‘spir’ or more accurately, spirit.

When God made Man in Genesis Chapter 2 verse 4, He “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul.”

So Genesis begins with this explanation and then along comes Jesus and explains salvation to Nicodemus (John ch. 3) by saying “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh,  and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of he Spirit.”  – Which means – you can’t see the actual wind– you just see the effects.

A tree that is being blown by wind still looks like a tree- but you can tell that it is windy. In other words, the tree shows the existence of the wind.

Wind blowing on a rock still exists, but trees and water and clouds and stuff are just more expressive, although Jesus did say He could make the rocks cry out if He wanted to. (but He would rather hear from you)

When you ask God into your life- to forgive you and help you to start over- as if you were being born all over again – and let Him influence your life – people will see the effects. You might look the same physically – but sometimes people will say- ‘what happened to you, you look different?’

Christianity does not need a cross as its symbol – a changed life  is the symbol –

When God gave the Ten Commandments- He said (commandment #2) No graven images. Of course this meant no idols. The Jews had just come from ‘idol-central’ -Egypt, which had a god for everything and a statue or image or idol to go with it -but this new relationship between the real God and His people would be more direct. But it also meant that there was to be no symbol- no image -no flag or insignia or uniform or tattoo or anything that would stand out as the main focus or identifier or rallying point for His people.

When the other nations saw the children of Israel marching through the desert- they knew exactly who they were- this huge mass of people where the ones that God Himself brought out of Egypt- with no army and no weapons. The symbol was the people whom God loved and was helping.

What did the other nations think? – it must have been very amazing and frightening.

The fifth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is H (pronounced Hey) and  represents the divine breath, revelation and light, which are all part of creation in Genesis chapters 1-3. By adding H as a suffix to a noun allows it to be “fruitful” as in Abram (father) became Abraham (father of many)

Abram had his name changed to Abraham and his wife Sarai’s (princess) name became Sarah (princess of many) as God’s promises were brought to pass in their lives- but there was an obvious visible difference in those names as well. He was still Abram, but now he was under the influence of God’s spirit- Abra-h-am. To someone reading in hebrew this was obvious, but we westerners often miss what we call ‘subtleties’ even when they are clear to others.

The Holy Spirit-

After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He sent us the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit. It came as the sound of a mighty rushing wind in Acts 2 v.2 (probably a total coincidence-right?) and filled the believers and they spoke with others languages that they did not understand as a sign that they had been filled.

Computers speak in Java- and they are able to get updates and other information through it, but most people do not speak or read Java- but just because we don’t understand it- it does not mean it is not necessary or powerful.

In Romans 12 v.2 it says “don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Snapshot_20110108_5

Let Jesus blow your mind.

 

I did, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me, and it’s been 30 years!

 

One year later… Gratitude!

Posted by tmark on July 23, 2013
Posted in: the blog. Tagged: , , . 2 Comments

well, believe it or not, one year ago today- I was in an accident at work and broke my back.

m

that’s titanium, son.

and yet- today I seem fine and you would never know (unless you were a TSA person looking for some concealed…. stuff)

and I do have a huge scar (eleven inches) but at the beach I wear a T-shirt (not because I am afraid of skin cancer or even afraid  showing off my farmers tan… lets just say, I still look good in a T-shirt, even on the beach!)

I recently re-re-re read “When bad things happen to good people” (by Rabbi Kushner) and this time I noticed that he commented on the title…”‘When”- not “Why do”…bad things happen etc. He says it is the “when” that we can learn to cope with and find help with… but the “Why” is something completely different- and it can really become the source of problems-

We have all heard stories of things happening- and even if we try to imagine what it must be like, we never really expect it to happen to us. Imagine my surprise as I was in the ambulance, speeding to the hospital…. wow, I’m in an ambulance! and they came to get me!

more on that later..

I did keep a journal during the first few months home from the  hospital and it’s great to look back at the healing process and progress- I have entries about writing thank you cards to everyone who sent stuff- and there are entries about who visited (lots and lots of visitors!)(and that is just so wonderful and I am so thankful to all of you who came!) and there are entries about pain and stupid pain medicine and fun entries like.. “my wife has realized that I am essentially a toddler….” and “nice ten minute walk and nap”

but one of the best is a quote from a physical therapist who I met at the hospital and had walked me around the sixth floor while I was there- she told me “it won’t  always be like this, you will get better, you will recover”. It was like cold water dope slap when she said it and I really needed to hear it. It can be pretty grim when one lap around the wing is too much and it’s wiping you out and you want to get out of the hospital- but it’s like this reality check of how seriously messed up you are.

it won’t always be like this, you will get better, you will recover. (I wrote it down on page 2 of the journal)(and then I referred to it often… see Pg. 2) I did not have theme music playing throughout the recovery like in a movie- it actually seemed to take forever. I know this is the microwave generation and we want everything quickly- and as I look back, I am amazed at how far I have come, at how cool modern medicine is and how great our God is- and how much He loves to answer prayers. I have said before that I did not have a lot (or any) big miracle stuff- but I have come to understand that the real miracle was that I was not paralyzed. It does not take much to damage your spinal cord, and what had happened to me was catastrophic. Thank you Jesus for watching over me.

When I called my workers compensation guy and told him I wanted to go back to work- he was shocked. They had figured I would have been out for at least one year, and I called him at 8 months.

Lessons Learned:

It is easier to be the one who is hurt than the spouse of the one who is hurt. Spouses have it pretty bad. They go to the doctor with you- hear all the bad stuff- then watch you ignore advice, disobey orders and generally do all the things you are not supposed to- and then have to hear you complain about how you are not getting better!

I am sorry and I hope you are too! we all do it. (just wait until you are older- you are just going to get worse. -you should change your evil ways now)

those little dots are staples..

those little dots are staples..

Back to me in the ambulance, then emergency room, then 4 days in ICU: It is still quite a surprise- this happens to other people… (not me, right?) but, then you realize what it is really like for those other people- and then you can talk to and maybe even help those other people. It helps you join the human race again. Sometimes we can get a little too isolated and not really in touch with our fellow man- we don’t really need help doing stuff and strangely.. that makes you kind of isolated.

We are much better people when we need each other (and God) it forces us to be nice! or friendly and at least sociable- Best of all, when you have been visited in the hospital- you realize how important that is- and then you start doing it! It’s very good for you and the folks you visit and you will not regret doing it. You do not have to provide answers, just visit. Sit and listen and care- it’s wonderful.

Lying in the hospital bed and thinking about all the things you won’t be able to do anymore… is not really that shocking. As people age they have to face those kind of facts all the time- no pity parties allowed.

I did change careers- no more tree work for me. I was able to convince myself that I had nothing to prove! (I still only had one accident after 25 years in the field) I now work with disabled individuals and what I have noticed is that they are unstoppable!

I still have some pain and I am still healing- and honestly I am probably doing more than I should, but it’s great to be alive, working and out helping others. and… hey, it’s only been one year! I am very grateful for the life, family and church I have and I hope my life reflects that.

My journal has a few important prayers, here is a great one to start: Jesus, I don’t want this to be another day that I don’t get closer to You.

thanks again, T Mark

Art Talk

Posted by tmark on May 29, 2013
Posted in: the blog. Leave a comment

Hello and welcome to Art Talk…..

DSCF0002

Branding-      If you are just joining us, I have been in this (selling) art business since 1992 and I have always strived to make my art look a certain way. It’s hard to describe exactly, but I feel that you should be able to tell my stuff from everyone else.

…and not just because this year all the stuff gets these nifty key-chain tags! So really work on having a style or way of making your stuff look recognizable.

 

Inspiration-   People always tell me when they see some welded sculptures, somewhere and want me to go by and see it. Of course I smile and don’t ask any detailed questions, but I will actually avoid seeing other peoples stuff. Because, for me, it is so great to be inspired and make something  that you thought of, or saw within the material you had to work with.

I have heard that whole thing about ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery..’ but you don’t really want to be the guy who is doing the imitation stuff, you want to be real and more importantly, original!   The problem with seeing other artists work is that it cuts down your options. You will go to make something and feel like you are cheating because you saw  how someone else does it and then it ruins it for you- it’s been done. It’s just better not knowing, then you are free to create. Once you have made your stuff, go to the gallerys and you will enjoy yourself. (because you are an artist who made his own stuff and can compare, because your stuff is already made)

 

Standards-  The welded sculptures that I make are metal and actually last a long time. (even without the lifetime warranty) At one gallery I was signing a damage waiver in case of a fire and realized that my stuff would be fine in a fire!

Because it lasts and is supposed to have a certain look, so that you can tell it’s one of mine and it’s original…. it has to be good.

Neil Gaiman gave a great graduation speech called ‘Make Good Art’ and you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI

If you don’t like your work- take it apart or start over or whatever- but don’t put out stuff that doesn’t look right. Fight yourself over what is acceptable- because if you make junk it will haunt you. (and embarrass you)(and it can be avoided) Make Good Art.

 

Money-   When people ask me how much stuff is, I tell them it’s somewhere between priceless and worthless. You might get some money, but it is so much more rewarding to meet the people who love your work. Each year I would be gathering my stuff to go off to some gallery and friends would come over and see the collection and talk about which ones they liked and I would listen….. then (secretly) -not send those pieces to the gallery and give them to those friends on their birthday or christmas. (much, much better than money)

 

Commercialization-   I know this part should be about how to get into a gallery but I want to chit chat about the key chains. I want the idea of supporting the artist to be out there without having to buy the art. So, if you want a key chain, you can just ask for one. Then you can feel hip in supporting the idea of what I do (and look cool with your key chain) There may come a time when I can afford to do t-shirts again.

 

Success-    I will probably measure it in t-shirts sales!

Success is when one person says they like your stuff and you give it to them and they are really happy. It comes with relationship. Your art is better because you know your audience and they know you and its like love.  They want your art because you made it. The quality of art cannot be measured- it’s who did it. Then it just gets better.

God made this world very beautiful for us. I now work selling flowers and they are amazing. It’s very hard to describe how cool it is to buy flowers or plants. It is a very simple thing to do, but it is also wonderful. Then taking them home and planting them or displaying them- knowing that they were here for us- and they were not made or assembled- they grew. Our God is such a show off!

the Need to be Needed

Posted by tmark on May 10, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . 3 Comments

sunset10-6-03Have you ever found yourself inviting an older relative over to some family event and they ask: “should I bring anything?” and you say, ‘no, you don’t have to bring anything- just come over.’ ….

Believe it or not, this might be the wrong thing to say. Our older relatives have had amazing lives, full of sacrifice and labor and they are very skilled at a lot of things- but no one has asked them to do anything for a while. They still have the ability and would love to be asked to rise to an occasion- and then to be told how great they did- again, just like the older times they remember.

Its the Need to be Needed. We all have it.

Raising children is kind of, extremely, one-sided-love for a long time. You have the baby- you hold the baby, change the baby, kiss the baby, photograph the baby, dress the baby, hug the baby, feed the baby, teach the baby how to walk, love the baby- and wait for the baby to say your name- Mama or Dada and then- for the baby to reach for you- for a hug, or when its scared, or sad or tired. And you are glad to be the one who your baby reaches for and you will do anything for this baby.

Then the baby grows up a little an can do things by themself. And you have somehow succeeded- you were training them for this moment- but somehow, now they need you a little less. Of course, you should not think of this in this way, because your job is to make an individual who can accomplish things and be responsible.

Next thing you know, they become ungrateful, selfish teenagers who think you don’t know anything. (remember when you did it!)(we all did) -Hopefully, you got over yourself, apologized and are getting your Mom something nice for Mothers day.

God made man in His image. Some of the things we feel- God feels as well. The Need to be Needed. You need God. (for a variety of reasons- forgiveness, salvation, healing, hope etc) But we were created to be in relationship with God (Ephesians, Ch 1) (and don’t get tripped up in “pre-destination” stuff- it just means that when Jesus made the way- there was room for all who would be born in the future to accept His sacrifice)

so- God needs you. He misses you. He wants to be with you now. Not just in eternity, but in this life. He wants to hear that you still need Him. He can still do amazing stuff- so maybe we need to ask Him. Ask Him for something that only He can do- Tell Him what you need in private so that He can meet your needs and you will know it was God who did it!

God is a show off. He is God. so it’s really ok.

Next time you are talking to an older relative- ask them about how they used to do all that they did- without all the technology that we have today- Don’t let their lives of labor go by un-noticed. And- forced retirement sucks, so you can always ask if they would like to bring something to your event- then they can opt out if they want. 😉

**hot tip** Tell whoever does the cooking- something nice about what they did- sometimes its the only ‘payment’ they get and they will take great care of you, and it will give them a reason to shine- because you will have given them an audience.

this container….

Posted by tmark on May 4, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

spine 12 20 12 ver 2

The body you are inside of … is not actually you.

It is just a container- something to get you around and help you recognize yourself in a photo.

When it breaks, gets sick, gets old, stops working like it used to.. or is disabled for any reason- you are still you on the inside.

This is very important to remember, because ‘life’ happens to all of us. Sometimes we get better and sometimes we have to adjust and adjust some more. Even if you have been taking really good care of ‘yourself’ … you may be facing some adjustments in the future. This container is not meant to last the way that the real you is going to last. 1 Timothy 4:8   ..bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things..

The above photo is the Medtronic Titanium T2-XVBR* and some bars and bolts that were put into my back to replace the vertebrae that was shattered. I can’t feel it or anything and sometimes I can’t believe it’s really there.. except I do have a big scar, where something (apparently) happened. I was asleep, dreaming that I was Darth Vader or at least Darth Vader’s Cape. (?)

I was in some pain and discomfort for a while and I decided to change careers- but I am still me. You have to remember to be the inside you and not let the container bum you out. Because it will. It will be bothering you and it won’t let you do what you used too- and it can get frustrating. You may or may not get better. You may need the sign that says: Pardon our Appearance while we remodel or maybe it will say: Road closed, seek alternate route. Just try not to let it get to you- I was lucky enough to have a relationship with Jesus- who is the manufacturer- and by being able to trust in the reality that I have a soul that will live on- with Jesus- I had perspective and hope.

Don’t wait until your container is out of order to get to know the Maker– He is more concerned with the part of you that is you-  than with the ‘photogenic’ stuff.

*I am pretty sure that is the actual name of the part-

Friday + 3 does not seem to equal Sunday, even with Daylight Savings Time!

Posted by tmark on March 12, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

Easter is coming along with Good Friday, and I would like to help clear something up. This has puzzled me since I was small. If Jesus died on friday and was in the grave for three days, how come He rose on sunday? Not to mention that it was, like, mid-day friday? Ok- include that part too.

2004_0509momsday10007

Was it because of Daylight Savings Time? No. However- could the extra hour of daylight we now have -be the cause of Global Warming? Seems odvious, doesn’t it?

Tom and Ray from NPR had a great idea about DST: Each day you set your clock back in the morning and get an extra hour of sleep- then go to work and at the end of the day- set the clock ahead an hour so you go home earlier!

Brilliant idea- but it does not solve the 3 day thingy. But- there is an answer! The guys at Jesus First put it out for everyone to see:

here is the link:     http://www.jesusfirst.org/free-downloads/articles/timeline.pdf

It has to do with Passover and a week which included two Sabbaths, a high Sabbath and a regular Sabbath. Once you see it you will be so happy. I know I was. So- happy Easter and Passover (technically both words come from the word: Pascha, so they are related) Either way we win- as in- there is no way we qualify for God’s favor and grace- But the price has been paid for us and the way has been made so we can experience God in this life and have eternal life as well. Jesus was the Lamb who made it all possible- now it’s just up to us (as individuals) to ask Him to forgive us- to Believe that He made the way for us and to ask Him make Himself real to us- There really is more to life than what you are experiencing- and when you ask Jesus into your life- it really opens your eyes.

How are you…… ?

Posted by tmark on January 15, 2013
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

I am glad to be alive and walking! I did not realize how badly I had been hurt or how lucky I was that I was not paralyzed!

(as of this post) it has been 25 weeks since I got hurt. Recovering is probably never what you think it will be, but more like an unfolding event full of wait-and-see stuff.

During this time I did read a lot of good, helpful books and face a lot of tricky stuff and of course I look to Jesus to get me through and I have an amazing wife, kids, extended family, church family, great Pastors and an awesome Boss!

Miracles-  …well, not the kind you think. What God does can be different, so He may or may not do big, blinding light-pow-etc stuff, but that’s OK- When you see God moving in all kinds of people- visiting you, praying for you, sending cards, calling you- its is Amazing- and you can plainly see that it is Gods hand- Don’t forget- Gods big concern really is with the part of you that is going to live on- after you die- the container you are in is going to wear out- Just like a car wears out and you go on to another car….except your body “rusts out” and you get dents and then your motor is beyond repair… so- That is why you need salvation- and then you see that sometimes what God does is not a big visual thing- but an inside your heart and mind and soul thing. (which by comparison, is WAY better!)

IMG_0540 - Copy

so, what’s next for T Mark? ……….stay tuned

 


tmark is home recovering-

Posted by tmark on August 8, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

I never thought I would fall and break my back- 

Now, I am home recovering from surgery- check out the hardware! (see photo: ‘Newest Sculpture’) 

Done by the great Neurosurgeon team of Dr. Achilles Papavasiliou and  Dr Paul Houle http://www.capecodhealth.org/physicians/pappa      http://www.capecodhealth.org/physicians/houlp 

Lots of Major Adjusting- but Jesus is greatly helping us.

Probably good 3 -4 Months of recovery ahead, but I am not paralyzed  I have feeling and movement and a strong group of Family and Friends all praying for us and it makes all the difference- in the world.

Super-Special thank you’s to ALL who have visited, sent cards + flowers, prayed for us, done errands. made food and all those who called- Thank God there were so many! We feel like the luckiest people in the world- and we are Very Grateful.

Thanks again to you all, may God bless all of you. Love Mark & Pauline (and our family)

Newest Sculpture

Update: tmark hurts his back…

Posted by tmark on July 29, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: . Leave a comment

on Monday July 23rd I fell 20ft from a tree I was trimming -a surprisingly long fall- I got a mild concussion, a small tear in my lung, a fractured scapula and a burst fracture in my L1 vertebrae. 

the plan is to operate and remove the broken vertebrae and install a piece of titanium to reinforce the area-

then recover successfully and get back to doing what I love… everything!

Special Thanks to everyone who has sent cards and prayers and visited- you have all helped so much- and I am very grateful- may God Bless you all.

 This picture is does not quite show how truly optomistic I feel -but it does show how snowed I feel-  

thank you for all your prayers- they are working wonders-

(and I do have a cool looking brace that I will be wearing for a while) 😉 

By the way in case you did not know, I actually do tree work for a living- since 1988- and this is my first accident!