15,271 – The number of miles we have driven since
we’ve been in the States.
30 – The number of pounds I’ve gained since we’ve
been in the States.
21 – The number of hotels we’ve stayed in.
16 – The number of states we’ve been in.
10 – The number of homes we’ve slept in.
9 – The number of outlet malls we’ve skipped.
6 – The number of outlet malls we’ve visited.
4 – The number of zoos/animal parks we’ve visited.
By the Numbers
January 25, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Three Things I’ve Noticed While in the US
January 17, 2007 by Leave a Comment
As we have been traveling in the United States, I have noticed a few things:
I have seen long freight trains loaded with UPS trailers and have been surprised at how much freight UPS apparently moves by train. In the late 80’s I was an employee of UPS and was aware of their shipping efforts both on the ground and in the air, but was not aware of their efforts on rail. I assume that FedEx also uses rail, but have yet to see any evidence.
Apparently Curves is challenging Coca Cola as the most widely marketed product in the world. I have been surprised to see a Curves franchise seemingly in every town through which we have passed. Even Rawlins, Wyoming (pop. 8,538) had one.
Finally, I was surprised to see the Archaeological Study Bible for sale at Wal-Mart in Odessa, Texas. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised since I saw 3 copies of Biblical Archaeological Review for sale at Hastings Books in Odessa. Anyway, I got a smile upon seeing the Archaeological Study Bible because, among other reasons, it was my brush with fame. My friend, Todd Bolen of BiblePlaces.com is one of the main photo contributors to this fine study Bible.
These aren’t the only things I’ve noticed, but they are the things that stand out at the moment.
How’s Tourism in Israel?
January 17, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Jerusalem Post headline: Tourism drops 4.5% in ’06. For all those who have recently asked me about tourism in Israel, the short answer is, it’s down. If that isn’t enough information for you, please read the article here.
For those not interested in all the details, here’s the thumbnail: In 2006, 1.8 million foreign tourists entered the country, 4.5% fewer than entered in 2005.
The article doesn’t indicate if that number reflects unique passports, or total entries by foreigners. For example, I entered the country 3 times during the year on the same passport: twice from Jordan and once on a flight from the United States. So, maybe I was counted once, or I might have been counted three times. If the latter, then the number of visitors might be dramatically lower and more disappointing.
The largest number of visitors (494,000) came from the United States, which was followed by France (252,000) and Germany (87,000). The origin of the remaining 967,000 visitors is unclear.
If you think 1.8 million is a lot of tourists, consider that the officially published number of tourists to Czech Republic is 6.3 million people, 3.5 times the number of visitors to Israel.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a soft spot in my heart for Czech Republic: I proposed to Colleen on the Charles Bridge in Prague. But really, a trip to Israel can dramatically change the way you read your Bible. Book a trip and visit the Holy Land!
Foto Friday: Some Cowboys Love Jesus
January 13, 2007 by Leave a Comment
It’s been some years since I have been to a rodeo, and many more since I was a pretty bad bull rider.
One of the things that I noticed this week at the Sandhills Rodeo, was that cowboys seem to display symbols of their faith more than they did when I was rodeoing.
This Christian bull rider is ready to slide up on his rope and call for the gate.
I Must Be Getting Old
While we were showing each other the various discount bargains that caught our attention, it happened: I realized that I am getting old. As Colleen and I were goofing around, suggesting this book and that to each other, I overheard a conversation at the help desk between a customer who was about my age and a 16-17 year old clerk.
Clerk: “May I help you?”
Customer: “Yeah, do you have Mad Magazine?”
Clerk: “Uummm, let me look [in the computer]. Is that the name of it?”
Customer: “Yeah, Mad Magazine.”
Clerk: “Hmmmm. Is that an actual magazine?”
Customer: “Yes, it’s called Mad Magazine.”
Clerk: Surrendering the search in the computer, “Well, if it’s an actual magazine, it would be over there in the magazines.”
If it is possible that a 16-17 year old clerk in a popular bookstore hasn’t ever heard of Mad Magazine, then it’s official: I’m getting old!
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