Friday Findings

I’m a curious soul – with a wide range of nerdy and geeky interests, ranging from space exploration to theological concepts. I often find interesting items when stumbling about on the internet – and on Friday’s I like to share my findings with you!

Suffering is Not Purposeless

I appreciated this article over at The Gospel Coalition, an excerpt from one of Elisabeth Elliott’s books. The idea that our suffering is not meaningless is a very hard pill to swallow, when we are either currently mired in the black shroud of suffering, or when – by God’s providence – we do not receive even a glimpse of what that purpose is, as far as our “early” understanding goes. However, suffering accomplishes a stripping of any and all crutches apart from our only hope, which is God. Elliott hits home at the heart of it though, with these words: “Suffering is an irreplaceable medium through which I learned an indispensable truth: God is God.” Elisabeth doesn’t mince words in this article, and she has the life experiences to stand by the truth she shares: Suffering Hope

Black History Month: Frederick Douglass

February is Black History Month. I’ve enjoyed several great articles over the past few weeks, highlighting lives of amazing people, but I think this article about Frederick Douglass hit me in my soul more than any others, maybe because music is such an important avenue of expression in my own life. Here’s a sample quote: “Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains.” Whew. This is important stuff that we need to remember and never forget: Slaves Sing Most When They are Most Unhappy

Airbus Beluga

Just. Look. At. This. Plane. I’m super bummed though, that it will not be a passenger plane. Baby Beluga

Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion

Ok, this may only be cool to those of us who live in the Hampton Roads area; but people, they are expanding the dreaded Bridge Tunnel!

For those who do not live around here, our area is surrounded by water (hello, we live on the Right Coast); and so to cross over the water and arrive at the many different peninsulas, there are many bridges and tunnels…and Bridge-Tunnels (a curious mix of both). The most irritating one is the HRBT..because the surrounding area’s growth has, essentially, outgrown the traffic load, resulting in major backups on a frequent basis.

But – help is on the way! A new project has been awarded, and the tunnel will be expanded; slated to be completed in 2025. I found this article fascinating; particularly, the ginormous tunnel boring machine they will use to, well, create the tunnel!: Finally HRBT, Finally!

Iowa Basketball Buzzer Beater

Who doesn’t love a great college basketball game? I definitely do, and even better when the Iowa Hawkeyes are playing, and when the come out on top. Check out this crazy Buzzer Beater against Rutgers – an Away Game on 16-Feb that looked like it was going to slip away. Golly day, the kid that sunk that shot will never, ever forget that swish.