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Living All of Life in View of the Cross

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Forty-Two

Tomorrow, Dec. 18, 2010, marks the day that I was born forty-two years ago.  Below are some interesting facts about this amazing number.
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In mathematics:
  • It is conjectured to be the scaling factor in the leading order term of the "sixth moment of the Riemann zeta function". In particular, Conrey & Ghosh have conjectured
    {1 \over T}\int_0^T \left| \zeta\left({1 \over 2} + it\right) \right|^6\,dt \sim {42 \over 9!}\prod_p \left\{1-{1\over p}\right\}^4 \left( 1 + {4 \over p} + {1 \over p^2} \right) \log^9 T,
    where the infinite product is over all prime numbers, p.
  • Given 27 same-size cubes whose nominal values progress from 1 to 27, a 3×3×3 magic cube can be constructed such that every row, column, and corridor, and every diagonal passing through the center, comprises 3 cubes whose sum of values is 42.
In science:
In technology:
In literature (esp. Lewis Caroll)
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has 42 illustrations.
  • Rule Forty-two in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ("All persons more than a mile high to leave the court".)
  • Rule 42 of the Code in the preface to The Hunting of the Snark ("No one shall speak to the Man at the Helm.")
  • The Red Queen announces her age as "one hundred and one, five years and a day", which - if the best possible date is assumed for the action of Through the Looking-Glass - gives a total of 37,044 days. With the further (textually unjustified) assumption that both Queens were born on the same day their combined age becomes 74,088 days, which is 42 x 42 x 42. Some commentators have asserted that this is deliberate on Carroll's part.
In music:
In Sports:
In TV and Film:
  • Fox Mulder, one of the main characters in The X-Files lived in Apartment 42 at 2630 Hegal Place, Alexandria, Virginia.
  • 42 is one of The Numbers - 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 - featured in Lost. It is also the number tied to the character "Kwon".
  • 42 is an episode of Doctor Who, set in real time lasting approximately 42 minutes.
  • In an episode of the animated show, Phineas and Ferb called "The Fast & the Phineas", the boys turn their mother's car into a racecar. The number of their racecar is 42.
  • 42 is the name of Buzz Lightyear's space ship from Pixar's animated science fiction series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
  • In "Finding Nemo" the address of the dentist's office is recited many times by Dory, it is P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney
In other areas of life:
  • +42 is the historic Country calling code for the former country of Czechoslovakia
  • There are 42 US gallons in a barrel of oil.
  • The number of spots (or pips, circular patches or pits) on a pair of standard six-sided dice.
  • In New York City, 42nd Street is a main and very popular two-way thoroughfare. Landmarks on it include the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, the main branch of theNew York Public Library, and Times Square. The New York City street is also the setting for a movie by the same name (which also gave fame to its eponymous title song), and which later inspired a musical adaptation, 42nd Street.
  • Popular gadget magazine Stuff did not produce an issue numbered 42, in honor of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, instead, the 41st issue was followed by the 43rd.

Thanks to Wikipedia for some help with the fun facts. Remember, if you read it on the internet, it must be true. 

Surprise 40th B'day Pictures

While today is Kristy's actual 40th birthday, I surprised her during the women's Bible study on Tuesday night with a cake and party. Here are some pics.  Thanks to Lauren and Matt Stephenson for hosting (although I didn't give them an option!). 
 

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Reflections at 41

While enjoying a birthday rest yesterday afternoon, in a state of semi-grogishness I began to reflect on being 41. Here are some of those thoughts. They are not necessarily deep or profound, nor in any particular order... and I'll probably add a few more before the day is out.

  1. I've finally made enough mistakes to have some helpful experience.
  2. Unfortunately, I realize that I have lots of mistakes left in me... so those folks who are 81 are the ones to look to for the most helpful experience. After all, Moses didn't even really get out of the gate until 80.
  3. "Assuming" is almost always a mistake.
  4. I think I know myself better than ever, which is scary. When I was in my 20s, I thought I was kind of okay. Now I have discovered what a mess I really am. 
  5. I'm realizing that I'll never read all of the books that I want to read, nor write all the books that I want to write. So relax, McKay. Go take that nap by the fire.
  6. I think I just might be mortal after all. 
  7. I wish I had prayed more– not ritually or formally, but relationally to God as my Abba, Father... just talking, being real, honest, needy. Why not begin now?
  8. I do not feel old. Tired, yes. But not necessarily "old." Maybe 40 really is the new 30.
  9. Sentimental idealism is slowly being replaced with biblical realism. 
  10. The world (especially my own heart) looks darker and more evil that it used to, but the gospel is looking brighter and more hopeful than it used to as well.
  11. I have come to hate duty bound, legalistic, rule-oriented, petty, ingrown, spirit-less, two-faced, hypocritical religion; mainly because feeling quite comfortable in that context is one of my biggest sins.
  12. I long for a church that "glorifies God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the gospel"... period.
  13. I am thankful for a wife who loves me the way the Bible defines love, not as reward, but as grace.
  14. I am grateful for my children. I believe that they genuinely love Jesus because they know Jesus genuinely loves them.  And though they struggle with their own sin natures, I see the Spirit cultivating a real desire to obey and honor me. I don't deserve it, but they still desire it, and express it in so many thoughtful ways.
  15. Some decisions that I would NOT change if I had the chance: asking Kristy to be my wife, going to seminary to study, becoming a teaching pastor, having our children, and choosing to live and plant a new church in Dahlonega, GA, my "briar patch."
  16. I'd like to cut down on my face-time with my email, and replace that with face-time with my wife and kids.
  17. I don't just want to preach "good sermons," but raw and uncut messages that storm Golgatha, because the cross is our only hope.
  18. I want to be more of an evangelist for the gospel than I am for my Mac. 
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