Carpenters in India

The industrial revolution accomplished advantages for carpenters in most areas of the world. But there are some places where the work is done in amazing simple ways. Look at the carpenters on this project milling logs into boards for a roof framing project. First a load of logs was dropped into the shade and then in about 3 days these men without any electricity carved out fairly straight boards. First a paste line, same principle as a chalk line, is used to establish two lines which become the planed surfaces through much wielding of the axe. The axes or ads were sharpened by hand on a wheel nearby.

When the boards were complete trusses were built and erected onto the block walls in the same manner that and crew of western carpenters would frame a roof.

 

 

 

 

The first time I saw a construction worker in bare feet, I was both shocked and ashamed. I have been a carpenter for most of my adult life so I am familiar with hard work, but I have never had to work in bare feet. Actually my first winter of carpentry labor in 1972 was one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record in Utah and all I had was some cheap cowboy boots for work. My feet froze! I was quick to learn the essentials of proper clothes for working outside.

India; first impressions

Every American should visit India. The cultural contrast is so powerful that it is life transforming. No one can go to India and come back home the same.

I don’t think there are any atheists in India. The whole culture embraces spirituality, divinity and the existence of gods. There would never be an attempt to amputate the spiritual aspect of life out of personal life or social or political life. So westerners may be shocked, amazed or intrigued by this cultural contrast.

Also there may be a cultural time warp when entering India. The area I visited was southern India, Tamil Nadu. I felt I had entered the pages of the Bible stories, of Abraham and Sarah and their flocks of animals, of women carrying water from the well, of bare feet and open sewers. When I thought on the story of Jesus washing the feet of his friends, I understood the context better. I understood why in most ancient cultures removing shoes when coming into the house is crucial for cleanliness.

When Americans or people of other wealthy countries meet real poverty face to face it must sow the seeds of change. We see people that walk everywhere, and yet are content. For thousands of years humanity walked, and as they walked they prayed, sang a song or talked. I saw school kids who had dirt floors and no running water in their houses, but yet their loving mothers made sure they had clean uniforms and aromatic flowers for their beautiful hair. This must force me to examine my American obsessions.

 

See more photos in gallery listed to right>>>>>>>>>

Snow boarders, love m or hate m !

Boarders, love m or hate m! Most people feel pretty strong about it. I don’t mind em as long as I can get to the powder first.

Alta still does not allow them and Brighton was cold to them at first. The snow board controversy was and maybe still is based on the ability to mix the two groups, skiers/boarders when there are differences in the way they use the mountain. Boarders do make a mess of a slope with all that traversing. Sometimes boarders get a bad rep just because of the antics of that age group. But then when I was in high school we were just the same. So generally I really like em.

I was working at Solitude Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon Utah on the Powderhorn lift the first time I saw a snow board. I think they were the swallow tail or split tail or something. The riders wore little tiny skis to load the lift and put their board on after unloading. But the next year they adjusted the rule and were loading with board only. This would have been about 1979-80.

I was working at the Millicent Chalet (Speedos) around 1985-86 and one snowy Saturday 4 young men wanted to hike the hill and board. They weren’t allowed on the lifts but they wanted to board in the safety of the resort. The patrol had to tell them to leave, insurance you know. Well about 4 pm those same boys were caught in an avalanche behind the cabins towards the Gaurdsman pass area. I think 2 of them died. It was a very sad day. The next year Brighton was open to boarders. I quickly made friends with them and these are some pics from that era.

Lift crew, forgot the name

Boarder Bob, (Bob Barton) Brighton’s first snow board instructor.

Great Western area

Jeff Davis

Jeff Davis was something of a celebrity boarder then.

Have no idea where he is now.

Ski Brighton Utah

Photos from the years I worked at Brighton. My ski buddies were ski patrol but I worked in the kitchen. Most of these are taken in the Millicent Bowl.

Patric, Buster n Cody, era 1988

Patrol gets 1st powder shots!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Josh n Tim, a keg of what?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ahh Kurt, sweet!

Hike; Red Pine Lake

Upper Red Pine lake is one of the most incredible hikes in the Wasatch Mountains! And the fishin is- well actually I should keep it secret. The hike starts in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the White Pine trail head (restrooms here). Hike about 1 mile on the old jeep road until the trails fork, all is clearly marked. Cross the stream at the bridge and continue into the Lone Peak Wilderness area. The trail is moderate for another mile and then gets steeper the last mile before lower Red Pine lake. When you first see lower Red Pine lake you can take my favorite alternate short cut by veering left 45 degrees and following the natural drainage towards the upper lake. If you do not know where it is you should stay to the main trail. You will have to scramble through the boulder field after going along the east side of the first lake. The total hike is 3.5 miles each way and takes me 2 hours. Be sure to take flash light and water. I often end up descending as it is getting dark.

 

 

 

Change is coming to Japan

Change is inevitable for this island country, which has a history of isolation, of taking just what it wants from the outside world. But this time it cannot avoid the change that is coming. For many centuries foreigners were rarely allowed into Japan. The Japanese were very independent and unique even among other Asian countries. They opened their doors to trade for a while with the west and the Jesuit missionaries came along. The missionaries actually had great success until the ruling Japanese nobles started to feel a loss of control, like change too rapidly. So they exterminated the Christians. Literally thousands lost their lives. The doors to trade were again closed until 1800’s when the Americans and British “persuaded” them to re-open. Today it would be very difficult for the Japanese to return to isolation.  Their economy is tied to the rest of the world. Today, “no man is an island”, especially Japan. However Japanese opinion seems torn between wanting out of their shell of isolation embracing a brave new world, and trying to return to the good old days where people were under the control of social expectations.

But if I were Japanese looking at the changes so rapidly happening in my country I would close the doors as fast as possible to western influence. The young people once so courteous are becoming rebellious, arrogant, brats, (welcome to the US). Western music, movies and sports, are everywhere. They are attracted to our western freedom, but what they are catching is our insanity.

In traditional Japanese society individuals find life direction more on a closed system without interference from God. Their values are based on allegiance to their society, work and family. It is a system that has worked for them for centuries. The idea of the individual asserting his individuality has been looked down upon, the needs of the society were traditionally more important. In Japan they have a saying regarding individuality, “The nail that sticks up must be hit down.” Sometimes I think they have a self imposed wall like communism around them, and I’m standing outside the wall with a note tied to a rock that says “you’re free!” Should I throw the rock in? Is it what they are looking for? Is my so-called “freedom” any better than theirs?

Many of us in the west do not appreciate the freedom and self-respect that was given to us as a Bible heritage. Where ever the Bible has a strong influence, it has taught that mans first allegiance is to God, and second to people. That is why we only bow to God, if we bow at all, and we greet people as equals. This has some great benefits; we are all equal before one higher being, we are free to be all that God has created us to be, no man can stand in judgment of me if God has accepted me. You can see how this principal has permeated our thinking. However on the negative side of this freedom coin is that if God is taken out of the picture, or distorted, then I become a slave to my self-imposed ideas. Instead of respecting God first and loving my neighbor as my equal, I just serve myself.  The true freedom the Creator designed us for is this; knowing our place before God, we respect our neighbor as our self.  I believe that the Japanese heart is hungry for some of this godly freedom, without the western insanity.

In some previous generations it was profitable and popular to package western technology and culture along with the gospel. People in developing countries could see the lack in their society and were anxious to advance. But the great danger of packaging our culture along with God’s message is that it is a perversion of the truth. It becomes “our” gospel, rather than God’s truth. There is inevitably a negative reaction to a cultural gospel, in spite of some success, because the remainder of the people recognizes the cultural ties and rejects the foreign culture. Many, many people in Japan will not consider a foreign religion because they consider it a betrayal of family heritage. And they really cannot be blamed for this. It is true that Jesus calls us all to go beyond our family heritage into his heritage, but it also true that Jesus is not American more than Japanese. And coming into Christ’s heritage does not mean switching from Japanese to American. We must be very clear on what we present– that it is the truth.

On my trip to Japan I was honored to visit a junior high school with our pastor. In an art display there was a picture, an etching of superb quality. It was of a person all bound up like with ropes, a very dark image, with the English caption “TO REACH OUT FOR ETERNITY”.  I saw that “God has put eternity into the heart”, (Ecclesiastes 3:11), of one Japanese young person, and that there is a true spiritual need there. I was able to meet this young artist and she gave me the etching to bring home.

East/west culture icons