Unwelcome News

I received some unwelcome news this afternoon. In January my senior pastor agreed to introduce me the the Board of Ordained Ministry in lieu of my actual mentor. My mentor is teaching class on Wednesdays and will not be able to attend. I go in front of the board *not* a 22 year old, unattached male. I am older, female and come with a husband and 2 children. This is a strike against me in my conference. Now I will not have anyone to go with me to this meeting -- an occurance that happens in about one of ten candidates. The mentor is to introduce the candidate, to speak on their strengths and weaknesses and to act as the candidate's advocate. Now I will be going alone. I will be OK, however I am more than just irritated. P (my senior pastor) is a good friend, but.... he did not put an important meeting in his calendar. This other meeting involves the Bishop and several District Superintendants. The Board of Ordained Ministry will only meet this one time this Spring. I cannot reschedule -- it's not in my hands. I cannot tell you how irritated I am. My future scholarships depend on this meeting going well.

Now for the tape in the back of my head -- you know the tape.
The one that has been programmed by you past experiences, your relationships with your parents, your early childhood experiences. You think you have erased the tapes and reprogrammed, but sometimes the old music bleeds through. I cannot help but think that P choose the other meeting because it will further his career more that the meeting that means so much to me. He is the chair of this committee for the Bishop -- he would lose much "face" if he cancels or reschedules. And true, the logistics would be overwhelming. I am angry that he did not check his calendar and that he lacks those organizational skills. But (and remember, this comes from my programming from childhood) what should you expect from men? They make promises and then fall through. They choose their own advancement over personal relationships. They abandon you. What do you expect? You always had to find your own way, without help, why should this be different? Now don't those statements speak a world about me? Ha!

Questions, Questions

Michael at Blogin Idiot
1. What would be your dream job?
2. What is your definition of faith?
3. What are the events in your life that have defined you?
4. Who is the person in your life you have always wanted to impress?
5. Why?

Kathryn at Good in Parts
1. Why only good in parts? What parts?
2. What is your favorite part of worship?
3. What is the hard part for you about being a woman in ministry?
4. Tell us about your kids, in general or in specific.
5. Dogs or cats?

e.s. at The Examined Life
1. How would you describe your faith walk?
2. What do you fear?
3. What do you feel is the heart of a teacher?
4. What is your favorite book of all time?
5. What gives you joy?

Blogger would not take my URL's above. I wonder sometimes how much traffice the site really gets. There are times that the service seems really spotty. Of course, it's worth every penny I pay for it. =o)

I am contemplating (not for the first time) about general busy-ness. (Did you every notice how close the word "busy-ness" and business are? Interesting.)

What does it say about my image of God that I cram all I can into life? What does it say about humans in general? What does is say about the relationship between humans and God that we cannot abide sitting still? Since my dear husband hurt his back, my plate has overflowed. An admission -- my Christmas nativities are still out. I tend to leave them out until way after Christmas -- after Ephipany and until Lent. Well, it has been Lent for a few weeks now (2 and a half). They are still out because I have not had time to pack them. I could whine about the Laundry and the Dishes and the Mopping and the Bathrooms and the Vacuuming and the.... (fill in the blank) but verily, verily I saith unto thee, the housework will always be with you. I can whine about the sheer amount of paper that I have due in the next few weeks, about the 3 sermons that I haven't begun to write, the ordination papers, the worship dramas, the exegesis papers. That too, is a given. I could whine about the things that need to be repaired -- my bumper is hanging off my car, missing hubcap, new scrape down the side of the other car, broken glass in my stained glass front door, burnt out light bulbs, broken doorknob, broken house keys. I could complain about the bills and taxes and other general paperwork for our finances that needs to be done (I received a new statement on how much I owe on student loans -- OUCH).

But the biggie -- what I have "given up" is my quiet time. I know that is not the trendy phrase -- people not talk about it in different terms, however I like the term "quiet time." It's when my soul is stilled and comforted and the voices that compete for my time become quiet. I am not centered right now -- there is no balance in my life. Hmmm... I am going to dwell in that right now and try to become centered -- I am going to go back to those spiritual disciplines that have sustained me in the past. I am not going to dwell in the fact that there is so much "work" that needs be done and try to dwell for a moment in not "work" time, but "God" time. How easy it is for us to slip out of that discipline! (Man, will *that* preach, or what?!)

Thought for the day -- we all have been given grace. It is a gift from God that cannot be earned or deserved. However, there is a grace that can be found from discipline. Daily disciplines -- prayer, study of the scripture, fasting, acts of piety and mercy, worship, fellowship, communion of the saints, Lord's supper -- John Wesley saw each and every one of these as means of grace. Disciples help us become grace-filled people. How can I become a means of God's grace, if I do not dwell in that grace myself?

So excuse me now, I have an appointment with grace.

Stayed out too Late

last night. Went to play downtown, took an hour and a half to get home. Saw a group of college students in full formal wear carrying sculling oars down Peachtree at Midnight. Along with old men in plaid tuxedos, intermingled with the poets and prostitutes. Big crowds outside all the clubs -- even the burrito places. Play was not superior -- bad staging, predictiable archetypes, over acting for the younger couple in play. Not worth $25 a ticket (not that I paid that, mind you.)

Haven't written a pastoral prayer, my drama this morning has not been rehearsed. Overslept, and what am I doing? Checking email and blogging.

=o)

And now...

for something completely different --
My husband and I have never really had to buy furniture. Most of what we have, we inherited. Cast offs from friends and family -- some of it Salvation Army Rejects (it's really bad when the Salvation Army won't pick it up.) Anyway, we got a Lazy-Boy recliner when we got married -- 18 years ago. My husband's grandmother said it was "brand new" -- we found the tag on the bottom dated 1970. Well the old recliner is really getting worn out from daily use (when she was little Entropy thought we were saying "Lazy Butt" chair, heh.) I need to go find/purchase a new chair. Too much looking at HGTV has caused me now to reflect "well, what kind and color?" Probably a really shallow question, but why not take a little time and energy to pick a good one -- knowing my husband and his tendencies, we'll have it for 30 years.

So what color and style? My living room has light gold walls (the color was called "Cookie Dough"), white trim, lots and lots of books, a Wedgewood Blue Oriental (for wedding presents, I got two of them from two different people -- and no blenders (which was the gift of the year)), two "Martha Washington" chairs in a Burgundy/Rose (that really don't match anything (but were bought off the set of "I'll Fly Away" staring Sam Waterston)), a Martha Washington in Blue/Green Tapestry, a Navy Leather couch, various small tables in a variety of styles (Queen Anne, Chippendale ripoffs, two real Stickley Mission tables, 2 medal case turned table -- one filled with rocks, one filled with feathers), a Duncan Fyfe 1940's copy buffet, which has antique radio, telephone turned lamp and Apothacary's case with stuff in it), lots of framed things on the walls. It's a really "busy" room, so I was thinking a solid color. But what color? the current chair is brown. Fits in well, but boring. So it should be either Navy, Wedgewood blue, burgundy or gold. I'm stuck. I'd post a picture, but the room is really, really messy right now.

I really like this, but will it be comfortable as the old chair -- lots of hard wood on this baby. But it would fit in well. Especially with navy leather.

In navy leather, this would exactly match my leather sofa -- and it comes with the "airspa" features -- heat and massage (mmmm...yeah), but the style is boring. And that much blue leather would be .... boring.

And I really like this one. The style is really nice. I love the club-chair look and this one looks like it would last 30 year. Hmmm... decisions, decisions. The final choice is to fetch the antique Morris Chair out of storage and spend the money and have it restored. But I don't know what it really looks like under all the upholstery.

The Interview Me Game

Interview Me!

This is a blog game. I found it on Fish's site.
Here's how it works:

I answer the questions from my 'interview' here. Fish gave me the questions. Then if you want to play you do this:

1. The first five commenters to type INTERVIEW ME in the comments.

2. I will respond by asking you five questions (not the same as you see here).

3. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

OK.. Here are the answers and questions from My Interview.

1.What is one of your most irrational phobias/fears? How did you know? I have three that I get teased about all the time by the family. First, I am scared of alligators. When we were on Sapelo Island, staying in the RJR mansion, we got the “Carter Room.” Really nice, full sized French Doors all around, billowing curtains in the wind, went straight out to the lawn. Wonderful. Except first there was no central air conditioning and it was hot. So the doors were always open. Second there is a nice big pond with lots of alligators just a few (hundred!) feet away. I didn’t sleep. Any. At all. I was too afraid of the alligators creeping into the house.
Then there is the “burning the house down with the curling iron” problem. Almost every day, I call home after I leave to make sure that I unplugged the curling iron. I always have, I just worry. And the new curling iron shuts itself off automatically. If we go somewhere as a family, either my husband will pack it in the car, or he will go make sure that it is unplugged right before we leave.
Then there is the “did you lock the doors?” thing. Every night, I check all the doors, just in case. I check a few times in the day, as well. This one is not as irrational, as my family tends to never close the door much less lock it. And the stupid doors don’t fit right, so they blow open with very little wind. So this is not as irrational, just compulsive.

2.How do you spend your 'you' time that you get- no work, no worries, just time for you, or if you don't feel you get 'you' time, how would you spend it if you did ideally? I spend time everyday thinking. Sounds lame, huh? But I need my thinking time. The days that the kids are at school/camp/whatever and my husband at work, I spend time snoozing in bed or in the recliner thinking. I then set down my thoughts on paper or on the computer. I love to spend time just as I get up out of bed thinking. I also will paint watercolors and design stained glass or embroideries.

3. Would you ever Bungee jump? Most definitely.

4.If you could spend an afternoon with someone from your past who would it be and how would you spend the afternoon? Probably my parents. General visitin’ and catching up. Also my minister from when I was in college. I would also make my mother look at all the boxes and boxes of unlabeled family photographs and tell me who they are. I would also talk about love and forgiveness and grace with them. I would really like to tell them that I love them, one more time.

5. Are politics important to you and if so in what way do they incorporate into your day to day life and work? The general answer is “no, of course not” and then I end up arguing about social justice all afternoon….. So yes, they are, but no, they aren’t. I look at individuals, not parties. I look at issues and not platforms. Civil liberties and not social programs. I am very concerned with civil liberties and that is probably why I test out as a “Liberatarian” on all these silly online quizzes (that I am addicted to.) For instance, I think that we have the right to bear arms – it is one of my civil liberties that I believe is important (with the proper registrations). This stance would tend to place me as a “conservative.” However, some of my beliefs would place me in the “liberal” camp. I have a finely tuned opinion about abortion – that in the first trimester, a woman should have the right to abort if 1) it is not being used as a birth control method 2) the fetus is a result of incest or rape 3) the fetus will place the mother at severe risk of disease or death 4) other circumstances that will be considered on an individual basis. However, I cannot support an abortion after the first trimester. This position is considered “liberal” by most of my conservative friends. I tend to look at legislation and judge if they are showing justice and if they are ethical rather than if “my party” supports them. I believe that the divisiveness of our two party system is tearing America to bits. The latest political windmill I am tilting is the “marriage amendment” that the GA legislature passed through the voters of GA. Another rant, another time.

Looking for Peace

Something Big and Horrible has happened in our small community. Really Big and extremely Horrible. A member of the church has broken into the home of another (ex)member of the church, less than a block from the church building. Lots of high emotion, lots of hurt and pain. People lashing out and hurting other people – emails sent, gossip circles are going, phone-lines busy. People pushed to the limits, people arrested. However, this is all happening just under the surface – most of the people in the congregation are not and will not be aware of all this.

It all started a long time ago, with one man’s addiction to gambling – or even before that. One sin leading to another, a man embezzling his own children’s college fund, a man leaving his wife. A wife turning to another (married) man for comfort. Car accidents, death, cancer. People becoming embittered. Unfounded accusations, betrayals, anger. This last chapter is just a continuation of the story. Reconciliations have been attempted, but failed. Attempts to fill gaps with words have failed. People hanging onto hurt feelings instead of reaching out to each other. People striking out with violence instead of healing. In their very actions and word, destroying the integrity and dignity of the Body of Christ. Violence occurs when words fail – or when we deny the power of the Word. I long for reconciliation.

In the Greek, the work reconciliation mean to change places with the other, so much so that you will walk in their shoes, you will laugh their laughter, weep their tears, hold their dreams and feel their joy. But the cost of reconciliation is great. The story moves from hope to despair and back again.

Yes, violence is failed words. When words fail to bring reconciliation, when words and dialogue fail, violence is inevitable. And we pick up stones to throw at one another. We have to look forward to the resurrection that will come after the crucifixion. The day of resurrection will come and the heavy stones will be rolled away.

Looking for a piece of Peace today.

note: I now wish I could be more anonymous -- I have to obfuscate the names and actions of the people, in order to protect myself and the innocent.

Book 123 meme

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the 'coolest' book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

Could Miss Manners resolve a problem for a confused foriegner?
Without these concepts, however, you may find that your database applications neither meet your current needs nor adapt to meet any changing needs.
"A tall, thin chap around forty," Mason said.

(I reached around a three different books fell in my lap, hence three sentences. Wanna guess what they were?)

The ten things games
These are my ten things I've done that you may not have done:
(but maybe)

1. Belonged to the Civil Air Patrol and was training to fly Search and Rescue -- but had a baby instead.
2. Shook hands with President Carter and less than a week saw President Bush and the Centennial of Flight at Kitty Hawk last December (oh, yea and John Travolta -- Bush and Carter seemed more intelligent (probably a good thing)).
3. Had an office with a seismometer in the corner mounted on a pier that went straight to bedrock.
4. Glued (with superglue) a student's sneakers to the floor in my math class when he continued going to sleep. Funny. Heh heh heh.
5. Oh yeah, and the office was within 20 feet of an Apollo capsule, 3 spacesuits, a giant preying mantis model, a complete weather station, a planetarium and a very complete butterfly collection.
6. Drove over 100 mph on the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain after drinking several Hurricanes. (Young and foolish).
7. Had season tickets to theatre since I was around 8 years of age.
8. Could have been a deb.
9. Rubbed Desmond Tutu's head. (Ok, it was a statue -- but my friend who made it rubbed Bishop Tutu's head.)
10. Dated 3 of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1980's. (Once each. Big deal! I wasn't "blonde" enough.)

How about you?

BTW, this is an example of a non-spiritual discipline blog entry. Just in case you were confused.

Praying Mantis -- Blogging as a Spiritual Discipline

Praying Mantis writes on "The Spiritual Discipline of Blogging"

1. Pray for Insight on God and his people
2. Share insight with others
3. Read God's word and see what he is speaking to your heart
4. Share insight on the word with others
5. Pray for others based on what you are reading in their blog
6. Encourage others on other blogs
7. Be honest about needing prayer on your blog when appropriate
8. Dare to move beyond the blog - invite others you have met (when safe) to come minister with you
9. Share financially with others when you see needs on blogs
10. Blog as if unto God.

Beautiful! Journaling has long been a spiritual activity -- Blogging fits a different need/purpose, yet similar. More interactive. It can be an intentional habit in your prayer life or in your spiritual formation, it can aid with the interpretation of scripture, but unlike journaling, blogging is done in community. As a Methodist, I would even hazard saying it is a form of Christian conferencing. They are not private -- intentional vulnerablity can be exploited -- by both the reader and writer. They tend to be more ego based than journals (not necessarily a bad thing) -- personal journals tend to focus more on the acts of God in our lives. But they also can be a sort of accountability group -- and a way to check out the "is this crazy or what?" types of questions. They really do help chronicle a life lived in faith in a new and different way. I'm going to think about this more...
Peace.

We are watching the movie "Luther" tonight

And as a fund raising activity, I thought about selling indulgences -- what do you think?

May our Lord Jesus Christ
have pity on thee, ___________________________ and absolve thee by the merits of his most holy passion! And I, in virtue of the apostolical power that has been confided to me, absolve thee from all ecclesiastical censures, judgments, and penalties which thou mayst have incurred; moreover, from all excesses, sins, and crimes that thou mayst have committed, however great and enormous they may be, and from whatsoever cause, were they even reserved for our most holy father the pope and for the apostolic see. I blot out all the stains of inability and all marks of infamy that thou mayst have drawn upon thyself on this occasion. I remit the penalties that thou shouldst have endured in purgatory. I restore thee anew to participation in the sacraments of the Church. I incorporate thee afresh in the communion of saints, and re-establish thee in the purity and innocence which thou hadst at thy baptism. So that in the hour of death, the gate by which sinners enter the place of torments and punishment shall be closed against thee, and, on the contrary, the gate leading to the paradise of joy shall be open. And if thou shouldst not die for long years, this grace will remain unalterable until thy last hour shall arrive.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

Personally, I had never really read one before. I have some major theological issues with this. I am goint to print this out, along with the 95 theses and see if I can spark a discussion. It's interesting to read this, as I exegete Joel 2.

I also had a personal encounter with repentance. Of course, it was not in casual conversation, but with my spiritual director. I have been seeing a spiritual director once a week for 8 years now. It is a priestly function that is not being done in the modern church, esp. in the protestant ones. It is priestly, prophetic and thereputic. I am wondering if true repentance is more akin to a psychotic break than a casual "I'm sorry." If you leave preconceived notions home when you read Paul's conversion, it really does sound more like a psycotic break. A total turn-around (shoob in the Hebrew).

an aside -- I had to go pick up Chaos this morning. She really did have a fever this time. Sigh.

How are these threads connected? I need to absolve myself from the guilt of being a bad mother. I need to absolve my parents from being bad parents. I need to forgive my father. Not that I haven't done it in the past -- all of us leave things behind and then pick them up again. Every time I let go, though, it becomes a more deliberate and intentional thing. I have my repentance scene, my conversion experience -- my life is turned around, life goes better and life is in balance. Then the world, my ego, the unexpected occurs and whamo! I'm out of balance and the old crap comes up again. I pick up the old burdens again, until I remember.

I remember the indulgances -- the absolution -- is available. My life can and will be turned around. I can forgive. I forgive myself. I forgive my parents. He forgives me. Absolution, forgiveness can't be purchased. It is a free gift -- one I need to take with my open, empty hands. It is one that I need to acknowledge everyday. Daily I crucify Christ and daily He rises from Death.

Prayer for Today

My prayer for today is to understand 11 year old girls. You would think it wouldn't be too hard -- after all I was an 11 year old girl at one time.

Chaos is having a hard time at school. Her teacher this year is a young man without much understanding of 11 year old girls, either. I wonder if he is having a hard time with discipline, as well. Chaos comes home half the time in tears, half the time angry. She didn't want to go to school today -- and I have decided that the stomach aches and headaches are not faked, but real -- as a result of stress. She's a straight A student, perfect conduct grades, member of the Beta Club, etc. but not coping well with her peers. And the teacher made the comment to me "I just don't know what to do about the mean girls in this class." This seems to be a systemic problem.

She is quiet, sensitive and an introvert. She is not likely to speak up for herself. (never really been my problem...easy for me to feel compassionate, but not easy to understand.)

I have contacted the counselors at the school and gently suggested that the teacher and the class needs some lessons on compassion and manners. I know that once they become defensive, it is hard for the lines of communication to remain open.
I have volunteered in the classroom quite a bit and know that her teacher is not the most organized person I have ever met -- nor the most understanding.

Everything in me right now is crying out for me to quit school and stay at home and home-school. However, as an educator, I realize that what Chaos need to learn cannot be found at home, but in a group of her peers -- she needs social skills, especially coping skills.

What to do.

I'm Not Scary

You Are Not Scary

Everyone loves you. Isn't that sweet?

How scary are you?

Long Day

Long Day today. Classes, meetings, more meetings, more classes. Met with my ordination advisor today and discussed possible questions that can come up during the interview. Met with delegates from the West Virginia conference and let them talk to me about moving to rural West Virginia (interesting thought...) Met with the Dean of Students about a new publication to express the student voice. Our student newsletter/newspaper, which has been in continual publication for maybe 60 years until it went out of publication 18 months ago. I have been trying to re-incarnate it as an electronic, online daily. Lots of meetings, lots of words. Sigh.

So I took some online quizes thanks to Rev. Mike:

Your Brain is 73.33% Female, 26.67% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

My Inner Hero - Paladin!



I strive to help others, and to bring truth and harmony to the world however I can. Whether times are good or bad, you can always count on me. I'm a shoulder to cry on, a champion for the helpless, and an all around nice person.

How about you? Click here to find your own inner hero.

Even more misc

Just found out I have been invited to a "big event" at one of my friend's church this next Sunday (convenient for us ministerial types.) Emily and Don Saliers are "practicing" the stuff they are doing at the National Cathedral in May. Everyone who is anyone in the "theological community" is participating -- I was asked to go by the former HeadDude of the something something Reformed Church (who is married to a Really Big Biblical Scholar). BBT, Tom Long, Luke Timothy -- lots and lots of people are participating or endorsing or invited. And the theatre community is participating as well (lots and lots of friends will be there.) And I can't get out of worship this Sunday. Aarrgghh.

Back to the papers. Times Roman, 12 point font, one inch margins, double spaced. I am almost finished with the one for the Board of Ordained Ministry. If anyone would like to proof it for me, please email me at candlemb@bellsouth.net. I would appreciate it. Especially those of you who read these types of papers as a matter of course.

Now for the drama, the paper about what I have learned about breathing in my breathing class and I don't remember what else. Oh boy. Joy, joy, oy.

also, I have determined I am a Centrist, politically. No, really. Check this. Somehow my results make me feel...lukewarm. Spew-able. (Rev 3:16).

misc

I have been practicing Task Avoidance. In fact, I just ran the words "Task Avoidance" through my anagram generator and discovered that it anagrams to "A Vacation Desk." Interesting.

Anyway, task avoidance. I found out yesterday that the ordination papers I thought were due on March 19th are actually due March 9th. Oh dear. (Actually the reaction was "AACCKK!!") I have so much to do and so little time to do it in. Papers for class tomorrow, a sermon due the day after my ordination papers are due that counts for 25% of my grade (an it's an eschatological, end of the world passage from Joel -- not something I would have chosen for myself (in fact, the instructor had us write down the 5 passages we were the most uncomfortable preaching and chose two for us to preach (ack!))). Anyway, one paper tomorrow, one paper before break, a workshop in Blue Ridge with Fred Craddock on the 6th, ordination papers, an interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry, dramas for each of the Sundays in Lent, the Maundy Thursday drama, a 30 minute monologue for the Monday of Holy Week for me to deliver as Mary the Mother for the local clergy group, plan the Good Friday service, and misc. little one page papers due sprinkled around.

Instead of doing these things, I am writing about cats, the Enuma Elish and the Holiness Code. Huh. Major task avoidance.

an aside -- we have been putting Little Kitty in the Laundry room at night to cut down on the mess. She has been sleeping on the washer and dryer, knocking things off the shelf onto the washer and dryer in the middle of the night (What was that!! kind of sound) and of course, there is food, water and a litter box in the room. Does she use the litter box? No! She uses the dirty laundry. Ugh.

I am now going to write a paper on my perceived gifts and graces and contemplate and reflect on the sentence "Jesus is Lord" and how that has changed my life. Times Roman, 12 point font, one inch margins, Double Spaced. Yipee.

Total Bible Geekdom

Total Geekdom alert:

In Genesis 1, the sun and moon are not specifically mentioned:

Gen 1:14 - 19
And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years,and let them be lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so. And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Note here just the words "greater light" and "lesser light." Not "sun" and "moon."

In the Hebrew Bible, the word shemesh is Hebrew for "sun." Elsewhere the word is Hebrew SHAMESH = South Arabic SHFSH = Ugaritic SHPSH which is pronounced Shapshu. Shapshu is the Caananite sun goddess.

In the Hebrew Bible, the word yareach is Hebrew for "moon." The word undergoes then same type shifts as above and becomes the Caananite word Yarikh who is the moon god. These are the same people who worshiped El (god), his consort Asherah and their son Ba'al. These words are also in the Bible, and are usually not translated.

In order to distinguish themselves totally from the Caananites, the Apiru (Hebrew) people (the nation of Israel) did not use the words "sun" and "moon" in Genesis 1. They wanted to avoid any hint of the Caananite religion and shunned the use of these words in their Creation hymn.

There are other instances of the writer of Genesis being aware of other culture's deities -- the word tehom is related to the Babylonian word for "sea" which is tiamat -- the name of the Babylonian Goddess from whose dead body the world is said to have been created. There is tremendous debate about if the Babylonian myth influenced the Bible or the Bible informed the Babylonian myth. Nonetheless, it is obvious that they are somehow in conversation.

It is interesting to note these influences. Reguardless if you are a Creationist or a Liberal or an Orthodox or an Neo-orthodox or Agnostic or whatever, the message seems to be clear in Genesis 1 -- by avoiding the names of Caananite gods, we are affirming that our God is in control, that our God had order and purpose in mind. Unlike the Babylonian myth in the Enuma Elish, where the world is created out of the split body of Tiamat and mankind is created accidentally from spilled blood, God tells us in the Bible that He lovingly created the Universe by His Word, speaking the world into creation and that He formed us delibrately, lovingly and in His image -- with tremendous expectations, breathing His spirit into us.

Household Principles for Children

Household Principles for Children from the Old Testament
Lamentations of the Father.
1997 Ian Frazier and The Atlantic Monthly

Laws of Forbidden Places

Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room. Of quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room.

Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink. But if you are sick, and are lying down and watching something, then may you eat in the living room.

......

Various Other Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances

Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not the humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book.Indeed, you will drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape.

Bite not, lest you be cast into quiet time.Neither drink of your own bath water, nor of the bath water of any kind; nor rub your feet on bread, even if it be in the package; nor rub yourself against cars, not against any building; nor eat sand.

Complete article here.

an aside -- m2 -- good observations on Leviticus. Leviticus 19 is the portion included in the Lectionary and it is the best part. It's the portion most frequently quoted in the NT -- Jesus quoted it several times or alluded to it. It starts with "Be holy, as I thy God am holy" and then recounts the 10 commandments, with some interpretation. It goes on "You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." The rest of the Law hinges on this Holiness Code -- violate this and you violate the Law. Fulfill this and you fulfill the Law -- as Jesus did. It's an interesting reading to use to show how Christians can get overly committed to our rules and still not love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Running to the next Bible Study -- Later.

Just a Little Funny

Captain's Blog, Stardate 02202005...

Cartoon here.

Heh heh heh...he he he he.

BTW, I'm not feeling deep and theological today -- I am irritated that UPN canceled Enterprise. Will this be the end of Star Trek, as we know it? Shall I begin the Klingon Death Dirge? Woe is me.

Yep, not theological at all. I have 5 hours of Bible Study left to go today and the theological batteries are all burned out. Sigh.

an aside -- we had a prayer and self-denial breakfast and lunch today -- with 3 worship services and Sunday School in between. There were 15 desserts at the prayer and self-denial lunch. Does anyone else see a problem with this, or is it just me??

Arrr! What's your Pirate Name?

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Cats

About Cats -- I think that they are not in the Bible because 1) they are unclean according to the Law, even if not mentioned specifically.

Lev 28:26-29 "And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on [all] four, those [are] unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they [are] unclean unto you. These also [shall be] unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole."

2) Just as the "sun" and "moon" are not mentioned in Genesis 1 because of the Babylonian Cultic Traditions, perhaps domestic cats are not mention because of the Egyptian Cultic Traditions.

Lions, however are mention 98 times, and are portrayed as a "kingly" symbol in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Little Kitty is more of a lion, anyway. She's always a lyin' around the house. =o)

another aside -- only the Holiness code from Leviticus 19 is ever used in the Lectionary, and then only in Year A and only in a Year A that has 7 weeks. Maybe read only once in 12 years. Once. Now I know Leviticus is not comfortable stuff, but don't we need to at least talk about it occasionally? It is boring in places, but also sometimes facinating. Even if it is read over and against Paul, shouldn't it be read?

And Little Kitty* goes every other week to the Vet. Special Kidney diet, constant sources of fresh water, a clean litter box on every floor of the house. She had a prognosis of 6 months to live 9 months ago. But she's still pretty healthy. At one time we had 4 elderly cats -- ages from 14 to 18 years of age. I felt like I was running a feline nursing home. Reverend Mommy's home for Geriatric Cats.

*I just typed her name initally as Litter Kitty, heh.

The Mommy is Not Happy

The little kitty (our last kitty) has a bad kidney/bladder problem. Old age, bad diet, you name it -- only 25% of her kidney function is left. And not likely to get a kidney transplant because she's already 15 years old. (Come on -- a kidney transplant, who am I kidding??)

However, she really may not have long to live, anyway. It will be kitty-cide. I have discovered from whence the slight odor of kitty urine is coming from (slight might be an understatment). She has been using the floor behind the sofa. I have now just spent an hour cleaning up the mess. Thank goodness for wood floors and Odo-Ban.

The cat may die. The Mommy is not happy. Not happy at all.

I know what we are told in CPE, Con Ed, etc.... to ask the question, where is Grace to be found in this? Grace? I want Justice! Not Grace or Mercy. I cry for Justice! Now if only I could catch her... Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

as an aside -- have you ever noticed that cats are not in the Bible?