And fixin' to slide into home -- 4 papers due, 1 final. I've done all the exit interviews, I've got the invitations done, the LH is mailing them today. I've got the academic regalia and I'm cleaning the house for out of town company.
I know the next thing is the "post-semester" torpor -- but this will be the "post-MDiv" torpor. It will probably resemble "post-CPE" torpor. I've got to get a new application in for CPE, as well, to start either September or January. Still don't know 100 percent about new appointment, so mums the word.
Today, I've a sore throat, ookie stuff in my sinuses and I'm a little short of breath. There's been a cold floating around and it just may be my turn.
WHY did God make the cold virus? Was it before or after the Fall? Is it a result of original sin? What is the purpose in nature/creation for colds?
Nonetheless, even with stuffed up sinuses, there were times where we could smell the fires in South Georgia this week. They look as if the fires are contained at least 70%, but all of Georgia, Florida and parts of Alabama are at risk for wildfires right now. The drought this year is going to be BAD. The peach and pecan crops are ruined (said "ruint") first because of the late freeze and now from the drought. It's not going to be a good year for agriculture in Georgia. There are people just east of here still dependent on cotton; a little north is cabbage; only stable produce from Georgia may be chickens and granite.
In other news...
I've found my camera. It was in the dining room. Who knew? I'll catch up on the Project 365 -- the expenditure of creative energy will help me write those papers.
AND...
I added Bubbles (the game) to my sidebar. This game is so very addictive!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
RevMommy's Graduation Party
I was going to try to make this an amusing javascript based thing, but I ran out of time.
The Loving Husband is going to give me a surprise Graduation party -- he wanted me to give him the invitations that were to include the party. All I know is that the venue has a limit of about 100 people, there is going to food and entertainment. So here are my guesses:
Venue:
New Hope or Grayson UMC's Fellowship Hall
Gwinnett Arena or Turner Field
The living room
Someone else's living room
The High Museum of Art
St. Philip's Cathedral
a fav resturant: Provino's, Sydney's, Nikko's, Nagoya, or many others
Piedmont Park or Chastain Park
The Shakespeare Festival
A Tea Room (Magnolia Tea Room, The Vines, Little Gardens)
Chateau Elan
The Hanger at the Airport or the Downwind or the Flying Machine
The Varsity in Athens
The Varsity near Tech
The big room at the local Holiday Inn (or similar)
Food:
Barbeque (Chicken, Beef, Pork or Rabbit -- who knows?)
Varsity Chili Dogs
$100 Hamburgers
Moe's Southwestern Grill
Italian!
Greek!
Japanese!
Thai!
Finger Foods
Desserts
Hotel Food
Entertainment:
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Brad Sherrill doing a one man "Murder in the Cathedral"
Grayson UMC's Praise Band
Casting Crowns or Third Day
Green Day or a Hard Rock Band
Elvis Impersonator
The girls singing "You are my Sunshine" with the LH on the kazoo
Cello girl (or Yo Yo Coleman as she's know around here)
Nickel Creek or Bluegrass
Rascal Flatts or Country Music
Karaoke!
Video games on Laptops
Attire:
Academic Cap and Gowns
Full Formalwear
Swimsuits
Casual officewear
Cassock and Surplice
Albs
Jeans
The game goes like this:
The Living Room with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra eating Greek! in Albs.
A restaurant with an Elvis Impersonator eating Varsity Chili Dogs in Swimsuits.
The Varsity with Karaoke! eating Thai! in Academic Cap and Gowns.
What would you choose?
The Loving Husband is going to give me a surprise Graduation party -- he wanted me to give him the invitations that were to include the party. All I know is that the venue has a limit of about 100 people, there is going to food and entertainment. So here are my guesses:
Venue:
New Hope or Grayson UMC's Fellowship Hall
Gwinnett Arena or Turner Field
The living room
Someone else's living room
The High Museum of Art
St. Philip's Cathedral
a fav resturant: Provino's, Sydney's, Nikko's, Nagoya, or many others
Piedmont Park or Chastain Park
The Shakespeare Festival
A Tea Room (Magnolia Tea Room, The Vines, Little Gardens)
Chateau Elan
The Hanger at the Airport or the Downwind or the Flying Machine
The Varsity in Athens
The Varsity near Tech
The big room at the local Holiday Inn (or similar)
Food:
Barbeque (Chicken, Beef, Pork or Rabbit -- who knows?)
Varsity Chili Dogs
$100 Hamburgers
Moe's Southwestern Grill
Italian!
Greek!
Japanese!
Thai!
Finger Foods
Desserts
Hotel Food
Entertainment:
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Brad Sherrill doing a one man "Murder in the Cathedral"
Grayson UMC's Praise Band
Casting Crowns or Third Day
Green Day or a Hard Rock Band
Elvis Impersonator
The girls singing "You are my Sunshine" with the LH on the kazoo
Cello girl (or Yo Yo Coleman as she's know around here)
Nickel Creek or Bluegrass
Rascal Flatts or Country Music
Karaoke!
Video games on Laptops
Attire:
Academic Cap and Gowns
Full Formalwear
Swimsuits
Casual officewear
Cassock and Surplice
Albs
Jeans
The game goes like this:
The Living Room with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra eating Greek! in Albs.
A restaurant with an Elvis Impersonator eating Varsity Chili Dogs in Swimsuits.
The Varsity with Karaoke! eating Thai! in Academic Cap and Gowns.
What would you choose?
Friday, April 27, 2007
YouTube Video of the Day
An example of the understanding of "native" cultures. These are obviously "immigrants" to this culture; that is what makes this funny.
The conversations about "digital native" and "digital immigrant" started in 2001 or so with Markc Prensky. I think of myself is a digital native because of my ease of using digital mediums, but I'm probably a transitional. Any way, funny commercial.
United Methodist Distinctives.
I grew up Presbyterian/Episcopalian/Baptist and recently I've realized that I am now Methodist to the very bone. Which makes me think a lot about what makes a Methodist or a United Methodist distinctive – what exactly is it that makes us who we are?
I know that the Book of Discipline states it as our theology of grace: From the 2004 BOD:
Grace: prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. Grace AND Responsibility. Works AND faith. Nurture AND mission. Justification AND regeneration. Worship AND service. (This is what Rex Matthews likes to call Methodist Conjunctivitis.) But also backsliding -- a falling from grace. A commitment to the Kingdom of God that is in this world, causing a particular form of Social Gospel that is held hand in hand with individual salvation.
John Cobb in his book Grace and Responsibility states he believes the Methodist distinctive is four fold:
With all this in mind, I wonder if what makes us distinctive is first our seemingly single-minded and rather stubborn insistence on being united. In talking with Dr. Rex Matthews yesterday, he expressed the opinion that it is our willingness to live in the tensions between our theological extremes that makes us distinctive – or stated in the way I would view it, our inclusivity. I hold strongly in the belief that only where there is tension is there real and substantive growth. Holding our extremes together only can make us stronger. The large majority of us (as the GC2004 vote on unity would show) don’t mind the extremes existing together; it is those very extremes that make us fruitful and strong.
Secondly, I think it is our method (hence Methodist). The extreme inclusivity with which we welcome anyone and everyone to the table (my shorthand for all of church, btw) for this very table is a powerful means of grace; prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. We exclude NONE. All are welcome to worship and commune with us; even if they do not believe as we do, even if they do not live as we do, even if they have committed civil crimes or criminal crimes. All are welcome into the presence of the Living and Redeeming God. If God cannot redeem the forger, the murderer, the abuser then who can? We cannot (that’s Donatism). Only by God’s grace are any of us welcome at his table.
Of course, it the person were an embezzler, we wouldn’t let him near the money. If she were a child abuser, we wouldn’t let her near the children. Wary as serpents and innocents as doves. (Matthew 10:16). But they are welcome to worship with us. Nor would we want them to continue in their sin; but we will not consign them automatically to hell. We are to be as Christ to those who sin; to proclaim a gospel of repentance and redemption – and then to hold them accountable in real love -- Christian love, agape love -- for their response to this gospel. How can they hear this message if we exclude them from our very presence? Will their reputation "rub off" on us? Why would this matter to us?
This is really more of an ethic – an ethos. I’ve been in discussions at Candler recently that have made me realize this radical form of inclusivity is an important part of the Methodist distinctive and rather chafing against it, let us rejoice in it.
I know that the Book of Discipline states it as our theology of grace: From the 2004 BOD:
Although Wesley shared with many other Christians a belief in grace, justification, assurance, and sanctification, he combined them in a powerful manner to create distinctive emphases for living the full Christian life. The Evangelical United Brethren tradition, particularly as expressed by Phillip William Otterbein from a Reformed background, gave similar distinctive emphases.
Grace pervades our understanding of Christian faith and life. By grace we mean the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence through the ever-present Holy Spirit. While the grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as "prevenient grace," continues in "justifying grace," and is brought to fruition in "sanctifying grace."
We assert that God's grace is manifest in all creation even though suffering, violence, and evil are everywhere present. The goodness of creation is fulfilled in human beings, who are called to covenant partnership with God. God has endowed us with dignity and freedom and has summoned us to responsibility for our lives and the life of the world.
In God's self-revelation, Jesus Christ, we see the splendor of our true humanity. Even our sin, with its destructive consequences for all creation, does not alter God's intention for us—holiness and happiness of heart. Nor does it diminish our accountability for the way we live.
Despite our brokenness, we remain creatures brought into being by a just and merciful God. The restoration of God's image in our lives requires divine grace to renew our fallen nature.
Grace: prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. Grace AND Responsibility. Works AND faith. Nurture AND mission. Justification AND regeneration. Worship AND service. (This is what Rex Matthews likes to call Methodist Conjunctivitis.) But also backsliding -- a falling from grace. A commitment to the Kingdom of God that is in this world, causing a particular form of Social Gospel that is held hand in hand with individual salvation.
John Cobb in his book Grace and Responsibility states he believes the Methodist distinctive is four fold:
1. There is a transformation of heart and life by God; it is God’s continual work in us, that is a continual process.
2. There are teachings about the work of God in our lives, some support the transformation of life and others block it. Those teachings that block transformation of life are forbidden. (Salvation by works alone, for example.)
3. Yet there are those doctrines and theologies with which we disagree, but that does not mean that they cannot be held by authentic believers (real Christians): for Wesley and most Methodists an example would be predestination.
4. There are many teachings which we subscribe to that do not make much difference with regard of how we live our life (for Wesley, one example would be the Trinity). These teachings are indifferent.
With all this in mind, I wonder if what makes us distinctive is first our seemingly single-minded and rather stubborn insistence on being united. In talking with Dr. Rex Matthews yesterday, he expressed the opinion that it is our willingness to live in the tensions between our theological extremes that makes us distinctive – or stated in the way I would view it, our inclusivity. I hold strongly in the belief that only where there is tension is there real and substantive growth. Holding our extremes together only can make us stronger. The large majority of us (as the GC2004 vote on unity would show) don’t mind the extremes existing together; it is those very extremes that make us fruitful and strong.
Secondly, I think it is our method (hence Methodist). The extreme inclusivity with which we welcome anyone and everyone to the table (my shorthand for all of church, btw) for this very table is a powerful means of grace; prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. We exclude NONE. All are welcome to worship and commune with us; even if they do not believe as we do, even if they do not live as we do, even if they have committed civil crimes or criminal crimes. All are welcome into the presence of the Living and Redeeming God. If God cannot redeem the forger, the murderer, the abuser then who can? We cannot (that’s Donatism). Only by God’s grace are any of us welcome at his table.
Of course, it the person were an embezzler, we wouldn’t let him near the money. If she were a child abuser, we wouldn’t let her near the children. Wary as serpents and innocents as doves. (Matthew 10:16). But they are welcome to worship with us. Nor would we want them to continue in their sin; but we will not consign them automatically to hell. We are to be as Christ to those who sin; to proclaim a gospel of repentance and redemption – and then to hold them accountable in real love -- Christian love, agape love -- for their response to this gospel. How can they hear this message if we exclude them from our very presence? Will their reputation "rub off" on us? Why would this matter to us?
This is really more of an ethic – an ethos. I’ve been in discussions at Candler recently that have made me realize this radical form of inclusivity is an important part of the Methodist distinctive and rather chafing against it, let us rejoice in it.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show
The kids and I love this video. I don't know why. We just do.
Wheel o' Fun!
Sick Kids
They are not really sick, just a bit under the weather and Entropy was complaining about an earache. I wouldn't be really concerned, except that my pediatrician retired earlier in the month.
He was wonderful -- a tad old fashioned and not dictated to by managed care. If you called in the morning, you could make an appointment for later in the afternoon -- sick appointments stared at 2:00 or so, just after lunch. I cannot ever remember sitting in the waiting room more than about 5 minutes before the nurse would say, "Y'all can come on back."
He's seen Chaos since she was about 18 hours old, and Entropy since she was about 30 hours old. He saw us through two tonsillectomies, orthopedic surgery on Chaos' foot and Entropy's bout of rheumatic fever.
He believed in preventive care and old fashioned remedies like salt water nasal lavage and cleaning scrapes with hydrogen peroxide. But he was also "up" on all the current trends in medicine, as well. He served as the president of the Georgia AMA a couple of years back.
He's the president of the Alumni association at my University and he will be speaking at my commencement. But he's not practicing medicine anymore (I personally think that he SHOULD retire so that he can enjoy his kids/grandkids etc.) but dern it -- I'm going to miss him.
I didn't realize how much I counted on him as one of those "anchor points" in my life. Just hit me today, when the kids are just a little "under the weather." Dern it.
He was wonderful -- a tad old fashioned and not dictated to by managed care. If you called in the morning, you could make an appointment for later in the afternoon -- sick appointments stared at 2:00 or so, just after lunch. I cannot ever remember sitting in the waiting room more than about 5 minutes before the nurse would say, "Y'all can come on back."
He's seen Chaos since she was about 18 hours old, and Entropy since she was about 30 hours old. He saw us through two tonsillectomies, orthopedic surgery on Chaos' foot and Entropy's bout of rheumatic fever.
He believed in preventive care and old fashioned remedies like salt water nasal lavage and cleaning scrapes with hydrogen peroxide. But he was also "up" on all the current trends in medicine, as well. He served as the president of the Georgia AMA a couple of years back.
He's the president of the Alumni association at my University and he will be speaking at my commencement. But he's not practicing medicine anymore (I personally think that he SHOULD retire so that he can enjoy his kids/grandkids etc.) but dern it -- I'm going to miss him.
I didn't realize how much I counted on him as one of those "anchor points" in my life. Just hit me today, when the kids are just a little "under the weather." Dern it.
Monday, April 23, 2007
One paper DONE
One paper done, all that's left is the printing of said verbage.
One paper getting done rapidly. I may actually get to SLEEP tonight.
Woo Hoo!
One paper getting done rapidly. I may actually get to SLEEP tonight.
Woo Hoo!
Morning Prayer -- Drake's Prayer; Now Thank We All Our God; Psalm 25
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our parents' arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
-- Martin Rinckart (17thC), tr. Catherine Winkworth (19thC)
Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi
When thou givest to thy servants
to endeavour any great matter
Grant us also to know that it is not the beginning
but the continuing of the same unto the end
until it be thoroughly finished.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
with the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
This we ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus Christ.
-- Drake's Prayer
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our parents' arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
-- Martin Rinckart (17thC), tr. Catherine Winkworth (19thC)
Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi
| 1 | To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me. |
| 2 | Let none who look to you be put to shame; let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. |
| 3 | Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths. |
| 4 | Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long. |
| 5 | Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting. |
| 6 | Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD. |
1 John 3: 19-24
19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
When thou givest to thy servants
to endeavour any great matter
Grant us also to know that it is not the beginning
but the continuing of the same unto the end
until it be thoroughly finished.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
with the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
This we ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus Christ.
-- Drake's Prayer
Sunday, April 22, 2007
I have a headache
I have a headache and two papers to finish. One final page for one class and the entire paper for the other. Including reading the book the paper is supposed to be about. Due Tuesday. I've been at it since about 9:00 this morning starting with worship and what-not, Admin Council meeting until 1:30 and writing papers since 2:00. It.s now 9:40. I had a 14 hour day yesterday. Is it ethical to offer to pay someone to finish my ethics paper?
No?
Huh.
No?
Huh.
Picture 96/365
The hair before brushing. If it stays in braids, it's not too bad. There's just something about these braids that makes me want to yank on them (gently, of course). And note: she's doing the dishes. Yeah!
Picture 95/365
It's a family effort to contain THE HAIR. She's going away for a camping trip in a month and I am already imagining what's going to come back with her in THE HAIR.
It's the top of the Eighth
Bases are loaded. The respite from the 7th inning stretch is gone and we are now hot into the game. I'm just praying I don't have to go extra innings.
Translation: I'm hard at it: papers and reading books. Two papers due on Tuesday and they are hard going. I had an eight hour class in Greenville yesterday -- drove there and back, as well, making for a nice 14 hour day. My brains are oatmeal, and I STILL have to write two papers. Bleh. The family is going to the lake after church and I have to write two papers. Poo-poo.
I don't want an incomplete in anything -- I don't want to delay the papers. I just want it OVER. Now.
Translation: I'm hard at it: papers and reading books. Two papers due on Tuesday and they are hard going. I had an eight hour class in Greenville yesterday -- drove there and back, as well, making for a nice 14 hour day. My brains are oatmeal, and I STILL have to write two papers. Bleh. The family is going to the lake after church and I have to write two papers. Poo-poo.
I don't want an incomplete in anything -- I don't want to delay the papers. I just want it OVER. Now.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
OK, I took it again and yes, I am myself.
 | You scored as Theresa Coleman. You are Theresa Coleman! No this is not a picture of her, but I couldn't find one online. You are a warm-hearted, nurturing, pastoral caregiver who can fly airplanes.
Which Methoblogger Are You? created with QuizFarm.com |
Which Methoblogger are you?
 | You scored as Art Ruch. You are Art Ruch! You're the only person to score as "Modern Liberal" in the Theological Worldview Quiz. Your prize is a new Volvo.
Which Methoblogger Are You? created with QuizFarm.com |
I can't believe it! I'm Art! (I thought I was myself, but I must have been mistaken!)
Picture 93/365
The Living Room -- you can see elements of my original design here -- the mission oak coffee table, the breakfront, the peacock feathers, the lamp and so on, but you can see also some of my paintings -- two moths, a fish print and two seashells.
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