Two of my classes this semester are The Church as a Community of Compassion and Non-Western Church History, and they have been quite interesting to say the least. They have only fueled my desire to understand more deeply the mystery that is the Church. I want to point out that I find the use of the word Community to be of a different sort than a typical modernist example. Essentially, we're NOT talking about a community as just a group of people who live on the same street, or live in the same retirement center, or attend the same school. These are external points of community, and while they might be part of what makes a true community, in and of themselves, they do not define a group of people as a real community.
A community, a true community, might be more along the lines of what Catholic missionary Vincent Donovan discovered as he sought to evangelize the Masai peoples in East Africa. Donovan found that in seeking to evangelize what as then a completely pagan people, he needed to evangelize the entire community, not merely reach certain individuals. That is to say, in reaching out to the entire community, he was forced to recognize that a community was formed by people who shared life together, share values (moral, familial, and religious/spiritual), and who work together for the common good of all involved. In his presentation of the gospel, he both presented and learned that Christianity is entirely personal (it had meaning for each member of the community as they discovered their place as part of that local body), but that it is not individualistic (the meaning for each member only had significance as part of that community, and was not meant to enhance that person in a selfish manner at the exclusion of the community).
We in the West [in the U.S., more specifically] have confused these terms, turning them into synonyms rather than recognizing that one brings life and freedom while the other leads to heresy and narssicism. We have created a god in our own image - a sin that is well illustrated throughout the Old Testament - and we disdain any who would challenge it. We have sought to tame God, and put Him in a cage that only we can open, and open only at times that we believe are to our own personal advantage. We wonder why the Church in the West is in such crisis? I submit it is that we have confused the gift of Christ as for ourselves, rather than for the blessing of those currently in the community, and especially for sharing that blessing with those who are yet to be called into the community - that community is the Church.
May God have mercy on us, and heal our heretical practices of individualism over above the community. God is personal, and He cares about each of His children. But Jesus died on the cross to draw the nations to Him. May we understand and joyfully seize this vision of the Kingdom, and seek to share our personal faith with all the peoples.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
oh the Irony
my friend Mike and I were hanging out, and the issue of the Pope's comments concerning medieval Islam as being "evil" and "violent" came up.
Has anyone noticed the irony what with the angry and violent protestations put forth by Muslim mobs???
what do you think?
Has anyone noticed the irony what with the angry and violent protestations put forth by Muslim mobs???
what do you think?
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Compassion
how do you define 'Compassion'?
do you live it out?
is it 'Compassion' if you're not living it out?
what do you think?
do you live it out?
is it 'Compassion' if you're not living it out?
what do you think?
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11 thoughts
Here's my disclaimer: I honestly can't believe I'm writing on 9/11. I know it's probably the biggest national trauma since Pearl Harbor, but I personally would like to move on - not in a way that makes light of people's hurts and fears - but in a way that allows us to grow and be healed without having to rip off the emotional scab every year on this date. Okay, I said it. Now I have to show myself a hypocrite and add to all the rememberances and eulogies...
The reason I'm ultimately writing this entry is probably more due to unresolved angst and sadness over what happened five years ago then anything else. It was in my drive to seminary this morning, while listening to KWY that I heard the broadcast of the 9/11 ceremony from the WTC site, as well as KYW's regular updates about the 9/11 timeline (what was happening at what time five years ago today). There was the reading of names of those who died, the poem read by one 9/11 widow, and just wrestling with my own powerlessness as I turned on the TV that morning, becoming aware of what was going on.
Five years ago today, my wife took our oldest daughter to her first day of preschool for parent/child orientation only to be escorted home because she was feeling so feverish that she practically passed out. I was at home watching our youngest daughter and our newborn son when a teacher from the school brought them to the door. In trying to help my wife onto the sofa and keep our daughters preoccupied, I told the oldest to turn on the TV. It was then that I saw my first images of what had happened.
It was surreal. All I saw was a lone skyscraper surrounded by rising clouds of smoke. My wife and I were perplexed at what we were viewing. I remember saying that this looked like the WTC, but where was the other tower? It was then that we realized it was the WTC and something absolutely incredible had just happened. I immediately sent the girls up to our attic and turned on the TV to PBS, glad to find that they were continuing their children's programming (what a brilliant and good decision on the part of those producers - I thank God for their decision to not get caught up in the newsmedia frenzy!). Not long after, my wife and I sat in horror as we witnessed the second tower collapse.
This is what I really wanted to "talk" about. Again, another disclaimer: what I'm about to share is stupid, immature, and I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it in a "public" forum, but here goes... As I watched what was going on, I wished I were Superman. I really thought that. I really wanted to be Superman. I was in tears wishing I could have run out the back door of our house, pull off my t-shirt to reveal the big 'S' on my costume, and fly north-east to Manhattan and stop this madness. I remember the replays the media showed of the planes slamming into each of the towers and just gasping. I remember hearing about (thank God the media thought first for once of not replaying the film over and over) people jumping in desperation from the higher floors to avoid being burned in the fires. My eyes were tear-filled, and all I could do was gasp. I felt so powerless. And I felt like I should have been able to do something. I actually felt guilty for not being able to do something. Isn't that strange?
As I listened to the radio this morning, I found myself still wishing I could have made a difference; wishing I could've taken to the sky and sped up to NYC faster than a locamotive. I still feel deeply saddened. And I wonder, still, God, why did you let this happen?
Was it a wake up call, that America needed to take you seriously? Was it punishment, as people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson would have us believe, for allowing the sins of abortion and homosexuality to be public policy? Was it because you've hardened the hearts of people like Osama bin Laden? Or was it none of these things or all of them? And yet, Lord, you did let this event happen. And ultimately, we will not know the 'why's, but we can have compassion on those effected. And that is why I'm writing this down today. I pray God's grace and mercy, His loving kindness, and His healing touch for those, the few and the many, whose lives and understanding of the world is forever changed. May God have mercy on us all. That is why I write today. In Jesus' name.
The reason I'm ultimately writing this entry is probably more due to unresolved angst and sadness over what happened five years ago then anything else. It was in my drive to seminary this morning, while listening to KWY that I heard the broadcast of the 9/11 ceremony from the WTC site, as well as KYW's regular updates about the 9/11 timeline (what was happening at what time five years ago today). There was the reading of names of those who died, the poem read by one 9/11 widow, and just wrestling with my own powerlessness as I turned on the TV that morning, becoming aware of what was going on.
Five years ago today, my wife took our oldest daughter to her first day of preschool for parent/child orientation only to be escorted home because she was feeling so feverish that she practically passed out. I was at home watching our youngest daughter and our newborn son when a teacher from the school brought them to the door. In trying to help my wife onto the sofa and keep our daughters preoccupied, I told the oldest to turn on the TV. It was then that I saw my first images of what had happened.
It was surreal. All I saw was a lone skyscraper surrounded by rising clouds of smoke. My wife and I were perplexed at what we were viewing. I remember saying that this looked like the WTC, but where was the other tower? It was then that we realized it was the WTC and something absolutely incredible had just happened. I immediately sent the girls up to our attic and turned on the TV to PBS, glad to find that they were continuing their children's programming (what a brilliant and good decision on the part of those producers - I thank God for their decision to not get caught up in the newsmedia frenzy!). Not long after, my wife and I sat in horror as we witnessed the second tower collapse.
This is what I really wanted to "talk" about. Again, another disclaimer: what I'm about to share is stupid, immature, and I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it in a "public" forum, but here goes... As I watched what was going on, I wished I were Superman. I really thought that. I really wanted to be Superman. I was in tears wishing I could have run out the back door of our house, pull off my t-shirt to reveal the big 'S' on my costume, and fly north-east to Manhattan and stop this madness. I remember the replays the media showed of the planes slamming into each of the towers and just gasping. I remember hearing about (thank God the media thought first for once of not replaying the film over and over) people jumping in desperation from the higher floors to avoid being burned in the fires. My eyes were tear-filled, and all I could do was gasp. I felt so powerless. And I felt like I should have been able to do something. I actually felt guilty for not being able to do something. Isn't that strange?
As I listened to the radio this morning, I found myself still wishing I could have made a difference; wishing I could've taken to the sky and sped up to NYC faster than a locamotive. I still feel deeply saddened. And I wonder, still, God, why did you let this happen?
Was it a wake up call, that America needed to take you seriously? Was it punishment, as people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson would have us believe, for allowing the sins of abortion and homosexuality to be public policy? Was it because you've hardened the hearts of people like Osama bin Laden? Or was it none of these things or all of them? And yet, Lord, you did let this event happen. And ultimately, we will not know the 'why's, but we can have compassion on those effected. And that is why I'm writing this down today. I pray God's grace and mercy, His loving kindness, and His healing touch for those, the few and the many, whose lives and understanding of the world is forever changed. May God have mercy on us all. That is why I write today. In Jesus' name.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Christian Ethics versus Pagan Pragmatism
Yesterday [September 6], President Geo. Bush admitted to the public that the CIA has been "detaining" approximately 16 Al-Quida members in prisons outside of the U.S. for quite some time. In his own words, the President said that none of these men were merely picked up on the fields of battle or were non-combatants, but were in fact bomb makers, attack planners, etc. involved in the 9/11 attack, the attacks on American embassies in Africa, as well as the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. They have now been moved to Guantanamo Bay, the only U.S. base on Cuban soil for further interrogation.
I am neither an expert policy maker, nor an expert theologian. That's my caveat going into what I think is key as a Christian struggling (yes, struggling) to apply both my sense of maintaining national security and maintaining Christ as the frame for my entire world view. Not too many would argue that a nation-state has both a right and a responsibility to maintain its national security, and therefore, providing for the safety and security of its citizenry. Even the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13 that...
If Paul can write these words during the rule of Emperor Nero (granted at this point, according to Craig Keener, Nero hadn't yet begun his persecution of Christians), then they certainly apply under the presidency of Geo. Bush, himself a professed follower of Christ. All of that's to say that the President (along with the Congress and the Supreme Court) has a God-given authority and responsibility to govern the country and punish the wrong-doers (in this case, Al-Quida).
Yet there is a specific problem I find with this particular course of actions. A few years ago, I was sent a political journal article via email that spoke to a growing influence of what the author referred to as the pagan pragmatism of neo-conservatives like then Asst. Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz. The article spoke to how [Dept. of Defense] policies were being shaped more according to a pagan warrior ethos rather than the Judeo-Christian ethos, and in point of fact, how disconcerting this really was. In my opinion, this has always been the case in some way, shape, or form. But this author's point should be well taken, for this sort of pragmatism is "wonderfully" illustrated for us in much of the way the war in Iraq started, and our policies regarding the maintainance of this war, vis a vi the interrogation of prisoners, among other things. While I cannot claim to be one who is completely against war - I do believe in Just War theory; just not to the point of ease that many of our leaders and their supporters have used it to justify their policies - I think that upon its necessity, war's prosecution must be carefully and wisely monitered. Interestingly, I don't think it's mere coincidence that prior to Paul's words about submitting to authorities, he writes this in Romans 12...
And that is to say that the Love of God and the hatred of evil must frame not only the way we individually live out the Gospel and respond to Christ, but also, and as importantly, our understanding of what makes right policy on a national and international level. The context of the 'whos' and the 'whats' that Paul was concerned with were obviously different than the context we find ourselves in as we view today's war in Iraq and its collateral policies. However, there are truths that transcend time, space, and context. The question arises, based on Romans 12:21, have we resorted to overcoming evil with evil, rather than overcoming evil with good? I would submit that we have compromised.
I'm drawn to the last court scene from 'A Few Good Men', where Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise) has Col. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) on the stand, and gets him to confess to ordering the code red that led to the death of Pvt. Santiago. In that scene, Col. Jessup speaks (with pride) of a pagan warrior pragmatism that illustrates the sort of dichotomy that we find in the prosecution of this war on terror. Behold the words of Col. Jessup to Lt. Kaffee and the court...
Lt. Kaffee demands to know the truth, and Col. Jessup responds with the now famous line, "You can't handle the truth!!!"
In many ways, I think that many American Christians are like the people Col. Jessup generalizes in his testimony. We "don't want the truth because deep down in places [we] don't talk about at parties, [we] want [people like Jessup] on that wall, [we] need [him] on that wall." In essence, we can't handle the truth regarding how much of our national security is maintained.
I'm all for national security; and I don't think that's a "pragmatic" cop-out. But opting for a dichotomy that allows us to praise God on Sundays, read the pages of scripture any day we want, and just plain ole try to be faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ on one hand, and to turn a blind eye to possible injustices carried out by our own government or military on the other is not consistent with who God has gathered us to be as His Church. In short, we have given in to the very pagan pragmatism our faith goes against. We have soiled our Christian ethic. I do not claim to have easy answers, but I do leave you with the thought that any policies, personal or national, that are derived from an ethic that is rooted in something other than God and His Word, should be nothing less than unacceptable to those who claim Jesus as Lord. Naive? Perhaps. I don't claim to be an "expert". But I do claim to be a follower of Christ, and I trust in Him to safe-guard me and my family. And my nation.
What do you think?
I am neither an expert policy maker, nor an expert theologian. That's my caveat going into what I think is key as a Christian struggling (yes, struggling) to apply both my sense of maintaining national security and maintaining Christ as the frame for my entire world view. Not too many would argue that a nation-state has both a right and a responsibility to maintain its national security, and therefore, providing for the safety and security of its citizenry. Even the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13 that...
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (NIV)
If Paul can write these words during the rule of Emperor Nero (granted at this point, according to Craig Keener, Nero hadn't yet begun his persecution of Christians), then they certainly apply under the presidency of Geo. Bush, himself a professed follower of Christ. All of that's to say that the President (along with the Congress and the Supreme Court) has a God-given authority and responsibility to govern the country and punish the wrong-doers (in this case, Al-Quida).
Yet there is a specific problem I find with this particular course of actions. A few years ago, I was sent a political journal article via email that spoke to a growing influence of what the author referred to as the pagan pragmatism of neo-conservatives like then Asst. Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz. The article spoke to how [Dept. of Defense] policies were being shaped more according to a pagan warrior ethos rather than the Judeo-Christian ethos, and in point of fact, how disconcerting this really was. In my opinion, this has always been the case in some way, shape, or form. But this author's point should be well taken, for this sort of pragmatism is "wonderfully" illustrated for us in much of the way the war in Iraq started, and our policies regarding the maintainance of this war, vis a vi the interrogation of prisoners, among other things. While I cannot claim to be one who is completely against war - I do believe in Just War theory; just not to the point of ease that many of our leaders and their supporters have used it to justify their policies - I think that upon its necessity, war's prosecution must be carefully and wisely monitered. Interestingly, I don't think it's mere coincidence that prior to Paul's words about submitting to authorities, he writes this in Romans 12...
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(NIV)
And that is to say that the Love of God and the hatred of evil must frame not only the way we individually live out the Gospel and respond to Christ, but also, and as importantly, our understanding of what makes right policy on a national and international level. The context of the 'whos' and the 'whats' that Paul was concerned with were obviously different than the context we find ourselves in as we view today's war in Iraq and its collateral policies. However, there are truths that transcend time, space, and context. The question arises, based on Romans 12:21, have we resorted to overcoming evil with evil, rather than overcoming evil with good? I would submit that we have compromised.
I'm drawn to the last court scene from 'A Few Good Men', where Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise) has Col. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) on the stand, and gets him to confess to ordering the code red that led to the death of Pvt. Santiago. In that scene, Col. Jessup speaks (with pride) of a pagan warrior pragmatism that illustrates the sort of dichotomy that we find in the prosecution of this war on terror. Behold the words of Col. Jessup to Lt. Kaffee and the court...
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Lt. Kaffee demands to know the truth, and Col. Jessup responds with the now famous line, "You can't handle the truth!!!"
In many ways, I think that many American Christians are like the people Col. Jessup generalizes in his testimony. We "don't want the truth because deep down in places [we] don't talk about at parties, [we] want [people like Jessup] on that wall, [we] need [him] on that wall." In essence, we can't handle the truth regarding how much of our national security is maintained.
I'm all for national security; and I don't think that's a "pragmatic" cop-out. But opting for a dichotomy that allows us to praise God on Sundays, read the pages of scripture any day we want, and just plain ole try to be faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ on one hand, and to turn a blind eye to possible injustices carried out by our own government or military on the other is not consistent with who God has gathered us to be as His Church. In short, we have given in to the very pagan pragmatism our faith goes against. We have soiled our Christian ethic. I do not claim to have easy answers, but I do leave you with the thought that any policies, personal or national, that are derived from an ethic that is rooted in something other than God and His Word, should be nothing less than unacceptable to those who claim Jesus as Lord. Naive? Perhaps. I don't claim to be an "expert". But I do claim to be a follower of Christ, and I trust in Him to safe-guard me and my family. And my nation.
What do you think?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Confession
I was sitting in class today, and the idea of confession struck me. Not a mere concept, but the actual need for confession in my own life. Interestingly enough, I had read on the web earlier today of a church that has somesort of web-based confessional. This has apparently been widely utilized by a great many people. Perhaps that was the seed for my later thoughts.
In any event, I've been feeling somewhat distant from the Lord lately - someone say, guess who moved? - and I've just been feeling kind of empty, almost spiritually lethargic of late. Some of that may be tied to some stuff that I've had going on that I've been working through. However, I believe much of it to be a combination of demonic attack/spiritual warfare and my age old struggles with my own sinful nature (i.e., the sins of the flesh). Starting this new season of full time seminary studies is a prime time for the devil to afflict and inflict me with temptations and attacks. At the same time, I know myself well enough to know that at times of stress (yes, I feel a whee bit stressed these days), my own sinful nature asserts its own selfishness.
The need for confession is a generally a regular part of most main stream or Main Line Protestant orders of worship. It is a part of worship that prepares those worshiping to confess their sin(s) in order to receive pardon, and be reconciled with God and with one-another. Personally, I enjoy the prayer of confession from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Please feel free to join me:
My hope is not that God would give me the will-power not to commit these sins anylonger, but rather that He would continue to transform me to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. To be filled with the fruit of the Spirit is to be transformed into the very character of Christ Himself. This, too, is my prayer. I have sinned against the Lord in thought, word, and deed. I have sinned by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved God with my whole heart, nor loved my neighbors as I love myself. I am truly sorry, and humbly repent. I believe that God's grace is so great that He will, for the sake of His own Son, Jesus, have mercy on me and forgive me. And I will delight in His will, and walk in His ways, to the glory of His name. Amen.
Do you need to confess to the Almighty God who created you and loves you?
In any event, I've been feeling somewhat distant from the Lord lately - someone say, guess who moved? - and I've just been feeling kind of empty, almost spiritually lethargic of late. Some of that may be tied to some stuff that I've had going on that I've been working through. However, I believe much of it to be a combination of demonic attack/spiritual warfare and my age old struggles with my own sinful nature (i.e., the sins of the flesh). Starting this new season of full time seminary studies is a prime time for the devil to afflict and inflict me with temptations and attacks. At the same time, I know myself well enough to know that at times of stress (yes, I feel a whee bit stressed these days), my own sinful nature asserts its own selfishness.
The need for confession is a generally a regular part of most main stream or Main Line Protestant orders of worship. It is a part of worship that prepares those worshiping to confess their sin(s) in order to receive pardon, and be reconciled with God and with one-another. Personally, I enjoy the prayer of confession from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Please feel free to join me:
Most merciful God,we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,by what we have done,and by what we have left undone.We have not loved you with our whole heart;we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,have mercy on us and forgive us;that we may delight in your will,and walk in your ways,to the glory of your Name. Amen.
My hope is not that God would give me the will-power not to commit these sins anylonger, but rather that He would continue to transform me to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. To be filled with the fruit of the Spirit is to be transformed into the very character of Christ Himself. This, too, is my prayer. I have sinned against the Lord in thought, word, and deed. I have sinned by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved God with my whole heart, nor loved my neighbors as I love myself. I am truly sorry, and humbly repent. I believe that God's grace is so great that He will, for the sake of His own Son, Jesus, have mercy on me and forgive me. And I will delight in His will, and walk in His ways, to the glory of His name. Amen.
Do you need to confess to the Almighty God who created you and loves you?
a quick note from class
okay, class starts in less than ten minutes, but my esteemed professor hasn't arrived yet. So I'm sitting here, killing time, trying to figure out something significant, important, or just witty to write about, but the truth is that I don't really have anything to put down except this...
I'm excited about this class because of the professor. I've had Adelekan twice before for both Systematic Theology 1 & 2. He's sharp, insightful, and has quite the gift of encouragement. I'm hoping to learn more from this godly man, and hope that I will learn as much in here as I did in my last two classes with him.
In any event, this is my short note from class. Hope that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you're doing well. God's best blessings to you!
I'm excited about this class because of the professor. I've had Adelekan twice before for both Systematic Theology 1 & 2. He's sharp, insightful, and has quite the gift of encouragement. I'm hoping to learn more from this godly man, and hope that I will learn as much in here as I did in my last two classes with him.
In any event, this is my short note from class. Hope that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you're doing well. God's best blessings to you!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Non-Laborious Day
Today was a most un-laborious labor day, spent just hanging out with my extended family for a regular get-together. Lots of eating - hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, several salads, chips, and key lime pie, ice cream of different flavors, and pound cake. We talked about school, vacations, as well as the mundane things that happened in each of our lives over this Summer. The kids played, running about here and there, playing kickball, throwing footballs, and even some short-lived swimming. And then it was over. And we came home.
Kind of a funny thing, calling it Labor Day. Meant to be a celebration for the labor movement, it has really come to mean an end to Summer vacation. And today is just that. It's a mere few hours of "freedom" left before the new school year begins for our family. Though Labor Day means taking a break, tomorrow will be the true start of labor.
Well, here's to the end of a most non-Laborious Day!
Kind of a funny thing, calling it Labor Day. Meant to be a celebration for the labor movement, it has really come to mean an end to Summer vacation. And today is just that. It's a mere few hours of "freedom" left before the new school year begins for our family. Though Labor Day means taking a break, tomorrow will be the true start of labor.
Well, here's to the end of a most non-Laborious Day!
Friday, September 01, 2006
intro to U.S. Latin@ theologies
Met earlier this afternoon with my newest professor for an independent study on an introduction to U.S. Latina/o theologies. It's me and one other fellow meeting with the professora to be introduced to a variety of Latina and Latino theological voices. What it all entails, I'm not quite sure. But it's exposure to a new and different voice at the theological table, and that's important. One rather provincial person quizically noted to me, "why would you want to take that?" The answer is relatively simple: I want to be a theologian [actually we all are; most of us are just sloppily irresponsible about it], and a good theologian (I think) tries to see and/or listen to everyone who is seated at the table of the kingdom.
All that's to say that it's going to be a lot of work - the professora is no push over - but I think it will also be good and stimulating - she has a pleasant personality.
So, once more unto the breach...
All that's to say that it's going to be a lot of work - the professora is no push over - but I think it will also be good and stimulating - she has a pleasant personality.
So, once more unto the breach...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
