I found out my brother is coming home from Iraq today - for good. He's been there for about a year and a half, with a trip home in the middle, but now he'll be stationed in Kansas. I know you can get hurt anywhere, but I figure if you are living where folks don't run around with automatic rifles your chances increase dramatically.
He is in Kuwait at the moment. What a relief. I feel like I had divine assurances that he would be ok, but it is still a relief.
My mom is going to drive to Kansas, where his next station is and where he'll be flying into. My mom is a bit nervous, but she will be fine. I have absolutely no doubt that she can do it. Since dad died she has had to refind her way so her confidence is a little shaky, but she can do it.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
no spoken words, just a scream
My playlist is not very multifaceted. If you can't figure it out I enjoy U2. I'm listening to Pride right now. There is something about their music that just pushes you forward. And the pushing you feel isn't into something dark and sinister but hopeful, positive.
I like artists that are going somewhere - have something to say and are passionate about it. Art, music, or literature. It gets the audience to take some kind of position - can't just float along. C.S. Lewis makes a comment in Surprised by Joy, while he is on the road to Christ, like "the Christians are wrong, but the rest are all boring." Can you say the same thing about Christian musicians? What is wrong with this picture?
Have you ever heard U2 do a cover song? They're really not very good at it. I take that to mean - musically they are somewhere around average. Bono is definitely an average singer. But their original stuff just grabs at me. Is it all Brian Eno? You know, he helped out Paul Simon but it didn't have the same effect- not that I don't like Paul Simon. It sounded more atmospheric and landscapey, but it was Paul Simon's soul, not U2's.
So it isn't their musicality or their, what, producer? It's gotta be their heart. You can't pretend, or imitate that. Bono's a big personality, but I don't think it's all him. Who they are just comes across in their music. Is it Jesus in them that makes them able to give me hope, desire, want to push forward myself? Lord, may I be such a person.
Check out The Way I Am by Jennifer Knapp
I like artists that are going somewhere - have something to say and are passionate about it. Art, music, or literature. It gets the audience to take some kind of position - can't just float along. C.S. Lewis makes a comment in Surprised by Joy, while he is on the road to Christ, like "the Christians are wrong, but the rest are all boring." Can you say the same thing about Christian musicians? What is wrong with this picture?
Have you ever heard U2 do a cover song? They're really not very good at it. I take that to mean - musically they are somewhere around average. Bono is definitely an average singer. But their original stuff just grabs at me. Is it all Brian Eno? You know, he helped out Paul Simon but it didn't have the same effect- not that I don't like Paul Simon. It sounded more atmospheric and landscapey, but it was Paul Simon's soul, not U2's.
So it isn't their musicality or their, what, producer? It's gotta be their heart. You can't pretend, or imitate that. Bono's a big personality, but I don't think it's all him. Who they are just comes across in their music. Is it Jesus in them that makes them able to give me hope, desire, want to push forward myself? Lord, may I be such a person.
Check out The Way I Am by Jennifer Knapp
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monarch of the Glen
Monarch of the Glen is on the Tv - we get the dvds from the Library. It's about a clan family in Scotland working to keep their land and traditions intact. It's great - it's worth it just to see the scenery.
Pretty much everything I watch now is from dvds. Not much on TV appeals to me. When you think of shows like MASH, the Cosby Show, Family Ties, Magnum PI, can you think of anything on now that compares?
One upside is that I watch PBS a lot more. I've learned about Einstein, fractal antennas, am a lot more familiar with Charles Dickens than I've ever been. We don't have cable. I lived a couple of years without TV and wouldn't mind repeating the experience. With the internet I wonder if it would even phase me.
Pretty much everything I watch now is from dvds. Not much on TV appeals to me. When you think of shows like MASH, the Cosby Show, Family Ties, Magnum PI, can you think of anything on now that compares?
One upside is that I watch PBS a lot more. I've learned about Einstein, fractal antennas, am a lot more familiar with Charles Dickens than I've ever been. We don't have cable. I lived a couple of years without TV and wouldn't mind repeating the experience. With the internet I wonder if it would even phase me.
Friday, April 24, 2009
feeling not so groovy
Ok I'll admit it I had a crappy day.
Why you ask? Probably from feeling sorry for myself. It could be directly related to the fact that I have a paper due monday and I'm not sure what I'm doing. Not a big deal, right? Just gotta do it...
It is 80 degrees here - too hot! A good weekend to spend in the library, right? Who wants sunshine anyway - it gives you cancer!
I have got to work on that paper tonight - hopefully I can make significant progress and I can sleep well.
Why you ask? Probably from feeling sorry for myself. It could be directly related to the fact that I have a paper due monday and I'm not sure what I'm doing. Not a big deal, right? Just gotta do it...
It is 80 degrees here - too hot! A good weekend to spend in the library, right? Who wants sunshine anyway - it gives you cancer!
I have got to work on that paper tonight - hopefully I can make significant progress and I can sleep well.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
New Post! must keep writing-
Class #4 come and gone. We talked about Paul and the New Perspective last week, and I am trying to work it out in my own understanding, as I think they are on to something. Basically it says Paul's cultural background was not the same as Luther's, Luther read too much of his own life and experience into what Paul was saying. Paul did not feel the pressure to please God that Luther did - he was successful in keeping Torah. But the righteousness that comes through Christ is real, and offers a relationship with God that was unavailable through the rabbinical laws. Culturally this takes pressure off of the Jews, all of the implications of which I can't recall.
Last week we continued with Galatians. I'm trying to get the exegetical method down so it is more of a natural process, but so far it hasn't happened. Should spend a lot more time in the Bible - it is all reworking in me.
Had first lawn mow of the season. We are a bit anxious since we lost our yard worker. Spring is a good time to work the lawn but all free time is taken up with this class. I am feeling the need to be f -o -c -u -s -e -d. Have my priorities, narrow down my interests, and not be distracted by what isn't important.
Anyway, back to the lawn. When I lived in Europe, even the forests seemed well maintained. They have had so many centuries of civilization to beat back nature into a well-behaved status. Actually their society is beat back in much of the same way, much to my mild chagrin. In Europe, or Belgium, if you stood out it wasn't good. I enjoy unique people and being unique from time to time. It's not like they are afraid to speak their mind - they are not. But your behavior is expected to fall within the norm. I guess that's how their society survives - not only looking but being neat and orderly.
Like I should talk. As I get older I discovered I was raised to have certain manners and expectations that are more European than American. And more power to me, so I think. I don't appreciate the general American disregard for putting oneself first, by disregarding the feelings or interests of those around you in public or in a group.
But back to the lawn. So in our backyard here in America we continually have to beat nature back, just in our 2 measly acres. It definitely has a mind and plan that does not concur with ours.
That's all for today.
Class #4 come and gone. We talked about Paul and the New Perspective last week, and I am trying to work it out in my own understanding, as I think they are on to something. Basically it says Paul's cultural background was not the same as Luther's, Luther read too much of his own life and experience into what Paul was saying. Paul did not feel the pressure to please God that Luther did - he was successful in keeping Torah. But the righteousness that comes through Christ is real, and offers a relationship with God that was unavailable through the rabbinical laws. Culturally this takes pressure off of the Jews, all of the implications of which I can't recall.
Last week we continued with Galatians. I'm trying to get the exegetical method down so it is more of a natural process, but so far it hasn't happened. Should spend a lot more time in the Bible - it is all reworking in me.
Had first lawn mow of the season. We are a bit anxious since we lost our yard worker. Spring is a good time to work the lawn but all free time is taken up with this class. I am feeling the need to be f -o -c -u -s -e -d. Have my priorities, narrow down my interests, and not be distracted by what isn't important.
Anyway, back to the lawn. When I lived in Europe, even the forests seemed well maintained. They have had so many centuries of civilization to beat back nature into a well-behaved status. Actually their society is beat back in much of the same way, much to my mild chagrin. In Europe, or Belgium, if you stood out it wasn't good. I enjoy unique people and being unique from time to time. It's not like they are afraid to speak their mind - they are not. But your behavior is expected to fall within the norm. I guess that's how their society survives - not only looking but being neat and orderly.
Like I should talk. As I get older I discovered I was raised to have certain manners and expectations that are more European than American. And more power to me, so I think. I don't appreciate the general American disregard for putting oneself first, by disregarding the feelings or interests of those around you in public or in a group.
But back to the lawn. So in our backyard here in America we continually have to beat nature back, just in our 2 measly acres. It definitely has a mind and plan that does not concur with ours.
That's all for today.
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