As the previous said posts are M-pendng. Actually, I think y 14 year old self ay have channeled into e for that one. It sees ore iature than usual.
Ah, finally.
After all that I sit here waiting for Madman Mundt with nothing but the cries of fishmongers and a Barton Fink feeling in spades.
Truth be told it's really Glen Kaiser's Blues Heaven that's furnishing the cries. I'm rather disappointed to have found that I don't have any recorded contemporary Christian music that really matches Springsteen and the Sessions Band live in Dublin for exuberance. I need some Rez band.
I saw the new Harry Potter movie tonight. It may be my new favorite. It manages to catch the brooding frustrating feel of the book very well. It streamlines the story well hitting most of the high points and dropping most of the exposition. I'm anxious to be able to see the end of the story and watch the two parts together to see how they work as one story. I also curious how the second part will work out without the emotional layer of Harry's struggle for the truth about Dumbledore unless that quest will be included there. Despite the action and the slight heart attack in Godric's Hollow and pretty much in direct opposition to most of my Potter reading I think my favorite parts were the more character intensive scenes as Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then Harry and Hermione, travelled the countryside trying to figure out what to do about the locket and how to find the horcruxes. Plus, Nick Cave and dancing. Some of that was really sweet and tense. I hadn't thought about it this way when I was reading the books, but tonight it reminded me of the Sam and Frodo sections of the Two Towers and Return of the King. Far less action oriented and more focused on the characters and how they keep going. Those were always my least favorite sections of LotR until suddenly they weren't. I can imagine how someone might think these sections of Deathly Hallows are just time filler and draggy, and I've read critics who seem to think so, but they really worked for me. And when it was all done I really wanted a beer, but alas, there was none, nor will be.
I know having said much had happened definitely implied I was going to tell what has been happening and implied so again in the title of this post. But I'm not going to tell much. There's both too little and too much. On the one hand there's not really been anything dramatic happening. I'm sure if you read back into other long term updates I've written you'll find almost the same elements as what I would say here or variants slight enough as to make no difference. I drive to and from Evanston every day listening to audiobooks and spend my day working. At home I watch t.v. I like, or read, or watch movies. I go to church, I spend time with youth and teach them about the Bible on occasion. I make lots of punnishing jokes and banter with Steve. Occasionally I go out and do something with friends. Occasionally I go walking along the Lake Michigan shore or watch a hundred geese fly overhead while hiking over glacial kames. It's not unheard of that there might be crazy improvisational dancing at a friend's birthday masquerade, or simultaneous prizes for sweetest and spiciest chili (same batch) at some other friends' party. Haikus happen sometimes, and even longer more thoughtful poems spring up and then don't get worked on. Maybe a friend's band releases an ep, maybe I go out for birthday pizza with only one new friend and no old ones. But it's not ever really dramatic except in that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and His mercies never come to an end. Day to day He speaks and calls and warns and blesses and disciplines and convicts and loves and in each moment is doing something as dramatic as creation and as small and quiet as a precise caesura. "God in the tiniest infinite detail."
And now having all gotten all Finked up, I'll try to contain myself and not start any fights at USO dances. And I'll open the package.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Posting Soon
Watch this space for future developments. I mean it. Just keep staring here until you see something. Then let me know what it was. Much has happened, as how could it not when I give a three month interval. That's like 131,000 or so minutes or a quarter the opening of Rent. Anyway, posts are impending. Keep watching. NO blinking!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Job for Another Year
In case you get your news about me here instead of on Facebook (not any more reliable a source), email, or in person, I was told this morning that I will be able to continue at the Northwestern University Library full time for another year. Huzzah!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
2nd Quarter Post
I really don't want these things to get so scarce as to be quarterly. Happy Father's Day, Daddy.
I've just returned from our church's family camp at Wesley Woods Camp in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was a fun time of volleyball, fishing, games, fellowship and worship. It's been a fun spring and summer. I attended Chicago's Celtic Fest in May with some friends, including Donna who was on her way back to Texas from Ireland. I found out that I'll have benefits and at least a half time job at the Northwestern University Library after the end of August (my current job situation is kind of complicated in that it's two separate half time jobs in the same department that combine to count as one full time position for benefits purposes; one of those jobs will definitely end in August, one won't). I had a fun trip down to Tennessee and Kentucky over Memorial Day. We took a group of youth to Moraine Hill State Park outside McHenry, Illinois for a day of hiking (were going to go to Starved Rock but the weather looked too prohibitive). I went with a team from my church to help rehab a house and serve dinner at a women's shelter through Roseland Christian Ministries on the South Side of Chicago (I learned to hang blinds). I started a Christian history book club group at my church and we've read Athanasius' On the Incarnation of the Word of God and an edition of the Apostolic Fathers (the first Christian writers in the era after the apostles). Now we're reading Augustine's Confessions.
Looking ahead for the summer I expect to make a trip to Minnesota over the fourth and my now traditional Labor Day swing through Tennessee and Kentucky to visit and to celebrate Cora and Cohen's birthdays. Otherwise I won't get to travel much because I just don't have much vacation time anymore. I also expect I'll get up to the Renaissance Faire some weekend and do some other fun stuff locally. There are movies to be seen (I'm way behind on my summer movie viewing), meats to grill, volleyballs to be bumped, set, spiked, served, blocked, and (more likely) whiffed; and of course there's lots of worship and praise yet to come.
I've just returned from our church's family camp at Wesley Woods Camp in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was a fun time of volleyball, fishing, games, fellowship and worship. It's been a fun spring and summer. I attended Chicago's Celtic Fest in May with some friends, including Donna who was on her way back to Texas from Ireland. I found out that I'll have benefits and at least a half time job at the Northwestern University Library after the end of August (my current job situation is kind of complicated in that it's two separate half time jobs in the same department that combine to count as one full time position for benefits purposes; one of those jobs will definitely end in August, one won't). I had a fun trip down to Tennessee and Kentucky over Memorial Day. We took a group of youth to Moraine Hill State Park outside McHenry, Illinois for a day of hiking (were going to go to Starved Rock but the weather looked too prohibitive). I went with a team from my church to help rehab a house and serve dinner at a women's shelter through Roseland Christian Ministries on the South Side of Chicago (I learned to hang blinds). I started a Christian history book club group at my church and we've read Athanasius' On the Incarnation of the Word of God and an edition of the Apostolic Fathers (the first Christian writers in the era after the apostles). Now we're reading Augustine's Confessions.
Looking ahead for the summer I expect to make a trip to Minnesota over the fourth and my now traditional Labor Day swing through Tennessee and Kentucky to visit and to celebrate Cora and Cohen's birthdays. Otherwise I won't get to travel much because I just don't have much vacation time anymore. I also expect I'll get up to the Renaissance Faire some weekend and do some other fun stuff locally. There are movies to be seen (I'm way behind on my summer movie viewing), meats to grill, volleyballs to be bumped, set, spiked, served, blocked, and (more likely) whiffed; and of course there's lots of worship and praise yet to come.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Athanasius on the Death of the Word of God
Athanasius of Alexandria has this, among many other amazing things, to say about Jesus' life and death.
"For the Word, perceiving that no otherwise could the corruption of men be undone save by death as a necessary condition, while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end He takes to Himself a body capable of death, that it, by partaking of the Word Who is above all, might be worthy to die in the stead of all, and might, because of the Word which was come to dwell in it, remain incorruptible, and that thenceforth corruption might be stayed from all by the Grace of the Resurrection. Whence, by offering unto death the body He Himself had taken, as an offering and sacrifice free from any stain, straightway He put away death from all His peers by the offering of an equivalent. For being over all, the Word of God naturally by offering His own temple and corporeal instrument for the life of all satisfied the debt by His death. And thus He, the incorruptible Son of God, being conjoined with all by a like nature, naturally clothed all with incorruption, by the promise of the resurrection. For the actual corruption in death has no longer holding-ground against men, by reason of the Word, which by his one body has come to dwell among them." (On the Incarnation of Our Lord, ch. 9, 1-2)
I hope you have a blessed Good Friday. Christ has Died. Easter is coming.
"For the Word, perceiving that no otherwise could the corruption of men be undone save by death as a necessary condition, while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end He takes to Himself a body capable of death, that it, by partaking of the Word Who is above all, might be worthy to die in the stead of all, and might, because of the Word which was come to dwell in it, remain incorruptible, and that thenceforth corruption might be stayed from all by the Grace of the Resurrection. Whence, by offering unto death the body He Himself had taken, as an offering and sacrifice free from any stain, straightway He put away death from all His peers by the offering of an equivalent. For being over all, the Word of God naturally by offering His own temple and corporeal instrument for the life of all satisfied the debt by His death. And thus He, the incorruptible Son of God, being conjoined with all by a like nature, naturally clothed all with incorruption, by the promise of the resurrection. For the actual corruption in death has no longer holding-ground against men, by reason of the Word, which by his one body has come to dwell among them." (On the Incarnation of Our Lord, ch. 9, 1-2)
I hope you have a blessed Good Friday. Christ has Died. Easter is coming.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Out like some kind of Amazing Animal that's Way better than Some Dumb Lamb
In honor of the end of March I thought I'd revisit one of my all time favorite weather quotes from a friend.
"I feel like March came in like a lion, then turned into a lamb. Then another lion came along and ate the lamb and I'm afraid there won't be any more lambs."
That's not this March. This March has been pretty non-descript. However these last few days have been some of the most amazing March weather I can remember (almost like what I'm told the weather was like here when I was in San Antonio in March three years ago). It was bright sunny and in the mid-seventies today. I don't know exactly what animal this March is going out like but if it's a lamb it's some kind of uber-mega-lamb that all the other lambs bow down and do the we're not worthy bit to.
The forecast is calling for 80 degrees tomorrow so it will probably snow.
"I feel like March came in like a lion, then turned into a lamb. Then another lion came along and ate the lamb and I'm afraid there won't be any more lambs."
That's not this March. This March has been pretty non-descript. However these last few days have been some of the most amazing March weather I can remember (almost like what I'm told the weather was like here when I was in San Antonio in March three years ago). It was bright sunny and in the mid-seventies today. I don't know exactly what animal this March is going out like but if it's a lamb it's some kind of uber-mega-lamb that all the other lambs bow down and do the we're not worthy bit to.
The forecast is calling for 80 degrees tomorrow so it will probably snow.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Finally
I can't believe I forgot to post this last week but our church is finally done with our interim period after our original senior pastor left in December 2007. On March 7 we passed our new constitution and bylaws and last Sunday we unanimously approved our new Pastoral Leadership Team and affirmed our interim elders as permanent elders. It's so good to be done with that process. I really believe that God led us through it and raised up a great group of godly men to be our elders.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Knee feeling better
I mentioned that I tweaked my knee. It's been getting better all week. Today I went for a 2 mile walk around a lake at a local park and the knee's fine. In the process I got to see a couple of herons standing on the shore or in the water fairly close to the path. I don't think I'd ever seen a heron standing out of the water before, so that was cool. Also as I was walking I thought that I'd seen all the types birds that usually hang out at the lake except a cormorant (I thought "ptarmigan", but "cormorant" is what I meant). Then as I was crossing the bridge back to the parking lot I saw a cormorant fly in and land on the lake. That was really cool.
Obscure Movie Quotes
They don't actually have to be all that obscure, but I was thinking the other day about movie/t.v. quotes I use in actual conversations (or that occur mentally in the midst of conversations) that I really don't expect the other person to recognize at all. Do you do this, and if so, what quotes do you use? Here are some of mine. Does anyone recognize where they're from? From least to most obscure.
"Way, Ted." Useful response to "No way!"
"Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has." Useful anytime someone suggests something can't be done.
"It's like my dad always said. Sooner or later everybody gets shot." Useful response to apparently inevitable situations.
"Shazbat!" Useful in place of cursing.
"Things change. People change. [breathy] Interests rates fluctuate." Useful in response to things changing
"I'm right on top of that, Rose." Useful when your boss asks about progress on an assignment
There're a couple more I can't remember right now, or can't print. Obviously there are also some I use that much better known. But I just get curious about this. Unfortunately I've got movie and t.v. quotes running through my head for almost any situation. Sometimes I've got scripture. I wish the ratios were reversed.
"Way, Ted." Useful response to "No way!"
"Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has." Useful anytime someone suggests something can't be done.
"It's like my dad always said. Sooner or later everybody gets shot." Useful response to apparently inevitable situations.
"Shazbat!" Useful in place of cursing.
"Things change. People change. [breathy] Interests rates fluctuate." Useful in response to things changing
"I'm right on top of that, Rose." Useful when your boss asks about progress on an assignment
There're a couple more I can't remember right now, or can't print. Obviously there are also some I use that much better known. But I just get curious about this. Unfortunately I've got movie and t.v. quotes running through my head for almost any situation. Sometimes I've got scripture. I wish the ratios were reversed.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Mildly Amusing Quotes
Like the title says. Quotes that have given me a chuckle recently.
"I really feel like a nap right now. Either that or a chocolate milkshake."
Co-worker
"Discussing Aristotle and Sotocrates..." somewhat inebriated grad student friend
"I wonder if you could help me. I've been feeling convicted about not
living up to the command in Genesis 1:29. I was thinking that maybe if you
struggle with that too then we could work together to fulfill God's will in
our lives." Suggesting a Christian pick-up line. Get's funnier if you really know what Gen. 1:29 is. 1:28 is the verse that was intended.
"I've lived here for almost seven years. Dishes have always been in that
cabinet. So why did I just look in this one for a plate?"
"Heaven and earth in 3-D!" Clash of the Titans Promo.
"Wow! That is amazing!" Me looking out the window
"I really feel like a nap right now. Either that or a chocolate milkshake."
Co-worker
"Discussing Aristotle and Sotocrates..." somewhat inebriated grad student friend
"I wonder if you could help me. I've been feeling convicted about not
living up to the command in Genesis 1:29. I was thinking that maybe if you
struggle with that too then we could work together to fulfill God's will in
our lives." Suggesting a Christian pick-up line. Get's funnier if you really know what Gen. 1:29 is. 1:28 is the verse that was intended.
"I've lived here for almost seven years. Dishes have always been in that
cabinet. So why did I just look in this one for a plate?"
"Heaven and earth in 3-D!" Clash of the Titans Promo.
"Wow! That is amazing!" Me looking out the window
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Not in Kansas Anymore Even if it is Windy
I'll grant you that someone who's never been in Kansas ought not be surprised to find that he's not there. Still when you're sitting at your desk at work with a case of Guiness on your desk for a flavor pairing event sponsored by your office staff association it can be disorienting if you've lived in dry counties and on dry campuses most of your life (the county I'm in is not remotely dry but my last workplace was). The flavor pairing was a lot of fun. My co-worker Meira and I provided vegetarian shepherd's pie and Guiness draft. There was a lot of great food from pulled pork barbecue and Greek meatballs to honey flavored goat cheese and a Senegalese dish I never caught the name of. There were lots of different wines, our Guiness, some ginger beer, some good old fashioned midwest lager. I thought the most interesting pairing was homemade cherry cordial in a small dark chocolate cup. It was a good time and a long way from the last place.
It was crazy windy today. One of the windiest days I ever remember. Maybe not as strong as the wind that collapsed the revolving door at Hewitt but very strong. As I was getting ready to leave work I saw waves crashing on the island across the lagoon from the library (I love working at a place that has an island and a lagoon and crashing waves). I decided to drop my stuff off at the car and go for a walk along the lake shore. In addition to the wind, which was blowing south, southwest down the shore, the light was also amazing. The sun had dropped behind the campus buildings but you could still see the last rays out on the lake shining up the foam. When I took the path to the island behind the student center I could see the Chicago skyline shining in the setting sun. The wind was take-your-breath-away strong like standing in the de facto wind tunnel between Mohn and Ell at St. Olaf on the windiest days there. When the path turned north up the shore I almost couldn't keep going. The force was so much I thought it was going to blow me over a couple of times. When I made my way over to where the waves were rolling in and splashing against the rocks it felt like the spray was going to cut me. It was awesome.
Even so, the best part came as I was sail walking back to the car. There were a lot of gulls out in the middle of the lagoon where the water was fairly calm despite the wind because of the shelter from the island and the buildings to the north. I looked up and saw a gull almost hovering right over me. He had his wings bent in a little and was just gliding on the wind. It was like he was a kite some kid was playing with. At times it looked like he was trying to work his way upwind to the middle of the lagoon to join the other gulls. At other times it looked like he was just riding the wind for the fun of it. I hardly ever saw him beat his wings. He just floated on the wind riding the gusts, working down and in toward the other gulls. Then another big gust would pick him up and carry him back out and across water. Then he'd start gliding back. I hope he riding for the joy and excitement of that awesome wind because getting to the other gulls looked like it would have been really frustrating. Even so, it was so cool to watch him hit a point where he would just hover in one spot it seemed before swooping down and back. Praise God for the beauty of the world he has made.
It was crazy windy today. One of the windiest days I ever remember. Maybe not as strong as the wind that collapsed the revolving door at Hewitt but very strong. As I was getting ready to leave work I saw waves crashing on the island across the lagoon from the library (I love working at a place that has an island and a lagoon and crashing waves). I decided to drop my stuff off at the car and go for a walk along the lake shore. In addition to the wind, which was blowing south, southwest down the shore, the light was also amazing. The sun had dropped behind the campus buildings but you could still see the last rays out on the lake shining up the foam. When I took the path to the island behind the student center I could see the Chicago skyline shining in the setting sun. The wind was take-your-breath-away strong like standing in the de facto wind tunnel between Mohn and Ell at St. Olaf on the windiest days there. When the path turned north up the shore I almost couldn't keep going. The force was so much I thought it was going to blow me over a couple of times. When I made my way over to where the waves were rolling in and splashing against the rocks it felt like the spray was going to cut me. It was awesome.
Even so, the best part came as I was sail walking back to the car. There were a lot of gulls out in the middle of the lagoon where the water was fairly calm despite the wind because of the shelter from the island and the buildings to the north. I looked up and saw a gull almost hovering right over me. He had his wings bent in a little and was just gliding on the wind. It was like he was a kite some kid was playing with. At times it looked like he was trying to work his way upwind to the middle of the lagoon to join the other gulls. At other times it looked like he was just riding the wind for the fun of it. I hardly ever saw him beat his wings. He just floated on the wind riding the gusts, working down and in toward the other gulls. Then another big gust would pick him up and carry him back out and across water. Then he'd start gliding back. I hope he riding for the joy and excitement of that awesome wind because getting to the other gulls looked like it would have been really frustrating. Even so, it was so cool to watch him hit a point where he would just hover in one spot it seemed before swooping down and back. Praise God for the beauty of the world he has made.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
St. Patrick's Day
Some things I just don't let go by (sometimes). This year I decided I'd take a break from listening to audio books in the car for a couple of weeks and just listen to music. I grabbed my Eden's Bridge Celtic Psalms and Celtic Praise CD's and have been listening to them in the car. For a long time I've loved their song "Beginning and End" which I believe is loosely based on St. Patrick's Breastplate which I posted a version of last year. Here are the lyrics to "Beginning and End" by Eden's Bridge.
"God in the darkness and God in the morning
God in the work and the pain and the play
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day
God in the tiniest infinite detail
God in the nearest and furthest away
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day
I lay down my tears and my hatred
Tear down the curtain of sin
Open my heart and let all that is good enter in
I lay down, my heart is so weary
And gaze on His presence with awe
There's nothing too small to entrust to the infinite God
God for the humble and meek and bewildered
God for the nearest and furthest away
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day."
That second line in the first chorus is what really struck me this time. "God in the work and the pain and the play." Especially the idea of God in the work and the pain has been speaking to me this week. I've been wanting my faith to be more apparent, to me at least, in my work. Just singing this song quietly all day yesterday and today has done wonders for my attitude. Also I tweaked one of my knees playing wallyball on Sunday so I've been experiencing more pain than usual. Again it's good to remember God is there in the pain, even when it's not very dramatic pain. Anyway, I wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day aftermath. Slainte.
"God in the darkness and God in the morning
God in the work and the pain and the play
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day
God in the tiniest infinite detail
God in the nearest and furthest away
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day
I lay down my tears and my hatred
Tear down the curtain of sin
Open my heart and let all that is good enter in
I lay down, my heart is so weary
And gaze on His presence with awe
There's nothing too small to entrust to the infinite God
God for the humble and meek and bewildered
God for the nearest and furthest away
Lord of all Heaven and Earth's great creator
God at beginning and end of the day."
That second line in the first chorus is what really struck me this time. "God in the work and the pain and the play." Especially the idea of God in the work and the pain has been speaking to me this week. I've been wanting my faith to be more apparent, to me at least, in my work. Just singing this song quietly all day yesterday and today has done wonders for my attitude. Also I tweaked one of my knees playing wallyball on Sunday so I've been experiencing more pain than usual. Again it's good to remember God is there in the pain, even when it's not very dramatic pain. Anyway, I wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day aftermath. Slainte.
Friday, March 12, 2010
12 Things I Love About My Mom
My Momma had a birthday today. In honor of the date I thought I'd put up a list of 12 things I love about my Momma. There are many more than I could list.
1. I love that she’s serious about sharing her faith with people she cares about.
2. I love the way she adopts people into the family.
3. I love that she loves my Daddy.
4. I love that she once told me the Beatles were awesome.
5. I love that she encouraged me to read and to love books even before I could walk.
6. I love that she was willing to let me go away to school and even took me on trips to Southwestern Missouri and all over Ohio looking for schools.
7. I love that she’s willing to offer a lifetime supply of coconut monkeys to someone if they’d marry me.
8. I love that she shares what God has showed her.
9. I love the devotion she showed in caring for Granny and Grandaddy.
10. I love that my friends wanted to travel 800 miles to meet her (and invited me to come along).
11. I love that she’s saved sermon notes, Sunday school notes, and cartoons that she thought I’d find interesting, useful, or funny.
12. I love that she loves to laugh.
Happy birthday, Momma.
Love, Bubba.
1. I love that she’s serious about sharing her faith with people she cares about.
2. I love the way she adopts people into the family.
3. I love that she loves my Daddy.
4. I love that she once told me the Beatles were awesome.
5. I love that she encouraged me to read and to love books even before I could walk.
6. I love that she was willing to let me go away to school and even took me on trips to Southwestern Missouri and all over Ohio looking for schools.
7. I love that she’s willing to offer a lifetime supply of coconut monkeys to someone if they’d marry me.
8. I love that she shares what God has showed her.
9. I love the devotion she showed in caring for Granny and Grandaddy.
10. I love that my friends wanted to travel 800 miles to meet her (and invited me to come along).
11. I love that she’s saved sermon notes, Sunday school notes, and cartoons that she thought I’d find interesting, useful, or funny.
12. I love that she loves to laugh.
Happy birthday, Momma.
Love, Bubba.
A Year from Trinity
By dates the anniversary's tomorrow, but by days of the week this is the one year anniversary of my jettisoning from Trinity International University. Friday, March 13, 2009 and day that will live forever in my memory (assuming I don't forget) and that of 25 or so other people. I really hope the school's better off for it. The library entrance has been nicely remodeled and the new student center looks great. I hope the people who were let go are better off for it as well. I hope and believe that I am. I still occasionally find myself referring to the Trinity library in the first person. I thought about ways to commemorate the weekend like getting hammered at some point. I decided to bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits for His lovingkindness is great and to pray for the school. It's been and interesting year, and I expect this one will be as well.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Post
God is good. I'd like to post more now. Maybe in a day or two. In the meantime, and the friendlytime, and every other time, God is good. This is not a subtle attempt to allude to some good news that I don't have time to post now. It's just a plain fact. God is good. Jesus is alive and coming again.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Go Big Blue and funny quotes
UK continues undefeated after beating Louisville this afternoon. I'm glad they're winning but I'm annoyed by their habit of starting to blow other teams out and then letting the other teams back in to make an interesting game. I don't want to watch interesting UK games. I want to watch UK blowouts. Still beating UConn, North Carolina, Indiana, and Louisville makes for a very satisfying pre-conference season.
"The agitator in the wash on the spin move and then bucket in the rinse." Clark Kellogg describing a particularly amazing layup by John Wall
"All he could think of was the taste of the sauce. If the manifest of ingredients on the bottle had been legible, it would have read something like this:
Water, blackstrap molasses, imported habanero peppers, salt, garlic, ginger, tomato puree, axle grease, real hickory smoke, snuff, buts of clove cigarettes, Guinness Stout fermentation dregs, uranium mill tailings, muffler cores, monosodium glutamate, nitrates, nitrites, nitrotes and nitrutes, nutrites, natrotes, powered pork nose hairs, dynamite, activated charcoal, match heads, used pipe cleaners, tar, nicotine, single-malt whiskey, smoked beef lymph nodes, autumn leaves, red fuming nitric acid, bituminous coal, fallout, printer's ink, laundry starch, drain cleaner, blue chrysolite asbestos, carrageenan, BHA, BHT, and natural flavorings." The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.
"The agitator in the wash on the spin move and then bucket in the rinse." Clark Kellogg describing a particularly amazing layup by John Wall
"All he could think of was the taste of the sauce. If the manifest of ingredients on the bottle had been legible, it would have read something like this:
Water, blackstrap molasses, imported habanero peppers, salt, garlic, ginger, tomato puree, axle grease, real hickory smoke, snuff, buts of clove cigarettes, Guinness Stout fermentation dregs, uranium mill tailings, muffler cores, monosodium glutamate, nitrates, nitrites, nitrotes and nitrutes, nutrites, natrotes, powered pork nose hairs, dynamite, activated charcoal, match heads, used pipe cleaners, tar, nicotine, single-malt whiskey, smoked beef lymph nodes, autumn leaves, red fuming nitric acid, bituminous coal, fallout, printer's ink, laundry starch, drain cleaner, blue chrysolite asbestos, carrageenan, BHA, BHT, and natural flavorings." The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.
Friday, January 01, 2010
2009 in Review
I'm borrowing this format from a friend.
I. Worst Four Memories of 2009 (I've got mostly positive memories. I had to dig for some of these:
1. The feeling of discouragement in mid-June and July when a job possibility I was excited about fell through and it looked like nothing was going to work out on the job search front.
2. March 13th hearing that not only had I lost my job but that three other library co-workers had as well.
3. Watching the final winding down and break-up of the small group I'd been part of since 2000.
4. Hearing over the course of about an hour on Thanksgiving that my cousin Libby was very sick in the hospital and then that she was dead.
II. Best Eight Memories of 2009 (in no particular order):
1. Traveling with Kluths down to Kentucky so Tara and the kids could meet my parents.
2. Auditing the History of Middle Earth class at Trinity in the spring and always playing the orcs with Kurt in the simulation games.
3. Two moments of grace in late January. My confession being met with a word of God's love at an Encounter Worship service and a meeting that could have resulted in summary firing but turned into an offer of a second chance at work (even if I still lost the job a month and a half later)
4. Working on the Extreme Build house with Mom and Dad and lots of other great folks.
5. Standing by Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park with my friend Paul.
6. The Ole reunions at the Kluths' and at Spud and Sonny's.
7. 3 trips to Tennessee.
8. Singing the "500 Miles" song in the pub on the Riverwalk on Christmas Eve.
III. Four Biggest Accomplishments
1. Rewriting our church's constitution and bylaws.
2. Withdrawing and selling 600 of my books and cd's.
3. Reading the Bible through in the year.
4. Organizing at display at Trinity's library on Wisdom in the Movies to coincide with Christian Life Week
IV. Biggest Failures
1. Not fulfilling my pledge as part of the 2009 TCC Prayer Initiative. There were several elements. The only one I got close to was praying corporately every week.
2. Not getting much of anything done with my six months of free time.
3. Losing my job at Trinity. For the most part that wasn't a failure in 2009 and it may be that it would have happened anyway. Still it's hard to believe that if I had been a better organized and more efficient employee between 2006 and 2008 that I would have been on of those to go in 2009. That statement also shouldn't be taken to reflect on anybody else who lost their job at Trinity last year. I just think that the way my specific position developed into expendability was a result of my bad habits in previous years. It didn't have to develop that way.
4. The break-up of my small group. This is another one that may have happened anyway but things could have been different.
V. Favorite 4 Movies seen in the theatre in 2009:
1. Coraline
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. District 9
4. Avatar
*Watchmen gets a note for being my favorite soundtrack and A Serious Man for being my favorite non-animated, non-sci fi/fantasy/adventure movie
VI. Favorite 5 Non-fiction books read in 2009
1. Planet Narnia : The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward - Discusses the medieval idea of the planets in Lewis' thought and fiction, especially as an interpretive key to the Chronicles. The idea sounds farfetched but Ward makes a very strong and fascinating argument.
2. The Figure of Beatrice : A Study in Dante by Charles Williams - Williams discusses the influence of the Dante's idea of Beatrice throughout his poetry and philosophy and highlights the importance of the affirmation of images in theology and art.
3. The Language of God : A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins - The director of the human genome project presents a reason for the hope that is in him and for the union of faith and science, particularly evolutionary science.
4. The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in Future Grace by John Piper - Piper encourages us to let ourselves be transformed by the power of God's promises.
5. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Bonhoeffer's interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and what it means to follow Jesus.
VII. 5 Favorite Fiction Books read in 2009
1. The Sandman by Neil Gaiman - Gaimans tragic graphic novel story of Dream, the king of dreams, and his family that twists and twines many different mythologies and creates some new ones of its own leading to end and rebirth.
2. The Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones - The story of a runaway serf and his son in 14th century Barcelona set against the background of the building of a church by the piety of the people. Probably my favorite scene in any book this year is where the boy becomes a man carrying a huge stone from the quarry to the church.
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - I hated this in high school and gave up after the first chapter. I could/can be an arrogant punk. I'm old enough for it now and it was a beautiful sad story.
4. Anathem by Neal Stephenson - The story of monastic mathematicians on another world coming to terms with alien life while marrying platonic ideas and modern math and science. A good long story filled with interesting ideas.
5. The Diamond Age, or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson - An exciting story set in a not too distant future of nano-technology and distributed political economy. Once again, adventure combined with lots of interesting ideas. Stephenson's Snow Crash and Baroque Cycle were some of my favorites from 2008 as well.
6. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - Way surreal. A teenaged Japanese runaway tries to find himself while living in strange library. An old man who can talk to cats embarks on a strange quest across Japan accompanied by a puzzled truck driver. I really liked this book for its evocative imagery and the idea of living in a library.
VIII. Favorite Fiction/Non-fiction hybrid book of 2009
1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri translated and edited by Dorothy Sayers and Barbara Reynolds (Sayers died before she could finish her translation and notes on Paradiso)- I read Inferno and parts of Purgatory and Paradise in College and was unenthused. When I revisited the Comedy this year I was blown away by the power of Dante's imagery and his vision of the Christian life. This experience was only enhanced by Sayers' notes and comments on the imagery and its function as an allegory of Christian life.
IX. 4 Goals for 2010 (I've got lots of these but here are 4)
1. Read through the Chronological Study Bible.
2. Pray daily.
3. Find a new job or permanent position at Northwestern by the end of August (or at least have made a pro-active good faith effort to do so).
4. Write a short story.
X. Song of 2009: "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman
This is the song that meant the most to me last year and that I hope to live in the spirit of in 2010 as well,
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
I. Worst Four Memories of 2009 (I've got mostly positive memories. I had to dig for some of these:
1. The feeling of discouragement in mid-June and July when a job possibility I was excited about fell through and it looked like nothing was going to work out on the job search front.
2. March 13th hearing that not only had I lost my job but that three other library co-workers had as well.
3. Watching the final winding down and break-up of the small group I'd been part of since 2000.
4. Hearing over the course of about an hour on Thanksgiving that my cousin Libby was very sick in the hospital and then that she was dead.
II. Best Eight Memories of 2009 (in no particular order):
1. Traveling with Kluths down to Kentucky so Tara and the kids could meet my parents.
2. Auditing the History of Middle Earth class at Trinity in the spring and always playing the orcs with Kurt in the simulation games.
3. Two moments of grace in late January. My confession being met with a word of God's love at an Encounter Worship service and a meeting that could have resulted in summary firing but turned into an offer of a second chance at work (even if I still lost the job a month and a half later)
4. Working on the Extreme Build house with Mom and Dad and lots of other great folks.
5. Standing by Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park with my friend Paul.
6. The Ole reunions at the Kluths' and at Spud and Sonny's.
7. 3 trips to Tennessee.
8. Singing the "500 Miles" song in the pub on the Riverwalk on Christmas Eve.
III. Four Biggest Accomplishments
1. Rewriting our church's constitution and bylaws.
2. Withdrawing and selling 600 of my books and cd's.
3. Reading the Bible through in the year.
4. Organizing at display at Trinity's library on Wisdom in the Movies to coincide with Christian Life Week
IV. Biggest Failures
1. Not fulfilling my pledge as part of the 2009 TCC Prayer Initiative. There were several elements. The only one I got close to was praying corporately every week.
2. Not getting much of anything done with my six months of free time.
3. Losing my job at Trinity. For the most part that wasn't a failure in 2009 and it may be that it would have happened anyway. Still it's hard to believe that if I had been a better organized and more efficient employee between 2006 and 2008 that I would have been on of those to go in 2009. That statement also shouldn't be taken to reflect on anybody else who lost their job at Trinity last year. I just think that the way my specific position developed into expendability was a result of my bad habits in previous years. It didn't have to develop that way.
4. The break-up of my small group. This is another one that may have happened anyway but things could have been different.
V. Favorite 4 Movies seen in the theatre in 2009:
1. Coraline
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. District 9
4. Avatar
*Watchmen gets a note for being my favorite soundtrack and A Serious Man for being my favorite non-animated, non-sci fi/fantasy/adventure movie
VI. Favorite 5 Non-fiction books read in 2009
1. Planet Narnia : The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward - Discusses the medieval idea of the planets in Lewis' thought and fiction, especially as an interpretive key to the Chronicles. The idea sounds farfetched but Ward makes a very strong and fascinating argument.
2. The Figure of Beatrice : A Study in Dante by Charles Williams - Williams discusses the influence of the Dante's idea of Beatrice throughout his poetry and philosophy and highlights the importance of the affirmation of images in theology and art.
3. The Language of God : A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins - The director of the human genome project presents a reason for the hope that is in him and for the union of faith and science, particularly evolutionary science.
4. The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in Future Grace by John Piper - Piper encourages us to let ourselves be transformed by the power of God's promises.
5. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Bonhoeffer's interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and what it means to follow Jesus.
VII. 5 Favorite Fiction Books read in 2009
1. The Sandman by Neil Gaiman - Gaimans tragic graphic novel story of Dream, the king of dreams, and his family that twists and twines many different mythologies and creates some new ones of its own leading to end and rebirth.
2. The Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones - The story of a runaway serf and his son in 14th century Barcelona set against the background of the building of a church by the piety of the people. Probably my favorite scene in any book this year is where the boy becomes a man carrying a huge stone from the quarry to the church.
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - I hated this in high school and gave up after the first chapter. I could/can be an arrogant punk. I'm old enough for it now and it was a beautiful sad story.
4. Anathem by Neal Stephenson - The story of monastic mathematicians on another world coming to terms with alien life while marrying platonic ideas and modern math and science. A good long story filled with interesting ideas.
5. The Diamond Age, or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson - An exciting story set in a not too distant future of nano-technology and distributed political economy. Once again, adventure combined with lots of interesting ideas. Stephenson's Snow Crash and Baroque Cycle were some of my favorites from 2008 as well.
6. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - Way surreal. A teenaged Japanese runaway tries to find himself while living in strange library. An old man who can talk to cats embarks on a strange quest across Japan accompanied by a puzzled truck driver. I really liked this book for its evocative imagery and the idea of living in a library.
VIII. Favorite Fiction/Non-fiction hybrid book of 2009
1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri translated and edited by Dorothy Sayers and Barbara Reynolds (Sayers died before she could finish her translation and notes on Paradiso)- I read Inferno and parts of Purgatory and Paradise in College and was unenthused. When I revisited the Comedy this year I was blown away by the power of Dante's imagery and his vision of the Christian life. This experience was only enhanced by Sayers' notes and comments on the imagery and its function as an allegory of Christian life.
IX. 4 Goals for 2010 (I've got lots of these but here are 4)
1. Read through the Chronological Study Bible.
2. Pray daily.
3. Find a new job or permanent position at Northwestern by the end of August (or at least have made a pro-active good faith effort to do so).
4. Write a short story.
X. Song of 2009: "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman
This is the song that meant the most to me last year and that I hope to live in the spirit of in 2010 as well,
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Psalm of the Day
1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
--Psalm 1 (ESV)
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
--Psalm 1 (ESV)
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