Last night I finished Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse 5, a really funny anti-war polemic about the Dresden bombing in WWII. It's a really witty book with some pretty stout power behind it. Vonnegut uses the same kind of repeition that I like in Chuck Palahniuk's novels.
In other news, I keep being drawn to various news sources (www.al.com) for whatever scrap news I read on the upcoming college football season. It makes me nervous to read some of this stuff, just because I can feel the emotional pull of it. I think Bama will be fine, but you just never know until the ball gets kicked over the field that first time. I think that Croyle staying healthy could give us a great chance at the west title, but that less is pinned on him than it was last year, regardless. the new O-line makes me a bit nervous...so much of what they do changes the game, and I think I'd almost rather have a rock solid O-line than just about anything else. All in all, though, I think they'll be fine, if they can use those early games and get some quick experience. South Carolina will open conference play for us, and that's usch a wild card with spurrior out there. Still, I can't imagine that they'll be ready yet, with all the off the field problems.
Of course, I'm reasonably confident that Arkansas is going to suck, and that makes me feel better. At least in sports the tendency to define ourselves against others can probably go unchecked.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
laundry
this morning I woke up, and before sauntering in to the office, continued the work on the laundry which my wife very graciously began yesterday. (the laundry is normally my job). This brings up a couple of thoughts.
first of all, it is amazing how much laundry the two of us go through in a week. I mean, incredible. It really does ofer support to the future picture of humanity found in shows like star trek, where everybody basically wears a uniform all day. I could really go for a common human uniform, provided it allows for freedom of movement and comfort in both warm in cool temperatures. I think if one type of clothing were appropriate for work, play, hanging around the house, and school, It would cut down on the laundry task for my household considerably.
I remember in jr high we had these pe uniforms, and nobody would wash them (at least the guys) for like several months at a time. Most of the time when I think of this, I think about how gross this is. but now, I'm inclined to think about how many loads of laundry that eventually saved. I'm glad I did it.
first of all, it is amazing how much laundry the two of us go through in a week. I mean, incredible. It really does ofer support to the future picture of humanity found in shows like star trek, where everybody basically wears a uniform all day. I could really go for a common human uniform, provided it allows for freedom of movement and comfort in both warm in cool temperatures. I think if one type of clothing were appropriate for work, play, hanging around the house, and school, It would cut down on the laundry task for my household considerably.
I remember in jr high we had these pe uniforms, and nobody would wash them (at least the guys) for like several months at a time. Most of the time when I think of this, I think about how gross this is. but now, I'm inclined to think about how many loads of laundry that eventually saved. I'm glad I did it.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
back in the saddle again
Okay, that's it folks, the wild ride we call summer is drawing to a close, and that means my life becomes somewhat normal again. Bring on the routines! all the normal backdrops that put my life in context have been sorely missed, and I'm ready for their return.
One of those routines is blogging, so here I will continue to raise my ebenezer, and delightfully think with my fingers.
A couple of days ago I listened to the Nirvana Nevermind album in its entirity, with a great deal of inentionality...not doing anything else but listening. I think I want to do it again, but with a pecil in myhand or keyboard under my fingers, just to think through the music. so much anger, confusion in that music. and it's a part of me? What an ineresting person I am. I fascinate myself.
I think I'm regaining curiosity about a lof of differnt things, these days. I find myself glued to my fishtank, or to a chair where I can watch a line of ants for a while, just filled with fascination. and I hope it won't offend any of my dear students ho read this, but Ihave to say that one reason I love my job is because I get to "watch" adolescents grow, change, talk with their friends, eat, play, and just live. I really think that teenagers are fascinating beings, just so darn interesting. the way they think intrigues me, and just the way that they behave...how terrific!
One of those routines is blogging, so here I will continue to raise my ebenezer, and delightfully think with my fingers.
A couple of days ago I listened to the Nirvana Nevermind album in its entirity, with a great deal of inentionality...not doing anything else but listening. I think I want to do it again, but with a pecil in myhand or keyboard under my fingers, just to think through the music. so much anger, confusion in that music. and it's a part of me? What an ineresting person I am. I fascinate myself.
I think I'm regaining curiosity about a lof of differnt things, these days. I find myself glued to my fishtank, or to a chair where I can watch a line of ants for a while, just filled with fascination. and I hope it won't offend any of my dear students ho read this, but Ihave to say that one reason I love my job is because I get to "watch" adolescents grow, change, talk with their friends, eat, play, and just live. I really think that teenagers are fascinating beings, just so darn interesting. the way they think intrigues me, and just the way that they behave...how terrific!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Sweet Home Indeed
I hope you've all had a terrific holiday, mine was wonderfully exhausting, leaving me with the type of tiredness that signals fulfilling experience. It feels good to have given of yourself and feel like your heart and sweat have been invested in something worthwhile.
We took about twenty-five kids, most of them 14-15 years old with a few younger and older students along as well, down to Birmingham Alabama to work with Habitat for Humanity. The experience left us all worn out, but with a powerful memory. Habitat is an organization that works with folks who need affordable housing but don't have a lot to work with. It helps arrange for no-interest mortgages on houses built by volunteers to be sold for no profit. I only knew the organization by reputation before hand, but working with them was such a powerful experience that I would heartily contribute to the rumor that has built that rep. Habitat is an impressive program...if you get a chance, get involved!
I was extremely proud of our kids who went along...they worked very hard and were just a blast to hang out with. If any of you guys that went want to recount some of your thoughts or stories here, feel free.
Cracking into Kierkegaard these days.(I kept being pointed in that direction by Bonhoeffer) His personality comes out so much clearer than other philosophers/writers of his day, at least in my limited experience. I think we would have been buddies. He really does crack me up, too. More on that later, but some thoughts from the more academically minded that wander this way would be appreciated. Dante, I'm particularly curious about your thoughts on the Dane.
We took about twenty-five kids, most of them 14-15 years old with a few younger and older students along as well, down to Birmingham Alabama to work with Habitat for Humanity. The experience left us all worn out, but with a powerful memory. Habitat is an organization that works with folks who need affordable housing but don't have a lot to work with. It helps arrange for no-interest mortgages on houses built by volunteers to be sold for no profit. I only knew the organization by reputation before hand, but working with them was such a powerful experience that I would heartily contribute to the rumor that has built that rep. Habitat is an impressive program...if you get a chance, get involved!
I was extremely proud of our kids who went along...they worked very hard and were just a blast to hang out with. If any of you guys that went want to recount some of your thoughts or stories here, feel free.
Cracking into Kierkegaard these days.(I kept being pointed in that direction by Bonhoeffer) His personality comes out so much clearer than other philosophers/writers of his day, at least in my limited experience. I think we would have been buddies. He really does crack me up, too. More on that later, but some thoughts from the more academically minded that wander this way would be appreciated. Dante, I'm particularly curious about your thoughts on the Dane.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
welcome back (humming along to mase)
Okay friends, I've been more active on your blogs than on my own lately, but the time has come for a little electronic ink to spill on this page.
A flurry of activity these days...the summer speeds up for this professsion of mine, as the school cages have opened and I get to spend a bit more time with our students. Some of you guys have already commented on the fun had at Uplift this year, and I have to say it really was one of my favortie years, probably since 2000, and even edged that year out, I think. What was particularly significant was the way our kids took care of each other, and really encouraged each other this time. That made such a difference, and I really see turns taking place in people's lives, little and big changes. I see disciples treating people better, being more grateful for little things, celebrating joy with each other, and making space for others in their lives. Less selfishness, muy bueno. hearing from other YM's, counselors, and kids that oru kids were really leading and participating in the groups, classes, etc, made me feel proud of you guys, so props to you guys who stumble through this site from time to time, and to those who don't.
Always on my mind these days: what does it mean to follow Jesus, to be a disciple? I need to spend more time at this simplest level, at this core. following, imitating, learning from Jesus. And should I understand the church as the filter through which this comes, or an agent of the teaching, leading, and demonstrative christ? What kind of ecclesiology can we have based on the simple practice of discipleship? could one with this type of focus do a better job of connecting the gospels with the epistles? What do the ethical, doctrinal admonitions of Paul have to do with the Teacher and his band of followers?
A flurry of activity these days...the summer speeds up for this professsion of mine, as the school cages have opened and I get to spend a bit more time with our students. Some of you guys have already commented on the fun had at Uplift this year, and I have to say it really was one of my favortie years, probably since 2000, and even edged that year out, I think. What was particularly significant was the way our kids took care of each other, and really encouraged each other this time. That made such a difference, and I really see turns taking place in people's lives, little and big changes. I see disciples treating people better, being more grateful for little things, celebrating joy with each other, and making space for others in their lives. Less selfishness, muy bueno. hearing from other YM's, counselors, and kids that oru kids were really leading and participating in the groups, classes, etc, made me feel proud of you guys, so props to you guys who stumble through this site from time to time, and to those who don't.
Always on my mind these days: what does it mean to follow Jesus, to be a disciple? I need to spend more time at this simplest level, at this core. following, imitating, learning from Jesus. And should I understand the church as the filter through which this comes, or an agent of the teaching, leading, and demonstrative christ? What kind of ecclesiology can we have based on the simple practice of discipleship? could one with this type of focus do a better job of connecting the gospels with the epistles? What do the ethical, doctrinal admonitions of Paul have to do with the Teacher and his band of followers?
Thursday, June 09, 2005
greed
Alright, one of our students led our devo last night, and called my attention to the well known passage in I timothy 5 about greed and the love of money. Besides the well known part about the love of money being the root of all kinds of evil, there's a really powerful phrase about people eager for money piercing themselves with many griefs.
Piercing themselves with many griefs.
Piercing themselves with many griefs.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
disc today
For anybody interested, there will be some serious disc golf today (thursday) at burns park at 3:15. Give me a holler if you need a ride.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
trust
My dear friend cassandra got me thinking about trust last night, and any feedback you can provide is welcome...trying to get my brain around this again, because she was making me think of things I haven't mulled over in a while.
How do you think about trust? Is it something you do, like a skill? Like I'm either good at trusting or bad at it? Or is it more dependent on who I'm around...like if I always hang out with liars I will never trust, but in other situations I would find it easier? Or is it strictly a relational term, and dependent on both parties to some extent?
It always struck me as weird that I corinthians 13 says that love "always trusts"...and this is prescribed as appropriate human behavior!?! Don't we call that being naive? But on the other hand, I want to be the best at loving people, and I think part of that is learning to trust pretty relentlessly. Foolish?
a little help?
(cass: thanks for stirring my thoughts, but most of all, thanks for the...well, the trust.)
How do you think about trust? Is it something you do, like a skill? Like I'm either good at trusting or bad at it? Or is it more dependent on who I'm around...like if I always hang out with liars I will never trust, but in other situations I would find it easier? Or is it strictly a relational term, and dependent on both parties to some extent?
It always struck me as weird that I corinthians 13 says that love "always trusts"...and this is prescribed as appropriate human behavior!?! Don't we call that being naive? But on the other hand, I want to be the best at loving people, and I think part of that is learning to trust pretty relentlessly. Foolish?
a little help?
(cass: thanks for stirring my thoughts, but most of all, thanks for the...well, the trust.)
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