Healthcare

I read a post by Jim Wallis on his blog in which he reflected on a recent and anxious trip with his young son to the emergency room. He ponders the situation of those who do not have adequate healthcare provision and how their fears must be multiplied. This is my comment to hs post.

I just took my 20-year old daughter to the emergency room for similar symptoms last week (only my 3rd trip in 26 years of parenting!) and was so grateful for health insurance. But I couldn't help remembering the times when we were without health coverage. We were church planters in Rhode Island fifteen years ago, literally living by faith, with a 10 year old, a 5 year old and a newborn baby. I remember my husband trying to find a plan we could afford. We finally found one (a minimalist one) and the salesman came to our tiny home to discuss the plan. The thing I remember most about it was that it only covered emergency room visits which were the result of accidents. He joked, "If your husband is having a heart attack, hit him over the head and get him to the ER!". I didn't laugh. I asked what I was to do if my infant or any of my children spiked a high fever, went into convulsions, etc. in the middle of the night or on a week-end. He responded: "Call your doctor and have him meet you at his office." I asked if he had a list of these doctors who would meet you at the office in the midnight hours. Of course, he didn't respond. The great irony of this is that all of this was occurring at the time the Clintons were proposing their healthcare plan. And I remember my boss, a good Christian woman, laughing scornfully at the Clinton plan. Of course, she was a bookstore owner, with a good insurance plan, and a husband with good retirement from the military industrial complex.

I am so grateful that the Seminary where I teach provides healthcare (a very expensive plan) for my family but I cannot forget the fear and anxiety of being a "have not". God help us.

Giving Thanks

Thanks to Hope, Josh and Lex for hosting our family feast!

The Screenwriters' Strike (by Jim Wallis)

Friday, November 09, 2007
The 'Desperate' Consequences of the Writers' Strike (by Jim Wallis)

The evening news has been filled with tragic reminders of our broken world: continued violence in Iraq, bombings in Afghanistan, and political unrest in Pakistan.

But the most devastating news of all?

Due to Hollywood's ongoing screenwriters strike, Desperate Housewives may have to go into reruns this season. Terrible news, I know. My issue is not with the screenwriters themselves (I sympathize with their efforts to get an equitable share of corporate profits). As to the content of our media culture—now that's another story.

So what will be the consequences of our nation's restricted access to Housewives? Brace yourselves. This could get ugly.

America's appetite for the scandalous, seductive, and scintillating may have to be put on hold for a time. Adultery as entertainment may have to give way to long meals around the family dinner table. On cold, dark evenings we may have to fill the void reading books in front of the warm glow of fireplaces instead of catching up on Eva Longoria's most recent escapades with her pool boy. And rather than lying in bed channel surfing the for the latest television infidelity, we married couples may actually have to turn to one another and engage in meaningful conversations (or even in committed, marital sex).

What terrible, horrible, utterly rotten, no-good news indeed.

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows

Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Guilliani (divorced twice, married thrice, supporter of abortion rights and gay marriage)

Bob Jones III (Fundamentalist Baptist) has endorsed Mitt Romney (Mormon)

James Dobson wanted to endorse Newt Gingrich.

Movie Review: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

We rented and watched the HBO production Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Sunday evening. The opening sequence which quickly leads to the Battle of Little Big Horn held much promise as a helicopter moved from Sitting Bull's called encampment of thousands of Native Americans across the hills to the battlefield where an arrogant Custer led his hungry and somewhat naive soldiers to their deaths.

I agree with most of the reviews I read (after last night's viewing): the movie tries to cover too much difficult to understand, little-known, carefully nuanced epic history in too little time. I felt that characters were not carefully developed and there was simply too much assumption that the audience knew the history. In fact, I'm fairly sure that the "artistic license" taken by the producers distorted history. For instance, there was an attempt to show a connection between the arrest and killing of Sitting Bull and the Wounded Knee massacre; this connection is, no doubt, direct. However, the events are morphed into one with no real time lapse between them.

What is most missed by this Impressionistic view, is the pitiful plight of the poor, sick, starving Ghost Dancers at Wounded Knee and their fatally ill leader, Bigfoot, suffering from tuberculosis, leading from a reclining position in a wagon. The emphasis on Dawes' project and the Washington politics surrounding the events strip the story of its pathos and its spirituality.

Once again, a lack of communication between two cultures has resulted in another failed attempt at reconciliation.

I can't help but feel that what is called for is an act of contrition and repentance on the part of the White offenders. Movies, art, music, even stories, may set the stage, raise awareness and even provoke but repentance is not an artistic act. It is an act of the will and the heart of a people. And of its leaders.

The Next Generation

Friday night, at the Kindred Spirit Ministries Fall Retreat, I had the great privilege of singing back-up with my second cousins, John Mark and Moriah Whichard. John Mark is ten and he sang the lead vocal on "Through the Fire". He has a great voice and is already powerfully anointed by the Spirit. It was a joy both to hear him and to see him used of God. The whole church responded as they recognized God's anointing on him.

One of the greatest aspects of Pentecostal worship is its egalitarian nature. There are no barriers of gender, race or even age in Spirit-led worship and a "son or daughter" is just as likely to prophesy in word or in song as a person of an older age or of more experience.

As long as the next generation is willing to be used of God, the Spirit of Pentecost will move on them and use them. The question is, will those of us who are older give Him room to move?

Watching: PBR Finals

The first week-end of the PBR Final is complete. The Brazilian Guilherme Marchi has moved to the number one position over the "bad boy" Justin McBride (2005 World Champion). I'm happy for McBride to slip in the standings. In all fairness, he is a great bullrider and has dominated all season. But too much is made of him and I get tired of the hype. The Finals will continue next week-end, beginning on Thursday and culminating with two events on Sunday. Watching the Finals is an annual family event. We tend to favor the Brazilians and/or the underdogs. Marchi has come close to winning in the last two years. Last year was a highlight with Adriano Moraes winning his third world title.

Doesn't Get Any Sweeter Than This

How cute is that?

On Radiohead and Keith Green and the Church

Radiohead's highly anticipated album "In Rainbows" was available for download this morning. I've seen no figures yet as to how successful the download was. This is being hailed as a groundbreaking, as a major artist/band is thumbing their nose at the industry.

Corky has already posted something on this but I couldn't help reflect this morning about Keith Green's break with his friends at his record label, Sparrow Records. His convictions would no longer allow him to charge for the gospel and the album, released in 1980, was available for "whatever you could pay", both in concerts and by mail. Keith joked that it was the "worst selling album of all time". According to Wikipedia, by 1982, 200,000 units had "sold".

Alas, to my knowledge, none of Keith's friends in the industry followed suit and Contemporary Christian Music became an industry.

Though Radiohead's motives aren't as "sanctified", I have to wonder if the church, rarely at the forefront of social change, will be reminded of the prophetic voice it heard in 1980 and be challenged once again to offer the gospel at no charge.

What I'm Missing Right Now

Fall in New England. Even though this is a picture of New Hampshire, it is very close to what we saw on a regular basis this time of year while living in RI. Honestly, the water of the bay was that blue, the buildings that picturesque, the leaves that beautiful. I can remember rounding one particular bend where you could see the bay, a stone fence, brightly colored fall leaves in the trees and a pumpkin patch! Living in Rhode Island in the Fall of the year was one of God's greatest gifts to our family.

2 Things on My Female Brain

Shop at Compare4.us

First, this unrelenting heat!!

Secondly, it's premier week for several of my favorite TV shows. I guess this is one of my annual fall rituals (though I don't tape the show if I'm not at home....I'm not that addicted!). I can remember, though, as a child getting excited about the premier of new shows: cartoons on Saturday morning, sit-coms at night. Remember, we only had 3 channels and maybe a UHF and/or PBS one. Now the premiers are staggered throughout the year, but I'm still a major network person (a holdover from modernity). Last night was "CSI: Miami" which is not my favorite. My assessment of the series: more detective, less science; too many goofy, dramatic one-liners by David Caruso as he is exiting a crime scene. Last night was no exception to the rule. Still, I usually watch it. But if I have an 8:00 the next morning, I probably won't stay up for it. Tonight is "Law and Order: SVU", a favorite, but I'm afraid they "jumped the shark" last year with the near-romance of Elliot and Olivia. One of the reasons I have loved "Law and Order" through the years is that it has not focused on personal lives of the detectives or lawyers as much. Oh well. What we all really look forward to is the CSI premier on Thursday night, though we may be getting too involved in the personal lives of Grissom and Sarah. By the way, she is my least favorite character on the show.

Female-Brained

Your Brain is 67% Female, 33% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

On Racisim, Naivete and School Boards

At a high school assembly on Aug. 30, 2006, a black freshman asked the assistant principal whether African-Americans could sit under a tree that had traditionally been used only by whites.

The school official replied, "You can sit anywhere you want."

The next morning, students arrived at classes to find the nooses -- two black, one gold, the official school colours. After learning three white students were responsible, Scott Windham, the principal, recommended they be expelled for the year.

A school board committee ruled the incident was a prank without racial overtones and reduced the punishment to an in-school suspension. (National Post)

God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board. (Mark Twain)

Wonderful Week-end, Wonderful Family

I am blessed to be the Matriarch (that makes me sound sound really old!) of a wonderful, loving and fun family with a great sense of humor (yes the family has a sense of humor!). We enjoy similar jokes and stories so it's a collective sense of humor.

On Friday, Leslie's birthday, we had a family dinner at home with cheese and chocolate fondue and salad. Lots of fun! Afterward, we watched "The Empire Strikes Back" because Leslie has not been exposed to the Star Wars trilogy before last week-end when we watched "Star Wars".

Saturday was spent in Harriman at an National Barrel Horshe Association show. The weather was wonderful, cooler and breezy. I actually had to wear a denim jacket! Leslie and Sweetie did great. Their times were better than ever!

Sunday was church day, of course. Corky and I taught on the Reformation which seemed well-received by the class. Pastor Travis preached a great and prophetic sermon. Dinner was a fundraising dinner provided by the Student Ministries. Corky and I took Lex for a nap at his home afterward then returned to church for choir practice and the evening service. After church we ate leftover fundraiser food at Hope and Josh's and the final installment "Return of the Jedi". I must admit I fell asleep, not from boredom but from exhaustion. Lex enjoyed playing in the floor with all his new birthday toys.

I don't use the term wonderful loosely. I am filled with wonder that I've been so blessed!

Dame Anita Roddick: 1942-2007

NY Times Obituary for Anita Roddick, Body Shop founder.
Early this morning, while driving to the Seminary, I heard the news of Roddick's death.
I first read of Roddick while studying in England and was impressed with her approach to doing business. The Body Shop was one of my favorite diversions while in England; there seem to be Body Shops on every high street (just as there are Starbuck's shops now).

Here's to one woman who fought for what she believed in and made women all over the world aware.

Lex is One!

A Tribute to Laborers

PSALM OF THOSE WHO GO FORTH BEFORE DAYLIGHT

The policeman buys shoes slow and careful; the teamster buys gloves slow and careful; they take care of their feet and hands; they live on their feet and hands.

The milkman never argues; he works alone and no one speaks to him; the city is asleep when he is on the job; he puts a bottle on six hundred porches and calls it a day's work; he climbs two hundred wooden stairways; two horses are company for him; he never argues.

The rolling-mill men and the sheet-steel men are brothers of cinders; they empty cinders out of their shoes after the day's work; they ask their wives to fix burnt holes in the knees of their trousers; their necks and ears are covered with a smut; they scour their necks and ears; they are brothers of cinders.
(Carl Sandburg)

My mother's father was employed by TVA in the construction of the Fontana Dam. I only knew him years later, as my Papaw Newton, a Church of God pastor in North Carolina. But the work ethic which made him a great minister was partially developed in those days as a welder for TVA.

"The workers put in seven-day weeks. They labored around the clock to get the job done, three shifts a day. Those on the night shift worked under floodlights. Even if they had time off, there wasn’t much to do with it. Gas rationing meant that most workers stayed on the site for months on end, although few had cars anyway. Fontana was so remote that commuting was impossible."

I am blessed to be paid to do what I am gifted to do: research, writing and teaching; but I recognize that I would not be where I am without the men and women who labor for long hours, doing physically challenging work. On Labor Day, I am reminded to pay homage to them.

Life in Tennessee

As indicated earlier, my school year has begun. This week was exhausting; the first week always is: early classes (Wed. and Thurs. 8:00's), long evenings preparing, meeting and greeting students in addition to all regular duties.

The week-end has been complicated (and enhanced) with two All-American projects: 1) the family embarked on a DIY project and 2) Corky and I began teaching a new Sunday School class at Lovell Heights. We have entered into both projects with some trepidation.

First, the DIY project. We are re-doing the basement floor. Friday we pulled up the old carpet and Saturday began a chemical process of dissolving the remaining coating of yellow, jute-impressed, carpet glue. This removal project is continuing even as I write. Next, the floor will be given an epoxy-coating. Of course, it is more involved than first imagined. And, most of you know this about us, we are not DIY-ers. Thanks to Hope, Josh and Justin for volunteering their services to help the residents of 154 Holt Drive in Loudon.

Then, there's the new SS class. Lovell Heights is doing a kind of 3-month electives cycle of SS offerings. This is the second quarter. Corky and I are teaching a class called "Great Awakenings", a survey of revival movements. We have great hopes and ideals. Somewhere in the early part of my introduction this morning, I realized I am teaching the Sanctuary Class, an institution. Enough said.

First Day of School

Seminary classes begin today. I know all of you COGTS grads are envious! Go ahead admit it...you're feeling a little sentimental right now!

I have Community of Faith on Tuesdays and the course Women in Pentecostalism meets at 5:30 or so (I get confused with the new time schedule!). Tomorrow morning Divine Healing meets at 8:00 and interestingly it is my largest class this year! Thursday morning Historical Theology 1 meets at 8:00.

Tell you about my day when I get home!

The Blame Game

Yesterday's sorry news out of Utah:

The operator of the Crandall Canyon coal mine says no one will be going back into the tunnels where six men have been trapped since Aug. 6.

That means the bodies of the miners may never be recovered.

"I told (the Mine Safety and Health Administration) it is an evil mountain, it is alive, and I will never go back there," Robert Murray said today.

How like humans to place the blame on something else, anything or anyone else other than themselves! By saying the mountain is evil, by placing the blame on it, Murry escapes the responsibility, and the awful truth, that it is his greed that has caused the deaths of three, probably nine workers and rescuers. Under his [and the Mine Company's] orders, the mine was being mined for the last remaining coal in the pillars supporting the ceiling of the room being mined, a method called retreat mining. According to one mine safety official, "...the reason the practice is used is that it pays off: The last bit of coal taken from pillars is pure profit. Plus, if someone violates rules during pillar removal and there is a collapse, the evidence of rule violations are gone."

The mountain isn't evil. In this case, greed goeth before a fall.

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction...and Scarier

The following is a press release from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary:
‘Homemaking is Noble,’ Patterson says on Fox News
By Staff
August 13, 2007

Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, endorsed the College at Southwestern’s new Homemaking Concentration on Fox News’ morning program, Fox & Friends, Aug. 13.

“If a woman chooses to stay home, and she chooses to devote her full energies to her husband and to her children and to the development of her home then that is noble and not ignoble,” Patterson said.

The interview took place after recent media interest in Southwestern’s new 23-hour Homemaking Concentration in the College at Southwestern’s Bachelor of Arts in Humanities degree.

When asked if Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary believed all women should stay at home and take care of their children, Patterson responded, “We believe that every person is free, as Baptists, to do anything they want to do,” but also added, “We do believe she ought to have that opportunity.”

This interview came just before the start of a new semester as Southwestern plans to continue one of its founding purposes of training women for all aspects of ministry. In 1909, the seminary’s catalog reveals classes in domestic sciences including cooking, housekeeping, and sewing. In the fall of 2007, the almost-one-hundred-year-old-seminary will again offer these classes as part of its Homemaking Concentration—one of the seminary’s several programs in Women’s Studies. In addition to these classes, women will study classic Greek and read the classic literature of the western world.

According to the seminary’s Web site, the program “endeavors to prepare women to model the characteristics of the godly woman as outlined in Scripture.”

“The apostle Paul admonished women to “learn” (1 Tim. 2:11) because he expected women to be grounded in the Word of God,” Terri Stovall, dean for women’s programs, wrote on the Web site. “Our Lord Himself praised Mary for sitting at His feet to listen and learn (Lk. 10:42). Women in this generation need women teachers who are not only committed to the importance of studying God’s Word but who are also formally trained to do biblical exposition. Woman-to-woman teaching is the biblical method of choice (Tit. 2:3-5).”

Modeled after a similar program at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California, Southwestern’s Homemaking Concentration provides “practical experiences for skill development for the most important job a woman may have: the nurture and care of the family.”

The Web site describes further the intentional design of the Homemaking Concentration stating that, “It is unique in that we recognize the need to challenge women both intellectually and practically. It is our mission to equip a woman to impact women and families for Christ.”

As Patterson told the Fox & Friends interviewer, “Society will do better when the home is placed in a prominent position, and I do believe that any society is endangered whenever the home is not given the importance that it has in its biblical context.”


Of course, none of this should surprise me. After all, this is the Seminary that offers an M.Div. in Women's Studies (for women only) and substitutes a "Communication of the Text" course for the required preaching course and requires courses in women's ministries in the local church, biblical models of womanhood, etc. How about Patterson's comment: “We believe that every person is free, as Baptists, to do anything they want to do..." What does that mean? Every person is free as a Baptist to do what they want? Does being a Baptist somehow alter the free will of women so that all they will really want to do is cook, sew and clean? Apparently so. And of course what is even more depressing is that once a Baptist, always a Baptist! Women will never have another choice once they cross that line! I have to stop.

Annual Faculty Retreat

I've just returned from a three days/two nights at Fall Creek Falls. The Seminary faculty gathers every year in August for a time of retreat, which normally consists of a lot of planning and assessment, from morning till night. This year we actually did some retreating! Our time together focused on vocational identity and call. This conversation was stimulated by a viewing of the film "Freedom Writers" (which I highly recommend).

It is our custom to have a time of worship which involves a celebration of the sacraments of communion and footwashing. This year, that aspect of the retreat was planned for Tuesday evening. But it was delayed by the Holy Ghost. Rickie Moore came to share with us and say good-bye, and we had a time of blessing and anointing for him. It was a very moving time for all and especially emotional for me as Rick was used by the Lord in a very direct way to call me to theological study (see my blog for a post on that) in 1983. This worship service was visited by the Holy Spirit in a powerful way and, in true Pentecostal fashion, we changed the liturgy. Communion and footwashing became our final act of worship together this morning.

Fall Creek Falls State Park is a lovely place which I had only visited once, several years ago with Corky and the girls. Jackie and Cheryl Johns and I took a very long walk to the Falls. We were disappointed in that due to drought conditions, the Falls were rather shallow, not at all like the picture, here, of the Falls in Summer. But I always enjoy being in the mountains and considered this entire retreat to be a time well spent with many of the people I'm closest to in all the world.

Adriano Moraes' Autobiography

During a very recent event in the city of São Paulo in Brazil, the Saraiva book store in Shopping Center Norte was the site of the launching of this autobiographical book, “A minha missão é montar” - História de Vida do peão de rodeio Adriano Moraes” (Riding is my mission – History of professional bull rider Adriano Moraes), not yet available in English). The event was a huge success and counted with the presence of many of his fans and journalists and representatives from more than 20 different media organizations.

Adriano, the only three-time professional World Bull riding champion from the Professional Bull Riders’ tour has dazzled the world with his ability and his faith. He paid a special visit to his home country on July 30th to launch the book published by the Canção Nova Press. Motivated by his faith and convinced that God is always by his side, he has made his life's mission in professional bullriding. Adriano knows that his riding means much more than just giving a good show to the crowd and the prizes and titles that he conquered. A convicted Christian devoted in the New Song Catholic Community, Adriano has made the art of riding into a testimony of his tireless journey to know God.

Read the full story.

No Global Warming, huh?

It's 90 degrees at ten o'clock tonight and there are tornado watches in effect for New York City.

New Friends

Chances are good that without the blogosphere I would have never had any ongoing communication with people in Australia. It is possible that I would have met someone here, or even there, but ongoing communication? Probably not! But one day I stumbled into a blog called "The Batcave". I can't remember how I found it. But the blogger, Glen O'Brien, is a Wesleyan pastor who teaches Church History at a Christian college in Australia. I commented on a post or two and lo and behold, I found out that he had been to the SPS/WTS meeting in Cleveland about eight years ago! He actually did research on the origins of the COG in Australia...at the Dixon Center! Since that first comment, I've read that article he was researching. A few weeks ago, through The Batcave I found a link to another blog belonging to another Aussie, James Garth. We've had a rather lively discussion going between James, Glen, a few others and myself about the nature of Pentecostal spirituality.

I'm really grateful for the opportunity to hear from others and of course to share my opinion!

I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you dropped in; after all, how often are you in the Australian neighborhood??

Being Marmie

For the last two days we've had the ultimate grandparent experiencee: keeping the grandson overnight! What a joy! Hope and Josh have taken the youth group to King's Island in Ohio. Emma is with them. And we have Lex (and Charlotte, the dalmatian). He slept pretty well last night, though of course I woke up with every turn he made. Just like the old days (speaking of old...I was a lot younger then).

25 Years Ago

Twenty-five years ago Corky and I were adjusting to the news that Keith Green had been killed in a plane crash. The news rocked us. We were in the middle of adjusting to life as new parents, and to the joy of having brought Hope home from the hospital (miraculously healed!) about two months before. In fact, we had taken Hope on a trip to Stone Mountain, Georgia to see her Aunt Judy and Uncle Jerry and her cousins, Todd, Troy and Trent. We woke up hearing the terrible news via a phone call.

There was no greater influence on us and our ministry than Keith Green. We never saw him in person but eagerly waited each month for the Last Days Newsletter and knew and sang each of his songs. Keith and the Last Days team paraphrased and printed articles written in the 19th century by Generals William and Catherine Booth, Samuel Logan Brengle and Charles Finney. They published current sermons by David Wilkerson and Leonard Ravenhill (their neighbors in Lindale, Texas).

More than anything, I was influenced by Keith's prophetic passion for the Kingdom of God. His songs are still my "First Love Music", always drawing me back to a more consecrated life for God. I will never forget worshiping in chapel at St. John's in England and singing with the congregation, "There Is a Redeemer". For me, it was a moment of true worship in the Hollis Gause sense: rapture, rapport, proleptic.

I've often thought that had Keith Green lived, he would have been so consumed with zeal for the Lord that he wouldn't be able to exist. The present state of the church in America is so far from the Holy Church for which Keith Green interceded.

'My eyes ard dry, my faith is old
My heart is hard, my prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me!

So what can be done for an old heart like mine?
Soften it up with oil and wine.
The oil is You, Your Spirit of Love
Please wash me anew in the wine of Your Blood."

Summer Reading

Reading is my life. Reading is my ministry. Reading is my career. I actually get paid to read and talk about it.

When I was a child I was a bookworm. My sister (who is now an avid reader) and I would have the dilemma of what we were going to play for the day: Barbie, school, with babydolls, a game or reading. At some point we came up with the lottery approach. We would write all the choices on slips of paper and draw them out of a hat. When "reading" was drawn out, my sister was always suspicious...as she should have been. It probably meant I had stuffed the ballot box with many slips which said "reading".

Now, because reading is what I do professionally, I have to ration out my own reading of fiction and novels. Reading fiction is reserved for holidays and summer. I get so enrossed in a novel that I can't put it down and everything else is neglected.(By the way, that is the only clue I've ever had to the "evil" of Harry Potter. If children are reading 800 pages, without stopping, in one day, it may mean there's something supernatural going on there! Or it could be it's just great writing!)

So, this summer, though it's been amazingly busy with horse shows, reunions and trips I've been able to do a little reading (not as much as I'd have liked). I started out by going to McKay's and buying two other Kingsolver novels, as I'd enjoyed The Poisonwood Bible so much. Alas, I've only been able to read one of those: Pigs in Heaven. The other (can't remember the name of it) was loaned to the daughter of Leslie's barrel racing trainer who had read The Poisonwood Bible in Honors English at her high school and I've not gotten it back. I enjoyed Pigs in Heaven but in no way does it compare to The Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver has definitely matured as a writer. By the way, I recommended Poisonwood to my colleague Ayo Adewuya a Nigerian. He read it on his trip to the Philippines and quite enjoyed it, seeing it as a hyperbolic, but fairly accurate description of the Congo at the time of its independence from Belgium.

In honor of the NY trip, I read The Devil Wears Prada, borrowed from my mom. Fun but shallow and a little bit disturbing.

In England, while I was studying, often I was alone at night, without television or any other form of entertainment. I always bought last year's Grisham bestseller (because paperbacks pack lighter) and a few others. I used to read all of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels, though they sometimes are too sordid. (When you're alone in a foreign country you don't won't to dwell on the depths of human deptrivation). After I'd read those, I'd scramble to find something to read in the weeks left! The library there was a theological one but had some fiction. I read quite a few Father Caedfel mysteries (a medieval monk who is also a sleuth) which I found at St. John's. Then I'd often buy a magazine which would be packaged with a "summer reading" novel. I also read some Dorothy Rendel novels while there and some Dorothy Sayers ones.

Anyway...fiction is escape but also like travel for me. It takes my mind to places I can't go physically.

I've learned about people and cultures through the creations of novelists and you'd be surprised at how often that has been helpful to me. For instance, England was fairly easy for me to navigate partially because I had read all the Miss Marpel novels and people still live in that fairly simple way in many parts of England. I never stumbled upon a dead body however.

As we near the beginning of the semester, I get excited and can't wait for Fall and cooler weather. But I also grieve a little because I know I can't just sit around and read about ordinary (but generally glamorous) people who find themselves in suspenseful or extraordinary situations. That will have to wait till Christmas break.

Historical Theology

For the last two weeks, I've been back in the classroom and back in the office. It's definitely a comfort zone for me. I can navigate this. I know where things are (most of the time...though I could use some help with filing right now!). I know what comes next in the course I'm teaching. I know what to say.

But history, and historical theology, is not about routine and predictability. History is made by those who are adventurous and take risks and by those who are brave enough (or naive enough) to say things that need to be said.

Today, we talked a little about John Chrysostom, who was called a great preacher, but was exiled for it! Sound familiar? Nevertheless, it's Chrysostom I'm reading about today, not the Emperor and Empress who exiled him. He was "rehabilitated" and given the title "Doctor of the Church" but only after he and his accusers were dead.

I've been contemplating John 17 of late. How does the church's unity prove that Jesus is the Son of God? I think it has to do with community in God and community in the church as a witness of that.

Many of us, including my students this week, are concerned about disunity and compromise. Some seem to be able to laugh off the junk we see and the political moves we hear about or witness (or are victim to) but I've been placed in a particular setting within the Kingdom and so I believe it must all be taken seriously. So did Chrysostom.

At least the next generation apologized.

"Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"... What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well."

A Tennesseean in New York

We're home, back in Tennessee; so "home" that I began teaching my summer class today.

What we saw and did:

1. Rode the train round-trip from Charlotte, NC to Penn Station, NYC.
2. Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge at night, ate at Grimaldi's Pizzaria and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
3. Shopped till we dropped: Sak's, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany's (actually, you can't call it shopping, just browsing).
4. Saw Rachel Ray in Herald Square.
5. Drank lots of Starbuck's (iced and hot).
6. Afternoon tea at Tavern on the Green.
7. Sat in Bryant Park.
8. Saw "Mary Poppins" on Broadway and got autographs and pictures of the stars.
9. Did Grayline tours of uptown, downtown, Brooklyn and a tour of the city at night.
10. Paid homage at Strawberry Fields in Central Park.
11. Went to the top of the Empire State Building, or at least as far up as the $20 admission allows (the 86th floor).
12. Rode the ferry to Liberty Island.
13. Ate cheesecake at Junior's in Brooklyn.
14. Really shopped on Canal Street (fake purses).
15. Ate a canoli in Little Italy.
16. Ate Chinese in Chinatown.
17. Went in the Trump Tower (not that impressive).
18. Bought make-up at Sephora.
19. Took pictures in the 2-story Barbie House in Toys-r-Us.
20. Bought "Wilbur" for Lex at F. A. O. Schwartz.
21. Ate a giant red-velvet cupcake in Central Park.
22. Shopped at Century 21 and Daffy's.
23. Visited St. Paul's Chapel at Ground Zero.
24. Got caught in the rain on top of a double-decker bus.
25. Bought cheese, bread and fruit at Chelsea Market.
26. Ate unbelievable pasta at Carmine's on the upper west side.
27. Tasted a bagel from Tal.
28. Walked and walked and walked.
29. Navigated the subway system.
30. Sang "You're Just Too Good to Be True" with a singing waiter at "Ellen's Stardust Diner".
31. Watched New York movies in New York: "An Affair to Remember"; "Moonstruck"

Thanks to Leslie for the photos!

Greetings from NYC. Most of you know that my sister Michele and I have brought our daughters, Hannah, Emma and Leslie, to New York for a vacation. I didn't bring a camera so I won't be able to post pictures till the girls, out of the goodness of their hearts, email some of theirs to me.

We traveled by train from Charlotte (12 hours). This was my first long distance train trip in the US. The experience was pretty good other than the fact that it was delayed by over an hour. The seats were very comfortable, fairly wide with leg rests that could be extended and plenty of leg room between seats (an improvement over an airplane!). The bathrooms were gross as the train had traveled from New Orleans before arriving in Charlotte. We ate lunch in the dining car which was fair.

We're staying at the Wingate Inn on 35th which is very nice. Sunday night we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and ate a Grimaldi's Pizzaria (possibly the best I've ever had) and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Delicious and guilt free considering the long, long walk. The skyline at night was out of this world.

Yesterday was a shopping day. Toys R Us with a ferris wheel and 2-story Barbie house; Sephora cosmetics; MTV store (just t-shirts); Saks; H&M; Battery Park for knock-off purses; Century 21. We ate lunch at Ellen's Stardust with singing waiters. When the waiter came to our table singing "You're Just Too Good To Be True", we dazzled him with our harmony!

Last night we watched "An Affair to Remember" (ohhh!) in anticipation of going to the top of the Empire State Building today.

Vote for Corky's Band

Click on the banner above and vote for Corky's band to play with Eric Clapton!!

Listen to the 2 tracks and click on "vote" below.

We all know Corky is Eric Clapton so he should at least be able to open for him in Chicago at the Crossroads Festival.

Thanks!

July Calendar

July 1-3 Alexander-Butcher family at Camp Cherokee on Lake Ocoee with Bradley Cleveland Developmental Services.

July 8-14 New York vacation with Emma and Leslie and my sister, Michele and her daughter, Hannah,

July 16-27 Historical Theology 1 July Intensive at the Seminary.

July 18-21 Becoming Champions Rodeo Camp, Rarity Bay, Loudon County, Tennessee

July 30 Leslie has oral surgery (4 12-year molars extracted)

At least my life is not dull!

30 Years!

Last week-end Corky and I attended my high school reunion in Rock Hill, SC. I graduated from Northwestern High School in 1977. Many of the people in my graduating class actually were in Kindergarten with me, so for some of us it was a Kindergarten reunion! These friends and acquaintances were in and out of my life for 13 years, and then suddenly, for the most part, they were gone! Or I was. Because I went to college in my home town, a few of these same folk were there (some of those pictured) but we rarely saw each other. It's sobering to think about how quickly what seems very stable can change.

In SC it is the law that you dance the Shag to beach music! Literally! The Shag is the "state dance". I had no idea that my friends were learning this dance at some point in their childhood but by the time we got to high school many of them were experts at it! And they haven't forgotten how! Corky was amazed at how well they could dance and how many of them could! Even though we graduated during the disco and stadium rock era, and that is what everyone listened to, the moment beach music is played, they all hit the dance floor! Being raised in the Holiness church, of course, I didn't learn the dance, by the way. Still don't know it.

Anyway, it was great seeing everyone again. I have a kind of incomplete feeling, however. I had very few full conversations and I'm left with lots of unanswered questions. Maybe I'll find out in five or ten years!

Is This My Inner Child?

Your Inner Child Is Sad

You're a very sensitive soul. You haven't grown that thick skin that most adults have. Easily hurt, you tend to retreat to your comfort zone. You don't let many people in - unless you've trusted them for a long time.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Grace

Don Henley asked, "How can love survive in such a graceless age?" Billy and Ruth must have found that answer.

The truth is, this age, though it is passing away, is not graceless. God extends grace, but we must respond. Apparently these two responded to God's grace, over and over again.

If we look, we can see signs of that grace everywhere. The Grahams are that kind of sign.

"Pardon me while I have a strange interlude..."

That's how I sometimes feel about the direction my life is taking: it's a strange interlude! I never dreamed that I would be shopping for horse tack (right now I'm looking for a breast-collar and tie-down as well as barrel-racing bumper spurs); riding in trucks with other barrel-racing mother-daughter duos; stepping in so much horse poop; and sitting in the sun for hours waiting for my youngest daughter to race around poles and barrels on a large sorrel mare. It's not anything I prepared for in any way. But, like most things I encounter, I approach it academically, researching, reading, studying and trying my hand at it! I did this earlier in my life with less dangerous crafts/arts such as cooking and gardening. Oh well! Here I am, a rodeo-mom (sort of like a stage-mom...which I was for Hope and Emma). Mothers do what they have to do.

By the way, the photo and quote in the title are from one of my favorite Groucho scenes in "Animal Crackers".

The Banana Split Gang

This is for those nostalgiac for old kids' tv shows. I was a member of the Banana Split Gang fan club! Don't remember much more about it, just getting the kit in the mail!

27th Wedding Anniversary

Things We Said Today

You say you will love me
If I have to go.
You'll be thinking of me,
Somehow I will know.
Someday when I'm lonely,
Wishing you weren't so far away,
Then I will remember
Things we said today.
You say you'll be mine, girl,[boy]
'Til the end of time.
These days such a kind girl[boy]
Seems so hard to find.
Someday when we're dreaming,
Deep in love, not a lot to say.
Then we will remember
Things we said today.
Me, I'm just the lucky kind.
Love to hear you say that love is luck.
And, though we may be blind,
Love is here to stay. And that's enough
To make you mine, girl,[boy]
Be the only one.
Love me all the time, girl.[boy]
We'll go on and on.
Someday when we're dreaming,
Deep in love, not a lot to say.
Then we will remember
Things we said today.
Me, I'm just the lucky kind.
Love to hear you say that love is luck.
And, though we may be blind,
Love is here to stay. And that's enough
To make you mine, girl,[boy]
Be the only one
Love me all the time, girl.[boy]
We'll go on and on.
Someday when we're dreaming,
Deep in love, not a lot to say.
Then we will remember
Things we said today.


Happy Anniversary, Corky!

Family, Again

Yesterday, Leslie competed in the East Tennessee Regional 4-H show at Roane State in Harriman. She competed in senior barrels and senior poles. Just before her barrel run, one of the competitors' horses went crazy (that's the language the horse people used!) and ran wildly around the arena, very fast, scraping himself and the rider against the concrete wall, finally knocking the rider's father down, running over him and running out of the arena. Leslie witnessed all but the man being knocked down, as well as the rider beating the horse in the head. The tension and fear in the arena were deafening. Leslie rode, knocking over 2 barrels, a 10 point penalty. She was shaken up, lost her concentration and then beat herself up for it. It was really difficult. After a break, and some coaching from Carol and Bria, her trainers, she got it together and made a good, steady pole bending run, placing fourth. She's normally placed higher but it was important for her to do a flawless run, even if she wasn't pushing Sweetie to run as fast as she can.

I've never been much of a competitor and certainly not an athlete. But this whole enterprise has taught Leslie a lot about working hard, trying your best, focusing and being a champion. I'm extremely proud of her. We go to State competition in 1 1/2 weeks.

On a lighter note, today Corky, Emma, Hope, Josh, LEX and I went on a picnic at a park in Farragut (or Concord?) by the lake. It was great fun and Lex was in a great and playful mood. We had fun watching ducks, observed (at a safe distance) a moccasin in the lake and many other picnic-ers who should NOT have been dressed so scantily (too much winter food storage still in view).

We are a truly blessed family!

How Many of These Quirky Landmarks Have You Seen?

Who knew that every state had a landmark as interesting as the Big Chicken in Marietta? Take the tour! How many have you seen? I've seen SC, RI, MS, GA, ME, OH, NC, LA and maybe PA. Can't believe I haven't seen TN! And by the way...which came first the AL landmark or the one just like it in SC??

Now Reading: The Poisonwood Bible

I'm about halfway through this very disturbing book. I'll write my reflections on it when I'm through. In the meantime, see Dr. Howard Snyder's review.

Too Much of the Good Stuff?

This has been an incredibly busy week: there was an attempted family picnic on Memorial Day, the Seminary board is meeting so there was a dinner on Wednesday night; I sang for the dedication celebration of the T. L. Lowery Global Foundation; Corky has had multiple out-of-town trips to make for the Agency; Emma is in Florida; Leslie has been shuttled back and forth between home, church, Hope's and the farm to ride Sweetie. Tomorrow night is Honors Night at the Seminary; Saturday morning is graduation. And in the midst of all this busy-ness...I've been grading final (and late, I might add) papers, trying to find reasonable airfares for Corky's trip to Pasadena, figuring out how to pay tuition for Emma and what to do about our car which needs an engine (to fix or not to fix?)

Maybe it's mid-life, maybe it's the end of the school term but I find myself longing for a simpler, quieter life. I LOVE and believe in all that I do, feel I'm called to most of it, but sometimes we keep such an exhausting pace....so, I become weary in well doing.

As Corky says, "No wonder old people get up early. They need the peace and quiet it offers and it's the only time they can get it!"