why i love jesus
there are many reasons that i love jesus. i am grateful for the chance to celebrate his life throughout this time of year. perhaps this post would of been better suited for a pre christmas date. but the reality is i wish that my level of anticipation was more sustained throughout the whole year and that i would be as mindful of how much my relationship with jesus means to me.

well- as i said i’m crazy about jesus. he really saves my life over and over again. it used to be in a more physical and concrete way when i was a hellion flirting with death and overdose. then it was spiritual (as when i decided to be a ‘real christian’* (for lack of a better phrase)). now- i feel like he saves me from a variety of things. one of which (but not limited to); he saves me from myself. and i love that. in a million years- i would of never guessed that my life would look like it does today. he saves me from myself b/c he doesn’t let me settle for my measly dreams. he also saves me emotionally. i cannot begin to tell you the emotional overhaul that walking with Jesus has produced.

i love him for lots of the stuff he ‘does’ for me. but i am growing to love God for the intangible non utility of his character and just who he is.

i have grown to love that i don’t understand him. what i mean is- i sometimes wish (connect this with the measly dream bit) that my relationship was formulatic. that i follow God, he does what i want, and that i’m happy. but this is not the case. since becoming a christian life (read here shit), sometimes still happens. i can try to be obedient and my job still suck (for example), or my dad die, or ministry be flat, or remain single or fill in your blank. with that said, it has been my experience that there is something intangible, beautiful and profound that happens when we ‘live life on life’s terms’ (to borrow a phrase from program). when i neutralize my brat; and stop demanding from God; i receive His mercy and meeting. and i love this.

i love jesus b/c he is consistent yet keeps me on my toes. he is very generous. i love him b/c he disciplines me and doesn’t let me stay the same. but in the same breath- i love that he loves me the way i am... i love him b/c he is smart and strong. i love him b/c he is good and gentle. i love him b/c he forgives me and always takes me back. i love him b/c he listens to me and lets me talk his ear off. i love him b/c he sees me. i love him b/c he makes me discontent when i should be b/c i’m settling for second rate stuff. i love him b/c he gives hope. i love him b/c he loves me. i could really go on and on.


* this is not meant to sound elitist. i always thought about being a christian just like i think about being irish. this point of decision for me was a decision to recognize that christianity is not like ethnicity- but instead a decision each of us are free to make. so by real- i mean that it was my intentional choice to follow jesus.

i am severley bummed out...
everytime my front page loads-
the number goes up.
did you know that indonesia has the largest population of muslims in the world?
ughh. i have a chronic lump in throat.

it is hard to write about much else.
these things bring things and the mundane into focus.

mercy.

a prayer for the dead
from maureen

please Lord- have mercy.
preserve life.
bring life to these lands.
bring hope to these lands
bring comfort to these lands
and the dear people there.
please Lord- have mercy.

+++
chewable vitamin

a prayer for the dead
from the celtic book of prayer

"God, omit not this woman and man from Your covenanat.
The many evils that in this life he r shee has committed
they cannot count or list this night.
Gather this soul with your own arm, o Christ,
great King of the City of Heaven.

it is Your work, O Christ
the buying of the soul
at the time of the balancing of the beam
at the timeof bringing of judgement.
be this sould hidden in your right hand."

anguish

really really takes the wind out of you...

read more here...

and here.

i mean- can you imagine?

today's chewable vitamin...

this night is the long night
when those who listen await His cry.

this night is the eve of the great nativity
when those who are longing await His appearing.

wait, with watchful heart.

listen carefully, through the stillness;
listen, hear the telling of the waves upon the shore.

listen, hear the song of the angels glorious-
e're (huh?) lon it will be heard
that His foot reached the earth:
news that Glory has come!

truly His slavation is near
for those who fear Him,
and His glory shall dwell in our land.

watch and pray, the Lord shall dwell in our land.

those who are longing await his appearing.

those who listen await His cry.

watch..."

~taken from the celtic book of prayer

in celebration of charles

well- he's 35 yrs old. we celebrated last night in a number of ways. we went to dinner and a movie (courtesy of a nice gift certificate i recieved from work); and i gave him a pimped out lexus remote control car.

it's worth mentioning that charles proves the passage in ephesians 3**- that a life spent w/ Jesus will blow your mind and all your expectations. i wasn't really sure that i would get married. it certainly wasn't that i didn't want to be married. i wanted to be married. really really bad. but i resigned that i would not be married. to deal with it i just tried to not feel dissappointed. it takes a lot of effort to try to not feel. i would bouts where i knew it wasn't good for me to 'try to not feel' and i would interact with the Lord and tell Him about my dissappointed. but in large part i just tried to kill off the feelings of dissappointed.

loving charles and being loved by him has awakened my heart from hibernation. it has been a beuatiful thing to watch and even better to be a part of. i am so incredibly glad i married him. he is my better in just about every way there is...

here are 35 reasons i love charles (from the silly to the significant)...

1. how he loves me even when i'm dumb.
2. how he does his chores and sings.
3. how he forgives me.
4. how he is an immigrant that loves america and is grateful all the opportunities it affords him without buying all the american bullshit.
5. how he shows me what it means to have a joyful spirit.
6. how he doesn't agree with everything i say.
7. his love of pop music... including but not limited to- celiene dion, whitney houston and all things lional richie.
8. his love for academia and thinking.
9. he doesn't try to prove himself. he is comfortable with how God has made him.
10. he doesn't follow the crowd.
11. he helps me remember to confess my sin. sometimes i forget to.
12. how my fiesty niece will only listen to and obey him when surrounded by extended family.
13. he told me that i needed to recommit my life to Christ once... and he was right.
14. he sings 'a whole new world' to me often.
15. he gives most of his money away.
16. his smile.
17. sometimes i wake up in the middle of the night and he is praying over me.
18. how he reads with a dictionary.
19. how he talks about his mom with so much respect.
20. his outlook is so loaded. it matches deep wisdom with simplicity in a way i've never seen.
21. he dances for me.
22. he wakes me up from bad dreams.
23. he wants to change the world- and i actually think he may.
24. how he wants to talk to my mom whenever i'm talking to her.
25. he has many reasons to be jaded about the world and people- but is not.
26. how he calls my mom- mum with his great british/ african accent.
27. how teachable he is.
28. how his default african country for someone's nationality is namibia.
29. how much i genuienly and deeply respect him and his life expereince.
30. how he is learning about aa to understand me better.
31. how he says 'this thing' when he can't think of the word.
32. how often he beats me at scrabble.
33. how he is teaching me igbou.
34. how committed to intercession he is...
35. his cute butt!

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 t o him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~ ephesians 3.14-21

+++

today's chewable vitamin

O Rising Sun,
You are the splendour of eternal light
and the sun of justice.
o come and enlighten those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death.

~ taken from the celtic book of prayer

within the month...

i will be writing about a number of things. here are some:

:: why i love jesus.
:: my annual state of my union address.
:: a celebration of the life and times of charles obugo okonkwo.
:: what i learned in 2004
:: a mondo beyondo list

and more... stay tuned.

in other news- we had a house guest this weekend and i cracked my tailbone which is to say the very very least- a pain in my ass.

other than that we're making fires, and trying to fend off the cold with a myraid of busy work around the house. we have two birthday's in our family this week. i will tell you more about them when i post next.

i know that many of you have written to ask if i think donald rumsfeld should resign**- i will give you my answer. YES. he a crazy mofo. four more wars!!

a shout out to chris- his birthday is today and we love him.

** this is a fabrication.

these have been added since i posted this...

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chewable vitamin:

o Stock of Jesse,
You stand as a signal for the nations.
Kings fall silent before You whome the peoples acclaim.
o come to deliver us, and do no delay.

O come, Thou key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

today's chewable vitamin

"God of the watching ones,
give us your benediction

God of the waiting ones,
give us Your good word for our souls.

god of the watching ones,
the waiting ones,
the slow and suffering ones,
give us Your benediction,
Your good word for our souls,
that we might rest.

God of the watching ones,
the waiting ones,
the slow and suffering ones,

and of the angels in heaven,
and of the child in the womb,

give us Your benediction,
Your good word for our souls,
that we might rest and rise
in the Kindness of your company."

~taken from the celtic book of prayer

**tommorrow and tommorrow and tommorrow...

charles is off shooting a gun with a guy from kinship (at a shooting range). he was as giddie as a school girl about the whole thing. i hope it's not anti-climatic for him.

i was thinking of going upto church for this women's ministry thingy- but i will get there so late- i think i've decided to bag it for the night after i'm done.

+++

if you haven't ever treated yourself to a visit to real live preacher- go immediately. it's for your own good. for a special treat-read his series of stories written last advent about Jesus and all the adversity surrounding his arrival and how He came to save us. you can find it here.

and- i know it's a little late but i thought i'd post a compulation of on-line advent calenders...

not so aesthetic
a fun drawing
stained glass windows

+++

** the only shakespearian soliloquy i remember.

today's chewable vitamin
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
~ luke 1.48-55

life and death

what a header huh?

well with the season and all- i've been thinking about life and how great it is to be able to celebrate the birth of my main man Jesus. this weekend i was able to think about death a little bit too. it is a good occasional practice for me and helps me to remember that i need to carpe diem and all that stuff.

what brought it to mind was going to pray for one of charles' new found friend who is dying. we had a nice time being together and it reminds me that i need to pray for the sick as often as the occasion presents itself. if nothing else- it helps me align what i say is important to me- and what i prove to be important to me.

as we were praying for bob (the man's name- if you'd like to pray for him); i cried. charles later inquired about why i got teary (b/c i only met this guy once). i tried to explain that it was probably mixture of sadness to see someone deteriorate so quickly (i only met him three weeks ago and he looked like a regular old man- and now he is merely a shell); that maybe it was the Holy Spirit's presence; or that i reminds me of my own father's death. i wasn't sure.

charles began to remind me the bitter SWEETNESS of death is for those that follow Jesus. he told me about the practice of his people group in nigeria. i thought i'd share a bit about it here. it was quite inspiring for me to hear. in part b/c i think 3/4 of everything my husbands says is brilliant and in part b/c we americans (imho) suffer the effects of lots of stoicim and control over our emotions for fear that they get the best of us or get messy.

in igbouland (south eastern nigeria) if charles' father were to die- charles buddies from childhood would travel from wherever they are in nigeria to be with charles and his family (this would be the case for the eldest son- which is charles). charles' family would be the guest of honor at a party that would last all week.

each day, charles and his friends would dance with lots of vigor (he promises to show me this dance but assures me i will be taken aback at how vigorous it is) and run around the villiage (that is the villiage that his dad grew up in and that charles' family would visit every summer from lagos where charles grew up). they would have a big picture of patrick (my father in law) and run around and charles would shout "THIS IS MY FATHER! THIS IS MY FATHER!".

they would eat lots of food (rice and stew) and cry and wail and tell stories about patrick.

this ritual is practiced every five years in commemoration of the death as long as the family wants to host it. charles ended his description of the ritual by saying, "it's the most beautiful practice my people have".

wow. for whatever reason i was so- i don't know- stunned- by this description. i think we would do well to learn from it. what stunned me most is that it continues at five year intervals. when i think about my dad's passing- i know that the acuteness of the pain i experienced watching him die- and his absence- has subsided quite a bit. i pray that i got the most out of that pain that i could... but somehow it does seem important to have a time to say- 'it still hurts, we still miss him!'

and how does this translate to all the advent that my devotional life has been consumed with you ask? well i guess i'm just really smitten with the baby Jesus! while this isn't novel to people that know the Story of Redemption; Christmas is special to us christians not simply b/c it celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas is special b/c the incarnation was instrumental in the Blueprint. Jesus was born so that He could live a sinless life; but ultimately- His entrance was to come to earth and be put to death. to die a wrongful death so i could be right with God.
that- my friends is blowing my mind today.

in tranditional/ liturgical settings it is common to have a potion of the eucharist meal repeated by congregants. it rings through my ears today "we celebrate his death until his coming".
perhaps i would benefit from running around a bit more and yelling,
"THIS IS MY FATHER! THIS IS MY FATHER!".

chewable vitamin:

"Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
we who have so much to do seek quiet spaces
to hear Your voice each day.
we who are anxious over many things
look forward to Your coming among us.
we who are blessed in so many ways
long for the complete joy of Your kingdom.
we whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence."
~ henri nowen

for advent...
chewable vitamin:

R: Our God will come to save us!

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD –
for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.

R: Our God will come to save us!

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.

R: Our God will come to save us!

The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps.

R: Our God will come to save us!

read isaiah 35.1-10

ok my peeps

two things to blog about today.
both- pretty much meaningless.

1. my pinky is claustrophobic in my new hobo gloves.

has anyone else expereinced that?

2. things that keep me humble:
(in a not taking myself too seriously kinda way)

a car that blows her horn sporadically, randomlly, and involentarily.

has anyone else expereinced that?

tata for now.

in honor of world AIDS day...

today's chewable vitamin

"we're serious, this is gigantic.
this stuff is the real reason to be in politics,
to go door to door, to organise and demonstrate and take bold action.
it's every bit as noble as your grandparents fighting the nazis.
this is not about 'doing our best.'
it's win or lose.
life or death.
literally so.
if i could ask you to think a hundred years ahead,
to imagine what we, and our times, will be remembered for,
i would venture three things: the internet, the war on terror,
and the fate of the continent of africa.

we are the first generation that can look extreme and stupid poverty in the eye,
look across the water to africa and elsewhere and say this and mean it:
we have the cash, we have the drugs, we have the science --
but do we have the will?
do we have the will to make poverty history?
some say we can't afford to. i say we can't afford not to."

~ bono

for more on world aids day:

:: the un's website
:: the 'official site'
:: the balm in gilead: the black church's response to the AIDS pandemic
:: get involved locally (in columbus)
:: get involved locally (wherever you are)
:: columbus' commeration

chewable vitamin

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God . . .

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, (sic) have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. . . the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility (sic) and Union.”
~ abe lincoln

chewable vitamin
all i got to say is
wowsa
wowsa
wowsa

Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD , for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave [1] came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD , save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD , have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed; therefore [2] I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars." 12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD .
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD , truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant [3] ; you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD .
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD - in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD . [4]

today's gratitude list...

:: that i can give and recieve love.
:: that i can be forgiven and feel it.
:: my husband.
:: my family.
:: that i have friends. and not just any ole' friends- but kick ass friends.
:: i'm grateful for rainex (b/c my windshield wipers are broken).
:: i'm grateful for windshield wipers when they work.
:: that my car usually starts.
:: i'm grateful for our apartment.
:: when my nephews send me pictures and poetry that they write. **
:: laughter.
:: fires.
:: my sobriety.
:: my sponsor.
:: my job.
:: the lack of drama at my job.
:: my boss.
:: that gas prices have dropped a bit.
:: a three day work week.
:: hope.
:: books.
:: the steps.
:: that i can read.
:: that my reading comprehension gets better as i read...
:: this medium- blogging.
:: good art.
:: that i'm drawing again.
:: for u2
:: for my church.
:: that i live in a country where they not only pave the roads-
they plant flowers along side the road.
:: for cornell west.

i have a terrible head cold.
i'm grateful that i can goto bed when i get home from work-
and look forward to the day to come.

good night.


+++

poetry by jack (age 4) and aidan (age 6)...

Tree House by Jack

Treehouse smeehouse
What a gleehouse
I sleep up there with all the ticks
Then Mom calls, "Its dinner!" right around six.

Stuffing by Aidan

Stuffing, stuffing, need more luffing
Could we have some guffing?
Could we have some ruffing?
Could we have some, oh...
Nevermind

What's Inside? by Jack

I'm sick. I'm very sick.
The chicken pox are inside.
I'm inside. So, I eat....
Oh, whatever!

Duck by Jack

Ducky, lucky what can you eat?
I can eat nothin' but stuffin' and ducky meat.
Ducky beef? How could a duck eat a duck?
The only way is with lots of luck!

today...
i'm grateful that *this* is not the main show.
actually, nears the top of my list.

+++

today's chewable vitamin...

1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:
3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. The Great Multitude in White Robes 9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" 14I answered, "Sir, you know." 15 And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

~ revelation 7

this coming week

i will be concetrate my posts on gratitude. i think it is one of the most powerful tools at my disposal. when i choose to be grateful for what i have and what i don't- my perspective changes- and so do i!

heres to the thanksgiving season!
may it change me and become part of my everyday life.

+++

today's chewable vitamin

"in ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich."
~ dietrich bonhoeffer

o.k. people...



we have less than a week to wait.
stay calm. everyone.
it's for your own good.

+++

today's chewable vitamin

"hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. it is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."

~ vaclav havel

cliff notes

friday,
i met anne after work at the don pablo's at lennox.
it was absolutley ridiculous.
i drove around for a half hour looking for a spot.

this photo gave me pause and persepctive
on what brought me to cursing, tears and begging for a spot....



charles and i babysat
for some folks in our group which was lots of fun.
before hand we watched the incredibles.
i was skeptical at best-
but complied b/c it was my husband's turn to choose the movie.
i LOVED the movie.
if you like movies-it's a good bet that you'll like this one.
no matter what you consider "your style".

also... my brother is taking his family to ghana for christmas.
here is nora's passport photo.
couldn't you just eat her??? i mean- come on...



this means they won't be here for christmas-
but they may get to meet the okonkwo's!

if you can't tell
i'm trying to figuare out if i can post multiple photos per post...

in other news-
to say that i'm concerned that colin powell
is resigning is an understatement. in my mind- he was the
only voice of restraint in bush's cabniet.

in closing,
i've hired a blog consultant.
her name is jess.
you may know her by another name-
b/c she has many aliases.
but that's another post.
she will be consulting me and giving me ideas on what to post.
i am not bound by any sort of contract to listen to a word she says-
but she insisted on the consultant posistion.
if you have suggestions for this blog or complaints-
please call me at:
867.5309.

weekend update

here are some odds and ends some meaningful-
most not; from our life.

for those of you hoping that this post will top in funniness that of SNL's weekend update;
please don't hold your breath. we don't want anyone dying while reading this here blog.

:: jennifer, charles' sister is coming to visit us next weekend. it will be my first time meeting her in person.
:: last weekend, i planted some perennials that lori split for me. i'm very grateful.
:: i've been reading some stanley hauerwas and some jean lasserre. i find them interesting.
:: i was excited to hear that john ashcroft** was resigning. my verdict is still out on the new appointee.
:: i was going to put something in here about yassir arafat. but... [edited for the use of better judgement and trying not to say inappropriate things].
:: my mom just used the phrase "bigger than mrs. billy be damned" to describe an annoying parent in her class. classic.
:: i'm a scratching my head over an article in harpers weekly on how the partial birth abortion ban came into law.
:: i'm looking forward to our last weekend of peace prior to all hell breaking loose in holiday mayhem.
:: sunday is international day of prayer for the persecuted church. isn't it weird that we need a day alloted for such things?
:: i got refused [to donate blood] by the american red cross for being married to charles (b/c he's nigerian). i have mixed emotions about it. i'm kinda pissed.



** i should note that the article has made me further investigate j. ashcroft's role in keeping the law. a new found appreciation for the man i have previously disliked.

maggie and nora

the sullivan girls.

little chicken boy

little chicken boy

i do not know this child.

my fears of having nothing to write about may be coming true.

i will not (as karen has suggested) eat a sandwich from the vending machine and post about it.

i just won't do it. i do have standards you know.

woody

today's chewable vitamin

"eighty percent of success is showing up." ~ woody allen

riley nicole davis

a shout out to my dear friend kyla
(who probably hasn't been to this blog in a long while)

this is reilly.
her new daughter.
they just moved to boston from chicago to pastor a church.

i love her and michael tons.
this is their second baby in under two years. pray for them!

kyla saved my life in albania.
that was right after we almost killed eachother.
with our bare hands mind you.
she rawks the house.

she reminds me of what i'll call (for those of you just joining us)...

today's chewable vitamin:

" 8 let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
~ rom.13.8

i have no idea what to write.

now that the election is done- i have nothing to put on my blog.
is my blog life is over?
will the commentors vacate?
will this be a dull monolouge?


i guess i got some stuff rolling around in my head that i might post.

like why the sitcom M*A*S*H is the best TV show ever.
or
a soundtrack to my life by decade.
but i'm still trying to decide how many tracks each decade should have.
or
about how the scariest thing that happens to me each day
is looking at this vending machine with these nasty ass sandwiches in it.
i don't know why i do this to myself.
i've never even bought anything out of that machine.
it's like a car accident.
you look.
but you don't want to.

but that's about as much excitement as i can muster.

emerson

sweet boy

says

VOTE!

i was born a poor black child...

ok- i wasn’t.
it’s just one of my favorite movie lines
and i’ve been dying to use it.

i was actually born into a fairly typical east coast irish catholic family.

this meant many things (laughter, yelling and drinking to name some)- but it also meant we were democrats. with the immenient presidential election- i thought i would have a closing partisan post. who knows what i will have to write about after the election season is finally over.

so this is a brief account about how by the edge of ten- i was very very into politics.

back to the home i grew up in. unlike most evangelicals- even after my mom got the holy ghost she still hated ronald reagan.

so i’m sure it was to her surprise on that rainy afternoon in 1981 to come home to find me glued to the tv in full military dress, standing at attention (saluting mind you) watching the news coverage on the attempt on president reagan’s life. i loved ronald reagan and i was eight years old.

later in my elementary years i was what they called a ‘safety patrol’. you may be familiar with the term. in light of the dangerous work environment; i formed a union to protect worker’s rights. it was a semi elaborate system for fifth graders. from the union protests- that included work stoppage (picture picket line complete with signs); we got hot chocolate, cookies, and heaters for our coats.

this is the story of my partisan life.

chewable vitamin

"if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. if an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." ~desmond tutu (as we close out his birthday month)

bono & bush

bono & bush

cliff notes to our weekend...

friday night i watched a chris rock special with megan.
we laughed hard at inappropriate things.
saturday night we watched bend it like beckham which i really liked.
sunday was a day to bottle and pull out of your pocket for the dead of febraury.
we enjoyed a walk and one another.
i slept and tried to perfect a shopping list for aldi's.
we hung pictures and laid out our winter rug.
we talked to brothers sisters, uncles, nieces and mums.
i washed sheets and used bleach and enjoyed the smell.
i walked through leaves and got mud on my jeans.
i bought new jeans from walmart and i'm wearing them now.
i fear they will turn my legs blue.

it was a very nice weekend.

today's chewable vitamin

"what a feeling....
what a feeling!
feelin's believin'. i can have it all, now i'm dancing for my life.
take your passion and make it happen.
you can come alive, you can dance right through your life. "
~irene cara (from the flashdance soundtrack)

some persepective for me today in light of our recent discussions...

today's chewable vitamin

"for a christian, Jesus is the man in whom it has indeed become manifest that revolution and conversation cannot be seperated in man's search for expereintial transcendence. his appearance in our midst has made it undenaibly clear that changing the human heart and changing human society are not seperate tasks, but are inteconnected as the two beams of the cross." ~ henri nowen

WARNING
process post ahead.
some rhetorical questions
some questions i can't answer
all are sincere...


can anyone explain to me
why it is considered 'inferior' (for lack of a more impartial word).
to be a single issue voter?

discuss**
(see below for guidelines)




things you might consider addressing:

:: do you thinkit's possible that there is 'one thing' in voting that is more important than anything else? if so (and what that 'one thing' is- isn't so much what i'm interested in) how did you come to hold it so important? describe your process.

:: is there truth behind the inference that one issue voting is intellectually weak?



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

where i'm coming from...

i have bucked the idea of being a 'one issue voter'.

i like to think that i am (and honestly- it's too important to me that i be perceived as) a thoughtful, informed, hard to categorize person and voter.

but, more and more- it is clear to me what is most important to me.
i don't know how much time i have spent trying deliberating on how i should vote-
discussing, arguing and praying.

the more i think about it;
the more comfortable i am to make a decision based on what is most important to me...

i can make rocket science out of anything.

for me (and for the vast majority of people reading this);
abortion is an important issue.
it is what i am referring to here as my 'most important' issue.

i know that there has been very good logic laid out elsewhere that there is very little likihood that the next administration will do anything to effect laws to protect the unborn.

BUT

anne articulated this feeling that has solidified in me
(in the previously comment happy post 10.07):

"i don't support the law, biblical or corporal, because of its efficacy, i support it because of its truth. i don't espouse certain tenets only because i think they may be carried out, i support them because they are true.

i understand that you are being pragmatic in evaluating the potential cost to the abortion issue if john kerry is elected, but i think your logic is backwards. we are to called to support what is true, all the time. in this case it is clear, that gw is standing for the truth."

somehow my mind goes to the abolishionist movement.
what if people stopped their work to end slavery in america
prior to the fruits of their "efforts" (whatever that might look like)
come to pass and be seen?

they did EVERYTHING they could to solve and fight and kick and scream
(not to offend any of you anabaptists out there)
until slavery was outlawed.

i know this is some serious shit- but like i said-
it's my most important issue and my vote will reflect that...

** assumptions (ass) and ground rules (gr):

ass #1: your walk, reverence and love for God is not in question. even if we disagree.
ass #2: your patriotism is intact. however you vote you love this country as much as me and other's commenting here (unless you tell us otherwise)...
ass #3: we're equals. may your words reflect it.

gr #1: you will be edited if you berate one another.
gr #2: no all caps (ok i'm kidding)

maggie- it's not raining

this is my niece.

her name is margret claire.
she goes by maggie.
she has many ideas and opinions.

in honor of the weekend...
i want to get some weighty and profound things off my mind.

:: my comments are erased. i wonder if i can get them restored rather than simply back. *problem solved*
:: i could really be getting bored with my yankees.
:: did anyone think that president bush might have had something in the right corner of his mouth- or was that the camera angle for pbs?
:: say cheboygan ten times and tell me if you don't smile.
:: i collect leaves in the autumn. my collection is a bit out of control.
:: i am happy to hear that my man- chris rock is hosting the oscars.

in honor of him... i give you-


today's chewable vitamin
"every town has the same two malls: the one white people go to and the one white people used to go to." ~chris rock

nora standing

nora standing
Originally uploaded by liadanslyre.

this is nora catherine.
this is nora standing.
now she walks...
haven't see her do it yet.
she also smiles incessantly.

welcome to my 200th post.

200 random things
for my
200th post

1. i’m a terrible speller.

2. i graduated from grandview heights highschool. it was nice.

3. i’m the youngest of three.

4. i have two nephews and three nieces. only one lives in columbus. so i’ve adopted a couple here in town.

5. i think megan crawford should host a part for all of blogdom in central ohio.

6. i am not so good at learning in the traditional fashion- but i love learning.

7. i only found that out after i was done with my undergrad degree.

8. my right arm pit sweats more than my left. weird.

9. when facing something that intimidates me- i sing the rocky theme song to myself. it helps. try it.

10. i like to be alone sometimes.

11. my brother is planting a church.

12. the area of life that i allow to fluster me most consistently is money or the lack of it.

13. i worked with campus crusade for five years and loved it for the most part.

14. my most favorite memory of my dad is running the pumpkin run with him riding his bike playing eye of the tiger on a boom box.

15. i was voted worse driver of my senior class.

16. when i was drinking i would wake up in very random places having no idea how i got there.

17. if i could have any car i wanted i think i would get a volvo cross country.

18. i lived in albania for a year. it was great and terrible all at once.

19. sometimes i act as if it is more important to be cool than to represent Jesus. this worries me.

20. when i first became a christian, i felt like i was on the outside looking in at life happening for everyone else.

21. sometimes I still feel like that.

22. i didn’t think I would live past the age of 21.

23. one of the biggest challenges in my life is to take responsibility for my choices and not blame jerks around me for my unhappiness or frustration.

24. i would love to adopt an AIDS orphan from Africa.

25. i was grounded once for four months. it sucked.

26. in college- my friends and i used to try to get one another to pee our pants from laughing too hard. we had a rating system on how close we came.

27. i never thought i’d have the caliber of friends in my life that i do today.

28. when i first meet someone- i often do nervous talking. i’m not so good at first impressions.

29. i’ve had my licensed suspended by the state of ohio.

30. the first time i knew there was something intriguing about charles is when he told me he wanted to found and fund a non profit for widows and orphans.

31. i’ve never been more sure of anything in my life than being partnered with charles in life and ministry.

32. in our young marriage; i’ve learned that i don’t fight fair sometimes. i hope God changes me.

33. i was a tom-boy when i was growing up.

34. sometimes i miss the desperations of life and my walk with the Lord when I first came to know him.

35. sometimes i want to beat up people that hurt people i love.

36. i’m not sure i can think of 200 things to write.

37. i got my undergraduate degree in art education.

38. one concrete regret I have is that I didn’t get my teaching certificate.

39. my nephew jack developed a dry sense of humor at 3.5 yrs of age. i think it’s a sign of brilliance.

40. when i was single; i hated that argument that married people had reached a place of contentment and god released them to be married.

41. now that i’m married- i dislike that argument even more.

42. i really believe that marital status (single, or married) is a tool or atmosphere that god uses to help us love and surrender more to him.

43. i’m 31 yrs old.

44. my social security number is blahhhhhhh.

45. i can be too wordy.

46. i can be too opinionated.

47. i like people that have opinions on stuff. i think they’re more interesting.

48. i want to teach my kids a game called hooper that my dad taught us.

49. i really want to be a good wife.

50. i don’t know if this deodorant is working.

51. i don’t know how to cook very well- but i’m learning little by little.

52. the first and most influential book i read as a Christian was inside out.

53. i think it was influential b/c it verbalized something that validated and helped me not be as scared to let people know me.

54. i love being irish.

55. my quest to learn igbo is coming along.

56. i am sorting through some of my dreams. i think some of them were a bit grandiose. there might be a step towards health and maturity as they are refined into right sized things.

57. i hope that last one wasn’t too vague.

58. i believe thomas freidman of the times- rocks the proverbial house.

59. treatment wasn’t so bad.

60. i believe that we are called to be part of a church plant one day. i hope i'm right.

61. i hope it works out to celebrate shelby's birthday on the 30th w/ lori in dayton.

62. i applied to three different graduate school programs but i didn’t get in. it really bummed me out.

63. i believe that no child left behind is underfunded.

64. i love that phase of friendship when you first are becoming friends. that’s not to exclude other phases of friendship.

65. my friend anne is one of the more funny people I know.

66. i started blogging after reading mark palmer’s blog.

67. i truly believe that my mom may be one of the best second grade teachers out there.

68. sometimes i write to strangers about their blogs. this usually leads to a cool dialogue.

69. sometimes i get emails from strangers about my blog. this usually leads to a cool dialogue.

70. i really hope that i can spend my life on Jesus, his Kingdom and His people.

71. i really hope that my idea of that that means isn’t completely wacked.

72. it seems very difficult to not make your kids the center of the universe.

73. i look at my mission statement once a month and pray that it would come to fruition. i’m really happy i do this.

74. i try very hard to not be a poser. i hope that it pays off.

75. my friends kyla and michael just moved to boston to help pastor a church. i hope their doing well. i don’t know how to reach them.

76. i’ve decided to vote for george bush. i decided that after learning that john kerry will not vote to ban partial birth abortion.

77. charles says he will still love me even if I vote for gwb.

78. i don’t think Jesus was a capitalist.

79. i wish socialism worked.

80. i can’t believe i genuinely enjoy my mom as much as i do.

81. i wonder if anyone is reading this.

82. i don’t think i will loose sleep over this job. it may be too early to tell.

83. i got a gmail account. verdict is still out.

84. if i get invitations- let me know if you want one

85. i would’ve like to have five kids- now- I’d like to have two or three.

86. i don’t get how people walk around pregnant.

87. i can’t really believe that whole dilation phenomena.

88. i think that people that say money doesn’t solve all your problems are generally right- but more than likely have never been poor.

89. i wonder if my friends that work at merck are off-loading their stock options.

90. i think the patriot act is largely bullshit.

91. i was a late talker b/c my hearing was damaged. I was on track by the age of five.

92. i went to speech therapy throughout elementary school.

93. my teacher’s name was mrs. kessel. she was freaky. no eyebrows.

94. my hair’s name is bridget.

95. i saw a book once called sometimes i hurt. i thought that was pretty funny.

96. funniest line from jess: “mommy- was does that man have purple glitter on his face?”

97. i try to make a desks out of obscure items.

98. jess is feeding me lines over the phone and begging for credit.

99. she is telling me to put down some obscene things- which i will resist.

100. she thinks she is very funny.

101. she is pretty funny.

102. kirsten kinnell should defiantly blog.

103. lyndi is blogging now.

104. at one point in my life i could recite wayne’s world in its entirety.

105. at one point in my life- I had entirely too much time on my hands (albania).

106. is this post a sign I have too much time on my hands?

107. don't answer that.

108. i don’t understand why the clerk at udf always feels the freedom to vent at me about poor people and foodstamps. she’s lucky i don’t go ape on her ass.

109. i really dislike when people pontificate on how people want to be or stay poor.

110. not having a t.v. isn’t so bad.

111. as much as i hate to admit it- i am still tempted to lie.

112. sometimes i do.

113. but 9 times out of 10- i go back and tell the person of my over exaggeration or whatever.

114. the first time i practiced correcting a lie, over exaggeration, white lie or whatever was for a boy. i told him I had read ben hur when i had not.

115. people think about me less than i think they do.

116. i really hope our kinship takes to the idea of doing a servant evangelism project to the girls at sirens.

117. i almost never open forwards.

118. i love walking through leaves in the autumn and will go out of my way to do so...

119. a guaranteed smile overtakes me when charles sings the little mermaid theme song to me.

120. charles reminds me that being cool is over-rated.

121. or maybe he redefines what it means to be cool.

122. theocracies don't work.

123. i’ve never drank an alcoholic drink and not gotten drunk.

124. it think i might of changed my mind on the Volvo station wagon. maybe a Nissan murano instead.

125. chris farley’s el nino skit makes me pee my pants a little.

126. NPR enlightened me to nick drake, hill st. soul, call and response and ken stringfellow.

127. i really like our bookclub.

128. i’m glad i haven’t gotten kicked out when i don’t finish the book

129. i hope we can have each of our neighbors over for dinner this autumn.

130. i prefer to call autumn; autumn over fall

131. i know i drink too much diet coke.

132. I thought that this was pretty funny.

133. i love to smoke cigars.

134. i love to disinfect stuff. i’m a little ocd.

135. i am more quirky and particular than I’d like to admit.

136. marriage has shown me this.

137. i think about my dad every day.

138. i would like to be a presidential history buff.

139. i think america is far too detached or disinterested in african geo-political happenings.

140. I wonder why that is and hope it’s not b/c of prejudice.

141. i regret not visiting prague while i was living in the balkans.

142. baklava here totally sucks.

143. I miss my rushmore soundtrack. Some bastard stole it out of my card. Hope they’re enjoying it.

144. my dad was very smart.

145. this one has been edited for better judgement and in reverance to the dooce principle]

146. [this one has been edited for better judgement and in revernace to the dooce principle]

147. my sister is the one sibling that looks like me ma- but she’s adopted.

148. i think adoption is great.

149. i love sunsets- and even though this is completely self absorbed- i think that when there’s a really pretty one- that Jesus gave it just for me.

150. i love the books of romans, revelation, hebrews and dueteronomy most in the bible.

151. i consider micah 6.8 one of my “life verses”.

152. 2Cor. 4.7-12 is one of my favorite passages in the new testament.

153. Lk 7 is probably my favorite chapter in the entire bible.

154. one of my favorite things i’ve heard a preacher say is (something like- i’m paraphrasing)- “redemptive history starts in a garden and ends in a City. if you don’t like cities- you might consider that…”

155. i don’t know who this randy character is.

156. i can’t believe that charles makes $7 an hour doing such shitty and hard work.

157. u want to sell our old computer but I don’t know how to get all the stuff off of it.

158. i really hope our next major purchase is a digital camera. i got one all researched.

159. we’re doing crown financial and I’m very excited about it.

160. with my 200th post- i’ve learned to not treat this as a journal. my journal is much different. i cuss more in it. ok- i’m kidding about the cussing.

161. this has taken some time to compile 200 things.

162. i think it’s very great that the strip bar that u’ve prayed would burn down actually did. (no one was hurt)

163. i’m very happy to report that my dear old friend cyd kniffen tracked me down.

164. i can’t believe we lost to northwestern

165. i love lowe’s and stationary stores (not hallmark- but on paper and stuff). i also love andersons.

166. i'm looking forward to seeing i heart the huckabees.

167. and wes anderson's new film as well.

168. in general- i think dick cheney is a crazy mofo- but he came across pretty well in the debate.

169. does anyone have the book The Gospel According to Job? i heard it was very good and would like to borrow it. really, any resources on Job will do.

170. our cd rom is busted.

171. i’m getting together with this girl that i used to party with on Friday. she just got done being homeless. surreal.

172. we went to see garden state and it was good.

173. i can’t believe that I have nearly thirty to go.

174. this is getting a little laborious.

175. i ate bologna the other day by accident.

176. the Grandview football team is actually doing well for the first time in YEARS.

177. but they axed field hockey… bastards.

178. i can be caustic at times.

179. i think it’s cause I like to fight. sometimes. plain and simple.

180. sushi. the food of the gods.

181. one of our friends aaron is coming for breakfast saturday. he hasn’t met charles yet.

182. we’re having a pumpkin carving party saturday.

183. how do people get all those crazy designs out of pumpkins??

184. i heart flickr.

185. if i had money… i would subscribe to a daily delivery of the nytimes, the economist, the new yorker, and harpers.

186. right now, i just subscribe to new yorker.

187. if i had to drop one name from the list- it would be harpers.

188. if i could only have one (after having the new yorker for a number of years) it would be the economist.

189. there are many cross cultural experiences in our marriage. the biggest surprise in my adjustment is how our house always smells like nigerian food. which isn’t a bad thing- i just was not prepared.

190. one of my favorite artists is egon schille. but he was a perv.

191. i also love soutine. i saw a show of his at the jewish museum. some of his stuff is at the columbus museum of art.

192. i wonder if anyone is still reading this.

193. funniest/ strangest thing said in the okonkwo house in a long time, 'you guys don't have dead bodies along the road here right?' uh- no charles- we don't.

194. i go nuts when I hear pipes (bag pipes/irish pipes).

195. i really want to read four views of the millinieum by mounce- but I think my head might burst.

196. i go through cycles devotionally. i’m either all about prayer or all about study. right now i’m all about prayer.

197. riley flaherty proposed to me in kindergarten. he gave me a flinstones ring out of a cracker jacks box. he was totally into Kiss (the group).

198. i don’t like the new tom and jerry cartoons.

199. if I could live anywhere in the world- i think it would be in brooklyn heights new york.

200. ________________________________ (you’re turn-fill in the blank).

this is my nephew aidan.
i have two nephews.
they're both hilarious in their own great way.
he makes me smile.
he's in first grade.

i would really be interested to hear
how any readers who are:
undecided voters
are pro-life
but don’t consider yourself a single issue voter
can vote for john kerry.

i was not aware that he has voted against every measure that bans partial birth abortion.

prior to knowing this, i had a solid two months thinking i was going to vote for him (as the lesser of two evils).

now, i think his voting record on that particular issue (specifically partial birth abortion) speaks to his lack of character. i have a hard time thinking he is a good man (although i agree on his approach on many things).

what do you think?
if you don’t meet the criteria outlined above- you can weigh in too. just try to keep it to the question at hand and tell me why you think what you think. and please don’t yell at me.

.5 jack

.5 jack
Originally uploaded by liadanslyre.

chewable vitamins
" and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
~ rom. 5.5

my friend frankie died.

he is with Jesus now which is good. but i will miss him. his body was barely a shell, but his spirit was feisty and lovely until the end. he did not get his electric blue wig like cydney on alias. that’s my only earthly disappointment for him. he has exchanged his frail body for a new one. his eyes can see with no interference of infection; his legs work with no obstruction from tumors. he body is free no longer wracked with pain.

i am distracted by heaven today. i have been more conscience of the blessing of god on my life lately. with that i mind, i would exchange the richness of here for the relieve of the to come.

no more watching people die. no more watching people betray. no more oppression. no more desertion or duplicity. no more waging the war within me. no more emotional limping through life.

shalom. wholeness. being with Jesus will be so great. see you soon frankie. i love you!

+++

" 50 i declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 listen, i tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 for the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54 when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "death has been swallowed up in victory."[7] 55"where, o death, is your victory? where, O death, is your sting?"[8] 56 the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." ~ 1 cor. 15.50-57

chewable vitamin
"always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry. "
~ bill cosby

things i’m into right now…

:: learning html
:: using the phrase “dirty rat bastard”
:: really good bass lines
:: working hard on our marriage.
:: outlining some plan of study and sticking to it.
:: getting prank calls from my 5 yrs old nephew jack
:: the italian chalk festival
:: making regular visits the north market farmer's market on a saturday morning this autumn.
:: julian kay

chewable vitamin
"i don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. i don't want to sell anything bought or processed... or buy anything sold or processed... or process anything sold, bought or processed... or repair anything sold, bought or processed. you know, as a career, I don't want to do that." ~ lloyd dobler (from say anything)

something very good has happened.

julian daniel kay has arrived.

i got to meet him yesterday. he’s a chunk of love at 8 lbs 8 ounces.

i have many feelings that surround his arrival. the predominate one is an immense amount of pride i feel on behalf of his beloved mother chelsea. she carries herself with love void of reserve or self preservation that somehow exudes a dignity and grace that inspires me. it is the Lord. i can only pray i am half the wife and mother she is becoming!

chels labored like a champ and got a great gift in return. such is life. i got the chance to be with her during the first three hours of her relatively short labor. it's the best thing i've been a part of for a while.

best of craig's list

i laughed aloud!

stevie

stevie

on a lighter note...

i thought i'd post a pic of one of the more under-rated mucisians in recent history- stevie wonder.

i'll yell it from the hill tops...

I LOVE STEVIE WONDER!

i needed a break from all this other stuff rumbling in the ole' noggin. if i need a break- for sure- you need a break from it too.

later dudes.

"should christians look to politicians to advance the Kingdom of God?"
taken from previous post

nope.
it doesn't work.

is there a role for government in caring the poor, addressing cycles of poverty, not letting outright discrimination to go unchecked?
yes (my example would be the new deal- anne would disagree).

are those items (listed in previous sentence part of advancing of the Kingdom of God)?
yes.

ultimatley, the believer should not bank on the government changing society or caring for the forgotten. the Church is the main modality for the Kingdom of God to be advanced.

the decline of evangelicalism's impact on america is directly proportionate with the lack of care extended to the poor. **

++++++
last installment/next post:

"i think every american christian should live in a developing country for some length of time. i think the anarchists in nyc should too."
++++++



**for more on this discussion see "a heart for the city" by john fuder. in particular, the chapter "a case for holistic urban ministry: the City, evangelicals, and the social gospel." which highlights glen kehrein work and expereince with circle urban ministries. [thanks to my brother matt for bringing this to mind].

"i think it is important for Christians to be part of the political process. the Church could easily hamstring ourselves when we put it at odds with the advancement of the Kingdom. when times arise when Christians are asked to compromise on the central issues of Gospel life- then we part ways and don't shame those that choose not to." taken from previous post

this is an excerpt from an email I exchanged earlier this month with mark palmer. he’s an intergral part of the landing place. he’s a gem from a far. meaning- what I know- I like. here’s what he wrote…

“when Jesus came, he came announcing that the Kingdom of God had come. HisKingdom was not just a spiritual Kingdom, it was a real and physicalKingdom, with its own set of politics, and its own way of life (i.e theSermon on the Mount). Jesus also announced, thru his teachings and hisactions, that he was the King of this new Kingdom. Again, he didn't meanthat he was just a "spiritual" king of "heaven". He was a real King. TheApostles and his first followers understood it this way; that's why theywere consistently arrested and executed, not because they were believing ina different "religion" (that really would have been no problem to thepowers). They were arrested and killed because they were announcing thatthey followed a different King who ruled a different Kingdom than the onethat Caesar ruled. When the first Christians announced that "Jesus isLord", it also meant that "Caesar is not"…

the reason that I don't vote is because I cannot involve myself in a systemthat is built upon the antithesis of Jesus' system (use of force/violence,rule from above/power from position, marginalization of the lowly, etc.) Ialso cannot cast a vote for a leader who leads a kingdom that is other thanthe Kingdom of God…. I simply can't have split allegiance.”

this argument really makes sense to me. i follow it logically. i am not comfortable with it though… now granted- my comfort level is not necessarily an indicator or baramator of what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God. the bottom line is; i don’t know that it is split allegiance to particpipate in the political process.

this argument also makes me think about my parents and people that are older in their faith. i hope that this is received in the spirit in which it’s said- but i think older people who have logged time in the Lord and lived through history and life have an ability to live out nuances and ‘gray’ that is more difficult to settle on as a young (er) person. i don’t mean to discount the process and evolution involved in settling on convictions and deciding what is truly important to us as individuals or a group. i experience this in my own life it is more difficult for me to live and walk in the grays of life than it is for me to walk or talk in the black or white of life. i want things clear. when life is hard, I want a solution. and the more clear the solution the more I like it.

i don’t have an exhaustive theological framework to rebut the argument mark outlined. i do know that the bible doesn’t “clearly” address voting. i know that there is value placed on issues of discernment and dependence (walking out the gray areas).

i am simply very cautious when I sense things that throw the baby out with the bathwater. which is how this argument strikes me.

this potion that closed mark’s email was so encouraging to read:

“i am not apolitical; i strive to follow the politics of Jesus. indnon-participation is not the answer...if I'm not going to involve myself inthe politics of the kingdom of the world, then I better get out there andinvolve myself in the politics of the Kingdom of God (practical love ofenemy, peacemaking, care for the poor and marginalized).”

my hero

my hero
Originally uploaded by liadanslyre.

just testing.
thought that mama teresa would be appropriate given what i'm thinking about lately.

she's albanian you know.

albanian's rule!

a light hearted post for now...

well. i haven’t gotten to post more of my thoughts on peace, politics and justice. we’ve been staying away from our apartment and it changes my schedule and computer usage. it is a welcomed change of pace. perhaps i will be able to this weekend. no worries.

things i love about fall…

:: mums
:: ohio state football.
:: sweaters
:: the leaves turning colors.
:: school supplies.
:: sharp pencils.
:: the smell of newly sharpened pencils.
:: leave piles that you can walk through to hear the crumple of leaves.
:: good sales on dumb stuff that I don’t have the money to buy.
:: the first snow.
:: the first five minutes of raking leaves.
:: the smell of pumpkins when you’re carving them.
:: hearing the grandview band practice in dusk.
:: drinking hot cider on the stoop.
:: all things fire.
:: snuggling.
:: breaking out the down comforter.

chewable vitamin
"each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...build(ing) a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
~ robert f. kennedy

“peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of justice.”
~ maureen sullivan

for our purposes here- i will take credit for this quote to appear intelligent and wise (but i didn’t really say it- i can’t find the reference).

i think we way undersell what peace even is...
(see previous post for blog post map for this week)

here’s my working definition of peace. please feel free to expand it for me…

one of the more compelling lectures I remember from vli was hearing steve robbins talk about what shalom is…

shalom is the Hebrew worked for peace right?

steve’s thesis was that peace in american Christianity is simplistic and narrow and outlined the symetic understanding of peace. he talked about how often peace is reduced to a byproduct of salvation (i.e. peace with God through Christ rom. 5.1) which that is gravy right there in my mind. he went on to coin a term “Gospel shalom”. he talked about it in terms that made me long for a paradigm shift in outreach efforts that are common in evangelicalism.

he delineated how Gospel shalom was about wholeness that extends to a persons physical being as well as their spiritual being. Gospel shalom is working to reverse the curse- praying for our physical bodies to be restored and healed; working to alleviate the shame of those who suffer, working to free our present day captives in the literal and figurative sense etc.

shalom is not a warm gushy feeling that we experience when we know Jesus. it is less of an adjective and more of a verb (yes, it’s used as an adjective- but work with me here). i don’t think it comes at the exclusion of force or intervention.

does the bible give us a precedence that peace comes at the exclusion of intervention- even if it the intervention may include force? well- i don’t know the exhaustive answer to this question. but there’s plenty of scripture that is descriptive that includes the use of force and describes wars and stuff. but in my opinion that’s not too much help.

there is also- scripture that is prescriptive and describes the means by which we know peace. the linchpin of redemptive history was the violent death and forceful intervention of Jesus on the cross. we are not saved through a blood drive. there is no sterility clean peaceful way to describe the crucifixion account. the blood that is so often in the same sentence as peace did not come our way through the pacifism of God (1 Pet. 1.2, Eph. 2.14-15, Colossians 1.20). our only hope for peace (adjective or verb) is through the cross of Jesus.

am i looking to fight? am i suggesting that we should look to be violent? i sure hope not- although i do have a disposition that likes some spice every once in a while…

please let me know what you think about this working definition.

*remember:*
“if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
~ rom 12.18

so please play nice with one another if you decide to utilize comments for interaction.

+++
next post (i think):
"i think it is important for christians to be part of the politcal process. the Church could easily hamstring ourselves when we put it at odds with the advancement of the Kingdom. when times arise when christians are asked to compromise on the central issues of Gospel life- then we part ways and don't shame those that choose not to."
+++

peacemaking

well. sometimes i know where a post is going prior to posting it. this is not the case this evening.

i should first say, i don't really know much about the topic and honestly have only given it thought since 9/11. i had a close mennonite friend at my previous work who told me about all the great things that the mennonite central committee does around the world. as i read more about anabaptist views i was intrigued, confused, and a bit frustrated. this is definitely new territory for me.

recently,i read matt's post. he's a guy i met- who probably doesn't remember meeting me from landing place. those folks at landing place have lots of active bloggers and i always like reading them b/c i find them thoughtful. they have mennonite roots too. like i said- i love me the mennonites.

here are a couple of things i got on my mind:

• i think that working for peace does not necessarily mean you have to be a complete pacifist.
• i think those protestors during the republican national convention were funny.
• i think we way undersell what peace even is...
• i would be interested in reading about some famous christian pacifist. it is hard for me to believe that people who love something wouldn't be willing to fight for it if it were endangered.
• i think it is important for christians to be part of the politcal process. the Church could easily hamstring ourselves when we put it at odds with the advancement of the Kingdom. when times arise when christians are asked to compromise on the central issues of Gospel life- then we part ways and don't shame those that choose not to.
• i think every american christian should live in a developing country for some length of time. i think the anarchists in nyc should too.
• should christians look to politicians to advance the Kingdom of God?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
at this point- i've realized that this will be way too long of a post.
instead, i'll post by topic over the next week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

but i do just want to say something about those protestors.

ok- so am i actually suppose to be be persuaded by this? we were at my mom's and we had cspan on. so we're watching it and i saw one of the protestors pee pee! now, i'm sorry- am i supposed to take you seriously?

for as much hatred of the current administration was brewing in nyc last week; you would've thought the anarchist's were the war mongers. here we got people breathing hate and protesting an administration of war mongering in the context of security measures, blockades, tear gas, police dogs- for the protestors. the news was predicting violent clashes.

it seems nearsighted at best- or disingenuine at worse to protest a war because you want peace and do so using violent, threatening or illegal means.

ok. that's it for now.