Monday, November 24, 2008

Doctoral Program

Okay, I am finally getting some of my doctoral assignments for the next seminar coming up in January. Of course, my senior pastor is taking the month of January off (which she really needs), but that means that the slack falls on my shoulders. It is hard to concentrate on school work during the Christmas season, when I am used to getting that as a school break and worry about all the church stuff too. I guess it is good that Ryss is going to Texas for her school break. I'm going to miss having her with me for Christmas but she really wants to be with our family. It seemed like the right thing to do, since I can't go back with her.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bah Humbug

This week seems like the lull before the storm. You know what storm I'm speaking about ----- the Christmas Holidays. I know that Christmas decorations were up before Halloween was over in some local stores. In fact, I was grocery shopping at Kroger's the other day and they were playing Christmas music.

Our society has turned Christmas into the biggest consumer event of the year. We feel guilty if we don't buy everyone we know a gift or, God forbid, we forget to send out Christmas cards to everyone in our address book.Instead of focusing on the holiness of the holiday, we have let our culture turn it into the most stressful time of the year.

As I continue to study Benedictine spirituality, where we are taught to listen for the voice of God and that material things can interfere with your Christian journey, I am trying to swim against the current cultural stream. It is really hard and it makes me feel guilty but I won't buy everyone I know a gift and I might not send out Christmas cards (that one is really hard). I won't go into debt to buy Ryss everything that commercials say she needs to be a happy teenager.

You are all invited to join me on this protest against the commercialization of Christmas. I'm still trying to figure out the right way to do this without seeming like "The Grinch".

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Charge Conference

Tomorrow night is my church's Charge Conference. I understand the whole historical significance of the Charge Conference but since all the same information is submitted in the End-of-Year Reports it really should be re-thought, re-vamped or deleted.

If they want a chance for the congregation to have a meeting with the D.S. that is fine but it doesn't seem very efficient use of time.

I'm just saying....................

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Yippee!!

Yes, yes, I know.....calm down, but I'm still very excited about the election and a little bummed too. My state passed a law that singles, people who cohabitate and homosexuals cannot be foster parents or adopt. It says that kids that are raised in non-traditional homes grow up to have problems down the road. Does this mean that my daughter will have problems down the road? I think that I provide a stable, loving home. I know that this law wasn't directed at me but at gays. Personally, I grew up in a two parent home and had many more problems. It is a sad day. Bummed about the whole California thing too.

But I am also very excited about Obama being elected President. It makes me want to join the Peace Corp. I'm just a little giddy.

Now I really, really want to know what kind of puppy the girls will get when they move into the White House.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Exciting Times

It is 8:30 p.m. on November 4th.....Election Night.....these are exciting times. I don't know about you guys but I am glued to the television. It has been so bad that I am going to have to go on a news fast after this election.

Of course, a whole bunch of my next D.Min. seminar books have arrived and I am knee deep in reading, so I will have a lot to keep me occupied after the election.

My Senior Pastor has hinted that she will take the entire month of January off. I will be in Houston for one week in January. I'm wondering how this will be handled. She has really needed this time off because her granddaughter is not doing very well and has been put back into the incubator in the NICU.

Right now Obama has flipped two Red states and the march goes on.