We have received significant pieces of news from two recent alumni:
Jeff Chen ('03) has returned to the States from Iraq. We are so relieved that he is home safely! He will be marrying his fiancee Jess on May 7th at FBCA2.
Kendrick Wells IV ('03) will be marrying his fiancee, Michelle, on March 25th, in Humble, Texas. He practices law in Louisville, Kentucky.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Nowhere in Africa
Gad, Tricia, Adam, Lauren, and Danielle are absorbed in the movie. 
Gaius, Danielle, Lauren, Gad, and Adam prepare to head home. Adam does a little subtle marketing for Diet Coke.
Charlie shows his pleasure at playing with Gad.
A cuddly moment.
What a great film! Thanks to Gad for suggesting it and bringing it. The story of a German Jewish family who emigrate to Kenya to escape Nazism in the late 30s had us reflecting on issues of love, identity, and acceptance. A great, gorgeous, meaningful flick.
Note to self: 4 pizzas is way too much for 8 people to enjoy, if Dave Moehring isn't present. But two pans of brownies are the perfect amount!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Film suggestions?
Okay, so Faith-and-Film is definitely on for this Sunday, 6:30 at our house. Still to be decided: the movie. Here are a few I have thought of:
Crash
Malcolm X
Life is Beautiful
All intense, all thought-provoking, all Oscar-nominated (Life is Beautiful won; Crash may yet) one quite long (Malcolm X). Some of you may have seen one or all. I'm leaning towards Crash myself but haven't yet screened it and am thoroughly open to comments and suggestions.
Crash
Malcolm X
Life is Beautiful
All intense, all thought-provoking, all Oscar-nominated (Life is Beautiful won; Crash may yet) one quite long (Malcolm X). Some of you may have seen one or all. I'm leaning towards Crash myself but haven't yet screened it and am thoroughly open to comments and suggestions.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Faith-and-Film?
So. Would anybody be up for a F&F this Sunday? And, if so, does anyone have any suggestions for a movie?
Please do check in with ayes, nays, and suggestions.
And see you tonight!
Please do check in with ayes, nays, and suggestions.
And see you tonight!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
And now for something completely different....
Which muppet are you?
Here's me:
Here's me:
| You Are Miss Piggy |
 A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it. You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less. You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way. Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift! |
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The Golden Mean
Are you familiar with the ancient philosophical teaching of the "golden mean"? (I'm sure Adam is!) It is the term for the happy middle ground between two extremes in any situation - one of excess and the other of deficiency.
Socrates taught that a person "must know how to choose the mean and avoid the extremes on either side, as far as possible."
Plato said, "If we disregard due proportion by giving anything what is too much for it; too much canvas to a boat, too much nutriment to a body, too much authority to a soul, the consequence is always shipwreck."
The teaching of the golden mean is most associated with Aristotle, who, in his writings on the virtues, constantly used the phrase, "... is the Middle state between ..." His teaching on the moral virtues and the pyschology of the soul is based on the golden mean between two extremes.
Now take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:15-18. Kind of sounds like the golden mean! (a concept that would not have been foreign to the author of Ecclesiastes, who came along a couple of centuries after Aristotle). So what do you think? Is there a golden mean, a happy middle ground, between righteousness and wickedness? Is it possible to be too righteous? I have some thoughts but I'd love to know yours first....
[thanks to Wikipedia for helpful explanation and quotes on the golden mean]
Socrates taught that a person "must know how to choose the mean and avoid the extremes on either side, as far as possible."
Plato said, "If we disregard due proportion by giving anything what is too much for it; too much canvas to a boat, too much nutriment to a body, too much authority to a soul, the consequence is always shipwreck."
The teaching of the golden mean is most associated with Aristotle, who, in his writings on the virtues, constantly used the phrase, "... is the Middle state between ..." His teaching on the moral virtues and the pyschology of the soul is based on the golden mean between two extremes.
Now take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:15-18. Kind of sounds like the golden mean! (a concept that would not have been foreign to the author of Ecclesiastes, who came along a couple of centuries after Aristotle). So what do you think? Is there a golden mean, a happy middle ground, between righteousness and wickedness? Is it possible to be too righteous? I have some thoughts but I'd love to know yours first....
[thanks to Wikipedia for helpful explanation and quotes on the golden mean]
Monday, February 06, 2006
Questions for runners and other athletes
I was a distance runner for one year in high school and I know a little about the discipline (especially mental) involved. But that was literally half my life ago. So I'd love some thoughts from those of you who currently run or participate in any other kind of sport, or have in recent history. How does your physical discipline inform your faith? (or does it?) Are there parallels? Things you have learned from sports that have shed light on your spiritual journey?
This week I am preaching from this text:
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
What is your response to the text? What does it mean to you to "run in such a way that you may win (an imperishable prize)"? What does "self-control" look like in the spiritual life? What would it mean to punish and enslave the body?
Would love to read/hear your reflections. Write a blog, write a comment, or, if you don't want to share publicly, drop me an email. I think that beyond giving me fodder for my own sermon reflections, this would just be an interesting discussion for us to have.
This week I am preaching from this text:
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
What is your response to the text? What does it mean to you to "run in such a way that you may win (an imperishable prize)"? What does "self-control" look like in the spiritual life? What would it mean to punish and enslave the body?
Would love to read/hear your reflections. Write a blog, write a comment, or, if you don't want to share publicly, drop me an email. I think that beyond giving me fodder for my own sermon reflections, this would just be an interesting discussion for us to have.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Team members.
Hey, look over there --->. See that list of names? (so far Dave, Becky, and Gad) Those are our blog "team members" - which means they can post on this blog. You can, too, if you follow the directions of the email I sent out yesterday. Whether or not you choose to be one of the bloggers, you can still and always comment on posts.
Happy Friday, all!
Happy Friday, all!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Our new home.
So here we are. Our new (free!) digs. Now I'll work on getting our old posts moved on over here....
So what's your deadliest sin?
Take the quiz and find out. (Just for fun, of course). In the spirit of full disclosure, here are my results for all to see. Looks like sloth is doing me in. What? Surfing the 'net for cool knitting blogs means I'm lazy? ;)
The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com
Truthfully, the quiz missed the mark a bit, as I know what my true root sin is, and it didn't rank as high as it should've, but I'm not telling. Let's just say that I'm envious of those you who have different temptations than I do....
Take the quiz and let us know how you fare.
| Greed: | Medium | |
| Gluttony: | Medium | |
| Wrath: | Very Low | |
| Sloth: | High | |
| Envy: | Very Low | |
| Lust: | Very Low | |
| Pride: | Medium |
The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com
Truthfully, the quiz missed the mark a bit, as I know what my true root sin is, and it didn't rank as high as it should've, but I'm not telling. Let's just say that I'm envious of those you who have different temptations than I do....
Take the quiz and let us know how you fare.
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