10th Anniversary

Today is a very special day. It marks ten years of togetherness and companionship. Ten years ago, on New Year's Eve Eve Pascal and I became companions. By Pascal I am not referring to the philosopher/scientist/theologian. By Pascal I am referring to my furry feline friend.

It has been a great ten years. I truly believe that God brought us together. A friend of mine was going to buy a cat, and I went with her. As she was looking at these kittens, Pascal walked up to me and meowed at me. My friend bought her and another cat. She let me name her cats, and I chose the names Pascal and Soren (yes, the obvious). It probably isn't a good sign when you let someone else name your pets. A couple of weeks later I called her and told her I was going to get a cat, and she asked me if I wanted Pascal. I jumped all over that. That was New Year's Eve Eve ten years ago.

It's been great. As a kitten she had the biggest ears (proof is in the pictures above), but she grew into them quite nicely. She still plays with pieces of the long furry toy she is chewing on in the second picture above. At night she jumps into bed with me and places her head on my hand for a few minutes before we go to sleep. In the morning, she places her head on my hand and we bond a few minutes before getting out of bed. She does not like it when other things preoccupy my attention. She should get it all. When taking Hebrew, I recall a day when she sprawled out across my texts while I was studying. It was a welcome distraction. When I was writing my thesis project she would sit at my feet while I was working at the computer, often keeping my feet warm.

I thank God that he brought me such a wonderful little buddy. She truly is a wonderful little gift from God.

The picture below is the anniversary present I bought her. Whew! I'm glad she liked it.

My Theological Worldview

I came across the theological worldview quiz via BryanL's blog. It turns out I'm more postmodern than I thought, although I know I'm very pomo. The funny thing is that I'm also very much into revival, which explains the high Wesleyan marks I suppose. I thought I'd score higher in the charismatic section, since I are one. Anyway...here it is.

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 82% Neo orthodox 75% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Roman Catholic 57% Charismatic/Pentecostal 39% Fundamentalist 32% Modern Liberal 32% Classical Liberal 32% Reformed Evangelical 29%

Meowy Christmas from Pascal

Would someone please get these things off of me? Sigh.

Meowy Christmas!


And a quote from Blaise Pascal:

“Wretchedness induces despair.

Pride induces presumption.

The Incarnation shows man the

greatness of his wretchedness through the

greatness of the remedy required.”

Merry Christmas

I posted this link before, but with two days until Christmas, we wanted to wish y'all a Merry Christmas. With all goofiness intended, here is our Christmas greeting from us to you.

We are:

Pascal--Cat
Petey--Lizard
Yvette--the one out of sync with the cat and the lizard.

Yes, not only are they smarter, they are better dancers.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Very exciting stuff

Last night when I got home there was one of those wonderful boxes at the door. Yes...it was from Amazon. AND, YES AGAIN! It was a book.

Inside was Nancey Murphy's Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism. This has moved to the top of the list. How could it not when the first two paragraphs of the introduction say this:

American Protestant Christianity is often described as a two party system. The division between "liberals" and conservatives (including both fundamentalists and evangelicals) is a deep one, often marked by acrimony and stereotypes. I leave it to the sociologists and historians to account for the acrimony. My goal here is to help clarify the difference between the intellectual positions of these two groups and to advance the thesis that the philosophy of the modern period is largely responsible of the bifurcation of Protestant Christan thought.

A second thesis of the book is that the modern philosophical positions that drove this division have all been called into question. So it is time to ask how theology ought to be done in a postmodern era and to envision a rapprochement between theologians of the left and right.

If that doesn't sound exciting to you, I don't know what does.

Nancey Murphy is Associate Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Woo hooo...let the festivities begin.

"What's In/On Your" Meme

BryanL tagged me for the "What’s in/on your:" meme. Here we go.

CD Player -- oooh...I don't really use a CD player, so I'll go with what I was listening to last on my IPod. Luke Timothy Johnson's Lectures on "Early Christianity."

DVD Player

My DVD player holds five DVDs: a disc from "Eureka" season 1, "End of the Spear," "Amazing Grace," "The Siege," and "Deck the Halls"

To Read List
Nancey Murphy's Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism and Stanley Grenz's Renewing the Center

To See List
"I am Legend", "Alvin and the Chipmunks", "Walk Hard" and "AVPR"

Mind--it's 10:27 and I have to stop writing this post so I can watch Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report"

I tag Jeremy, MLM, and St. Brian.

Personality Profile

Thanks to JeremyZ for posting on his personality. This led me to a wonderful profile instrument, and here is my personality profile:



Personality page has these quotes on the INTJ:

"...approach reality as they would a giant chess board, always seeking strategies that have a high payoff, and always devising contingency plans in case of error or adversity."

- The Portrait of the Mastermind Rational (iNTj) (Keirsey)

"...observer, values solitude, perfectionist, detached, private... does not talk about feelings, hard to impress, analytical, likes esoteric things..."

- Jung Type Descriptions (INTJ) (similarminds.com)

"To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how."

- INTJ Profile (TypeLogic)

"At work, INTJs use their conceptual strengths to analyze situations and then develop models to understand and anticipate through relentlessly to reach their goals. They will continue on with their plans, even in the face of adversity and data that might suggest to other more practical types that their goals are no longer feasible. By nature, INTJs are independent individualists."

- INTJ - The Free-Thinker (Lifexplore)

"INTJs are natural leaders, although they usually choose to remain in the background until they see a real need to take over the lead. When they are in leadership roles, they are quite effective, because they are able to objectively see the reality of a situation, and are adaptable enough to change things which aren't working well. They are the supreme strategists - always scanning available ideas and concepts and weighing them against their current strategy, to plan for every conceivable contingency. "

- Portrait of an INTJ (The Personality Page)

This stuff is fun.

Community Quote #2 -- Forgiveness

Sojourners sends these little snippet emails that are a delight to receive. They are free and thought provoking. One of their offerings is called "Verse and Voice." It is daily scripture and compelling quotes. I enjoy receiving these emails from Sojourners. If you are interested in receiving their free materials, you can sign up here.

Today's included another gem on community:

"Too many people come into community to find something, to belong to a dynamic group, to find a life which approaches the ideal. If we come into community without knowing that the reason we come is to discover the mystery of forgiveness, we will soon be disappointed." - Jean Vanier Community and Growth

Some times we enter into community knowing it will help us grow. Often times we enter into community without the foresight that this growth often comes through the trials we encounter when we are in relationship with other believers. Forgiving a brother or a sister is often much more difficult than extending forgiveness to those outside the community of faith. "After all," we reason, "they're a Christian. They should know better."

I'm not exactly sure what Vanier meant by "mystery of forgiveness." Is it the mystery on why God would send His Son so we can have forgiveness? Is it the mystery that we are called to extend the forgiveness we have received to those who wrong us? Is it the amazing mystery of the power and freedom that comes from forgiving? I'm not sure, but I expect a little bit of all of that and more.

One final thought from Scripture: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

___

Update 9:30 p.m.: This must be the theme of the day. I went to church this evening, and our pastor was talking about making our relationships right with the people with whom we have a problem. Then on my drive home, John Tesh was talking about how holding grudges weakens your immune system. Well, I ain't the brightest crayon in the box, but this theme was even obvious to me.

Michael Brown and Queer Channel Radio

Dr. Michael Brown of ICN Ministries has this fascinating interview about homosexuality on Shake Radio or Queer Channel Radio. Scroll down to the podcast dated 12/02/07. The interview is a few minutes into the program.

Dr. Brown does a great job of holding to scriptural truth AND being loving. The hosts described him as "tolerant" and a "nice guy." I am thankful for ministers who speak the truth in love and don't resort to gay bashing.

Tagged -- 7 Little Known Things About Myself

BryanL tagged me! First time I've been tagged...and here is the assignment: list seven little known facts about me.

1. I love my cat, Pascal. And my lizard, Petey.

2. I am an INTJ.

3. My only talent is video production.

4. I have trouble sleeping. I can only fall asleep watching TV so I'll get distracted. If I read before going to bed, I usually can't fall asleep.

5. I am sort of OCD and a germaphobe. When I leave the house I check the front door lock ten times (1...2....3....4....5 and I'll do this twice). I go through the same kitchen routine every night to make sure the gas stove is off and count all the electrical items to make sure they are off. I also have to turn on the outside lights, and look outside to make sure no one is there, and tug on the doors of the front and back of the house to make sure they are locked. I have to wash my hands before I eat. Friends will ask me if I washed my hands at a restaurant just to make me think about it knowing that as soon as I think about it I will have to get up and go wash them.

6. I love Star Trek, and I wish I were a Vulcan. When I was a kid and I would fall down and scrape my knee I would look to see if the blood was green.

7. I could listen to Billy Joel and Jimmy Buffet all day long.

I tag mlm.

Community Quote

BryanL has an interesting quote from Gordon Fee on ecclesiology and soteriology. Interestingly enough, today's "Voice of the Day" from Sojourners was this quote:

We live today in a world of growing isolation, frantic activity, and desperate violence, where paradoxically, we find ourselves longing for both solitude and companionship, intimacy and community. Some of us may look back to times when life seemed to make sense and relationships were more certain. Whether or not such times ever existed, we nevertheless long today for relationships that acknowledge who we are and who we want to be. We want someone to hear us, to hear our hearts beating, to hear our deepest longings—even longings of which we dare not speak.

- Sondra Higgins Matthaei
Faith Matters

There's something to think about.

Merry Christmas from Us to You

When I said in my previous post on death, that I like goofy stuff at Christmas I meant it. So, with all goofiness intended, here is our Christmas greeting from us to you.

Pascal--Cat
Petey--Lizard
Yvette--the one out of sync with the cat and the lizard. Yes, not only are they smarter, they are better dancers.

On Death

This is that time of the year that can be depressing. I go back and forth from having a blast with silly Christmas carols like "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" to being very depressed.

Here is one of the reasons. My mother died the day after Thanksgiving about ten years ago. The miracle we wanted didn't come. At least not the way we were praying. Her birthday was December 14th. A very good friend of mine died December 16 two years ago, and he was very young. He was like a brother to me. So Christmas is depressing.

While my mother was in the hospital dying I learned everything I know about comforting others through Dr. Villarreal. Dr. V, as he is called, was a counselor from our church. He was with us almost every night. He did not offer clichés. Sometimes he prayed. Sometimes he didn't. All the time he sat. He sat with us quietly. He waited. He waited without offering pat answers.

I'm thankful for Dr. V. When people offered answers or said, "She's in a better place," I wanted to smack 'em. That's the truth. You can tell me I'm a bad Christian. That's OK...I'm not sure I ever claimed to be a good one. Dr. V. was there with us.

So here is everything I know about caring for people in the hospital or maybe while they are grieving, and I learned it from Dr. V.:

• Don't offer pat answers.
• Learn how to be silent.
• Sit and wait.
• Be sensitive to others and the Holy Spirit.
• Sit and wait.
• Learn how to be silent.
• Pray. Silently and maybe not silently.
• Sit and wait.
  

I'm not a people person. I do better with animals and books. So, if you can help me with some of these thoughts, please pitch in.

Grace and peace this holiday season.

One Book Meme

BryanL has this one book meme, so here are my answers:

1. One book that changed your life:

• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:

• Revolution, The Call to Holy War by Michael L. Brown

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:

• Pascal's Pensees

4. One book that made you laugh:

• I am America (and so can you) by Stephen Colbert

5. One book that made you cry:

hmmm...cry...I don't know. But Resurrection and the Son of God by N. T. Wright made me kind of misty. So did parts of Pauline Christology by Gordon Fee.

6. One book that you wish had been written:

• I wish Pascal lived long enough to finish what we have as The Pensees.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:

• Books promoting "prosperity theology"

8. One book you’re currently reading:

• God at War by Gregory A. Boyd
  

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:

• Backgrounds of Early Christianity by Everett Ferguson

10. Now tag five people:

• Quoting BryanL: I don't even know 5 people! Anyone who stumbles across this blog and has not done the meme I tag you.

Books

I've finished reading Roger Olson's Reformed and Always Reforming, and I must say it will be one of my all time favorite books. I went through the footnotes and made a list of the books I want from it. Please excuse the inconsistent formatting, but here is the list:

Really, Really, Really, Really Want to Read:

Evangelicalism: Comparative Studies of Popular Protestantism in North America, The British Isles, and Beyond, 1700-1990 (Religion in America Series (Oxford University Press).) by Mark A. Noll, David Bebbington, and George A. Rawlyk

20th-Century Theology: God and the World in a Transitional Age by Stanley J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson

Revisioning Evangelical Theology: A Fresh Agenda for the 21st Century by Stanley J. Grenz

Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context by Stanley J. Grenz (Author), John R. Franke

Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism: How Modern and Postmodern Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda (Rockwell Lecture Series) by Nancey Murphy

The Nature of Confession: Evangelicals & Postliberals in Conversation by George A. Lindbeck, Dennis L. Okholm, and Timothy R. Phillips

Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method by Jr., John G. Stackhouse

Trinity and Process: A Critical Evaluation and Reconstruction of Hartshorne's Di-Polar Theism Towards a Trinitarian Metaphysics (American University Studies Series VII, Theology and Religion) by Gregory A. Boyd

Really, Really Want:

Christian Foundations, 7 vols. By Donald Bloesch

A Future for Truth: Evangelical Theology in a Postmodern World by Henry H., III Knight

The Drama Of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach To Christian Theology by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

The Evangelical Moment: The Promise of an American Religion
by Kenneth J. Collins

Tracking the Maze: Finding Our Way Through Modern Technology from an Evangelical Perspective by Clark Pinnock

The Post-Evangelical by Dave Tomlinson

The Character of Theology: An Introduction to Its Nature, Task, and Purpose by John R. Franke

Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s by David W. Bebbington

The Mosaic of Christian Beliefs: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity by Roger E. Olson

Most Moved Mover: A Theology of Gods Openness (The Didsbury Lectures) by Clark H. Pinnock

First Theology: God, Scriptures & Hermeneutics by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

Theology For The Community Of God by Grenz Stanley J.

Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism by Joel A. Carpenter

Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism by George Marsden

Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation (Christian Foundations) by Donald G. Bloesch

Truth Is Stranger Than It Used to Be: Biblical Faith in a Postmodern Age by J. Richard Middleton and Brian J. Walsh

Reforming The Doctrine Of God by F. LeRon Shults

The Identity of Jesus Christ by Hans W. Frei

Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit by Clark H. Pinnock

Searching for an Adequate God: A Dialogue Between Process and Free Will Theists by John B. Cobb and Clark H. Pinnock

GOD AND THE GOOD by Clifton J. And Lewis B. Smedes Orlebeke

Space, Time And Incarnation by Thomas Forsyth Torrance

The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei by Stanley J. Grenz

The Named God and the Question Of Being: A Trinitarian Theo-Ontology by Stanley J. Grenz

Cat Prayers of Imprecation

Chimps Beat Humans in Tests

I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but I hope I could beat a chimp in a test. According to a story, "Japanese researchers pitted young chimps against human adults in two tests of short-term memory, and overall, the chimps won."

Sunday School for Atheists

Yes...you read the title right. It seems as though atheists are holding their own brand of Sunday school. Check out the story.

HT: Scot McKnight

Legal Rights for Embryos

Groups in various states are proposing legal rights for embryos. According to the story at the Pew Forum:

Opening a new front in their assault on abortion, activists in half a dozen states are preparing ballot referendums that would grant "personhood" and constitutional rights to embryos from the moment of conception...

If the embryo is declared a person under a state's constitution, the reasoning goes, the termination of its existence must be considered murder.

This is probably a story to keep up with.

Pascal Quote

The Sojourner's Verse and Voice had this quote today::

"People never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."

- Blaise Pascal