To Do List for school

This is more for me, but so you can see why I may not be blogging as much over the next couple weeks (or, why all of my blogposts have to do with schoolwork, if that happens to be the case).  It's nice because instead of checking things off when they're done, I just delete them.  Please don't ask me if I've started any of the papers/projects on this list.

Assignment To Do List:

Medieval and Reformation Church History:

DONE!!

Systematic Theology, God the Son the Reconciler

DONE!

The Writings

DONE!!!

The Gospels

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Niagara Falls, Easter Weekend 2011

A haiku that would do me good to memorize.

Consider when you
complain: there are those who would
love to wear your shoes.

Proverbs 16

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.

The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.  By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly.

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.

A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice.

The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.

The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.

When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!

The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.

From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.

Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.

With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.

Haiku, where my mind lives.

Funny how I can

see us either in Europe

or the Great Midwest.

In a house with a

porch, yard with evergreens, and

with plenty of room.

Or, the other hand.

Just enough space, own no car.

Market down the street.

Yes, please.

Am reading a chapter on the book of Ecclesiastes, and came across this quote.  Liked it very much, and think it is very true.

"The sage finds relationless work, like all-consuming, sabbath-less work, to be futile and dehumanizing.  It is vanity.  Only in community do work and reward find their integral connection.  Community, thus, is the 'reward' of toil.  And in community, one finds true rest and support."


(page 324)

Some of my favorite jobs are ones that provided great community.  Some of my least favorite jobs have been the ones that were lonely and all-consuming.  Coincidence?

Some Palm Sunday Reading.

John 12

Jesus Anointed at Bethany 

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 

A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 

“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 

Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 

for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry 

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 

took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.”

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 

That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.

Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death 

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 

paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 

Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 

Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 

Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 

When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 

The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 

He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 

Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

The Unbelief of the People 

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 

This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

“The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.”

Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 

For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.

For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 

I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 

But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.

I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 

And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

Not a call to budget your money, but a call to love your neighbor, and do what is right.

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements 

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. 

If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 

For the commandments say, 

“You must not commit adultery. 

You must not murder. 

You must not steal. 

You must not covet.” 

These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is;
time is running out. 

Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. 

So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. 

Don’t participate in the darkness of 

wild parties and drunkenness, 

or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, 

or in quarreling and jealousy. 

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Awkward Questions about Jesus

Sleep Mask.

Just this afternoon I was researching on the internets about how to alter your circadian rhythm and become more of an early bird rather than a night owl.  There is a lot of fascinating stuff out there about sleep cycles, and I'm sure if you google it, you can read it too.

Two things that are definitely worth trying (and I must confess, the first one should be obvious...I say, as I sit in front of my computer typing away at 10:25pm):

1.  Go to bed and be sleeping by 10:30pm...every night.  Soon you will be trained to be sleepy by that time, and you will get up earlier.  Plus, apparently, some important sleep goes on between 10pm and 2am (I can't remember what, exactly...but if you google it, it will be there.  So much for this blog being a one-stop-shop!).  And then some more important sleep goes on between 2am and 6am.  It all correlates roughly with sunlight/daylight.  Your body produces different hormones when it's completely dark than when it's light outside.  Because of electricity, our bodies are exposed to light even when the sun goes down, we stay awake later, and our bodies are confused and sleep deprived (very rough paraphrase).

2.  Utilize a sleep mask.  




















If you cannot get your room to be completely dark, a sleep mask might be a good idea for you.  This, mixed with going to bed early, will get your sleep hormones back on track, and you won't be as tired during the day.  Of course, some use a sleep mask for if they have to sleep during the day, in order to block the sunlight...but they can also be used at night if you can't get your bedroom to be completely dark (I don't know, maybe your window is next to a street light).  There are many interesting health benefits to having a regular sleep pattern.  Having contact with some bright sunlight in the morning (and throughout the day) is also very important.  If you live in a cloudy climate, I'm sure daylight still counts for something, even if the sky is grey.  One website recommended spending at least one hour each day outside.  Thank goodness it's technically spring, so I can try to make this happen (I wonder if sitting in a car during a commute counts?)....sadly, as much as I would like to say I spend an hour outside each day, it probably doesn't happen.

So, anyway,  I decided that I would look up some ideas for making my own sleep mask (gotta utilize that sewing machine), and then tonight I would try to go to bed early.  One website even suggested gradually just making your living space darker (ie, using a dimmer switch if you have it), so that your body would be tricked into getting sleepy earlier (like when you go camping and are tired just a couple hours after the sun goes down...you feel like it must be at least midnight, but it's really only like, 10pm).   As luck(?) would have it, our television randomly shut off this afternoon, and won't turn back on...and if you recall, I gave up Facebook and Twitter for Lent.  So, really there's no excuses* for being awake right now, other than blogging.  That, and I procrastinated and didn't actually make myself a sleep mask today.  And it's quarter to 11pm.

Man.  I do like the idea of developing a grown-up's sleep schedule.  And about making my own mask.  And about spending 1/24th of my day outside.  But I am no good at actually implementing my new ideas.  Perhaps I will sleep with a bag over my head tonight, or stay up late sewing a sleep mask for myself.










-----


*For those who don't know me well, I must disclaim that of course I am a fan of reading books and spending time with my husband.  Sometimes sarcasm doesn't travel well through the internet, especially if you don't know the person writing.

Finally, someone I can get on board with!

It has been a few Fridays since I've posted a quote from my church history text books.  I'm sure there are quite a few out there who are really concerned!  Well be concerned no more.

Here is a quote about a character in the English church of the 1550s, John Hooper. (Page 185)

"Meanwhile John Hooper, 'the father of nonconformity,' was causing considerable difficulties for, having been appointed Bishop of Gloucester, he had refused to wear a surplice and cope at his consecration, declaring that he would countenance no ceremonies but such as could be justified by the New Testament."


If you're like me, you may have to look a few words up in the dictionary.  Here are some that I had to look up:

surplice |ˈsərplis|nouna loose white linen vestment varying from hip-length to calf-length, worn over a cassock by clergy, acolytes, and choristers at Christian church services.

cope nouna long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop on ceremonial occasions.
cassock |ˈkasək|nouna full-length garment of a single color worn by certain Christian clergy, members of church choirs, acolytes, and others having some particular office or role in a church.
countenance |ˈkountn-əns|verb [ trans. ]admit as acceptable or possible
There, now you maybe learned something new!

Two things. I'm probably committing fashion suicide. But I will risk it.

1.  Ever since recently adding the "You might also like" options at the bottom of every post (probably won't show up in your reader, but cool if it does), I have been more inspired to have a picture in each post. I would love it if every picture was taken by me instead of having a google image, but for this particular post, we will all have to settle for google imaging, because I just don't have the time or resources to go out and take these particular pictures.

2.  I like shoes just as much as the next girl (and boy), but for some reason there are a ton of shoes recently (and by recently, I mean within the last couple of years) that are just not appealing to me.  Sorry if I offend you or if you happen to have all of these styles in your closet. You are much more stylish and current than I am!  Here are a few that I could think of off the top of my head:

It's all of the excess straps that I can't deal with.  I like the pointy heal. 

You'd think these would be right up my alley.  But they just seem so....barnish to me.  Even if they are colorful.  I prefer my boots to be brown or black...and definitely not rubber. 

Sorry. I know, all the cool kids are wearing them.  And now all the cool kids have stopped reading my blog.  But, to me these seem like the hipster version of crocs.  I'm sure they are very comfortable (even if they don't look it...to me, they look like they are pushing people's toes in toward their heal), but they are visually unappealing. Who knows, though.  I still wear crocs (which are more visually unappealing, but very comfortable), so maybe someday some Toms will be in my closet.  If someone gives them to me as gift. (maybe I can be one of the recipients of the "other pair of toms shoes"? For every pair you buy, they give a pair to someone in need*.)

Please don't stop being my friend.  If you came to visit me and had only these kinds of shoes in your suitcase, I probably wouldn't even say anything about it.



*I of course am being flippant.  I don't need another pair of shoes.

Yawn.

This is pretty interesting.  I yawned about a million times while reading this article, even though I wasn't really bored at all.  I looked it up because I yawn sometimes while exercising.

My mind is whirring. Distracted. A glimpse.

Oh man.  I have a paper due on Monday morning.  Due to me trying to observe the Sabbath in 2011, and also being such a procrastinator, I only have 7 more hours to start and finish said paper.  I have all of my resources within arms' length (or on various tabs and windows on the computer). I have my margins and font size set. I have a ridiculous and unnecessary title figured out.  I have an idea (obviously, because I have a title to work off of) of what the overall theme of the paper will be.  I am inspired, even, by the content that the paper has potential to have.  I am just so. distracted.

For instance, I am listening to this station, which means every 3-4 minutes I have to check off that I like the song playing.  Sometimes I find that I've already checked it off.

I've been working on this paper since last night, so in the time it's taken to get as far as I am in the paper-writing process, I've watched the Twins lose twice, and the Pirates win once.  What is wrong with this picture?!?  Some who have known me for a long time might say that I am opting to watch baseball on tv instead of doing something academic, and that is what's wrong.  Others who know baseball better might have a different take.

In other news, we decided that we are going to go to Niagara Falls for Easter!! WOO!  Check and check.  So of course I've spent the morning looking up the pros and cons of visiting the Canada side or the U.S. side, the pros and cons of going to the Falls at the end of April, and the pros and cons of visiting over Easter.  And I spent a significant amount of time looking through many, many google images of the Falls in every season, and every year.  Granted, we have three more weeks until we will be there, but it is never to soon to start learning about Niagara Falls!  Especially when you have a  paper deadline looming.  Pray that it will be warm enough for them to be running the Maid of the Mist.

Last night while watching the game and trying to get my thoughts together, I decided I want to know how to make soap.  Let me tell you, it is very interesting.  I also am short on time, supplies, and skills, so it might be something I will have to bookmark until summer.  Or 2012's New Year's resolution list.

Also in the news, I started exercising this week.  At first, I thought I might just start out with some gentle exercise, like yoga.  But after watching some examples of yoga on youtube, I decided that I would be highly bored by yoga.  I know it's probably more than just stretching and posing, but I felt like I would need something a little more stimulating, and something that would remind me that I worked out the next day (ie, pain in my non-existent muscles). So of course I chose Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (which I think is the exact opposite of yoga....in many ways).  I had read many good reviews on it, and it was less than $10, so I figured what the heck?  I am not a morning person by nature, so I figured that I would be more likely to stick with it if I worked out at night.  So far, I've done it Monday-last night.  Let me tell you....the first couple mornings I knew what it must be like to be 100 years old.  Stiff, hurt to walk or lift anything more than 3 ounces, etc.  BUT, it gets better!  Sitting here right now, there is little to no muscular aches at all.  And the workouts are getting a little better too.  I have learned been reminded of the fact that I really, really do not like jumping jacks.  I feel very ungraceful and tired while doing them.  But it's a small price to pay for less snug pants.  I don't really have any measurable goals for this workout.  We don't really have any measuring devices in our apartment, so that's probably why I won't know my starting or ending weight, or my starting or ending hip (or whatever people measure when they workout) measurements.  And that's ok.  I really don't care.  Just would like to be in better shape.

Well, I should get to that paper.  It is a church history paper.  Last semester the class was like jumping jacks for me.  This semester it is getting better.  We are split into groups based on whatever topic we choose between worship, catechesis, and theology.  I am in one of the catechesis (disciple-making and spiritual formation) groups. So this semester I am learning about church history through the lens of how catechesis was viewed in the medieval and reformation times.  It is very inspirational.  The first paper of the semester, I wrote about the value of holistic teaching (based on how it was viewed from the likes of Alcuin, Anselm, and Walter Hilton in the 700-1300s, and then how we can apply it to today)...and for this paper I plan on writing about the responsibilities of the one teaching, and what needs of the student need to be taken into consideration (based on how it was viewed from the likes of Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin in the 1500s, and how we can apply it today).  I wonder how it will look specifically for me in the future.

Man though.  I wish I wasn't so distracted.  I mean, it is almost dinner time.  I wonder if it is acceptable to put avocado on a pizza?