LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Rev. Jerry Falwell, the television evangelist who founded the Moral Majority and used it to mold the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University. He was 73.
Death is a sad event for the loved ones left here on earth – so I feel for the family and friends of the Reverend.
And, I too will miss Jerry Falwell and his public stance on moral issues. For who else would publicly blame feminists, gays, lesbians and liberal groups for bringing on the terrorist attacks of September 11? (Though, he later apologized for this). Who else would accuse Tinky Winky, a purple, purse-toting character on television's "Teletubbies" show, of being gay and morally damaging to children? Who else would call Global Warming a “Tool of Satan”?
Ahh Jerry, you will be missed. For who else will I now shake my head at for helping to bring embarrassment to the name of Christianity? Silly me, of course, Kenneth Copland, Pat Robertson and the 700 Club.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
A Shout Out To SPRING!!!
Complaint: Winter in Winnipeg – often Winnipeg is noted for breaking records as the coldest city in Canada. If you were a polar bear this would be an exotic vacationland.
Upside: Though the winters are cold, there is a lot of sunshine. This is wonderful – a gift some might say.
Further on the upside of Winnipeg and it’s climate – Winnipeg has GORGEOUS Springs. The green grass, fresh scent of budding plants and trees, little rain (though I imagine not everyone is happy with that – sorry farmers). And, no bugs – at least not for a couple more days – weeks.
Today, I sheepishly admit, that I am happy to be living in Winnipeg . . . today.
What’s the climate like where you are?
Upside: Though the winters are cold, there is a lot of sunshine. This is wonderful – a gift some might say.
Further on the upside of Winnipeg and it’s climate – Winnipeg has GORGEOUS Springs. The green grass, fresh scent of budding plants and trees, little rain (though I imagine not everyone is happy with that – sorry farmers). And, no bugs – at least not for a couple more days – weeks.
Today, I sheepishly admit, that I am happy to be living in Winnipeg . . . today.
What’s the climate like where you are?
Friday, May 4, 2007
Fumbling
I have a penchant towards the term “Fumbling” as a way of describing myself.
“Fumbling”, according to dictionary.com means:
1. To touch or handle clumsily or idly: "fumbled the receiver into its cradle" (Howard Kaplan).
2. To make a mess of; bungle.
3. To feel or make (one's way) awkwardly.
4. To grope awkwardly to find or to accomplish something: fumble for a key.
5. Football: To drop (a ball) while in play.
Baseball: To mishandle (a ground ball).
Why do I think this describes me?
I think for many that know me, they understand me to be a passionate person. I can agree with this. Passionate, yet idle. I have a great many ideals, yet when it comes down to it, I have ‘fumbled’ or ‘dropped the ball’.
Where have my passions lead me? To a job that I have to pep talk myself into thinking I am doing a great thing – advocating for Christian University Education (and btw I do not work for a Bible College – Bible Colleges are fine in and of themselves - but I do not work for one). I mean, I enjoy my job and the team I work with and the greater community, understanding that I am part of something that is helping to rise up Christian thinkers and leaders – and I’m pretty good at it. But, my passions were to lead to more extraordinary things, like serving others in sub-Sahara Africa – in the trenches of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. My passions were to lead me to teach gender studies in a Christian University – debunking gender stereotypes and the like. And I could go on.
I also find myself fumbling with friendships. As I wrote in my Blog entry, “Hanging out with Female Friends” I am not good with connecting to others. I often miss opportunities to develop deeper, more meaningful friendships. That it seems people put themselves out there to me, while I turn and swim back to the shallow end.
All these passions. All these good intentions . . . Reminds me of a saying a teacher once told me, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Hmmm, a phrase that could perhaps adequately define me too, for according to "The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy", found on bartleby.com, this phrase means, “Merely intending to do good, without actually doing it, is of no value.”
Reflecting on all this suggests to me that perhaps I could replace the term 'passionate' to 'sensitive'. I am a sensitive person. It's something I try to hide, as I have been led to believe that being sensitive is a cowardly thing. But, more and more, I believe to be sensitive and to show it is a beautiful and strong thing. So, perhaps, up 'til now, I have been a 'passionate coward' - hmmm. . .
So, I feel as if I am fumbling through this world, seen through the lens of my age, socio-economic status, gender, stage of life, ethnicity, etc. Based on this, I am sure many in this world cannot relate to what I am saying. Maybe you can’t either? But, it's as Sarah McLaughlin once realized I am, “fumbling towards ecstasy”.
What word describes you?
“Fumbling”, according to dictionary.com means:
1. To touch or handle clumsily or idly: "fumbled the receiver into its cradle" (Howard Kaplan).
2. To make a mess of; bungle.
3. To feel or make (one's way) awkwardly.
4. To grope awkwardly to find or to accomplish something: fumble for a key.
5. Football: To drop (a ball) while in play.
Baseball: To mishandle (a ground ball).
Why do I think this describes me?
I think for many that know me, they understand me to be a passionate person. I can agree with this. Passionate, yet idle. I have a great many ideals, yet when it comes down to it, I have ‘fumbled’ or ‘dropped the ball’.
Where have my passions lead me? To a job that I have to pep talk myself into thinking I am doing a great thing – advocating for Christian University Education (and btw I do not work for a Bible College – Bible Colleges are fine in and of themselves - but I do not work for one). I mean, I enjoy my job and the team I work with and the greater community, understanding that I am part of something that is helping to rise up Christian thinkers and leaders – and I’m pretty good at it. But, my passions were to lead to more extraordinary things, like serving others in sub-Sahara Africa – in the trenches of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. My passions were to lead me to teach gender studies in a Christian University – debunking gender stereotypes and the like. And I could go on.
I also find myself fumbling with friendships. As I wrote in my Blog entry, “Hanging out with Female Friends” I am not good with connecting to others. I often miss opportunities to develop deeper, more meaningful friendships. That it seems people put themselves out there to me, while I turn and swim back to the shallow end.
All these passions. All these good intentions . . . Reminds me of a saying a teacher once told me, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Hmmm, a phrase that could perhaps adequately define me too, for according to "The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy", found on bartleby.com, this phrase means, “Merely intending to do good, without actually doing it, is of no value.”
Reflecting on all this suggests to me that perhaps I could replace the term 'passionate' to 'sensitive'. I am a sensitive person. It's something I try to hide, as I have been led to believe that being sensitive is a cowardly thing. But, more and more, I believe to be sensitive and to show it is a beautiful and strong thing. So, perhaps, up 'til now, I have been a 'passionate coward' - hmmm. . .
So, I feel as if I am fumbling through this world, seen through the lens of my age, socio-economic status, gender, stage of life, ethnicity, etc. Based on this, I am sure many in this world cannot relate to what I am saying. Maybe you can’t either? But, it's as Sarah McLaughlin once realized I am, “fumbling towards ecstasy”.
What word describes you?
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