A link to a fellow MHGS student's blog, Josh Longbrake. A source of excellent photography. This time, of my favorite and most fascinating professor, Dan Allender.
Here is a quote (sort of) I strung together from my class with Allender, Marriage and Family:
"Follow the track of contempt. It will always lead you to their core idolatry. Contempt is a way of protecting false gods who we know cannot bear scrutiny. You will encounter my contempt when you expose my fear."
I think I can attribute my fascination with counseling largely to Dan Allender's incredible lectures. And speaking of fascination with counseling...I'm considering dropping out of the MDiv program and getting into counseling psychology instead.
It's a big move but the more I consider it, the more I like where my life could lead. No decisions yet, but the plan is to decide by the first week of March...
Nervous grin
Showing posts with label Mars Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mars Hill. Show all posts
February 3, 2010
Marriage and Family at Mars Hill Grad School with Dan Allender/Steve Call.
Theology of Spiritual Formation with Chelle Stearns.
Theology of Spiritual Formation with Chelle Stearns.
January 26, 2010
Near the corner of Western and Wall, just up the street from MHGS. It's a Mitsubishi...Lancer?
January 11, 2010
Today I received my 2nd and 3rd papers with comments about choppy and unconnected paragraphs. Lies.
In other news, link to a blog that posts artistic photos, designs, and quotes. Enjoy
In other news, link to a blog that posts artistic photos, designs, and quotes. Enjoy
December 13, 2009
One of the most interesting days I've had since moving to Seattle:
A fellow MHGS student had her 30th at The Chapel in Queen Anne. It's located near one of my favorite coffee shops, Bauhaus. The building looks like an old church with steps leading up to a columned entrance and double doors. A guy at the door checked our ID's and charged a 3 dollar cover to get in.
Mirrors run the length of the wall to the right and arched windows the wall to the left. The bar is at the very back and tables are lined up beneath the mirrors. In the center of the room is a square, black box about 5 feet high. On top of it, a man in black underwear, black hat and black shoes dancing with a hula hoop to techno music.
On the tables are condoms inside a thick paper tri-fold. Open the tri-fold and there are instructions for using the condom. With pictures. Alongside that, there was a pamphlet titled, "Play Fair" or something. It told the story of a convent where all the nuns were getting STD's....had a section on rimming....
The first 5 or 10 minutes I was between shock and laughter. I couldn't believe I had stumbled into this club. Even the birthday girl didn't know what this place was like. I immediately remembered Christ being with the prostitutes, the Samaritan woman, the tax collectors, the fishermen. All the low or reviled of society. While I didn't reach out to anyone there in a "Christian" sort of way, I did wonder what God wanted for the man dancing on the box, the people servings drinks, and me, laughing awkwardly at my table. What would it have been like to have present in that room and invited Christ to be present with me?
A fellow MHGS student had her 30th at The Chapel in Queen Anne. It's located near one of my favorite coffee shops, Bauhaus. The building looks like an old church with steps leading up to a columned entrance and double doors. A guy at the door checked our ID's and charged a 3 dollar cover to get in.
Mirrors run the length of the wall to the right and arched windows the wall to the left. The bar is at the very back and tables are lined up beneath the mirrors. In the center of the room is a square, black box about 5 feet high. On top of it, a man in black underwear, black hat and black shoes dancing with a hula hoop to techno music.
On the tables are condoms inside a thick paper tri-fold. Open the tri-fold and there are instructions for using the condom. With pictures. Alongside that, there was a pamphlet titled, "Play Fair" or something. It told the story of a convent where all the nuns were getting STD's....had a section on rimming....
The first 5 or 10 minutes I was between shock and laughter. I couldn't believe I had stumbled into this club. Even the birthday girl didn't know what this place was like. I immediately remembered Christ being with the prostitutes, the Samaritan woman, the tax collectors, the fishermen. All the low or reviled of society. While I didn't reach out to anyone there in a "Christian" sort of way, I did wonder what God wanted for the man dancing on the box, the people servings drinks, and me, laughing awkwardly at my table. What would it have been like to have present in that room and invited Christ to be present with me?
December 12, 2009
1st semester of grad school: done.
The heater in our house broke and we are suffering.
Almost every house in our neighborhood has Christmas lights up except us. The traffic on our street has picked up considerably. People are driving through looking at the lights.
I looked for a Christmas tree yesterday. They're all too expensive but I found an alternative. At the REI superstore, you can buy a 10 dollar "pass" or something to a location where you can cut down your own Christmas tree.
I am so excited about January: loan check.
Now this semester is over I can read whatever I want until January 4th. Some of the books I plan to read: The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman; The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon; Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton; The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen and maybe the new Donald Miller book.
During the break, I'm going to do winter stuff.
I haven't been to Pike Place Market since the interview in February so I want to visit there too.
I turn 24 Thursday. A friend and I are doing something all day Sunday. It's a mystery so naturally I'm in turmoil.
Leaving to watch Zombieland at a 3 dollar movie theater... Wait. Scratch that. Me and Dan just decided to stay at the house and read. Nerds, I know.
The heater in our house broke and we are suffering.
Almost every house in our neighborhood has Christmas lights up except us. The traffic on our street has picked up considerably. People are driving through looking at the lights.
I looked for a Christmas tree yesterday. They're all too expensive but I found an alternative. At the REI superstore, you can buy a 10 dollar "pass" or something to a location where you can cut down your own Christmas tree.
I am so excited about January: loan check.
Now this semester is over I can read whatever I want until January 4th. Some of the books I plan to read: The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman; The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon; Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton; The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen and maybe the new Donald Miller book.
During the break, I'm going to do winter stuff.
I haven't been to Pike Place Market since the interview in February so I want to visit there too.
I turn 24 Thursday. A friend and I are doing something all day Sunday. It's a mystery so naturally I'm in turmoil.
Leaving to watch Zombieland at a 3 dollar movie theater... Wait. Scratch that. Me and Dan just decided to stay at the house and read. Nerds, I know.
Nov. 20, 2009
Rain. Cloudy skies. Cold weather.
Pretty cool blog.
Starting in January, this pastor will read every non-fiction book on the New York Time's Bestseller list through 2010. Check out the blog and why he's doing it. I'm impressed.
Part of our project for Interpersonal involved a Chuck Anderson print. Come to find out, he is the brother-in-law to one of our group members. Guess who got a free print from Chuck Anderson? If you don't know who I'm talking about, you should. Look him up.
Saw Over the Rhine and Kate Herzig at The Triple Door Sunday. The venue is probably the best I've ever seen and the music was incredible. First time I ever heard either of those artists.
We have a week off from reading for Thanksgiving break. 20 bucks says I don't use that time wisely. After, just one more class and this semester is OVER.
Saw this list on a friend's facebook: 20 Best Books of this Decade
I have something to say about that list. If Marilynne Robinson wrote Gilead the way she wrote Home then this list has a huge flaw.
I've lost a lot of weight since being at Mars Hill. Stress. And I keep hearing I need to get a therapist...
If you go see New Moon, I disown you as my friend.
I found a book that goes through all of Dylan Thomas' poetry and explains it based on his biography. Drool.
Poets I still don't own: Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
I miss studying the Roman Empire. There is no time for it now. I was about a fourth through Rome and Jerusalem when I came to Mars Hill and I don't know when I will get to finish it.
Possibly next year I am going to take a leap into a whole new world of theology: Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology by Kwok Pui-Lan. After that, gay theology and then African-American theology.
Pretty cool blog.
Starting in January, this pastor will read every non-fiction book on the New York Time's Bestseller list through 2010. Check out the blog and why he's doing it. I'm impressed.
Part of our project for Interpersonal involved a Chuck Anderson print. Come to find out, he is the brother-in-law to one of our group members. Guess who got a free print from Chuck Anderson? If you don't know who I'm talking about, you should. Look him up.
Saw Over the Rhine and Kate Herzig at The Triple Door Sunday. The venue is probably the best I've ever seen and the music was incredible. First time I ever heard either of those artists.
We have a week off from reading for Thanksgiving break. 20 bucks says I don't use that time wisely. After, just one more class and this semester is OVER.
Saw this list on a friend's facebook: 20 Best Books of this Decade
I have something to say about that list. If Marilynne Robinson wrote Gilead the way she wrote Home then this list has a huge flaw.
I've lost a lot of weight since being at Mars Hill. Stress. And I keep hearing I need to get a therapist...
If you go see New Moon, I disown you as my friend.
I found a book that goes through all of Dylan Thomas' poetry and explains it based on his biography. Drool.
Poets I still don't own: Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
I miss studying the Roman Empire. There is no time for it now. I was about a fourth through Rome and Jerusalem when I came to Mars Hill and I don't know when I will get to finish it.
Possibly next year I am going to take a leap into a whole new world of theology: Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology by Kwok Pui-Lan. After that, gay theology and then African-American theology.
Nov 1, 2009
I'm a slacker.
Events of the last month:
The Wheel of Time book 12 released October the 28th. I bought a copy the day of and have been sacrificing valuable homework time since.
The Panther Den had a Halloween party last night, the 31st. Lots of people were there and it was fun. I wore a french maid costume. Responses to the costume were mixed: shock, disgust, laughter and silence were most common.
It rained a lot but the last few days the weather has cleared a bit. Right now its sunny and beautiful.
I ran 2.2 miles last week and my knees didn't hurt.
I've been to more parties since arriving at Mars Hill then my whole undergrad. If that's an exaggeration, its not much of one. We have another at our house Wed. and then another big one somewhere else in Nov.
One of my favorite coffee shops, Green Bean, burned down a week ago. Turns out it was arson, so that sucks.
I keep meeting fascinating people in Seattle.
I've finished 32 books this year. I should be able to make it to 37 or 38 by the end of December.
I should return to TN the last few days of December and be there until the 3rd of January.
Overall, October was full of ups and downs. I reached one of the lowest points of my life a couple fridays ago. I ended the night bawling in my bed. But there have also been some great developments too. Practicum continues to be incredible and that has been a consistently positive factor. There are other positive events from October but most of those are too personal to type.
Back to studying...
Events of the last month:
The Wheel of Time book 12 released October the 28th. I bought a copy the day of and have been sacrificing valuable homework time since.
The Panther Den had a Halloween party last night, the 31st. Lots of people were there and it was fun. I wore a french maid costume. Responses to the costume were mixed: shock, disgust, laughter and silence were most common.
It rained a lot but the last few days the weather has cleared a bit. Right now its sunny and beautiful.
I ran 2.2 miles last week and my knees didn't hurt.
I've been to more parties since arriving at Mars Hill then my whole undergrad. If that's an exaggeration, its not much of one. We have another at our house Wed. and then another big one somewhere else in Nov.
One of my favorite coffee shops, Green Bean, burned down a week ago. Turns out it was arson, so that sucks.
I keep meeting fascinating people in Seattle.
I've finished 32 books this year. I should be able to make it to 37 or 38 by the end of December.
I should return to TN the last few days of December and be there until the 3rd of January.
Overall, October was full of ups and downs. I reached one of the lowest points of my life a couple fridays ago. I ended the night bawling in my bed. But there have also been some great developments too. Practicum continues to be incredible and that has been a consistently positive factor. There are other positive events from October but most of those are too personal to type.
Back to studying...
Oct 9, 2009
At Mars Hill, therapy is required for Counseling Psych students. It is only highly recommended for MDiv. If the last two months have taught me anything about myself, its this: I need therapy. If I can get insurance that will cover it, I'll do it. Otherwise I can't afford 100 bucks to talk to someone.
Oct 6, 2009
I reached 30 books so far this year. I have two more to finish this week and I'll be at 32. I should be able to reach 40 by the end of the year, but my goal of 50 looks pretty daunting. After tomorrow, the readings taper off for the week and the week after is "reading week" which is strange because there are no assigned readings. My plan is to finish up some of the books I am part way through and a few smaller books as well.
All today I am catching up and writing a paper for hermeneutics. But after tomorrow, I have a break.
Retarded: Most Influential Man of 2009. Guess what. He's not real. Usain Bolt and Barack Obama came in 2nd and 3rd and over 500,000 voters picked a FICTIONAL character as the most influential man of the year...are you effing kidding me. The article then goes through a couple reasons why this guy is so great. He represents this....he represents that....Re.Tard.Ed.
All today I am catching up and writing a paper for hermeneutics. But after tomorrow, I have a break.
Retarded: Most Influential Man of 2009. Guess what. He's not real. Usain Bolt and Barack Obama came in 2nd and 3rd and over 500,000 voters picked a FICTIONAL character as the most influential man of the year...are you effing kidding me. The article then goes through a couple reasons why this guy is so great. He represents this....he represents that....Re.Tard.Ed.
Sept 22, 2009
"But there is also desperation, the troubled longing for personal and corporate transformation. When we're in that state, we utter our deepest and finest prayers. The prayer for mercy asks God to lift our face and remove our stain. Desperation introduces us to our shame, and much of our glory involves shame.
"In times of desperate prayer, God invites us to love the story he has written in our life, even the chapters that produce shame. No soul can hope to love the story infected with the stain of sin and streaks of sorrow unless the shame withers. And shame will not wither unless we choose to enter all of our stories - including the stories that bring heartache. We must enter the narrative naked before God and go there completely open to the story he has written."
- Dan Allender, To Be Told, 169, 170
Now how I am supposed to ever finish this book when it is full of statements like this that make me stop and cry?
"In times of desperate prayer, God invites us to love the story he has written in our life, even the chapters that produce shame. No soul can hope to love the story infected with the stain of sin and streaks of sorrow unless the shame withers. And shame will not wither unless we choose to enter all of our stories - including the stories that bring heartache. We must enter the narrative naked before God and go there completely open to the story he has written."
- Dan Allender, To Be Told, 169, 170
Now how I am supposed to ever finish this book when it is full of statements like this that make me stop and cry?
Sept 18, 2009
A fascinating story about Monopoly and World War II.
Some of our readings in school have talked about the trinity. A recent one is from A Call to Personhood and bridges a connection between the theology behind the trinity and what we are called to as humans relating to God and each other. I was thinking as I read that the trinity is really wild. I mean, if I were thinking about who God was, I would never assume him as "three in one". It reminds me of something C.S. Lewis (or Tolkein....) said about the gospel being a "true myth". It's something you could never think of and it's wonderful and true. The trinity is a beautiful mystery.
Monday will mark a full month I've been at Mars Hill. Wow, a full month. It's hard to imagine. All the readings, classes, groups and discussions not just at school but at home, at restaurants and over beer have been wonderful at times and hard at others. In only a month I've had a lot of questions for myself...There is a process at Mars Hill that I'm beginning and if I am changing this rapidly in a month, where will I be in four years?
One of our regular coffee stops before class is at Cherry Street Cafe. They have a couple newspaper/magazines there and I picked up one of them and found an add in there seeking volunteers to test drive this HIV vaccine in Seattle. It didn't detail any sort of compensation just gave a phone number. I called it, passed a phone-screen test and have a physical examination set up for Tuesday at noon. If all goes well, I'll come in for a total of 10 visits over 12 months, getting vaccine shots, blood drawn and tests. I promise it isn't as risky as it sounds. The worst that could happen is getting the flu. And half the volunteers don't get the actual shot anyway so I might be one of those.
Speaking of the flu, there was an outbreak of the Swine strain at a university in Spokane, Washington. It's on the other side of Washington but its still alarming. Hopefully this thing doesn't mutate and we all become zombies. I'd be an awesome zombie.
Some of our readings in school have talked about the trinity. A recent one is from A Call to Personhood and bridges a connection between the theology behind the trinity and what we are called to as humans relating to God and each other. I was thinking as I read that the trinity is really wild. I mean, if I were thinking about who God was, I would never assume him as "three in one". It reminds me of something C.S. Lewis (or Tolkein....) said about the gospel being a "true myth". It's something you could never think of and it's wonderful and true. The trinity is a beautiful mystery.
Monday will mark a full month I've been at Mars Hill. Wow, a full month. It's hard to imagine. All the readings, classes, groups and discussions not just at school but at home, at restaurants and over beer have been wonderful at times and hard at others. In only a month I've had a lot of questions for myself...There is a process at Mars Hill that I'm beginning and if I am changing this rapidly in a month, where will I be in four years?
One of our regular coffee stops before class is at Cherry Street Cafe. They have a couple newspaper/magazines there and I picked up one of them and found an add in there seeking volunteers to test drive this HIV vaccine in Seattle. It didn't detail any sort of compensation just gave a phone number. I called it, passed a phone-screen test and have a physical examination set up for Tuesday at noon. If all goes well, I'll come in for a total of 10 visits over 12 months, getting vaccine shots, blood drawn and tests. I promise it isn't as risky as it sounds. The worst that could happen is getting the flu. And half the volunteers don't get the actual shot anyway so I might be one of those.
Speaking of the flu, there was an outbreak of the Swine strain at a university in Spokane, Washington. It's on the other side of Washington but its still alarming. Hopefully this thing doesn't mutate and we all become zombies. I'd be an awesome zombie.
Sept 16, 2009
It's a little after midnight over here. My roommates and I and another Mars Hill student went to a bar called Goofy's. They had a trivia night, with 2 dollar taco baskets. Sounds gross, right? We were second in five teams playing and John was hit on by one of the four or five cougars in the bar. She had tattoos like long sleeves and was interested in jello wrestling with John.
I think riding the bus is the best way to experience the city. You meet interesting people.
I really enjoy the people at Mars Hill. My reading group is great. My practicum group is great. And my teachers are great. I especially love the conversation we had about scripture at reading group. Back home, that conversation would have been heretical. But here, we get to discuss it and no one is going to condemn you for it.
I think riding the bus is the best way to experience the city. You meet interesting people.
I really enjoy the people at Mars Hill. My reading group is great. My practicum group is great. And my teachers are great. I especially love the conversation we had about scripture at reading group. Back home, that conversation would have been heretical. But here, we get to discuss it and no one is going to condemn you for it.
Sept 14, 2009
I would marry MuteMath.
Kanye is, as always, an arrogant ass. But I'm glad he apologized. Sort of.
My roommate found a hilarious video about Llamas. It takes the stress off all the reading.
Coons. There was also a cougar running around in downtown Ballard recently. The Pet Police caught her before she ate anyone.
I should be heading to bed but I'm not sleepy enough. There are a lot of thoughts going through my head. In no particular order:
Poetry. Dylan Thomas, specifically.
My readings. Some of the readings bug me. One of them was about "critical traditioning". The author alleges that scripture has a long history of adjustments. Meaning, when a monk would be copying down a verse he could decide to alter it if he wanted. She spends the whole chapter talking about it, but not defending it. So by the end I'm annoyed cause she hasn't explained anything.
My practicum tomorrow.
Why in the world our professors assign so much reading.
Tattoo or no tattoo? My roommate got one, it looks cool and its got me thinking about getting one again. I've wanted one for a few years but...its kinda permanent. There is a line from a Dylan Thomas poem I might put on there. A local tattoo parlor called Slave to the Needle did Johnny's and I got an estimate from them. They said it depends on the font but around $200. Mmmmm...
I gotta read more.
Kanye is, as always, an arrogant ass. But I'm glad he apologized. Sort of.
My roommate found a hilarious video about Llamas. It takes the stress off all the reading.
Coons. There was also a cougar running around in downtown Ballard recently. The Pet Police caught her before she ate anyone.
I should be heading to bed but I'm not sleepy enough. There are a lot of thoughts going through my head. In no particular order:
Poetry. Dylan Thomas, specifically.
My readings. Some of the readings bug me. One of them was about "critical traditioning". The author alleges that scripture has a long history of adjustments. Meaning, when a monk would be copying down a verse he could decide to alter it if he wanted. She spends the whole chapter talking about it, but not defending it. So by the end I'm annoyed cause she hasn't explained anything.
My practicum tomorrow.
Why in the world our professors assign so much reading.
Tattoo or no tattoo? My roommate got one, it looks cool and its got me thinking about getting one again. I've wanted one for a few years but...its kinda permanent. There is a line from a Dylan Thomas poem I might put on there. A local tattoo parlor called Slave to the Needle did Johnny's and I got an estimate from them. They said it depends on the font but around $200. Mmmmm...
I gotta read more.
Sept 11, 2009
One of the best things about Seattle is you don't have to go to Starbucks to get a good cup of coffee. There are plenty of local shops. Green Bean is one of my favorites but I've found others. Cherry Street is a couple blocks from school. Their coffee is really smooth. Sometimes coffee can have a sharp taste, which isn't bad, but Cherry Street's has a nice texture to it.
One in Ballard is Aster. Starbucks recently bought some coffee machines this place invented that are supposed to revolutionize coffee. They have a distinct taste and its good but their coffee is the most expensive brew I've ever had and I would never go in there to sit and enjoy a cup. The atmosphere feels uppity.
I tried out Quest Cafe today. Their lounge is roomy and inviting and the coffee was ok but not fantastic. I'll go again to try a different brew.
Oh yeah. Seattle doesn't do the stop sign thing. Been meaning to mention that. There are tons of residential intersections that don't have stop signs. When I first moved, I didn't notice I just blazed through the intersection without looking. Then I realized that everyone was doing that. Most of the intersections have a round concrete barrier in the middle of them to prevent head on collisions. So if you take a left, you have to roll around the barrier to do it. The general rule is that you're supposed to yield to the guy on the right but there are always cars parked along the side of the street so you can't tell if anyone is coming until you're committed.
Me, Dan and another Mars Hill student, Eric went to the zoo today. We saw a Sloth Bear. No kidding. It even looks lazy.
After the zoo we tried a nearby pub. Park Pub is what it's called. Me and Dan had a beer called Northern Lights Stout. The last two times we've been to a pub we've gotten the darkest beers they have and have loved both of them.
Never have I had to read so much for school. A couple hundred pages a week with journals or summaries on most of the readings. Papers in between. Reading groups to discuss it. Class to dissect it. I'm not complaining (yet) but it sure is a lot of reading.
None of us have a job yet. Which is disappointing. I need something to break up the reading sections.
Practicum Monday morning. Practicum is a group of first year students who, basically, get super vulnerable with each other. I'm not a fan of this. In college I learned not to be vulnerable with women and 7 of the 9 of our group are women. It's a two hour weekly session and from everything I have been told, it is the one thing about Mars Hill that will kick your butt.
Our neighborhood, Olympic Manor, is having a garage sale. All our furniture has come from Goodwill and Village People so we will probably collect some more trashy couches from our neighbors and add to the collection.
I miss a few people from home (you know who you are). You should all move to Seattle.
One in Ballard is Aster. Starbucks recently bought some coffee machines this place invented that are supposed to revolutionize coffee. They have a distinct taste and its good but their coffee is the most expensive brew I've ever had and I would never go in there to sit and enjoy a cup. The atmosphere feels uppity.
I tried out Quest Cafe today. Their lounge is roomy and inviting and the coffee was ok but not fantastic. I'll go again to try a different brew.
Oh yeah. Seattle doesn't do the stop sign thing. Been meaning to mention that. There are tons of residential intersections that don't have stop signs. When I first moved, I didn't notice I just blazed through the intersection without looking. Then I realized that everyone was doing that. Most of the intersections have a round concrete barrier in the middle of them to prevent head on collisions. So if you take a left, you have to roll around the barrier to do it. The general rule is that you're supposed to yield to the guy on the right but there are always cars parked along the side of the street so you can't tell if anyone is coming until you're committed.
Me, Dan and another Mars Hill student, Eric went to the zoo today. We saw a Sloth Bear. No kidding. It even looks lazy.
After the zoo we tried a nearby pub. Park Pub is what it's called. Me and Dan had a beer called Northern Lights Stout. The last two times we've been to a pub we've gotten the darkest beers they have and have loved both of them.
Never have I had to read so much for school. A couple hundred pages a week with journals or summaries on most of the readings. Papers in between. Reading groups to discuss it. Class to dissect it. I'm not complaining (yet) but it sure is a lot of reading.
None of us have a job yet. Which is disappointing. I need something to break up the reading sections.
Practicum Monday morning. Practicum is a group of first year students who, basically, get super vulnerable with each other. I'm not a fan of this. In college I learned not to be vulnerable with women and 7 of the 9 of our group are women. It's a two hour weekly session and from everything I have been told, it is the one thing about Mars Hill that will kick your butt.
Our neighborhood, Olympic Manor, is having a garage sale. All our furniture has come from Goodwill and Village People so we will probably collect some more trashy couches from our neighbors and add to the collection.
I miss a few people from home (you know who you are). You should all move to Seattle.
Sept 8, 2009
Stephen King's The Stand is like all of his other books: brutal. He has this way of digging up all the shit of humanity and making a book that dips in and out of it casually. Good writing but I don't think I could in good conscious recommend the book.
One of our texts for Faith, Hope and Love is The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton. We have a paper on the book due later in the semester. The assignment is to share with Harry Middleton about faith, hope and love (the gospel), like we were sitting down to coffee together, without using the words faith, hope and love and without using the Four Spiritual Laws or something from Romans. And it has to be all dialogue. No scenery or setting. One of the more interesting papers I've been assigned in my education.
The book itself it beautiful. I am thirty pages in and Harry's writing is... pristine, if I can use a flowery word to describe it. It is one of the rare books I read from time to time that is so beautiful it's painful. You can barely manage ten pages before you have to put it down and stare blankly at the cover. I waver between tucking it under my pillow at night and devouring it in one day.
Tennessee plays the Steelers Thursday. Somewhere in college I lost my apathy for football and became a fan of a few teams. The Titans are one of the few.
One of our texts for Faith, Hope and Love is The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton. We have a paper on the book due later in the semester. The assignment is to share with Harry Middleton about faith, hope and love (the gospel), like we were sitting down to coffee together, without using the words faith, hope and love and without using the Four Spiritual Laws or something from Romans. And it has to be all dialogue. No scenery or setting. One of the more interesting papers I've been assigned in my education.
The book itself it beautiful. I am thirty pages in and Harry's writing is... pristine, if I can use a flowery word to describe it. It is one of the rare books I read from time to time that is so beautiful it's painful. You can barely manage ten pages before you have to put it down and stare blankly at the cover. I waver between tucking it under my pillow at night and devouring it in one day.
Tennessee plays the Steelers Thursday. Somewhere in college I lost my apathy for football and became a fan of a few teams. The Titans are one of the few.
Sept 2, 2008
Monday was the first session of Faith, Hope and Love taught by Dan Allender. My attention was glued to Allender as he spoke. The things he said fall into three categories: wonderful, terrible, and exhausting. He said things I've never heard before. The whole class is about therapy so everything revolved around that. And it sounds like a simple subject but it tore me to pieces. I left with a bowl in my stomach full of all these feelings I couldn't sort through. I almost cried, I almost puked on the bus ride back, and now, 12:30 am Wednesday morning, I'm beginning to sift through it.
I've spent the last few years closing myself off to vulnerability. Except in the case of anger, I've held back. Allender's words stirred it up all over again. I haven't been there in a while and I haven't been there much with other people at all. But now I have classes, a reading group, four other MHGS roommates, and practicum. If I hide, I'll fail at Mars Hill. So I can't hide... But that doesn't mean I know what to do.
I've spent the last few years closing myself off to vulnerability. Except in the case of anger, I've held back. Allender's words stirred it up all over again. I haven't been there in a while and I haven't been there much with other people at all. But now I have classes, a reading group, four other MHGS roommates, and practicum. If I hide, I'll fail at Mars Hill. So I can't hide... But that doesn't mean I know what to do.
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