This morning, I finished reading “A little exercise for young theologians” by Helmut Thielicke. I will admit to never having read Thielicke’s theology, so I have no idea where he stands on stuff. I will say this, the guy has it absolutely RIGHT regarding theological reflection and its attendant dangers and purposes. Here’s a quote:

“Theology can be a coat of mail which crushes us and in which we freeze to death. It can also be—and this is in fact its purpose!—the conscience of the congregation of Christ, its compass and with it all a praise-song of ideas. Which of the two it is depends upon the degree in which listening and praying Christians stand behind this theological business. As a Christian, as a listening and praying Christian, each must fight not to be crushed by theology and thus, instead of being a Christian soldier, becoming a corpse on the battlefield.” [pg. 36]

THE GENDER GENIE
According to the Gender Genie, I write like a guy half the time… I have no idea what that means… but I thought I'd put it in here anyhow...
Someone out there who enjoys looking at algorithms should have a look at the genie… Ann, do you like algorithms?



HERE I AM

Isaiah 65:1-2 NASB
"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, 'Here am I, here am I,'
To a nation which did not call on My name.
I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,”


how long?
how long have you sought me?
reaching…
grasping…
and I, looking
inward
upward
never seeing your outstretched hand
all day
day upon day
you reach
you call
“Here I am.”
while I
set my eyes
my soul
upon another
how long is your patience?
how long will you wait?
how long
before the hoards from the east
drag me away?
how long before my outstretched hands
reach
grasp
call,
“Here I am”?

HUMANITY’S BIG ISSUE—GODHOOD
We’re studying Genesis 1-11 in YAM Communal Discovery. Last week we looked at chapter three. It occurred to me that humanity’s sin was trying to be something we already were—like God—but rather than resting in God and in our identity as ones made in his image, our Mom and Dad decided to take matters into their own hands. Ever since all of us have struggled to maintain our “omnipotence”—despite the fact that it is an illusion.

Then while reading Too Deep for Words yesterday, I came across a line:

“The illusion of a relative omnipotence, even when not a conscious individual choice, finds us alienated: from God, from one another, from our inner selves—and even from creation, as evidenced in the growing devastation of our environment, violated in so many ways by the effects of that same assumed omnipotence.” (Too Deep for Words, by Thelma Hall, pg 17)

When you really think about it, our assumed omnipotence has caused nothing but havoc—my stuff, my job, my ministry, my class, my students, my plan, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine… does it never end?

Today, I was offered a TA position by a Talbot prof. I work fulltime, so I could not take it, but how cool is that! The professorship thingy is getting closer…

I don’t know if it’s just “Monday Syndrome” or what, but I just don’t have much to blog about on Mondays. No, wait, I have something today… Every morning I go through a routine. The routine has a particular sequence—mainly because I’m a brainless num-num in the morning, not because I’m organized or anything. Anyhow, I have this routine. This morning I went through my routine. Or so I thought. After getting all my stuff, I headed out the door to catch a bus to the train station. On the way to the train station I stop off at Starbucks for a Tall Redeye, cost: $1.95. Now, I’m a frequent Starbuckian, so I have one of those handy cards in my wallet. I proceed to the cashier to order my beverage, reach in my pants pocket for my wallet to retrieve said card… no wallet. First thought is utter tragedy (not unlike the power outage I mentioned a few weeks ago). Then I realized, I had wisely put change in my pocket! Yippee!! I had exactly $2 in quarters—leaving me a whopping 5¢. Lesson: always put the wallet in the pocket BEFORE picking up keys and cell phone! The routine must be done in sequence!

By the way, some rather attractive yam (as in the tuber) sculptures are posted on the YAM fotolog.

There are Holy Wind pics over at the yam fotolog.