Living in the midst of the material and cerebral and bringing it all into subjection to Christ.
27 June 2007
A bit of "family" news
Thought I should give a little notice to all of you dear people who love my roommate Sara almost as much as you love me: she has now formally entered into a dating relationship with one of my good friends, Jud. I think this will be a wonderful enterprise for both of them and I am excited to see how it works out. In the meantime, I am still very single and learning to joyfully embrace my singleness in a the midst of hectic city life:-)
24 June 2007
A little bit more about grace
This is the last blog link that I will inflict upon you today, I promise! I just can't tell you how encouraged I have been by both Fall to Grace series(es?) and I wanted to point you to the most recent installment. I read them all, but this one even prompted a comment....
You can tell it is Sunday...
because I have so much time to read all the blogs I haven't been able to get to and I want to share them ALL with you.
Recently I stumbled on a new blogger (new to me) via the true womanhood blog and she has a very interesting story about her journey to a new understanding of grace. What she has to say rings true with my heart, not so much because I share her journey but because the resulting joy and accompanying pain are very definitive of my life. She is writing from the perspective of the conservative homeschool movement and I strongly encourage you to read her entire series on her Fall to Grace, but if you can't, at least read this.
Recently I stumbled on a new blogger (new to me) via the true womanhood blog and she has a very interesting story about her journey to a new understanding of grace. What she has to say rings true with my heart, not so much because I share her journey but because the resulting joy and accompanying pain are very definitive of my life. She is writing from the perspective of the conservative homeschool movement and I strongly encourage you to read her entire series on her Fall to Grace, but if you can't, at least read this.
More on my mind
Life has left me with a lot on my mind lately and little time to write. This, however, really needed to get out here, so I am taking a moment on this Sunday to finally write.
Many of you may or may not have heard of Paul Potts, the winner of the UK equivalent to American Idol, Britain's Got Talent. He is absolutely amazing, and before you read any further check out this
This man takes my breath away. American Idol and all its spin offs have driven me crazy for years. The obsession with being famous and having your moment in the sun has driven totally talentless people who have been told all their lives that they are wonderful to exhibitions that should NEVER make it beyond the living room. These people often think they were born to act or sing or dance or some other performing art, but their pettiness at being refused the recognition of greatness reveals a shallowness that cannot support art. And then Paul Potts happens across the screen.
I am almost convinced that he could only happen outside of America. There is too much pressure to conform to a stylish and plastic representation of talent here, and almost no appreciation for the arts in their more formal forms to allow for an opera singer to win a talent contest. Additionally, there is little true value given to people who pursue their life's passion with passion. Passion requires pain, heartache and incredible sacrifice. There is nothing comfortable, sane or pragmatic about passion. It is not balanced or profitable. Passion requires a tenacity that would have a man work for years selling cell phones so that his non-existent confidence in a rather homely package could prompt him to sing opera before the most callous judge in what basically works out as a popularity contest.
Passion is a topic worth meditation. I have often defined myself as a passionate person but it is a dangerous label to give oneself and it is not conducive to normalcy or balance. Can I become a less passionate person? Can I be whole and remove that as foundational to my identity? Can you be passionate without an object to your passion? There is more here than I can go into at this time, but I keep thinking of Paul Potts. What am I born to do? What do I have to do before I know that answer?
Many of you may or may not have heard of Paul Potts, the winner of the UK equivalent to American Idol, Britain's Got Talent. He is absolutely amazing, and before you read any further check out this
This man takes my breath away. American Idol and all its spin offs have driven me crazy for years. The obsession with being famous and having your moment in the sun has driven totally talentless people who have been told all their lives that they are wonderful to exhibitions that should NEVER make it beyond the living room. These people often think they were born to act or sing or dance or some other performing art, but their pettiness at being refused the recognition of greatness reveals a shallowness that cannot support art. And then Paul Potts happens across the screen.
I am almost convinced that he could only happen outside of America. There is too much pressure to conform to a stylish and plastic representation of talent here, and almost no appreciation for the arts in their more formal forms to allow for an opera singer to win a talent contest. Additionally, there is little true value given to people who pursue their life's passion with passion. Passion requires pain, heartache and incredible sacrifice. There is nothing comfortable, sane or pragmatic about passion. It is not balanced or profitable. Passion requires a tenacity that would have a man work for years selling cell phones so that his non-existent confidence in a rather homely package could prompt him to sing opera before the most callous judge in what basically works out as a popularity contest.
Passion is a topic worth meditation. I have often defined myself as a passionate person but it is a dangerous label to give oneself and it is not conducive to normalcy or balance. Can I become a less passionate person? Can I be whole and remove that as foundational to my identity? Can you be passionate without an object to your passion? There is more here than I can go into at this time, but I keep thinking of Paul Potts. What am I born to do? What do I have to do before I know that answer?
21 June 2007
More on women...
For those of you who have been reading my recent posts, and particularly those who checked out the discussion on Stay At Home Daughters I am including this link. My dear friend TulipGrrl linked to it on her blog and I think it says so much to those women of us who find our brains fun enough for ourselves, but not necessarily as appealing to the opposite sex. Enjoy!
Quick work update
Some of you have been unclear about what I am actually doing at work: I teach reading classes to students from pre-K to adult. These are not remedial classes, but for the junior high and high school students they are classes for students who do not like or enjoy reading. The main focus is on teaching students good reading skills, including phonics for the little kids, so that they can get totally absorbed in what they read and become life-long readers.
As you all know, I love to read, so this is an ideal job for me. I teach all over the Chicago area and even have a few classes in NW Indiana. I will continue working with IRD (The Institute for Reading Development) until mid-August and then I will go on to full-time work. Right now I am interviewing at Moody Bible Institute for a possible job there, and if that does not work out, I will have to see where God leads next.
Hope that helps some of you who had questions:-D
As you all know, I love to read, so this is an ideal job for me. I teach all over the Chicago area and even have a few classes in NW Indiana. I will continue working with IRD (The Institute for Reading Development) until mid-August and then I will go on to full-time work. Right now I am interviewing at Moody Bible Institute for a possible job there, and if that does not work out, I will have to see where God leads next.
Hope that helps some of you who had questions:-D
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