I'm taking a Christian Ethics class at the Seminary this semester. I love it. I wanted to take it because I love hearing people debate about theology. I also expected it to be challenging. The thing I didn't expect was for it to shake, rattle and re-shape me. (The re-shaping part will be long-term, of course, but I see it already happening.)
We read a chapter of Stanley Haurwas' book, The Haurwas Reader, for class on Monday. It was a chapter titled Jesus and the Social Embodiment of the Peaceable Kingdom. Haurwas was arguing that Jesus' life is often overlooked when thinking about/discuss Christian ethics. He says that most ethicists will focus on Jesus' coming to Earth, and on the fact that Jesus died for our sins, but fail to look to the way Jesus lived his life to shape and form our ethical view. Thus, most Christians shape their ethical view this way.
At first I wasn't sure I bought Haurwas' argument. Until I stumbled onto page 127. On page 127 he says, "In Jesus' life we cannot help but see God's way with Israel and Israel's subsequent understanding of what it means to be God's beloved. For God does not impose God's will on Israel. Rather, God calls Israel time and time again to be faithful to the covenant, but always gives Israel the choice of disobedience." If you read through the Israelites struggle in the Old Testament, you'll see story after story of Israel not obeying God, Israel being punished, and Israel crying out to God in lament and begging for assistance and sustenance. God complies, but sometimes only after a prophet intercedes to the Lord in prayer. (This raises an interesting question of whether or not God can be swayed by prayer. I won't start that debate, here.) =)
In terms of ethics, I see the free will we have. God calls us to be faithful of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, yet we like to twist and shape that into what we want it to be and what society tells us are social and ethical norms. I was squirming a bit as I continued the chapter, thinking about my own areas where I tell myself that I'm not 'bad,' so it's okay if I go against what I know God does/does not call me to do, or let my behaviors be such that I know he would be disappointed.
My squirming reached a spastic level when I reached p 133, "Discipleship is quite simply extended training in becoming dispossessed. To become followers of Jesus means that we must, like him, be dispossessed of all we think gives us power over our own lives and the lives of others. Unless we learn to relinquish our presumption that we can ensure the significance of our own lives, we are not capable of the peace of God's kingdom."
I could stop right there and say that I live a good life, and continue to do so. I work with youth pastors and do a lot to benefit ministries. I am involved in my church. I mentor and disciple more college students than I really have time for, but continue to sacrifice for them. I give money to missionaries and Compassion kids and mission trips and to ministries in Chicago. But do I really know what it means to be dispossessed in Haurwas' definition above?
I could say I'm a product of being raised in white America, and blame my ethical shortcomings on that. With that comes privelidge, and unfortunately, prejudice. I'm used to being treated a certain way. It's perfectly normal for me to walk across the street from homeless beggers and judge them for being drug addicts or alcoholics. I was raised to reach for goals and continue to work towards them - goals that involve accumulating more wealth and power, because I grew up on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum. I learned to not share what I have attained and accumulated. I have been shaped to be leery of and even afraid of people who look or live differently than me, and to support political and economical systems that will continue to oppress them so I can continue to accumulate wealth and power. I think about immigration and our nation's desire to have anyone who practices cultural activities that we European descendents aren't familiar with or whose first language isn't English, out of our country by any means necessary. But that's not what God told us to do, nor what Jesus taught us to do. The OT and the NT are filled with accounts to love and care for the alien living in a foreign land.
I could take the easy route and blame that on the environment in which I was raised. But that isn't what I'm going to choose to do. I've already made some good choices in terms of re-shaping my thinking and ethical habits. I have a place to look to, to shape my ethics, and that's Jesus' life. It should be an easy place to look, but it's hard.
Why is it hard? I had to take a long look at myself, and I came to the answer. I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, in the way most comfortable to me. I also want to be in control of the outcomes of my life and really don't always trust God to lead me. This season of Lent is a great time for me to practice dispossession of a small part of my life. It's already been hard, and I've viewed it as something I have control over. Hmmm....I'll keep working on that one.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Movie and Book Reviews
The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis
Probably my favorite Narnia book thus far. I have dubbed it 'the chick flick' among the books thus far. My favorite part of the book was the snarky horse and his attitude. Loved it!! I can't wait to see this one as a movie. I have now moved on to The Magician's Nephew. (I am reading them in the order that Lewis wrote them, not in the order they appear in the anthology.)
More Ready Than You Realize by Brian McLaren
I think I'm the last person I know to read this book. It's really good. I read so many evangelical and Christian books for Seminary and work that I tend to gloss over them, if I finish them at all. Not this one. It follows an email conversation between Brian and a young woman he calls Alice. The emails and their story are real, but her name has been changed. It's a refreshing look at evangelism and discipleship from the eyes of Alice, who wasn't a Christian and was distrusting of people who were Christian. The book revolves around the idea of spiritual friendship. I highly recommend it.
Marie Antoinette, directed by Sophia Coppola
Great costumes (was so not surprised when they won best costume design at the Oscars) and decent acting. The cinematography kept my attention, but there are these dark screens between scenes that are much too lengthy. More than once I hit fast forward bc I thought something was wrong with the disc or the DVD player. They could have easily cut out five minutes by taking those dark screens out - I didn't see how they added to the movie. Sophia's cinematography always sticks out at me, and I thought it was brilliant in The Virgin Suicides. The thing that was bothering me was that she took liberties with the script, historically. I'm wanting to do some research and see if I can find historical support for some of the things she portrayed in the film. I'm glad I didn't spend $10 to see it in the theatre.
Running With Scissors
When I saw who was in this cast, I immediately bumped it up to the top of Netflix. I love independent films that are quirky comedies. This one's seriousness took me by surprise. Joseph Cross, the actor who played the main character, was phenomenal. I think we're going to see him in several movies, and I hope he makes wise choices about his roles. He has great versatility in him. Be prepared to be shocked, and somewhat uncomfortable, as you watch this one. It's fairly unbelievable in a lot of ways, but many of the things the main character has to deal with are very, very real. The action was a little slow in the first half hour, but then it picked up and I had to finish it. I particularly loved Gwyneth Paltrow's character in this movie.
Probably my favorite Narnia book thus far. I have dubbed it 'the chick flick' among the books thus far. My favorite part of the book was the snarky horse and his attitude. Loved it!! I can't wait to see this one as a movie. I have now moved on to The Magician's Nephew. (I am reading them in the order that Lewis wrote them, not in the order they appear in the anthology.)
More Ready Than You Realize by Brian McLaren
I think I'm the last person I know to read this book. It's really good. I read so many evangelical and Christian books for Seminary and work that I tend to gloss over them, if I finish them at all. Not this one. It follows an email conversation between Brian and a young woman he calls Alice. The emails and their story are real, but her name has been changed. It's a refreshing look at evangelism and discipleship from the eyes of Alice, who wasn't a Christian and was distrusting of people who were Christian. The book revolves around the idea of spiritual friendship. I highly recommend it.
Marie Antoinette, directed by Sophia Coppola
Great costumes (was so not surprised when they won best costume design at the Oscars) and decent acting. The cinematography kept my attention, but there are these dark screens between scenes that are much too lengthy. More than once I hit fast forward bc I thought something was wrong with the disc or the DVD player. They could have easily cut out five minutes by taking those dark screens out - I didn't see how they added to the movie. Sophia's cinematography always sticks out at me, and I thought it was brilliant in The Virgin Suicides. The thing that was bothering me was that she took liberties with the script, historically. I'm wanting to do some research and see if I can find historical support for some of the things she portrayed in the film. I'm glad I didn't spend $10 to see it in the theatre.
Running With Scissors
When I saw who was in this cast, I immediately bumped it up to the top of Netflix. I love independent films that are quirky comedies. This one's seriousness took me by surprise. Joseph Cross, the actor who played the main character, was phenomenal. I think we're going to see him in several movies, and I hope he makes wise choices about his roles. He has great versatility in him. Be prepared to be shocked, and somewhat uncomfortable, as you watch this one. It's fairly unbelievable in a lot of ways, but many of the things the main character has to deal with are very, very real. The action was a little slow in the first half hour, but then it picked up and I had to finish it. I particularly loved Gwyneth Paltrow's character in this movie.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Boys and Girls
It never ceases to amaze me how guys and girls are wired so differently, emotionally. It never does. That's not to say that said wiring doesn't throw me for a loop from time to time.
I'm still learning where I need to draw boundaries for myself. I invest in people, and I feel obligated to them if they need anything from me. Sometimes I can find myself feeling pulled to help someone who has been not so good to me. It's almost the same feeling I get with youth: I'm intuitive enough to realize that their acting out has to do with a bigger issue, and I might be able to help them work through their 'junk' by asking the right questions and occasionally challenging them to take a look at their blind spots.
But sometimes guys and girls are wired too differently for this to work, especially if said guy and girl have 'history.' Hmmm....jury's still out on that one.
I'm still learning where I need to draw boundaries for myself. I invest in people, and I feel obligated to them if they need anything from me. Sometimes I can find myself feeling pulled to help someone who has been not so good to me. It's almost the same feeling I get with youth: I'm intuitive enough to realize that their acting out has to do with a bigger issue, and I might be able to help them work through their 'junk' by asking the right questions and occasionally challenging them to take a look at their blind spots.
But sometimes guys and girls are wired too differently for this to work, especially if said guy and girl have 'history.' Hmmm....jury's still out on that one.
An Update to my hurting buttocks...
They still hurt. Britta really does kick my booty. It's that intense pain that causes me to wince every time I stand up or sit down. Today we did what I'm calling 'reverse crunches' where I was in an interesting apparatus where I essentially did reverse crunches and it worked my lower back muscles. Holy Mom-ma-mia, did that hurt...as in burning, excruciating pain. But it's funny how you begin to be able to tell the different between 'dangit, I just pulled something' pain and 'oh yeah, that's a burn that's going to result in great sculpting' pain.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Alison's a little Crazy right now, but its a good day...
Microphones and cables and laptops....
Call this speaker and that presenter and get ahold of the worship band leader...
Check with the caterer and get the final cost, put through a check for almost $1000 for cash to buy supplies....
Throw in a million other phone calls/emails to staff at the national organization partnering with my office, and to committee members, and you've got my life right now. =) But it's all good. On March 4, I'll breathe a sigh of relief. I actually can't wait for my big event. It's going to be amazing.
On March 15 and 17th, I'm seeing Harry Connick, Jr and The Roots. On March 19, I head for some much-needed vacation at a cabin in Wisconsin.
I'm surprisingly not paniced. I even bounded out of bed this morning to go work out at 8 am with Britta, my trainer. I slipped on some ice on my way (snow is melting during the day, then freezing at night), and it was like something out of a cartoon. My right leg flew up in the air, I was airborne and then I landed on my keyster. It hurt, but I laughed and laughed. Once I got to the gym, Britta had me do lower body and I was happy about it. I'm going back to the gym in about an hour to either do cardio or an hour of fat burn in an attempt to keep my butt and legs from hurting like crazy for the next two days. (The butt is already hurting, which means I'm probably going to need ibuprofen to sleep tonight.) But I'm happy about the burn.
My new laptop is coming by the end of the week, and my ipod is currently working. It's a good day. =)
Call this speaker and that presenter and get ahold of the worship band leader...
Check with the caterer and get the final cost, put through a check for almost $1000 for cash to buy supplies....
Throw in a million other phone calls/emails to staff at the national organization partnering with my office, and to committee members, and you've got my life right now. =) But it's all good. On March 4, I'll breathe a sigh of relief. I actually can't wait for my big event. It's going to be amazing.
On March 15 and 17th, I'm seeing Harry Connick, Jr and The Roots. On March 19, I head for some much-needed vacation at a cabin in Wisconsin.
I'm surprisingly not paniced. I even bounded out of bed this morning to go work out at 8 am with Britta, my trainer. I slipped on some ice on my way (snow is melting during the day, then freezing at night), and it was like something out of a cartoon. My right leg flew up in the air, I was airborne and then I landed on my keyster. It hurt, but I laughed and laughed. Once I got to the gym, Britta had me do lower body and I was happy about it. I'm going back to the gym in about an hour to either do cardio or an hour of fat burn in an attempt to keep my butt and legs from hurting like crazy for the next two days. (The butt is already hurting, which means I'm probably going to need ibuprofen to sleep tonight.) But I'm happy about the burn.
My new laptop is coming by the end of the week, and my ipod is currently working. It's a good day. =)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Growing Old...
Yesterday might quite possibly have been one of the most bizarre Valetine's Days I've ever had. I won't go into details, but I was the recipient of invitations and gifts that actually had the words "unvalentine, depressed, heartachy, lonely," on them. I began to wonder if unbeknownst to me, the word Loser was shining bright on my forehead. But the Princess and Sarah sent me fun Valentine's!!! I also did not receive a drunk dial two weeks ago which resulted in an ex boyfriend trying to 'con' me into a date on VDay. He he he - she of whom I speaks, knows I'm talking about her. =)
I decided three-four days ago that I need to take a vacation for me after by 30 birthday coming up on March 18. I remember having discussions with my grandma (the greatest woman, EVER) about growing old. I used to laugh and get aggravated when I saw women coloring their gray away and throwing a fit about turning 30. Fast forward to Alison at age 27, and suddenly I'm dreading the big 3-0 and am regularly getting highlights done because I found one gray hair on my head. (I'm now up to 4-6.)
Here is the Alison I wish to be right now. (No, that is not an actual photo of me at age 9. I had crazy thick, curly hair.) Forever the crazy little girl, playing the boys' games and making up her own crazy dance moves to worship songs at church camp. =) LOLOL And let us not forget that I'd be allowed to swim in stagnant cow ponds, coming home with pink eye, splashing gasoline on my skin to 'kill' said cowpond germs, killing snakes with a garden hoe. Or digging up something in our yard. We found bizarre stuff buried way deep: one time we found an entire piece of farming equipment (the type you hitch up to a horse,) and our mom made us put all the dirt back. Always accompanied by my dog, Bo, the son of Patches and Caesar. P and C were married and buried in my front yard. The hills of their graves would be where we rode our bikes for good jumps. Ahhh, yes, the good ole' days.So on March 19, I will head north to a cabin for a couple of days by myself. Ahhh, in the words of that socially retarded, yet wildly hilarious, character, George Costanza, "Serenity now...."
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Now I Get It
In reference to my previous post about why people come to Colorado when they don't feel good...
Now I get it. I went to the Rocky Mountains this afternoon. Since my digital camera is broken, I took some pictures on my phone. If I can figure out how to get them off and on my computer, I'll post one or two. I had some good ones. We saw quite a few elk, and with the snow melting, it was beautiful.
We went to the touristy town of Estes Park and did some shopping. Let's just say that when I tried to walk even half my normal speed down the street (at 10,000 feet) I felt like I was going to pass out. Once I developed a strict, 'you don't have to hurry' policy, I was fine...although I felt like I was halfway between vomiting and passing out on the drive home. =)
But it was worth it....
Now I get it. I went to the Rocky Mountains this afternoon. Since my digital camera is broken, I took some pictures on my phone. If I can figure out how to get them off and on my computer, I'll post one or two. I had some good ones. We saw quite a few elk, and with the snow melting, it was beautiful.
We went to the touristy town of Estes Park and did some shopping. Let's just say that when I tried to walk even half my normal speed down the street (at 10,000 feet) I felt like I was going to pass out. Once I developed a strict, 'you don't have to hurry' policy, I was fine...although I felt like I was halfway between vomiting and passing out on the drive home. =)
But it was worth it....
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
A Balmy 50+ degrees...
Seriously, I'm in Denver, and it's in the mid-fifties. I'm getting text messages from people that it's snowing buckets in Chicago, and that the windchill has dipped as low as forty below zero this week. Do I need to make my peace? Is Armageddon happening. =)
It's been a fun week. Thankfully, my crazy frenzy of activity is relatively over, and I can just enjoy my third conference in 5 days for the rest of the week.
It's been really fun to see and catch up with people from around the country that I haven't seen in awhile, and spend some quality time with some of my North Park peeps who are also at this conference. I've gotten to spend time with students of mine who have graduated in the last couple of years, and tomorrow's lunch is going to be one of the funnest I'll have all week. =)
I am ready to sleep in my own bed. My nosebleeds, for the most part, have stopped, and I seem to not have to drink quite as much water as I did when I first arrived. On Super Bowl Sunday, I actually called my mom to find out how much water was too much water to drink. We decided I had already drank 90 some ounces (the daily recommended is 64) and it was only 5 pm. I drank at least another 32 before the evening was out. The altitude will kick you in the butt. Needless to say, I'm getting some of the deepest, best sleep of my life. =) This morning I slept through my alarm click and my boss had to wake me up 15 minutes before we had to be at a meeting.
Lol...when I return to Chicago, I'll go back to being a light sleeper....
It's been a fun week. Thankfully, my crazy frenzy of activity is relatively over, and I can just enjoy my third conference in 5 days for the rest of the week.
It's been really fun to see and catch up with people from around the country that I haven't seen in awhile, and spend some quality time with some of my North Park peeps who are also at this conference. I've gotten to spend time with students of mine who have graduated in the last couple of years, and tomorrow's lunch is going to be one of the funnest I'll have all week. =)
I am ready to sleep in my own bed. My nosebleeds, for the most part, have stopped, and I seem to not have to drink quite as much water as I did when I first arrived. On Super Bowl Sunday, I actually called my mom to find out how much water was too much water to drink. We decided I had already drank 90 some ounces (the daily recommended is 64) and it was only 5 pm. I drank at least another 32 before the evening was out. The altitude will kick you in the butt. Needless to say, I'm getting some of the deepest, best sleep of my life. =) This morning I slept through my alarm click and my boss had to wake me up 15 minutes before we had to be at a meeting.
Lol...when I return to Chicago, I'll go back to being a light sleeper....
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Denver....
It’s day two in Denver, and it’s already been an adventure.
I arrived on Friday night, and we met with some folks from Urban Youth Worker Institute and the Denver Reload hosts for dinner. We ate at BDs Mongolian BBQ. (Brian – I know you loved that!!) It was a lot of fun, but kind of turned into a late night.
We woke up early Saturday morning, and I had a slight headache and a full nose. As I blew it, I realized it was a bloody nose. I had completely forgotten about the altitude issue, and didn’t do my research to find out what to expect and precautions to take. The air is drier than Chicago (didn’t expect that one) and my hands got so dry so quickly that I was scratching and scraping them just from rubbing against the fabric of my purse. Factor in that I am a shallow breather, and I had a bit of a rough day. I’m pretty tired right now. I felt like an old lady when I left the general session at 8:30 because I was so tired I could hardly stand up. =)
I came back to my room, and my boss was there. (Quick fun sidenote about her is that last night there was so much static electricity in her bed that there were blue sparks flying every time she moved.) She was like, “Oh…yeah…I didn’t even think to warn you that you can get really sick here if you’ve never been here before and your body isn’t quite used to it.” I’ve also had several people tell me they always get sore throats in Colorado, and various other ailments. Some of them are people who come here two, three times a year to ski. I was like, “If you always get sick and feel like crap, why do you come here?” =)
I am enjoying running into all the people, though. I just want to not feel tired and to stop having bloody noses (currently have another one.) =)
I arrived on Friday night, and we met with some folks from Urban Youth Worker Institute and the Denver Reload hosts for dinner. We ate at BDs Mongolian BBQ. (Brian – I know you loved that!!) It was a lot of fun, but kind of turned into a late night.
We woke up early Saturday morning, and I had a slight headache and a full nose. As I blew it, I realized it was a bloody nose. I had completely forgotten about the altitude issue, and didn’t do my research to find out what to expect and precautions to take. The air is drier than Chicago (didn’t expect that one) and my hands got so dry so quickly that I was scratching and scraping them just from rubbing against the fabric of my purse. Factor in that I am a shallow breather, and I had a bit of a rough day. I’m pretty tired right now. I felt like an old lady when I left the general session at 8:30 because I was so tired I could hardly stand up. =)
I came back to my room, and my boss was there. (Quick fun sidenote about her is that last night there was so much static electricity in her bed that there were blue sparks flying every time she moved.) She was like, “Oh…yeah…I didn’t even think to warn you that you can get really sick here if you’ve never been here before and your body isn’t quite used to it.” I’ve also had several people tell me they always get sore throats in Colorado, and various other ailments. Some of them are people who come here two, three times a year to ski. I was like, “If you always get sick and feel like crap, why do you come here?” =)
I am enjoying running into all the people, though. I just want to not feel tired and to stop having bloody noses (currently have another one.) =)
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Farmer's Lung
A family friend passed away tonight. He's a farmer, and apparently he thought he had pneumonia. His wife took him to the hospital on Tuesday, and by Wednesday they decided they needed to life-flight him to Barnes hospital in St. Louis. Due to weather, they weren't able to fly him out until tonight. He passed away en route.
Farmer's lung is caused by a hypersensitivity to certain molds, apparently most common in moldy hay. They suspect that his was a combination of the hay and from sick birds.
He's a young guy, in his early forties. He was one of my oldest brother's best friends in high school, they were in each other's weddings, and have stayed friends through the years. His brother married my cousin. He and his wife are one of the most beautiful and in love married couples I've ever seen in my life. They have two kids who are in high school. Ironically, I ran into the family this last summer when I was home. My sister called me to get my brother's phone number to call him and tell him. He's managed to avoid going to funerals until our grandfather (his father figure) passed away a couple of years ago. This one is going to hit him pretty hard.
Please say a prayer for the Redd family tonight.
Farmer's lung is caused by a hypersensitivity to certain molds, apparently most common in moldy hay. They suspect that his was a combination of the hay and from sick birds.
He's a young guy, in his early forties. He was one of my oldest brother's best friends in high school, they were in each other's weddings, and have stayed friends through the years. His brother married my cousin. He and his wife are one of the most beautiful and in love married couples I've ever seen in my life. They have two kids who are in high school. Ironically, I ran into the family this last summer when I was home. My sister called me to get my brother's phone number to call him and tell him. He's managed to avoid going to funerals until our grandfather (his father figure) passed away a couple of years ago. This one is going to hit him pretty hard.
Please say a prayer for the Redd family tonight.
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