Jan. 28, 2006 - Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh, sniffle
weight loss: 7 lbs! chest 2.5 inches waist: 3.5 inches hips: 2.5 inches
I'm so bummed...one of the burdens of being a pastor's wife.
I'd been planning since before Christmas to go on this knitting retreat in Berne, Indiana. We'd been given complete access at this bed and breakfast...for only $50.00 a piece. I arranged for my kids to sit with friends at church, since Daddy obviously can't (the only, and basically the tragic obstacle, since I was going with my only other babysitter (godmother) who would've endured this crisis).
I can't go. Maggie is sick. She is the slime queen right now. Mucus abounds everywhere. Poor thing can't sleep. I obviously can't pawn her off on someone else, much less someone who has a baby, and has been confined in her house for two weeks with her kids going through the whole cold thing themselves.
Oh well....I'm going to go sit and cry for a while.
Lora
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Jan. 25, 2006 - tagged again!
weight loss: 3 lbs. 3 inches around my waist, 2 around hips and chest!!!
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Not posted yet!
I've been tagged by Indiana Jane
Four jobs I've had
no particular order)
1. Family Support Worker (currently)
2. Camp Counselor
3. Research Field Worker (asking older people about their sex lives among other things!)
4. Lingerie sales girl
Four places I've lived: (besides where I live now)
1. Las Vegas, NV (grew up there)
2. Cedar City, UT
3. Pasadena, CA
4. Yuma, AZ
Four of my favorite foods: (I've had to give up sugars, grains, dairy, and other things....so I'm obsessing)
1. au gratin potatoes
2. Linguine Checca from Crocodile Cafe in Pasadena
3. Fish tacos (Oh Rubios, how do I miss thee!)
4. banana cream pie
Four TV shows that I like to watch
1. Colbert Report
2. Law and Order
3. just about anything History Channel
4. Good Eats
Four Movies I could watch over and over
1. Philadelphia Story
2. The Importance of Being Earnest
3. Out of Africa
4. Bull Durham
Four Places I would rather be
1. Southern/Central/or Northern California
2. Arizona...Flagstaff area
3. Europe
4. in bed
Four Websites I visit:
1. www.dodgers.com
2. www.landsend.com
3. www.weather.com
4. www.yarnharlot.ca
Four people I want to tag:
1. Polly at Mossback Meadow
2. Cynthia at whatever blog she's at now!!!
3. my husband, but he doesn't blog
4. Caroline at Our Little House on the Prairie
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Jan. 23, 2006 - What's a Layman to Do?
Okay, I've been politely accused of avoiding church issues, which I am wont to do, since I stare at a church outside my kitchen window every day....so I posted this to a Lutheran homeschooling list that I am on, kind of in response to the issue of "what do we do about the state of the synod." Most people gave the very good answer of "stay in your catechism and Bible." But I said this:
I agree that the most important thing is to stay in the Bible and
Catechism....I would add to pray (Large Catechism, Introduction to the
Lord's Prayer).
Regardless of beliefs there are other things that I think are important, too. There are many fine believers in the ELCA and its founding church bodies that woke up one day and found their churches teaching their kids something other than they believed. There are many fine LCMS members that are finding that too.
Regardless of theological/poliltical positions, I think there are things that Christians can do. Staying in the Bible and Catechisms is very very important, but the Bible and Catechism teach us not to just stay in our Bibles and Catechisms.....we are supposed to love our neighbors as ourselves, and if our Synod does eventually disintegrate over the all-important issue of inerrency of Scripture then there will be many casualties...I wouldn't want to be one...I don't want my neighbor to be either. Yes, this is supposed to happen in the end times, but the end times have been happening since Christ ascended, and where would we be if Luther had simply said...I'm just going to read my Bible...because all this stuff is supposed to happen in the end times. Those catechisms would've never been written. And if other Christians had not taken action, the creeds would've never been written, Bibles never would've been in our native tongues, and the Augsburg Confession wouldn't have been worth the effort that was made to expound our beliefs. Besides, just because false doctrine is supposed to be taught in the End Times, doesn't mean that I have to just accept it happening in MY church. I'm not accusing anyone of complacency.....I know that we have many devoted families here....I have seen that argument descend into complacency though, especially in this everyone for himself world.
I am not a political animal, I despise politics both church and otherwise, but I do see that if as Christians do not express our faith through the vocations that God gave us, and be open to other vocations as well, we'll have a whole bunch of people complaining in their homes that no one did anything.
We have a Synod that was purposely designed according to a democratic model, rather than the traditional one based on a system of bishops (don't know which is better or worse, don't want to discuss it at the moment, it just is). That means that in order for it to remain healthy, the members have to remain informed and involved. We do need to be aware of the issues that our congregations, district, and synod are struggling with, and express the opinions we have that come from our study. We need to be informed voters within our congregations (whether that means with the vote that the husband exercises for the family or where women exercise suffrage within the congregation also). Where it doesn't interfere with our primary vocations that God has given us, we also need to be willing to serve in various capacities within our congregation, our district, and our synod, where we have abilities. The best politicians and board members are not the ones that want to be there...but the ones that feel the duty to be...in my opinion.
Our church produces many products, too, fine and otherwise.....what you choose to support should be reflective of your principles and should be informed choices. Investing with Thrivent (not a synodical entity), the LCEF, or other options should be as investigated as any stock, bond or annuity...and should also be made with awareness of what their values are and what they do...they should invite this since they use their benefits to the church as part of the reason why you should invest with them. Make it a point to donate to Lutheran missions and projects that reflect your beliefs. If you like Lutheran Witness, buy it...if you don't, cancel your subscription. Buy books from Concordia Publishing House that reflect what you believe and where you want to grow (they'll take the hint and make more)....if they don't have anything...buy elsewhere. Make sure the school or college that you send your kids to will teach your kids what you believe and that they have a strong educational product.....don't just trust the Concordia or the LCMS on it.... whether they are good or bad schools may be completely independent of that name. Find out what is going to happen at the youth conferences, or what has happened in the past before you send your kids.... or find alternatives. The same goes for Lutheran camps, etc. or anything else. If you decide not to support them, let them know why.
If you can't support these things with your money and even if you can...how can you support them with your time? Cleaning toys at the preschool, serving on the Altar Guild, serving on a district board, giving your opinions on a homeschool task force...etc.
(one note....with this philosophy, do not see the Synod or your congregation as a "product" to be consumed and to walk out if you disagree.....you are communing with the Body of Christ, and if you just leave, if there is evil going on, you are simply stepping out of its way and letting it continue. And many people have no idea how much harm they are doing to a congregation when they just disappear without talking or refusing to talk to the elders and pastor about their experience. Don't leave unless you are sure there is no more you can do, and make sure the PASTOR and ELDERS know why, not just a few or many friends in the congregation. Where that line is, I know is an individual judgement...but do communicate, or they won't know that you think something is wrong. Besides, the Bible tells you to do so).
The biggest impediment that I see for laity (and I count myself as one)is a source of good information. There really is nothing out there that explores the current events and tries to put them in theological context within our Synod, at least not that I've found (I'd love to know of any). An unbiased press is non-existent (okay, so that's nothing new in this world?). The Synod publications do not deal with what is going on in the political and doctrinal environment. CAT 41 serves its purpose, as does Christian News, and there are publications and lists by those "on the other side" that have the same view. I know when I lived West of the Rockies (I've lived in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona...and now Indiana, again) it was blatantly obvious how disconnected these churches were from the Synod....and some of the biggest things that have happened in the last half century...Seminex, the struggles with the Fort Wayne seminary in the 90's, and the Benke issue....were completely off the radar for them, unless they saw what the secular press said....and regardless of beliefs on the whole Yankee Stadium incident, anyone who knows anything about it also knows that it was about far more than a pastor having his freedom of speech hindered by his church body. There was not much information on it, other than the emotional attacks in the publications put out around Convention time that are generally only seen by pastors and lay-delegates. Yet the Benke/Yankee Stadium incident was the most polarizing issue at the Convention.
Maybe this lack of communication regarding Synod issues is like this all over the Synod, not just the West. I now live close to a seminary and that has probably heightened my awareness. I wonder how this lack of access to information can be improved. Maybe that is what all the blogging is about.
Again, I would add PRAY.
Okay, there is my church politics post for the year...in fact, I probably am good for two.
God bless
