Week 2: Peace

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
(Hendrix)

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
(Ghandi)

“If war is ever lawful, then peace is sometimes sinful”
(C.S. Lewis)

“The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed during war.”
(chinese proverb)

“I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.”
(Hellen Keller)

“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.”

“Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous.”
(George Bernard Shaw)

“Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God.”

“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.”
(Martin Luther)

“There was never a good war or a bad peace.”
(Ben Franklin)

“Avoid popularity if you would have peace.”
(Abraham Lincoln)

"Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. "
(H.H. Dalai Lama)

True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.
(Oscar Ramero)

Week 1: Hope

Advent Blessings Ya'll

Well, hidee ho there neighbor!
Bless me mother for I have blog sinned, it's been almost 3 months since my last post.
I'm a second year seminarian now. Greek is not inducing the crazies like Hebrew did. Still, it is a challenge on the old brain. In addition to my studies this year I am working over at RevRod's establishment and also at the "large church on the hill" a few days a week. It's a full plate! A full plate I tell you! And now it is Advent.

I have to say, this is a time when I could really use the quiet reflection of Advent. Not that I feel as though I have time to do that...but even if my Advent devotions are only 5 minutes that is significant. In a way it's part of what I've already got going on because my friends, I am going to be teaching an Advent bible study. It's still coming together, but class #1 will have to be ready by Wed night! (it will be). Maybe I'll blog in relation to that. (or maybe not, who are we kidding, this is ME we're talking about here!)

Okay enough for now, back to writing a paper. How are ya'll?

What up!

I'm baaaaaaaaaack! Well at least for today! I couldn't remember my login and got caught up in other things. But hey, let's see where I need to update.

The condo sold back in May, phew. I didn't make any money, but I got my deposit back...I'll consider that a victory in this economy. I passed Hebrew and did pretty decently with all of my other classes. I became an aunt again in Feb. The little booger is crawling now. I was a chaplain this summer at a long-term care facility (old folks home). That went very well. I'll be starting field education at a congregation next week.

Church wide came and went, and I support everything that passed. Lots of excitement out here over that. As there should be. There is, as well, concern for those who are less excited. No doubt the next year or so will be interesting while this all is figured out.

I've been enjoying some time off before classes begin. I experienced a great disappointment last Sunday, my parents new pastor (misery synod) would not commune me. Very sad. I chose to be polite and as respectful as I could. I felt dirty after leaving though. I just can't go there anymore now....really who's table is it? Yours? I don't think so. I'm going to remember that feeling of rejection, I think it'll be important in the future in pastoral care.

I am all ready to begin year two at seminary! I am as excited as ever about my call. Here we go!

I might elaborate on some of those things later...but thought I'd just update for now.

Comic Meme

The L Chik did this one, so I thought I'd play too.

This week's Friday Five is all about the comics:

1.What was your favorite comic strip as a child?
Hmm, I always read Garfield. In fact, I remember buying one or two books from the school book fair. And actually, now that I think of it... I took all of the other books out of the library or read them in the book store. Wow, the things you forget.


2. Which comic strip today most consistently tickles your funny bone?
Well, I don't get a paper. I haven't regularly read a paper since I lived with my folks.
My internship in NY allowed for a lot of paper reading.....yah I have no idea.

3. Which Peanuts character is closest to being you?
Here's the question that sold me on the meme. My former manager (more like a company vp) sent an email out once that had a split screen photo of me and Marcie. This is because I always said "yes, sir? you got it, sir" to him. This was totally me mocking him. He totally fell for it though.

Some time later I had a new director over me who realized what I was pulling. She was totally on my side too! :) She started proclaiming however that "She's not Marcie! She's Peppermint Patty! Look out for that one!"

So, I laugh in the store when I see peanuts figurines.


4. Some say that comic strips have replaced philosophy as a paying job, so to speak. Does this ring true with you?
I don't really know (it's too late for such thought) BUT...I do own the Gospel According to the Peanuts. I enjoyed that very much.


5. What do you think the appeal is for the really long running comic strips like Blondie, Family Circus, Dennis the Menace as some examples?
Familiarity. Comfort. Same reason people like to sing the same music in church, have the same pastor for decades, keep the same hymnal. Comfort. I can't remember laughing seriously for any of these.
(although a coworker of mine in NY and I used to read Family Circus daily in order to make fun of it).


Bonus question: Which discontinued comic strip would you like to see back in print?
I'm not sure what is out. Peanuts...wish that was still coming out with new ones.
Is Funky Winkerbean still around? The Far Side can stay gone ;)

Almost November??? Yeesh!

I'm taking off a chunk of my previous rant, negative vibes just aren't cool man ;)

Sems going fine. LOTS of work. Good friends, etc........ and good times.
Good beer. Interesting worship experiences.

I struggle with getting to this blog because first, I'm swamped and second....I don't think it's incredibly anonymous anymore!

So, again...if you want the link to my other blog (started for Sem...no anonymity) Drop me a line.

Oh hey....regarding the condo...no sale...but I have a renter right now at least!

Back to School - RevGals Friday Five

Well, since I'm back at school after a 7 year break (and my brain is getting a workout after a 7 year sabbatical) the RevGals Friday 5 seemed like an easy way to blog...cuz I've been quiet...cuz I've been READING!

1.Is anyone going back to school, as a student or teacher, at your house? How's it going so far?
Yes! Me! I am, as someone said, a "frickin' seminarian!".
As I implied, I'm going through an adjustment period. I knew it'd be more work that my undergrad....Communication majors at little state schools read very little. I did not, however, realize just how MUCH more work it is. At least for reading. Hebrew has been challenging for me. I'm not great at languages. I seem to be doing well enough with it when I view it like a computer language (a la HTML)...then it just makes more sense. I ask less "Why?" questions..the sort of questions that got me into trouble in algebra.

2. Were you glad or sad when back-to-school time came as a kid?
Well, who *does* want summer to end? I was always excited about the new outfits and supplies. I was a really good student in elementary school, so there wasn't much fear of the school work :) Once homework came into play...that was another story!

I do remember going to kindergarten for the first time. I was psyched. My first day, however, the bus driver scared the crap outta me and I refused to back on the bus the next day. She just yelled alot :) She was kinda impatient about finding a seat and sitting down. My mom explained to her my problem and the next day the woman was sugary sweet to me.

3. Did your family of origin have any rituals to mark this time of year? How about now?
I always got a new pair of sneakers and new clothes. Usually a new backpack, unless I loved the "old" one.
Mom would take our picture on the first day up to about 7th grade. I was going to have friends take my "first day" picture here at seminary but forgot! :)

4. Favorite memories of back-to-school outfits, lunchboxes, etc?
I had a Rainbow Brite lunch box in Kindergarten. Actually I'm kinda hazy about what grades I had them....but I also had a Pound Puppies lunchbox...a Cabbage Patch Kid (I think...might be a false memory) one. I don't remember others.

5. What was your best year of school?
Wow, um. I dunno. Of all time: perhaps the college year that I interned at the TV show.
Of elementary: hmm, I think sixth grade was good. we didn't have middle school yet. we did public speaking that year, a class trip to a nearby city...ha....i had my first "boyfriend"...that was funny! I still keep in touch with him, we were best friends in high school.

I'm Just Saying.....

Not to insult Megan...who is wonderful..but....