My latest sermon

I thought i would post my latest sermon. I was pretty proud of this one. I got some positive feedback from the congrgation and I thought it ( and others did too) it was my best deilvery of a sermon yet. Let me know what you think....

John 12:1-8 March 18, 2007

The last two verses of that scripture sound a lot like Jesus is saying pay attention to me the poor do not matter. “Let her alone… You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.” The sentiment certainly contradicts the teachings of Jesus found in the other Gospels. A Jesus who asks a man to sell all his possessions and give the profits to the poor (Luke 18:22). A Jesus asking his companions to ignore the poor is simply not a Jesus who comes to our mind. This statement taken at face value or out of context seems out of character.

I looked at how the other gospels handled this story and the other three have him saying very similar things there will always be poor people, but I will not always be here. It makes him seem downright conceited as if he should be the center of attention. As if the poor simply do not matter. When in reality the opposite is true the poor do matter. Sharing with the poor is one of the corner stones of Jesus’ ministry. So how can we see this statement in a better light?

Steve Khul a member and one time president of the crossing.org (a website designed to help people connect the bible with their daily life) examined the passage in this way:

One of our enduring problems is deciding what we should do about the poor among us. We agonize (and rightly so) about political, economic and social strategies that will truly help the poor. But the text identifies a deeper problem of the poor among us. It identifies the way Judas (and we) hides behind the poor, giving the illusion of concern, but only to betray them and advance our own self-interest (v. 6). Health care reform, welfare reform, are all undertaken to help the poor, or so the rhetoric goes. But whose pockets get lined in the process? The fact that "the poor are always with us" gives us the answer: not the poor, but we would-be helpers, the Judas' of the world. As such, the persistent presence of the poor in our midst represents more than failed economic and political systems. They represent our thievery, our greed, our moral poverty, though always well-hidden.

It is not that our well meaning social programs aren’t exactly that; well meaning but are they really helping the issue of poverty? This is true in our own country and I found this to be very true in Guatemala. Guatemala is a beautiful country. It’s a country with beautiful landscapes and a country where the people are warm and welcoming. It is a country where minimum wage is $5 dollars a day and 75% of the people live at or below the poverty line. A country where for some families their one meal a day may come from table scrapes or possibly what they scrounge from a dump. It is staggering to see the devastation that the government caused to their own people, especially the native people.

For thirty years Guatemala raged in a violent civil war. People were disappeared (kidnapped and killed), or simply murdered for no reason other than the government wanted to. The peace accords were signed 1996. Yet, sadly the Guatemalan government is hiding behind their poor. For example, Guatemala has a 70% literacy rate which is low in itself, but it is even more tragic when you hear the truth behind it. It is true that 70% of the population who is registered with government is literate. However, it is impossible to register with the government if you do not have the money to do so.

Another staggering problem in Guatemala is health care. When we were in Guatemala we visited several medical clinics that were mostly supported by United Methodist Churches here in the states. They were not supported by the government at all. In fact they where set up in response to the poor health care provided by the government. In each department (more like a country then a state) there is a hospital. And in communities that the central government deems large enough there is a clinic. Not bad for a nation recovering from a war that lasted over 30 years. What they don’t tell you is often the walk to a clinic is hours. They don’t tell you that the public hospitals and clinics are often closed because the doctors refuse to work because the conditions are unsafe for both the doctors and the patients. Now of course there are private hospitals that serve those who can afford them. Unfortunately most of the people suffering are the poor. At the clinic we visited the cases they treated the most was dehydration due to diarrhea because if lack of clean drinking water.

Now if we take this scripture at face value than according to Jesus it is ok we can forget those suffering with illness and disease mostly because they are poor. That is what he is saying. Right? Somehow I don’t think so. I think what he is saying here is stop fussing over them and making a show of it. He is asking is companions not to let Mary alone, not because he thinks she is less of her as a person due to her economic status. He is asking them to let her alone because their comments are not about taking action to change the situation. Jesus is not about words, he is about action. Jesus is about taking real steps to create positive change. He would much prefer his companions to look at their own lives, instead of judging Mary. It would be more productive if they took steps to live more simply. He encourages simple living for a variety of reasons. First, we can not worship two gods. We can not worship our things and God. Secondly, the more simply we live the more there is to share. Just think if we cut back on the resources we used. Think of the amount of waste we produce and the resources we abuse.

It is especially important that we figure out how to address the poor seeing how we live in the richest country in the world. Our poor would be considered wealthy in other countries. We live very comfortable lives. What do we do for the poor? What do we do for the poor in our country and in other countries? I recently watched the Diane Sawyer special Waiting on the world to change. The special focused on those struck by poverty in Camden, NJ. There was this one little boy who was so excited about starting school in the fall. He worked very hard all summer learning his numbers while he moved from temporary housing to temporary housing. By the time he went to kindergarten he could count to 10, yet he could not name the three meals of the day. He never had eaten three meals a day. So poverty is a problem in our own country. It is the actions of our own country and other developed countries that have perpetuated the problem of poverty around the world. 20% of the world’s population live in developed nations and consume 86% of the world’s goods. In the US 40-50% of all food ready for harvest never gets eaten. The wealthiest 20 % of nations in the world consume 58% of total energy, while the poorest fifth consume less than 4% , the wealthiest 20% of nations in the world have 74% of all telephone lines, the poorest 20% have 1.5%, the wealthiest 20% of nations consume 84% of all paper, while the poorest 20% consume 1.1% the wealthiest 20% of nations own 87% of the world’s vehicle fleet, the poorest 20% own less than 1%. These numbers are staggering. Yet, while these numbers are staggering there are actions we can take to change this. First, we can volunteer in mission. I think experiencing poverty first hand is the best way to learn about it. To live with out hot water for a week or with out constant electricity can be an eye opening experience. Now I know not everyone feels they have the time to go out of the country in mission. There are plenty of opportunities for mission in our own country. There are depressed areas all over the country and even in our immediate area. How about volunteering at a soup kitchen or mentoring a student. Well, then that would take away from family time, what better way to spend family time then to volunteer together? Volunteering not your thing, what about making an effort at cutting back on consumption? Using high efficient light bulbs, eating a vegetarian meal once a week, making sure plastic gets recycled.

It is actions such as those then can help create change. It is in taking these actions and making changes that we can live out our Christianity. In the scripture Jesus asks his companions to stop judging Mary because they are simply talking and not doing anything. Not only are his companions not doing anything, but Mary is honoring him. She is taking action to demonstrate her faith. In the last verse Jesus says “She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial." Anticipating and honoring. Honoring. Yes his guests have invited him to a banquet, but it is Mary who showed her reverence for him. The actions of the poor and oppressed Guatemalans remind me of the actions of Mary. In their pain and in their poverty they still reach out to each other. They share with each other. They share with complete strangers. I was absolutely amazed at their hospitality and warmth. Everyplace we went the people welcomed us. I can’t count the number times I was hugged, the number of times that I was told I was family. These people were absolutely serious. At first we thought it was simply because we were Americans, but it had nothing to do with that. Two of the three medical clinics we visited were started by men in their homes. The men who started these clinics and the men and women who staffed these clinics often get very little in return. Many of them have jobs beside the medical clinics. The medical clinic was their offering to their community. They just as easily could have only helped their own family. One if the men actually donated the land that the clinic was on. Not only did he donate the land for a Medical clinic but also for a church as well because the nearest church was a two hour walk that the majority of the community actually made. That was valuable farm land. Farmland that his family used to make their money. Now they work in another farmer’s field or find other means of a job for income. It just shows those with the least sharing the most.

So how is it that Jesus can so easily say leave the poor alone because they are always with you? Especially when it seems that there is so much that we can learn from them. Yet if all we do are going to do is chastise them then maybe it would be better to “let them alone” and follow Jesus. Of course in following the example of the life of Jesus there seems no way it is possible to ignore the poor. Jesus knew that He really wanted to people to live out his teachings. He never asked anyone to worship him, he called them to action. He called them to spend time in prayer, to give up their positions, to love one another as they love themselves. All that involved action, involved change, often hard changes. Yet, those changes are necessary to live a life closer to God.

I would like to share a portion of a poem by Calvin Miller with you

My easy Christ has left the church.

Who can say why?

Maybe it’s because His video-logged apostles all

read diet-books, travel agency brochures

and Christian fiction thrillers

on how the world should end

But none read books on what the starving ignorant

should do until it does.

He left the church so disappointed that Americans

could all spell “user friendly”

but none of them could spell “Gethsemane”

Can we say for sure he’s quit?

Oh yes, it’s definite, I’m afraid:

He’s canceled his pledge card.

I passed him on the way out of the recreation building

near the incinerator where we burn

the leftover religious quarterlies

and the stained paper doilies

from our Valentine banquets.

“Quo Vadis, Domine?” I asked him.

“Somewhere else,” he said.

My easy Christ has left the church,

walking out of town past seminaries where

student scholars could all parse the ancient verbs

but few of them were sure why they had learned the art.

He shook his head counfounded that many

had studied all his ancient words

without much caring why he said them.

He seemed confused that so many

studied to be smart, but so few prayed to be holy.

Some say he left the church

because the part-time missionaries were mostly tourists

on short-term camera safaris,

photographing destitution to show the

pictures to their missionary clubs back home.

I cannot say what all his motives were.

I only know I saw him rummaging through dumpsters

in Djakarta looking for a scrap of bread

that he could multiply.

“Quo vadis, Domine?” I asked him.

“Somewhere else,” he said.

He’s gone - the melancholy Messiah’s gone.

I saw him passing by the beltway mega-temple

circled by its multi-acred asphalt lawn,

blanketed with imports and huge fat vehicles

nourished on the hydrocarbons of distant oil fields

where the poor dry rice on public roads

and die without a requiem, in unmarked graves.

Is it certain he is gone?

It is.

There are issues in this poem that I struggle with. I went on a mission trip and I’m sharing my pictures with you after this sermon. There in lies my struggle in that by sharing these pictures that I took with my digital camera I want to share my experience, but while I am really am sharing my experience I am also demonstrating my privilege. Jesus did not start his ministry in order to start a new faith tradition. His ministry focused on the way people lived in relationship to God and to each other. We as present day Christians especially United States have a lot of work to do. Everyday feel like I struggle with tough questions and choices the same way you do. Most days I don’t know if I get it right. They are tough choices and decisions. It is my prayer for each of us we can make these decisions thinking about the example Jesus has given us.

Spring Break

It is officially Thursday of spring break... where did the time Go? My spring break has been pretty good. Filled with Church stuff and school work. I did take one day all to myself so spend time with My friend's new baby. He turns one month old today. There is no better way to spend an entire day holding a baby! I've been busy writing, and re-writing a sermon, and trying to finish two mid terms and some papers. I have a feeling when I get back to school there maybe one long night. I do not have nearly as much work done at this point of the week as I should, but it will get done. I really needed this break. I had lunch with a good friend today, we had a great discussion, but it added to my state of confusion. Right now I'm wishing God wrote in the sky with Neon lights.

Anyway I just wanted get a blog post in the is week, back to my social process Mid term I go!

Friday Five

Friday Five: Matters of Taste

My mother loved figs.

I only like them in a Newton.

It's all a matter of taste.

Name five things you like a lot that some close relative or significant other did/does not like. This could be food, movies, hobbies, music, sports or whatever springs to mind.




Here are mine:
1. Bette Midler.. I LOVE her, some of my friends and certainly my father not so much
2. Brussel Sprouts
3. Disco Music. ( ok so most of my friends don't like any of my music)
4. Sushi.. i am the only one in my family who eats it
5. Onions cooked or uncooked i enjoy them

One liners

i got this forward from my Godmother. I thought there were some good one there some of my favorites and some I haven't seen before

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

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It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

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The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

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When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

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Quit griping about your church; if it wa s perfect, you couldn't belong.

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If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

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God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

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Peace starts with a smile.

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I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one they stay home from?!

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A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

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Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

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God grades on the cross, not the curve.

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God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you!

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If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

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Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

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We don't change the message, the message changes us.

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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to.........discourage him.

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The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

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Reflection on my previous post

So after sleeping on it and a few hours of reflection. I realize that the language of my last post is pretty harsh. I apologize to anyone I may have offended. My feelings are simply very strong. I am not going to apologize for those feelings.

Right now I feel like my faith, my call to ministry, my concept of self, what my role in the church will be, etc are all caught up in a funnel cloud. The difference in my funnel cloud is that instead of causing damage everything is going to settle out and be fine.

For all those unsettled feelings I have I still feel the presence of God in my life. For once I am really really trying to take comfort in the discomfort.

Inside or outside

To stay and fight from within the church or to fight the injustices of the church from the outside is the question. We talked about heterosexism in Social process today and it just sends me into a state of confusion. How do I become a part of an institution that for so many years on this issue and so many other issues has done nothing but perpetuate stereotypes and encourage discrimination against a minority? I want to serve God not simply serve a denomination. However I really like Wesleyan theology, and therefore like a lot of the teachings of the United Methodist church, but their stance on LGBTQ community is just insane. It is just was insane as there being a central conference for Blacks.

I have known from the beginning that this issue was going to be a struggle for me. I have known the question form the beginning has been fight from the inside or the out? And it used to be very clear to me that the answer was fight from the inside. But is that being hypocritical? I can't think of a better example but I feel in some ways that it is the equivalent of me joining the KKK. And I realize the Church is not the KKK, but we are doing similar damage. Even if we aren't doing our members are doing it in the Name of God.

I want change. I want not to feel angry with the church or with God. I just don't get it. Do we see the hurt and pain that we have caused. People argue and argue that in the eyes of God this is a sin. That their actions are justified by God. Well supposedly as Christians we are supposed live as Jesus lived... can someone please show me somewhere in the Bible where Jesus oppresses the oppressed? The only time Jesus comes close to oppressing anybody is the money changers in the Temple. The money changers who were taking advantage of people.

Maybe this is me letting myself off the hook. But last i checked it was only up to God to decide who is sinning, not me, not a pastor, not the pope, not a bishop, but God. God makes that decision. Hey folks wake up! We want our lives to be simpler well you can take this burden off your back. Stop trying to judge other people's sin.

So where does this leave me? It leaves me still loving theology school. Still struggling with hard questions. Knowing for dang sure that God has called me to this. Still questing what I got myself into when I accepted this call. Wondering what exactly I am supposed to do with this call. Wondering if with this thoughts and opinions like these if I will ever get ordained?

I really believe God loves us ALL I just wish I could get the Church to spread that message and mean it.

(editor's Note: I do not feel that the church is close to being the KKK this post with written with a lot of emotion. I just feel as though it my be hypocritical for me to become a leader in an organization that openly discriminates against a group of people)

To many thoughts

I have this urge to post but really nothing to post about I have tons of ideas floating around in my head of what I would like to Post but none of them are really in full fleshed out postable things... so hopefully soon there will be some post that are somewhat interesting and insightful or neither but at least full posts.

But there is exciting news. Congress has finally set the Date for the Tuskegee airmen to receive their congressional medal of honor! Looks like I'll be heading to DC at the end of this month to support grandpa!Yay!

Ecotheology

So my two favorite classes this summer are systematic theology and religion and the social process. The great thing is that often they intersect. Here is something that i never really thought about. The way we divide ourselves is the reason why really important issues get stifled. In stead of all of those being oppressed getting together and working on each others issues, we stand around saying well they don't care about MY issue. We need to stop! We need to come together.

In systematic yesterday we had a discussion about ecotheogoy. Some of my classmates were getting bogged down in the fact that by focusing on the environment we lose sight of environmental issues. That with all the hooopla surrounding The Inconvenient Truth we have forgotten about poverty issues or issues in urban settings. What they seem to forget is that environmental issues often negatively effect the poor the most. What they didn't seem to glean from the reading is the Ecotheology is not only about caring for the physical planet ( although that is VERY important) it is also about caring for the creatures on the planet, including us humans.

People and environment are not separate issues. Anyone who tries to tell that they are are simply worried that if there are no poor people or cleaning up the environment will hurt their pocketbook.

This semester

I am really really enjoying this semester. Once I get myself motivated to read I actually enjoy my reading for the most part. It's crazy... and very exciting. It seems like when ever i get a little down about what ministry will hold for me ( last night's down moment came when talking about BOM interviews) I read something for one of my classes that inspires me. Last night and this morning I was reading about ecotheology and I really enjoyed it.. It was a whole new perspective that I never really thought about.

Today is my looooooonnnnnnngggg day.... but I'm ready


PS If you have not read the Secret Life of Bees you must I repeat you MUST read it.. I am reading it right now (in between school stuff) and it is awesome.

worried

I am worried what the world is coming to...I am worried about the generation behind mine. how in the world are they going to help take care of me? How are they going to take care of the future?

They are afraid of discipline. If they don't get their way they complain until they do. What are they going to do in the real world. A world where if your boss tells you to do something and you don't like you either do it or you get fired ( and I'm talked about things within the realm of your job not something that should never be asked of you).

I'm worried that "when life gets tough the tough get going" is only a saying of the past. In the future the saying is going to be when life gets tough we complain or just quit.

And I'm not talking about even finding another way or another path, but instead just simply give up.

We are headed to a scary place if we don't start teach children that discipline is a part of life. The they both will be disciplined and they need to have discipline.

I'm worried....

Friday Five

Dante had Virgil as a guide. Before he had younger siblings, my oldest child had an imaginary friend named Patrick. Betsy had Tacy. Laura Ingalls depended on her brindle bulldog, Jack. All of them were companions on the way.

As we take the beginning steps of our journey through Lent, who would we take as a companion? Name five people, real or imaginary, you might like to have with you as guide or guardian or simply good friend.



So here are my Five this was a hard one
1. Michelle... she is very good at being a supportive friend
2. Uncle Clarence just because I'd be happy to be able to spend time with him
3. Andrea cause she makes me laugh
4 . Mrs. G, my 8th grade spanish teacher, because if she can help me survive my 8th grade year and everything beyond she could help me throough anything
5. Beth, my friend from home, because matter what the sitution is or how much time has passed between our conversations she is always there

Another Blog to check out

Melissa over at Going on to perfection has had some good posts lately. Actually a lot of them are links some are useful some are funny but you should defintely check them out! (and no she did not ask me to do this!)

Lent

I figure with everyone else posting their leten practices i should as well. Comunity support and prayer is always helpful. This year for lent I'm picking something up and giving something up.

This year for Lent I'm fasting on Mondays. I picked monday becasue it is a day not filled with classes to distract me. I can really spend time in prayer.

I'm picking up going to the gym 3-4 times a week. I have slacked off in my gym time. Being heathly is the only way I'm going to survive school and future ministry so I figured lent was a good time to pick it back up

One Bad thing

The one bad thing about being a seminarian is sometimes you are so busy studying about theology, religion, and faith that you forget your own... I have worked really hard my first semester and almost a half to be aware of this. I know it's only 9:30 am but i really think if i hadn't looked at the revgals web site I would have forgotten today is Ash Wed. I guess it really is some time for reflection!

Friday Five!

reverendmother here... It seems like this topic has been done before, but I can't find it in the archives, so......

I am downtown on retreat this week. Most of the retreatants are from out of town, so I get to experience this place through the eyes of visitors. So in the spirit of tourism:

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like) Congress Park without a doubt

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy? depends on if I know I will be back I perfer totake it slow and easy but if it's likely i won't be back I see as muchas I can

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________? Checking out the local parks, then the museums.. And most defintely the RESTURANTS

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens? Strike it out on my own!!!

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home? Normally I hate to leave a place... if i have to chose something it's a sense of being in my own place and staying put

Two Things

OK First, sometimes I think my classmates forget that we are at a theological seminary in a Master's program. Yes your previous thoughts and knowledge are going to be challenged. Yes you are going to be asked to think about things in a different way. Yes you are going to be given information and ideas that may make you uncomfortable. No you do not have to let go of your Sunday school version of Jesus in the Bible you just have to be able to express why you find those thoughts valid and I'm sorry in academia the answer "Because the Bible says so" is just not an acceptable answer.

It is driving me crazy. First of all Drew does not really bill itself as anything less then it is. In fact apparently we aren't even the most liberal of the UM seminaries so really it is OK. Secondly we are in an academic setting we are going to be given scholarly information and are going to be asked to think in an academic manner. Yes church traditions have values. Yes I still hold on to some of mine, but now with a better understanding of why.

I will admit Drew tends to be pretty liberal and we do challenge a lot of the traditional church held ideas. But I don't hear anyone saying we aren't going to let you graduate if you don't believe or agree with everything we have say or have taught you. In fact it is exactly the opposite. you will not graduate if you have not learned to or do not think for yourself.

OK enough with the ranting....
I actually heard some uplifting news today. The Bishop from my annual conference (troy) was visiting Drew today. We were having lunch and one of my classmates asked about why she thought we were losing numbers so drastically and one of the things that she said that struck me the most was because we aren't starting new churches. I was impressed that was her answer. I think we she is right. there is definitely room and need for some of our older congregations. But there is a huge amount of room for new growth and starting with a fresh new church is a great to do that. I hope she can be a prominent voice in this movement to stat new churches. That would be amazing!

So much for snow...

So while the rest of the northeast is covered with snow we here Madison only got a little bit of snow and a little bit of ice. Needless to say not enough to cancel classes :-(. I was at least hoping my morning class would be cancelled so I got up when the alarm went off and checked my e-mail. here was an e-mail that said We will have class (darn)...

I do like my classes it's just wed is my long day. I'm in class from 9:55am - 8:15 pm with an hour break for chapel/lunch and only a 15 minute break between classes. I did my schedule so it's my own fault. But dang to have break this morning would have been nice.

Although I have to say I do look forward to my systematic class. I'm actually understanding the reading and like what the authors have to say so I can't wait to hear where the discussion goes.

Well I'm off to class....

Happy snow day to those who have one!

Friday Five!

From Revgalblogpals

Yes, it's true. I've been watching Season Six of American Idol with my daughter, our first time dipping into this particular well of pop culture. In the spirit of believing you can do anything, as the auditioners so clearly do, please fill in the following five blanks.

1) If I could sing like anyone, it would be ________.

2) I would love to sing the song _________________.

3) It would be really cool to sing at ____________.

4) If I could sing a dream duet it would be with ___________.

5) If I could sing on a TV or radio show, it would be __________________.


Any of you who know me in the least are going to know my answers to this especially the first one!

1. THE ONE THE ONLY BETTE MIDLER
2. My favorite Bette Midler song Stay with Me
3. SPAC ( Saratoga Proforming Arts Center)
4. James Taylor or Jack Johnson but first and fore most BETTE herself
5. The View (alot of the other revgals had Garrison Keillor and i have to agree there too)

I have say some of these answers were pretty hard seing how as child i either wanted to be a supreme, a harlette, or one of tina turners back up singers. and maybe i still do just a little bit... to bad i can't sing

Life as a theologian

So I am really enjoying my classes this semester. I fell like I am really doing theology. And I am actually liking it. Thoroughly enjoying it! Religion and the social process ( aka oppression 101) is great and thought provoking. The class that I was moot worried about I just came from, Systematic theology with Dr.Catherine Keller. First I was very,very nervous and anxious about taking a class with Dr. Catherine Keller. But really like it. It has already in two classes really broadened my thoughts of religion and on tradition and especially about language. Right now I am just so excited and enthusiastic that I can't fully explain it in words.
I must I was very excited when Dr.Keller said that I had an interesting and really good thought. I especially proud because it took me hours and hour of reading and rereading of Barth and Tillich to get to that thought. But i was at least happy that the hours of reading paid off and I really did understand.

where i am theologically...

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 89% Modern Liberal 75% Charismatic/Pentecostal 64% Classical Liberal 61% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 57% Roman Catholic 50% Neo orthodox 43% Reformed Evangelical 11% Fundamentalist 0% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com So I am a little surprised at my scores.. Not so much the post modernism but more the Pentecostal was so high and Wesleyan was so low... should i be worried?

Semester Number 2

Ok so i am already writing in my Blog while my away message says that i am reading new testament...

But any way this will be a quick post. i am really looking for ward to this semester. Which is a bit surprising because over the break I was definitely more nervous about it then I was excited. Now I have had all of my classes at least once and I can say that I am looking forward to it. I am taking New Testament with Dr. Stephen Moore, Systematic theology with Dr Catherine Keller, Ministry in Non-parish settings with Dr. David Graybeal, and Religion and Social Process with Dr. Laurel Kearns. And I didn't mention my professors to brag but just to point how awesome our faculty is here at Drew.

I think the courses are going to have really interesting discussions . I have a great group of classmates. With very diverse theological backgrounds and stances. OK so now I am really off to do work!

Guatemala Trip, Part 2

Dr Phil in the supply room (all donations) at Salud y Paz medical clinic
Children playing on the scale at Patalupe

Swimming in the chilly volcano lake

We did a lot of visiting of medical clinics. That was really interesting to see the level of medical care the these clinics provide. Each of the clinics had their own story. The one in patalupe was started by a man who had to travel (walk)four hours in order to get help for his family. At first his village resisted the idea of him starting a clinic because they thought he was just trying to look at their bodies. But he went and got training and starting running the clinic out of his house. Soon he came into contact with missionaries from the US and he with their help starting building a church and clinic. The clinic is run purely on donations. He has several volunteers, and medical missionaries come a few times a year to dental wok, and lab work and general practice type stuff.

The second clinic that we went to was an empty building for a long time that was taken over by a former Texan. He came down on a medical mission and decided to stay. He now has surgical teams that come down four times a year. Volunteers that work there some hired and trained native staff. It is just amazing. They also do a lot of educational stuff there too. A lot of training of women about health and nutrition for themselves and their families. These women don't even have names for their body parts.

It was hard to see the amount of poverty and the hardships that the people face. Their government is still very corrupt. So it is very much an up hill battle.

We did have some pleasure time at the Posada Santigo Atitlan. It was this amazing hotel and gorgeous property and access to the most beautiful volcano lake.

I loved every minute of it. I am definitely looking into going back possibly for the summer.

Everyone should go on a mission trip to experience another culture.

Guatemala Trip, Part 1

Me and Jesus one of the boys at the orphanage
This Church had been rebuilt after it had been blown up during the years of violence
Me picking up garbage at the camp


SO I can not say enough about my trip to Guatemala. It was the amazing experience I have had. The people there are just amazing. They are so welcoming and so grateful that we would come to their country to offer them support.

When we first arrived in Guatemala and we were waiting outside the airport I was amazed at the number of Mercedes and BMWs that I saw. I know it was being stereotypical but I just wasn't expected the luxury cars. Although sadly only a very small % of the population have that wealth. We also saw a Burger King and a Chuck E. Cheese right away.

The first night we stayed at Seteca which is a seminary in Guatemala. We stayed there a couple of other times through out the the trip ( it was stop over as we traveled through out the country.) The last time we were there a few of us talked to some of students. There seminary experience is a bit different from our experience here, but there were a lot of similarities. There are still a lot of second or third career people, but there program is an undergraduate degree. The class body was about 50/50 men/women. Their was a wide range of religious backgrounds there with all kinds of ideas about what they would do with their degree. There is a huge focus on mission work, which is something fairly new for Latin students, according to them.

While we were in Guatemala City we went to a daycare center that was originally started as a street project int a local park. Their weren't children there when we visited but we heard their story. Originally Jamie started the project we he saw a lot of children unsupervised in the park. He gain their trust and started organizing plays and painting the children's face as clowns. The Queen of Spain eventually bought them a building, (I'm not clear on how she become involved.) and the project moved there. Many of the children are there to escape their houses where their mothers are prostitutes. The older children attend school and will come to the center for lunch and for after school. A lot of the daycare does is about building the children's self-esteem through art and also Jamie is hoping to bring in speakers about different jobs that the children could pursue if they stay in school. We had brought them a lot of school supplies and craft supplies.

Next we headed to Antigua to do some sightseeing and shopping. It was the halfway point to out nest stop in the mountains. The view was beautiful. And there were a couple of beautiful churches. One of which had been a destroyed by an earthquake in 1772 the ruins were pretty cool to see. While were there we stayed at this beautiful Lutheran Retreat Center.

The next stop was a Methodist church camp up in the mountains. It was quite was a little chilly there. Especially at night. There we did work around the camp. We painted beds, painted the support beams for the roof, picked up garbage, and also a couple members on the trip did some work on lake rehabilitation. We also visited a nearby orphanage there. There children were just amazing. Smart, and responsible (they all had chores to do). Many had lost their parents to the years of violence or their parents couldn't support them.

More to come....

I'MMMMMMM BAAAACCCCKKK

Ok So sorry for going missing... I was home for christmas and internet access is limted there and then I was in Guatemala... I will post more on home and my trip later, but I just wanted to pop in and say hi!

The Semester is Over!!!!

Last night as I sent my final exam that is worth 60% of my grade to my Professor I did a little happy dance and had a beer. It was a huge relief. Mostly because I was really stressed out out this exam. I've never taken a class where so much rides on one test. But it's over and now all i can do is wait for grades to come out. Which I am pretty excited about because for once I think I did fairly well. In my undergrad years I didn't really care to much about grades, this time around I have really put in the effort so I am hoping to do well.

I must say even with all the work and the complaining that I have done this semester it has been one of the best times of my life. I have meant some of the most amazing people. I have this immediate group of friends who are awesome. We have really intense discussions, we commiserate about why where are here, and we laugh A LOT! Then there are a lot of different people who I don't see as often but are fun, and supportive and just great.

The classes have been good too. I am one of the few people who liked my public practice of theology class. We had wonderful discussion in our precept. My old testament class was interesting. I realized that I really did learn a great deal. Research and writing I could have done with out but I did put together a bibliography of sources on postmodernism and somewhere done the line I think that will be helpful.

It has been an interesting time with the friends and family that came along prior to seminary. My parents I think have their ups and downs with what to d0 with this whole going to seminary and going into the ministry thing. Recently they have been great about it. I think they are starting ti get it. And most people who have been through this say they will never totally get that. Which is nothing new to me, my parents often don't fully get me. However, this time is very different. I think they are starting to understand more that this is more then just a job this is more then just a master's degree. My friends are having more of a struggle with it. Most of my friends are really religious so they aren't quite sure what this means. How they are supposed to act around me, etc. I in the beginning kept saying I'm still me. And I am, but I can feel the changes that are happening. I feel that the changes are really good. I just feel bad because I can the end of some of my friendships coming. Not that they will end completely just not be as strong or as present. I'm just not sure how mush of that has to do with seminary and how much of it has to do with just the passing of time. Don't get me wrong there have been some great times. And my church has been awesome with their support of me. I truly knows what it means to have a church family

My relationship with God just feels great. Sometimes to be honest I get caught up in school and strayed away, but getting back hasn't been a problem. I can feel God with me so much of the time. It's an amazing experience for me.

So far so good. This has just been an awesome semester!

Letter of the alphabet Meme

Melissa gave me the letter P so here are my 10 ferrite things begin with the Letter P. If you want to play drop me a comment and I'll give you a letter...

1. Paella.. best Spanish dish ever
2. Pillar candles
3. Peanut butter.. especially with chocolate
4. Pillows... trust me I use it as often as I can
5. Pizza... i can't wait for marino's pizza when I'm home
6. Pastors.. cause I have so many cool pastor types in my life
7. planes ... especially if I'm going someplace fun
8. phones.. my cell phone is great
9. presents.. both giving and receiving
10. pugs.. they are the only little dogs I like

Guatemala Trip

This is an e-mail I sent out to many of my friends and family if there are any out there in the cyber community who would like to contribute please leave me a message and I'll e-maill you the address where you can send contibutions.

Hi all,

Sorry for the mass e-mail but I wanted to tell you all about my mission trip to Guatemala and give you an opportunity to participate.

As part of my course requirements at Drew Theological school we have to have go on a cross cultural trip. I have chosen to go to Guatemala. I am excited to be able to use my Spanish skills and experience another culture.

This particular trip happens to be a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission trip (VIM). For those of you not familiar with the United Methodist Church VIM trips occur in many countries and in the Untied States. On these trips VIMs do work rebuilding or building in communities, working in schools, feeding/helping poverty stricken groups, etc. Often these trips take place in communities that are already Christian, and we do not go in with a goal of converting people and changing or destroying their culture, which is the vision some have of mission trips. We are just as willing to help non-Christians as we are Christians.

I have attached a list of items that we are brining with us to the orphanages and medical clinics that we will be visiting on the trip. The great thing is that we aren't just sending this stuff to some warehouse somewhere or to some organization where we hope it will get to the people that need it. I will be physically bringing the contributions to the facilities. If you can not donate the actual items and would like to send or give a monetary donation so that I may purchase items to contribute that would be great too.

I know it is the holidays and there are a lot of opportunities to give. If can not participate in this I fully understand.

Please feel free to pass this opportunity on to others who you think may wish to participate.

I will be leaving for the trip on Jan 6th. I will be willing to pick any items you may wish to contribute or you may send them to me.

Thank you so much in advance!

Happy Holidays

Peace and Blessing,

Kristen

Here is the wish list:

WISH LIST FOR GUATEMALA NOVEMBER 2006 TRIP:

Each time we visit the Guatemala National Methodist Church projects, we bring supplies and equipment for their use. Here are the items requested or useful for each project, which we would like to take with us when we leave in November:

I. Los Romeritos, Guatemala City (not a GMC project):

clown make-up, wigs, costumes etc

Children’s vitamins

Shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste.

Creme for scabies treatment

Tylenol for children

Digital thermometer

Cough medicine for children

Manual in Spanish for craft projects

II. Salud y Paz Medical Clinic in Camanchaj:

Visine or other over-the-counter for eyes

Anti-acids (tums etc)

Pepto Bismal

Monistat for vaginal yeast infections

Cough syrup for children and adults

Naproxine (Advil or Ibuprofen)

Metronidazol 500 mg. (flagel)

Pepsid

Antibiotic creme

Desitin

Diaper rash medication

underware small sizes for women

III. Juan Ixtan, Patalup Medical Clinic:

Diabetic test strips for Accu-Chek Advantage machine

Otoscope to examine ears

Bulk Vitamins, Kirkland from Costco: One-a-day, Vit. C.

IV. Hogar de Niños, San Sebastian de Lemoa

warm clothing for small children ages 0-17: underwear, socks, T-shirts and pants, jackets, sweaters, shoes (remember, 17-year-olds in Guatemala are the size of 13-year-olds in the US)

School supplies: pens, pencils, sharpeners, rulers, spiral notebooks, safety scissors, water colors, permanent markers, dry-erase markers, hole punches, folders, tape, tape holders, staple remover, stapler, staples, ruler, compass, protractor, tracing paper, Personal items: shampoo, tooth paste, soaps, tooth brushes, combs

Mixed emotions

So a couple of hours ago I finished my very last class of my first semester of Seminary. Now the only thing I have left to do school work wise for the rest of the semester is study and take my three hour old testament exam.

I really and truly have mixed emotion as this semester ends. I happy to get a break from all the reading and the paper writing. Yet it makes me realize just how fast this time really goes by. I keep thinking about how quickly I felt my four years of college when by ans seminary is only three years. I am already in that but I'm going to miss it stage. It's wired because sometimes we rush the semester along but honestly if I could go back and do it over again I think i would. I really am enjoying this. Not to say there aren't downs because there sure are. last wed I was talking about dropping out. But overall this experience has been everything i could have ever wished for.

blog thingy

Your Scholastic Strength Is Inspiring Others

You are great at developing a vision, and getting others to adopt your way of thinking. You are talented at leading, balancing tasks, and helping people work together. You should major in: Counseling Environmental studies Law Social work Political science Nursing

What Should You Major In?

2 Done

Ok so two papers done and two to go.. and yes I'm on here procrastinating....

So any ideas of summer Jobs for the sem kid? I thought about doing camp but I don't think my summer classes end in time... suggestions will be appreciated


ok Two papers left to write I should leave the library at about 2am :-(

Stress...

SO I knew it was coming... Four papers due this week.. I got a good start on them this weekend, but I probably should have done more.

And I broke up with the long distance bf.. It was for the best but it doesn't make it any easier.

OK well I need to get to work... Prayers will be appreciated!

Parents

I just realized that I love my parents and i know in their own strange way that they love me, but they just zap the life right out of me. A large part of that is because I spend my time trying to be the daughter they want me to be or the daughter that they think I am. They just have no idea of who I am or the changes that have occurred in my life. Partly because I don't let them in on it and partly because when I do let them in on it I feel like I'm being attacked.

My dad is trying to really supportive in this whole becoming a pastor process. But he just doesn't get it. And everyone keeps telling me he never will. But getting him to understand that is hard. The problem is he is really trying and I get frustrated because I'm explaining it as best I can and he just can't make the leap. Partly because I think he struggles with his own faith, and thinks I can be the one to guide him through and I just can't be.

My mom, I just don't know where she is. She doesn't react outwardly that often and when she doesn't I often see it as a negative. I;'m not sure that is fair to her. In fact i know it's not. There is just so much history there. For a long time ( and passably still) there was a lot of jealously there. Never said but completely understood. She too struggles in her faith journey. I think she wants to go there but something holds her back. I'm just not sure what it is. Nor do I think I can be the one to help her either.

I always tell people I'm a product of my parents they raised me to be different from them but they didn't really know what they were actually doing. I am really different from them. It's hard sometimes I really don't know what to do with that. I am happy I am the person I am, it's just hard that I can't fully explain / share that with my parents.

Friday five.. Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving... In particular order here is who and what I am thankful for in no particular order ....

1. School ( Drew Theological Seminary)

2. Michelle

3. The Walters

4. Andrea

5. My call

Organic Part II

Ok so I wanted to post more about this yesterday, but I didn't get to it, and truthfully right now I really should be cleaning my Apartment, but I had to post this. So yesterday Peter Rollins the author of How (Not) To Speak of God ( ihaven't read it yet but after listening to him speak i'm sure it's good) was at school. He spoke at chapel and the did a book talk afterward. And I saw what worship could be. He started this faith experience in Belfast Ireland, at a pub, where people come to worship and to experience God. It just looked and sounded amazing. It's consider to be part of the emergent church movement. I'm not quite ready to jump on to that label yet (partly due to my generational rejection of labels), but it sounds more and more exciting. I share the fear that Peter expressed to us in his talk that the Emergent church label runs the risk of being comercialized or exploited. But it seems to be more and more what church should be. How I want to be able to help people experience God.

I also checked out the website The Ooze. There is some really great discussions going on there. People talking from all different perspectives of faith.

Just the other day we were talking about constructive theology in class. A lot of my classmates wanted to talk about the dangers of people constructing their own theologies. Yes there are dangers, but what about the good stuff. The developing of one's faith. Developing a deep connection with God that come out of thought, questions and experience. What a wonderful feeling.

I see where Christianity should be , where it should go. We need to go back to our roots.

Organic

Hopefully I'll be able to post more on this soon... but that is what we need to get back to. Organic church experiences

Blogging

Sorry my blogging has been very lack luster lately.... I've just been busy with school and church stuff. It's a good busy though! Hopefully I'll have something fun and interesting to post about soon. The next two weeks I'm preaching so I'm excited for that. This Sunday I'm preaching a mini-sermon for Laity Sunday and next week I am preaching for Chirst the King Sunday
That's about all the is exciting right now!

Friday five

Those of us who are in the United States have just been through quite a topsy-turvy election. During the campaign we heard a fair amount about red states and blue states, when in fact most of us live in some shade of purple. And so... a lighter look at those confounding colors:

1. Favorite red food... strawberries and rasberries

2. Tell us about the bluest body of water you've ever seen in person.

3. It's movie rental time: Blue Planet, The Color Purple, or Crimson Tide? the color purple

4. What has you seeing red these days? close minded people

5. What or who picks you up when you're feeling blue? I have lots of lovely people in my life who pick me up

Good Things Happening at Seminary

I have to say we are more then half-way through the semester, and this experience has been such a blessing so far. It's seems funny to me that people have a fear of losing their faith in seminary. I guess I can understand where that could come from, but for me so far this has been nothing but a spiritually enriching experience. I have met amazing people, had the most amazing discussions, and even learned a think or two in class. Yes, there is a ton of reading and work to be done. And yes it can be overwhelming, and yes there have been a few times when I have said to myself why the heck am I here, but even in all that it has been a joy.

I simply can not get over the depth of the conversations we are having. Especially conversations on race. Race is almost becoming a four letter word around here these days. Particularly for the non-minority students. It sound as though they feel as if they are being blamed for actions that they had no control over. It is true they had no control over them. I agree we need to stop living in the past. But that is not to say that we should forget about it either. Being at Drew has allowed me to see so many side of this conversation. And has allowed and encouraged me to embrace my biracial heritage. To not have to hide or favor one side or the other.

I was struggling very heavily that identity for a very long time. The struggle is by no means over, but not I have realized it ok to feel uncomfortable. Along with that it is ok just to say this is ME, this is Who I AM, I can't change it and I don't want to change, and I don't need to fit into a constructed racial identity. I think that if we would stop trying to put people in boxes as a way to understand them we could make progress in our ( the world's) discussion on race.