It's winter here, although there probably won't be any snow.
We're preparing to have friends over for lunch this afternoon.
In an hour or so our family will say the morning prayers together.
That's our custom when we can't make the drive to St. Louis for Liturgy.
The kids don't mind. They especially like me to read the life of a Saint commemorated today.
Oh, and the Gospel reading. Then, most Sunday afternoons (when we're home) we take the kids to Barnes and Noble and read to them for a while. (Our B&N has a sizeable children's section.)
Next week, we'll be in Madison for Liturgy and the annual parish meeting. As someone who has previously worked in professional christianity, I have little or no desire to engage in the 'business' of being church. However, as a Christian who recognizes the necessity of the physical manifestation of the Body of Christ, I shouldn't eschew the business side.
My Old Testament Literature professor is a Sunday School teacher at our local Episcopal Church. They're reading Bishop KALLISTOS' The Orthodox Church, and when he heard I was a convert to Orthodoxy, he invited me to share with his Sunday School class. Interesting.
So, the Sunday after next I'll be sharing my journey to the ancient faith with a room full of highly-educated (slightly intimidating) Episcopalians.
I assured him that I am not an authority on Orthodoxy or even a particularly good Orthodox Christian, but that I could share some of the reasons I converted and share my experience.
I talked to Father; he said he thought it sounded like a great opportunity. I told him I would be going in the next few weeks, as I plan to give up Episcopalians for Lent.
(that got a chuckle out of him)
Well, other than that, school is going well. Classes are fairly easy, since I dropped my Spanish minor. Two philosophy classes and three religion classes.
Work is okay. Something about that place makes me feel like I am losing my soul. Pray for me.
If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
change of minor
Not that it makes a big difference to anyone out there, but yesterday I changed my minor from Spanish to Religion. And let me explain.
Originally I chose my minor as Spanish simply because I had eight hours of spanish coming into SEMO. After a while, I kept going with my Spanish because it would be a marketable/useful skill to have in job hunting.
Well, I am a Spanish and my Spanish really isn't getting better from classes. What I lack is motivation and practice. So, my Spanish classes are getting harder and harder and my Spanish is not improving. If I wanted to use Spanish as a job skill, I would definitely have to improve, which means lots of practice, which doesn't necessarily involve having a minor in it.
That being said, I've also been thinking about seminary and grad school. If I don't end up going to seminary, will I have to be stuck working at UPS my whole life? I hope not.
Well, Amy and I talked about having grad school/academia as a back up to seminary. So, if I graduate with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Religion, that will serve me well; and, if I don't go to seminary and go to grad school to pursue a PhD in Philosophy of Religion, then my undergrad degree will serve me well. Either way, I'll have the degree that's best suited to my longterm goals.
As far as Spanish, I do intend to set aside some time to practice/learn Spanish in my free time.
Originally I chose my minor as Spanish simply because I had eight hours of spanish coming into SEMO. After a while, I kept going with my Spanish because it would be a marketable/useful skill to have in job hunting.
Well, I am a Spanish and my Spanish really isn't getting better from classes. What I lack is motivation and practice. So, my Spanish classes are getting harder and harder and my Spanish is not improving. If I wanted to use Spanish as a job skill, I would definitely have to improve, which means lots of practice, which doesn't necessarily involve having a minor in it.
That being said, I've also been thinking about seminary and grad school. If I don't end up going to seminary, will I have to be stuck working at UPS my whole life? I hope not.
Well, Amy and I talked about having grad school/academia as a back up to seminary. So, if I graduate with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Religion, that will serve me well; and, if I don't go to seminary and go to grad school to pursue a PhD in Philosophy of Religion, then my undergrad degree will serve me well. Either way, I'll have the degree that's best suited to my longterm goals.
As far as Spanish, I do intend to set aside some time to practice/learn Spanish in my free time.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Hello
I haven't posted much during Christmas Break. My classes start on Tuesday. I'm taking: World Religions, Conversational Spanish, Ancient Philosophy, Media Ethics and Contemporary European History. Woohoo! On a brighter note, I should finish all but my practicum for my philosophy major this semester, so I'll finish that and my Spanish minor in the fall, as well as some fluff to fill out my schedule. Then I'll be a guy with a Bachelor's.
Anyways, while I haven't been posting much, I especially have not been giving much of an explanation for my recent reorientation within christendom (recent, although it has been a long time coming).
Many (if anyone reads this blog) who come here probably knew me as a Protestant Evangelical (at times a bit of a Fundamentalist, as well). So, while I have no intention of arguing with old friends and Evangelical comrades, I will offer this link to the Orthodox Church in America's Introduction to Orthodox Christianity:
Anyways, while I haven't been posting much, I especially have not been giving much of an explanation for my recent reorientation within christendom (recent, although it has been a long time coming).
Many (if anyone reads this blog) who come here probably knew me as a Protestant Evangelical (at times a bit of a Fundamentalist, as well). So, while I have no intention of arguing with old friends and Evangelical comrades, I will offer this link to the Orthodox Church in America's Introduction to Orthodox Christianity:
It includes a question and answer section as well as lengthy descriptions of all of the areas of dogma in the Church.
If you don't buy it, that's fine. I know I have found the fullness of the historic Christian Church in the Orthodox Church, and it is where I intend to stay.
blog recommendation
I have a blog to recommend. My older brother, who is a veteran of the current Iraq war, has a blog. I just noticed he writes it under a pen name, so don't tell anyone you know who he is.
Anyways, here's A Veteran's Voice.
The author of this blog does not necessarily endorse the views of the author of that blog, but that guy is way more intelligent than this one, and he has served our country in a time of war.
Anyways, here's A Veteran's Voice.
The author of this blog does not necessarily endorse the views of the author of that blog, but that guy is way more intelligent than this one, and he has served our country in a time of war.
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