Where learning happens
Background to consider: Lizzie is home-schooled.
Allen: Lizzie, good job saying “temperature.” That’s a hard word to say.
Lizzie (quite sure of herself): Thanks, Dad. I learned it on Sid the Science Kid. I learn lots of things from him. I don’t need to learn from you guys (gesturing towards me and Steph); I can learn from Sid. That’s why we ask to watch PBS all the time. So we can learn.
Our scene closes with Steph and I looking at each other with raised eyebrows, trying not to laugh hysterically.
Father of girls
Scene: Allen in the living room, sees glitter on his favorite vest
Allen: *sigh*
Lizzie: What’s wrong, Daddy?
Allen (in a bummed-out voice): Oh, I just noticed that there is glitter on my vest
Lizzie ponders for a moment, then: I think it looks great!
Authentic Online
From the book The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice, p 205, my emphasis
…we often feel less inhibited in how we interact with one another online, especially in terms of what kind of personal information we share. As a result it becomes easy to overshare ourselves, to reveal more information – or information at a faster rate – than we would face-to-face (after all, we wouldn’t normally think of sharing the volume and depth of personal information in a first meeting like we do on the average Facebook profile). Our tendency toward oversharing can be an attempt to get other people’s attention. At its worst it is a form of emotional pornography – we get the brief and intense feeling of intimacy without having to worry about commitment, conflict resolution, or the time required to build a truly intimate relationship. This pattern of oversharing does not promote intimacy. Rather, we’re just getting “our stuff” out of our system so that we feel better. Oversharing does not take into account the thoughts and feelings of the other person. But it does give the impression that we know each other much better than we actually do and this, again, is one of the challenges in relating authentically to one another online.
Adaptation
More specifically, as the experience of human relationships becomes increasingly composed of time spent with others online, we have to (1) adapt the way we think of community and (2) adapt the way we live in community.
Jesse Rice, The Church of Facebook
The Sea
Loved the quote. Wanted to share:
And so the sea’s highest call is to remind us of God: beautiful in his simplicity, ferocious in his wrath, unfathomable in the depths of his sin-swallowing grace.
Sean McDonough, Something About the Sea, from the GCTS professors blog.
Female Quartet
The post-seminary re-entry into the blogging world begins with fun news. Steph’s ultrasound on Wednesday revealed that we are expecting little girl # 4. I had numerous reasons to be excited whether it was a boy or girl, so this news, while somehow still shocking (four weddings someday? four female teenagers in one house!), I am very excited to be the proud papa of another girl.
New Job
I mentioned a little bit ago that I will be starting a new job soon. As of June 1, I will be the new “Communications and Technical Support” guy for Glenwood Community Church. The Communications side will consist of working on the website/bulletin/etc. The Technical side will consist of figuring out why the printer stopped working, etc. (like what I’ve been doing for the seminary the last 2 years).
I’m very excited and grateful to:
- work with the great folks at GCC
- advance God’s kingdom through the local church
- have a job
Abstract
Months later I’m finally getting around to posting about my thesis. Here is the Abstract that summarizes the whole thing.
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This thesis examines the use of the Possession Covenant Formula (PCF) in the book of Ezekiel. The PCF is found in five separate verses in Ezekiel (11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:23, 27). Despite the PCF’s importance in the book, most commentators who have written about the above passages either do not comment directly on the PCF or simply note the formula’s covenantal or relational context.
Chapter 1 defines the PCF and surveys various scholarly opinions on the use of the formula in Ezekiel. Since the PCF is an affirmation of a covenantal relationship, chapter 2 investigates the nature of covenants in the ANE. Chapter 3 examines the thirteen other uses of the PCF in the OT which provide both points of comparison and contrast for how different biblical authors use the PCF. Chapter 4 provides an exegetical study of the passages in Ezekiel in which the PCF appears, focusing on how the PCF is used in each context. Chapter 5 concludes the study by summarizing its findings. This thesis proposes that the PCF in the book of Ezekiel 1) identifies the people of Yahweh as those whom he will cleanse and sanctify by his Spirit and 2) affirms the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and his people. Yahweh’s cleansing will enable his people to obey his commands and will allow the presence of Yahweh to dwell in their midst.
Finito
I’m done with seminary. Officially. All assignments turned in. I started in 2003, taking one class at a time. Then in 2007 we moved out here to MA and I started full time. Now, Spring of 2010, I’m done.
Had my first “we’re done with seminary” and reflect conversation tonight. Was wonderful to think about the process and talk about favorite classes and what’s next and… yeah, my mind is flying a mile a minute right now. Still all very surreal.
This week has been full of all the things which I’ve put off recently. Trips to the store and various odd tasks. We move in just over 2 weeks. Wild stuff.
I have been out of practice on this whole reflection thing, so tonight was a good start. I do hope to correct that as we approach the move. Maybe I’ll also get around to fulfilling the promise of talking more about my thesis. And maybe I’ll divulge what’s next for us.
P.S. I start my new job on June 1. 🙂
Quartet
The Little One category will see usage again on this ol’ blog. Around Nov 20, Gracie will officially no longer be the youngest.
Steph is having quite a rough go with the morning sickness so prayers for strength and rest are greatly appreciated.
Full Circle 