Atypical Spirituality

yeayea, its only 3 minutes long so far, but I feel the rest will come together easier, now that I know how it begins.

Archer - Rough Draft - Preview from Jessica Tankersley on Vimeo.

The New York Times has an article about a pastor who is having a “bring your guns to church” event.

You won’t be surprised to know that I’m appalled by this ridiculous behavior.

I am not opposed to personal gun ownership, and I’m fine with properly-trained individuals carrying guns (to a certain extent), but this “Jesus was an NRA member” mentality bothers me. The pastor even suggests than anyone who challenges his views on guns is questioning the gospel.

Thoughts?

I got my dad a video camera for his laptop this Father’s Day - we have been video chatting everyday - its great to say a quick hello and actually see each other. Anyways, he had a neat story about how his video camera connected two sisters who hadn’t “seen” each other in nine years.

Ps. I changed the names of the characters to protect their “identities”

==========================================

I asked our building housekeeper/porter (Cecilia) at work if she ever talked to family back home (a little town in central Mexico) by video (Cecilia has limited English). Nope, never - only by phone. She has a sister who works in a bank there, and I suggested that she call and get her to download skype.

That was yesterday. This morning the phone rang on my laptop on the desk - it was Maria at work in Mexico (NO English, nada!) Cecilia stepped into my office that second, and they gabbed for 15 minutes like excited school girls, I’m telling ya - a mile a minute! Maria was interested in seeing ME for only 4 seconds. They said goodbye and I hung up. I was just a little curious. “When’s the last time you saw your sister?”, I asked.

Cecilia, “Nine years ago”.

love, Dad

==========================================

I thought this was hilarious.

This picture reminds me of the Tank Man (not you, Tank) from Tiananmen Square. Pray for Iran.

Earlier today I noticed that Carolyn was reading an article online about discipline (she reads A LOT about different parenting theories). Discipline wasn’t something I had thought about, yet, except maybe general thoughts about not wanting to do it like my dad. But that’s sort of cliche. So I guess we’ll be talking about discipline soon, after she’s read up on everything.

I started thinking about something else important in which I will play a role–spiritual development. Obviously there is a lot to think about with this topic, but I have one glaring problem. I’m at a place in my spiritual journey that is difficult and full of doubt. I hope this season is short, but reality suggests there will be other seasons of doubt as Audra (and her soon-to-be-here little sister) grow up.

When I was young, I don’t think I would have understood the paradox of doubting while believing. I saw things as black and white and expected adults to have chosen one or the other. I had especially high expectations of my father.

So, if this doubt stays, or comes back, or invites a friend, how do I honestly deal with my doubt (or other spiritual “issues”) while trying to help my children find their way?

A few dispatches from the boondocks of Kentucky, brought to you via Pony Express via the interwebs:

• I’m spending the summer in Kentucky this year; I’ll be working about 30 hours a week at Starbucks. I’ve got a couple of days off every week to do whatever manner of nothing that I desire. No classes this summer. It’s time for a break.
• Whenever I come back to Tulsa, I appreciate the coffeeshops there. Not just because they’re awesome, but because they have no equal out here. KY seems to be late on riding the coffeeshop train. There are two main types that I’ve noticed here so far; the yuppie coffeeshop and the grungy coffeeshop. Unfortunately, there seems to be no middle ground. Also, never have I ever been handed a drink with a rosetta poured in the foam. Not here. Local roasters are difficult to find. The one coffeeshop that I look forward to going to happens to be in the state capital, about 45 minutes away. It’s an independent coffeeshop that shares space with a vintage bookstore. I could burn many hours and dollars there. And have, actually. So be grateful, Tulsa-ites; you guys are spoiled.
• Attending a denominational church has brought a new perspective to my understanding of how church happens. Something about Saturday Night that I have always enjoyed it its freedom. Freedom to order the service and revel (yes, revel) in alternative forms of worship; freedom to embrace the different, the uncomfortable, and the unexpected. In my current church (a traditional United Methodist congregation), “mixing it up” means that we alter the service order, or pull something different from the book of worship. I frequently wonder if it has ever occurred to them to look for expressions outside the worship book; surely it wouldn’t be too hard to find ones that would be compatible with the Methodist tradition. However, this is simply not part of the process. It seems that more effort is spent changing individual words from hymns and other such minutinae instead of pursuing orthodox alternative methods of worship (which, with some prodding, this congregation would appreciate). It simply doesn’t occur to the denominational mindset to look beyond the denomination for ways to worship God. Grr.
• I’ve gotten into Robert Ludlum as an author lately. He was the guy that penned the original Bourne books (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum); and as good as those movies may be, the books are far, far superior. Go read ‘em. Of his works, I have also finished The Holcroft Covenant and The Icarus Agenda. High recommendations on both.
• Remember the ORU Honor Code? Asbury Theological Seminary has one too; it’s known as the Ethos Statement. However, the Ethos Statement is about to change; for the first time in seminary history, students will be allowed to consume alcohol. Restrictions do exist, of course; the campus itself will remain dry and “moderation and discretion” are encouraged in all other places. The predominant theory is that the school changed Ethos so that enrollment would go up; like so many other places, the seminary has hit hard times. However, even though the student community has called for this change for some time, the denominational old guard (especially Wesleyans and others who believe that drinking is a moral evil) will be sure to disagree. This raises the question for some: did the seminary sell out to the prevailing winds of culture and the spirit of the world under the pressure of difficult times? This I can’t say for sure; all I know is that now I can enjoy my occasional Guinness with a clear conscience. Hallelu!
• Theological question for the masses: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Crucifixion and Resurrection? We seem to pay natural attention to the Father and the Son in these events, but what about the Holy Spirit? I’d like to hear your thoughts…
• In an effort to stay more in touch, I am strongly considering adopting other mediums of communication… I picked up a Skype account yesterday, and I am also looking into (gasp, perish the thought) Twitter. Shortly after I get Twitter, I will escort myself out behind the barn and bludgeon myself repeatedly with an old 2×4 for selling out.
• As of late, I have also been making a partially concerted effort to stay up to speed on some television shows. I have finished Season 4 of The Office and am also getting into Castle and Fringe. I also have an interesting amount of curiousity regarding Dollhouse. I’m open to other recommendations as well, except Lost. Don’t get me started on Lost.

That’s all I’ve got for now… Hope things are well on the home front.

If I tell someone I am going to meet them at 7am for coffee, I meet them! On time! But if I tell myself to make up at 7am and start the day, I sleep in…everytime. I have been sleeping in for the past 3 years. I would be pissed if someone didn’t show up to a meeting they made with me, and now I am pissing myself off!

Some of you have noticed that randalljweiss is now on Twitter. Follow me if you want to. If I don’t want you to, I’ll just block you.

Diehard liberals may enjoy Paul Krugman’s Reagan Did It article in which he blames Reagan era policies for the current crisis. I partially agree with him. I think he is oversimplifying the situation though, sort of like conservatives that say everything was caused by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank.

Dr. Tom “No” Coburn is running for re-election next year. He told us previously that he only planned to serve one Senate term, because he doesn’t believe in career politicians. He said something similar in 1994, when he won his bid for the House. I’ll forgive him for those faults, because he isn’t the first politician to do that. Railing against the establishment is one way to be invited in…or something like that.
I’ll probably (99.9999999% probability) vote for his opponent, because I disagree with him about 93% of the time. I appreciate his desire to seek out and destroy government waste, but he seems blind to the waste of his own party. Waste cannot be defined by ideology. Both parties waste money.

Representative Sullivan checked himself into Betty Ford for treatment for his alcohol problem. I appreciate that he checked himself in and hope he has a successful recovery. I don’t know how he’s going to get along in Washington without drinking though. Shrug.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the abortion doctor that was murdered in Kansas on Sunday. The comments over at the Tulsa World make me sick.

Well, that’s all I have for now. Have a good day.

…marriage; (or any relationship leading up to it within 2 months) should be respected.  My own family has been torn apart from people who don’t respect the sanctity of marriage.  They allow their tongues to be loose and their eyes to wander.  In the name of “honesty” or “truth” they say and do things that wreak of infidelity and scandal.  They “honestly, must tell you how they feel.”  But beware:  THEIR WORDS ARE VENOM!  

They have an “every man for himself” and “may the best man win” mentality and use that as excuses for blatant attack.  They don’t make decisions based on integrity or the best for his/her fellow man.  They are selfish, self-centered, egocentric, and lack the shred of confidence that would stop them from overstepping clear boundaries.  Boundaries.  They can seem ambiguous to some (mostly those who wish to cross them) but they’re there and mostly universally accepted.  Integrity and Honor would hold most at bay who would want to meddle in other’s love, but for those without Integrity and Honor, nothing will slow them; save for exposure.  Exposure.  The power of secrecy is in the mere fact that is remains undisclosed.  Exposure robs those deceitful bastards from having any sway or manipulation or … power.  

A word of warning:  Beware of the charmer, for there is always a dagger strapped to his thigh.  

(for public record:  Sarah and I are doing wonderfully and have never been more in love.  :) ) 

Late.