10.20.2005
Just in case you are actually intersted in that.
It was EPIC on Wednesday. I had no part in the planning this time and it made it a lot more meditative for me. We sang awesome songs and talked about elements.
Later that evening we held a social political science club night at Green Mill. Combining politics and beer always makes for exciting conversation.
Even later I dropped by Brigid's for more social with friends.
All this being out has exacerbated the sore throat I was having into full body aches and unstoppable couging. So sickness has put a kabosh on my cities plans. That and the fact that my car won't quit shuddering while I drive it. Time for Dad to look at it and maybe figure out what's wrong.
Taking two tests with a sinus headache is not my idea of a good Friday. It may even keep me in this evening. (gasp!) I'm thinking renting Saved or some other equally silly movie and doing my nails sounds like the best plan.
It was EPIC on Wednesday. I had no part in the planning this time and it made it a lot more meditative for me. We sang awesome songs and talked about elements.
Later that evening we held a social political science club night at Green Mill. Combining politics and beer always makes for exciting conversation.
Even later I dropped by Brigid's for more social with friends.
All this being out has exacerbated the sore throat I was having into full body aches and unstoppable couging. So sickness has put a kabosh on my cities plans. That and the fact that my car won't quit shuddering while I drive it. Time for Dad to look at it and maybe figure out what's wrong.
Taking two tests with a sinus headache is not my idea of a good Friday. It may even keep me in this evening. (gasp!) I'm thinking renting Saved or some other equally silly movie and doing my nails sounds like the best plan.
10.07.2005
I never thought I would quote Ann Coulter, but I'm really suprised how she feels about Bush's Supreme Court nomination. Of course she wants someone more conservative than Miers, so maybe I shouldn't be suprised.
However nice, helpful, prompt and tidy she is, Harriet Miers isn't qualified to play a Supreme Court justice on "The West Wing," let alone to be a real one. Both Republicans and Democrats should be alarmed that Bush seems to believe his power to appoint judges is absolute. This is what "advice and consent" means.And just to show how mean and NOT compassionate and without Christ-like traits conservatives are:
...some jobs are so dirty, you can only send in someone who has the finely honed hatred of liberals acquired at elite universities to do them. The devil is an abstraction for normal, decent Americans living in the red states. By contrast, at the top universities, you come face to face with the devil every day, and you learn all his little tropes and tricks.
Ann Coulter
10.05.2005
Country Music pulls at my heartstrings. I know that it is not always quality, but it brings me comfort. It makes me want to have a family, with a garden, who enter things in the county fair. It reminds me of my childhood and listening to my mom sing along to the radio while she did laundry. It makes me feel like family. I also don't feel like I belong to it's cult of personality. I feel like I am an imposter. Not a true country fan cause I don't buy into the lifestyle. Somewhat how I feel about rap too. Like a big faker shakin it to "Must be the money." That's not my life.
I can relate to country. It feels real. Not pretencious. Also, how I feel about Democrats. At least local ones. A bunch of hard working, middle class folks trying to do good for the greater community.
I can relate to country. It feels real. Not pretencious. Also, how I feel about Democrats. At least local ones. A bunch of hard working, middle class folks trying to do good for the greater community.
Like the river that runs to the seaRebecca St. James - Universe
The oceans speak of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
Higher than the sky is Your love for me
Like the river that runs to the sea
The sky it speaks of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
And don't have to ever be afraid
Nothing in the universe could take this love away
The focus of worship at EPIC tonight was poverty. We had a stations service, where we actively 'did' church. We wrote emails to legislators to ensure fair wages for gulf coast workers. We meditated on pictures of poverty. We read scripture that demanded us to work for the betterment of the poor. We watched Sarah McLachlan's video for "World on Fire" where instead of making a flashy montage, they took the money for the video and donated it. It was all very art installation.
Then we gathered and sang my favorite alt.worship song "Tuning of the World". Then discussed what God was saying to us about poverty.
Candles, technology, emotions, song. Yea, that is my kinda worship.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
I helped to plan this meeting and last night as I was typing up instructions for the modules, the "Fabulous Life Of..." was on VH1. This is a show that I love to hate because it so frustrates me that our culture worships wealth so.
I am never going to achieve what is shown on that show - but I feel like I'm being told that I better darn well try. Or go into debt trying. Or that I deserve to lavish those luxuries on myself.
It's the American Way/Dream right? Well, guess what? I'm happy paying my taxes, I'd much rather own a small home (with less to clean and heat), and it is okay to be happy with what I have - not wanting something more. I figured out a long time ago that I was probably not going to ever get rich. And that is okay.
Then we gathered and sang my favorite alt.worship song "Tuning of the World". Then discussed what God was saying to us about poverty.
Candles, technology, emotions, song. Yea, that is my kinda worship.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
I helped to plan this meeting and last night as I was typing up instructions for the modules, the "Fabulous Life Of..." was on VH1. This is a show that I love to hate because it so frustrates me that our culture worships wealth so.
I am never going to achieve what is shown on that show - but I feel like I'm being told that I better darn well try. Or go into debt trying. Or that I deserve to lavish those luxuries on myself.
It's the American Way/Dream right? Well, guess what? I'm happy paying my taxes, I'd much rather own a small home (with less to clean and heat), and it is okay to be happy with what I have - not wanting something more. I figured out a long time ago that I was probably not going to ever get rich. And that is okay.
Does anyone else have problems seeing boys on Monday in class that you rubbed up against on the dance floor at Keg on Saturday night? It's just weird. Personal bubbles change with the environment.
10.04.2005
walking through the union is like driving on the interstate.truth
you have to keep up with traffic and cut people off. there are people with trailers (briefcases/backpacks on wheels). if you miss your exit, you're screwed.
I am officially addicted to Facebook - everyone go sign up! Its pleasant surprises all around.
EPIC has moved to Wednesday nights! And tomorrow is our first midweek service.
5:15 pm - cheap (couple bucks) dinner prepared by our master chef
6:00 to 7:00 pm - worship experience, we're focusing on global/national/local poverty
Everyone is welcome!
Bemidji United Methodist Church
9th St. and Beltrami Ave.
10Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers GOD, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. 11There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.
Deuteronomy 15
5:15 pm - cheap (couple bucks) dinner prepared by our master chef
6:00 to 7:00 pm - worship experience, we're focusing on global/national/local poverty
Everyone is welcome!
Bemidji United Methodist Church
9th St. and Beltrami Ave.
10Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers GOD, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. 11There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.
Deuteronomy 15
10.03.2005
Listen, O ye wayward winebibber, for you will be pursued into the mountains by sex-mad baboons!via jonnybaker
10.02.2005
My new favorite blog is Street Prophets. Its liberal/progressive xianity at its best. Religious liturgy and politics - it can't get better. The "vote ALL your values" revolution will happen, left wing xians will show America that hate is NOT a xian value.
Cripes, wind drag forces are exponentially related to your speed, this means if you slow down it helps a lot. Especially if you drive a gas guzzling rectangle on wheels.Maple Sugar Child
I actually went to the early service, because it was the "Great Church Get-together" and World Communion Sunday. We added elements of EPIC in the communion liturgy today. Instead of the usual chunks of bread and grape juice, we used the elements local to the Congo (koolaid and rice cakes), Fiji (manioc and pineapple juice), France (wafers and wine) and Mexico (tortillas and water).
It was also Stewardship Sunday (blech asking for money in the sermon), but we were "celebrating our aliveness". The best part of the sermon was when everyone spontaneously joined in saying: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!" Group participation yeah!
We dedicated a new banner and confessed our sins, we were told "Just as I have loved you, you must love one another."
Also mentioned, we're medium sized. Our membership is staying stable, some members leaving or dying, some new members joining and "We may not be the biggest church in town, but we have the biggest church supper in town!"
The only part that I am unhappy with is Cass Lake. We have a sister church there and it is such an opotunity for us to reach out to that community. But, all we are worried about is how we will pay for the gap that they will leave financially if they close. Rarr.
After church, we did what we do best: everyone went downstairs and had lunch served by the youth group - they had to put up extra tables - a big turnout!
It's cheesy but, we really are a big family. I feel loved and comfortable enough that I can wear clothes that could belong at the bar and still stand up and hand out communion. (If that is who I am on Saturday night it should be who I am on Sunday morning).
It was also Stewardship Sunday (blech asking for money in the sermon), but we were "celebrating our aliveness". The best part of the sermon was when everyone spontaneously joined in saying: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!" Group participation yeah!
We dedicated a new banner and confessed our sins, we were told "Just as I have loved you, you must love one another."
Also mentioned, we're medium sized. Our membership is staying stable, some members leaving or dying, some new members joining and "We may not be the biggest church in town, but we have the biggest church supper in town!"
The only part that I am unhappy with is Cass Lake. We have a sister church there and it is such an opotunity for us to reach out to that community. But, all we are worried about is how we will pay for the gap that they will leave financially if they close. Rarr.
After church, we did what we do best: everyone went downstairs and had lunch served by the youth group - they had to put up extra tables - a big turnout!
It's cheesy but, we really are a big family. I feel loved and comfortable enough that I can wear clothes that could belong at the bar and still stand up and hand out communion. (If that is who I am on Saturday night it should be who I am on Sunday morning).
A few of my favorites:
We love our beavers
Save your legs, shave your beaver
Jump in the lake, we like our beavers wet
Lets go to the bar
Saturday was packed with College Dems cleaning the hiway at 9, football at 1:30 and hockey at 7:30. By the time the fans got to the hockey game most of them had been drinking since before football - which made for an extremely rowdy crowd. Too bad they lost, it was an action packed game.
I love homecoming!
We love our beavers
Save your legs, shave your beaver
Jump in the lake, we like our beavers wet
Lets go to the bar
Saturday was packed with College Dems cleaning the hiway at 9, football at 1:30 and hockey at 7:30. By the time the fans got to the hockey game most of them had been drinking since before football - which made for an extremely rowdy crowd. Too bad they lost, it was an action packed game.
I love homecoming!