Paul

I've never been a real big fan of Paul. I prefer to read the gospels. My image of Paul always included an overbearing personality that was unsympathetic with the struggles every Christian has. Last week I took a Philippians/Philemon May-mester class. I was reminded of how much more is in Paul especially when we remember his situation. Two verses in particular struck me.

Phil 3:15

15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. NRSV

Wow is that a different attitude than that of most modern day scholars. I think it would be great if at the annual ETS convention, after someone had just gotten finished presenting a controversial idea, instead of persecuting them with harmful remarks, leaders of the Evangelical community just commented..."You know you ought to let that one go, but I'm not real worried because in due time, God will reveal the truth to you." Often we get the feeling that we need to defend our western orthodoxy. It seems to me that Paul isn't real worried about those who don't have the right attitude or if they disagree because he knows God will take care of it. Now there is a high view of providence...(clears throat...elbows John Piper...gives Wayne Grudem a stern look).

and

Philemon 14

14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. NRSV

Here Paul is talking about keeping Onesimus as a partner in the gospel and not sending him back to Philemon. This strikes me as something that can be corroborated from experience. How much better is it when people do something of their own free will and without compulsion? I think this is one area in which or church shines...well in so far as I can tell. Anytime Ben or Singleton ask for help there seems to be a dozen sets of helping hands. I really enjoy that about UBC.

The Magic of May-Wrong

I’ve noticed a change in myself these days. When I was an adolescent, I would mark change by a drop in my voice or hair on my chest, but now I mark change by 20-year-old things. For example, I’ve noticed that most of my conversations with the Fillinghams are about APR’s and closings costs. My most recent conversation with my long life best friend Tom, was given to complaining about political policy. And my most recent call to my dad was to ask for instruction on a certain roofing technique. Yes, I am surely on my way to becoming boring.
Every Thursday Lindsay and I go to the Dugans. Lindsay and Betsy work on painting pots to fill orders and then when Robert and I get there, usually around 6:00, we eat dinner and casually lounge around the house for about an hour afterwards. Last night after I got done doing post dinner dishes, I made my way to the TV room. Annie, who I’ve recently started calling “may-wrong” (one of her two middle names) was watching the Princess Diaries. Now I have no particular interest in this movie and It wasn’t that I was tired and needed a break so to speak. So after about a minute of sitting down it had occurred to me why I made my way to the TV room. I really like hanging out with Annie. I don’t know what it is about kids. Probably something like the fact that last night after I finished my water and asked her to go fill it up, she reached into my cup grabbed a piece of ice and handed it to me and said “here, drink this.” She makes me laugh and I genuinely enjoy the life that she radiates. May-wrong is just the type of person you like to be around.
I love my nieces and nephews and always liked kids, but I guess this is the sort of thing that could be entailed in getting older too. When I was in college and before that I thought kids were cute, but didn’t really have the time or patience for them. I guess that changes when you get older.

your winners

Having been in school for the last 19 years of my life now, the real year end for me is May. This is usually the month that brings the most change. So this is my version of new years eve top moments of 2005-6.

Best full time new friends…the Dugans.

Best got to know a person on a deeper level at UBC fall semester…Shea Butter

Best got to know a person on a deeper level at UBC spring semester…Paola Pixie

Best movies (keep in mind my calendar is from may to may and I go to the dollar theatre so sometimes movies as late as three to four months later fall in or out of my year, hence no V for Vendetta).

10. Star Wars (III) had to make the list because it is Star Wars
9. Batman Begins
8. North Country
7. King Kong
6. Just Like Heaven
5. Chronicles of Narnia
4. Harry Potter 4
3. Pride and Prejudice
2. Crash
1. Walk the Line

Best actor
Mark Ruffalo

Best Actress
Reese Witherspoon

Best new tv show that I started watching
Grey’s Anatomy

Funniest Letterman appearance
Bill O’Reilly

Best Purchase (actually a Christmas present)
Tivo

Best Birthday present
Harry potter 1-5.

Top 5 books.
5. Kafka, Metamorphosis and other short stories
4. Lewis, Hideous Strength
3. Gladwell, Tipping Point
2. Brueggemann, Spirituality of the Psalms
1. Rowling, Potter 1-6

Best place to hang out in Waco
Crickets

Best place to have fun at
Cameron Park

Best class I took
New Kind of Christian
Dr.s Bechtold-you-so and Single-town

Band of the year
U2 (congratulations to U2 who has won this award for the last 20 years)

Name brand of the year
Patagonia

Best new beer
Warsteiner Dunkel

Best newly acquired hobby
Blogging

Best new station
National Geographic Channel

Best new post-modern product
The authentic community candle

Best Post-Emergent theologian
Craig Nash

Best Christian Metal Rock Band
DC Band

Gearin' up for summer in Waco

This will be Lindsay and my first summer here in Waco. People keep telling us we're in for a treat. I don't see how it can be any worse than this last August and September. When I first moved down here I used to comment that I didn't understand how civilization ever could have settled in some place as hot as this.

I'm lookin' forward to UBC life; from what I've heard it's quite different. Maybe a little more intimate. Hopefully my classes will not distract too much from having fun. I'm thinking about taking up disc golf. That seems like a cool postmodern thing to do. I was at Sports Authority today and noticed you can by three "shark brand" disks for about $25. I don't know if they are good ones. I suppose that's a weaver question.

My brother just bought a boat. So I look forward to getting down there and puttin my wakeboard skills to use. We'll see if ole' pudgy can get himself out of the water. Did I ever tell you that I was awesome when I was in highschool. I was one of those athletic kids. Kind of like Shea and Tone Tone now. I was the fast kid that everyone would have thrown the deep bomb to. Then Lee Ann Chins happened to me my junior year of college. 1st semester and 25 pounds later I wasn't the go to guy anymore. I was more like the go and watch guy or lets see what is on tv guy or I'm really in to pro sports guy cause all hope is gone of being a pro-athlete guy.

OK, I'm back from my break. I just went to the kitchen to get a beer, which I always poor into my special edition Leinenkugel pint glasses each etched with a great wisconsin fish. This particular glass represents honeyweiss and the fish is a Walleye. Oh how I miss Wisconsin.

Talk about great summers. You should go spend one in wisconsin. Life is perfect there. All you do is wakeboard, ski, fish, canoe, kayak, and bike. Then at night we go and build a camp fire by the lake, listen to the loons and look at the stars, which are not drowned out by the lights because Tomahawk only has 3,000 peeps, and drink great beer.

I got two finals tomorrow and one on Friday. Then I'm officially done with another semester. I've been thinking less and less about Ph.D. stuff. I sense that I'm gettin' real burned out on school. That and I'm not real sure how invested I want to end up in theology seeing how much most people really care. And by care I don't mean care as in oh I think this is cool, so I'll construct a system that I like, when in reality I'll just defend what I've been taught my whole life. No i'm talking about peeps doing theology because they are generally interested in learning about who God is regardless of what their preconceived notions might be, even their western white ones.