Greek
Which election is the most important?
Today is “Election Day” – the day that most US citizens cast their vote (this year, for the highest office in the country). For some people, it’s a huge deal: they revel in the thought that the fate of the nation rests in the votes of the people! For others, it’s not so weighty, but it’s great that Starbucks is giving free coffee and Krispy Kreme free doughnuts to voters. For some of us, it’s really a stress-free day, since we voted absentee two weeks ago! But all in all, there are very few Americans who will not be immediately affected by tomorrow’s elections.
Exploiting the Desktop for Usefulness
As more than just an expensive picture frame, that is. And that’s all most people do with their desktop image – find a pretty picture (landscape, loved one or just some fancy design) and use it to fill the background. I decided to do something more functional than that, however…
First day of school…
Classes start today for my first semester of PhD work. I’ll be taking Hebrew, German and NT Interpretation, as well as finishing up an OT Theology correspondence course.
Sufficient grace – through all circumstances!
Really, the title says it all – God’s grace is sufficient through all circumstances! For instance, the pressure of a correspondence course that needs to be finished in 10 days. God’s grace is sufficient! Add to that an urgent situation at work that’s requiring extensive overtime hours. God’s grace is sufficient!
Resting in the Lord and Coffee Fixes
Mark Earley posted a great article at breakpoint.org about the caffeine dependency that seems to be rampant across our busy country. I must confess to occasional guilt in this area. For the most part, I’ve been unaddicted to coffee/pop for the last four months (after a year or so of 3+ cups a day). But I’m about to start PhD classes. And I’ve got a lot of work on a correspondence course that I need to finish this month. So I might have to stay up late a couple times (probably a couple all-nighters during the school year too) to get all my work squeezed into a week. I freely confess, I think that energy drinks are great for late-night study (the warmth of coffee counteracts its caffeine for me, and I do enjoy pop). I typically cut the energy drink with Gatorade to spread out the dosage. But addiction? Thankfully, no. Last year, I experienced the headaches when I didn’t have my morning coffee and I’m not going back to that!
And how do you prefer your church?
John Blake at CNN recently wrote a thought-provoking article entitled “Why many Americans prefer their Sundays segregated.” In it, he addresses what he perceives to be a departure from the Galatians 3.28 image of the church as a racially integrated community.
Hospitality
There are a number of places where the Bible commends (even commands) hospitality:
Stay Right
One of my best friends is moving tomorrow. I’ve known Andy for 5 years and he has been a faithful friend during the hardest and happiest moments of that time. I’m not sad about his departure – he’ll be taking an assistant pastorate in a church and following the Lord’s leading into the vocation for which he’s prepared.
I hardly recognize my own inbox!
I opened an email account with Gmail in January of 2007. In the past 19 months, not counting spam, I accumulated over 3200 emails (let’s see, that would be over 170 emails a month, 6-7 a day). I know, I know, that’s a very modest number. I know some people who deal with as many emails in a day as I see in a month.Hiking at Caesar’s Head
I enjoyed a hike a week ago at Caesar’s Head State Park – some friends from church and I hiked about 11 miles along a few of the beautiful trails there. We hiked to Raven Cliff Falls (strenuous trails!) and along the Naturaland Trust Trail. The trails have some copperheads – we’re very thankful for the Lord’s protection during this hike.