Accountablity vs. Consumerism

This is interesting on a lot of levels.

The Brothers

Brad and I are reading The Brothers Karamazov this summer. We are also conductiong a Blog discussion to help analyze as well as keep each other accountable of the reading. We invite any of you who would like to join us in this venture into one of the greatest Novels of our time. Here is the Address for "The Brothers"

Happy Birthday Pomonks!!

Good Job America!!

Just when I think I have lost all hope in the general public, just when I believe I cannot live in this country any more, just when I feel that we as a country can do nothing right... America comes through!!! TAYLOR HICKS!!! My boy from Birmingham, one of the greatest cities in the world, is our American Idol. Thank you America, thank you for giving me a reason to believe in America again! God Bless America-n Idol!
P.S. In Case you are reading this and do not understand hyperbole or have a sense of humor, this is an exageration to show my joy over Taylor winning American Idol.
Pax
Stephen

NEW JOB!!

As of Monday I've accepted a position as Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Monroe, GA. I should start by the end of June. Thanks everyone who prayed for Jana and me through the nerve wracking and frustrating time of graduation and job seaching. I hope to post more later about all of it, but just wanted to let everyone know where Jana and I are headed.

The DaVinci Disappointment

Last week I went to view the new film, The DaVinci Code. Several years ago when this book came out, I read it in a span of three days...it was a great intellectual thriller. I hate to say it, but this intellectual thriller disappoints on screen. It may seem nitpicky, but they missed small details, that made a big difference. For instance, Langdon, played by Tom Hanks, had long greasy hair and wore a blue/black suit jacket the whole time. A detail of the book that painted a good picture of Langdon to me was the fact that he was this semi-hip Harvard professor who always wore a Harris-Tweed blazer. Beyond that, Sir Teabing's obsession with a particular "the grail is really Mary Magdalene" theory seemed a bit staged and overenthusiastic. I think this movie will get people to ask important questions about the nature of Jesus and the importance of the sacred feminine. I did enjoy the movie, but it falls far short of the book.

More For The Birds...

Yesterday, Sunday, I noticed that the baby cardinals outside my office window were getting stronger & fluffier. Every time the mother sat on them to keep them warm, they were strong enough to poke their heads out. I think at that point, sitting on them was just her way of trying to keep them quiet. When I got into the office this morning I looked in the nest, and to my horror found only one baby! I frantically looked around the base of the tree to see if they had fallen. Then I saw the mother pushing the remaining baby bird out onto the limb. It hopped around and then fell to the ground...perfectly intact. So I did a bit of research and learned that this is the "Fledgeling" stage. The parents have been busy escorting the babies from bush to bush in our little parish garden. Some of the babies can actually hop and fly a few feet. The smallest one hops and falls on its face. I think it is very interesting that the "fledgeling" stage is an essential part of their development. Maybe fledgeling every once in a while is important for us too?

Is very bad to drink Jobu's rum

I'm watching Major League right now. This is a great movie to have on in the background on a day like today when I'm napping and websurfing. My favorite charater by far is Pedro Cerrano. He's played by Dennis Haysbert, who has since gone on to be the president on 24 and is currently starring as Jonas Blane on my new favorite show, The Unit. He's a great actor, but I cannot watch anything he's in without thinking, "That's Pedro Cerrano!!" Does anybody else have this problem?

For The Birds...

Yesterday I heard the strangest noise coming from right outside my office window. I followed the high pitched squaking to find a nest of three baby birds. My office is on the second floor, and my window looks right out onto this nest - less than a foot from my window. The mother-cardinal came and fed the babies, and then sat on them to keep them warm. Then to my amazement, the father-cardinal came, gave the mother some food, and flew off to find more. This has all been a great surprise to me. I have sat amazed listening to and watching these tiny creatures. No theological reflection on this...just that it is amazing and beautiful, and it is good to slow down and take notice of the birds.

New York State of Mind

Here are a few Pictures from our trip to New York. I am planning on posting soon on our actual lectures at Princeton as soon as school is finished for the Spring.