Becuase Jeff is no loger responding to my email, I figure I will have to start talking to myslef again. And because I have no life I have noone left to tag.
1) I love coffee in the morning
2) I seem to have a strange need for more education so I have decided to work on another masters degree. This one a Masters in Public Administration.
3)I drive 2.3 miles to work ever day in a worn out car that CHIPS' says is worth enough that I need to pay myown insurance premiums.
4) I prefer the writings of Paul to those of CS Lweis
5) I have a Cathaoula Bulldog puppy that is cute and nippy.
6) I like to read but get bored with fiction quickly
7) I have a prepurchased ticket to pick up the new Harry Potter book. But I am too old to do it at Midnight.
8) I don't blog much anymore.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
A good stretch after a long drive
Ok I know it has been forever since I posted and there is probably no one still out there looking at this. But in case anyone happens to be around I will try to start posting again. I actually have a post I am working on that I need to finish. As far as life in general wow this job change has been a MAJOR shift in many ways. I have no tablet PC anymore and we have no internet connection at home so it has been difficult to post. I will say one thing Greg that had to HURT!!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
A hello to our neighbor
Ok I just noticed that our neighbor and my kids favorite babysitter has been checking out this blog. Ok Jennifer you at least have to post a hello.
On other notes ARGHHHHH I am so stinking busy!! New jobs shold not require so much work. I hope to start posting again soon.
Now Jennifer get back to studying your learning entierly too much about my strange little family. :)
On other notes ARGHHHHH I am so stinking busy!! New jobs shold not require so much work. I hope to start posting again soon.
Now Jennifer get back to studying your learning entierly too much about my strange little family. :)
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Cyndi Speaks
I recently had a week to myself, a week to clean, to listen to theological CDs, to read, to think. I am changed now that I am a mother, more grown up, less selfish, and maybe a bit more accepting, but there is still plenty there besides being a full time mother. When the kiddos came back, much of this person goes on hold, for there is no time for in-depth theological or philosophical studies. But there is more time every year for the kids need me less and less. Some people think I must resent staying home with the kids, and ‘wasting’ my education. The truth is that I am so grateful that I have this precious time with them when they really want me and need me. I am glad to have as much of a hand in who they become as I can, a little helper of two of God’s great creations. Is there a nobler or more enjoyable profession than motherhood? Being entrusted with someone that God died to save is a pretty big responsibility. Truth is I love my job, though of coarse there are those times, I think can I do this anymore, can I read one more kids story? But it is good to know that there is still plenty I want to do when I have time, I have not lost myself in taking care of my kids so fully, I am simply exercising some different muscles. When I do get around to more in-depth learning and thinking again, I think my current experiences as a mother with have given depth to what I want to write. Perhaps all experiences honestly examined and thought through, are beneficial to increased wisdom.
On another note, we have a kitten, a little adolescent now who has been much improved by fixing and declawing I thought a few of you would enjoy the fact that at times his appropriate name to me is Kairo, which means joy. At other times he is definitely a Sméagol, from the Lord of the Rings. He still has no fixed name, but I think the kids are leaning towards Kikki. No idea where that one came from.
I have also been enjoying reading Roark’s blogs, but I admit that my mind is old and rusty. I have also been reading a book, Searching for An Adequate God, Edited by Pinnock, which was one of the theologians Roark related to. Between all of this, I feel quite overwhelmed to comment. Part of me thought, after reading Roark’s blog for the first time, why open up this can of worms again. I am settled in what I believe, if I don’t have a need to think about it why do so? Then I realized that I was becoming like all the old people in the pews who nod off routinely during sermons, thinking they will not miss anything because they have heard it all before. I do not want to stop growing, so I got my lazy mind up off of fiction novels only and entered once more the world of philosophy and theology. And I am so glad I did. I have more questions than before, but I am stretching, and slowly I find my ideas of God are expanding beyond what was there previously. The more we know of Him, the better we can love Him and the better we can point others to him, and help them over their misconceptions that trip them up. As with a lover, is it ever good to stop increasing knowledge and intimacy, and one can not exist without the other. Let me challenge any of our friends who are reading, slow down the TV and read some theology. I am expectantly looking for your comments on his blogs because they will encourage me and hold me accountable to staying the course.
A few days later….I am angry tonight. Angry with all the people who tell others it is pointless to think about God, angry with all those who won’t think with me, angry with those who are content with easy answers and so darned sure of their interpretations. I have been mulling over some points of open theology, process theology and fundamental and Calvinistic theology. The main ones being does human free will influence outcomes or is it all set ahead of time, and is the world set up where God can or should come in and fix problems often. My mother is a paranoid schizophrenic who has spent most of her life, even from the teen years, in institutions. I do not know how many of you have been in a mental institution, but it does not appear to be a place anyone would want to reside, and in the past it was even less so. She underwent scores of electroshock therapies. I get the impression that staff often take advantage of and are abusive to inmates who have no credible way of keeping them in check. She bounces around from case worker to case worker, institution to institution. Anyway, think of your mother or sister or daughter being stuck in such a place for their whole lives. Nothing you could do about it or to improve it. Then think does it matter to you if God preordained this as her life, or if she and those around her made choices that led to this outcome? Does it matter if God’s stepping in and performing a miracle in this case could in other ways interfere with personal freedoms or if maybe he just didn’t want to in this case? Is there anyone who wouldn’t kind of like to know these things if they were in these shoes? Then realize that even though you may not be in these shoes, there are lots of people out there who are in worse shoes, and that trite little answers or “well, I don’t see if it really makes a difference as to why God would do that?” are really answers that they need. I have to admit I would be interested to hear what comfort a Calvinist might offer me about her situation, and it would probably make me mad. But I think what makes me angrier is those who just won’t think and that rationalize this out as good. Of coarse, deep down, I suppose it is easy to focus that anger on others than to realize I am angry at myself for not being a better daughter, but that is another story.
On another note, we have a kitten, a little adolescent now who has been much improved by fixing and declawing I thought a few of you would enjoy the fact that at times his appropriate name to me is Kairo, which means joy. At other times he is definitely a Sméagol, from the Lord of the Rings. He still has no fixed name, but I think the kids are leaning towards Kikki. No idea where that one came from.
I have also been enjoying reading Roark’s blogs, but I admit that my mind is old and rusty. I have also been reading a book, Searching for An Adequate God, Edited by Pinnock, which was one of the theologians Roark related to. Between all of this, I feel quite overwhelmed to comment. Part of me thought, after reading Roark’s blog for the first time, why open up this can of worms again. I am settled in what I believe, if I don’t have a need to think about it why do so? Then I realized that I was becoming like all the old people in the pews who nod off routinely during sermons, thinking they will not miss anything because they have heard it all before. I do not want to stop growing, so I got my lazy mind up off of fiction novels only and entered once more the world of philosophy and theology. And I am so glad I did. I have more questions than before, but I am stretching, and slowly I find my ideas of God are expanding beyond what was there previously. The more we know of Him, the better we can love Him and the better we can point others to him, and help them over their misconceptions that trip them up. As with a lover, is it ever good to stop increasing knowledge and intimacy, and one can not exist without the other. Let me challenge any of our friends who are reading, slow down the TV and read some theology. I am expectantly looking for your comments on his blogs because they will encourage me and hold me accountable to staying the course.
A few days later….I am angry tonight. Angry with all the people who tell others it is pointless to think about God, angry with all those who won’t think with me, angry with those who are content with easy answers and so darned sure of their interpretations. I have been mulling over some points of open theology, process theology and fundamental and Calvinistic theology. The main ones being does human free will influence outcomes or is it all set ahead of time, and is the world set up where God can or should come in and fix problems often. My mother is a paranoid schizophrenic who has spent most of her life, even from the teen years, in institutions. I do not know how many of you have been in a mental institution, but it does not appear to be a place anyone would want to reside, and in the past it was even less so. She underwent scores of electroshock therapies. I get the impression that staff often take advantage of and are abusive to inmates who have no credible way of keeping them in check. She bounces around from case worker to case worker, institution to institution. Anyway, think of your mother or sister or daughter being stuck in such a place for their whole lives. Nothing you could do about it or to improve it. Then think does it matter to you if God preordained this as her life, or if she and those around her made choices that led to this outcome? Does it matter if God’s stepping in and performing a miracle in this case could in other ways interfere with personal freedoms or if maybe he just didn’t want to in this case? Is there anyone who wouldn’t kind of like to know these things if they were in these shoes? Then realize that even though you may not be in these shoes, there are lots of people out there who are in worse shoes, and that trite little answers or “well, I don’t see if it really makes a difference as to why God would do that?” are really answers that they need. I have to admit I would be interested to hear what comfort a Calvinist might offer me about her situation, and it would probably make me mad. But I think what makes me angrier is those who just won’t think and that rationalize this out as good. Of coarse, deep down, I suppose it is easy to focus that anger on others than to realize I am angry at myself for not being a better daughter, but that is another story.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
A New Year needs a New Job
Well I finally got the call I have been waiting for for 3 weeks. I have been promoted to a unit supervisor position. I will now be responsible for 6 workers. Basically, I now have 3 times the work and a small stipend more pay. Thanks to everyone who has been praying!! Now you can start praying for the poor folks that have to call me boss. In that spirit I would appreciate any suggestions about ways to earn employee's trust/respect. What do you respect in a supervisor etc...
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year Resolutions
Well there seems nothing less cheesy than to start my Blog on the New Year with some resolutions(NYR). I am not a particular big fan of NYR's i general although goal setting is a good thing even if you never achieve them.
1) I want to try to write more. I have come to believe that writing produces better thinking. So I am going to begin journaling during my daily quiet times. I will post some of those here but most will be between me and God.
2) I want to read more. I like reading but for some reason do not do enough of it. So I am going to try and read 2 books a month one fiction and one non fiction. I will post the titles on my Blog. In January I am reading "Son of a Witch" the sequal to "Wicked" It is a continuition of the Wizard of OZ story from the perspective of the orpaned child of the Wicked Witch of the West. My non fiction book is Searching For an Adequate God: A dialogue between Process and Free Will Theists. I intend to publish brief reviews of each book as I finish them.
3) No NYR list would be complete without the "I want loose weight" resolution. For the past 5 years I have significntly increase my excerise routine. I now have 5-6 hours a week of cardio exerise. However, I still LOVE to eat so my real reolution is to eat healther in 07.
1) I want to try to write more. I have come to believe that writing produces better thinking. So I am going to begin journaling during my daily quiet times. I will post some of those here but most will be between me and God.
2) I want to read more. I like reading but for some reason do not do enough of it. So I am going to try and read 2 books a month one fiction and one non fiction. I will post the titles on my Blog. In January I am reading "Son of a Witch" the sequal to "Wicked" It is a continuition of the Wizard of OZ story from the perspective of the orpaned child of the Wicked Witch of the West. My non fiction book is Searching For an Adequate God: A dialogue between Process and Free Will Theists. I intend to publish brief reviews of each book as I finish them.
3) No NYR list would be complete without the "I want loose weight" resolution. For the past 5 years I have significntly increase my excerise routine. I now have 5-6 hours a week of cardio exerise. However, I still LOVE to eat so my real reolution is to eat healther in 07.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Time
As many of you know I rejected Television several years ago. We currently do not have a TV in our home. Although we do own one that we keep at the ranch and occasionally bring home to watch a movie 3-4 times a year. I have come to realize that Television has become a huge problem in our society. People avoid socialization to get home to their "favorite show" and what does our entertainment say about our faith. Does it draw us closer to God? My goal for this next year is to read more, write more and do more. My challenge for you is to attempt going 2 months without a TV in your home. I mean zero television. If you are recoiling at the idea and saying to yourself "I don't watch that much TV" Try it. If it is not that important that two months will be no big deal. If it is a big deal then why not start the New Year on a path to a more vibrant life.
I recommend two months because it takes one month to get over the withdrawl pains and another to find something to do with all that time and energy. Seriously Try it what is two months? What are your giving up? Not to mention think of what you could do with that $50 a month cable bill.
I recommend two months because it takes one month to get over the withdrawl pains and another to find something to do with all that time and energy. Seriously Try it what is two months? What are your giving up? Not to mention think of what you could do with that $50 a month cable bill.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
3rd time is the charm
Ok I know three posts in a day is a bit excessive but this is news that just cannot wait. The great one Dr. Wallace Roark has entered the blogosphere. Please check out the link in my link section below. If you know who Dr. Roark is then you are already excited and probably not reading this sentence. For those of you who do not. Sit back engage your mind and be prepared to be educated. And if anyone knows how to fix my template to move the infor back up to the top let me know. I did something wrong and the code is all gibberish to me.
Hunting
So I realize there is no such thing as the perfect church but why do I seem to be drawn to the highly dysfunctional ones? I have always had issues with the KJV only fundenmentalism our church is established on, but I simply felt it was where God wanted me to serve. Recently however our leadership has begun heavily pushing numbers. Publishing the weekly attendence and tithe broken down by SS class. I was not happy with this but kept my mouth shut, now we have also begun getting numerical goals for each class. So finally I expressed my concern and in true Pharsiee fashion was told that numbers represent souls so if I did not care about numbers I did not care about souls. Shorthly after this conversation I was called to the Pastors office and informed that my teaching in the Adult II SS class was no longer needed. Then to top it off I was informed that my wife needed to dress nicer at church. So needless to say we have begun looking for a new church. I want someplace that believes and teaches consistently with scripture but that still loves people. Whay is that balance so hard to find. It seems that the churches that love people reject the Word and the churches that love the Word reject people.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The intellectual inconsistency of Liberalism
Ok I never intended this to become a political blog but alas on this great election day I must make another political post.
Ok here are two news articles
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_on_he_me/diet_trans_fat_ban
In this on NY city is proposing a ban on Trans fat in all restraunts. A bad thing, well maybe not considering the public health cost of trans fat. At the same time they have begun a mandatory disclosure on the menu board of all restraunts declaring the trans fat and nutritional content of the food. Again, a bad thing probably not, however...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/27/opinion/27thu4.html?ex=1311652800&en=55b90b50102ebe0e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Yes that's right the same people who think we should know what is in our food do not think we have the right to know that our daughter is about allow someone to murder our grandchild. How does that make any sense?
Ok second point I have a good friend who is as pure blood democrat as they come, nationalized health care, a living wage amendment, same sex marriage, pro choice etc.... He teaches Criminal justice for HSU and was complaining the other day about students that just did not try. I asked him if he was going to fail any students this semester and he responded certainly. So I asked him why does he feel they need to fail. Answer? Because they did not do the work. Ok so in his class room it is ok for a student to fail but in life if someone does not work we should reward them with free health care, food, housing etc because its hard to escape from the trap of poverty, racism etc...
I would have less loathing for the DNC if their philosophers were just consistent. Ok enough ranting for one day.
Ok here are two news articles
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_on_he_me/diet_trans_fat_ban
In this on NY city is proposing a ban on Trans fat in all restraunts. A bad thing, well maybe not considering the public health cost of trans fat. At the same time they have begun a mandatory disclosure on the menu board of all restraunts declaring the trans fat and nutritional content of the food. Again, a bad thing probably not, however...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/27/opinion/27thu4.html?ex=1311652800&en=55b90b50102ebe0e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Yes that's right the same people who think we should know what is in our food do not think we have the right to know that our daughter is about allow someone to murder our grandchild. How does that make any sense?
Ok second point I have a good friend who is as pure blood democrat as they come, nationalized health care, a living wage amendment, same sex marriage, pro choice etc.... He teaches Criminal justice for HSU and was complaining the other day about students that just did not try. I asked him if he was going to fail any students this semester and he responded certainly. So I asked him why does he feel they need to fail. Answer? Because they did not do the work. Ok so in his class room it is ok for a student to fail but in life if someone does not work we should reward them with free health care, food, housing etc because its hard to escape from the trap of poverty, racism etc...
I would have less loathing for the DNC if their philosophers were just consistent. Ok enough ranting for one day.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Apology, conspiracy theory and Life
First an apology to my now well traveled Chicago loving friend from SA now living in the arm pit of Texas. I promised him a post to support my allegation against his beloved democratic party. However after much searching cannot find a news article to support my allegations. Although I clearly remember it occuring while I was in College, with no support I must retract my allegations. Although Senator hopeful Webb in Virginia recently showed that my point is not far from the truth.
I can not imagine that any intelligent person would accuse any administration of orchestrating 9/11. I have few positive things to say about democrats but I will say I would never accuse them of being that deliberate. ( Nor the current administration) I do find it funny though how the Left can accuse W. Of being a bumbling idiot and a conspiratorial master mind in the same sentence.
Ok so while I was licking my wounds of my latest job interview rejection I got a call from my current supervisor that she is resigning her position with the department. This was a huge surprise. It looks quite promising that I will be able to get the promotion I failed to get in the last interview and not have to move to do it.
I can not imagine that any intelligent person would accuse any administration of orchestrating 9/11. I have few positive things to say about democrats but I will say I would never accuse them of being that deliberate. ( Nor the current administration) I do find it funny though how the Left can accuse W. Of being a bumbling idiot and a conspiratorial master mind in the same sentence.
Ok so while I was licking my wounds of my latest job interview rejection I got a call from my current supervisor that she is resigning her position with the department. This was a huge surprise. It looks quite promising that I will be able to get the promotion I failed to get in the last interview and not have to move to do it.
Friday, October 13, 2006
American Politics
Ok so the American Electorate is all out of shape about a republican congress man from Florida hitting on teenage boys. I get the outrage but I have to wonder why the same exact scandal with a democratic congressman eight years ago did not get the same response. So then today in response to the airplane crash in New York reporters are asking about the US response and we get this answer. Richard Aboulafia, a defense analyst with the Teal Group. "Unfortunately it falls in the category of traffic accident rather than terror." Now if I hear one more democrats argue that the bush administration is "politicized" the war I am going to scream. It seems to me the only thing that makes the Dems happy are high gas prices, high poverty, high US body counts in Iraq, and successful domestic terroist attacks. Let me be the first to hand you a tissue and say I am sorry your disappointed that the New York Yankee's pitcher was not a terrorist. Although Steibreiner might debate that.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Job blues
Well, I found out yesterday that I did not get the Austin position I was wanting. I was told " You did an excllent interview and I believe you would do an excellent job but the other canidate was a better fit for the current unit." That is state HR speak for you were the most qualified canidate but we are going to hire this other person anyway. So why far to often is it not about what you know but who you know. Oh well, some day I will run the world and then everthing will be. . . ok so that may not be such a good idea.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The Interview
I hate job interviews. They are nerve wracking and boring all at the same time. I interviewed Tuesday for a supervisor position in Austin. So which is worse the wait for the interview or the wait for the post interview call?
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Prosperity
Ok, well I promised my 2 cents on this subject. I personally think that Joel Olsteen and his ilk are simply the next generation of charlatains in the same vein as Oral Roberts, Robert Tilton and the Barkers. I do not see how anyone to take an honest look at the life of the apostles or Christ and conclude that God intends material blessing for his followers as a reward for following. That is not to say that God does nto choose some to be wealthy, nor that hard work and perserverance are not rewarded. But it is heracy to suggest that John 10:10 ensures that all belivers will have no financial struggle. Most Christians around the world are deeply impovershed. If our motivation for following Christ is anythign but to repay a debt of gratitude our focus is off and we simply do not understand the price that was paid.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Prosperity
I read a really good article in TIME this week and it got me to thinking. The article was attempting to answer the question "Does God want me to be rich?" So I was curious what my Blogging friends out their thought about it. Does God want us to be rich? Is it ok for a believer to spend money on nice luxury items? where is the line? a new car, a new rolls Royce, ten Porsches etc...
I'll give my two cents next week but tell me what you think.
I'll give my two cents next week but tell me what you think.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Research
Now why could we not have science experiments like this when I was in school?
http://www.livescience.com/bestimg/?url=myths_cat_jump_03.jpg&cat=myths
http://www.livescience.com/bestimg/?url=myths_cat_jump_03.jpg&cat=myths
Alex the Lesser Declares Victory
I decided that today I will officially declare victory in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. I figured since everyone else was there must be something to it.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Its ranning, Its pouring, This old man ain't snoring
Ok yesterday was a very bad day. it started out ok then i came home from work. My son who had been begging for a year to play football had practice yesterday and was in tears because he did not want to run. To make it worse they then had a scrimmage and on the other team were some boys of a person that I have had some intense professional run ins with. So here I am with a crying child who refuse to play infront of a man who already despises me. Needless to say my ego took a beating. Then we get home and I notice that my new hardwood foors are starting to buckle in one area. Confused I begin researching the problem only to discover that the bilage pump on my AC had stopped up and was draing water in the air intake duct. This water had seaped under the wall and under all my new floor. So I then turn off the AC and begin soaking up the water and tearing out my new floor so I can remove the pad and replace the damaged boards. Well the further I go the more damage I see. In the end I had to take up over 100 square feet of flooring.
Then to add insult to injury just as I am reaching my catharsis moment I am told "I don't know why you are so upset its only a floor." But it was so much more. it was the pride of a job well done, it was the self loathing that I had neglected to put Bleach in the billage pump to prevent it from cloging, it was the hours of work ahead of me just as I was looking foward to some time off from the intensity of this massive home improvement.
You may be thinking ok this is a bad day but not the worst. Well, after I finaly get the clean up and demolition done I go to turn the AC back on and yes you got it no AC so now the house is at 89 degrees and climbing, it is past bedtime and the kids are tired and upset because Daddy is tired and upset and now no one can sleep because the house is a furnace!!!
So let me just end by saying that after having a few choice words for God, I realized it is in fact just a floor. I should be thankful that God allowed me to notice the problem before it became a HUGE problem. And in the grand scheme of things this really was a very tiny problem.
Then to add insult to injury just as I am reaching my catharsis moment I am told "I don't know why you are so upset its only a floor." But it was so much more. it was the pride of a job well done, it was the self loathing that I had neglected to put Bleach in the billage pump to prevent it from cloging, it was the hours of work ahead of me just as I was looking foward to some time off from the intensity of this massive home improvement.
You may be thinking ok this is a bad day but not the worst. Well, after I finaly get the clean up and demolition done I go to turn the AC back on and yes you got it no AC so now the house is at 89 degrees and climbing, it is past bedtime and the kids are tired and upset because Daddy is tired and upset and now no one can sleep because the house is a furnace!!!
So let me just end by saying that after having a few choice words for God, I realized it is in fact just a floor. I should be thankful that God allowed me to notice the problem before it became a HUGE problem. And in the grand scheme of things this really was a very tiny problem.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Vacation
Ok so it has been a long time since I posted. I have an excuse I have been on vacation for two works and working out of town for two weeks prior to that. I ususally try to post when I am out of town but the portable keyboard on my Tablet was broken and it takes to long to handwrite posts.
So we are now back for Disney World. Btw jeff I highly recommend it the kids had an absolute blast.
My son had his first football practice last night. I am not sure how me Mr. not coordinated ended up with a child that is absolutely obsessed with anything involving a ball. They practice for 90 minutes three times a week, combine that with My daughters two 2 hour scoccer practices, Wednesday night church, saturday games and Sunday church I am officially to busy to finsh the floors in my house. unfortunately all the carpet is out and Cyndi is about ready for me to get this project done. So I guess it will be a few late nights to come.
One last thought before I go... nope its gone.
So we are now back for Disney World. Btw jeff I highly recommend it the kids had an absolute blast.
My son had his first football practice last night. I am not sure how me Mr. not coordinated ended up with a child that is absolutely obsessed with anything involving a ball. They practice for 90 minutes three times a week, combine that with My daughters two 2 hour scoccer practices, Wednesday night church, saturday games and Sunday church I am officially to busy to finsh the floors in my house. unfortunately all the carpet is out and Cyndi is about ready for me to get this project done. So I guess it will be a few late nights to come.
One last thought before I go... nope its gone.
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