-
Subscribe
Worldview, Pirates, Starbucks, and Marriage
It was a good weekend. Sarah and I got to rest and enjoy some time together - something that is more and more rare for us these days with our competing schedules. We also watched Drillbit Taylor. It was okay, but not great. There was a bully that I couldn’t empathize with at all.
Last week in my intro to Theology class we spent two days talking about worldview. It reminded me of all the fun I had teaching the 11th grade course. Sarah and I still have our moments where we really miss our time in Chengdu. Anyway, we talked about this topic for two days (using an excellent book as a framework for our discussion) and have now moved on. We don’t stay on one topic for very long. On a similar vein, Kerby Anderson, president of Probe Ministries, spoke in chapel on Friday. He is a thougtful commentator on the day’s issues. I would love to do what he does.
By the way, one of my favorite non-holiday holidays was last Friday: Talk Like a Pirate Day! Make sure to put September 19th on your calendar for next year so you don’t miss it…
Working at UPS gives me insight into what’s going on in the world. For instance, last night I learned that Starbucks will be putting up new fall signage into their stores on September 29th. Just thought you should know.
California has an important piece of legislation heading to the people to be voted on this November. Here’s a liberal view that, in non-religious terms, explains my view very well.
…marriage is a gift that society bestows on its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood — biological, social and legal — into one pro-child form: the married couple. Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every child born, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other.
Check out the whole opinion piece at the LA Times website. It’s a worthwhile read.
OK, this entry is a bit eclectic. I had lots of things to write about… Have a great day!
New Job
I’ve got a new job. This is Dan speaking (writing), by the way – Sarah has enough jobs already. I thought it was my time to start working. So this past Sunday I started orientation with Big Brown, and for the past week have been learning the ropes. Er, packages. My job, essentially, is to create a 3 dimensional Tetris cube inside a “feeder,” or a tractor trailer. The packages come down the chute, I pick it up, and I build walls. I think my mad Tetris skills gave me a leg up on this job. And I have a scanner attached to my hand, so I’m kinda like the Borg. You’ve gotta work your way up, so you won’t see me delivering packages anytime soon, but you never know. I’m not sure wearing brown shorts is a career calling for me.
This week was also the first opportunity I’ve had in my life to join a union. No, I didn’t join. My reasoning for this decision is simple: if I’m working like I should be, then I won’t get fired and need someone to fight my battles for me, as well as take money from my check every month. I think unions have done a world of good in the past, but have degenerated into nickel-and-diming businesses with the intention of “stickin’ it to the man.” OK, that may not be fair. Maybe I just wanted to say stick it to the man.
It’s hard to end a blog entry with “stick it to the man.” So I’ll include another sentence or two and then stop writing.
George Will: Pencils and Politics
I don’t usually read much from Newsweek, but George Will’s article recently caught my attention. I liked what he had to say. So I thought I’d let you know.
It’s a beautiful day here in Dallas, which is pretty amazing considering remnants of a hurricane passed over us yesterday. We had some heavy wind and rain off and on for much of the day, but it looks like things around Dallas did alright. Can’t say the same for the Houston area. They could use our help.
DTS Chapels
I’ve only been in classes for a week now, but one thing I’m really enjoying at DTS is the chapels. Listening to spiritual giants like Chuck Swindoll or Dwight Pentecost is something I want to take advantage of. Today’s message was a call for trustworthy and transformative teaching. I’ll probably post some links to messages that stood out to me, but here’s the link for old chapels. The message today was primarily for future pastors and ministry leaders, but here’s what I would consider the equivalent for everyone, and a good message as well…
By the way, I’m in the process of checking out the website on Chrome, Google’s new web browser. So far, so good; it hasn’t crashed on me yet. The only thing it doesn’t like is RSS feeds.
Happy Labor Day!
Y’all must be wonderin’ why it’s been so long since I last wrote. Well. I’ve been fixin’ to write a post here, but, well…
Okay, I don’t really talk like that. Yet. With any luck I won’t be assimilating the accent and vocabulary any time soon.
School has started at DTS for me. I’ve been reading and reading… and should probably be reading right now. Let’s call this post a break. I am enjoying being in the classroom again, though I’ve set myself up for massive overload by having Wednesday classes from 1pm to 9.30pm, with a scant 30 minute pause for dinner. Even better than that, my last class is almost 3 hours long. Who set my class schedule again? Oh, yeah. I did. We’ll see how it goes!
Sarah and I visited a Chinese fellowship yesterday. It felt good to be lao wai again, even if it was for only a morning.
Because we once again get to celebrate the less celebrated American holidays, I am free from classes today. Sarah is celebrating Labor Day by working. I found humor in this; she did not. I’m still looking for a job, so there is no work for me today.I’m catching up on some news – learning about McCain’s VP pick and reading about bugs with the 3G IPhone. I was buying into the hype… a little bit. But I’m too cheap, and apparently waiting is a good thing.
Back to the reading…
it’s official
We are now officially Texans… or as Texan as drivers licenses and voter registration cards can make us.
In other news, I get to start teaching piano lessons tomorrow - wohoo!! Fifteen students scheduled so far, and more to come!