January 11th, 2008 | Category: The Feasts, 2008
Appetizer
What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called?
My middle name is Catherine. First thing I would change is how it is spelled. I like "Katherine" with a "K". I would change my last name but to what? I don't mind my first name but can't stand "Vicki" - I'm not sure why. I don't mind if people who know me call me that but as a rule I don't like strangers using it. I don't like the hard k sound in it.
Soup
If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?
Raw silk is a favourite of mine and the colours would be rich creams and beiges and pewter. I like fitted with an emphasized waist. Also little jackets that just skim the hips.
Salad
What is your least favorite chore, and why?
How on earth do I pick just one. Has to be cleaning the bathroom - can't do it and we agreed when we got married that I wouldn't be doing it. Yuck.
Main Course
What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?
I'm phobic of snakes but I can't remember any particular reason. I used to be scared of spiders and snakes and then one day I was so terrified of snakes I couldn't look at them even in the museum. I used to be fascinated by the large python in the ROM and now I can't go in the room. I sometimes try to do it because its so silly but I have an anxiety attack that I can't control. It pisses me off. It also prevents picnics, walking in the long grass and many days when I can't make it to the dock at the cottage because of the long grassy path to get there. I thought about getting treatment but it seems so stupid I hate to waste the money.
Dessert
Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment.
I'm sitting in the spare room which is also an office. I can see tons of junk - my grades from Tyndale - an A- for both Greek and OT Theology, coupons for Quiznos subs - now I'm hungry and gift catalogues from different churches. I'm going to a wedding where they would like donations in lieu of gifts.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Its Our Fault When Church Sucks
For all you non-church goers out there I apologize on behalf of those of us who should know better.
Christians like other real people fight. They disagree, they sometimes vent their anger inappropriately - some of them even are downright mean in how they express themselves. If you see that happening know that that is reality and that it happens in good families as well as in good churches.
What people outside the church need to know is that it is how individuals in a church deal with the issues that matter. Good leaders should be spiritual leaders and able to negotiate the choppy waters of discord. Mature Christians should be able to assist both sides in building bridges
Stop bitching about your church and work to heal the corner you sit in - then cross the room to the other side and do it again.
Christians like other real people fight. They disagree, they sometimes vent their anger inappropriately - some of them even are downright mean in how they express themselves. If you see that happening know that that is reality and that it happens in good families as well as in good churches.
What people outside the church need to know is that it is how individuals in a church deal with the issues that matter. Good leaders should be spiritual leaders and able to negotiate the choppy waters of discord. Mature Christians should be able to assist both sides in building bridges
Stop bitching about your church and work to heal the corner you sit in - then cross the room to the other side and do it again.
I'm so Bleah!
It got a major paper back - 77. B+ I'm used to an 85. I worked my ass off on the paper but the real problem is that he found it hard to understand some of what I was saying. I guess I can own that because I really had a problem writing it and I couldn't seem to get it under control. What annoys me is it should have been better and I know other students did better and it irks me that I can't seem to keep up with their quality of work.
My other paper was a B+ - it was really hard to write and I remember thinking that I had done what I could with it and I was going to be happy with a lower mark because he is a hard marker. But I wrote it so long ago that I can barely remember what it is about.
I keep feeling that I shouldn't be here. I can't put my finger on it - it might just be depression because I'm between churches and I haven't found a new place to serve. I keep promising myself that I will just do lots of spiritual formation work over the month so I can really hear what God is saying.
The continual grind of thinking and pondering about God is troubling too - after a while it becomes an academic exercise - I am hoping I will feel much better once I start volunteering and get away from the academics and church politics.
My other paper was a B+ - it was really hard to write and I remember thinking that I had done what I could with it and I was going to be happy with a lower mark because he is a hard marker. But I wrote it so long ago that I can barely remember what it is about.
I keep feeling that I shouldn't be here. I can't put my finger on it - it might just be depression because I'm between churches and I haven't found a new place to serve. I keep promising myself that I will just do lots of spiritual formation work over the month so I can really hear what God is saying.
The continual grind of thinking and pondering about God is troubling too - after a while it becomes an academic exercise - I am hoping I will feel much better once I start volunteering and get away from the academics and church politics.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Friday's Feast - Nov
Appetizer
What was your first “real” job?
Okay, my first real job was answering telephones at this place where people were calling in for "make money in your own home". It was truly awful. I had a script to read at a large table with a group of people with telephones. The calls came from the States seemed like Florida and the South. The caller would be told that they could sell film from the privacy of their own home. I would walk them through how much they could make just by selling 60 rolls and such. I think there was a start up cost but I can't remember. This was before the Internet - I was 19 and it was my first job ever and I hated every minute of it. It was obvious that I was smarter than the average caller and that they had no idea just what they were gettign into. They were basically given a phone list of people in their area and they bought the film from us. I remember one call where the woman was desperate to make money to help her family. Everytime you made a sale you had to ring a bell. The guy next to me oozed charm and made many sales. Finally my supervisor called me in and fired me. She said I looked miserable and she knew that I would never quit on my own accord - she was doing me a favour. Boy was I relieved - she was right, I would never have quit that job. After that I went and counted inventory - a really odd job for someone who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I actually got promoted in that one!
Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?
I don't think I have any creativity. I do my best thinking in the cemetery because its dead quiet (hee hee).
Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…
I think I'm talking to Cliff in the store and realise he has wandered off. I really hate that.
Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?
The biggest value has to be to tell the truth. My mother hated when people lied and I can't stand it either. They also instilled trust - they used to leave money lying around and it never occured to me to lift any of it - my friends were always surprised to see a ten sitting on a table. Of course once my smoking habit got into full swing and smokes went up to over 2 bucks I did nick a few quarters here and there - but never bills!
Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.
1) Early teen years - hate to admit it by me and my two friends each had a satin shirt. Mine was magenta. This was the age of disco. I still remember us all planning to wear our shirts on a Friday night. We had no where to go either.
2) Short rabbit fur coats. Short lived fad and I remember desperately wanting one for Christmas - they had them at Fairweathers. I showed them to my Dad who said absolutely not. I thought it was the price, he told me I would look like a hooker in one. I didn't know it then but he was right - they did look like hooker jackets.
3) Nikes - white with a black swirl or white with a blue swirl. The occasional red swirl but where I came from you tried to avoid those unless you were a jock.
What was your first “real” job?
Okay, my first real job was answering telephones at this place where people were calling in for "make money in your own home". It was truly awful. I had a script to read at a large table with a group of people with telephones. The calls came from the States seemed like Florida and the South. The caller would be told that they could sell film from the privacy of their own home. I would walk them through how much they could make just by selling 60 rolls and such. I think there was a start up cost but I can't remember. This was before the Internet - I was 19 and it was my first job ever and I hated every minute of it. It was obvious that I was smarter than the average caller and that they had no idea just what they were gettign into. They were basically given a phone list of people in their area and they bought the film from us. I remember one call where the woman was desperate to make money to help her family. Everytime you made a sale you had to ring a bell. The guy next to me oozed charm and made many sales. Finally my supervisor called me in and fired me. She said I looked miserable and she knew that I would never quit on my own accord - she was doing me a favour. Boy was I relieved - she was right, I would never have quit that job. After that I went and counted inventory - a really odd job for someone who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I actually got promoted in that one!
Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?
I don't think I have any creativity. I do my best thinking in the cemetery because its dead quiet (hee hee).
Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…
I think I'm talking to Cliff in the store and realise he has wandered off. I really hate that.
Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?
The biggest value has to be to tell the truth. My mother hated when people lied and I can't stand it either. They also instilled trust - they used to leave money lying around and it never occured to me to lift any of it - my friends were always surprised to see a ten sitting on a table. Of course once my smoking habit got into full swing and smokes went up to over 2 bucks I did nick a few quarters here and there - but never bills!
Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years.
1) Early teen years - hate to admit it by me and my two friends each had a satin shirt. Mine was magenta. This was the age of disco. I still remember us all planning to wear our shirts on a Friday night. We had no where to go either.
2) Short rabbit fur coats. Short lived fad and I remember desperately wanting one for Christmas - they had them at Fairweathers. I showed them to my Dad who said absolutely not. I thought it was the price, he told me I would look like a hooker in one. I didn't know it then but he was right - they did look like hooker jackets.
3) Nikes - white with a black swirl or white with a blue swirl. The occasional red swirl but where I came from you tried to avoid those unless you were a jock.
Apology to Praise Teams - Most of 'Em
Yeah, a big shout out to LK who has taught me the true meaning of a praise team. In an earlier post I said we should get rid of the praise team and stick 'em in the pews with everyone else.
Ah, but see I was mistaken on the purpose of a praise team - I thought they were performers like you see on TV. You know they glitz up the joint. They are in fact more like conductors giving you cues if you need help following along with the songs and such. Hopefully they also cue the right emotion too - if you are singing a song of joy it would be nice if they looked joyful.
Now in my defence I will state I have been at churches where if the praise team was supposed to be guiding my efforts to worship then I was totally missing the point. It seemed more like a performance than conducting and simple things like making eye contact with the parishioners would help. So, like anything there is good and bad approaches.
I'm glad I'm still awkward at the church thing - it keeps me on my toes.
Ah, but see I was mistaken on the purpose of a praise team - I thought they were performers like you see on TV. You know they glitz up the joint. They are in fact more like conductors giving you cues if you need help following along with the songs and such. Hopefully they also cue the right emotion too - if you are singing a song of joy it would be nice if they looked joyful.
Now in my defence I will state I have been at churches where if the praise team was supposed to be guiding my efforts to worship then I was totally missing the point. It seemed more like a performance than conducting and simple things like making eye contact with the parishioners would help. So, like anything there is good and bad approaches.
I'm glad I'm still awkward at the church thing - it keeps me on my toes.
What on Earth Am I Doing?
Its been difficult trying to explain what I am in doing in the Masters of Divinity program that I am in. We finally have a website up and running - the program has been quietly whirring away in its first years getting its feet and not it is ready to have a modest web site.
Here's where you go:
http://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/inministry/index.php
There are lots of links about what it means to be missional too - its not evangelism and its not about outreach per se - its more about getting out into the community treating our community just like a mission field in Africa or China. You don't build a church overseas and expect people to just show up...
Here's where you go:
http://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/inministry/index.php
There are lots of links about what it means to be missional too - its not evangelism and its not about outreach per se - its more about getting out into the community treating our community just like a mission field in Africa or China. You don't build a church overseas and expect people to just show up...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Just for You EK
This is for my friend EK who I believe will enjoy the humour along with all of my regular friends who I already know love this kind of humour.
Check out foundmagazine.com
It has been around for a while and is basically just stuff people have found on the street - letters, pictures and such. Its like viewing life through people's scribbles and its fun trying to imagine what these bits of info mean....
Check out foundmagazine.com
It has been around for a while and is basically just stuff people have found on the street - letters, pictures and such. Its like viewing life through people's scribbles and its fun trying to imagine what these bits of info mean....
Miracle Salt
Well, Peter Popoff couldn't wait for me to send my money to annoint me with the blessing that is in store for me - he has now sent me a bag of Miracle Dead Sea salt. See my blog on the Miracle Water if you haven't read it.
I got a little tiny baggie of salt - I'm supposed to put some on my tongue and mail my money off.
Peter is very anxious about me because in another letter not connected with the whole Miracle Water project he has told me that he has seen satan in a vision talking to two of his evil doers as I passed by with a loved one and that they are plotting to destroy me financially and one of my relationships. Suddenly he has upped the ante because this letter wants 200 dollars as seed money to show God that I am obedient to Him. Then, once the money is sent Peter has been annointed to change my life - he isn't ready to tell my how much money I will receive but he addresses the letter to all those in the Million Dollar Club.
I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks - I think there will be lots more opportunities coming to me.
I got a little tiny baggie of salt - I'm supposed to put some on my tongue and mail my money off.
Peter is very anxious about me because in another letter not connected with the whole Miracle Water project he has told me that he has seen satan in a vision talking to two of his evil doers as I passed by with a loved one and that they are plotting to destroy me financially and one of my relationships. Suddenly he has upped the ante because this letter wants 200 dollars as seed money to show God that I am obedient to Him. Then, once the money is sent Peter has been annointed to change my life - he isn't ready to tell my how much money I will receive but he addresses the letter to all those in the Million Dollar Club.
I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks - I think there will be lots more opportunities coming to me.
Women In Ministry
I had my counsellor (MDiv appointed requirement - for everyone, not just me) as if I am uncomfortable that the prof has not come out on one side or the other regarding women in leadership within the church.
I really don't care. He's here to teach and is a careful theologian and has spent time on the issue. To teach here you have to sign a declaration that you accept that women will be taking classes and to uphold that right. That's enough for me.
I have read both sides of the argument and I can understand both sides. I have a calling and that is what I have to go by. It may not be the best answer (after all the devil is a cunning liar) but I certainly tested the call enough to stand by it.
I guess I look at the women in my class and think "what, what great leaders" - I'd love to have some of their qualities.
I am so fortunate not to carry this burden of feeling the need to prove myself to others as a woman - I'm too busy trying to prove myself as a person that I don't have time to worry about the rest. Maybe this is part of my problem -maybe I need to start understanding that when people see me they see gender and I need to work to extinguish that.
My own bias, I'm not crazy on women preachers - its there delivery that throws me off - I like a distinct - this is the way it is and I don't think we have encouraged women to deliver a speech that way - again - I think this is what gets me into trouble. My brother Ian can say the most direct blunt thing and people see him as being decisive. I can't even go as far as the things he says and I get that I'm shutting people down or I'm a "strong woman". Show me the weak man I'm supposed to emulate!
I really don't care. He's here to teach and is a careful theologian and has spent time on the issue. To teach here you have to sign a declaration that you accept that women will be taking classes and to uphold that right. That's enough for me.
I have read both sides of the argument and I can understand both sides. I have a calling and that is what I have to go by. It may not be the best answer (after all the devil is a cunning liar) but I certainly tested the call enough to stand by it.
I guess I look at the women in my class and think "what, what great leaders" - I'd love to have some of their qualities.
I am so fortunate not to carry this burden of feeling the need to prove myself to others as a woman - I'm too busy trying to prove myself as a person that I don't have time to worry about the rest. Maybe this is part of my problem -maybe I need to start understanding that when people see me they see gender and I need to work to extinguish that.
My own bias, I'm not crazy on women preachers - its there delivery that throws me off - I like a distinct - this is the way it is and I don't think we have encouraged women to deliver a speech that way - again - I think this is what gets me into trouble. My brother Ian can say the most direct blunt thing and people see him as being decisive. I can't even go as far as the things he says and I get that I'm shutting people down or I'm a "strong woman". Show me the weak man I'm supposed to emulate!
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