CCRM

Today I took my CCRM exam. The hardest part was the laws on evictions. But I think I did very well. I am so glad it is over. I know I passed the exam, unless I was confidently wrong. In 30 days I should get my test results back from Sacramento and then be able to apply for my certificate. But the best thing is that now I have my Saturdays back and can catch up on homework for my MLT program. Oh, speaking of the MLT program, I can do urinalysis now. Its kind of fun, as long as you don't think about what you are handling.

Its a good life if you don't tire.

Absolute disgust

For 20 years, since the day I heard President Reagan give the Evil Empire speech in Oralndo, I have been a Republican. I gave money to the party. In philosophy classrooms I argued Locke against any professors Rousseau or Mills. I helped raise money for the Contras. I enlisted in the Army to help win the war against the communists. At cocktail parties I quoted Von Mises and Hayek in opposition to Keynes and Marx. I always believed that the Republicans were the party of Life; that a Republican President and a Republican Congress would be the end of legalized abortion in America. I always believed that the Republicans were the party of ancient Virtue; that Cato and Cincinatus would be most comfortable in the GOP. I thought balanced budgets were what the Republicans wanted. I thought Morality and Decency were what the party was trying to bring to America. I was wrong.

For almost 4 years Republicans have controlled both of the political branches of the Federal Government. This is what it has got us:

1. The national debt is greater than ever.
2. Abortion is still a legal even though, ss every eigth-grader knows, the Congress has the power to remove abortion cases from the Court's jurisdiction and override Roe v. Wade. Yet we have had a republican Congress for several years and the abortion rate is higher today than it was four years ago.
3. The Republican governor of California is trying to get the voters to approve state funding of embryonic stem cell research.
4. The Republican Congress passed a huge prescription drug benefit law (signed by the President) that robs collective Peter to medicate individual Paul.
5. Every pork barrel project known to man has been written into the federal budget.
6. We still have a graduated income tax.
7. We still have inheritance taxes.

And now the President has changed his mind on homosexual marriage.

I am through with the Republican Party. I've given them my vote in every election at every level of government since I attained of the age of majority. But no more. If Bush wins California it won't be because of my vote. I'm voting for either Peroutka or Badnarik. (I don't know which one yet.)
But as Matthew of Oregon reminds us, St Ignatius of Harbin (Aug. 3) said, "What began in Russia will end in America." So maybe, for whom I vote doesn't matter a hill of beans; The King is coming, and the time of our stewardship is drawing to a close.

Ties and thanksgiving

Yesterday: Mailed the invitations to Thanksgiving dinner. Our place is so small we have to limit who we invite. I hate that. In Heaven the tables will be big.

Today:Ordered matching ties for me and the little boy.

Catching up.

Well it has been a few days since I've posted and I have a lot to write about.

I think I have come to a decision that I am going to work a little less hard at school and just accept the fact that my GPA is going to have to slip. (my GPA from many years ago was 3.78). I used to live in fear of a "B". I just don't have that much time for homework anymore. My new motto: "C's earn degrees".

Aikido is kicking my butt, rather, my shoulder. Although the instructor says I have natural ability and thinks I should train at a real dojo and not in a collge PE program, I'm not sure I want to pursue aikido. Every time I go to class I get hurt! I am very good an flowing with my opponents, avoiding their attacks, and dropping them; I am really bad at falling, which is how I keep getting hurt. I weigh 270 lbs. That is a lot of mass to have to direct into a safe fall. Oh, I still don't know about all of this "Ki" stuff, either. I think its bunk. I think it is just balance. However, I do know that when I pretend I am dropping a heavy medicine ball on my opponents chest in one technique they go down really hard. When the instructor asked how I was doing it and I told him about the medicine ball, he said most people imagine dropping the Sun (which is Ki) on their oponent but that if a medicine ball works for me, keep doing that. But I don't think that is Ki . I think imagining the medicine ball just helps me maintain balance and move more forcefully.

Went to church last night and this morning. It was good. I love it. There is nothing like getting to go to confession on Saturday and then Communion on Sunday. If I were still in advertising I'd probably write something like: Two Days! Two Mysteries! Don't miss this chance to be transformed! Bring the wife! Bring the kids! This Saturday and Sunday only! Be there be there be there!

A new member cooked the meal after church today. She also made kolyva in memoroy of her father Dimitri. (Memory Eternal!) Nice woman. Only in town for a couple of years while she goes to dental school.

Talked to Father David about helping him with a bond issue for Raphael House. They are looking at starting a for-profit real estate holding company to sustain their non-profit activities. Currently, they have a tiny endowment and are 90% current-doner-funded.

After Church today we drove south along Hwy 1 from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay. Stopped at a farm to buy pumpkins. We don't celebrate halloween really. No dressing up. No trick or treating. But it is fun to make jack-o-lanterns. Too bad about all the spooky stuff. Heard lots of stories about the origin of halloween. Don't know how true any of them are. But even if none of them are true, I don't like the celebration. I know that in my dark days I used to sin a lot on halloween. Costume parties and liquor. Bad combination. Nevertheless, pumpkin carving is fun. And it was fun being on the farm where pumpkins are grown, watching the little boy walkiing around the field, picking out pumpkins. Eventually, chose three a little larger than softballs. But he liked sitting on the big ones.

After that we drove to my sister's house in Sunnyvale for my great niece's 4th birthday party. It was a lot of fun. But the little boyu got spazzed on candy. Also, he was a little bit afraid of the pinata. But he had fun. But he was so tired that when we got home he said "evening prayers." so, eventhouugh it was still light outside we changed him in to his jammies and he went to bed.

Tonight, Cyndi made something very yummy. Two things, actually. One was Carolina Cole Slaw. The other was her own recipe. I could have eaten much more of it but I am really trying hard not to be a glutton anymore. (Pray for me?) Anyway, here is the recipe. I highly recomend it.


Cyndi's Butternut Happy Dish. (That's my name for it. She just calls it Squash and Rice.)

Ingredients:
4 cups organic chicken or organic vegitable broth
2 cups organic whole grain brown rice
1 tsp organic cumin
1 peeled and cubed (1/2 in to 1 inch cubes) organic butternut squash.
Organic raisins.

Add all ingredints (except raisins) in a large non-stick pan, cook on stovetop until rice is tender. Do not stir too much or the squash will fall apart.
At the end, when the rice is done, stir in 1/2 cup or more raisins.


I think we are going to have this on Thanksgiving, too.

Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto! It always about Kyoto!

I really do not know what to think about global warming. But I do know that every socialist, and every America-hater I know (Yes, some are even my friends. Don't ask me how.) is sure it is happening and that it is the fault of human beings. This little article sheds some light on the subject. (Hint: the UN is involved.)

School, family, politics

I had a chemistry quiz tonight. The last 1/2 of the quiz had to do with molecular geometry. But in order to do molecular geometry, you have to be able to determine the number of electrons in the highest orbital. Well, that is pretty easy. In fact, except for lighting the bunson burner, it is the easiet thing in chemistry. But I totally blanked. I mean I sat there for half an hour trying and failing to remember how to do it. As soon as I turned in my quiz, and walked out the door I remembered how to do it. ARRRRRGHHHH!!!!!


Everyone in my family is over the flu. My mom came home from the hospital today. She is weak but the flu is gone from her.

Check this out. I think it is interesting that Kerry comes from the more aristocratic branch of the family.

I'm not the Patriarch of Alexandria, but if I was I'd give this guy a call and ask him to join the Orthodox.

Statement on the Windsor Report 2004 from the Primate of All Nigeria

I welcome the sincerity and hard work of those who have prepared ‘The Windsor Report 2004’. After an initial reading it is clear to me that the report falls far short of the prescription needed for this current crisis. It fails to confront the reality that a small, economically privileged group of people has sought to subvert the Christian faith and impose their new and false doctrine on the wider community of faithful believers. We have watched in sadness as sisters and brothers who have sought to maintain their allegiance to the “faith once delivered to the saints” have been marginalized and persecuted for their faith. We have been filled with grief as we have witnessed the decline of the North American Church that was once filled with missionary zeal and yet now seems determined to bury itself in a deadly embrace with the spirit of the age. Instead of a clear call for repentance we have been offered warm words of sentimentality for those who have shown no godly sorrow for their actions and harsh words of condemnation for those who have reached out a helping hand to friends in need of pastoral and spiritual care.

Why, throughout the document, is there such a marked contrast between the language used against those who are subverting the faith and that used against those of us, from the Global South, who are trying to bring the church back to the Bible? Where are the expressions of deep concern for the men and women whose witness is jeopardized and whose lives are at risk because of the actions of ECUSA [Episcopal Church of the United States of America]? Where are the words of “deep regret” for the impact of ECUSA’s actions upon the Global South and our missionary efforts? Where is the language of rebuke for those who are promoting sexual sins as holy and acceptable behaviour? The imbalance is bewildering. It is wrong to use equal language for unequal actions.

The report correctly notes that the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of New Westminster have pushed the Anglican Communion to the breaking point. It rightly states that they did not listen to the clear voices of the Communion and rejected the counsel of all four Instruments of Unity. Therefore it is surprising that the primary recommendation of the report is “greater sensitivity” instead of heartfelt repentance. Already the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA has stated that he sees no need to halt welcoming practising homosexuals into all orders of ministry! In addition, the bishop of New Westminster has indicated that same sex blessing will continue. Thus they are hell bent on destroying the fabric of our common life and we are told to sit and wait.

We have been asked to express regret for our actions and “affirm our desire to remain in the Communion”. How patronizing! We will not be intimidated. In the absence of any signs of repentance and reform from those who have torn the fabric of our Communion, and while there is continuing oppression of those who uphold the Faith, we cannot forsake our duty to provide care and protection for those who cry out for our help.

The Bible says that two cannot walk together unless they are agreed. The report rightly observes that if the “call to halt” is ignored “then we shall have to begin to learn to walk apart”. The Episcopal Church and Diocese of New Westminster are already walking alone on this and if they do not repent and return to the fold, they will find that they are all alone. They will have broken the Anglican Communion.

I am disappointed that an important report that was requested by the Primates who gathered at Lambeth Palace last October was not submitted to us for prayerful consideration. Instead it has been released to the entire world as if it were the final word on this troubling matter. However, before the next meeting of the Primates in February, I will now take it to the All Africa Bishops Conference that will gather in Lagos from October 26th-31st and we will have further opportunity to speak of the crisis created by the North American Church.We commend the future of our Communion to the hands of almighty God and the prayers of all.

+ Peter Akinola
Primate of All Nigeria
October 19, 2004

Update

My mom and dad are still sick. Cyndi, the little boy and I are pretty much back to normal.
School was pretty rough tonight. I think I might have failed a math test. A certain point is reached when one has written an expression in just about every way that makes sense, but none of them is really better than any of the others, so one just picks one and gives it as the answer. I'm glad the quarter is 1/2 over.

Bad News

Remember how on Saturday night we were too sick to take care of the little boy? And remember how my parents took care of him that night? Well, they caught it from him. This morning, at 4 a.m. my parents were taken to the hospital in an ambulance. This is such a horrible disease. No word yet on how they are doing. My sister is there with them. Please pray for them.

In other news, the little boy has an orange traffic cone. At this moment, he is using it as a megaphone and is singning the Trisagion Hymn.

Illness update

Still sick but feeling better. Cyndi is the most well of all of us. The little boy seems to be the worst case. Nevertheless, we are all doing better. I managed to eat last night. I ate a lot today.
The little boy can't get enough pedialyte popsicles. He eats one right after another. We've all lost weight. I've lost 6 lbs. I don't know how much cyndi and the little boy have lost but I can see it in them. I think God that this is almost over.

What is this all about? I have no idea. http://random.yahoo.com/fast/ryl It's easy to see what it's doing. But why? Who would want something like this? I'll not sleep now, wondering what this is for...(by the way - press refresh/reload and it changes)...


Oh, this is funny. I have a thing for this kind of 3rd grade humor. I just wish I had a list of all of the "Elephant hiding in the cherry trees" jokes.

More sickness

I thought I was through with being sick but during class this afternoon I began feeling very badly. Now I have a fever (101.7 F). Bad pains in abdomen. Cyndi is very sick, too. Cant get out of bed. The little boy is staying with grandma tonight. No church today or tomorrow. If anyone is reading this blog before church tomorrow, please light a candle for us.

17 for the Gallows

AP reports mutiny and cowardice. Thank God the men of the Big Red One and the 101st and the free Polish Armored Brigade didn't put their personal well-being ahead of orders on D-Day. These 17 have brought shame upon the 343rd Quartermaster Company, the United States Army, and the American people.

Sickness

Up before dawn today. The little boy(oh, he told me yesterday that he in not a little boy anymore. He says he is a big boy.) has been sick for two days. vomitiing and runs. He is better now. But now I am sick. Oh, man. What a bad time for me to be sick. I think I got an A on my chemistry test last night. I have great difficulty with the instructor. Often he is not clear or consistent in his use of nomenclature. For instance, it is only last night that I figured out that when he says "common isotope", "nuclear mass", "atomic mass", "mass number" that he is always refering to the number of protons and neutrons in any given atom. His usage of these words is not consistent with the periodic table or the textbook. It has been very frustrating. Nevertheless, I think I got an A on the test. Well, I am sick and need to lay down. Oh, I can't I have the little boy to take care of.

Winding things up

This just in from the Signs of the Times desk : some news.

My blogging schedule

Sorry for the infrequent posts. Super busy right now. HAve tests in chemistry, clinical procedures, and math this week. Lots of homework too. was up until 2:30 this morning doing it. The little boy is having fun looking at old Martha Stwart Kids magazines while I work.

Science and religion

This began as a comment to something Huw wrote on Doxos. But it kept getting bigger and bigger. So, here it is.

I read the article on ID. I didn't reach the same conclusion Huw did (e.g. "ID is bunk.") What I saw was hubris on the part of the science industry. (I refuse to call it a 'community') This arrogance is especially revealed in Krauss's comparison of the ID proponents to Holocaust deny-ers. Also in this statement in the last paragraph: "Those that survive decades - centuries - of scientific scrutiny end up in classrooms, and those that don't are discarded." (Centuries? Very little science has been around for centuries.) This bias in favor of "science", especially a "scientific" view of the world that says only matter exists is widespread, idolotrous, and belicose.

Stephen Hawking wrote in "A Brief History of Time" with the assertion that science can ‘know the mind of God’. Stephen Weinberg ends "The First Three Minutes" by pronouncing the universe ‘pointless’ and human life ‘a little above the level of a farce.' John Maddox, former editor of Nature, has hinted darkly that ‘it may not be long before the practice of religion must be regarded as anti-science.’ (Nature, 368 [1994], p. 185). Carl Sagan in a hideous mockery of St. John's Gospel said in "Cosmos", "In the beginning was hydrogen". These four and many others have arrayed themselves against God. Their idols are not of gold or stone but are still works of human thought.

Dawkins said: ‘There is no need to think of design, purpose or directedness. . . . There is no mystery. . . . It had to happen by definition.’ (The Selfish Gene [Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1989], p. 13).

In my own experience in school I have experienced this hatred of God on the part of scientests. They usually use straw man arguments (the Shroud of Turin and Galileo) which are are easly refuted, but the animosity is palpable. To all of them I would just say, "tell it to Michael Faraday".

The English physicist/chemist/inventor Michael Faraday believed that God made the universe , and that He was serious about the "uni" part of that word. Faraday's knowledge of God lead him to say, "Nothing is too wonderful to be true." My chemistry textbook talks about Farady's contribution to understanding electricity and electromagnetic induction, but does not mention his faith in God that compelled him to study God's work, and to understand the relationships between forces and substances. (In addition to being the father of modern electronics he is also owed a debt by every chemist in the world as he also invented the Bunson Burner.)

There are many such discoverers; many men loved God, believed God, and went out into the world to see how God had made it. Among them Joseph Balmer who believed God designed the universe, and set out to reveal that design. And to a certain degree he was successful. He discovered the spectral lines (they are called 'Balmer Lines' now.) emited by excited hydrogen atoms, and became the father of spectrascopy. Without spectrascopy, Dawkins and Hawking would be unknowns.

But that is just orderliness. Any good mechanic is orderly. But God is also moral. He is Good. And it was the conviction that God is good that led Thomas Edison to say ofter many many failures, ‘Somewhere in God Almighty’s workshop is a dense woody growth, with fibres almost geometrically parallel and with practically no pith, from which we can take the filament the world needs.’ He knew electric light was good and could not imagine God not providing a way for it to be.

We call this conviction of Edison's the anthropic principle: That the universe exists to sustain man. We, Christians belive this, mainly, because God loves man. (He died for us. What other proof do we need?) But this anthropic principle is not something that only Christians such as Edison see. It is seen by athiests, too. In the September 2004 issue of the journal Science (subscribe here) it was stated that the math that explains the universe just doesn't make sense if you take people out of the equations. Granted, it doesn't say there is a God, or a designer, but it comes pretty darn close.

Silver bells, silver bells...

I'm thinking about Christmas. I know, it's not even St. Matthew's Day and I'm thinking about Christmas; am I nuts? Maybe. Nevertheless, Cyndi and I have already begun planning our annual 3rd Day of Christmas Party. Cyndi says we are inviting the whole Parish this year. Last year we had 15 and it was cramped. I don't know how we will squeeze everyone in. Nevertheless, we are going to try. Might have to be just cocktails and Chrstmas cookies. Won't be room for dinner. I don't know. I guess we'll have a better idea about what to do when the RSVPs come back.

Also, I just turned down an invitation to a Christmas party. It is going to happen during Advent. I tried to explain to the invitor that it would be too difficult for me to do an attitude jump from Advent to Christmas to Advent and then back to Christmas a few days later, that I really value the Church's penetintial seasons. I don't think he understood. I think that one of the worst things about the Protestant Reformation is the near total abandonment of the Church Calendar.

I remember that when I was a kid my dad had a sermon about dealing with dissapoinment. And in that sermon, one of the illustrations he gave of dissapointment was the day after Christmas. "The sadest day of the year", he would say," Is December 26. For weeks there has been an excitement, a growing sense of expectation, a feeling that something big was about to happen. But then the presents are opened, and the dinner is over, and the next day you just ask yourself 'is that it? is that all?'" He was right. For Protestants December 26 is an ugly dissapointment; it hasn't been sanctified.

Actually, even uglier than that, I have a memory of when I was 11 that is horrible. I opened all of my presents and was sad not that it was over but that I didn't get more. No happiness. No joy. Just lust for toys and then guilt for not being thankful. To this day whenever I am feeling like I deserve better than I have that memory comes rushing back to me like a freight train crossing Kansas.

But now, when I wake up on December 26 it is still Christmas. And when I sing "Good King Wenceslas" on December 27 I understand why it is a Christmas Carol. And even without presents, I am happy just to be in Church for several days and rember that God became man to save me. It is hard to want more when God has been given. And then we move right from Christmas to Theophany, and from Theophany to the Meeting of Jesus in the Temple, and then to Lent (depending on where all the heavenly bodies are), and then the Annunciation, and PASCHA and Pentecost and and and.... and it keeps on going! It never stops. Orthodoxy is the energizer bunny of religions, but better; none of our vestments are pink.

Oh, I came across this really interesting website. It kind of goes along with the practice Cyndi and I have established: Every one gets cookies, or something knit by Cyndi, or invited to the 3rd Day of Christmas (AKA Feast of St. Stephen) Party. Buy nothing, but still give.

Ass kickin' and a cool photoshop

Aikido tonight was pretty good. learned a new throw. Oh, by the way, what I have discovered about Aikido is that you don't really throw people; you mostly get out of the way and help them fall down. Nevertheless, I got my ass kicked tonight. It was my fault, I had a lot of momentum going into a falling back roll and and went too far. Not only that but I forgot to move my head out of the way. OUCH!!! And then near the end of class when I was tired, I sat down instead of rolled and sent a jolt trhough my spine. OUCH! I stood off the mat for the last 15 minutes of class. But the throw I learned was cool!

Aikido and Orthodoxy: At first I was a little freaked out that I had to bow toward a picture of the founder of Aikido at the beginning and end of every class; that is what I do to Icons. But tonight I remembered that just as I do not worship Icons, yet I bow to them, and just as Abraham bowed to the people he bought land from with out worshiping them, I can bow to a picture of the founder of Aikido (he was a nut, if you ask me.) and not worship him.

Oh, the PhotoShop: If you were a nerd (like me) 20-25 years ago you will recognize this scene.

Oh, one more thing. As I was putting the little boy down for his nap today, I sang to him "The Streets of Laredo". After the line "....I am a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong", the little boys said "Me a cowboy". Now here is why this is so cute.... he has never seen a cow boy. I said "It hard work to be a cowboy"
"Okay"
"You have to strong to ride a horse all day"
"Ride horse?" (Big eyes)
"Do you think you can do that?"
"Yeah"
"You'll have to wear a hat and drive cattle and sleep out on the range"
"Me have a hat. Cowboy. Mooo."

Oh, one last thing, Speaking of cowboys reminded me of this.

You know you are old when....

...you are explaining to a fellow student at school that the kilt he is wearing is a forign tartan (boyd clan) but that , if he wants to, he can easily wear an American tartan, such as the U.S. Navy, the U.S. National, the Citadel, or even the California State Tartan - and his girlfriend asks if you will be the faculty advisor for their new Celtic Club.

Cool thing

Over on Doxos, Huw has this cool thing called Patristic Roulette. I don't know if he has an engine that scours patrisitc texts and pops out these little gems, or if he types in a new one each day - regardless, it is cool. Here is the one I saw today:

"The man who decides to struggle against his flesh and to overcome it by his own efforts is fighting in vain. The truth is that unless the Lord overturns the house of the flesh and builds the house of the soul, the man wishing to overcome it has watched and fasted for nothing. Offer the Lord the weakness of your nature. Admit your incapacity and, without your knowing it, you will win for yourself the gift of chastity." - St John of the Ladder

I guess I'm going to have to buy a copy of The Ladder and read it. (When I am through with school.)

A quick review

Yesterday I got the results back from last thursdays chemistry quiz. I got a 50%. What does that equal? F! I got an F! It is my first earned F! Thankfully that quiz is only 5% of my grade for the course. My error? I miscalculated the mass of the most common isotopes of a few elements.

I am feeling really pressed for time. I am 1 week behind on homework for clinical procedures, and I just missed turning in a math homework assignment. (worth 3% of my grade)

I got the results back from Tuesdays Math test. I got a B. I'm very happy about that because I thought I flunked it. Heck, had I been grading it I woould have given me an F. But, I'm not complaining.

I was so tired in school today this afternoon tat I fell asleep during clinical procedures.

On the apartment front I got to break the lock on an apartment and make sure it had really been abandonded. THe people who used to live there sneaked (snuk?) out with out paying last month's rent. Happily I have a new tenant moving in on the 15th. But before that happens I have to get all new appliances, carpet, linoleum, and paint. Oh, and I will need blinds too. Uggh.
I just remembered the blinds makeer we use is back logged. (Note to self: Talk to boss about going off the vendor list to get blinds.)

Channel Surfing

You have to check out Election Night Channel Surfing (Monday, October 04, 2004) over at Big Matt's blog

First math test, apartment manager woes

I think I did okay. I'm not sure. 20 percent of the questions were asked in a way that I did not understand. I was just given this:

f(x)=(a-2), (2a)(x*x)+(4/3)-(3x/(3*3))-a

and that was all.

So, I just plugged in a a number for "x" and simplified the expression just to show the professor that I know what functions are but other than that, I don't know what he was asking for. It was very frustrating.

The rest of the test was just inequalities of the square-root, linear, and absolute value varities. It was easy. The problem is that in this class 80% is a C. So if I blew the 20% that I didn't understand I am in bad shape.

Hmmm. It is two and a half weeks since I gave everyone here at the complex a warning that I was going to cut locks off of the storage lockers. It has been 2 weeks since I actually cut the locks off. Tonight someone asked me what happened to their locker. I was a little bit stunned. They've only recieved the original letter and two (TWO!) written notices that I am taking all their stuff to the dump if they don't claim it. Still 1/3 of the tenants have not responded.

Wow! What a weekend!

I don't even remember most of Saturday. Oh! Wait, yes I do. I was in class from 8 to 4. Then zoomed up I-280 (one of the most beautiful roads in Amerca) to go to Confession.

As long as I am on the topic of Confession, I never feel like I do a good job at it. I think it is bcause I have read things like this. But I just don't talk like that. Besides, I would just feel proud of myself if I did say confession like that. I'm really good at acting religious. I'm not very good at being real. Besides, I suppose if I ever tried to do a confession like the one I provided a link to, well, Fr. Victor or Fr. David would just tell me to start over.

After church we ate at Goat Hill Pizza (pictures here)on Potrero Hill. (Our traditional meal is a medium pepperoni, mushroom, and red onion - green salads with blue cheese dressing - root beer. They always bring the little boy a bowl of black olives kindey beans. Of course, he turns the olives into finger puppets.)

Church this morning was very excellent. In general, Orthodox sermonizing isn't as entertaining as Protestant preaching. But I am getting used to it. Fr. David talked about both the Gospel and the Apostol reading today. Summary: die to yourself if you really want to live.

Ran some errands after church. Took a nap. Cyndi hemmed some pants for me. (My aikido uniform and my medical scrubs.)

Did homework. Cyndi is a big help to me.

Came across this funny map of Florida on Get religion. All I have to say about it is this: God chastizes those whom He loves.

T-Shirts and Architectre, Saints and War, Saint Nicholas, Blue Stars

Item #1: I came across an unusual website today. It has nothing to do with architecture. (It is a website at which you can buy limited edition t-shirts.) But it says something about architecture, something I agree with.

"To understand, look at architecture, where we see two kinds of buildings. First there are old buildings, made with care and dedication, often built by hand. They were created not as mere shelter, but as a testament to the people who lived or worked inside. Those people took pride in their families, businesses, and heritage.
Then there are modern buildings, often prefabricated and unremarkable in appearance. These structures are cheap and efficient, built to meet the needs of the bottom line rather than the individual. Whereas older buildings often provide a visitor with a sense of a places unique culture and history, modern building are devoid of such feeling."

I enjoyed reading the stuff on this website. Maybe, you will, too.


Item #2: Some time ago I was engaged in a conversation via letters with the Secretary of the OPF, Jim Forest. (He is also the person who helped me overcome my last objection to Orthodoxy.) One of the things he told me is that "there is no just war theory in the Fathers." Maybe there isn't, at least not like the Roman Catholic Church's just war theory; the Orthodox church has never been too big on defining the mystery out of things. Nevertheless, there is some talk about war in writing of the Church- more than I expected. Here are two quotes:

"It is not permissible to murder anyone, yet in war it is praiseworthy and lawful to slay the adversaries. Thus at any rate those who have distinguished themselves in war are entitled to and accorded great honours, and columns are erected in memory of them reciting their exploits. So that the same manner in some respect at some time but in another respect and at some other time when there is a good occasion for it, may be allowed and permitted." - Saint Athanasius

"Our Fathers did not consider murders committed in the course of war to be classified as murders at all, on the score it seems to me, of allowing a pardon to men fighting in defense of sobriety and piety. Perhaps though, it might be advisable to deny them communion for three years on the account that they are not clean handed." - Saint Basil


Item #3: My favorite picture of St. Nicholas

Item #4: Perhaps, you know a woman who has children serving under arms? Thank her for the gift she has given you. Find out if she has a Blue Star Banner; if she does not, buy one for her.

A boiled down post

Over at Jim's blog there is a post about a political commercial. I've refined his post down to this essence:

How many lives have been saved by stem cell research?
How many people have died for stem cell research?

Wow! Those are good questions.

Read his whole post here.