Laura posted some of her thoughts regarding the book on Facebook and I posted the following comment.
… I JUST finished listening to the unabridged audio book of this today on the treadmill.
I didn’t have a problem with the personification of God as a woman because it was in a fictional setting. BUT, wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs and when I was a young Christian I thought that was very cool.
Granted, Andy Comiskey’s talk about true femininity and masculinity was very insightful to me on the importance of finding both in the Creator’s Being but He is called Father for very important reasons.
I cried twice during the two weeks audio listening thing. Embarrassing to do on the treadmill :). Some of the mystical experiences freaked me out because of my own experience in prayer life. Even so, there were times it seemed SO completely preachy :). It might have been the guy reading the book to me but … I was like… come on already.
Anyway, I echo your warnings for people to be very careful. I am concerned about the theology behind how he dealt with the Trinity. BUT, when it comes to recovery and healing … *very* good stuff.
And that is basically how I feel. All the major, and it was major, theology discussions sounded a bit preachy at times and something made me nervous about them. I am not a theologian or the son of one so I won’t even try to pick it apart piece by piece but … there were a handful of times I thought, “well, I never heard that in the Bible.”
Have you heard enough about her already? Are you *done* with the blahbitty blah blah banter concerning her chances for Vice President? Well … get over it because I am about to add another chorus to the wall of sound. ::: laugh ::: But, first, here is a video of the highlights of her speech last night. My thoughts are after the jump.
Sometimes I worry that I am the character Brad Pitt will be playing in the upcoming film Burn After Reading. Granted I need to lose a lot of weight and overhaul my face to look like him but … that goofy temperament altered by an iPod? ::: sucking air through my teeth ::: yeah … that could be little bit of me.
Now, thankfully I lost that hair style a few years ago. ::: whew :::
I really like my iPod and will admit to catching myself jammin’ out to Mary J. Blige’s hit Just Fine a little too vigorously while on the elliptical machine.
It’s just simply the best song *ever* for cardio. Getting swept up in music is the only way I can get through cardio.
Yesterday, I went to work out and was doing upper back and biceps. I went over to the free weight area, because ::: swaggering ::: that’s where all the big dog’s in the gym go to work out their guns. This is what it looked like (please allow for a *tad* bit of embellishment):
I got this via email from the Florida Family Policy Council (linkage and emphasis mine) More thoughts after the jump …
‘Kissing cops’ lawsuit settled
The Good News 08/01/08
—The federal civil rights lawsuit brought by Florida Family Policy Council against a Sunrise police officer for harassment of marriage amendment supporters at the 2006 Promise Keepers conference was resolved last week
The 2007 federal court lawsuit filed against City of Sunrise police officer Sergeant Stephen Allen and Broward County for improperly prohibiting marriage amendment petitions from being distributed at a 2006 Promise Keepers conference has been settled for $30,000.
…
At the Policy Council’s table, volunteers were collecting petitions to get the Florida Marriage Amendment on the ballot. The Amendment would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Accordingly to recorded statements from eye witnesses, Sgt. Allen, the duty officer hired by the Broward-owned civic center, informed the Policy Council’s volunteers that the marriage amendment petitions could not be collected or be in “public view” and must be immediately removed.
The volunteers said they were mocked, harassed and threatened with being arrested for collecting the petitions, and then Allen personally confiscated the petitions. Sgt. Allen and Officer M. Allard, both male officers, further ridiculed the effort by appearing to kiss each other. …
Today, I have been either watching the news about Hurricane Gustav or working out. I just remembered that it is Labor Day … Happy Labor Day!
I also just learned that the liberal blogs have started a ridiculous rumor that Trig wasn’t Palin’s own son but her daughters son. And now they are attacking her daughter for being pregnant. Crunchy Con remarks about Andrew Sullivan’s attacks:
I’m honestly shocked, appalled and really disappointed that even after the new photo of Sarah Palin has surfaced, and even after the news about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy has surfaced, Andrew Sullivan continues to puff the disgusting rumor about Trig Palin’s parenthood. Honestly, this kind of thing from someone whose work I often disagree with, but who I respect, leaves me speechless
This just goes to show that intolerance and stigmatizing people isn’t limited to the conservative wing of things Also, the amazing Charmaine Yoest has a post up about the whole situation. Charmaine is the President of Americans United for Life. I also LOVE that Obama came to Palin’s defense as well.
Nope… no attempt at stupid humor with this one. I have a pit in my stomach that I am using as inspiration to pray for those in the path of Gustav (not forgetting the victims already across Cuba and the Caribbean.)
I will be using this post as a hub for information. Please help me out by posting links in the comments to news stories, videos, humanitarian aid, bloggers … anything you think is interesting to note and helpful information and/or relief oriented. Also, if you click on the picture it will take you to the Weather Channel’s log of updates.
The Red Cross is all over the place too and always a sure bet to get your money where it is needed most.
May the Lord bless our neighbors with safety, peace, resilience and miraculous deliverance from devastation. I will be praying that those traumatized by Katrina will not be re-traumatized by this and will instead be blessed beyond anything they could imagine or think.
Again, add any links or information you think is useful in the comments. I will update this post as well. The updates will appear after the jump.
What a whirlwind in the Presidential election ‘08! Obama, sorry fellow Republicans, he did great last night whether we like it or not. There were a few times the conflict between his “change” theme but still propping up liberal culture war talking points made me groan. However, Obama is a statesman. He knows how to talk and compel people in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.
I think his pick of Sarah Palin was an *amazing* move. I have only seen her a few times but was impressed with her each time. I have slowly, but increasingly, been getting enthused with the McCain campaign. Now, I am totally energized.
Somebody on Fox News said this was like a great novel. I totally agree… GREAT plot twists, interesting characters and epic. And, … I wonder what Hillary thought/said when she found out the news concerning Palin?
As regular readers of this blog may remember, I am spending now through the early part of September working on a writing project. What I haven’t really shared much about is that this is also a season of rest and reflection.
I know that I am a “driven” person but it’s become really clear lately that it is hard for me to be ok with slowing down. I might whine a little bit (or a lot) about how busy I am but, in all honesty, I do like the drama of chasing around a million different people, issues and projects. My mind is constantly swirling. It’s like a thundering brain storm of ideas, opinions, creativity, criticism, encouragements, doubts, humor, ministry, questions, wanting to improve … get the point? That’s cool on one hand and not cool on the other. It’s cool because that is how I am wired. It’s not cool when I can’t slow down and be content in simply being singly focussed and still. When unchecked, it’s also a wall of sound that sets up writer’s block for me.
*While watching “House Hunters” on HGTV, do you change the channel when the couple turns out to be gay? Do you turn the channel if the couple is living out of wedlock?
I have a confession to make. For some, who rely heavily on stereotypes, it just may ruin my “used to be gay” creds but … I can’t stand that channel. Not because of the allegations of homosexuals running rampant through the shows but because … ::: deep breath ::: because, home design (fashion in general) is … not my thing.
I didn’t even know there was a show called “House Hunters.” Put the rocks down …
Sure, when I was looking for my home last year, I got into HGTV for a few days. And, if you make me focus, give me money and force me to do it … I can do a pretty darn good job. But, here’s an example of where HGTV falls on my cable list of frequently flipped to channels. Comedy Channel - 66 (Scrubs). Fox News - 28, CNN Headline News - 23, Cartoon Network - 36, TNT - 11, TBS - 12, USA - 39, FX - 70 …
Laura posted some of her thoughts regarding the book on Facebook and I posted the following comment.
