Friends

kencf0618

07:41 pm - Living Will & Durable Power of Attorney

We update ours every two years as needed.

http://www2.state.id.us/ag/living_wills/index.htm

If you have Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you're
hot shit and the Big Kahuna as far as the paramedics are concerned.
(My octogenarian mother turned me onto this card. Smart lady.)

http://www.sos.idaho.gov/general/hcdr.htm

Also, keep ICE numbers in your cell phone: In Case of Emergency.

That is all.

Current Mood: contemplative

chaz_lehmann

06:41 pm - Sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity

Rev. Charles Lehmann + Trinity 23 + Matthew 22:17-22

 In the Name of + Jesus.  Amen.

 A lot of preachers use today's reading from Matthew 22 to talk about taxes.  That makes sense.  After all, the Pharisees were the tax protestors of their day.  They hated paying because it forced them to admit that they were under the thumb of the pagan Romans.  And, even worse, the coin of the day claimed that Tiberius, the Roman emperor, was the son of a god.  Having that filthy lucre in their pockets must have angered the legalistic Pharisees something fierce.

 Other preachers use this text to talk about tithing.  They say that you should pay your taxes both to the state and the church.  Those sermons go something like this:  “The state gets twenty-five percent or more from most of you, so why not give the church at least ten percent.  Isn't God worth at least half as much to you as the government?”

( Read more... )

chaz_lehmann

01:12 pm - A reason I think virtue ethics is most congruent with the Scriptures...

Question:  Under what circumstances can I torture someone to death who annoys me?

Answers from various ethical systems:

Situational Ethics:  This system will seriously consider the question and offer a rather detailed response.
Deontological Ethics:  If you do that, you better wear asbestos pajamas into the afterlife.
Virtue Ethics:  Huh?

Virtue Ethics doesn't know how to answer the question because there is no appropriate answer to the question.  There is nothing in the habitus of a virtuous person that can respond to the attempted justification of a clearly evil act.  It's simply not on the radar.  It's unthinkable.

leoetiquette

11:40 am

It seems to me that Christians could benefit from practicing their speech about both being sinners and interacting with the sinned against. In both practical application of theology at church or home and in our political discourse. Because maybe that could cut through some of our crappiest stereotypes while also helping others as directly as we ought to.

outotoro

07:55 am - No one has talked about it. . .

Since no one has talked about it. . . what are people's thoughts on the bill that passed in the House for health care. Specifically, I am interested in:

A. What you think of the bill as stands.
B. What you think it's prospects are for a Senate bill passing.
C. If you think the combined bill will look anything like the house bill, and if not, what will be changed.

Note: There will be ground rules for this.

1. You get one comment, to be made to this post directly. I don't want a debate, I just want to know what people are thinking. (Note, if your thoughts go over one comment, you can reply to your own comment - however, use this to expand your ideas, not to critique or complain about what others have written)

2. I will not respond -- I am not trying to trap any one or make you feel burdened upon or threatened for your opinion. I simply want to know what people are thinking - as most of you are much more passionate on this issue than I am.

(++edit+++ If I could make a suggestion - don't even read the comments before you post - simply put forth your ideas if you are so inclined. We should have opportunity to put forth our thoughts +++edit+++)

+++++++++++

My own brief note -- I think the abortion amendment shows how loose a coalition the Democratic party is internally. One issue almost tanked the whole thing.

Also - Pelosi said that as one Republican voted for the bill that it was a bi-partisan bill. I think something along the lines of, "This bill was not as bi-partisan as I would have liked, but hopefully when we vote on the bill that has been reconciled with the Senate that there will be more support for the wishes of the American people shown on both side of the aisle" would have been much better.

outotoro

07:50 am - It was 20 years ago today. . .

no, not that Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.

It was 20 years ago today that the Berlin Wall fell. Just. . . hmmm.

vofleck

10:47 pm - That Chirp

That sound that I've mistaken for Jasmine's squeal was instead a smoke detector that's low on batteries. The problem is that Promise has survived a few house fires in her lifetime, and she stocked the house with several smoke detectors out of that fear. And I can't locate the low battery culprit.

leoetiquette

09:21 pm

Sometimes friendship hurts my heart. And this past week has highlighted several reasons for that. Some of my friends share a worldview or perspective with me. Some a lifestyle or interest (i.e., love of food, respect for intelligence, etc). But either way friendship is vulnerable to pain, personally or sympathetically. I am sad that so many of my friends would utterly denounce some of my (to me, progressive) ideas. And it wouldn't be about them weighing my thoughts or perspective, but I'd be lumped in with their opponents, probably without a thought beyond an exasperated "religion." And I am so sad that so often we bring our own pain into our lives. And it hurts to see people do that to themselves.

And it hurts to be peripheral. I can't drop everything to run to my friends. I have friends I may never see again. And the friends I do see I can't necessarily lessen their pain or unhappiness.

I may be inactive in them, but I am committed to my friendships. And I am pained that, sometimes when I know I really ought to pray for those I love, I can't even imagine what to pray for in the given situation. And that is sad. Sadder than not really knowing what you want.

Seriously, friends, how about a lighter and less drama-filled week?

chaz_lehmann

04:57 pm - Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity

Rev. Charles Lehmann + Trinity 22 + Matthew 18:21-35

 In the Name of + Jesus.  Amen.

 I wonder if Peter got the point.  He had asked Jesus if he should forgive someone up to seven times.  Seven seemed like a good number.  If someone wronged you in the same way over and over again, to forgive them seven times seems like it would be more than fair.  Enough is enough, right?

 But seven times is not even a drop in the bucket for Jesus.  He says, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.”  That comes out to 490, and not even the most resentful person we can imagine is going to keep a running tally of sins for that long.  And that, people loved by God, is exactly the point Jesus is making.  Stop counting.  Love keeps no record of wrongs.  For the Christian, our tally of our neighbor's sins should never rise above zero.  The Lord has forgiven us such a multitude of sins that the sins of our neighbor are nothing by comparison.  When our neighbor sins against us, we should forgive them freely and completely.  You are never so free as when you have not counted your neighbor's sins against them.

( Read more... )

vofleck

11:22 am - And finally, some good news.

The best phrase ever:
"Your raise will be paid retroactively from last month."

Yay.

Current Mood: chipper

vofleck

11:52 pm - Nostalgia

Sometimes, after I wake up and stumble around the kitchen, I could swear I hear Jasmine squeeking for me.

outotoro

11:40 pm - O.o???

Buffy had a kid September 19th

Take from this any strange significance that you will.

alteredhistory

05:41 pm - Live action computer science

Me: Here. I have spoons. You can act this out.
Co-worker: You can't use spoons for the Dining Philosophers problem. You need chopsticks.
Me: Use the spoons. As far as I'm concerned, *everyone* starves with chopsticks.

fox_c

04:46 pm - Next Stop: Talinn!

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Current Mood: hungry

chaz_lehmann

11:24 am - Loving your neighbor...

I have a great family.  Here's some evidence.

My cousin Grant saved a neighbor's business yesterday.  He heard crackling, saw an accounting business behind his house was on fire, called 911, emptied 3 fire extinguishers on it, and made it possible for the fire department to save the building by knocking down the fire a bit and guiding the fire engines to the site.

Grant probably doesn't think much of what he did.  He's just the kind of guy who when he sees someone in need addresses it immediately without even considering the option of not doing it.  Grant and I have been great friends for 36 years, and so his heroic actions don't surprise me even a little bit.

Now, it is certainly true that non-Christians can and do do the sort of thing that Grant did.  It happens all the time.  Even an atheist knows that you should do what you can to help your neighbor.  But not a lot of people do it.  And I can say with absolute certainty that in the case of what Grant did, it was a fruit of faith.  He did it because the love of Christ that he received 36 years ago in baptism was bearing fruit when he woke up to the sound of the fire.

Anyway, I'm mucho proud of Grant and wanted to share. ;-)

Update:  Here is another article. Click on watch the story to see Grant's wife Janice (and their baby). Janice talks about Grant's awesomeness. ;-)

Here is another TV news story.  Clearly it's inferior, because it doesn't talk about Grant's awesomeness at all.

rohangypsy

07:38 am - Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

That is all.

karashebi

09:19 am - Maine...

*emerges from hovel for monthly visit to public posting*

*glances at the states of Maine and Washington*

*notices others speaking about it*

As in the past, I remain inclined to keep my views on the matter partially to myself. I am, to this day, uncomfortable speaking in a semi-public fashion regarding the topic at hand. To those deeply concerned by the events in the state of Maine, I offer my warmest concerns in return and note that the use of public referendums to carefully pattern and alter public perceptions of issues has become something of a twenty-year old tradition in the United States. The aforementioned incident, along with numerous others on various unrelated topics, has led me to question the validity in such practices of actually garnering public opinion on an issue so much as producing a poll-result with just as much bias as any other carefully planned polling by a PAC. It renders any decision made in this fashion politically suspect in my mind, but anyone who knows my views of Dobson and his cronies will know that I have never approved of his tactics, methods or attitudes towards humanity.

As I have said, I think I will remain stonily quiet on the matter of Maine, though the disapproval with which I perceive various PACs manipulate public opinion to one side or another through public referendums mounts with each passing election. To those deeply concerned over those events in particular, I will be keeping each of you in my thoughts and prayers this season. It... is not a particularly easy month for any of you, but take solace more in the company of friends and loved ones than in the policy stylings of politicos in forested places.

One day... I think I may speak on this matter. Today, however, is not that day.

Current Mood: contemplative

electrichobbit

12:03 am - Daily Tweets

Tweets for the day:

• 07:17 @TorusFish Oh, ok. I'll promise not to try to kill you for a few weeks. #

vofleck

08:04 am - Inara on V

Yesterday, I realized that the actress in all those commercials for the new show, V, is Inara.

I now feel compelled to watch it.

Current Mood: sleepy

electrichobbit

12:05 am - Daily Tweets

Tweets for the day:

• 21:27 @TorusFish Wait until I give it a shot, cowboy. #
• 21:28 Seeing a production of Brigadoon at St. Clement's. It's a cute show, and a good production. #