"When in doubt, play a G#dim7."
- Mr. Gatley, during worship practice.
Oct 25, 2010
Oct 23, 2010
Oct 21, 2010
Character Quizzes...
I needed a break so I did some random character quizzes.
Do these fit???
Do these fit???
Which Harry Potter Character are you?
Oct 19, 2010
Masonry Daughters
My dad lead worship the Sunday before last. The twins played keyboard, Sarah was on bass, I was on drums, and we borrowed a couple guitarists. After the service had come to a close, we finished our "closing jam session" (really what it is, because no one sings) as people left their seats and began to mingle or convert the sanctuary into a cafeteria.
As I began to dismantle and unplug the array of wires and set pieces, our guest speaker, Mark Hamby, who had given the sermon that morning, walked up and shook my hand. He told me that we did a good job, and that he thought it was really cool that a girl was playing the drums. He referred to Nehemiah 3:12 where Shallum repaired a section of the wall with the help of his daughters, a characteristic he calls "masonry daughters."
While I wouldn't use that verse to claim a biblical sanction for playing drums if my role in that vocation was ever questioned, I thought it was a cool characterisation.
I'd always heard the "Tom Boy" label and never liked it. In every case that I heard it used, the girl was always proud or rebellious, refusing to comply with feminine protocol just to be cool. It seemed to be governed by the idea with the role of a woman was ridiculous, and the "tom boy" was steppng out of her role as a young woman in order to prove a point.
I know several of these Masonry Daughters. My role model is Brianna Walden. She was the intern girl for the Oregon TeenPact classes that I staffed earlier this year. Every morning, she would fly delicately down the stairs, dressed in a skirt and suit jacket, a picture of wonderful femininity. And yet, the day before she had organized an unconventional roap swing activity for us girls, and played a mean game of Ultimate Frisbee, not afraid to dive and get dirty. The crazy stories she told of her outdoor adventures and the work she would do with her dad on their property, revealed that she wasn't merely the delicate jewel she appeared to be. She was definitely a masonry daughter, but she wasn't proud about it, and viewed it as part of being a daughter, rather than a rebellion against her role. She would do any job, but keep her beautiful femininity with her.
This is the kind of daughter that I want to be, willing to take my femininity with me while taking adventerous steps outside the usual paradigm to do the rough-and-tumble jobs. Tough, but refined. Fearless, but feminine. Willing, but respectful. We are Masonry Daughters.
As I began to dismantle and unplug the array of wires and set pieces, our guest speaker, Mark Hamby, who had given the sermon that morning, walked up and shook my hand. He told me that we did a good job, and that he thought it was really cool that a girl was playing the drums. He referred to Nehemiah 3:12 where Shallum repaired a section of the wall with the help of his daughters, a characteristic he calls "masonry daughters."
While I wouldn't use that verse to claim a biblical sanction for playing drums if my role in that vocation was ever questioned, I thought it was a cool characterisation.
I'd always heard the "Tom Boy" label and never liked it. In every case that I heard it used, the girl was always proud or rebellious, refusing to comply with feminine protocol just to be cool. It seemed to be governed by the idea with the role of a woman was ridiculous, and the "tom boy" was steppng out of her role as a young woman in order to prove a point.
I know several of these Masonry Daughters. My role model is Brianna Walden. She was the intern girl for the Oregon TeenPact classes that I staffed earlier this year. Every morning, she would fly delicately down the stairs, dressed in a skirt and suit jacket, a picture of wonderful femininity. And yet, the day before she had organized an unconventional roap swing activity for us girls, and played a mean game of Ultimate Frisbee, not afraid to dive and get dirty. The crazy stories she told of her outdoor adventures and the work she would do with her dad on their property, revealed that she wasn't merely the delicate jewel she appeared to be. She was definitely a masonry daughter, but she wasn't proud about it, and viewed it as part of being a daughter, rather than a rebellion against her role. She would do any job, but keep her beautiful femininity with her.
This is the kind of daughter that I want to be, willing to take my femininity with me while taking adventerous steps outside the usual paradigm to do the rough-and-tumble jobs. Tough, but refined. Fearless, but feminine. Willing, but respectful. We are Masonry Daughters.
Oct 14, 2010
College Update #3 - OT Law and Grace
I'd never thought about the law and grace in the way that my OT Survey textbook depicted them in relation to each other. While the extensivity (is that a word?) of this relationship would merit a much more in depth study than the excerpt below, I had never considered this specific point and context until the author presented it's possibility. I'm glad I found it so interesting because there was a question about it on the reading quiz. That aside, here's the snippet.
"We are used to drawing a sharp contrast between law and grace. This would have puzzled the ancient Israelite for whom there was hardly any greater display of God's grace than that demonstrated in his giving of the law. In the ancient Near East, gods were not known for their consistency. Worshipers were left to guess what might please their god or displease him, and this could change from day to day. That doubt and uncertainty led to a constant confusion, and one could only guess whether he or she was in favor or out of favor by evaluating one's daily fortune.
"The law changed all that for the Israelites. Their God had chosen to reveal himself and to tell them plainly what he expected of them...One result of this perspective is that in the Old Testament the Israelites are not heard complaining about the burdensomeness of the law. It was a great example of God's love for them that he would communicate to them in this way. They considered themselves fortunate to be able to know what God required of them. The law was viewed as a delight rather than drudgery, as freedom of revelation rather than fetters of restriction." (Hill 175)
While I doubt the author's ability to read the minds of the Israelites, it does seem like a plausible depiction of their regard for the law.
Hill, Andrew E., John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament, 3rd edition, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2009
"We are used to drawing a sharp contrast between law and grace. This would have puzzled the ancient Israelite for whom there was hardly any greater display of God's grace than that demonstrated in his giving of the law. In the ancient Near East, gods were not known for their consistency. Worshipers were left to guess what might please their god or displease him, and this could change from day to day. That doubt and uncertainty led to a constant confusion, and one could only guess whether he or she was in favor or out of favor by evaluating one's daily fortune.
"The law changed all that for the Israelites. Their God had chosen to reveal himself and to tell them plainly what he expected of them...One result of this perspective is that in the Old Testament the Israelites are not heard complaining about the burdensomeness of the law. It was a great example of God's love for them that he would communicate to them in this way. They considered themselves fortunate to be able to know what God required of them. The law was viewed as a delight rather than drudgery, as freedom of revelation rather than fetters of restriction." (Hill 175)
While I doubt the author's ability to read the minds of the Israelites, it does seem like a plausible depiction of their regard for the law.
Hill, Andrew E., John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament, 3rd edition, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2009
Oct 13, 2010
Personality: ENFJ
I'm at it again! I found this one quite interesting.
You are:
Slightly expressed extravert
Very expressed intuitive personality
Moderately expressed feeling personality
Slightly expressed judging personality
Here is a more in-depth analysis. I found it revealing and rather comical. Seems to fit.
And here's another page telling me I should be a teacher. Imagine that.
Slightly expressed extravert
Very expressed intuitive personality
Moderately expressed feeling personality
Slightly expressed judging personality
Here is a more in-depth analysis. I found it revealing and rather comical. Seems to fit.
And here's another page telling me I should be a teacher. Imagine that.
Oct 9, 2010
DISC Test Results
I love these types of assessments. I'm not quite sure why I find them so fascinating. What's hilarious about my results is that my dad is an a high "S", my mom is a high "C", and Sarah is an absolute "S". I basically defied all familial norms when I came on stage.
The test I took was not the most thorough, but it was free. I know Wikipedia's not the most wonderful source of all time, but I did like the following summary:
________________________________________________________
Dominance: High "D" people are described as demanding, forceful, egocentric, strong willed, driving, determined, ambitious, aggressive, and pioneering. Low D scores describe those who are conservative, low keyed, cooperative, calculating, undemanding, cautious, mild, agreeable, modest and peaceful.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Conscientious: High "C" people are careful, cautious, exacting, neat, systematic, diplomatic, accurate, and tactful. Those with low "C" scores challenge the rules and want independence and are described as self-willed, stubborn, opinionated, unsystematic, arbitrary, and unconcerned with details.
Oct 6, 2010
A Girl's Holy Ambition: Her Knight in Shining Armor
Sarah and I were talking the other day. We do that a lot, but this particular conversation was especially thought-provoking. We were noting how fast our peer circle is growing up. Our little buddies are driving, our sisters are taller than we are, and our friends are heading into college. Basically, our social group is experiencing the winds of seasonal change. All of these conditions, achievements, and circumstances are normal in the process of growing up, but it’s still rather strange to see the paradigm shift as past seasons come to a close and we enter a new stage of life.
Also, a development that we see as quite strange is how many of our friends through grade school are "in relationships" with their recently (or not so recently) discovered significant others. We learn of these "situations" and, after a wide-eyed look of shock crosses our faces followed by several awkward blinks, we go about the task of finding a knook or cranny in which to store the strange piece of information in our unyielding brains.
It's not like we've never considered the day our dad will walk us down the aisle, it has just never been of such immediate importance that we spent much time dwelling on it. As girls, we're not going to initiate that type of "relationship" (See Mark Driscoll on this idea, its rather entertaining.) so we don't spend our mental energy wondering, worrying, or planning for it. ...Not to mention the fact that we've always been "too little." If those special people come along, our dad will let us know.
That aside, there is one mindset regarding guy-girl relationships that really ticks me off. It pains me to see girls who graduate or finish their schooling in some form or another and then just wait around to get married. They have no real evident purpose and no practical plan. They sometimes work a few odd hours a week, or "help out" at home, but their life's philosophy seems to complacently say, "Oh, I'm just waiting for my knight in shining armor to come and find me." Their whole purpose in life is oriented around that ride into the sunset.
As Sarah and I were discussing this sad reality, I made the point that, "These girls seem to just sit around, waiting for their knight in shinig armor to rescue them," and then (in my best attempt at a Mark Driscoll impersonation : 7:00-7:15) I'm like, "I HAVE ONE! His name is... JESUS! I don't need this guy!"
If a girl's purpose in life is founded in Christ, then He will completely exceed her expectations. If a girl's purpose in life is founded in her significant other, that poor man will always fall short of her expectations. Either that, or she will worship him in the place of Jesus, yet another role he was never meant to fulfill.
I was rather challenged and inspired by this message from John Piper.
Also, a development that we see as quite strange is how many of our friends through grade school are "in relationships" with their recently (or not so recently) discovered significant others. We learn of these "situations" and, after a wide-eyed look of shock crosses our faces followed by several awkward blinks, we go about the task of finding a knook or cranny in which to store the strange piece of information in our unyielding brains.
It's not like we've never considered the day our dad will walk us down the aisle, it has just never been of such immediate importance that we spent much time dwelling on it. As girls, we're not going to initiate that type of "relationship" (See Mark Driscoll on this idea, its rather entertaining.) so we don't spend our mental energy wondering, worrying, or planning for it. ...Not to mention the fact that we've always been "too little." If those special people come along, our dad will let us know.
That aside, there is one mindset regarding guy-girl relationships that really ticks me off. It pains me to see girls who graduate or finish their schooling in some form or another and then just wait around to get married. They have no real evident purpose and no practical plan. They sometimes work a few odd hours a week, or "help out" at home, but their life's philosophy seems to complacently say, "Oh, I'm just waiting for my knight in shining armor to come and find me." Their whole purpose in life is oriented around that ride into the sunset.
As Sarah and I were discussing this sad reality, I made the point that, "These girls seem to just sit around, waiting for their knight in shinig armor to rescue them," and then (in my best attempt at a Mark Driscoll impersonation : 7:00-7:15) I'm like, "I HAVE ONE! His name is... JESUS! I don't need this guy!"
If a girl's purpose in life is founded in Christ, then He will completely exceed her expectations. If a girl's purpose in life is founded in her significant other, that poor man will always fall short of her expectations. Either that, or she will worship him in the place of Jesus, yet another role he was never meant to fulfill.
I was rather challenged and inspired by this message from John Piper.
Oct 5, 2010
Thought in a Question #5
What's your life's mission?
...I'm not kidding, I'd really love to know! Comment below.
John Piper: Do Something Risky and Find Your Niche
John Piper: Do Something Risky with Your Life - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AZVkexI1qQ&feature=related
John Piper: Find Your Niche - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XFPbRzFpi4&feature=related
Oct 4, 2010
John Piper's New Jacket
I found this rather hilarious. Made me laugh. Have a wonderful day.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRg7lpozNzU&NR=1
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRg7lpozNzU&NR=1
Oct 2, 2010
Megan's Note
Megan left me this note on a "floating post-it" as my dad calls them. They're the post it notes that you can put on your computer desktop. It's from early January of this year, but I saved the message and found it not long ago. Basically, my little sister is amazng. Enough said.
Love you, Megs!
Love you, Megs!
Oct 1, 2010
Quirks
It wasn't long ago that I started wondering about my subtle (and some not so subtle) quirks. So, out of sheer curiosity, I decided to think about it for a while and make a list. Sarah offered her two cents at the end.
I...
- Can't stand/sit still when I'm on the phone.
- Hate sitting "properly" in a chair.
- Can't seem to talk without my hands moving.
- Use the word "basically" far to often.
- Try to use the word "inexorably" in sentences where it never fits.
- Chew gum to a beat.
- Giggle at circumstances of assumed or expected etiquette and protocol.
- Like Gregorian Chants.
- Could listen to online sermon podcasts/media all day long.
- Keep singing along with the music, even after Sarah turns it off mid-song.
- Am the quiet girl in class.
- Would eat steamed broccoli for breakfast.
- Don't wear shoes when I can get away with it.
- Hate scholarship applications and water chestnuts with an inexorable passion.
- "She's a wreck! But it's awesome!" - Sarah
I'm sure there are more, but we'll leave it at this for now.
I...
- Can't stand/sit still when I'm on the phone.
- Hate sitting "properly" in a chair.
- Can't seem to talk without my hands moving.
- Use the word "basically" far to often.
- Try to use the word "inexorably" in sentences where it never fits.
- Chew gum to a beat.
- Giggle at circumstances of assumed or expected etiquette and protocol.
- Like Gregorian Chants.
- Could listen to online sermon podcasts/media all day long.
- Keep singing along with the music, even after Sarah turns it off mid-song.
- Am the quiet girl in class.
- Would eat steamed broccoli for breakfast.
- Don't wear shoes when I can get away with it.
- Hate scholarship applications and water chestnuts with an inexorable passion.
- "She's a wreck! But it's awesome!" - Sarah
I'm sure there are more, but we'll leave it at this for now.
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