Recent Purchase

Here's my purchase for the night... =)

Bumper Sticker

I saw this in the parking lot where I had dinner tonight. =)

Amen

Here's a video for one of Kid Rock's new songs, Amen. I'm interested to know what you think.

emerginglutherans.org

It has been a very long time since I've posted anything here... I plan on getting back into the groove with blogging now that schools over.

So now that school is done (yes, I am a seminary graduate), I invite you to check out an ongoing project that is the result of a group independent study: http://www.emerginglutherans.org.

We also have a blog, something I've started writing for as well... you can check that out at http://www.emerginglutherans.org/blog.

I look forward to continuing conversation!

Kate

Lunch View

My view from where I ate lunch today... Just thought I would share. =)

Language

I've been thinking a lot about language lately. Most of this has been fueled by an independent study with a group of fellow seminarians studying the emerging church conversation. As we talk more about what the church looks like in a postmodern context, much of the conclusions we come to are centered around language.

Add to all this the fact that my other independent study is further work in Greek by translating Romans as well as leading tutorials for the Hebrew 1 students. What you get is a seminary student who is thinking (perhaps way too much) about language.

But today I had another thought stimulus. I was reading Organic Community by Joseph R. Myers and he has a whole chapter about language in the book. In the chapter, he discusses how we are a noun-centered culture but are currently shifting to a verb-centered culture. In a noun-centric culture, the noun or the subject is what the entire sentence focuses on and the rest of the sentence supports the noun. However, Myers argues that we are starting to shift to a focus on the verb, the action. This shift also places everything in relationship as motion or movement is always in some sort of relationship.

This is also key as much of those studying postmodernity are learning, language is finite and therefore it can be difficult to describe things that seemingly do not have only one meaning. I.e. when I think about a spoon and then talk about a spoon with another person, even though we'll both have a general idea of what a spoon is, we may have different images of the spoon in our head. I may be thinking of a plain silver spoon while my friend imagines one with a plastic handle. It's a simple example, but hopefully you understand what I'm talking about.

So it is with language and postmodernity. In today's context, we are reluctant to name something concretely with one term. Instead we opt for multiple nouns and focus on the verb.

So now to the thought stimulus. Taking all this reading about verb-centered versus noun-centered language into account, I began thinking about my translation of Romans. I have noticed that Paul used infinitive verbs over and over again where an indicative verb would have worked just as well (at least in my mind). Now, the understanding is that using an infinitive (often as an indicative) is a sign of more sophisticated Greek... but I began to wonder if my desire for a clear subject and a finite verb is a symptom of my modern mind (the part that is modern). Is it that even the Greeks (or perhaps more the Hebrews as Paul was also a Judean...) were a bit more verb-centric? Perhaps the use of the infinitive in Greek is a way of indicating the action and the relationship it sustains is what is most important. Thus, the verb stands on its own as opposed to describing the noun/subject and really the noun/subject helps describe the verb. Maybe this just isn't the case at all and I'm making it all up... =)

Does any of this make sense to anyone other than me? Is anybody as excited about this as I am? Or am I just being a dork (probably)? =)

Thoughts?

Yes We Can

Today has truly been Ash Wednesday.

It wasn't just Ash Wednesday because of the liturgical calendar or because I was reminded I am dust and to dust I shall return as the gritty, grimy ashes were placed on my forehead. Today was also Ash Wednesday because I was reminded in very real ways of just how human we are. Friends were either mourning a death this morning or in surgery. Others were struggling with emotional responses to illness. Some have suffered some real difficulties and it seemed like today was the day that all came to bare.

Today has truly been Ash Wednesday.

But in the midst of it, I was reminded that even though I am but dust, even though we are but dust, God calls us out of that and into relationship. God's promises continue to give us hope. I was reminded especially by a music video put together with Barack Obama's victory speech in South Carolina a week ago or so. So I pass this along... and hopefully you'll watch it regardless of your political leanings. I like the messages of hope and unity as we look to the future of not only this country, but for the world and the church as well.

An Update and Some Thoughts

A good friend recently reminded me that I had not updated my blog in the time post-surgery. My ankle is doing nicely and progressing. I have been out of the splint and off crutches for about a week and a half now - back into the boot. I see my doctor this Thursday to get my stitches out and hopefully be out of the boot. Pain is minimal and I haven't really been taking any painkillers - occasionally I'll take some Tylenol but that's it for the past week or so.

The new semester (and my last as an M. Div. student) started today and as part of that I have been engaged in much theological thought in the past several days. I had an experience last night that made me pause and gave me some room for thought so I suppose I will share with you.

I was at a Super Bowl party hosted by some friends of mine. All the people in attendence were Trinity students until two people that I as well as the party hosts know, but are not seminary students, walked in. I talked with them for a bit and so did my friend John - but then I pulled back and watched. Nobody talked with the newcomers even after they were introduced. Granted, there was a football game and commercials on TV - but even as we headed into halftime and people moved from their seats and were talking to others near these two people, nobody engaged them. Here are a bunch of leaders in the Lutheran church and we can't get outside of ourselves, outside of our comfort zone, to welcome the stranger. I bet money there are very few people outside of the three of us who already know them that could tell me who the two are and what they do for a living. I felt horrible because in contrast, when I first met them, they were nothing but welcoming to me and engaged me when I was the stranger in the group. I think we as Lutherans have a lot to learn from them!

So now as I contemplate the nature of the church and what it looks like, I think hospitality is going to be a big piece I carry into my future ministry. Teaching people to be hospitible. Making sure that I am and holding myself accountable - always looking for the stranger and making sure they are no longer a stranger. Even if there is a big game on TV - I can take a few minutes out of my life to ask a few questions and get to know somebody. What's more important, the game or a relationship with a person?

Just some thoughts...

Kate

Surgery

I had surgery on my ankle this morning. Now I'm hanging out with some friends this weekend.

Since I have posted pictures of my bandaging in the past (particularly when I first injured myself), I thought I would post a picture of my huge bandage post op. I'm looking forward to next Thursday already because I'll get it off then. =)

Kate

Vantage Point

I absolutely love the previews before movies. Some people don't care if they see them or not, but I really enjoy getting to the theater with enough time to see the trailers. I suppose the reasons I like them are exactly what the movie studios are hoping for - I am usually entertained and it helps me figure out what movies I want to see in the next several months. But I love them anyway.

So when my brother and I went to see I am Legend last week (good movie), I was excited to sit and watch the trailers before the film. One particular movie caught my eye. I had seen the trailer once before and it intrigued me then, but in some ways the concept of the movie grabbed me for different reasons this time.

The movie, Vantage Point, is an action movie about the assassination attempt on the American President. The tag line for the film early in the trailer is, "8 strangers, each with a different vantage point, each with a piece of the puzzle." This got me thinking a bit about faith and life in general (of course...). (If you want to watch the trailer, click here)

I have been thinking a lot lately about how our particular perspectives of God are not complete - they are only perspectives and cannot encompass everything God is. If we were fully able to describe God, God would no longer be God. God is the one Truth, but we all only have part of the picture.

What if we approached our faith from that perspective? What if the other Christian traditions have a perspective that is just as valid as ours but only different? Sure, there are probably things we are wrong about just as there are things they are wrong about... but what if we can respect each other's faith as an authentic attempt at understanding the Truth? What if we listened to one another seeking to learn from the other's perspective? What if we approached church and faith like this?

Then I started reading Peter Rollins' book, How (Not) to Speak of God. He makes many of the same claims and puts more language to what I had been struggling with, what I had been thinking about. He constructs a whole theology based around this very notion (and I think very solidly too). This theology emerges out of postmodern thought and as we think about how to be the church in the world today, I think Rollins has something very valuable to offer to the conversation.

But again, I do think faith should be approached from the idea of perspectives and vantage points. None of us has a lock on God, none of us has a clear idea of who God is. We only see what we can given our limitedness (and God's infinite nature) and our given context.

The final tag line in the trailer for the movie says, "If you think you've seen it all, look again." Maybe we should all look again at what it means to be Christian.

Just some thoughts. I would love to hear what you all think.

Kate

Called by God, Sent to Serve

The Catholic church in New Mexico has a very visible ad campaign with good theology. My question is, does this translate into the pews? Do people really understand they are sent to serve? I sure hope so! I do think the language we use is very important and that the message we send is very visible.

Kate =)

I Want One of These!

The Book Collection Grows

Merry Christmas! =)

Airports Aren't Just for Travel Anymore...

I love that we are using electronics to sell electronics now... Anything to cut down on the cost of paying a person to sell stuff. =)

Kate

Trinity Decorated for Christmas

For all you who haven't been to Trinity (or even those of you who have), here's a picture for you.

Uncomfortable

Tonight, as I sat in a Starbucks reading, I observed some kids skateboarding across the street at a skate park... in the snow. I watched them doing ollies as the snow fell all around them and as I watched I thought about how much they must love skating. To love something so much to give up the warmth of being inside and instead be uncomfortable and cold.

I sat there with my warm cup of coffee inside a warm building and I thought about these kids as an image for ministry. To love something so much that we are willing to be uncomfortable... to love God so much that we are willing to be uncomfortable... How many of us sit in the warmth of our worship services on Sunday mornings, comfortable and unshaken? How many of us ride around in our cars or sit in our houses, comfortable? Are we willing to give some of this up for the sake of the gospel? Are we willing to be uncomfortable for something that could be so much fun?

Those kids were having a good time skating - the rush of landing a jump or speeding from one end of the park to the other... what about the rush of helping another person or living into our calling as children of God? Those kids gave up warmth, gave up comfort for some great fun. Are we willing to do the same?

Just a thought. =)

Kate

It's Been a While...

I recognize it has been a while since I last wrote anything. Life has been a tad bit crazy and I'm honestly wondering where the time keeps going.

School is going well. I'm enjoying being back in classes and thinking about things. I just wish I had more time in my day. This past week has sort of been some of that. This year, Trinity switched to semesters and this past week has been a week long fall break. I had grand plans for the week, plans to study for the GRE (the Graduate Record Examination - which I take on Monday) and to get some work done with more sleep than I traditionally I get. But I'm sitting at the end of the week and only some of my plans have actually happened. But that's ok. I have enjoyed having the week off though.

One thing that "interfered" with my grand plans this week was a funeral. A member of my internship congregation who I visited regularly last year died last Sunday. His funeral was on Thursday. I was able to drive up on Thursday and participate in the funeral and committal service. I saw a lot of members of the congregation and realized just how much I miss them all. I'm glad I was able to be there - it meant a lot to me and I'm sure his family appreciated it as well.

So now I'm looking toward the next couple of days and trying to plan out I need to do. More later I'm sure. =)

Kate

An Ethical Standard

One of the classes I'm currently taking is Theology and Sexuality. We're addressing a wide array of topics and what the church and our faith has to say in relation to our sexuality. We're starting to talk about ethical norms and wondering if we can establish an ethical standard with regard to sex.

I've been pondering ethical standards in general lately. Because we're living in a postmodern society, any ethical framework can be and is challenged by any other framework. Is there a framework that can be embraced by all or are we always going to have our own ethical frameworks depending on what subset of the culture we live in and subscribe to? I've often thought about an experience on internship when a book group at the church read and discussed the book Godless Ethics. It is an interesting proposal by a retired Episcopal bishop who both challenges Christian norms and upholds them throughout the book. But the basic premise is to answer the question, "Is there an ethic we can all subscribe to regardless of religion because it's built upon something other than God?" I think the answer is no... which then brings up another question in my mind.

Because I believe that we cannot all subscribe to the same ethical framework, I wonder if there is there a way for us to live together in the midst of our own ethical frameworks and not pronounce judgment on each other based on those frameworks. Basically, is there a way to peacefully coexist while maintaining our own beliefs and convictions? Is this even a legitimate question?

I ask all of this because as I think about sexual ethics in our congregations and the wider church, I have to wonder if it is acceptable for us to have different ideas about what is ethically right and good (while trying to be faithful to the gospel). What will come out of all these conversations the ELCA is having? Anything? A meta ethic we can all subscribe to or continued conversation because we can never agree? Will we ever be able to come to an agreement at all?

I don't know - all sorts of stuff to ponder. =)

Kate

Who Knows What This Is?

Take a Drive Through Albuquerque