...or if my Baptist friends could see me now!
About a year ago I catechised myself. That is, I went through the Westminister Shorter Catechism. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded what I truly believe about the Bible and what I truly think is man's interpretation of the Bible and what I remember my Baptist upbringing alluding to the catechism as being "too Catholic"! Ha!
One of the funnies things I heard was Mike Warnke's tape on being raised Baptist then going to a Catholic foster home. (I know...Warnke's a fraud but he was still funny!) He poked fun not only at Catholics but anal-retentive Baptists. For so long I looked down at Catholics, seeing them as fallen so far away from what Christ wanted for the church. From what Paul and Peter and James told us how Christians should live.
I'm finding that some of the things Catholics do aren't Mary-worshipping-mumbo-jumbo. I'm finding some fun in the Christian Year. I'm discovering new ways to see God in His word and His creation. I'm beginning to think that stain glass windows are the bomb! (Can you still say 'the bomb' or is that so 20th Century??)
Anyways, one of the things I'm am embarking on is going to be Lent. Giving up something for 40 days? No. Not just giving up something for 40 days. I'm going to use this time of Lent, between Ash Wednesday and Easter, to make some sacrifices to help me focus more on Christ. For me, I'm skipping lunch. I know, that's a standard thing but lately, I've been eating more, craving more food, wanting more and more to eat. I've put back on 7 pounds in the last 7 weeks. I don't like it.
But the fast is going to be more than a weight loss program. I intend, when the growlies start, to, at first, pray. A quick prayer for whatever pops into the old head. I hope to move on to reading a Psalm. My St. James Daily Devotional Guide for the Christian Year (http://www.touchstonemag.com/frpat.html) has two readings from Psalms every day. I usually read the morning one but forgo the evening Psalm. I intend to read that evening Psalm when the growlies come.
So that's my plan. Maybe God and I will re-connect on a different level. Maybe He can cut through some of my anger. Maybe He can cut through some of my despair. Maybe He's the light at the end of the tunnel instead of the train I think is coming down the tracks, aiming right for me.
That's my plan...and you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men...I think James had something to say about that!
Eric
Monday, February 27, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Take NBC out of The Olympics!
The Winter Olympics....
I used to love the Winter Olympics; much more than I liked the Summer Games. I think it has to do with the fact that when I was 10, my family lived in England and we got the chance to travel to Innsbruck, Austria just after the winter games had been held there. We got to see the ski jump, the ice rinks, bobsled track among other things. We saw where Franz Klammer went like a bat-out-of-hell in the men's downhill, looking like he was out of control, arms flailing, only to win the gold medal. Being there was made what we saw on television more real.
And I looked forward to watching the games on TV. From Lake Placid to Salt Lake City. But something happened along the way. The games were still good but the coverage began to take on a life of its own. No longer were announcers willing to let the athletes actions speak for themselves, no, we had to hear every nauseating tidbit of inane and arcane information about not only the athlete but the snow, who made the poles, what the fabric of their uniforms was made of, how Chinese and Russian judges were biased, how the Jamaican bobsled team got to the games (great story but I've heard it already and seen the movie with John Candy. No need to rehash it every four years!)
It seems almost as if the talking heads don't hear themselves in their earbuds then the games have no meaning. Come on! If I wanted to hear Katie Couric or Matt Lauer blather on I'd watch "The Today Show" instead of "CBS This Morning"! What I want to see is, during the time I'm awake (ie: before 11pm!), the highlights of the day. If I want to see curling on MSNBC (which I did on Thursday sitting at SkyTrek in Modesto!), I'll Tivo it or take the necessary arrangements to record it.
I guess what bugs me the most is the games have become more about NBC's coverage than of the games themselves. Who cares who announces? Who cares that Katie Couric got taught to ski by Pikabo Street? I want to see Bode Miller! I want to see Sarah what's-her-name! I want to see the US Curling Team for crying out loud!
I really wish FoxSports would get a crack at the games sometime in the future. That'll the ultimate in network over-indulgence!
Eric
I used to love the Winter Olympics; much more than I liked the Summer Games. I think it has to do with the fact that when I was 10, my family lived in England and we got the chance to travel to Innsbruck, Austria just after the winter games had been held there. We got to see the ski jump, the ice rinks, bobsled track among other things. We saw where Franz Klammer went like a bat-out-of-hell in the men's downhill, looking like he was out of control, arms flailing, only to win the gold medal. Being there was made what we saw on television more real.
And I looked forward to watching the games on TV. From Lake Placid to Salt Lake City. But something happened along the way. The games were still good but the coverage began to take on a life of its own. No longer were announcers willing to let the athletes actions speak for themselves, no, we had to hear every nauseating tidbit of inane and arcane information about not only the athlete but the snow, who made the poles, what the fabric of their uniforms was made of, how Chinese and Russian judges were biased, how the Jamaican bobsled team got to the games (great story but I've heard it already and seen the movie with John Candy. No need to rehash it every four years!)
It seems almost as if the talking heads don't hear themselves in their earbuds then the games have no meaning. Come on! If I wanted to hear Katie Couric or Matt Lauer blather on I'd watch "The Today Show" instead of "CBS This Morning"! What I want to see is, during the time I'm awake (ie: before 11pm!), the highlights of the day. If I want to see curling on MSNBC (which I did on Thursday sitting at SkyTrek in Modesto!), I'll Tivo it or take the necessary arrangements to record it.
I guess what bugs me the most is the games have become more about NBC's coverage than of the games themselves. Who cares who announces? Who cares that Katie Couric got taught to ski by Pikabo Street? I want to see Bode Miller! I want to see Sarah what's-her-name! I want to see the US Curling Team for crying out loud!
I really wish FoxSports would get a crack at the games sometime in the future. That'll the ultimate in network over-indulgence!
Eric
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Cheney's Fury!
I've been a bit blue this week...planes not working...body not working...eh.
But this...(HT to BHT)...this made me laugh!
Cheney's Fury!
Boy...did it make me laugh!
Hey boys and girls...accidents do happen. They are not always conspiracies. Not everybody has to know right away what happened. Stuff happens. Sometimes you loose an Olympic Silver medal. Sometimes you shoot a political contributor. (Hey...he was a lawyer for cryin' out loud...he probably had it coming!) (j/k).
Eric
But this...(HT to BHT)...this made me laugh!
Cheney's Fury!
Boy...did it make me laugh!
Hey boys and girls...accidents do happen. They are not always conspiracies. Not everybody has to know right away what happened. Stuff happens. Sometimes you loose an Olympic Silver medal. Sometimes you shoot a political contributor. (Hey...he was a lawyer for cryin' out loud...he probably had it coming!) (j/k).
Eric
Monday, February 13, 2006
"Gonorhea on Valentines Day (VD)"
"...and you're still lookin' for the perfect lay..." - Larry Norman, "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus (He's Got The Answer)
Tomorrow's Valentine's Day and I still have to get cards for the wife and kids. Why? Cause they got me one that's why. VD doesn't have the same appeal it did when I was dating and courting my wife. Now it's just another day to spend money I don't have. You see, my daughter's bday is Nov 30, son's is Dec. 11, then Xmas, then Sister's bday Dec 29. Dad's is Jan 6 and wife's is Jan 16. By Feb 14...I'm broke!
But I'll still do the card and candy thing because that's what I have to do. The kids will be upset if I don't and the wife, even though she says she doesn't want anything she still likes the card and flowers. Tells her I still love her and don't take her for granted.
Eric
Tomorrow's Valentine's Day and I still have to get cards for the wife and kids. Why? Cause they got me one that's why. VD doesn't have the same appeal it did when I was dating and courting my wife. Now it's just another day to spend money I don't have. You see, my daughter's bday is Nov 30, son's is Dec. 11, then Xmas, then Sister's bday Dec 29. Dad's is Jan 6 and wife's is Jan 16. By Feb 14...I'm broke!
But I'll still do the card and candy thing because that's what I have to do. The kids will be upset if I don't and the wife, even though she says she doesn't want anything she still likes the card and flowers. Tells her I still love her and don't take her for granted.
Eric
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Japanese Name
What's yours? (Buchner probably knows hers...she's livin' the dream in Japan!)
Mine is: 藤原 Fujiwara (wisteria fields) 駿 Shun (fast person)
So...I a field of fast flowers...interesting. You can find yours at: Japanese Name Generator
Now...I don't know how accurate this is but it is interesting. I have had a fascination with things oriental/asian for quite some time. I study a chinese martial art. One of my favorite series is a Japanese Anime; "Cowboy Bebop". My newest favorite series is "Firefly" which includes many chinese words and phrases. So much am I into "Firefly" that I uttered the word "gorram" the other day while I was flying!
Anyways...just some fun for the weekend.
Eric
Mine is: 藤原 Fujiwara (wisteria fields) 駿 Shun (fast person)
So...I a field of fast flowers...interesting. You can find yours at: Japanese Name Generator
Now...I don't know how accurate this is but it is interesting. I have had a fascination with things oriental/asian for quite some time. I study a chinese martial art. One of my favorite series is a Japanese Anime; "Cowboy Bebop". My newest favorite series is "Firefly" which includes many chinese words and phrases. So much am I into "Firefly" that I uttered the word "gorram" the other day while I was flying!
Anyways...just some fun for the weekend.
Eric
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