A minor

I really enjoyed Brad's post, "In the world but not of it: On prepositions and dissonance," especially this aside:

I have been everything from liberal, ignorant Catholic to liberal Methodist to conservative Charismatic Catholic to extremely conservative Puritan to ecumenically-minded whatever-it-is-I-am-now-who-happens-to-worship-and-serve-as-a-Presbyterian-because-I-like-my-church.

The post is basically on TV and the maturing Christian life. Brad asks for his readers' thoughts, and even though I don't really have any to offer him, maybe you will. In any case, enjoy.

Louisiana Boardwalk

My last couple weekdays off, Hollie's really wanted to go to the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. (Unfortunately, last week it was freezing and today it's raining.) I just looked up the website, but it doesn't quite do justice to the place; the development firm's page is much better. I went for the first time a few weeks ago, and I was thoroughly impressed. I especially like the fact that there are plenty of things for the boys & me to do while Hollie shops - there's a trolley, fountains, Bass Pro Outdoor World, a carousel, movies, plus food galore, and when they get older, an arcade, bowling, etc.

Well, due to a Blogger database problem this weekend, my last post - on Golden Rule Blogrolling - is no longer properly archived in my blog. It's still out there in the ether, but I can't edit it (e.g. to add the proper trackback link to Know Tea); it doesn't even show up in my list of posts. Ah well...you get what you pay for.

Valentine's 2006

Monday night, Hollie & I went to Athena Greek & Lebanese Restaurant for gyro & chicken shwarma salads and then to Copeland's, where we shared a piece of cheesecake Napoleon with praline topping and a frozen white Russian. We had a great time feasting on Hollie's favorite foods (and all for under $50, as she, ever frugal, would point out with delight).

Last night we had a party for the boys at home. Ethan's been looking forward to Valentine's like it was Christmas, so we had to do something. Hollie's family came over, and we had Valentine's cookies, the boys exchanged cards and candy with everyone, etc.

Most gracious heavenly Father, you gave Saint Valentine the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving his life for it. Help us to endure all suffering for love of you, and to seek you with all our hearts; for you alone are the source of life and love. Grant that we may have the courage and love to be strong witnesses of your truth to our friends and family and to the whole world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I spent a while writing this the other night before losing it, but I'll try to reconstruct it now. (See, if I had a Johari Window, you could pick "persistent"...not that it's even in the list.)

A couple weeks ago, we took a long weekend trip to visit my family in Idaho. Hollie posted some family pictures on the boys' blog. Despite flight complications coming and going, Finn couldn't have been a better flyer. (Ethan & Levi stayed home with Hollie's parents since it was cost prohibitive for them to fly this time, especially for such a short trip.)

Since we ended up with two full travel days, I had a fair amount of time to read. Soon, I plan to post more quotes from Howatch's Glamorous Powers, but here's one for now that stuck in my mind because it made me think of Hollie. Speaking of her mother and her mother's effect on her father, a character says, "She was a very sensible, down-to-earth person and she wouldn't let him retreat into this fantasy world...."

We went to Trinity and enjoyed their liturgy, which largely follows the old LCA red Service Book & Hymnal's Second Setting by Regina Fryxell. Dr Leithart gave a refreshing exhortation (and sermon) from the end of Ecclesiastes; see also his further application of "casting bread on the waters."

More than anything, though, we enjoyed our time, brief as it was, visiting family and catching up with friends. It was especially nice to finally meet our new little niece, Evelyn, and to spend time with my little brothers who are more grown up everytime I see them.

Hollie's Johari Window

Fill it out if you dare.

Protestant Apologies

Kevin Johnson blogs some reasons why he's not Roman Catholic; Mark Horne adds a few more, along with a futuristic vision of the insignificance of our Protestant/Catholic divide.

Update: Al Kimel responds, to which Mark replies, then Kevin, then Tim Enloe, Mark again, etc.

I love posts like this.

Finn's persistent cough has been diagnosed as bronchitis. He's been a real trooper through it all. Please pray that he continues to hold up well.

Harlem Globetrotters

If anyone is interested in seeing the Harlem Globetrotters in Bossier (Monday night, 7:00), speak up now. My dad has a large amount of free tickets on hand.

Tagged By Hollie

Four Jobs I've Had:

- FedEx Kinko's assistant manager
- Episcopal church administrator
- Latin teacher
- Presbyterian camp counsellor & riflery instructor

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:

- Hard Eight (aka Sydney)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
- Grumpy Old Men
- The Remains of the Day

Four Books I Could Read Over and Over:

- The Bible
- The Valley of Vision
- The Sociology of the Church (FreeBooks detail)
- Piers Plowman

Four Places I've Lived:

- Monroe, LA (several parts of town)
- Moscow, ID (I obviously haven't branched out much either)

Four TV Shows I Watch:

- The King of Queens
- King of the Hill
- Will and Grace
- Law and Order

Four Places I've Been On Vacation:

- England & Scotland
- Boston, MA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Highlands, NC

Four Websites I Visit Daily:

- Google
- Dictionary.com
- A minor (for blog roll)
- Yahoogroups.com/group/bibhorizon

Four Favorite Foods:

- enchiladas a la crema
- corned beef on croissant
- chicken fingers
- beer

Four Places I'd Like To Be Right Now:

- on the porch of a cabin on a lake
- in a big city
- at an island resort
- Jerusalem

Four Bloggers I'm Tagging:

- John Barach
- Rich Bledsoe
- Michael Metzler
- Joel Wilhelm