WORLDS ARE FORMING

One Morning from the Front Porch.

Merry Christmas from The Clevelands.

                                   A truly enjoyable first Christmas on the new property!

On the Farm.

I'm no Dan Pioske (i.e. a large Germanic Green Giant farmer with leathery hands from Minnesota), but with my parent's recent move to 10 acres of property northeast of Seattle, I feel solidarity with all those who live on farms.

There are the animals here.  Three chicken.  Two sheep. Two barn cats.  Two miniature donkeys.  One horse.  One house cat.  One dog. So...a little different than what I am used to...and gloriously quiet here.  Oh, and I have to drive 11 miles to town to get reception on my cell phone.  (So, call me, and leave a message, but it will take awhile for me to get back to you!)

Over the past few days, it has been fun to get acquainted with the new house, taking walks with my Dad around the property, and hanging out with the family (especially my niece and nephew).  I'll have some pictures and stories soon.  Until then, peace.  Find rest, friends.

Who DOESN'T love lists?

Call me crazy, but I make lists so that I can check things off. Very few things make me happier than the act of checking off lists. 

This note card has been taped to the corner of my desk for a good four weeks, expectantly waiting to have its little blue boxes checked off.  Some projects were to be done before break, other things, after.  As you can see, I almost made my goal.  I'll be a busy man when I return, but I am okay with that. 

Going to a school that has finals after Christmas break: not completely bad, just 97.99% bad.

So.  With four emphatic checks on this note card, I will fly to my parent's new home in Seattle for the first time today, excited to see my family, eager to sleep, and hoping to do as little homework as possible.

Psalm 145.

Just as these themes echo throughout Scripture, they echo in my heart and mind, too.  Good words to live by.

"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom... The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made... The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made... My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.  Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever." 

                                                     - David, Psalm 145.3, 8-9, 17, 21.

My So-Called Life.

This is my day...getting stuff DONE.  I'll call it the Tour de Princeton.

Editing my Camus (Absurdism and Postmodernism) paper here.  Then writing my Pastoral Care of Men (Male Body Image) paper here.  Editing one Calvin (Calvin and the Sacraments) paper and researching for another Calvin (Gender in the Reformation) paper here.  And finally, diving in (to sleep for a long time) here.

You're jealous, right?

***UPDATE: I've spent 8.5 hours writing papers.  Callin' it quits for today.***

There's a reason for it.

My blog has been bleak, eh? It has been awhile since I have posted any of my own pictures.  There's good reason for that: I haven't been taking many.  This is not to say that life hasn't been good or photoworthy.  Lots of good things going on.  Just busy enjoying it, sans camera.  I do miss snapping shots...but am also busy.  Maybe there will be a photo revival during my upcoming vacation in Seattle.  Until then, it will be a little bleak.

Blog Vulnerability: The Best Part of Wakin' Up...

...is hitting your head against the wall.  Hard.

Apparently, I was tossing around in my bed this morning, half-awake, eyes closed, avoiding imminent wakeage, and wasn't aware of my proximity to the wall.  All of a sudden, I turned my head to the right, and **WHAM.**  I concussed.  I think both the act of hitting my head against the wall as well as the reverberating sound of the thump awakened me.  To make myself feel better, I went back to sleep for juuust a little longer.  Sigh.  It's hard to be me.

Who does that?!  Anyone have any comparable or exceptional stories of waking up?

Spring Course Load 2007.

My last semester at PTS will look a little somethin' like this...in order of my excitement levels...

Marriage, Family, and Community ::  Dr. Hunsinger
    Small class...unique pastoral care professor...good material.
The Minister and Mental Illness  ::  Dr. Capps
    Interesting subject...brilliant but soft-spoken professor early in the morning.
Word & Act  ::  Dr. Feelgood
    Learning and practicing how to baptize, commune and marry.
Exegesis of Isaiah  ::  Dr. Olson
    Rippin' Isaiah apart.  Eh.
Presbyterian History & Theology  :: Drs. Deming and Moorhead
    Gotta know where you come from and learn about the Frozen Chosen.
Ethics of the Ten Commandments  ::  Drs. Duff and Lapsley
    Gotta do what you gotta do. 

Fridays and most afternoons off.  I like that.

Gifts in the Subway.

I was waiting for the subway this afternoon, and all of a sudden, amidst the coarse screeching of the subway cars, I heard a man with his guitar and harmonica singing "It is Well" from his heart. 

Though I am usually completely uncomfortable with street and subway evangelism (i.e. the guy screaming select verses from the book of Romans at the top of his lungs the night before), the song felt like a gift from God...just what I needed. 

It is good to find God in surprising places.