Claimed, gathered and sent

Thanks to Singing Owl for this interesting quiz. Here are my results. Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz... You Are a Bette! "I must be strong" Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective. How to Get Along with Me * Stand up for yourself... and me. * Be confident, strong, and direct. * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust. * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side. * Give me space to be alone. * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me. * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack. * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am. What I Like About Being a Bette * being independent and self-reliant * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on * being courageous, st...

For the last couple of months, this has been what the main road through the seminary looked like. It has been with uncertainty and a bit of trepidation that we would venture out each morning. Where will the trucks be? What part of the road will be inaccessible? What's the best route to take? The route may have been circuitous, and bumpy, but unlike parts of New England where, "You can't get there from here,"we could get there, but it's been a challenge. I have a new appreciation for Isaiah's imagery , especially of making the uneven ground smooth. Progress has been made since this picture was taken. Yesterday they were putting asphalt on the road. When I went to class in the morning, there was none. Later, on the way to chapel, part of one side was done. By the time lunch was over, the other side was done. Because of the need to daily take different routes, Amity has not yet completely learned her way around campus. Once the work is completed, however, it won...

Not being brought up Lutheran, one of the great joys of being involved in a teaching parish is reading and studying Luther's Large Catechism with my mentor, Rural Pastor. This week we were studying the Lord's Prayer. As I read Luther's comments at home in preparation for Sunday, I experienced one of those "Aha" moments. When I shared my discovery with Rural Pastor, he agreed and said he had not seen the connection before, so let's see what you think. This is regarding Luther's exp lanation of the third petition of the Lord's Prayer, “May your will come about on earth as in heaven " (p. 448, "Large Catechism," The Book of Concord). For where God’s Word is preached, accepted, or believed, and bears fruit, there the holy and precious cross will also not be far behind. And let no one think that we will have peace; rather, we must sacrifice all we have on earth— possessions, honor, house and farm, spouse and children, body and life…...