All posts by ariah

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What a church should look like…

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A while ago I asked a number of people for topics to write about. One of them asked me what I thought “the church should look like…” I have been procrastinating on posting about this for a long time. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion and ideas. I think, rather, it’s that I’m not quite sure how to begin articulating those ideas.
I’ve been thinking recently that it would be neat for me to try (this is Zach’s idea) to write a fiction story about a church that embodies the values and lifestyle’s that I think are so central to the teachings of Christ.
Needless to say I’m still not quite sure how I should go about this. But I guess I just need to start.

My first thought about what any given church should look like is that it should be representative of the community it is in. Far too many people commute to their church and thus the church, the community, and the homes of the members are all complete spread out and seperate entities.

If you want to know what I think your church should look like then go to this link. Type in the address of your church and look at the statistics that come up for the surrounding community.

When you look at the statistics you see, do you feel they are accurately represented in your church body? Why or why not?

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Writing can be hard to do

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You know when I’m having a tough time if I spend a few post a week doing some self-loathing about my inability to write. It’s odd that I’ll be able to spend a paragraph or two writing about how it’s difficult to write and then when I try to begin typing something with worthy content, nothing seems to come out. I’ve been thinking about going back and reading my old post and maybe editing and reposting some of the writing I thought was really good. I’d love to hear if there are any highlight post in my readers opinions…
Also, I’m thinking of sort of scheduling in writing time and trying more experimental writing. I’d love to try my hand at fiction, I’d imagine it’d be good for stirring my imagination and challenging my current writing style. Who knows, any good writers out there got any tips?

Well, my hands are moving fast enough to try and spew out some post I’ve been wanting to write for a while, so hopefully you’ll see some decent content this week.

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24: Season 2: This show is darn addicting.

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24A summer or two ago my sister-in-law got my hooked on the TV show 24. We did a netflix subscription and watched the entire first season in a week or so. I think all TV can be extremely addicting if you don’t have commercials and you can watch one eposide after the next.
Earlier this week I did something foolish and watched a free download of an eposide of 24 that was offered. You can’t watch just one. I did the Netflix thing again and Mindy and I watched nearly the first 12 hours of the show already. For anyone who hasn’t seen this show, let me suggest: I really like it, but it’s probably not worth your time.

I think I’m going to have some commentary on the show later, cause there are some things about it that I’m rather uncomfortable with, but all in all I really like the show.
24 - Season Two

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In the news today…

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At work today, I happened to catch the news and there where a few things I thought worth commenting on.

Bush and Blair on the war in Iraq. I want to believe, and I do to some degree, that the statements Bush shared in a press conference yesterday were sincere. Bush acknowledge regret for saying things like “Wanted, Dead or Alive,” and “Bring it on.” He also acknowledge the setback and wrongdoing that occurred at Abu Gharib. I saw a couple of clips of Bush speaking and he definitely seemed candid and sincere.
This seems to be a different Bush then the steadfast and unwavering Bush of the last six years. Yet, I can’t help but think what has caused this change in Bush’s attitude. You might know that the polls show Bush losing support, and any politician knows they need to do something about that. So, Bush needed to do something about that, and maybe that meant putting on a regretful face for the camera.
What do you think? Was Bush’s regret sincere or just a political ploy to garner some more supporters?

Enron Verdict. I wrote about watching the documentary, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, not too long ago. Yesterday the verdict was reached convicting Kenneth Lay and Jeff Skilling of multiple accounts of Fraud and more. They could each face life in prison for what they’ve done. I heard someone make a statement about how this shows that we treat Corporate Fraud by CEO’s as severely and seriously as street criminals. Ironically, both Lay and Skilling are still roaming free today on $5 million bond. Thousands of Enron employees lost their pensions, or should I say had their pension’s stolen by Lay and Skilling. Does anyone else find it wrong that these guys can be roaming around on $5 million of money they are guilty of stealing?

Teacher and student. The Today Show interviewed the now married teacher and student whose affair started when the student was just 13 years old and the teacher 34. The interview was not negative, it was sincere, and came across kind and positive. I can’t help but think this sort of thing would never have happened if the teacher had been a male. And before you misunderstand me, I believe that in both situations the wrong doing should be taken more seriously. I fear this is one of those situations where the stereotype of males being the more powerful and dominating, as well as sex hungry, diminishes the wrong doing that was committed in this situation.

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I bought a bike…

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I always hesitate after big purchases, but for better or worse, I just bought a new bike. It’s the same brand and style as my two previous ones (I’m starting to express some brand loyalty). Here’s a picture:
my bike

A few questions for the audience as it relates to my recent purchase:

  1. This will be my main mode of transportation. Did I pay too much for it? How do I decided good stewardship on something like that?
  2. Should I uglify this one like I did my previous bike? Bumper stickers all over and more?
  3. Is it right to want nicer things because you’ll use them more?
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An explanation of that magazine’s name

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Because I was sure it would inevitably be mentioned, here is the explanation from the website about that magazine’s name:

For as long as we’ve been publishing B****, there’s one question that gets asked over and over. And over. “Why did you choose that word as the name of your magazine?” While we’re aware that our title is off-putting to some people, we think it’s worth it. And here’s why.

When it’s being used as an insult, “b****” is most often hurled at women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don’t shy away from expressing them. If being an outspoken woman means being a b****, we’ll take that as a compliment, thanks.

Furthermore, if we take it as a compliment, it loses its power to hurt us. And if we can get people thinking about what they’re saying when they use the word, that’s even better.

And, last but certainly not least, “b****” describes all at once who we are when we speak up, what it is we’re too worked up over to be quiet about, and the act of making ourselves heard.

Now for my quick two-cents: I’m not sure whether I necessarily agree full-heartedly that these sorts of negative words can be redeemed, but I have to agree the words seem to lose “its power to hurt us.” Maybe that’s not the case at all though, maybe it’s a sign that the agressor wins. The “N” word is another example, and there is heated disagreement about it between the younger and older generation. Is there a fully right answer one way or the other? I’m not sure.

I do know as a male, I’m not sure I’m really at liberty to enter my opinion into the conversation. If these women choose to use B**** as an empowering term, I’m not one to argue. Nor do I think that gives me any excuse not to listen.

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Laptop’s for the developing world

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$100 laptops
Your looking at a $100 laptop developed by MIT students to help bridge the digital divide in the developing world. This could potentially be a wonderful invention.

From One Laptop per Child

Why do children in developing nations need laptops?
Laptops are both a window and a tool: a window into the world and a tool with which to think. They are a wonderful way for all children to learn learning through independent interaction and exploration.

More info on One Laptop per Child

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Why most guys should read Ms. Magazine and B****

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I was reading the other day when a guy looked over and asked what I was reading…
“Ms. Magazine,” I said, “It’s really good.” All I got in return was a funny look. I think I tried to justify it, but nothing was going to convince him.

Ms. MagazineMs. and B**** and other magazines like it our written off as “feminist propaganda” and they receive a slim readership because of it. Instead of being the often informative piece of journalism that they could be, they end up preaching to the choir. Unfortunately, the very people that should hear a lot of the things that are said in those magazines, men, are the last ones to ever think about picking them up.

Men, go to your local magazine rack and instead of sneaking around looking at inappropriate magazines, boldly pick up Ms. Magazine and give it a read through. I think you’ll find yourself learning things you never had a clue about, hear stories that will break your heart, and considering new perspectives you’d never imagined.

Of course, you’ll probably need some proof that you might read something worthwhile, so here are a few tidbits:

In September, the court ordered an end to discrimination against menstruating women, confronting a tradition in parts of Nepal of keeping women in cowsheds during their periods.

From Paradise Lost

That expensive blouse you’re wearing? It may have been sewn by a Filipina garment worker laboring in a factory owned by a Hong Kong mogul on a western Pacific island. The Northern Mariana Islands, a territory of the United States, offers the possibility of an American label — Made in Saipan (USA), Made in Northern Mariana Islands (USA), or simply Made in USA — to garment manufacturers, and throws in a unique exemption from U.S. minimum-wage and immigration laws.

From Too Many Women in College?

Although American women still struggle for parity in many arenas, we have outpaced men in at least one: undergraduate college education. Currently, 57.4 percent of bachelor’s degrees in the United States are earned by women, 42.6 percent by men. This is an almost exact reversal from 1970, when 56.9 percent of college graduates were males and 43.1 percent females.

There’s even a pocket guide from an expert in nonviolent confrontation tactics. An anti-harassment tool kit that really works.