Preaching

This week I get the joyous task of prepping to preach my first sermon ever. Sure, I got my chance in the pulpit spotlight at a Youth Sunday service back in the glory days, but let's face it: expectations were low then and if I uttered the name Jesus a few times the congregation was well-pleased. Unfortunately, standards are a bit different now, so I can't recycle a "sermon" I used 8 years ago. Even more unfortunately, we drew the texts that would serve as the base of our sermon out of a box. Here is the text I was granted:

Job 38:1-7; 42:1-6

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?'"

"Then Job answered the Lord: 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me'. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.'"

I will let you know how it goes...

Announcing...

I have finally done it. After my 9 month forced practice in technological asceticism, I have finally purchased a new computer. As some of you may know, my computer crashed in January. Rather than wallow in self-pity, I opted to positively take the experience as an opportunity to heighten my spiritual/philosophical awareness by viewing as an unexpected opportunity to rid myself of worldly attachments. Sure, it was liberating, some might be as bold as to say enlightening.

But reality has set in. I am a grad student. I have 2 papers I still haven't finished from last spring because I could always use my keen intellect to convince myself that something was wrong with the computer lab (i.e. the lighting and glow of the computer screen was slowly giving me cancer; my papers and therefore, identity could be hacked on this public space, etc.). I have succumbed to my present needs and placed my quest for spiritual maturity through asceticism on hold for now.