I'd like to thank the academy ...

Actually I'd like to thank Leslie over at A Blonde Ambition for awarding me with the Kreativ Blogger Award!!  Thanks Leslie, what a wonderful surprise!!

As I walk to the stage to accept my award, blowing kisses and waving to all my adoring fans (have I been watching too many awards shows?) you should all check out Leslie's fun October giveaway!!  She is giving away the most beautiful scarf (and oh how I loooooove scarves!!).  You have until 9:59 CST on October 15th to enter so hurry over!!

Okay, so the rules to accept the award.  First I need to tell you seven random things about myself ...

1. I was in the Adam Sandler movie, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" - TRUE STORY.  They filmed in my hometown in Connecticut and asked my band director if he could bring the marching band to the set the day they shot the "helicopter scene."  We were supposed to cheer and play "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."  We basically sat around all day, filmed for about 45 minutes, went home and then a couple weeks later each got paid $100.  OH - and we got to skip school.  You can't see me, but you can see some of my friends - but I know that I was there!!

2. When I graduated from Nursery School, my teachers told us to walked up on a platform and say our name, favorite food, favorite color and what we wanted to be when we grew up.  My classmates all wanted to be moms, dads, firemen and police officers.  Me?  I wanted to be a minister.  What five year old wants to be a minister?

3. I don't have a favorite color.  I go through phases.

4. I love to watch really bad reality TV - it makes me feel better about my life.

5. Last year (my second year of graduate school, 19th of schooling in general) I decided to outline a paper before writing it - it was the best paper I've ever written.  The concept of outlining has really changed my life and I wish I had thought to try it sooner.

6. I'm curious about things that aren't really public.  If you are in the military or have some sort of federal agency type of position - chances are I'll will badger you with questions until you beg me to please stop.

7. I am a people pleaser.  This has become problematic MANY times in my life.  But I doubt I will ever change.  God has showered me grace every single day of my life - shouldn't I extend that to others?

Okay, now I am supposed to award 7 other worthy bloggers of the "Kreativ Blogger" award.

I have to be honest - I'm really bad at following directions (perhaps that should have been on my list) so I think I'm going to list off 7 fun blogs that I love to read and get new ideas from and tell you why they are Kreativ Bloggers ...

1. Kari at p.s. love.love

Kari is a Kreativ Blogger because she made her own wedding dress.  Isn't that incredible?  She's a Kreativ Blogger in other ways, but I thought the wedding dress thing just gives an awesome yard stick visual.

2. Veronica at The Veronica Blog

Veronica is a Kreativ Blogger because she has an awesome online hat crochet business - I recently ordered some and did a little dance when I saw them!!

3. Mrs. Newlywed at Misadventures of a Newlywed

Mrs. Newlywed is a Kreativ Blogger because she does an awesome job of connecting young female bloggers, puts together awesome menus for her and Mr. Newlywed and has some fun giveaways!!  And she lives in Atlanta - so naturally, I'm partial.

4. Teresa at Teresa's Treasures and A Baby Changes Everything

Teresa is a Kreativ Blogger because - well - check out her Christmas Blog (A Baby Changes Everything) and you'll see why.  She does AMAZING work in decorating, especially for Christmas.

5. Snow White at Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Snow White is a Kreativ Blogger because she posts awesome and simple recipes - just my style!!

6. Katie at Making this Home

Katie is a Kreativ Blogger because 1. She lives in Germany and has made use of a super small living space (read the story of her kitchen renovation and you'll be shocked!!) and 2. Because she just got her pilot's license and I think that's awesome.

7. Cody at crashing the last supper

Cody is a Kreativ Blogger because his profile reads this:  "If Jesus and Martha Steward teamed up and published a blog, I expect it would be similar to this."

Okay, well that was fun!!  Thanks Leslie!!  Don't forget to head over to her blog to participate in her October giveaway.

Also ... stay tuned for a GUEST BLOGGER ... coming at the end of this week!!

Sarah

The Hindu Temple of Atlanta

I'm taking a class this semester called Three Religions of South Asia.  This past month we've been studying Hinduism, and finished off the section by taking a field trip to the Hindu Temple of Atlanta.  It was just an incredible experience.  The hospitality extended to us by the priests and the worshippers was something that I often criticize as not seeing in Christianity; the sense of ritual was something that often gets lost in the bureaucracy of the church.

I wasn't allowed to take any photographs inside, but I tried to capture some of the beauty of the whole experience in exterior photographs.  Enjoy!!

Namaste

I acknowledge the God within you.

I'm Feeling Nostalgic ...

When I was 16 years old, my parents bought me my first car.  We bought it through a dealership so we didn't have to go to the DMV to register it - the dealership took care of all of that so all we had to do was pick it up, fully registered with the plates already on it.

I had a basketball game the day the car was ready, so my parents went to pick it up while I was warming up with my team.  They got there just in time for tipoff - it was definitely hard to focus on the game knowing that my very first car was sitting outside.

When the game was over, my parents came up to me with VERY mischievous grins on their faces.  I asked what was going on and they said, "Wait until you see your license plate."

Curious?

So - here you go.  A completely random DMV-issued set of license plates with the acronym for Reverend on them.  When I got to seminary I was mocked mercilessly for the plates, but I swear to you - it was a coincidence.

Or perhaps it was God's way of saying:

Heyyyy Sarah, it's me, God.

I know you want to study business in college so you can work a lot and make a lot of money.  That's all well and good.  But just so you know - you are going to go on a trip to Honduras and I am going to do some awesome work through you while you are there.  You're going to come back from that trip and realize that when you think about your future you can really only see yourself ministering to my children.  So - here it is.  A visual reminder that I'm calling you into my ministry.

Giving you Grace,

God

Wondering why I'm telling you this story?

Wondering even more why my license plates are sitting strewn on my kitchen counter and NOT on my car?

Because today I took one step closer to becoming an adult ...

My mom wrote the title to my car over to me.  I officially "own" my car - I even have my own insurance!! (It's not the same car from 8 years ago, I actually got a new car before moving to Georgia - but in Connecticut you can keep the same plates, they just transfer everything) The Yaris is officially registered in Georgia. (SHARE THE ROAD!! - that was Bruce's request, ha!!)

It's weird to not have a Connecticut license plate anymore.  It's like officially admitting I am a Georgia resident.  It's even weirder not to have that little subliminal message - REV - every time I get in my car.  Especially now - I'm journeying closer and closer towards ordination - now is when I feel I need the visual signs the most.

So for now I'm just trying to take deep breaths and enjoy this part of the journey.  As terrifying as it is at times - I'm really looking forward to what this year is going to bring!!

Here are the two gas-powered ways we get around the city.  The Toyota Yaris gets 37/40 miles per gallon and the QLink Star gets around 75!!

(The other ways we get around are by bicycle - Bruce - and by foot - me.  One of the best parts about living IN the city and not the suburbs is that we have options about how to get around!!)

(except when it rains, of course)

On a final note - I needed some pampering last weekend and seeing Patrick at the salon was just the ticket!!

Do you like my haircut? :)

Have a GREAT weekend everybody!!

Show Us Your Life - Favorite Dessert Recipe

Well - we've made it to the end of another week (can I hear an AMEN!!) and time for another edition of Show Us Your Life, hosted by Kelly's Korner.  This week is FAVORITE DESSERT RECIPES.

Umm, yum.

Let's face it - I ate my way through college.  I considered cookies and coffee (more specifically cookies dipped IN coffee) to be a major food group.  My roommates will attest to this fact (Kari? Jess?).  So I am SUPER excited to see what recipes people have to share this week.

In the spirit of fall (as much as it can be fall when it's the end of September and still 80 degrees) I've decided to share a super simple recipe for apple crisp that my sister actually first shared with me.

Oh - and even though this is "show us your favorite dessert recipe," I would say that it is completely acceptable to eat this for breakfast.

Apple Crisp

6-8 apples, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup orange juice (optional)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter/margarine

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

3/4 cup flour

Dash of salt

Cut apples and place into a 8" or 9" pie plate.

Pour juice over apples.

Mix dry ingredients, cut in butter.

Spoon mixture over apples.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

Enjoy the weekend!!  Please keep all of us in Atlanta and the surrounding areas in your prayers.  The city was essentially flooded earlier in the week and the damage has been absolutely devastating in some places.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Sarah :)

Six Flags Under Water

In case you're wondering what the water levels are looking like ... this is footage of the Six Flags in Atlanta.

Prayers

Man, right now it just seems like God's children are crying out all around me ...

I'm keeping a lot of people in my prayers right now ...

I'm asking God to protect those who are facing or who have faced cancer diagnoses, to give them and their loved ones strength throughout their treatments ...

I'm asking God to comfort those who have lost loved ones, healing to those with emotional wounds ...

I'm asking God to bring insights to those who ask questions, journeys to those who seek destinations ...

I'm asking God to embrace those who are mentally drained ...


Will you join me?

Bad News for Commuters

This is what the downtown connector currently looks like. I am SO grateful Bruce's boss let him off early today!!

I kind of feel like a small school girl again, hoping they cancel school tomorrow ...

photo courtesy of cnn

Under Water

Those two words describe what's going on here.

Two people are dead, a toddler is missing, roads are flooded and/or washed away, schools are closed and water levels are higher than they've been in years.  This is just Atlanta.

And it's STILL muggy and humid.

So please pray for all of us in the southeast.

Show Us Your Life - Go-To Recipes

I don't know about you all, but I have had a LONG week.  And not only does Friday bring the weekend, but it also brings another edition of Kelly's Korner, Show Us Your Life.  This week is our favorite "Go-To Recipes."

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I have had several kitchen disasters over the past couple of months.  That being said - I think that I am going to benefit immensely from this week's blog hop!!

I've decided to share with you all a recipe for Mexican Soup that my friend Stacey shared with me when we first started seminary.  I was trying to find ways of cooking that was simple, quick and inexpensive, but also that could easily be refrigerated or frozen for leftovers.  Enjoy!!

Mexican Soup

1 14 oz. can kidney beans

1 14 oz. can pinto beans

1 14 oz. can whole kernel yellow corn

1 14 oz. can hominy

2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes

1 10 oz. can rotel tomatoes with green chilies

2 lbs ground beef

1 packet dry ranch dressing mix

1 packet mild taco seasoning mix

Brown ground beef.  Drain.  Add the rest of the ingredients to the ground beef and cook on low for a minimum of one hour.  This recipe makes approximately five quarts.

A couple of notes:

- You can serve it like you would chili, with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips - YUM!!

- If you're not a big red meat eater, use ground turkey instead, you can't really taste the difference.

- This is definitely something that can cook all day in the slow cooker - brown the meat on the stove and then combine everything in the slow cooker, cook on low (or warm) until you're ready to eat.

Happy Cooking!!
Sarah

Five Words

Teresa over at Grammy Girlfriend posted a fun blog based off of five words that were sent to her by another blogger.  She then invited her readers to comment and ask her for five words for their own posts.  I thought this would be a fun blog to work on while I was in class so I asked her to send me five words.

I realize that I just outwardly admitted to blogging during class, but you try to stay awake through a lecture that's 25% in Sanskrit and you'll understand why I often blog during class.

Anyway, here are the five words that Teresa e-mailed me:
Kind
Curious
Test
Becoming
Fear

I have a love/hate relationship with the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, that contains the well-known phrase, "Love is Patient, Love is Kind."  There was a point early on in seminary that I thought I would never be able to prayerfully listen to or take part in a sermon or bible study on this passage.  I am so lucky, however, to have an awesome pastor that has opened my eyes this past year to Paul's ministry at work in this chapter.  You all should totally check out her blog.

I am a very curious person.  People fascinate me and I like to know what's going on in their lives.  I think that's why I love reading blogs so much.  They open a window into people's lives and allow me peek my head in and gain some new insights and ideas.

I am NOT a good test taker.  In fact, I often do an internal dance on the first day of school when I see the words, "There will be no final exam," written on the syllabus.  The dislike multiple choice tests and absolutely despise true/false - if I have a 50/50 chance at getting the right answer why do I always seem to choose the wrong one?

I am in the process of becoming an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.  Discerning my call into the ministry is and has been a frustrating but awesome journey.  I've learned so much about who I am and who I want to be.  I am so blessed to have such an awesome support system that stands with me, through the best and worst of times.

I have a fear that I was put on earth to accomplish something that I won't end up finishing.  I think that's why I spend so much time discerning (okay, obsessing over) my call.  I really don't want to miss out on any opportunities in my ministry.

So there you have it!!  If you're interested in taking part in Five Words, leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I'll e-mail you words!!

Shalom,
Sarah

p.s. Check out Teresa's Christmas Blog for great decorating ideas and awesome giveaways!!

Bad Week for Scooter Riders

Notice something about the forecast?

I love my scooter.  I really do.  On beautiful spring afternoons when I zoom along and feel the heat warm my back, it's almost hard to turn towards home.

On cold days where I have no choice but to bundle up, drive slowly and get wet because I have to get to class?

I suppose I should also mention that it's a bad week for people with thick and wavy hair.  There's 45 minutes with my straightener that I'll never get back.

Strong Women

I'm taking a class this semester called Women in Religious Leadership and we have a very large group project due at the end of the course. This project will give me the opportunity to look at different women - religious and secular figures - that play or have played a significant role in society. My group and I are in the process of choosing our women and it's got me thinking about popular women figures that inspire me.

These are just some of my preliminary thoughts ...

Michelle Obama

She is brilliant, successful, kindhearted and selfless. She is well-spoken and carries such humble confidence.

Anne Lamott

She taught me what it means to see faith in all facets of life.

Ann Curry

She finds the truth - plain and simple. Her journalistic integrity in incredible, her commitment to finding and telling stories never-ending. No story goes untold.

Kristin Chenoweth

She is proof that faith can be expressed through music that isn't necessarily considered to be within the genre of Christian Music.

Mary, Mother of Jesus

(I realize she's not contemporary, but I'm breaking my own rule)
She answered the ultimate call from God.

(This is a picture of the Michelangelo's Pieta, a beautiful sculpture in Rome depicting Mary weeping over Jesus following his death)

What about you all?  Are there women in contemporary culture (or in history or the Christian faith) that have really inspired you?

Photos courtesy of the following websites: Michelle Obama, Anne Lamott, Ann Curry, Kristin Chenoweth, Mary, Mother of Jesus

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

Patrick Swayze

1952-2009

The industry lost a good one today.  Rest in peace.

image courtesy of scapetv.

The Benefits of a Husband Who Understands Electric

This ... 

... turns into ... 

... this.

Bruce and I stopped by Home Depot on our way home from church - we were looking for a bench (which we never found - apparently they don't sell benches at Home Depot?) and happened upon the lighting section.  Bruce asked me if I wanted a new lighting fixture for my office area.  It's supposed to be the dining room, so the chandelier came standard.  I'm really not a chandelier person, especially not in an office, so I was psyched he offered to rewire it.

Doesn't it look so much more clean and modern and fit for an office?  It gives off more light, uses less electricity and we can aim the lights in any direction we want.

The best part of these little projects is that they let me daydream about the day we'll have our own house to fix up together.

Happy three months, darling!!  I love you!!

Weekend Recipes - PopPop's Apple Pie

It's the second weekend in September and fall is definitely in the air!! It's still hot and muggy in Atlanta, but the leaves are showing a glimmer of changing and the mornings are crisp. What a better way to encourage fall to keep coming than to share one of my favorite fall recipes - my grandfather's (PopPop) apple piece.

This recipe makes me laugh because there is such little detail to it - but that is EXACTLY how my grandfather cooks.  I grew up with him making this apple pie and then my dad making it. It is simple and easy but oh so addicting once it comes out of the oven. Enjoy!!

Pie Crust (makes 2 - 9" crusts)

2 1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup Crisco

5 tablespoons water

Dash of salt

Work the flour and the Crisco first until well mixed. Then add water and salt.

Pie Part (enough for BOTH pies)

2/3 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 bag good baking apples (Red Delicious, McIntosh, Empire, etc. - something with a good sweet/tart balance), sliced

1 1/2 cup of sugar

Butter/Margarine

Cinnamon

Spread 1/3 cup flour and 1/2 cup sugar in bottom of crust. Cover with apple slices. Fill crust with bigger apple slices. Spread 3/4 cup of sugar over top of apples. Put a dab of butter on each apple. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30-40 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Being Real.

Okay, it's time for me to be real with you all.

I'm two weeks into the school year and I'm already feel overwhelmed. I'm behind on my reading. I've handed in several papers (albeit small, but still several) already and I'm having a difficult time getting back into shape for writing theology papers (they all seem to come out sounding like sermons or prayers - great for church, not so much for my GPA). It feels like I'm either in class or at work with no time to sit and study during the day - I get home at 7 p.m. and have to start on my work for the next day. I feel like I haven't had a real conversation with Bruce since school started.

I know getting into the rhythm of school isn't instantaneous. I know I just need to have to faith. I know I need to breathe in the spirit and out the stresses and that build throughout the week.

But this is all easier said than done.

My favorite song from the Taize community is El Senyor, In The Lord. I've been singing this to myself whenever I start to feel my anxiety build. In just five stanzas, it delivers one of the most powerful messages I've ever responded to.

In the Lord I'll be ever thankful
In the Lord I will rejoice
Look to God do not be afraid
Lift up your voices the Lord is near
Lift up your voices the Lord is near



Powerful, mighty and forever-guiding God
You called the prophet Moses to lead his people through the desert
Through famine, thirst, fear and barracades you stayed by his side
Be present in my life as I discern my call from You
Release the anxieties brought on by fear of the unknown and of my inadequacies
So that there is room to hear Your voice, to feel Your touch
Together with the voices Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel and Daniel - those You called before me - I pray this prayer
Amen

Who Am I?

School has been in session for less than two weeks and already I'm knee deep in papers (literally - I can't walk around my desk without tripping over the stacks of books that I'm using).  One I turned in last Thursday, two today, one tomorrow and one Friday.

I got to my 8 a.m. class a little bit early this morning and was looking over the paper to be turned in that class when I realized I had written Sarah Keck at the top, rather than Sarah Weaver.  My first instinct was to think it was kind of funny - I've said before that it's strange to get used to a new name and apparently my academically inclined fingers just instinctively typed "Keck" into the header of the paper.

But my eyebrows wrinkled when the thought suddenly crossed my mind that I had made the same mistake on the paper I turned in last Thursday.  I quickly opened the document on my computer and confirmed my suspicion.

So at this point I realized that my professor - who I met last week and only knows me as Sarah Weaver - has a paper turned in from Sarah Keck - who doesn't exist on her roster - and has a student on her roster - Sarah Weaver - who has seemingly neglected the assignment.

I quickly fired off an e-mail to her, explaining the situation and hopefully sounding apologetic.  She e-mailed me right back thanking me for the clarification.

Problem solved?  I suppose.  But let's be real - who does that?  Who doesn't even check to make sure they've written the correct name on a paper for a masters level course?  It's like saying to the professor, "Clearly I didn't proofread - but I hope you enjoy the paper."

Is it time to graduate yet?!

A Conflict of Prayers

During the pastoral prayer in church on Sunday, I bowed my head and didn't know what to pray.  I've been a little giddy since I got the text on Friday that Neal had landed stateside.  Having such a close friend - essentially a family member - in combat is very difficult.  It's draining.  It's a constant worry - so naturally I would be overjoyed and want to praise God Neal's unit was home safe and sound.  But for some reason I couldn't.  I can't repeatedly thank God for their safe return when I know that there are still so many who are in harm's way, so many who never came home and so many families who worry and mourn.

Instead I just stared at the cross.

I'm taking a worship practicum called "Writing Liturgical Texts" this month.  We're working on writing collects, which are short and direct prayers with a systematic formula in their structure. (Name God -> Praise God -> Petition to God -> "So that" or what will happen if God grants this petition -> Doxology) We're supposed to bring one to class tomorrow, so I decided to take my conflict of prayers to this assignment.  I hope this collect expresses my gratitude, but also my struggle. 

A Conflict of Prayers

A collect written in honor of the soldiers embedded with A Troop 2-104th CAV, part of the PA National Guard Stryker Unit, who returned home from Iraq on Friday, September 4, 2009

God of war and God of peace

You stand with us wherever we are on our journey through life

Protect all those who are in harms way, comfort their loved ones and guide their leaders

So that harmony can be heard and peace on earth can become a reality and not just a song of hope

We pray this in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace

Amen.

Hospitality. Love. (the missing link)

We sang this hymn in church on Sunday and the words just resonated in me ...

I was thinking back to my posts on hospitality and the thought crossed my mind:  If we can't show hospitality and love in our own houses of worship ... then how can we even attempt to solve some of the bigger problems of the world?

Why do we fight over doctrine, worship practices, financial giving and and church politics?  We are Christians.  Love can and should be our first line of defense.  But it's not as simple as that.

What would the world look like if people truly did know we were Christians by our love?  If they could see it in the way we reached out to each other despite our differences and in the way we came together to reach out to those who cry out in need.

We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord

We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

They will know we are Christians by our love

Weekend Recipes - Chicken Stroganoff

Bruce found this recipe on the Food Network yesterday and it was so easy, very delicious and definitely something we're going to be trying again!!

Chicken Stroganoff

12 ounces broad egg noodles

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

8 ounces sliced mushrooms (any variety and/or combination)

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 cooked chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup dry red wine

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons freshly chopped chives

Cook egg noodles to package directions.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add onion and cook 3 minutes until soft.

Add mushrooms and cook 3 minutes, until mushrooms soften.

Add thyme and cook 1 minute, until fragrant.

Stir in chicken.

Add wine and simmer 1 minute.

In a small bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch and Worcestershire sauce.

Add mixture to pan and bring to a simmer.

Simmer 2 minutes, until mixture thickens.

Stir in cooked noodles and toss to combine.

Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Transfer to serving platter and top with chives.

A couple notes on what we did:

- Before we started cooking the noodles, we boiled the chicken so that it was cooked thoroughly but didn't dry out.

- We didn't have any cornstarch, but I read somewhere that you can use twice as much all-purpose flour as a substitute for cornstarch.  It seemed to work well.

Best. Text Message. Ever.

"I made it."

Neal's home from Iraq!!!!!

I am beyond elated that he is home safe and sound.  But I know that there are many more that are still in harm's way, some that didn't make it home.  Let us continue to pray for those in the military and their families, for those that lead them and for those that work for peace.

Writing papers is like running ...

… it doesn’t matter how good you once were, take three months off and you will be out of shape.

Last night I sat down to write my first paper of the semester. My Systematic Theology professor asked us to write a four-page paper on our understanding of the task of theology. I don’t think she was expecting us to make any profound revelations; rather she wanted to just get us thinking about what theology is beyond simply, “the study of God.”

I’m going to start off by saying (and by way of my grumpiness as I tried to write Bruce can attest to this) that my paper writing skills are painfully out of shape. I stared at the dreaded blinking cursor for about 25 minutes before I finally just wrote my name just so I would feel better about myself.

In the end, I finished the paper (and when I say “in the end” I mean “after I watched two episodes of NCIS, took a 30 minute shower, ate five pieces of chocolate, tried to explain to Lilly why she wasn’t being helpful by sitting on my notes, gave up for the night, woke up and watched an hour of the Today Show”). I wouldn’t say that I’m particularly proud of it, but it met its requirements, it’s turned in and I know I’ve written worse in my lifetime.

I wonder, however, if it was the mere task of writing a paper that was holding me up or if it was the subject matter. How easy is it really to define the task of theology? The assignment seemed so simple when I first heard it – I’ve been studying theology for the past six years, after all.

Easier said than done.

I don’t think that theology can (or should) be constricted to a definition or task. I think giving it definitive parameters inhibits what theology can do and the potential is has to work in the lives of individuals.

In the end, I decided to propose that the task of theology was threefold. First, theology attempts to make sense of extreme situations, most notably times of tragedy and loss. Second, theology serves to look for the revelation of God in the every day, in the ordinary and in those around you. Finally, theology allows humans to constantly redefine their role and purpose in the world in conjunction with their understanding of the divine.

Take that, add 1100 other words of examples and ways to connect the three tasks and you’ve essentially got my paper.

When I got to class this afternoon, my professor attempted to give us her own understanding of the task of theology. She said, “Theology incorporates all that human beings think and do.”

Okay … but what does that mean?  Somehow I'm not sure she really had a good answer herself.  I'm not sure anyone really does.

I think it was a trick question.

(p.s. feel free to comment with your own ideas … I promise my paper is turned in and your thoughts will not be reproduced or rebroadcast in any way)

Thoughts From My First Day of School

1. It’s weird to now have a name at the end of the alphabet.  For 24 years I used to be able to stop paying attention during attendance in the middle of K.  Now I have to stay tuned in through W.  That’s going to take some getting used to.

2. My Systematic Theology professor wore a lime green suit to class and it looked awesome.  Her skin is a lot darker than mine, though so I doubt I could pull it off like she did.  I’ll just plan to have suit envy if I ever see her wearing it again.

3. My Women in Religious Leadership class has 27 people in it. 25 of them are female.  Enough said.

4. About a week ago, Bruce and I fell in love with the television show NCIS.  Figures this would happen at the same time homework starts back up.  Though currently NCIS is winning out over homework, I've been watching it for the past two hours – this doesn’t bode well for the rest of the semester.

5. As much as I complain about it, I really do love studying theology, discerning my call and journeying towards ministry.  Bring it on third year!!

Thanks for the awesome messages and prayers today.  You all are amazing.