Lesson Prep w/ Prof. Jesus

Have you ever pictured Jesus doing lecture prep?

I haven't. In all the years I've learned about "what" Jesus said, I've never thought much about "how" Jesus said it. The latest book I'm reading, The Method and Message of Jesus' Teachings closely looks at both. I was reading the other night about all the literary devices he employs when presenting his messages to the masses. Stein breaks down such devices as metaphor, hyperbole, pun, irony, paradox, overstatement, proverb, and various forms of poetry. Concluding the discussion of such he makes the following comment.

One can conclude that Jesus must have spent time in organizing his teaching and preparing its form, for unless we assume that this poetic parallelism (one of the forms of poetry) simply popped into his mind on the spur of the moment, we must conclude that Jesus carefully prepared for his "classes." Perhaps some of the time that he sought to be alone was not only for the purpose of prayer but also to prepare what and how he would teach.

I find that idea fascinating! It adds a certain sense of realistic humanity to his character that sometimes seems missing when contemplating a perfect Jesus as presented in the gospels.

7 years..and 2 score

It was our anniversary this weekend! We celebrated by spending the weekend at the beach. It was a great, relaxing time. 7 years feels like a while, and yet it doesn't at the same time. In the grand scheme of things, it is not long at all. We have known each other for the last 14 years, and that is what has made it feel like we've grown up together. In a lot of ways we really have. We're still growing up (as those of you who follow our blog and know us).

Here is a picture of us not growing up at my cousin's wedding. I like to think of socially awkward scenarios, and he likes to make them happen. When everyone should have been looking at the bride and groom, I said, wouldn't it be funny if we started taking pictures of ourselves right now? He takes me seriously...he started snapping pictures of us during the wedding ceremony.(I am wrestling him for the camera-and telling him that I was just joking).



I love that Pierre is the only person that I can be with 24-7...or I should say is the only person who can handle being with me 24-7. And I can be serious or goofy, all in one moment, and he's tracking there right with me. No one could hurt me more or love me more. It's extreme at times.

I have an itch sometimes that I am not "radical" enough in my faith, that I am not doing enough. But I am reminded that having the opportunity to serve Pierre (not in a demeaning sort of fundamentalist wife way), and walk next to him (in an egalitarian sort of way)is one of the most important vocations I can have. Then we can be "radical" together...sometimes just in different ways.

Happy Birthday, Pierre! Love, Switchfoot

My darling Kay got us tickets to a Switchfoot/Relient K concert last night for my birthday... and not only that, but she got us entrance into the orchestra pit, which meant we were literally 10 feet from the stage for the entire concert. It was a blast!!!!

They say it's your birthday

Yes, Today is the day we all celebrate this guy!

Family and Friends

We haven't put any pictures up in the last couple weeks. Sorry.

We went to Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend for our cousin's wedding. This was us goofing off with brother Ben and sister-in-law Rosalyn.


We got back from Nebraska on Memorial Day in the morning and immediately drove up to Santa Barbara to meet up with Maggie and Josie who were visiting Deanna... all friends from L'Abri.

My So Called Life

I was reading our good friend Eli's blog today and was inspired to write a more personal, practical entry. My latest mental wrestling have been diverse and topical, but mostly on a philosophic level.

So what about life right now? Where am I, literally? What am I doing?

Well, I'm at home again. To recap: We returned to southern California in February. Kay started right back to work. I started to look for jobs and was waiting to start school in the Spring. Then, Reasons to Believe hired me on a temporary basis to help the Customer Service department. It was great because I was able to help restructure the office. And class started at Fuller. During this time I continued through the process with the jobs for which I had applied. I had a few interviews (all which I thought went quite well), but which each respectively turned me down. My class ran for two months ending a week and a half ago. As well, Reasons finalized there official hiring of a full-time person to fill the newly designed Customer Service position I was giving a test run. And they did.

So now I'm home again with no job and no class... starting over in the same place I was last February.

At first I was quite depressed and discouraged. Unfortunately, all this change has distracted me to be very career oriented (job focused), thinking that the most important thing for me first off is to get a job. Thankfully we had dinner two days ago with Ray and Mary Ellen Rood in which they knocked some sense into me (in a very kind and encouraging way).

Side Note: I've never felt like I really connected with people older than me... but I really felt understood by the Roods. They listened. They flirted. They were sarcastic about the church. They drank wine. And they asked hard questions thought provoking questions. They were my kind of people and were able to speak into my life in a way that very few elders really have before.

Anyway, for me, to be merely concerned with a job is to take away from everything else I'm trying to accomplish in my life right now. I'm back here to work through some very personal issues of belief and to prepare me to work with others doing the same. I'm in school to ask questions. And we're here to provide a home for those that need love.

And in these endeavors I'm happy to report there has been blatant steps taken forward.

My science and religion course at Fuller was very eye opening to the ways the church attempted to establish its superiority in all aspects of human knowledge - with it's obvious stubbornness and close-minded exclusivity in the scientific realm (and in which we now are working hard to remedy). Next, I'm planning to take a summer intensive on the Gospels.

And our home... we have had consistent activity in our home that keeps us busy but confirms that we are in a needed place for those seeking an accepting, listening ear. Every Monday, we have a couple friends that just drop by to process life, church, God and relationships. And last night we had a very lonely friend come by and pour himself out to us. I'm not one to know much about the presence of God, but it was one of the most moving and meaningful evenings for all three of us in a very long time! (Maybe it helped that we'd had good wine for dinner and even better Limoncello for dessert!)

So there's a bit more about daily life for you.