I Can't Believe I Passed My Spanish Translation Test

I found out yesterday that the Chair of the Modern Languages Department at Saint Louis University believes my Spanish translation skills are sufficient to conduct graduate level research in Spanish. What does this mean? A requirement of the SLU American Studies Department PhD program is that you have to have enough foreign language skills to do graduate level research in another language. So, what yesterday's results mean is that I have only on requirement left for my PhD! Now I only have to start/complete my 300 page paper on the meaning of life. Oh well, one more gate that I have successfully passed through and one more left on the long journey.

The reason why I can't believe I passed is because of how little I understood what I translated. It was an article in a Spanish Journal called religion y cultura (Religion and Culture). It was written about the Pope (Saint Louis University being a Jesuit school and all). I couldn't for the life of me tell you whether or not the article was written about something the Pope had said, or something that someone else had said about the Pope. It all depends on where the Spanish pronoun "el" is located in the sentence whether it means "he said" or "it was said about him". It doesn't matter any longer, I'm done! Woohoo! Now lets get on to page 1 of the dissertation.

Why Churches Need Websites

AKMA has a good post on his weblog that points out some very good reasons why each and every church needs to have a website. It is located here. I agree with him. If you are not out there, then it gets very difficult to find you. We had a visitor to The Gate last week, named Nicki, who was on a trip here from Washington, D.C. I asked her how she found us and she said through our website. Praise God we had one and were able to share the evening whith her!

Great Bible Study Last Night

We had a great Bible study last night at The Gate. We didn't cover as much as we thought we would. but what we covered was excellent. We studied Hebrews Chapters 1 and 2 and eventhough we concentrated on 2 chapters instead of 3 there was so much more we could have gone deeper in. It was a good evening. Next week we will plan to study Hebrews Chapter 3 and 4. If we have time we will get into Chapter 5, but we'll see how the Spirit leads.

I Wonder What the Iraqis Have Buried Out There?

I agree that we haven't found any evidence that Iraq had WMDs, but I am also confident that given time we will. I believe it is incomprehensible that Iraq didn't have any WMDs. I think they are pretty well hidden. For all of you who believe that Iraq didn't possess any WMDs just because we can't find them right now please look at this. If you can hid a MiG you can hide a biological or chemical weapon lab.

The War On Global Terrorism from Richard Clarke

This is a great article on Fox News regarding the Clinton and Bush Administration's efforts on Al Qaeda prior to Sept 11. Richard Clarke served in both Administrations and should have a consistent viewpoint of what happened. This interview was conducted in August of 2002 and he had different things to say than he does now in his new book. It is amazing what you will say, and change depending on who pays your salary! The article is located here.

Another Trip to Ft Leonard Wood

We drove out to Ft Leonard Wood to visit Amber again yesterday. It was a beautiful day, but is sure a long way to drive. We surprised Amber at the Pentecostal Chapel service and were surprised ourselves. We waited for Amber for 10 minutes or so and then the service started with no Amber in sight. We were a little disappointed that we couldn't find Amber, when after about 2 or 3 minutes into the service Bethany noticed that Amber was playing the keyboard for the Praise and Worship band. She did a great job. When it was time for the offering, she played her guitar and sang a solo for the offeratory! We were probably more surprised at what she was doing than she was that we were there. After the service we had about 10 minutes to chat with her and then it was back to the car for the two and a half hour drive home. It was worth it. We all had a great time and Amber was happy to see us.

Matthew's Big Toe Nail

Yesterday Matthew finally broke down and had part of his toenail removed because of an ingrown toenail infection. The worst part was getting his toe numbed up with an injection. After that it was easy. In fact, he couldn't believe it when the doctor said he was all done. His toe is all bandaged up, but it doesn't hurt too bad, so he is getting along pretty well. It was a lot of carrying on about nothing. He feels so much better right now that it is a relief not to have the toe pain any longer.

A Great Article on Christian Environmental Values

Susan Power Bratton provides some thought provoking statements in Sojourners regarding our obligation as Christians to help steward God's creation. You can read it here. Over the last 3 or 4 years I have become more of a Christian Environmentalist to where I now believe it is our calling as Christians, particularly as those who believe in God's creation story, to be the ones to speak up for the devestation going on to God's creation.

Christianity and Modernity's Take on Consumption

Jordon Cooper had a great link to a Brian McLaren article on Christianity and Modernity's view of consumption in Sojourners. This is a topic close to my Dissertation topic and is close to my heart. A link to the article is here.

Brian makes some great points, but I disagree with part of the fourth paragraph where he makes the statement that conservative protestants have been guilty of subcontracting the evangelical mind out to right-wing politicians and greedy business interests…putting the gospel of Jesus through the strainer of consumerist-capitalism and retaining only the thin broth that this modern-day Caesar lets pass through...a tendency to be against whatever "liberals" are for. Our culture is guilty of doing that, but not just with the greedy business interests and right-wing politicians. The liberal left has dont the same thing....can you remember the Clinton Whitewater scandal? Or the dam building during the FDR days that were strictly for the interests of the wealthy large-scale farmer?

I like the article, but dislike the right-wing bashing. Both sides are equally guilty!

What a Long Weekend

It was a real long weekend for us. Friday I completed my Spanish translation test at St Louis University. When I came home at lunch time we took Matthew to the doctor and didn't get home until around 4:00.

Saturday I met with Greg Alexander of the Illinois Baptist State Association and Chris Wright of Peoria in Springfield for lunch. We discussed church planting strategy. Greg bought lunch at the local Mexican restaurant and it was great. I had an awesome time of praise and worship with the Lord on the hour and a half drive to and from Springfield. In fact, when I got to Springfield I was a little bit hoarse! I'm sure that the other drivers thought I must be schizophrenic, but who knows? Maybe I am!

When I got home we had a basketball game for Bethany on Saturday afternoon. Her team did well and beat up on their rivals. Good job Bethany!

Sunday we surprized Marilyn's niece Amber at Ft Leonard Wood in mid- Missouri. She is about half way through Army basic training. We met her at the Pentecostal Chapel service at 8:45. It was a little more than a two and a half hour drive, so we left home at 5:30 in the morning. Amber was so happy to see us and we were pretty excited to see her. I have a couple of pictures here. Church lasted until around 10:00 and then we stopped for lunch on the way home. It was five and a half hours of driving to go to a one hour church service, but was worth it.

Then I came home and led the 7:30 Impact Worship Service at The Gate and didn't get home until 10:00 at night. I'm worn out and need a nice slow work week to mellow out!