I have to mention that I've hit the over 100 posts mark. I meant to have a party, but got busy and forgot.

In Albuquerque news, we've had 2 consecutive days of over 100 degree weather. Yeah, it is hot, but normally in Illinois I would want nothing to do with being outside in this kind of heat. Here it is different, it is stuffy inside because my apartment is like an oven and I just want to sit outside and enjoy the breeze. I discovered that hummingbirds frequent the feeder outside my apartment, hopefully I'll be able to get a picture here soon.

The other fun thing that is going on is Music camp at church. In one week, the children at the church pulls together a production. It looks like a ton of fun, but I have too much work to get done before I'm headed off to conference at home tomorrow to go and play. I did check out the crafts this afternoon as well as have a ton of drop in youth visits. I also did my part in filling up the van with gas. No one can say I did nothing for Music Camp. I think this would have been fun as a kid. I had a role in 3 major productions, though I can only remember the name of two. So you may remember me from such greatness as little sheep #3 from "We like sheep" (pink cast and all) or as a kid in "Down by the Creekbank" I can sing you a couple songs from each of those productions from kindergarten and 1st grade. Sometimes I'm amazed at what I keep in my head. I also played the wife of Ham, son of Noah in a musical. Oh the memories.

I had a good discussion today about the book of Revelation. My good friend is leading a Bible study at Wesley at U of Illinois this summer with the grad students and needed some expert advice on apocalyptic literature. This topic of conversation went along nicely with it being 6/6/06. I've heard more today about eschatology than I would have cared to have heard. I wasn't much help but we got to talking about the role of the prophet. There are so many misconceptions of a prophet's role. I often think here that this or that prophet is coming to town here (we are on the outskirts of the Bible belt) and just have to shake my head. The first time I ever took a spiritual gifts test, my two highest scores were in teaching and prophetic wisdom. It freaked me out until I really had a handle on what it means to be a prophetic voice. I'm starting to really see how that fits who I am and especially how I'm feeling in the UMC right now. In my conversation this afternoon, my statement about the role of a prophetic voice was this... "It is interesting to see people open their eyes to the fact that the job of a prophet is not to declare the future, but instead to show God's intentions and to bring forth the covenant between God and humanity."

I'm big on the covenant right now. Huge on the vast power of God's love. A lot has to do with being a part of a Disciple OT class, some has to do with reading McLaren's "The Last Word and the Word after That." Both deserving of their own posts on down the line.

I'm really enjoying the chance I have to be in discussion about the issues I've brought up in my last couple of posts. I'm thankful for those of you who leave comments for me of encouragement. I know my posts can be lengthy at times, but that is because posting is part of my thought process. So far I cannot say that I have ever come to any definitive conclusions about anything I post about. As an introvert, I spend lots of time thinking and rehashing things in my head before I'm willing to speak up on issues, but blogging gives me the opportunity to begin to do more of my thinking outside of myself. I'm amazed at what it has inspired me to speak up about and really try to take a stand on. I'm looking forward to the next 100 posts and the blogging I get to do over the next few years. I'm excited for the opportunity to struggle through seminary and the ordination process on my blog. I'm just hoping I'm still into it as much then as I am now.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at 10:02 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.