Kontakion

Well the last several weeks have gotten away from me, and I have been unable to keep up with posting. There is a whole lotta news, first I made it through my BOM interview. It was a long and grueling eight hour meeting that involved more waiting than meeting but I made it through alive. Unfortunately it has meant that I will have to leave my current appointment for a full time appointment but I pray the will of God will be done. Also because of this I didn't take the job move up within my company, I already have enough on my plate and to risk burn out for just a little bit more money isn't worth it. Besides this I have been trying to concentrate on taking time off. What I mean is that I have been trying to make sure I have one designated day of rest as well as a few hours each day of rest to recover. So far its been going good, at least as long as I have some good books to read.

I realized this week that its been a while since I posted a general update. I do this in part to help me prioritize in my mind what is going on. First and foremost in my mind right now is that everything has been turned into BOOM for my interview in February. I am excited to finally get this far in the process, but I am also very anxious. Its hard to work so hard and so long to have to look towards a meeting where the people on the board could require me to do more things (as if my schedule was that flexible) or stop me completely in the process. I guess when it gets down to it the latter of the two options is the one that makes me the most anxious. I have also told the DS in this district that I was not seeking a re-appointment. True I'm hoping for a two point charge which would make me full time at church work, but I am also willing to do one year as part time (which is allowed if I am probationary). My job as a TSS has also been occupying my thoughts lately. Last week I...

This is just a brief rant today, I've been thinking lately how frustrated I am with people who are overly concerned about me voting. Yes I vote and at the moment will continue to do so, but I find the people who ask me about voting tend to like me less when I step in and say I don't like any politician. Let me say that again I don't like any politician. They are (by and large) rich spoiled brats. They don't know what its like to buy, oatmeal, or mac and cheese to eat because its the only thing you can afford. I will come flat out and say that I don't like anyone who currently has their sights on the presidency. God knows we could use someone peaceful, wise, just, and noble in the role of President, but from what I see that ain't happening. So for anyone who reads this don't remind me to vote unless you want an ear full.

At the beginning of this week I completed one of the books I received for Christmas from my wife. I had read the original Dune series a few years ago and at the recommendation of a co-worker at the printing plant this summer I picked up House Atreidies. Needless to say I read that book very quickly and found the story to be very enjoyable over all. I had the same expectations for Butlerian Jihad when I started and I was not disappointed. The novel itself was very good, the story line moved well, and I can’t wait to get the second one in this trilogy to read. However I was disappointed by one thing in particular. The original Dune series is known for being a stunning work with a powerful message about ecology and our treatment of the planet. The Butlerian Jihad only briefly touched on this message particularly at the end. While that in and of itself is not bad because it is the first of a “historical” trilogy. The novel delved in to the religious aspect of the future projected ...

Spoilers with-in The short book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is the story of a young man named Christopher McCandless. I read this story in just two day, this is not a testament to the writing quality, Jon Krakauer writes articles for Magazines and the writing in this book feels much the same as a two hundred page magazine article. That is not to say that the writing is bad, its just not difficult if that is what you are looking for. Another reason for having read the book really quickly is the actual story that it tells. My reaction to McCandless is still uncertain even though I finished the book over a week ago. McCandless abandoned a comfortable life after he graduated from college to live out the beliefs of Leo Tolstoy. A Russian writer who believed in giving up wealth and seeking experience in the common, more specifically with the common people, regrettably he didn’t live up entirely to his belief system non-the-less McCandless was inspired. He gave up his status and be...

Yes I'm still around, I'm just taking time to get everything worked out. Working 40hrs a week counseling, 20 + hours pastoring, and trying to be a husband and father tends to push out any blogging prerogative. My hope in the coming year is to re-find the joy of blogging and do it once a week, maybe Sunday afternoon. I figured I needed to post now to do my annual best books I've read for the year post as well as total numbers and averages, so here we go... Two books that got excellent from me in the fantasy department were Eragon, and Eldest. Until I Find You, for fiction A Walk in the Woods for Non-fiction And The Irresistable Revolution, and Generous Orthodoxy for church Honorable mentions go to Into the Wild and Velvet Elvis. Into the Wild is placed here because I am still processing the story having just finished it yesterday. My total amount of pages for the year was 11,718 This actually keeps the trend that when I graduate I read more than when I am in school. In...

Well I was sitting here tonight and I realized that I finally have some time to do a little bit of blogging. Over the past couple of weeks I have been struggling with keeping some "me" time in my schedule. The reality is I haven't really had any. Things have been working so far that I have been able to keep one day a week open for my family, but I just haven't found that rhythm and roll yet on keeping some "me" time. This week has been going a little better on this score. While I have worked on my sermon for a few hours each night I have forbidden myself for reading any book explicitly for church (by saying that I mean something that I have an eye toward helping my sermons, bible study, worship or anything of that sort.) So tonight I have been reading Sex God by Rob Bell. So far I have to say I like it, I do admire Rob Bells writing style and his down to earth manner so I will give a further update as I complete the book. Besides this I've just b...