Random Notes for a Monday

Been on the road this past week at my seminary alma mater where I'm set to begin the Beeson Pastor doctoral program in August. It's a very exciting opportunity, though it will require a lot of reading, thought, and writing--three things I am fortunately wired to do. I came home with a pile of 16 books to work through between now and August, so watch the blog for some reviews. They range from classics like the spiritual autobiographies of Thomas Merton and E. Stanley Jones to some more recent books about spiritual leadership.

Beyond that, here are some of the things I'm tracking:

• My friend and editor at Homiletics, Timothy Merrill, has an important post on his blog about the deteriorating political and human rights situation in Zimbabwe. It's too easy for us westerners to merely shrug our shoulders at these situations while people are in deep trouble. We need to pray and we need to get on the horn to our government reps to address it.
• Is it me or has the presidential race gone from being exciting and thought-provoking to largely irrelevant? The bickering and in-fighting isn't even entertaining anymore...just sad. Once again, I'm starting to wish there was a box on the ballot that said, "None of the above."
• The United Methodist General Conference began meeting this past week for the quadrennial ten day festival of preaching, protests, and pontificating. To be honest, I haven't followed it much. Our denomination is famous for having meetings with no decisions, and studies with no outcomes. I have no reason to believe this one will be any different. Am I pessimistic? Nah, just an optimist with experience.
• Life Lesson #6,432 - Never, under any circumstances, fly through O'Hare Airport in Chicago. After weather delays on Friday night I didn't get home until Saturday afternoon, an hour and a half before I had to officiate at a Memorial Service. I'll pay the extra cash to go through Cincinnati or Atlanta if necessary. Actually, I've only walked through O'Hare a couple of times in my life. Any other time it's been on a dead sprint trying to make a flight that probably wasn't going to leave anyway.
• I went on a tour of the Summit County Jail today to see how our church might be involved in doing some volunteer work. I think every pastor should be familiar with the local jail. It's an education in the deep need of humanity.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins are up 2-0 in their playoff series against the NY Rangers. Best part of the whole thing is hearing Mike Lange make the goal calls on the radio..."Heeeeeee shoots and scores," and curious ones like "Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one, too!" Nothing connects me more to my western PA roots than hearing that voice.
• The Pirates, on the other hand, are as dismal as ever. So much for "accountability." They'll be out of the race by May 15.  No announcer can put lipstick on that particular pig.
• If there's anything better than watching your kids doing their best I don't know what it is. Last week I got to see Rob play baseball in his scrappy way and Hannah play brilliantly at her violin recital. I couldn't be a prouder papa.

Have a great week!

Comments

[Grant Hedges]

Personal:
Read you sermon of 5/4/08. I get more out of it than just trying to listen. Also your Monday notes. It's refreshing because you are a real person.
Grant.