Our new house guest arrived safe and sound on Monday. Finn from Norway will be staying with us for the next four months and it'll be fun to learn more about that part of the world. Already, Finn and Matt have bonded over camera's, hiking and have started making plans that will for sure keep us (well for sure them) busy the next few months.
I drove in hail for the first time in my life yesterday. That was fun, it was kind of like driving on marbles. During this experience however, I came to the realization that I think I pray more in the car now that I've moved to Wisconsin than I ever have in my entire life. Other than the 5 minutes of hail...it's been pretty cold. Matt and I like to call it booger freezing cold.
Matt takes off tomorrow for Indiana. He's helping tech InterVarsity's national Greek Conference (for students involved in University fraternities or sororities). Out of all the conferences InterVarsity does, this is probably one of the more powerful and interesting ones. The likely hood of many of these students going on to be politician's, lawyers or some other community leader is quite high so it's my prayer that God will work powerfully in many of their lives and that they will catch a vision of God's plan for this world which includes the many places of influence they may end up in.
Anyways, that's a quick update on the Kirk household.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
MLK Day
Martin Luther King day has been one of those holidays I haven't honestly thought much about. Mostly it was the culmination of a week at school focusing on the Civil Rights movement in America and more importantly a day off of school. But today I happened to watch a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Wisconsin State Capitol and was struck by several things.
The first being that this holiday still remains one of the few non-commercial holidays left in our country. This was pointed out by one of the key note speakers. That struck me as significant because of my second observation. That this holiday often has more powerful religious/spiritual undertones and a call to action according to what is right (aka what God honors) than Christmas or Easter. At least this was the case with the commemoration at the capitol.
It was hard not to walk away from watching this program without feeling spurred towards surrendering my individualistic tenancies to pursue action and the greater good. I admire King for the legacy he has left this country and am grateful his prophetic voice and vision given to him by the God he trusted still has the power to call people to action and bring hope that change is possible.
The first being that this holiday still remains one of the few non-commercial holidays left in our country. This was pointed out by one of the key note speakers. That struck me as significant because of my second observation. That this holiday often has more powerful religious/spiritual undertones and a call to action according to what is right (aka what God honors) than Christmas or Easter. At least this was the case with the commemoration at the capitol.
It was hard not to walk away from watching this program without feeling spurred towards surrendering my individualistic tenancies to pursue action and the greater good. I admire King for the legacy he has left this country and am grateful his prophetic voice and vision given to him by the God he trusted still has the power to call people to action and bring hope that change is possible.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Did you know?
At chapel today at work, they quizzed us on university's around the nation. See if you can do any better than I did:
1. What university was founded by the American Baptist Education Society and the oil magnate John D. Rockefeller?
a. Harvard, b. U of Chicago, c. Boston U or d. Emory?
2. Athletes were known as the Fighting Methodists?
a. Duke, b. Oberlin, c. USC or d. Syracuse?
3. This school was founded by evangelist and abolitionist Charles Finney.
a. Oberlin, b. Northwestern, c. Harvard or d. U of Illinois?
4. In 1868, daily chapel was required, Sunday worship was required and a lecture by the President on topics such as "Was Jesus more than a man?" and "Is Christianity true?" was required at this university.
a. Cornell, b. Duke, c. U of Virginia or d. U of Illinois?
Answers: 1. U of Chicago, 2. USC, 3. Oberlin, 4. U of Illinois. It's amazing how much has changed within the college world.
1. What university was founded by the American Baptist Education Society and the oil magnate John D. Rockefeller?
a. Harvard, b. U of Chicago, c. Boston U or d. Emory?
2. Athletes were known as the Fighting Methodists?
a. Duke, b. Oberlin, c. USC or d. Syracuse?
3. This school was founded by evangelist and abolitionist Charles Finney.
a. Oberlin, b. Northwestern, c. Harvard or d. U of Illinois?
4. In 1868, daily chapel was required, Sunday worship was required and a lecture by the President on topics such as "Was Jesus more than a man?" and "Is Christianity true?" was required at this university.
a. Cornell, b. Duke, c. U of Virginia or d. U of Illinois?
Answers: 1. U of Chicago, 2. USC, 3. Oberlin, 4. U of Illinois. It's amazing how much has changed within the college world.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Politics
I have to admit that I haven't been keeping up with the current political happenings as well as I probably should...but Matt and I watched Bill Moyer's Journal last night on PBS and were really challenged by what we heard and saw. The two segments are both on line and are well worth the watch if you have an hour.
The first interview with Kathleen Hall Jamison was very informative. She mainly is commenting on the New Hampshire race and some of the craziness that went along there. Mostly it was nice to get a slightly less mainstream look at the race there.
The second interview was with a guy named Shelby Steel. This one was quite provocative as he basically critiqued Obama and the role race is playing in this election. Overall, the interview is more of a blunt look at the reality of race in America and how much mistrust still exists for both blacks and whites. As a Christian, it challenged me to think about the ways I myself am prone towards mistrust and made me realize how little I acknowledge that mistrust or submit that to our Lord. While I am still very unsure of Obama in general mainly because I can't seem to figure out for sure his stance on what I feel are more of the bigger issues (such as education, HelthCare/Social Security, our current shaky position as a country in the rest of the world), it did make me realize that out of everyone running, he's probably the one who is and will be under the most scrutiny, pressure and attack. And that has got to be a hard place to be. This one is well worth the watch.
The first interview with Kathleen Hall Jamison was very informative. She mainly is commenting on the New Hampshire race and some of the craziness that went along there. Mostly it was nice to get a slightly less mainstream look at the race there.
The second interview was with a guy named Shelby Steel. This one was quite provocative as he basically critiqued Obama and the role race is playing in this election. Overall, the interview is more of a blunt look at the reality of race in America and how much mistrust still exists for both blacks and whites. As a Christian, it challenged me to think about the ways I myself am prone towards mistrust and made me realize how little I acknowledge that mistrust or submit that to our Lord. While I am still very unsure of Obama in general mainly because I can't seem to figure out for sure his stance on what I feel are more of the bigger issues (such as education, HelthCare/Social Security, our current shaky position as a country in the rest of the world), it did make me realize that out of everyone running, he's probably the one who is and will be under the most scrutiny, pressure and attack. And that has got to be a hard place to be. This one is well worth the watch.
Friday, January 11, 2008
"Filling Spiritual voids"
Interesting Article in the Denver Post about Richard Foster and his journey as a pastor in "Filling Spiritual Voids".
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Newest photos by Matt
Yes it has been a while since I (Matt) posted pictures, and instead of double posting you can go to my Photo Blog and see my Burma, Chirstmas and Snow pictures for yourself.
Have fun.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Times are a changing
Well, we survived staff conference (it was a really good week and I'll write more later).
But I have to relate what I think is a pretty funny incident that happened on our way back from St. Louis. I had chosen to catch a ride down and back on the staff bus from Madison. About 2 hours away from Madison we somehow learn that there is a huge accident on the highway we are on right before the Madison turn off. It was a huge mess (40 car pile up due to fog) and the highway was closed down.
How we discovered this, I'm not entirely sure. But it wasn't long before one of our staff members began walking up the bus asking if anyone had a map so we could find an alternative route. He got only 2 seats when someone pulled out their lap top and connected to the Internet and began map questing an alternative route. I guess their lap top had some special chip that allows for an Internet signal within 3 miles of the highway.
Once the alternative route was determined, an announcement was made of the change of plans. A second later everyone whips out their cell phone to call everyone else who was not on the bus to let them know of the accident and the alternative route.
For whatever reason I found the whole thing really funny and was amazed at how far technology has come.
But I have to relate what I think is a pretty funny incident that happened on our way back from St. Louis. I had chosen to catch a ride down and back on the staff bus from Madison. About 2 hours away from Madison we somehow learn that there is a huge accident on the highway we are on right before the Madison turn off. It was a huge mess (40 car pile up due to fog) and the highway was closed down.
How we discovered this, I'm not entirely sure. But it wasn't long before one of our staff members began walking up the bus asking if anyone had a map so we could find an alternative route. He got only 2 seats when someone pulled out their lap top and connected to the Internet and began map questing an alternative route. I guess their lap top had some special chip that allows for an Internet signal within 3 miles of the highway.
Once the alternative route was determined, an announcement was made of the change of plans. A second later everyone whips out their cell phone to call everyone else who was not on the bus to let them know of the accident and the alternative route.
For whatever reason I found the whole thing really funny and was amazed at how far technology has come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)