prof

Heading down to my old stomping grounds @ NOBTS (North Georgia campus). Today is adjunct professor "training." Yeah. I'll be an adjunct prof there next year! Teaching one class in the fall and one class in the spring. Of course, that's why I got a pipe in the UK... gotta get that prof look going on!

honored

Wow. I was just tooling around on alternativeworship.org today--checking out the updates, etc.. Found my blog listed on the "Alternative worship & emerging church blogs" directory. Totally honored...

(Check out the listing and other emergent sites HERE.)

verdict

"So, how was jury duty?"

Overall, the whole event was positive. It boosted my confidence in "the system," and I also met some really neat folks. On Monday of last week I found myself angry that I was selected for jury duty... I let God know about it (hey, he's read the Psalms). In fact, I really didn't know "why" I was there until deliberations on Thursday. It was during the deliberations that everything came to an apex. Although we deliberated for the better part of 5 hours, I was glad to be in that room. There was tension (even racial tension...), there were arguments and outbursts of anger, there were intense moments. But, there was also compassion, understanding and courageous decision making (all 12 of us had to "bend" on some point in order for us to reach a unanimous decision). We handed in the verdict at 9:00PM on Thursday...

So... what was the case about? It was a defamation case. Slander per se. Basically, two local doctors were involved. One said something about another to an insurance company. The one who was offended filed the lawsuit. Anyway, no one was "guilty" or "innocent." We didn't have to make a decision based on whether or not there was a "shadow of doubt." We simply had to evaluate the validity of the evidence and make a decision based on what our collective conscience determined.

We awarded the plaintiff (the one offended) with $70,000. They were actually asking for $500,000-$750,000. But, the jury was charged by the court with determining the award amount, and we didn't feel that the evidence was convincing enough to award half-a-million bucks.

So, that's it. Now... on to getting married! 6 days!!

england.pics.1

DOVER

Ah, Dover castle.

The, um, white cliffs of Dover. (It's actually chalk, believe it or not...)

Our little Fiat. (According to our rental car invoice, I drove 1,690 miles in England/Scotland...)

OXFORD

This is the oldest coffeehouse in Europe: Queens Lane Coffeehouse, 1654.

Magdalen College (pronounced: "Maudlin"), where C.S. Lewis taught. Scott's trying out his professorial look.

The Eagle and Child pub. This is where Lewis, Tolkein and others would meet on Tuesday mornings to drink pints and dialogue about their books. (They called their little group of writers: The Inklings.)

SALISBURY

The meadows, Stonehenge and the Salisbury Cathedral (largest spire in the UK) are worth the trip to Salisbury. Unfortunately, Starbu*** has figured that out as well. (Note my head hanging in dispair.)

STRATFORD UPON AVON

Holy Trinity, where Shakespeare's tomb is located. Scott and I attended Eveningsong here (Anglican). I was pretty "let down" by the trip to S-U-A. Tourist trap. Worth a drive through, but not a stay. I visited the Bard's birthplace... unfortunately, I already knew most of what I read/saw due to my education as an English major. *sigh* The worst part of S-U-A was the snoring bum in our hostel room... ugh.

More to come...

dooty call

Actually, jury duty has been pleasantly surprising. Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the case because they'll lock me up or shoot me or something. But, the whole process has been very intriguing. A few thoughts...

1) My civic duty. Yeah, I know. Blah, blah, blah. Actually, it's really an honor to serve on this jury. I began thinking about it later last night: "If I were in one of those chairs, I'd want someone like me in that jury box." Not that I'm special or anything, but I think I'm taking it pretty serious... which brings me to thought #2...

2) What a weighty responsibility! I am actually going to affect someone else's life immediately. The consequences of my decision will be with both parties for the rest of their lives. Wow. What a mind job. (I need coffee.)

3) Coffee at the judicial building is absolutely horrid.

4) I can't help but ruminate on the whole "judgment" thing. It's amazing to see how the plantiff, defendent and witnesses react when they are on the "stand." Flushed cheeks, heightened emotion, stuttering voices, arogance... I can't help but think about how we all will face the ultimate judgement some day. What an awesome "sermon" being preached right in front of me all day long:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4

Peace...

jury dooty

Ugh. I was summoned for jury duty today. Left the apartment at 6:45AM. Crawled back in at 6:45PM. The best part... I was the LAST juror selected for a 3 day trial. Just what I need right now. 4 of the 12 days until my wedding will be remembered forever in my heart as the time I fufilled my civic duty. (By the way... that means 1/3 of my remaining days of singlehood are going to be spent in the courtroom...)

Sometimes I wonder if God is just laughing at me... like when my hair fell out.

I'm obviously having a bad day.

The Merge

Spending this weekend moving Kim and I into our "first" home. Expect little blogging for the next few days as we'll both be busy situating the new place...

france.pics

These are a couple-o pics from our France journey a few weeks ago...


Notre Dame, of course. Funny story: We asked 2 girls in French to take our picture here. They responded in French and asked if we wouldn't mind speaking English. Then, we discovered, they were from Chicago.

Some important structure...?

Scott walking on Omaha Beach (Normandy), and The American Cemetary. Perhaps my greatest "regret" was not spending more time here at Normandy.

This is me drinking a "coffee."

I hope to have some UK pics up soon...

further.revisions...

I've updated my blog roll a bit. Deleting those blogs that I no longer frequent.

justa.link

My pal, Du (pictured), shot me this link today: TIME.com--Meet Joe Blog. An article about the whole blogging phenomena. Of course, you already know all about it because you're reading a blog right now.

(Just between you and me, I think Du should start his own blog...)

small.ritual

I'm adding Steve Collins (Small Ritual) to my blog roll (thanks for mentioning me on your blog, Steve!). Anyway, it's long over due--I've been reading his stuff for several years now. Steve and I had a good conversation whilst Scott and I were in London. I'd like to dialogue about some of it. Our conversation shed a lot of light on the differences in approach to "experiential worship" in the UK and USA. It really helped shed some light on things. I wish I could spend some time talking about it now... I'm just covered up with getting back into the swing of things here at Crosspointe and finalizing all the wedding plans (18 days!!).

Oh, and I also removed my tag board. Nobody seems to be using it. I'm such a pragmatist...

revision.addition

I posted about our experiential worship service @ Crosspointe back in March ("Learning to Listen"). Unfortunately, the pics didn't work out on my blog. I've since fixed it! (Finally!) You can check it out HERE, or by visiting the new section I created to the left called "experiential.worship."

Enjoy...

shameless

I know it's shameless, but today's my birthday. I just wish I wasn't fighting jet-lag all day long. Ugh. But, then again, that's what Caribou Coffee is for!!

HOME!

I'm home. Feels good to be back.

Check out what happened to my friend, Jud...

europe.5

alt. worship
We finished up our whirlwind walking tour of London last night by heading back to our hotel. Almost as soon as we got there and changed clothes, we headed BACK out to get to an alternative worship service called "Vaux." Vaux meets in an old Anglican Church building (St. Peters). We really didn't know what to expect. Unfortunately we were about 15 minutes late and missed taking communion. But, we were in time for 20 minutes of silent meditation and a brief liturgical reading. Afterward we were able to converse with the folks there (there were only about 10 of us). I talked to one of the coordinators of Vaux, Andy, and told him of my experience with the Labyrnth. He pointed out a guy across the way from us and said: "See the guy with the labyrnth tatoo? He's really involved in the alt. worship stuff. His name is Steve... um, um,... can't think of his last name. It's really easy to remember..." I then said: "Steve Collins?" He said: "Yeah! You know him?" Actually, I had e-mailed Steve almost 3 years ago asking him about alt worship in the UK. At that time there was nothing in print about it, and the only way I knew about it was from Steve's websites and his blog. Interestingly enough, he's also one of the main architects of the alternative worship movement in the UK... hence, Europe. (Although, he'd bristle at my saying that! You can see 2 of his sites as linked to the left: alt.worship.org and small.fire.)

So afterward we went out to a pub across the street for pints. Scott talked with 3 guys from Vaux--Leon, Andy and Ness--and I was able to talk with Steve about his involvement in alt. worship and how he sees it panning out in the States (it's only just now beginning to hit). Oh, and Steve graciously provided the pints for Scott and I (thanks, Steve)! Needless to say, it was a tremendously edifying evening.

Then... the morning... Kim called me around 8:30 this morning (3:30 her time!). It was great to hear her voice. (See you soon, babe!) Then, Scott and I headed out for the British Museum(?). It was pretty interesting... lots of artifacts from ancient Near East (Assyria, Egypt, etc.), ancient Greek/Rome, Enlightenment, prehistoric America, etc.. It was almost too much to take in.

That's all for now. Time is ££ on these machines.

Peace and coffee...

europe.4

Edinburgh
'Twas a nice visit all around. Probably will not venture back to Scotland in the future. It was too cold and damp for me. I know... I'm a sissy. Ultimately, Edinburgh was an interesting visit... it took a while for the sights and such to settle in, but when they did, I was truly able to appreciate the historicity of the place.

York/Norwich
On our way from Edinburgh we stopped in York. Ran into an American gal we had met in Oxford the week before! Our biggest regret was not staying the night in York. The cathedral there (York Minster) is the largest cathedral in the UK. It literally has 1/2 of the stainglass in the UK! We walked around a bit and headed on. Our original intent was to travel from Edinburgh to King's Lynn where we would stay the night. We actually had a reservation at the YHA there. But, when we got to KL, we changed our minds. Needless to say, it's the kind of town where you'd get mugged and your car and shoes would be stolen. So, we left KL and headed another hour down the road to Norwich. We ended up finding a hotel and got to our room around 11:30 that night. (We were on the road from Scotland for about 8 hours!)

Bodney/Cambridge
On the way to London we stopped through Bodney... the place where our Grandpa was stationed during WWII. It's a little "nowhere" out in the farmlands. Not even on the map! But, we found a military training base there and figured it was the spot. After convincing the guard that we truly were there for sentimental reasons, he took our picture by the little memorial that was there. They were flying the US flag in honor of D-Day. It was an amazing feeling to be in the same spot that our grandfather was 60 years later... I can't begin to describe it.

Cambridge was a nice break for the day. Oxford is so metropolitan, but the atmosphere at Cambridge is much more relaxed and communal feeling. We enjoyed walking around the city and then headed for London...

London
Scott and I went to bed relatively early last night and slept in relatively late today. We were needing it after the long drive from Scotland. We hit the town after breakfast. Walked around Buckingham Palace. Saw the guards. They were funny lookin'. Then we headed down to Parliment and Big Ben. Unfortunately, Westminster Abbey was closed today because it's Sunday (duh). Then we headed off to the War Time Museum which housed Churchill and his War Time Cabinet during WWII. VERY interesting. It's been neat to follow the events of D-Day (esp. as today is the 60th anniversary) from Normandy (Omaha Beach) to Dover (where the secret tunnels were located and the fake army was kept to decieve the Germans) to Edinburgh (where secret messages were sent from Churchill to Rosevelt) to Loch Ness (where a German bomber was found in the Loch) to Bodney (where our Grandpa was stationed before/slightly after D-Day) to London... where the "brains" for the whole thing took place. It's truly been a moving experience!

Peace and [expensive] coffee...

europe.3

Edinburgh
So, we're here in Edinburgh. The "capital" of Scotland. Lots of rich history here. We toured the castle today... saw the royal jewels. Ah. Rocks is rocks. The sword was pretty nifty, though!

Scott's really diggin' it. He likes the architecture and the landscapes. Right now he's @ the Botanical Gardens (we'll meet up this afternoon and go to St. Giles Cathedral... where Queen Elizabeth was crowned). The B&B we're staying at is really nice. You can literally look right out our window @ Aurthur's Seat (the highest point on the mountain in Edinburgh). Lot's of history here. Saw the monument to Hume (philosopher) and also other folks. Pretty nifty.

atmosphere...
As for me, I really don't like the "feel" of the town. It's extremely dark. I sense an overwhelming oppressive spirit here. This town is definately a stronghold of darkness. In fact, the most celebrated and expensive resturaunt here is called "The Witchery"--the resturaunt sign has a demon and other occultic symbols on it. It's sad to consider that Presbyterianism pretty much started in this city... and the largest Presbyterian church built here is now the headquarters for a trendy city-wide festival (like Mardi Gras in New Orleans). In fact, several church buildings are no longer worshiping communities. One building houses 2 seperate pubs. It breaks my heart. There are signs everywhere for "haunted tours" and "vampire tours." Last night I saw several goths and folks with white-painted faces and long, black robes. There are posters everwhere of gouls and skeletons. (I saw in one house a huge poster with a goulish skeleton face on it... plastered on the wall in the living room!) Is it any wonder that the woman who wrote the Harry Potter series wrote it here?? I don't care what folks say about the books--I've never read them, so I really have no room to talk--but if this area was her influence (or if she influenced it) it makes me warry of the nature of the witchcraft-propoganda of the book. That's another story...

the dawn...
This morning as I walked I could feel a sense of darkness around me. But, Kim (my fiance) and I have been reading through the Bible and part of today's reading was of Psalm 31. (Read it.) It was reassuring that I stand victorious in Christ... and that NOTHING in this world is stronger than He. So, I walked and prayed on the armour of God. At times I would pass someone or a particular shop that felt awkward and I would simply say: "In the name of Jesus!"

Scott and I talked last night. We realize that part of our "spiritual funk" since we've been in Europe has been a result of lack of personal time with the Lord. And, part of it is from the fact that we have not been able to "give back" to anyone. We're simply experiencing and enjoying things for our own pleasure. But, God has directed our lives in such a way that we desire to minister--to give of ourselves to others. We haven't been able to do that. I guess that's why I itch so much to get back into the swing of ministering @ Crosspointe. So, the prayer walking today felt good... it was as though I were God's messenger of Light in such a darkened town. Indeed, I was.

Off to a coffeeshop. Gotta have time to journal and read in the Word. I am truly feeling the desperateness of a hungry soul... I hope it won't last long.

Peace and coffee to all...

europe.2

Greetings from Edinburgh, Scotland! It's been a while since I last posted. Scott and I have either not been able to find an internet connection, or the connection was extremely expensive. This shall catch you up to date...

Stratford-Upon-Avon
Tourist trap. But, worth the visit for the day. Scott and I attended evening song @ the Anglican church (Holy Trinity--where Shakespeare's grave is). It was a beautiful service reflecting on the Pentacost. At one point, 2 doves flew about the ceiling of the ancient church... a physical reminder of the Holy Spirit decending upon Jesus at his baptism, and of the decent of the Spirit on us at Pentecost.

There was a guy in our room (a bum, I surmised) who snored incessently. Scott, luckily, had earphones and slept. I tossed and turned until 2AM. Then walked down 2 flights of stairs and tried to sleep on the couch in the common room. I woke up @ 4 when the sun came up (it sets @ 10 and rises @ 4!). Went back upstairs to the snorrer. It was unbelievable.

Then proceeded to drive 4.5 hours to the Lake District!

Lake District
Keswich (pronounced: Kessick) was unbelievable! So beautiful! Scott found a map to the Cumbria National Forest and we went for a hike... 9KM (just under 6 miles). We went up to this amazingly high crag and could see several mountain ranges, several valleys and 2 lakes. It was unbelievable (don't worry, we have pictures!). Then we hiked down the mountain and all around the lake back into Keswich. It took about 5 hours to complete. Scott will honeymoon there, no doubt! LOL!

The hills were gentle and smooth, but tremendously imposing. Little to no forrest--all pastureland with sheep (we walked really close to some). It was cleared by the Normans after the Norman Conquest.

Keswich was pretty sweet. We ate lamb shoulder @ The Dog and Gun (we liked the name of the place). Unfortunately, it was all oily and had no taste (which, we're discovering, is pretty much how EVERYTHING is here in the UK).

Off to Scotland!

Inverness
We made it to Inverness in about 5 hours. The drive was great! We stopped at 2 small towns (can't remember the name) and visited the remnants of the great Oak Forest that Shakespeare refers to in MacBeth. Oh, and we also took a picture of the Beatrice Potter Gardens. Then we stopped in Pitchlory (sp?) at a whisky distillery. Edrodour--the smallest dist. in Scotland--makes only 15 barrells of Scotch a week. The tour was free... so was the tasting! I hate whisky, so I drank a little and Scott finished mine off! He stumbled around...

Then on to Inverness. The drive was interesting. The Highlands weren't at all what we thought they would look like. Everything was brown. It was damp and the clouds were amazing! That was expected. But, the shrubery was disappointing. (There was still snow on the mountains! It was about 55 degrees there.) Inverness was HUGE! The "gateway" to the Highlands. We stayed in the youth hostel there and met some interesting people... including a minister and his youth group from Macon, GA! I said: "Howdy!"

The Great Glen
Ahhh... NOW we saw the Highlands! The Great Glen! We drove to the Loch Ness. Took some pictures there. Didn't see Nessy, although, we did urinate in the Ness (TMI, I'm sure). We drove all around it and stopped at some random Scottish castle--which, unfortunately, was closed. The drive was amazing. It took about 1.5 hours. There really is no other way to see the Loch outside of driving.

We stopped in Pictlory on the way back and had sandwiches and "white coffee" (essentially, lattes). The waitress there must've thought I was cute or something because she kept looking at me and smiling. Then, when we got our food, my sandwich was STACKED and Scott got a measly piece-o-meat. I thought it was funny. Scott didn't.

Now we're in Edinburgh. The town is beautiful... I can see the castle from where I sit. More later...

Peace and coffee...