Thanks to reading a friends Lenten Blog for her church I participated in an online study today that measures how religious Christians are in six different dimensions, described as follows:
The authors of the Inclusive Christian Scale have found over the course of previous research studies that religiosity could be thought of in terms of the following six dimensions: evangelical, Christian conservative, activist, golden rule, community involvment, and mystic.
The Evangelical dimension refers to a particular focus on prayer, evangelism or outreach, and faith as a source of strength.
The Christian Conservative dimension reflects a particular focus on avoiding acts seen as sinful, on a literal interpretation of the Bible, and on a transforming spiritual experience.
The Activist dimension refers to a focus on changing unjust structures in the world as a part of one’s practice of faith.
The Golden Rule dimension refers to a particular focus on attempting to live so that one treats others as one would wish to be treated. This dimension highlights a concern about many of the same issues found on the Activist dimension, but the focus is more on individuals and less on social structures.
The Community Involvment dimension underlines a particular focus on active participation in the church as a fellowship of faith.
The Mystic dimension reflects a particular focus on an intimate, pervasive relationship/connection to God.
My Scores:
EVANGELICAL: 83 %
CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE: 33 %
ACTIVIST: 80 %
GOLDEN RULE: 89 %
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: 88 %
MYSTIC: 75 %
Not at all surprised to see Christian Conservative lags so far behind the rest. I think that my Mystic dimension would have been higher five years ago.
Wanna take it? Do it, and let me know what you come back with!
February 27, 2008
February 20, 2008
What You Say You Said
Trip to St Louis was incredibly great. Rightly timed time-away from home and downright relaxing time with Sarahlynn, Paul and the girls. Abby did not learn to crawl, but did pick up clapping! I even got to go to a Blues (pro hockey) game! Really, though, the best part was spending quality time with the family.
I planned to write two posts in the last few days, one about the trip and one to celebrate my two year blogoversary, which was Valentines Day. I have decided not to delve into either far enough for a full post. Instead I am looking to see if I'm the only one dealing with craziness.
I got an email from one of my supervisors: "Rob, I need your help writing this check request."
Let's break that down:
Rob - that's me
I need your help - we need to work together to get this done
writing this check request - with this mundane task
It seems that what she meant was: "Rob. Write a check request for this."
When I was ready to leave for the day, I asked what kind of help she needed for the (again, mundane) check request. An account number to charge it to? An address? A pen? She told me that I was to have written it on my own, and we had conversation about our roles in this relationship. She is the boss, I am the worker bee. Boss says "do this" and should expect it done. I think we're on the same page now.
At home the situation is similar, but different: "Rob, would you vacuum this weekend?"
Again, a breakdown:
Rob - That's me! People know my name!
would you - Please do this
vacuum - Get out the stupid machine, and do the deed
this weekend - 72 hours that begins roughly Friday at 5 pm and ends Sunday at bedtime
? - Implied option - yes or no.
What Anny means is: "Rob, vacuum this morning please."
Anny says that she does not want to be a nag. I keep telling her that she is not nagging, she is being direct. There is a difference to me.
Do you deal with issues like this? Am I not being perceptive enough, or should people be direct in what they are asking for?
I planned to write two posts in the last few days, one about the trip and one to celebrate my two year blogoversary, which was Valentines Day. I have decided not to delve into either far enough for a full post. Instead I am looking to see if I'm the only one dealing with craziness.
I got an email from one of my supervisors: "Rob, I need your help writing this check request."
Let's break that down:
Rob - that's me
I need your help - we need to work together to get this done
writing this check request - with this mundane task
It seems that what she meant was: "Rob. Write a check request for this."
When I was ready to leave for the day, I asked what kind of help she needed for the (again, mundane) check request. An account number to charge it to? An address? A pen? She told me that I was to have written it on my own, and we had conversation about our roles in this relationship. She is the boss, I am the worker bee. Boss says "do this" and should expect it done. I think we're on the same page now.
At home the situation is similar, but different: "Rob, would you vacuum this weekend?"
Again, a breakdown:
Rob - That's me! People know my name!
would you - Please do this
vacuum - Get out the stupid machine, and do the deed
this weekend - 72 hours that begins roughly Friday at 5 pm and ends Sunday at bedtime
? - Implied option - yes or no.
What Anny means is: "Rob, vacuum this morning please."
Anny says that she does not want to be a nag. I keep telling her that she is not nagging, she is being direct. There is a difference to me.
Do you deal with issues like this? Am I not being perceptive enough, or should people be direct in what they are asking for?
February 12, 2008
I'm Leavin, on a Jet Plane
Okay - we're not flying out until Friday, but I know that Thursday is a special day for my blog and I won't post properly about the upcoming weekend preview. Knowing where we are going, though, I am sure that I will post on my blog over the weekend.
Where-o-where might the Monroe's be traveling? Saint Louis, MO, of course! For the first time EVER Anny has conceded to taking a day off of school for fun purposes! If Anny can take a day off, I can certainly match that! We decided to head out of town on Friday morning rather than wait until the evening, which would mean really only one fun day out of town. Late Friday arrival and leaving Sunday after church is not nearly as fun as a full Friday and Saturday, with an afternoon return on Sunday.
When I was looking at a calendar, ready to press "buy now" on Southwest to confirm our reservations, I noticed a pretty long word on my calendar. H-O-L-I-D-A-Y. The Presidents are doing us a favor this year, we're making an even longer weekend out of it!
Another upside for me, not as up for Anny, is that we truly can make Friday into a full day. Yes, we ARE leaving at 7:00 am, thankyouverymuch. I'm so much of a morning person that I didn't flinch. Anny does not mind too much, but will admit that it will be hard to get to sleep early on Thursday. A big thanks in advance to Jason for getting up early to take us to the airport.
I'm excited to spend time just hanging out with the St Louis part of the family. Nothing scheduled - no baptisms or road trips - except hanging out.
On a completely different note - Abby is officially 8 months old today! I'm going to go wake her up to celebrate. (It's election day, so Anny and Abby have the day off.) WAIT - She is waking up on her own......Time to change a diaper and hug a baby!
Where-o-where might the Monroe's be traveling? Saint Louis, MO, of course! For the first time EVER Anny has conceded to taking a day off of school for fun purposes! If Anny can take a day off, I can certainly match that! We decided to head out of town on Friday morning rather than wait until the evening, which would mean really only one fun day out of town. Late Friday arrival and leaving Sunday after church is not nearly as fun as a full Friday and Saturday, with an afternoon return on Sunday.
When I was looking at a calendar, ready to press "buy now" on Southwest to confirm our reservations, I noticed a pretty long word on my calendar. H-O-L-I-D-A-Y. The Presidents are doing us a favor this year, we're making an even longer weekend out of it!
Another upside for me, not as up for Anny, is that we truly can make Friday into a full day. Yes, we ARE leaving at 7:00 am, thankyouverymuch. I'm so much of a morning person that I didn't flinch. Anny does not mind too much, but will admit that it will be hard to get to sleep early on Thursday. A big thanks in advance to Jason for getting up early to take us to the airport.
I'm excited to spend time just hanging out with the St Louis part of the family. Nothing scheduled - no baptisms or road trips - except hanging out.
On a completely different note - Abby is officially 8 months old today! I'm going to go wake her up to celebrate. (It's election day, so Anny and Abby have the day off.) WAIT - She is waking up on her own......Time to change a diaper and hug a baby!
February 06, 2008
Observations from the Last Few Days
Some Observations:
On the Abby Front:
A fat lip on an infant is both funny and cringeworthy at the same time. Sorry, no pictures. Can't have social services after me.
She is scooting toward her toy basket, but only when she can touch it already. She's gotten up on her hands and knees, but gets confused pretty quickly at that point. Hopefully a weekend with Ada will get her moving.
On the Sports Front:
I apreciated hearing Plaxico Burress after the SuperBowl. His comment was "This is the greatest feeling in professional sports." So often we hear that something in sports is the greatest thing in LIFE, and I just can't believe that.
Who really cares who the next Redskins coach will be? Aparently a lot of people. What I can tel you is that he, whichever he it is, will come in and change the system, personnel and feel of the team. Oh yeah, and it's not your decision, it's the decision of the guy that owns the team. He does not come to your office and tell you who to hire.
On the Political Front:
There are a lot of people in Virginia that don't know how to listen. Seems that they got almost 1,000 calls yesterday furious about closed polling stations. Yeah, Super Tuesday was not in your state. That's NEXT Tuesday, just like they keep telling you in the paper, radio and TV.
Because the folks in VA, MD and DC want to feel important they have dubbed next Tuesday, our TV Stations have dubbed it Chesapeake Tuesday. Get over it. It's just another Primary Tuesday. It started yesterday and I'm already annoyed with it.
On the Music Front:
When someone posts a new Celebrity Playlist on iTunes, check it out. Thanks to one list I have discovered Brett Dennen and what is now one of my top 10 songs to listen to. (Oh yeah, check him out based on my recommendation too!)
On the Abby Front:
A fat lip on an infant is both funny and cringeworthy at the same time. Sorry, no pictures. Can't have social services after me.
She is scooting toward her toy basket, but only when she can touch it already. She's gotten up on her hands and knees, but gets confused pretty quickly at that point. Hopefully a weekend with Ada will get her moving.
On the Sports Front:
I apreciated hearing Plaxico Burress after the SuperBowl. His comment was "This is the greatest feeling in professional sports." So often we hear that something in sports is the greatest thing in LIFE, and I just can't believe that.
Who really cares who the next Redskins coach will be? Aparently a lot of people. What I can tel you is that he, whichever he it is, will come in and change the system, personnel and feel of the team. Oh yeah, and it's not your decision, it's the decision of the guy that owns the team. He does not come to your office and tell you who to hire.
On the Political Front:
There are a lot of people in Virginia that don't know how to listen. Seems that they got almost 1,000 calls yesterday furious about closed polling stations. Yeah, Super Tuesday was not in your state. That's NEXT Tuesday, just like they keep telling you in the paper, radio and TV.
Because the folks in VA, MD and DC want to feel important they have dubbed next Tuesday, our TV Stations have dubbed it Chesapeake Tuesday. Get over it. It's just another Primary Tuesday. It started yesterday and I'm already annoyed with it.
On the Music Front:
When someone posts a new Celebrity Playlist on iTunes, check it out. Thanks to one list I have discovered Brett Dennen and what is now one of my top 10 songs to listen to. (Oh yeah, check him out based on my recommendation too!)
February 02, 2008
I Need Hair Help
Okay - I'm trying once again to grow my hair out. Here's my problem: I don't know what the end product should look like! I'm completely and totally open to ideas, and welcome them. The way I see it, I have two weeks before I have to either cut it back to "normal" or decide on a style-goal.
Your job is to help me figure this out. I'm open to having to primp in the morning.
Two options: paste a link in the comments below to a picture of a style you think might work; OR, take the picture below and play with it, then email it to me.
Your job is to help me figure this out. I'm open to having to primp in the morning.
Two options: paste a link in the comments below to a picture of a style you think might work; OR, take the picture below and play with it, then email it to me.
February 01, 2008
A Short but Well Lived Life
Yesterday I had an experience that I hope to never be a part of again. On Sunday our pastor told us about a friend of her 10 year old son. He went into to hospital on Friday for a seemingly minor issue, was diagnosed with lukemia on Saturday, had a stroke and was dead on Sunday morning. There was no way to have seen it in advance, so there were not opportunities for family or friends to say goodbye.
She proceeded to tell us that the family did not have a church or pastor. She knew that she could volunteer our space, which she did, and we would welcome this grieving family with open arms, which we did. I made sure that Amy knew thta I could be at church for as much time as needed. When the family told her that they wanted to show a movie (slideshow) that was made about his life, Amy dropped me an email. Luckily my office is flexible enough that I can volunteer for things like this when they are important.
Our church is not big. On Sunday's we have seating set up for ~250. (We don't have pews, we have movable chairs. Very good idea when you only have one gathering place in your building.) The staff moved more chairs into the sanctuary to bump up seating to 325 on the floor. Chairs were added to the choir loft, too. As we began to see the number of people coming to the service, we began to add seating to our narthex, which we counted at 75 sitting. People were literally standing in the aisles.
This boy was only ten years old, but had lived his entire life in one place. His community knew him. His private school knew him and a ton of teachers came out. His fathers office has representatives, too. When all was said and done, we counted at least 450 people in attendance for the service.
He was ten. His family had only lived in Maryland for 10 years, but their friends, co-workers and community were all present. It was an incredible experience. But I don't want to do it again.
I could not watch the slideshow. Too many pictures are identical to ones that I have just taken of Abby. First food. Sitting for the first time. There weren't even graduation pictures. He didn't make it that far.
I hugged Abby a little tighter yesterday. I will hug her even tighter today.
I pray that none of us - no parent ever - has to have this experience.
She proceeded to tell us that the family did not have a church or pastor. She knew that she could volunteer our space, which she did, and we would welcome this grieving family with open arms, which we did. I made sure that Amy knew thta I could be at church for as much time as needed. When the family told her that they wanted to show a movie (slideshow) that was made about his life, Amy dropped me an email. Luckily my office is flexible enough that I can volunteer for things like this when they are important.
Our church is not big. On Sunday's we have seating set up for ~250. (We don't have pews, we have movable chairs. Very good idea when you only have one gathering place in your building.) The staff moved more chairs into the sanctuary to bump up seating to 325 on the floor. Chairs were added to the choir loft, too. As we began to see the number of people coming to the service, we began to add seating to our narthex, which we counted at 75 sitting. People were literally standing in the aisles.
This boy was only ten years old, but had lived his entire life in one place. His community knew him. His private school knew him and a ton of teachers came out. His fathers office has representatives, too. When all was said and done, we counted at least 450 people in attendance for the service.
He was ten. His family had only lived in Maryland for 10 years, but their friends, co-workers and community were all present. It was an incredible experience. But I don't want to do it again.
I could not watch the slideshow. Too many pictures are identical to ones that I have just taken of Abby. First food. Sitting for the first time. There weren't even graduation pictures. He didn't make it that far.
I hugged Abby a little tighter yesterday. I will hug her even tighter today.
I pray that none of us - no parent ever - has to have this experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)