Hi all!!
I've heard some good things about my "Steven Mandel" story. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Here is something more for you to enjoy:
http://www.terragalleria.com/theravada
It's an absolutely amazing site of pictures from around the world. Of course, the ones I liked best were the ones were from Thailand and Cambodia and Laos (where I've been.) Check them out. You can click on the link there, or the link at the bottom of this post.
To those of you who prayed about worship last weekend at church: THANK YOU. God was amazing.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Showing up with Steven Mandel
Those of you who are from Edmonton, you don't need to be told that Steven Mandel is the mayor. To those of you who are not from around here:
Steven Mandel is the Mayor of Edmonton. He is Jewish.
He happened to be at the Jewish Synogogue that I attended on the last two Saturdays. I was doing a "research project" for my world religion class. The first time I went (see the Feb25 post), two thirds through the service, I looked to my left, and sitting at the end of the pew? Yes, none other than Steven Mandel. Now, usually, I'm not one to be all "agog" around those who are in politics, but it struck me as odd that he showed up with 20 minutes left. The Jewish service starts at 9, and ends at 12:30, and he was there around noon. (I should mention that he appeared long enough to recite the designated passage of scripture for the passing of a loved one.) I should also mention that after his designated assignment was complete, he left.
To make a short story VERY long, one my friend coined a phrase. It means "TO SHOW UP LATE". As of right now, add the phrase "SHOWING UP WITH STEVEN MANDEL" to your lexicon. It can be used in several contexts. For instance, if I was late for class, I could tell my mom that "my bus was late and I showed up with Steven Mandel". Or if I was planning to go to a party and was intending on being fashionably late, I would say that "I'm planning to show up with Steven Mandel".
Now that we have covered this, let's move on to the real story.
I went to the synagogue on Feb25 (as you have read). I learned a lot. But I didn't have enough to write my paper. I had to "interview" an 'informed member of the community.' I used my wonderful procrastination skills, and ended up having to get an extention on my paper because of this interview. ANWAY, through a series of frustrating events in which neither the secretary nor the rabbi phoned me back, I found myself showing up with Steven Mandel on Saturday morning. I went alone this time.
Because I had shown up with Steven Mandel, I asked a man who was standing at the door where I should sit. I explained that I was a university student, and that I was visiting, and I really wanted to talk to someone after the service. So he looks around, and says to me, "see that lady with the big hair, sitting in the back bench??" "yah" "go sit with her, and tell her you're new."
UH??!?!!? Ok. I'll just walk over to this strange lady, and interrupt her service, and announce the fact that I know nothing.
I did. I went over, and introduced myself, and blamed my rudeness on the man at the back. She smiled, and promptly began explaining EVERYTHING that was going on. She explained all of the pictures on the walls, and the readings. She explained all the gestures, the songs, the Hebrew and the Aramaic... everything. There was no question that she didn't answer. AND THEN, half way through, she asked me if I wanted to attend the Kosher meal afterwards. It was incredible. She helped me understand the things that I didn't understand when I sat through the first service.
This isn't the best part though. That little conversation didn't count as an "interview". The interview was supposed to give me a look at what it means to be a Jew, and how life is different for her than for me.
OK. on to the story.
The meal, also was fascinating. First of all, because I decided that I would find it difficult to eat kosher food 24-7. Secondly because I was introduced to this lady's friend. Between them both, they agreed to answer all my questions, and to sign my release form. They answered all the questions I asked about life and how their actions are shaped by the Torah (Old Testament). It was especially neat to see two ladies with two different perspectives on their religion. The even cooler part was that one of the ladies is a personal friend of my prof.
God was so cool on Saturday. There are two other girls who have been phoning the rabbi at this synagogue for over a month, trying to make an appointment for an interview, and trying to get their release forms signed. God arranged the whole thing for me. I was in awe.
I still am in awe. The way God made the details work out was incredible.
The part that really topped off my Saturday was the privilege to go to church and sing on the worship band, and have it miraculously work out. We were unable to have a practice during the week, so our first rehersal was an hour before the service. But God worked it out, and showed up in power. What a great finish to a suprising day.
I am standing in awe of him and his power.
Truly God is good to me.
Steven Mandel is the Mayor of Edmonton. He is Jewish.
He happened to be at the Jewish Synogogue that I attended on the last two Saturdays. I was doing a "research project" for my world religion class. The first time I went (see the Feb25 post), two thirds through the service, I looked to my left, and sitting at the end of the pew? Yes, none other than Steven Mandel. Now, usually, I'm not one to be all "agog" around those who are in politics, but it struck me as odd that he showed up with 20 minutes left. The Jewish service starts at 9, and ends at 12:30, and he was there around noon. (I should mention that he appeared long enough to recite the designated passage of scripture for the passing of a loved one.) I should also mention that after his designated assignment was complete, he left.
To make a short story VERY long, one my friend coined a phrase. It means "TO SHOW UP LATE". As of right now, add the phrase "SHOWING UP WITH STEVEN MANDEL" to your lexicon. It can be used in several contexts. For instance, if I was late for class, I could tell my mom that "my bus was late and I showed up with Steven Mandel". Or if I was planning to go to a party and was intending on being fashionably late, I would say that "I'm planning to show up with Steven Mandel".
Now that we have covered this, let's move on to the real story.
I went to the synagogue on Feb25 (as you have read). I learned a lot. But I didn't have enough to write my paper. I had to "interview" an 'informed member of the community.' I used my wonderful procrastination skills, and ended up having to get an extention on my paper because of this interview. ANWAY, through a series of frustrating events in which neither the secretary nor the rabbi phoned me back, I found myself showing up with Steven Mandel on Saturday morning. I went alone this time.
Because I had shown up with Steven Mandel, I asked a man who was standing at the door where I should sit. I explained that I was a university student, and that I was visiting, and I really wanted to talk to someone after the service. So he looks around, and says to me, "see that lady with the big hair, sitting in the back bench??" "yah" "go sit with her, and tell her you're new."
UH??!?!!? Ok. I'll just walk over to this strange lady, and interrupt her service, and announce the fact that I know nothing.
I did. I went over, and introduced myself, and blamed my rudeness on the man at the back. She smiled, and promptly began explaining EVERYTHING that was going on. She explained all of the pictures on the walls, and the readings. She explained all the gestures, the songs, the Hebrew and the Aramaic... everything. There was no question that she didn't answer. AND THEN, half way through, she asked me if I wanted to attend the Kosher meal afterwards. It was incredible. She helped me understand the things that I didn't understand when I sat through the first service.
This isn't the best part though. That little conversation didn't count as an "interview". The interview was supposed to give me a look at what it means to be a Jew, and how life is different for her than for me.
OK. on to the story.
The meal, also was fascinating. First of all, because I decided that I would find it difficult to eat kosher food 24-7. Secondly because I was introduced to this lady's friend. Between them both, they agreed to answer all my questions, and to sign my release form. They answered all the questions I asked about life and how their actions are shaped by the Torah (Old Testament). It was especially neat to see two ladies with two different perspectives on their religion. The even cooler part was that one of the ladies is a personal friend of my prof.
God was so cool on Saturday. There are two other girls who have been phoning the rabbi at this synagogue for over a month, trying to make an appointment for an interview, and trying to get their release forms signed. God arranged the whole thing for me. I was in awe.
I still am in awe. The way God made the details work out was incredible.
The part that really topped off my Saturday was the privilege to go to church and sing on the worship band, and have it miraculously work out. We were unable to have a practice during the week, so our first rehersal was an hour before the service. But God worked it out, and showed up in power. What a great finish to a suprising day.
I am standing in awe of him and his power.
Truly God is good to me.
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Muffin Fairy
By popular demand: The Story of the Muffin Fairy.
(which is, in fact, completely true. except for the fairies. but the story line is true. this all happened to me, and I'm not even kidding.)
Dear ma'am,
I recieved your acclaimed "muffin fairies" last week, and decided to put them to work right away. Unfortunately, it appears that my muffin fairies are both defective, and the apple muffin fairy did a crappy job of morphing my fruit into muffins.
Let me illustrate my point with a story: (a true story)
My apple muffin fairy came up with this really great idea that the soft apples should be made into apple cream cheese muffins. This was a great idea. So, the apples were cut up into tiny little pieces, and the muffin fairy realized that she had double the amount of apples that she needed. no worries. then the apple fairy put the butter in the microwave to melt it, just as the recipe said. So she pulled out a block of butter from the fridge and put it in the pyrex and melted it down. Unfortunately, when she went to pour the butter into the mixer, she neglected to LOOK at the amount of butter that was melted. It was 1/2, not 1/4. And then, the muffin fairy added the apples to the batter (almost all of the DOUBLE amount of apples), and mixed evrything together. Unfortunately, the silly apple muffin fairy forgot to buy another muffin tin. So the muffin fairy spent the next 2 1/2 hours making her 18 muffins in a muffin tin of 6 cups. She had to bake 3 tins of muffins so that they could all be done by the time she wanted to go to bed.
When the muffins were done, a few things became apparent. First, the muffin tin was new, and did not have a built up layer of grease to keep the muffins from sticking, and the mufffin fairy did not grease her muffin tin. Second, because of the extra ingredients, the muffins fell apart instantaneously without holding together in the slightest. SO, the muffin fairy ended up with a 3 tins of muffin pieces.
Stupid Apple Muffin Fairy. Fortunately for her, the muffins taste good, and that saved her from being thrown out into the frost for her poor job in the kitchen.
The Banana Muffin Fairy is also defective, as she HID MY BANANAS IN THE COAT CLOSET for 2 days before I found them. How am I supposed to eat my bananas when I can't even find them?? How are they supposed to be morphed later if they're missing??
My muffin fairies are defective. I would like to SEND THEM BACK for a full refund, or replacement fairies. I would also like to request a new dinner fairy, as mine seems to have run away from home.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
an unhappy muffin fairy recipient
Dear ma'am,
I recieved your acclaimed "muffin fairies" last week, and decided to put them to work right away. Unfortunately, it appears that my muffin fairies are both defective, and the apple muffin fairy did a crappy job of morphing my fruit into muffins.
Let me illustrate my point with a story: (a true story)
My apple muffin fairy came up with this really great idea that the soft apples should be made into apple cream cheese muffins. This was a great idea. So, the apples were cut up into tiny little pieces, and the muffin fairy realized that she had double the amount of apples that she needed. no worries. then the apple fairy put the butter in the microwave to melt it, just as the recipe said. So she pulled out a block of butter from the fridge and put it in the pyrex and melted it down. Unfortunately, when she went to pour the butter into the mixer, she neglected to LOOK at the amount of butter that was melted. It was 1/2, not 1/4. And then, the muffin fairy added the apples to the batter (almost all of the DOUBLE amount of apples), and mixed evrything together. Unfortunately, the silly apple muffin fairy forgot to buy another muffin tin. So the muffin fairy spent the next 2 1/2 hours making her 18 muffins in a muffin tin of 6 cups. She had to bake 3 tins of muffins so that they could all be done by the time she wanted to go to bed.
When the muffins were done, a few things became apparent. First, the muffin tin was new, and did not have a built up layer of grease to keep the muffins from sticking, and the mufffin fairy did not grease her muffin tin. Second, because of the extra ingredients, the muffins fell apart instantaneously without holding together in the slightest. SO, the muffin fairy ended up with a 3 tins of muffin pieces.
Stupid Apple Muffin Fairy. Fortunately for her, the muffins taste good, and that saved her from being thrown out into the frost for her poor job in the kitchen.
The Banana Muffin Fairy is also defective, as she HID MY BANANAS IN THE COAT CLOSET for 2 days before I found them. How am I supposed to eat my bananas when I can't even find them?? How are they supposed to be morphed later if they're missing??
My muffin fairies are defective. I would like to SEND THEM BACK for a full refund, or replacement fairies. I would also like to request a new dinner fairy, as mine seems to have run away from home.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
an unhappy muffin fairy recipient
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Olympics!
Huge Congratulations to all our Olympic medal winners -- my mom is proud of you. (and I'm not even kidding!) I'm pretty sure that the TV hasn't switched off CBC for 13 straight days. What am I going to watch when I'm back to 3 channels that play NOTHING?!?
Today I went to a Jewish synogogue (it's part of one of the courses I'm taking), and observed a service. It was very interesting. It was so right, and yet, so wrong. It made me feel so incredibly sad for them -- here they are waiting for God's Messiah, but he's already come. And at the same time, the Jews' refusal of Jesus has allowed ME to hear the gospel. It was so very, very interesting to see a full service: complete with the marching of the Torah, readings and recitations. I wonder how many of them wonder if they're missing something. The Rabbi today, gave a brief little "sermon" in English about the Jewish propensity to argue things out. He said that's traditional; it is the Jewish relationship with the text. They argue with it to figure out what it means. He opposed their method to the "Christian Fundamentalist" (that's what he called it) method of reading God's word, and accepting exactly what it said. He argued for interpretation. For instance: the change between the acceptance of slavery in Biblical times verses the current laws that absolutely forbid slavery within the Jewish community. Another thing that stuck out to me was the absolute "stuck-ness" on tradition -> this is the way it's been done, this is the way we'll do it now. I've been reading through the Old Testament lately -- just after God brings the Israelites into the wilderness, and I've decided that I don't really understand their "focus-ed-ness" on the laws, and their ignoring the books of prophecy where God declares, "I am sick of your sacrifices... I want you to know God; that's more important..." (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea -- see the link for the verses). I want to be like that. I don't want to be caught up in practices and formalities so much that I forget to actually know God.
"Give me singleness of heart, that I might fear your name!!" Psalm86:11
I pray the same for you.
Today I went to a Jewish synogogue (it's part of one of the courses I'm taking), and observed a service. It was very interesting. It was so right, and yet, so wrong. It made me feel so incredibly sad for them -- here they are waiting for God's Messiah, but he's already come. And at the same time, the Jews' refusal of Jesus has allowed ME to hear the gospel. It was so very, very interesting to see a full service: complete with the marching of the Torah, readings and recitations. I wonder how many of them wonder if they're missing something. The Rabbi today, gave a brief little "sermon" in English about the Jewish propensity to argue things out. He said that's traditional; it is the Jewish relationship with the text. They argue with it to figure out what it means. He opposed their method to the "Christian Fundamentalist" (that's what he called it) method of reading God's word, and accepting exactly what it said. He argued for interpretation. For instance: the change between the acceptance of slavery in Biblical times verses the current laws that absolutely forbid slavery within the Jewish community. Another thing that stuck out to me was the absolute "stuck-ness" on tradition -> this is the way it's been done, this is the way we'll do it now. I've been reading through the Old Testament lately -- just after God brings the Israelites into the wilderness, and I've decided that I don't really understand their "focus-ed-ness" on the laws, and their ignoring the books of prophecy where God declares, "I am sick of your sacrifices... I want you to know God; that's more important..." (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea -- see the link for the verses). I want to be like that. I don't want to be caught up in practices and formalities so much that I forget to actually know God.
"Give me singleness of heart, that I might fear your name!!" Psalm86:11
I pray the same for you.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Hey guys! It's Friday
Yes, that's right. It's Friday. And it's the beginning of Reading Week. What a glorious idea. I'd love to buy a beer for whoever thought of giving students a week of holidays in the middle of February. One of my Profs told me that Reading Week was started to stop student suicide after mid-terms. How morbid. I hope she's wrong. (if she's right, it might be better to leave me in my delusions....)
Yes, reading week. My plans? ... going to eat Thai food, get fat on DariyQueen, popcorn, and lots and lots of candy, and stay up late to watch movies. Sounds good eh? Don't you wish you were here where's it's -18 with a windchill of -26??? Sometimes I wonder why I live in this country. I just checked the weather for Thailand -- it's 12:02am there, at a balmy +27. Hm. That's not fair. You just have to be hermits to avoid freezing your toes off.
UM, anyway.... I really hope you have a good week, even if you aren't in the middle of a week of holidays.
ps:
(Kari and Colleen -- too bad about those termites and mosiquitoes. drink a beer at the Hard Rock for me...)
Yes, reading week. My plans? ... going to eat Thai food, get fat on DariyQueen, popcorn, and lots and lots of candy, and stay up late to watch movies. Sounds good eh? Don't you wish you were here where's it's -18 with a windchill of -26??? Sometimes I wonder why I live in this country. I just checked the weather for Thailand -- it's 12:02am there, at a balmy +27. Hm. That's not fair. You just have to be hermits to avoid freezing your toes off.
UM, anyway.... I really hope you have a good week, even if you aren't in the middle of a week of holidays.
ps:
(Kari and Colleen -- too bad about those termites and mosiquitoes. drink a beer at the Hard Rock for me...)
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