Medicine of Immortality "It's a cold, and it's a broken, 'Hallelujah!'"

A New SubculturePosted by Rick on February 21st, 2004

Rachel and I were talking about how we’re really glad to be out of the subculture of the Reformed church in the West.

The CRE. I’ve been quite a bit uncomfortable with it since I moved up here to be honest. I mean, in the first three months, I had two CRE pastors within a two hour radius make comments about the level of public physical affection between Rachel and me (i.e. handholding and arm on shoulder). One made a comment to my pastor (“If that’s what they’re doing in public, you can imagine what they’re doing in private.”), and another made it in front of the family of Rachel’s brother-in-law. Neither came to us, of course. With my own church, I liked a lot of the people, but I never really clicked there. Familialism just runs rampant in places where male headship is emphasized. Whether or not one disagrees with male headship, the patriarchy thing seems a bit overblown. I do have good things to say about the CRE church in Grand Junction, if that helps any. Oh well.

The PCA. When I lived in Louisiana, I was in the PCA. I loved my church there. Things were a bit different here. First of all, the closest PCA church is about an hour from my house, and being isolated in Northern Idaho just isnt a good thing. Elders, before meeting me, warned people about me. People with whom I had never discussed theology told Rachel’s mom that I seemed to like to debate theology and that I was argumentative. I had been here two weeks, and I hadn’t discussed theology with anyone. And, on top of that, I had never even met that lady, just seen her across the church. Of course, I reminded them of another guy that helped kill a church (apparently, I bear a physical resemblance).

Then there are all the lies and slander that have been spread concerning the “baptismal regeneration heresy,” the announcement from the pulpit that the Eyres weren’t sure if salvation was by works or grace, and the people who had never talked to us saying we believed another gospel. I scratched my head.

There was the lady who, after the Suburban burned up, suggested that God was sending a message that our theology would be burned up on the Last Day. There was the maid of honor incident where she was offended by Scripture. This is the same girl who one week after she told me she had never read the book of “Revelations” told me that it had nothing to do with a worship service. Needless to say, I didnt quite fit in there.

The ELCA. How the heck did I end up a Lutheran again? I am not quite sure. But its been a good place for us. Every service starts with, Let us worship God by remembering our baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Not too bad of a place, considering.

The worship is liturgical. They use liturgical colors and garb. The service is sung. The music is beautiful. Its…just…nice. I dont have to worry about courtship culture, which is just…not…nice. People at the church are physical. I get hugs. People talk to me on a weekly basis. I can listen to the sermon without my mind wondering. The church is active in the community. So, Im Lutheran. Its hard for me to swallow. Who knows if Ill be Lutheran after we leave Spokane. But I am Lutheran for now.

Simply ChristPosted by Rick on February 21st, 2004

This comes from Rachel’s journal, where she says some of the same things I constantly think:

“I guess you could say that my Christianity has changed a lot over the last few years. I’ve settled out what I believe. I am refreshed by what I believe because God is my Advocate. I no longer worry about making sure my beliefs are consistently Reformed or Calvinistic. They simply lean on Scripture, and on the history of Christ’s Church. They make me feel a part of God’s church in history, in the world [Editor’s note: Sound Roman Catholic, huh?] My Christianity is not centered around making the Presbyterians happy. It’s not guarded against Catholicism. It’s simply Word. Lived and loved. Eaten, drunk. Tasted and felt. It is simply Christ.”

Lost FriendshipsPosted by Rachel on February 21st, 2004

It’s weird how when you’re little, you never believe your parents when they say you won’t always have the same friends as your childhood playmates. And you wonder how in the world they lost touch with their best friends in grade school. I thought I’d never let that happen. And honestly, I didn’t ever want it to; I don’t think I was the initiator on any of them. I can count several friends (most of them, in fact) that I thought I’d always be friends with – and now, they’re either living in sin, think they’re too good for me, or think I’m not good enough. People change as they get older. Sometimes, it’s not so good. I can see why Christ calls us to be like little children.

When my ex-maid of honor and I were little, she never would have dreamed of cutting off our friendship because of a doctrinal difference. Oh, but now that she’s much wiser and more mature, and can discern the hearts of her friends, she can cut me off. I’m not sure about this whole maturity thing anymore.

Other friends just decided to stop talking to me. I tried communicating over and over to a friend that I had gotten engaged (shortly after it happened and for a couple months following) and she never responded to anything. But that communicated a lot more to me than any insincere words of congratulations would have. I guess it’s better that way.

And then there’s the friend that I respected so much. He was so fun, so talented, so filled with potential. I really think he considered me one of his best friends, and I definitely thought the same about him. Like a brother to me – I even remember telling him that he needed to pick a girl that I’d get along with. Now I have no idea what girl he’s with right now. And I don’t even know if he considers me his friend.

Finally, the girl who, last time I tried speaking to her, told me that she was too busy and that she “might talk to [me] in the distant future.” And there was no reason for it. She just wanted to get rid of me, perhaps to de-clutter her busy life.

All this is just ranting and venting, but I don’t want to look like some martyr. I still have faithful friends: Davey, Kristen, Rijel, Evie, Kat, all of my family, and my beloved Rick. And more. So whenever I lose friends, God is still faithful to uphold me with others.

So, to all my faithful friends … thank you. And may you always be like little children.

A Baby Brother?Posted by Rick on February 21st, 2004

Talking to my mom is always interesting because I never know what she is going to say.

Apparently, a young lady in the Tulsa area had a one night stand with a trucker. The girl already has two kids, and she’s putting up the third for adoption. Since the child will be bi-racial, she is looking for a bi-racial couple. Well, my parents didn’t ask for a kid, but two different couples in their church recommended them as parents. And so they’ll find out today if the mother wants to give the baby to them.

The funny thing was, I wasn’t even shocked. That’s just my life. It’s weird because my sister is 12, about the age I was when my mom had my sister. She’s excited at the prospect, as is my mom’s husband, who hasn’t had kids. I don’t think my mom is too sure, and I’m not either, but okay. I was a 22nd birthday gift that she probably wanted to get a refund on. My mom will be 46 tomorrow. I don’t know what to think. The kid will be born next week.

I ask your prayers over the whole situation.

Quotes of the hourPosted by Rick on February 20th, 2004

During a viewing of The Shining
Rick: I dunno, that resort wouldn’t be such a bad place to live with Mike and Kristen and a good church.
Rachel: Uh, a good church would involve a congregation…

After The Shining:

Rachel: Please don’t kill me with an ax.

Meditations of a Sleepless Groom to BePosted by Rick on February 20th, 2004

Well, I am a bit too frustrated to sleep, so I guess I’ll blog. How about the wedding. Goodness, we hardly ever talk about our actual lives on here. Weddings are expensive. For those of you that are contemplating marriage, make sure your bride’s father is rich and generous or that you’re rich. Fortunately, Rachel’s dad is covering pretty much everything to do with the wedding.

Well, obviously, it’s on Saturday, May 15 at 12:07 pm at Colbert PCUSA ($150, plus $35 Audiovisual and $50 custodian fee) with a reception on Mt. Spokane ($300). We’re using the Marty Haugen Now the Feast ($20 copyright) as our setting. We haven’t totally settled on a cantor, but we’re considering a guy ($50) from a local Lutheran church. We have a brass quintet lined up to play the prelude, processional, and recessional ($300). A pianist will handle the rest (free for him, but $15.75 for his music.).

Isaiah designed the invitations (free), and we printed them at home on card stock ($9.67). We bought a wax seal ($13) and are using purple glue gun ($2.13) wax ($9.06) to seal them before stuffing them in silver metallic envelopes ($33.33). Postage is a ridiculous $74.We bought cheap thank you notes ($4.33) at the dollar store. Because of the length of the service, our programs will have to be pretty long, but if we print them at home, we should be able to do it for $110.

We got gipped on the guestbook ($12.96); we should have gone to WalMart ($8.99). We have no guestbook pen. Someone want to lend one?

Rachel’s dress (see JP304) is white with silver lining as opposed to the ivory and gold in the pic. She’ll be wearing a faux bracelet and necklace. The fake diamonds in her bracelet are all about the same size as the center stone in her three-stoned engagement ring (3/4 carat center), so it matches perfectly. All that together comes to $731.56, but she hasn’t found shoes. We have $20 budgeted…yeah…right. The groomsmen, ushers, and father o’ the bride will be in one button tuxes ($360).

We made a banner: fabric ($25.61), thread ($3.76) tassel and rope ($5.38), stand and dowel (@$15)

Our biggest expense was a photographer that has an assistant that takes some video ($1405.29), and we picked up 8 disposable cameras at Target-4b/w, 4color ($41.06).

A stupid marriage license is $54.

We’ll hand-make the bouquets and boutennieres with 4 dozen white roses ($30) and 4 bunches of irises ($20) from Costco. (Floral Tape/Ribbons/Pins $8.45) Rachel will also wear miniature white roses in her hair ($10).

Rachel’s sister is the flower girl. Basket=$1.08. We have to use silk petals ($10.52) The basket will be covered in fabric left over after making the bridesmaid dresses, which are silver strapless dresses with a royal purple renaissance style covering with long flowing, wide opened sleeves.

The only decorations will be two candles for the altar and maybe some tapers in the windows ($13.81).

The reception will have a DJ ($500) and lots of dancing as well as a keg of Mac and Jack’s African Amber Ale ($130) and cheap wine ($40) and punch ($30). In addition to the mints and nuts ($15), we’ll have chicken, tuna, and egg salad (only $100…thank God my chef-dad knows what’s cheap). And we’ll just use paper products ($70).

The wedding cake will be a special bride and groom cake made of angelfood cake ($10), and we’ll have cheap cakes from Costco ($40) for all of you that like the disgusting invention of cake…you cheap sugar addicts. No cake knives have been purchased, nor are we even considering it.

We have to pay a bridal consultant $100. There is other stuff, but I think I’m finally starting to get tired. Total cost…like $5,100 if we can stick to our budget…which I think we can now.

Honeymoon…we booked the honeymoon suite in the most expensive hotel around (think heart-shaped jacuzzi). Then we’ll spend a week in St. Augustine and a week in NYC before coming home to spend a week on the Oregon coast with Rachel’s family, and a couple of weeks after that, Rachel and I will leave to spend our summer working in a summer camp in New Jersey. Heh…you should ask more questions, or you’ll never find out what’s really going on in our lives.

Yay!Posted by Rick on February 19th, 2004

We received our first registry gift. Thanks Valerie!

I want money.Posted by Rachel on February 18th, 2004

There. I said it. My birthday’s the 29th. Email me for a mailing address.

BirthdaysPosted by Rick on February 18th, 2004

Well, it’s that time of year that I beg you for birthday books. But this time, you can’t say, “You always get books.” I don’t believe I have bought a book in over a year. I have gotten around ten as gifts throughout the year. Rachel bought me Calvin’s Commentaries and Luther’s Sermons. But I haven’t bought any. Rachel’s birthday is the 29th, and mine is the 27th, so if you want to buy us anything, go for it. We’re taking all gifts.

I want three things that I surely will not get:
1. A NY Jets cap.
2. An alb of mine own.
3. Books.

As to #3, anything by Zizoulas, Braaten, or any of this year’s NT Wright books will do (as will stuff on my Amazon wishlist). I’m groveling and pathetic here. I even read he Resurrection of the Son of God at the library. (In fact, I had to look up the title just now…this shouldn’t be!) Books on OT theology and an in depth look at the Divine Service would be nice. Please donate to my cause. You will not regret it.

BlahPosted by Rick on February 14th, 2004

There is something seriously wrong with the Canadian (and liberal) mindset when they call Conan O’Brien a “hatemongerer” for making fun of Quebec.