I hardly blog here, ever. I think this may be because personal blogs are a thing of the past to some extent (unless you are much more popular than I am). I do most of my blogging via Facebook updates/Twitter. Maybe I will resurrect this thing in the future. If I get a nice camera, that would help. I will make it more of a photo blog.
Until then connect with me via Facebook and/or Twitter and read my biblioblog at nearemmaus.blogspot.com.
Filed under: April 2009
Yesterday I spent several hours checking and rechecking the Napa Valley Register (a local newspaper) website because a gunman was running around loose on the local community college campus where my brother was attending class. The suspect, and his driver, had robbed someone near a local bank and while trying to escape fled to the campus. SWAT and local police authorities shut down the campus and put it on lock down.
Throughout the afternoon I talked with my mother and received an occasional txt message from my brother. Eventually the first suspect surrendered in the library, and then shortly thereafter the second suspect was taken into custody.
The funny part of this story is that Jason txt’d me shortly before the whole ordeal was over to let me know that the students in his class were watching ‘House M.D.’ on a projector. That is not exactly how I imagined such a crisis playing out, but on the tenth anniversary of the Columbine shootings it is exactly how one would hope such scary times would end. To read the story click here.
If you are wondering where all my writing on biblical studies and theology has gone, visit nearemmaus.blogspot.com!
Filed under: April 2009
This year has been so good thus far that with the promise of getting even better I am beginning to worry that my life may reach its climax! Let me summarize:
(1) I am getting married this year on August 1st.
(2) I am graduating with my MA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary this June.
(3) My younger brother is getting married this June.
(4) I get to travel to Chicago in September to see U2 live at Soldier Field.
(5) We are going to Porta Vallarta, Mexico, for our honeymoon (if the government there doesn’t totally dissolve).
(6) I will be meeting much of my new family when we go to San Antonio, Texas, to see where my fiancee was raised.
(7) It seems I may be beginning my Th.M. with Western Seminary, and therefore moving to Portland, Oregon.
(8) The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl, the Flordia Gators won the BCS championship, the UNC Tarheels won the NCAA Final Four championship, and the Chicago Bulls are going to make the playoffs unless they totally collapse here with several games to go. If only the San Francisco Giants can prove to be the sleeper team and win the NL West I will have a dream year as a sports fan.
Is 2009 my best year ever?
Filed under: April 2009
My younger brother, Jason, turned 21 this week. We are in Napa to celebrate. Happy Birthday Jason!
Filed under: March 2009
This has been a great year for me as a fan. I watched my Florida Gators (CFB) win the NCAA/BCS championship. Then the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) won the Super Bowl. It seems that the Chicago Bulls (NBA) may hold to the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. And now the Tarheels (MCBB) will be facing off against Villanova for a chance at the championship game.
I only wish the San Francisco Giants (MLB) were a tad better.
Filed under: March 2009
I had the most insane day, as relates to photography, this last Saturday. I spent about fifeteen minutes having pictures taken for my graduation this June. Then I spent the next several hours zipping around San Francisco with Miranda, Amanda (her sister), Brandon Loper, and his wife Amanda, as the Lopers took our engagement pictures for our wedding announcements. I am sure that I will be able to share them soon; I will post something here once they are available.
I will be seeing U2 live in Chicago at Soldier Field on September 12th of this year! My amazing, most wonderful fiancee (who will be my wife by then) purchased the tickets for me as a graduation gift. I am so excited!
Filed under: March 2009 | Tags: Jesus among the gods, San Francisco Lighthouse
For those who we able to participate in the four week discussion at the San Francisco Lighthouse titled ‘Jesus among the gods’ and who would like to listen to the talks again, and for those who were unable to attend, we now have all the talks on iTunes. On iTunes simply type “SF Lighthouse” into the search bar and it will bring you to the page where you can download all the talks for free, plus dozens of additional sermons by Pastor Jeff Garner.
The four weeks included these topics:
(1) Jesus and Oscar Wilde (Hedonism): “What is the Purpose of Pleasure”
(2) Jesus and Anton LaVey (Satanism): “What Makes One Successful? What is Success?”
(3) Jesus and Tom Cruise (Scientology): “Why Do I Suffer/Struggle?”
(4) Jesus and Joseph Smith (Mormonism): “Who is Jesus?”
This weekend I was scheduled to have the photography done for the engagement pictures that were to be sent with our “save the date” announcements regarding our wedding. This entire week has been nice and sunny. This weekend ought to have been the same. We were going to have breakfast with the photographer and his wife in the morning, take some pictures near the bay, and then return for a later session near the ocean at sunset. This all has been postponed because of the rain!
We are rescheduling for next weekend, so I must not gripe about it all that much. It is only a week difference. I guess anyone who has ever married understands that we all become paranoid that things will not go our way as the wedding nears. We want everything to be smooth, but we know it will not be because stupid rain clouds seem to know when they are uninvited. Oh well, as long as it does not rain next weekend I guess I can suck it up for now. If it does, I am going to pray like Elijah for drought.
Filed under: March 2009 | Tags: Jesus among the gods, San Francisco Lighthouse, Scientology
This weekend I continued the discussionseries that I am participating in with Pastor Jeff Garner at the San Francisco Lighthouse Church. We asked the question, “Why is there suffering?” As with each week we take a religious worldview that we believe attempts to answer these relevant questions (e.g. last week we asked “What is success?” and we featured Satanism) and we juxtapose it with the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is not a comparative study of world religions; this is an attempt to see how the teachings of the world around us contrast with Christ (in previous sessions we have compared Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Atheism, Hedonism, and the aforementioned Satanism).
I know Scientology is a mystery to most people who heard the discussion today. I am sure that one session will not be enough to help someone grasp this worldview. So I am placing as many links as I can here for your own research and reading:
General Information
Scientology from Wikipedia
Scientology.Org
Criticisms and Investigations
Xenutv.com
Xenu.net
Rolling Stone Magazine: Inside Scientology
Countdown with Keith Olbermann: Secrets of Scientology
Interview with Tory Christman: Former Scientologist
Scientology: Inside the Cult
Tom Cruise Scientology Video
I do not claim to agree with or affirm the content of these videos or articles. These are provided for the simple purpose of simplifying access to the differing opinions on this religion. As a Christian I do not agree with the teachings of Scientology and therefore do not see Scientology as compatible with Christianity. You can read this information for yourself to determine your understanding of this religion.
You know your wedding is near when it is time to search for the suit. I am not doing the tux thing, since I am convinced that the tux-tie is the worst thing (unless your name is Bond, James Bond) invented for men’s fashion ever. Well, it may not be the worst but the one time I had to wear one I simply did not agree with my look.
Instead, I am going with the “Rat Pack” black-and-white suit and tie look. I may ruin that for myself as well since I am convinced that I am not built for fancy dress. Since I cannot wear jeans and a t-shirt to my own wedding I best find something that fits me.
Filed under: March 2009 | Tags: Ashbury, Brian LePort, Dan Zivney, Haight, San Francisco, Stan Brown
I made my final walk through of Stacy’s Books on Market a couple of days ago. It is sad to see a local bookstore that has been around for so long close its doors. Everything was 50% off, but the store was about 90% bare. I was able to grab The David Story by Robert Alter and Jesus and Yahweh by Harold Bloom for like thirteen dollars. I think I’d rather have the bookstore remain in business.
I now need to find another good bookstore. I have Aardvarks near Church and Mission. I have heard of several others, but I have not found any great ones in a while. Is there any San Francisco residents who have a recommendation for me?
I can never replace Fox’s ‘House M.D.’ as my favorite television show, but since I have now watched every single episode I needed to find a new show to watch. I think ABC’s ‘Ugly Betty’ is great, but I have seen every episode of that show as well. What about ‘24′? Or ‘Lost’? Or ‘Heroes’? I know these are popular shows, but nothing has motivated me about them just yet.
I do have one option. A year and a half ago I watched some of a show called ‘The Wire’ by HBO. I thought it was great. I have heard positive things about it ever sense. I think that is the next marathon of entertainment I will be engaging in soon!
