Any dads at home? July 28, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Fatherhood.2 comments
Just wanted to see if there were any dads who stayed at home and watched the kids while your significant other worked outside the home? I know this is a reversal of the “traditional” roles, but was curious to see what the responses would be.
Currently I work 26-30 hours per week and also take care of Cooper 4-5 days per week while my wife works full-time. So if you have any experiences you’d like to share this can be a sounding board for full-time dads as well as if there are any women who’d like to share their thoughts on this topic.
I’m now a dad July 18, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Fatherhood.1 comment so far
I just had the revelation today that I’m a dad. Yes, I know technically I became a dad on April 19th at 6:31pm when my son, Cooper, was born, but today I became a real dad! For some background: this week at church we began to read Waking the Dead which is about reclaiming your heart, and we talked about what (if any) spiritual purpose we felt each day.
Today it dawned on me that mine is being a dad, and this is why. Now that I’m Cooper’s primary caregiver during the day now that his mom has gone back to work full-time; it’s up to me to feed him, clean him up, etc. But at the same time, I’m also a pastor who needs to get a certain amount of work done. However, today I realized that it’s not about how many sermons I preach or telephones I answer or mail that I open and sort; instead it’s about me being a dad. Giving myself over completely to my son and taking care of him – that is my spiritual focus each day. Taking care of someone who so completely and without questioning trusts me and believes in what I’m doing is my spiritual exercise for today and for who knows how long. But that’s okay, because I’m a dad.
Father’s Day reflections June 20, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Fatherhood.1 comment so far
Wow, on Sunday I celebrated my first Father's Day as a father. Being a first-time dad, I was pretty excited to see what goodies I might reap as a result of my new-found status. And sure enough, I got a gift card to Barnes and Noble as well as we had a pizza party at church in honor of the day. A pretty good day – an attempt to make me smarter and an attempt to clog my arteries (and all in the same day!)
It is exciting to watch my son grow up. Yesterday he had his first vaccines against all kinds of horrible things, and although some of them do seem a bit ridiculous, I guess they're for the better. I know he's only two months old but the time has already flown by. Soon my wife will be heading back to work and I will be the primary caregiver during the day. Yep, I'm a little nervous but we had a trial run last Saturday when she was gone all day for her birthday present. And other than the fact that he wore his nightclothes all day, we made it through with flying colors! So soon we'll be on our own, it'll be dad and lad through the day. I'll keep you posted on how that goes!
It’s the end of the world as they know it… May 4, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Politics.3 comments
Received an email from my dad yesterday informing me that Phil Riegle was basically elected Hancock County commissioner. Checking the Findlay Courier's website, http://www.thecourier.com , my worst fears were confirmed that 4,265 people had sold their souls to the devil. Without a Democratic or Independent challenger in the fall, he has all but won the county commissioner race.
What are people thinking in Hancock County? Obviously, 4,265 must not be doing a whole lot of it or they would have voted for someone, anyone else. I mean who, except for his parents, would vote for a candidate who lives so far in the past that he thinks Jim Brown still plays professional football? Reading through his website and tracts, err I mean flyers, it is not hard to figure out that he's afraid of the twenty-first century. Re-establishing conservative, Republican leadership in Hancock County? As if, the county is not conservative enough it must be re-established? You've got to be kidding me, this is one of the most conservative counties in the whole state and perhaps, United States.
So let's read between the lines a little and try to figure out what he's really saying in his propaganda. Not so surprisingly to those of us who aren't Amish, it is 2006 or according to Riegle-ese, it is no longer the "good ole days." Now I'm not really sure when these "good ole days," were supposed to have been but I assume he's talking about when white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, heterosexual men ruled the day. A time when there was no reason for any one, much less a politician, to worry about women's issues because women couldn't vote. The only rights that women had were the ones that their husbands gave them. Abortion wasn't an issue then because men made all of the decisions for their wives. The only thing women really had to worry about was whether to have beef or chicken for dinner.
During the "good ole days," there weren't gays or lesbians it was a time when men were men and women were women. A time when denial was not just a river in Egypt but played a big part in the lives of most people. During this wonderful time in American history the only ones who could vote were white men. If you weren't the color of mayonnaise, then I'm sorry but you couldn't vote. It was a time when there was two of everything – one line for whities and one line for our African-American friends. (although they used different words then)
It was a time when we were a "Christian" nation. A person really only had to worry about whether they were a Baptist or a Lutheran and regardless of what you chose, you were convinced everyone else was going to hell. It was a grand time for Christianity – a time when patriotism and religion were so close that they had a child and named him, Pat Robertson. A time that still exists in Riegle-land.
Choices were simple back then, it was either a or b. There was no middle ground, there was no gray area. Those were the good 'ole days. A time that Hancock County is trying to get to by electing Phil Riegle as its commissioner, and it's going to get there even if it has to drag along the other 6694 who didn't vote for him. But that's okay, it wouldn't be the first-time when people had to make a decision at the end of a sword. So remember those of you who voted for Phil, stepping backwards to move forward makes progress a whole lot more difficult.
Cooper is here April 21, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Fatherhood.add a comment
Wanted everyone to know that Cooper James has arrived! He was born April 19, 2006 at 6:31pm. He weighed 8lbs. 5oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long. Both baby and mommy are home safe and sound.
What makes me (or you) right? April 17, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Church of the Brethren.1 comment so far
This morning I was reading the April 2006 edition of our denominational magazine, Messenger (http://www.brethren.org/genbd/messenger). The title for this month was entitled, "Being the Church: What does it mean to be together?" For the past few months the denomination has been investigating whether or not the church can find a common ground for respectful conversation – even with those with whom we disagree! My understanding behind this is that our denomination is simply reflecting the polarization of United States society. Regardless of what terms you prefer to use: liberal and conservative, blue state and red state, so on and so forth, one must admit that there are becoming increasingly, sharp divisions and segments within the population. The church as it is composed of members of society is simply reflecting what has already been seen within society. The Church of the Brethren is no exception to this. There are continually splitting factions within our denomination and unless we can come together then we will cease to be. (for better or worse)
So it is especially pertinent to our denomination that we find ways in which we can come together rather than divide, or we at least need to see if we are still able to come together or not. Feeling optimistic that we can still come together regardless of our differences, I opened the magazine for a look. I felt even more encouraged as I saw an advertisement on the inside cover for the cross cultural luncheon at our denomination's annual conference. Then on page one was listed the index of articles written with "Being the church," heading the list on page 8. Things were going well so I flipped to page two and read the publisher's note and on to the next page for "Around the denomination," a page that highlights what has been happening within the church. My good feelings went away quickly as I read what had happned within the Atlantic Southeast district (Florida and Puerto Rico). I learned that the district board at a recent meeting had went "on record" that same-sex marriages will not be be performed or blessed in the district's churches or by its pastors.
How quickly is it that we have moved from all coming to Christ's table to having a guest list for only a selected few – the frozen chosen. It just really burns me up that we (the church) have worked so hard at excluding our sisters and brothers who may be different than we are. Why is that we think that we're so right and that they are so wrong? Or why does there have to be "us" and "them?" Such contradictory and hypocritical statements are being made within our denomination, and we wonder why our members are leaving like rats on a sinking ship? More on this later.
April 16 – Easter Sunday April 12, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Sermons.3 comments
I am planning on using the resurrection story from Mark. How is Christ alive in your life? Why must he be alive in our lives or our faith is dead?
Mark 16:1-8
Sunday’s Scripture April 5, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Sermons.1 comment so far
Thought I'd post the Scripture that I'm preparing to use in Sunday's sermon. Have thoughts about it? Post them and who knows, maybe I'll use some of them.
John 12:12-15; Psalm 118:1-2,19-24
Reading List April 4, 2006
Posted by writereverend in My reading list.add a comment
Thought I would put add an annotated bibliography of books that I am currently reading.
1) The Heart of Christianity, Marcus J. Borg. A solid theology book that is written for both the novice, the expert, and the one somewhere in between. Especially good book for those who have dismissed Christianity as a religion only for those who are dead from the neck up.
2) The Violence of Love, Oscar Romero. A collection of the archbishop's public addresses and sermons. A good dose of liberation theology for those who may feel stuck or powerless in their current situation.
3) Sacred Space 2006. A wonderful, daily devotional from the Irish Jesuits. Simple yet powerful in its delivery. Watch what happens when God is turned loose in your life!
4) The New Interpreter's Study Bible (NRSV). Did you really think that I wouldn't include the Bible? Wonderful as it strives to be more inclusive, especially in its commentary. Very good, biblical scholarship for those who like to find out more about what they are reading.
5) Worship and Hospitality, Steve Clapp and Fred Bernhard. A book on how to make the church more welcoming and hospitable to guests and visitors to the congregation. Not just for pastors or leaders in the church but is necessary for everyone!
6) Walking a Sacred Path, Dr. Lauren Artress. I've just started this one but it is about rediscovering the labryinth as a spiritual tool. I find labryinths interesting although admittedly I do not know much about them. This should help in that area!
Recently finished books:
1) Letters to a Young Doubter, William Sloane Coffin
Do I not count? April 4, 2006
Posted by writereverend in Fatherhood.3 comments
How many of you dads out there, after recovering from the initial shock of it all, went to find out more about your partner's pregnancy? I know as a first-time dad, I wanted to know more about what was happening in my wife and baby's life as the days, weeks, and months went by. Admittedly, I did not know a lot about pregnancy other than the fact that she was having the baby and I wasn't! So I searched around, found a book or two on the topic and read some magazines on the subject. But as I was reading the magazines, I looked more carefully at the covers and saw that they were all geared towards women. I was not too surprised by that fact since 100% of births are done by women, but slightly perturbed by the fact that there was nothing written in them for fathers to be. I think one magazine was entitled Parents or Parenting but was geared exclusively towards women. If I was a woman, I would be outraged that this is the 21st century and they still assume that only women can properly raise a child. But as a man, I was still outraged that it didn't seem to matter that I had a part in the process of creation and also want to be a part after the birth. Sure there was a paragraph, maybe two but rarely a whole page devoted to what dad may be going through. And usually it was written by a woman. Come on, how fair is that? So women and magazine editors, do you want me to be good dad, then include me in your target audience!
