Songbird writes: We will be at a chaplain’s convention when you all are answering the Friday Five Questions. I’ll look forward to reading your answers next week when I get home. At the moment we are trying to get the car loaded so we can hit the road, so this will be a simple F.F. This running around madly in order to leave has me wondering: what are the five things you simply must have when you are away from home? And why? Any history or goofy things, or stories?

1. A book to read because I don’t go anywhere without something to read.

2. My Bible and a prayer book (normally The Book of Common Prayer).

3. Journal and plenty of pens because I always lose one (or 10).

4. Camera because I never know when I’ll find something cool (see I Found Palm Trees in Chicago).

5.  The Hubby: I’ve traveled alone, but it’s much more fun with somebody else. Plus I have a shoulder to sleep on. 🙂

A new haircut. I decided to go back to short hair today. And I am so happy! Oh short hair, I forgot how wonderful you are: so light, so easy, so cool! Here are some pictures:

It is hard to take a picture of the back of your own head.

Isn’t it adorable? I am so happy!

I normally don’t write political posts, but I am infuriated with our government, and the passing of the FISA amendment. The UCLA is taking out a full page ad in a major national newspaper to announce taking the un-Constitutional amendment to court. They want tens of thousands of signatures on the ad:

We want Congress to stand up for our freedom, but they keep caving in to fear mongering! Help the ACLU spell it out for them.

The ACLU is preparing to challenge the unconstitutional FISA Amendments Act in court and protect your right to privacy.

In addition, the ACLU will be taking out a full-page ad in a major national newspaper announcing the lawsuit and expressing outrage at this abandonment of our Constitutional principles. Their goal is to run an ad containing the names of tens of thousands of Americans who believe in the Constitution and want Congress to hear our message loud and clear: next time, stand up for our rights.

There has never been a more important moment to demonstrate to our leaders that we believe in freedom – not fear.

Go here to sign. I already did. Tell this government that illegal wire tapping is a crime, and that the Fourth Ammendment is still part of the Constitution. Treason is NEVER legal or moral.

1. Family is always more important than work.

2. You can have strong faith, a strong family, and a strong career (and so can your spouse).

3. It’s okay to ask hard questions.

4. It’s okay to push people to answer hard questions.

5. Play hookie and go do something you love with someone you love.

6. Do what you love in all of life.

7. At the end of the day (or the end of the primary), smile, laugh, and talk about baseball.

The picture is from MSNBC.com.

Sally says: This week I took some time out to stop and walk and take in the view; my son Chris is studying in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, too often we simply drive up there, turn around and come home! This time Tim and I took time out to take in the view. It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life….
With that in mind I offer you this weeks Friday Five:
1. How important is the “big picture” to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person?

I am a big picture person, and I need someone around to point out the details. Good thing I married him.

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life?

My Hubby reminds me of them. I also find having a routine helps.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension ( one….what am I thinking….)

Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere: A Novel.

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily?

By any big body of water. The Mediterranean is my favorite so far. And I’m not going to complain about living right on Lake Michigan either!

5. A picture opportunity… post one if you can ( or a link to one!)

Welcome to your irregularly scheduled Fifth Friday Five, hosted by will smama and Songbird!
Since will smama is preparing for a joint garage sale with her parents, and Songbird’s church had a Yard and Plant Sale last Saturday, we have five enormously important questions we hope you will answer:

1) Are you a garage saler?

Occassionally. It’s harder now without a car.

2) If so, are you an immediate buyer or a risk taker who comes back later when prices are lower?

I usually buy immediately. I don’t like taking the chance it won’t be there later.

3) What’s the best treasure you’ve found at a yard or garage sale?

End tables: I really needed them at the time.

4)If you’ve done one yourself, at church or at home, was it worth the effort?

Yes, I’ve done one, and no it was not worth the effort.

5) Can you bring yourself to haggle?

If I like the item enough.

BONUS: For the true aficionado: Please discuss the impact of Ebay, Craig’s List, Freecycle, etc… on the church or home yard/garage sale.

I love Craig’s List. When I moved from Kansas City, I listed the furniture I wanted to sell, and it was gone in short order.

Two years ago I married that intelligent, handsome man to the right, and I make no apologies for it! 🙂

In fact, I’d marry him all over again, just so I could wear the dress. 😉

Edit to update: Jessica, a student at Olivet Nazarene University corrected a mistake I had made. The professor was not dismissed:

I’m a current ONU student and I randomly came about your site. To my knowledge, the ONU prof was not dismissed…(unless this is a very new development). He is unable to teach the general education biology class (which is a loss for students because he is well-qualified to teach it) or teach his book. It’s a shame.

Jessica, thank you for letting me know he had not been dismissed, but that his teaching as been curtailed.

I should should have also posted a link to the book: Random Designer: Created from Chaos to Connect with the Creator by Richard G. Colling. It’s an excellent book. I didn’t agree with everything (but then I rarely do), but he makes an excellent case for God using evolution to create the world. I should really do a book review on it. Yes, I know those are famous last words. But I really do need to start putting up book reviews because I am reading some really good books right now.

End of edited update

I have decided to resign my ordination credentials and leave the Church of the Nazarene. I have not agreed with many of the decisions of our General Church in the last few years, and I have been thinking of leaving for the last two and a half years. I’ve decided due to theological and doctrinal differences (along with the GC decisions), that it is time to leave. There is a lot I want to write that I feel like I can’t due to the changes in my own theology. As a friend told me: “May be your new wine can no longer fit into the wineskin of your denomination. It’s time to move on, so that you can continue to grow and do what God has called you to do.” I think he is right.

It has also hit me that I really don’t need to be ordained to do what God has called me to do: write and speak. In fact, I will have more freedom for both without having to worry about credentials, what I need to do to keep them, and what I can and can’t write that people will compain about, saying “is she really a Nazarene?” and think I should be removed from ministry. This is not all paranoia on my part. A professor at Olivet Nazarene University was recently dismissed due to his views on creation and evolution. It was almost a repeat of what happened to one of my favorite college pastors at Southern Nazarene University in the 90s.

I felt a great peace when I had made the decision, and it has been confirmed through three different sources that this was the right decision to make. I will still be writing, and you will see some differences in the things I post, what I talk about, and how I talk about it.

Shawna