[Jake]

Sitting at Midway Marina on Lake Norman, NC, waiting for boat parts so I can have a productive day. It is an exercise in patience. So, to pass the time, I reconfigured the browser on the blackberry to allow the use of online forums. Useful, but not particularly productive»or the shop. Hope my parts get here soon. Meanwhile, I think I will enjoy the daily lectionary readings from Rev. Steve.

[rivanna]

Last week my sublet at the downtown art studio came to an end, kind of a sad time. One of my artist friends cheers me up with her emails, here’s her latest--

A man was riding his Harley along a California beach when suddenly from the sky came a booming voice, and the Lord said, “Because you have tried to be faithful to me in many ways, I will grant you one wish.”

The biker pulled over and said, “Lord, please build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want.”

The Lord said, “Your request is too materialistic --and it would nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Try and think of something that could possibly help mankind.”

The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, “Lord, I wish that I, and all men, could understand our wives and girlfriends. I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing's wrong, and how I can make her truly happy.”

The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”

[Adi Gibb]

Hi everyone.

On 14th October (my birthday) I will be launching my novel, THE LILITH CHARM, online in the format of a blog, for everyone to read at their leisure. The official address will be http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/. So at the moment I am madly polishing to have it ready every spare moment I have. On Sunday I went to a huge multi-faith celebration as the state I am in is celebrating 150 years of existence! Was covering it for Focus, an Anglican newspaper I write for. Not sure if I can attach it here but could paste I guess. Joseph, how should I go about it? Finally I am anxiously waiting to see if my PhD application is accepted and I will be starting that next year! And that is me caught up!

[glintofpewter]

Wow! Congratulations!
I look forward to the completion of you blog.

Dutch

[JosephM]

Adi Gibb, on 18 August 2009 - 12:00 AM, said:

Hi everyone.

On 14th October (my birthday) I will be launching my novel, THE LILITH CHARM, online in the format of a blog, for everyone to read at their leisure. The official address will be http://thelilithcharm.blogspot.com/. So at the moment I am madly polishing to have it ready every spare moment I have. On Sunday I went to a huge multi-faith celebration as the state I am in is celebrating 150 years of existence! Was covering it for Focus, an Anglican newspaper I write for. Not sure if I can attach it here but could paste I guess. Joseph, how should I go about it? Finally I am anxiously waiting to see if my PhD application is accepted and I will be starting that next year! And that is me caught up!

Hi Adi,

Any short articles you write that you feel would be of interest to progressives could be pasted under the General Resources section as long as you have copyright authority. Anything really long that may be of interest and related to the TCPC community can have a short description and a link placed in the Link section. Books that are progressive in nature that can be read on line can be linked there with a short description also or submitted for interest in reviewing and commenting in the Book Discussion area much as you see in that section now.

Hope that answers your question, if not feel free to PM me .

JosephM ( as TCPC Moderator/Admin)

[glintofpewter]

(This may be a double post, Joseph. or maybe I posted it elsewhere and can't find it)

I spent last night and this morning regaining my center by reading what I had missed on this board. Sunday should have been a good time to drop into the ER and have them assure me that the tingling I was feeling in the left arm and leg was not serious - perhaps didn't meet the criteria for a stroke. 36 hours later they released me. I am OK. All the tests agree that if it was a TIA there was no permanent effect and no obvious cause.

Reading "The Schack" connected me with my deceased daughter and left me tearful and vulnerable. Metaphorically slapping a doctor upside his head to remind him that the patient is part of the collaborative team that is seeking health and wholeness brought to mind all those days, weeks and even months in hospital with Annie learning how necessary it is to advocate continually for the patient to achieve the best possible outcome. It is a struggle and I was emotional because I was now the patient having to fight for the best possible care - and I was there only for tests.

Dutch

[soma]

Dutch good to see you have your sea legs and are on board again.

[grampawombat]

About ten days ago, I had some nasty cells removed from my nose, but the chunk they removed is healing pretty well, and is almost filled in. This is my second experience with cancer, and the first was over ten years ago. Perhaps with a little luck I won't have another such experience for another ten years or so.

[glintofpewter]

May it be so grampawombat

Dutch

[Jake]

I have not been online in a few weeks. My father went in to the hospital on August 24 with pneumonia and bleeding gums. He died on September 2 from bone marrow cancer and other complications. It has been a very difficult few weeks. I will post concerning the spiritual journey that I have been on through this experience, and on being present for my father's transcendance, but that will have to wait until I have a little more free time. I look forward to catching up on the discussion I have missed lately. Until then, may God bless your day.

This post has been edited by Jake: 10 September 2009 - 12:40 PM

[JosephM]

Jake,

I missed your presence. Yes, it is a most difficult time for most and at the same time a most natural event. It seems good to me that you were able to be with him. I also lost both my Mom and Step-Dad over the past 2 years. My Mom with Alzheimer's and Leukemia was a long time of both sorrow and growth for all in the family. My Step-Dad died more suddenly in my arms and I was also present at the moment of my mothers last breath. The experience can be very transformative for those left behind and I am looking forward to hearing your experiences through this trying time.

Love in Christ,
Joseph