tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202692024-03-12T17:35:14.932-07:00Delta Dawn...It's like trying to explain a hot pocket to an aborigine.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-28766056711333303312008-07-10T16:46:00.001-07:002008-07-10T16:51:11.727-07:00WordpressI've been using www.dawnrosalie.com to point to my blog for a while now, since <a href="http://www.kev-o.com">Kevin</a> graciously set me up a domain with <a href="http://www.godaddy.com">GoDaddy</a>. But it's time to move on into my 27th year (my favorite number, by the way, since I was 7) with a new look and a new home on the web.<br /><br />So please update your bookmarks. The domain <a href="http://www.dawnrosalie.com">www.dawnrosalie.com</a> should now take you to my blog hosted at <a href="http://dawnrosalie.wordpress.com">dawnrosalie.wordpress.com</a> but in case you're not using dawnrosalie as your bookmark, you can click on these links to take you there. <br /><br />Let me know what you think about the new layout. :)Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-76001419849255924562008-07-09T18:54:00.000-07:002008-07-09T18:59:46.663-07:00Does a black president signal the second coming?<a href="http://www.obamaformessiah.com"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh525R0qL_O7s_IG-thYzxV84osrUZdX-GGL0qDBY8crQ5yCR5gJ1FUfg3h1vt44KWxX14768Anj-09ulgq5PJydsHj2eoCChI-XxnNklQ7E1YODPmZhh3v_eNtOlHl7VJ46EfTA/s1600-h/ofm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh525R0qL_O7s_IG-thYzxV84osrUZdX-GGL0qDBY8crQ5yCR5gJ1FUfg3h1vt44KWxX14768Anj-09ulgq5PJydsHj2eoCChI-XxnNklQ7E1YODPmZhh3v_eNtOlHl7VJ46EfTA/s400/ofm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221197969154314626" border="0" /></a></a><br />What do you think about <a href="http://www.obamaformessiah.com/">this</a>? I'm not very political either way. I remain Republican because generally I'm for less government involvement (especially in the face of the failure of so many government programs to achieve what they hope to acheive). But I'm open to ideas from both sides.<br /><br />And I'll admit - I was caught off guard a couple of months ago when I saw a sticker that said, got hope? and discovered it was selling Obama and not Jesus.<br /><br />Que piensas?Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-76014715149737883072008-07-07T16:00:00.001-07:002008-07-07T16:02:40.178-07:00Inspiration from the B side of Where the Light Is<strong></strong>No i'm not the one i used to be lately<br />See you met me at an interesting time<br />If my past is any sign of your future<br />You should be warned before i let you inside<br /><br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />Hold on to whatever will get you through<br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />I don't trust myself with loving you<br /><br />I will beg my way into your garden<br />I will break my way out when it rains<br />Just to get back to the place where i started<br />So i can watch you back all over again<br /><br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />Hold on to whatever will get you through<br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />I don't trust myself with loving you<br /><br />Who do you love?<br />Who do you love?<br />Who do you love me or the thought of me? me or the thought of me?<br /><br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />Hold on to whatever will get you through<br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />I don't trust myself with loving you<br /><br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />Hold on to whatever gets you through through<br />Hold on to whatever you find baby<br />I don't trust myself with loving youDawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-52885131654158132732008-07-06T13:55:00.000-07:002008-07-07T01:04:31.269-07:00the L wordI told him never to say it. But he broke the last rule.<br /><br />And how anyone could've heard that and walked away....I just don't know, man...<br /><br />I just don't know...Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-83591155608198345312008-06-30T08:19:00.000-07:002008-06-30T08:26:15.464-07:00Go Deep and Go WideFor my class this morning, I was assigned to read a book and then write a three page paper on it, summarizing the book for one page and then delving into one argument and discussing it for two pages.<br /><br />One of the challenges in graduate study, apart from the requisite expectation of lack of sleep, is to broadly define and then specifically argue a topic. This often feels like an impossible task. How can I go so broad as to summarize a topic and then go so deep as to analyze it meaningfully? When you add in the third parameter of keeping all this to three short pages, I feel pressed from all sides.<br /><br />How can I go deep while simulatenously going wide? And on top of all that, keep it short and concise? I have no answers today; just this one question I'm flinging out into the cosmic void.<br /><br />That is all.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-17331374730732757722008-06-27T10:30:00.000-07:002008-06-27T10:52:02.938-07:00Christology and SoteriologyI'm taking a 2-week intensive for Systematic Theology 2: Christology and Soteriology with Veli-Matti Karkainnen. If those terms are foreign to you, join the club. They were foreign to me too. Essentially, Christology is the study of Jesus' "Messiah-ness" and Soteriology is the study of how we are saved or atoned for by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. If that still doesn't make sense, you can rest assured that scholars are coming out with the <a href="http://www.buy.com/prod/global-dictionary-of-theology/q/loc/106/207491725.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Global Dictionary of Theology</span></a> soon.<br /><br />This might sound dry, because we have to delve into the nuances of penal substitution, but it's a plethora of fascination I'm swimming in compared to Systematics 1: Theology and Anthropology wherein I kid you not, I read an entire book exegeting <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=ziOGWGSx_qEC&printsec=titlepage&dq=naming+the+powers+wink&source=gbs_toc_s&cad=1#PPP1,M1">ONE word's</a> appearance in the NT.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-67736772304784346402008-06-23T11:50:00.000-07:002008-06-23T11:54:15.124-07:00Someone used this phrase on an Amazon review...<br /><br />"not an imiganitive one."<br /><br />I heartily accept this spelling of the word imaginative, because if you think about it, it makes sense phonetically.<br /><br />God Bless English, in and of its lovely self and as our national language.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-2032967279389064762008-06-23T10:26:00.001-07:002008-06-23T10:35:26.922-07:00On gay marriage<span style="font-style: italic;">Below is my response to an email petition I received a couple of weeks ago. </span><br /><br />Thanks for passing this petition.<br /><br />Whatever you may think of marriage (to a same-sex partner or anyone else), the voters in California have already overwhelming voted to limit marriage to one man and one woman in a landslide vote of 61-39 on Proposition 22 a few years ago. As of now, California voters have already collected over 1.1 million signatures, enough to initiate a constitutional amendment to overturn this most recent ruling of the court. When the voters bring that amendment to the State constitution it will be fairly clear what the will of the people is. So there's no need to continue circulating this email.<br /><br />That said, if you are over 18 it's important to educate yourself on the issues. Go <a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/05/21/misunderstanding_marriage_in_california/" target="_blank">here</a> for a balanced argument for traditional marriage. First, it's not a religious right-wing issue and as a Christian myself, I wish people would look more closely at the implications it has for society at large. It's not just about "God's will" or stopping nice gay people from committing to each other, this ruling changes how our whole society will function and on what basis we will make people responsible for things. If a father marries his daughter (which this law would allow), he can make you as a tax-payer responsible for the children they produce when she gives them up to foster care (because a 10-year-old girl has no means to take care of a baby); and you will pay for that. Not to mention the social services we will need to take care of her emotional turmoil as a victim of incest. This is what could happen when we open the door to these kinds of laws without thinking critically about how it will play out. Just wanting your nice gay friends (and my nice gay friends) to be able to marry is not enough.<br /><br />Secondly, The State Supreme Court does not have the right (literally) to overturn the will of the voters. The Governor says he will "respect" the will of the court but if you read his actual statements <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-govreax15-2008may15,0,7312416.story" target="_blank">here </a>you will see that he is abdicating his role as part of the executive branch (that's what we get for electing an actor!) by saying the courts and the voters should decide. Well, the voters have already decided with Prop 22 and if the voters bring an amendment to the State constitution, the Governor should listen to them and consider their voice. If you want to make a difference, the best way is to call or write your elected officials and the Governor and ask them to listen to the will of the people. Because realistically, they will be in office a few short years, but we as citizens will have to live with this decision for a long time.<br /><br />I'm in favor of people thinking critically about the real outcome before making up your mind. This is an emotionally charged issue, but it's not an issue we should decide based on only emotion. It's about how we live in society and who's responsible for what. This is America, it's advanced citizenship and we need voters who think critically, and don't just respond emotionally.<br /><br /><br /><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 1:09 PM, (Name and Email Removed) wrote:<br /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Thanks for the support. I have nothing against homosexuals, but it seems that they have problems with laws supporting normal marriages. Once these laws supporting the "normal" marriages, you really don't have much basis to prevent polygamy, bestiality, incestuous and all kinds of multiple partnerships. In countries where such marriage supporting laws have collapsed you have people marrying their cats, dogs, and few people adamant about marrying their own daughters these days.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">(Name Removed)<br /></span><div><div><br /><br /><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 3:00 PM, (Name and Email Removed) wrote:<br /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Sorry, I am in support of this law so I won't be signing the petition.<br /><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"><br />(Name Removed)<br /></span><div><div><br /><br /><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:35 AM, (Name and Email Removed) wrote:<br /> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br /><br /><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />From: (Name and Email Removed)<br /> Date: Fri, May 23, 2008 at 1:37 AM<br />Subject: Fwd: Help me stop the California anti-marriage ruling<br />To:<br /><br /><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Grassfire.net Services</b> <<a href="mailto:alert@grassfire.net" target="_blank">alert@grassfire.net</a>><br />Date: Fri, May 23, 2008 at 12:29 AM<br /> Subject: Help me stop the California anti-marriage ruling<br />To:<br /><br /><br />+ + + +<br />(Name), thanks for signing the petition! Please<br />forward this message to your friends and ask them to join you.<br /> Thanks again! -- Liberty Counsel<br />+ + + +<br /><br /><br />I just signed a petition supporting an emergency suspension of<br />California's outrageous court ruling that sanctioned homosexual<br />marriage. Same-sex marriage licenses will be issued by June 15 at<br /> the latest. We have very little time to stop this ruling. Please go<br />here to sign:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.grassfire.net/189/petition.asp?PID=16628370&NID=1" target="_blank">http://www.grassfire.net/189<wbr>/petition.asp?PID=16628370&NID<wbr>=1</a><br /> <br />Ms. (Name Removed)<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />--<br />Sola Gratia.<span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"><br />(Name Removed)<br /></span></div><br /></blockquote></div><br /></div></div></blockquote></div><br /></div></div></blockquote></div>Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-23215094591217693642008-06-12T14:35:00.000-07:002008-06-12T14:42:11.221-07:00Deflation...it ain't just a category for balloonsUm, yeah. I was searching for a word to describe my feelings yesterday and I discovered it. Deflated. I am getting some feedback on my work that is entirely deflating. I don't know what to do about it. I don't tend to be without self-assurance, it's more like I'm losing heart. I feel discouraged and deflated. I think I'm engaging in the way I need to be, but then I have to sit there and hear commentary on my process that doesn't engage personally with it.<br /><br />I feel misunderstood and the worst part is that there's no avenue for me to respond. I hate being misunderstood and I hate feeling ineffectual. It's the worst.<br /><br />What do I do with these feelings in a society that doesn't want to hear the sad, bad and angry? In a society that doesn't take time to lament?Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-66410496816119194592008-06-11T20:21:00.000-07:002008-06-11T20:35:09.750-07:00mehwege, mehwege...It is again a summer of weddings...I would say 2004 and 2005 were the most wedding-filled summers for me and this one's giving those two a run for their money.<br /><br />So in honor of another summer of weddings...here's a song that reminds me of love...a little gift to you...:)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CYI5bKZMes&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CYI5bKZMes&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-16891548319013999632008-06-07T15:40:00.000-07:002008-06-07T15:57:12.930-07:00I was really unhappyMy friend Ann made the comment a couple of weeks ago that I used to get and quit jobs quite frequently in the interim 4 years between when I graduated from UCI and started at Fuller. After our talk, I was thinking about this statement, because I don't like to be someone who lives life like that. But it's the truth. I think after graduation and until Sept 2007, I had 6 different jobs. Granted, one or two of them conveniently forgot to give me a paycheck, so I was justified in leaving them in the lurch. And one of them I stayed at for 14 months until I started grad school the first time in Fall of 2005. And another I stayed at from Feb 2007 to March 2008, because I liked the company and they were good to me.<br /><br />But what she said was still hard to hear. I don't want to be a quitter. And I don't think I am in my heart of hearts. I realized the reason I kept quitting is I was really unhappy with my "work life" in that season. And the reason I know I'm supposed to pursue a Master's and potentially a Ph.D. is because school is the only thing that I've ever been passionate enough about to be committed to for the long haul. In undergrad, I had a whole host of things deter me from finishing. I got really sick and had to withdraw for one quarter. I had living situation changes. I worried at times how my tuition would get paid. But I knew I was supposed to do it and I didn't let those things make me give up.<br /><br />The same is true here at Fuller. In this first year alone, I've moved twice. I had serious roommate drama. I worked 35 hours a week and took full-time classes. I got in a major car accident. The CT scan found a "space" in my brain. I had to have an MRI. I helped coordinate a conference in Anaheim. I went through a lot of frustration being patronized by some male classmates. I took 8am classes four days a week. I ran out of money again and again. And somewhere in there I had to make space to sleep, read, write papers and spend time with my friends. And yet, I'm committed to it. I will finish this Spring's Finals week, I will complete two more years of this and I will graduate. I know it. I know it because turning around and retreating is not an option. I must advance.<br /><br />And as I thought about my propensity to quit those awful jobs (one of which was, I kid you not, typing voicemails down for 9 hours a day, voicemails from people facing foreclosure, so depressing!) I realized that maybe that was a good thing. I knew in my soul it just wasn't enough. I would never be happy sitting at a desk all week letting my brain rot. I just couldn't do it. And while I had some interesting work at times and lots of nice people at times, it just wasn't me. I knew I was made for more. And I don't know if I'd say this is the more, but it's closer. There aren't as many fun free corporate meals, but it's at least 80% engaging. And we get summer vacation.<br /><br />Ultimately, it must be what I'm called to, because it's the only thing I won't quit.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-44226571181722480172008-05-19T04:19:00.000-07:002008-05-19T04:56:28.201-07:00Jesus makes everything backwardsHe is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliott<br /><br />Sometimes I look around and it seems like people really have their lives together. And it never really seems like I do. I'm almost always a day late and a dollar short. I have no idea how people manage to buy a house or take care of a baby when I can barely get myself to class on time. Granted, I often take on too much stuff, as in the case of this quarter, when I have 4 classes that are doing me in. I'm certain I will feel much much better when all the papers are written and I can get back to a normal sleeping routine of 6 plus hours a night. But in the meantime, I'm taking breaks by finding out what people in my world are doing. A person I used to know is graduating from med school and another person I just met is in a successful career. And in the moment right before I was about to start envying them, I remembered that they're not in love with Jesus. Their lives may appear satisfying on the outside and maybe they are on the inside when they stop to think about that, but ultimately their hope is in that thing they're achieving and I guess it makes sense then that they'd better milk it for all it's worth cause that's pretty much it.<br /><br />Sometimes I'm awed that I really made the choices I've made. I will never be rich from them, and 99% of people will always think what I do is weird-slash-confusing. But somehow God got me to a place where that's okay and what's important is being true to myself as little as possible, so he can get me to do crazy and foolish things for him. I love him for that. For making everything backwards.<br /><br />And I don't love him for that because secretly I'm rubbing my fingers together and scheming for the day when last will be first and I'll finally get my desserts, I'm just making friends with the idea that I do this thing and I look genuinely foolish and unwise to the world and even to myself most of the time and yet I know completely that this is my place. It's not completely fun, (in fact it's a whole lot of not-fun right now) but it's completely right. Right-side, up-side down-side. It's right.<br /><br />And I'm happy to sell all I have to stay right here, where I don't necessarily want to be. In this small uncomely space. Where Jesus can force-undo all the ways I've learned to want. And need. And envy. And greed - for success and wealth and happiness that are not mine to have.<br /><br />I have to remember that she is no fool who gives what she cannot keep to gain what she cannot lose.<br /><br />I have to remember Shealtiel.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-29158023866346231722008-05-07T14:42:00.001-07:002008-05-07T14:42:26.889-07:00Hmm<span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Helvetica;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#215e21;"> "When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known,<br /> who introduce you to the most loving group of people you've ever encountered,<br /> and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring,<br />compassionate and understanding person you've ever met,<br />and then you learn that the cause of the group<br />is something you never dared hope could be accomplished,<br /> and all of this sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true!<br /> Don't give up your education, your hopes and ambitions, to follow a rainbow."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#215e21;"> Jeanne Mills,<br /> former member of the People's Temple and subsequent victim of assassination a year<br />following the November 18, 1978 Jonestown suicides/murders<br />of 911 adults and children.</span></span></span>Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-28227302887506978442008-05-07T14:14:00.000-07:002008-05-07T14:16:23.825-07:00Pink trimLast week my uncle told me that when I was born, my dad painted the trim on our house pink in honor of the occasion.<br /><br />That is all... and that has made all the difference...Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-82739477578442241412008-04-30T09:24:00.000-07:002008-05-14T16:16:47.968-07:00the Holy Spirit in the Old TestamentI was in a bible study my sophomore year in college. When I consider how I arrived here at seminary, I remember that bible study as containing one of the formative moments in my destiny to arrive at theological studies.<br /><br />That we attempted to study the Bible I look back and realize was an audacious decision. That I personally desired to really look at what it says, I reflect now, was an audacious personal decision.<br /><br />This bible study was led by a Campus Crusade staff member and I remember one session when our discussion of a New Testament scripture (I think we were studying Philippans) brought up the question: Did the Holy Spirit exist in the Old Testament? Reflecting now on this question, I also see inherent in it the questions: Did the Trinity exist in the Old Testament? How do we conclude the existence of the Trinity even in the New Testament? Does the "us" in Genesis refer to the Father and Son, without the Holy Spirit? Which person of the Trinity is preeminent?<br /><br />But nonetheless, the question posed was: Did the Holy Spirit exist in the Old Testament? I know it was this because I have pondered it again and again in confusion over the years.<br /><br />I'm not sure what the various arguments for or against this idea were, but I remember that I upset our leader by being truly interested in investigating this issue. For a long time, I looked back on that moment with equal parts frustration and chagrin, knowing that I wanted to be perceived as of course desiring genuine Christian love and unity amongst us, while sincerely wanting to examine the arguments around this issue. To this leader, my eagerness to pursue the issue meant I was willing to divide the group, or at least relinquish the sensitive balance of unity we had amongst us.<br /><br />This morning I took a midterm that asked for examples of the Trinity in the Old Testament. My school allows for multiple sincere interpretations of this doctrine, including denying the doctrines existence in the Old Testament, by Christians of good faith. We were not asked to conclude whether the Trinity existed "back then" from the suggestions of it in the Old Testament, but at an initial critical level, to consider the evidence for it.<br /><br />While I was probably not mature enough in my sophomore year to express this idea; that's what I really wanted. I didn't want us to conclude, but I did want us to consider it. Consider all the angles and evidence for the idea.<br /><br />One of things I've been thinking about lately is that I tend to care more about the heart of sincerity over the exactness of being right about theological matters. Therefore, I never would have thought of myself as someone interested in attending seminary. Also, I've never seen myself as someone particularly interested in the nuances for instance of the Greek word "power" in the New Testament (on which topic I just read a delightfully detailed and lengthy book) or other minute matters of exegesis.<br /><br />However, I do think these matters are important to consider and discuss, even if we don't agree or are not able to come to conclusion on them. And I'm at the right school because I'm realizing I don't need to sacrifice my heart, that desires genuine loving fellowship, in order to approach these issues with a critical mind.<br /><br />I present this evidence that you might arrive at the conclusion I've arrived at today...<br />God is good.<br />And more specifically, He's good to me.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-78665175629240309472008-04-22T20:40:00.000-07:002008-04-22T23:32:53.346-07:00Mouw on the Pope<a href="http://www.blogger.com/A%20Papal%20Discussion:%20On%20Faith%20and%20Human%20Rights">A Papal Discussion: On Faith and Human Rights</a><br /><br />Reading Mouw's latest offerings on Catholic/Protestant ethics.<br /><br />Something that comes to mind as I read this is an old phrase I heard once, probably on a crime show:<br />What do we think?<br />What do we know?<br />What can we prove?<br /><br />I know that's a very rational way to evaluate the blog and the Pope's visit, but I fall back to it because I think this kind of visit often attracts so much conjecture and emotive response from critics and ordinary thinkers. I think it's important to go back to the facts when there's a lot of that and try to remember that "he who is not against us is for us".Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-11897665875614937752008-04-21T16:07:00.000-07:002008-04-22T16:25:06.875-07:00I'm living in the Old TestamentI went to visit my dad Sunday night. He's building a second home on his property so he can move into it and tear down and then rebuild his main home. It's crazy. The new main home will have a gym and sauna and two offices, one with 250 degrees of views of the ocean. I can't believe we are related. It's seriously like the parables in the NT of the man who build a big house. My dad's house is being built solidly, (not on sand like the parable) but ultimately when it's all done, what will he have? A place to live that's not all that different than the current house. I'm not sure what to think. It's this huge investment in getting something customized to their taste, but it's simply not something I would invest that much money in. I can't believe how guilty I will feel sometimes when I spend an extra $15 at Ross and ijn comparison my dad is spending hordes of money on this new house. I don't really have an opinion on it yet, I'm still not sure if I think it's a good idea or not. But either way, it's happening.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-88097968220799361602008-04-13T00:25:00.000-07:002008-04-13T00:36:27.641-07:00Women and the Church and MeSo I've been having some thoughts. I'm currently without church. I'm significantly more worried about this than most of my friends, who I tell this to and they immediately say, but you've got so much church around you all the time. Which is true. I am not without friends, support, etc. If I tried to become a monk or a Buddhist, no doubt there would be a line at my front door. It seems as though as much as I try, my church comes to me, not the other way around.<br /><br />Therefore, since I am without church, I'm on a quest looking for church. I've tried many. But mostly I run into some main problems. One, women are not allowed to teach. (Hence, they probably won't be psyched that I'm going to seminary or psyched to help me grow into pastoring.) Two, they have some crazy beliefs. Like they think God wants us to be rich. Or they think women should read books like: "Biblical Womanhood <span style="font-weight: bold;">In the Home</span>." Hm, that's not very subtle. Are you sensing a theme here? I'm not sure what to do.<br /><br />Was RockHarbor okay with women pastoring? I think so. And for some ways that they stuck to conservative interpretations on things like communion, that's a little hermeneutical leap they took on women. What with us being half the human race, I'm glad they jumped. A happy leap for me. But alas, I'm looking for some churches around here that will take the leap. And I'm afraid all I'll find is ones where I'm shamed for taking up a perfectly good spot a man could have in seminary. Boo.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-78640022828134172732008-04-08T20:06:00.000-07:002008-04-08T21:06:57.363-07:00Agony"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."— <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3503.Maya_Angelou" title="view all quotes by Maya Angelou">Maya Angelou</a><br /><br />I was condescended to today. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. It was one of those moments when at first I didn't know what was going on and then I thought I was being mean with my reaction, and then I realized that I needed to respond to the condescension. It was one of those times when you think the person is being nice and then you realize that the person is just being nice for themselves.<br /><br />It reminded me of this quote:<br /><br />"If you've come here to help me, please leave. If you've come here because your liberation is tied to my own, then let's work together."Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-6107116968112854542008-03-20T10:20:00.000-07:002008-03-20T10:32:21.944-07:00Stuff White People Like<a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/">Stuff</a><a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/"> White People Like</a><br /><br />OMG, this is the funniest blog I've read in a long time. I personally am 26 and white, I know because I've been going through some medical stuff and I put White under race on the clipboard.<br /><br />This list is frighteningly accurate, especially here in Pasadena. My favorites are<br />#3, #6, #8, #27, #28, #44, #48...wait, you know what?<br /><br />I love them ALL!!<br /><br />READ it and LAUGH!<br /><br />It's good for your indoor-living, processed-food eating, generally inferior soul.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-9918169999723032262008-03-03T09:03:00.001-08:002008-03-03T09:31:59.451-08:00Why do you buy?About a year ago, I discovered <a href="http://www.americanapparel.net">American Apparel.</a><br /><br />I really like their clothes, the material really is comfortable and I like the simple designs. But here's the rub, all of their advertising is overtly sexual. The main print advertising is shot with models in reclining positions, in various states of undress. (Seems counter-productive to advertise a clothing line using models without clothes on, no?) Even the snapshots of hoodies on their website are of models wearing the hoodie and underwear bottoms, without actual pants on.<br /><br />I used to say, I don't care what dumb advertising companies use, I like the products I like for their quality and I buy them based on that quality. But what do I do when the company uses such clearly immoral means of selling their wares? They are preying on our society's rabid addiction to sexuality and using that to sell T-shirts. In addition, the culturally relevant church is not addressing the issue, but supporting it. The Experiment jackets are from American Apparel and were purchased by my church for our team. I don't know what to think.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-34215097129433561972008-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:002008-02-22T12:56:08.188-08:00The pen is mightier than the swordIn <a href="http://deltadawn.blogspot.com/2007/05/i-feel-like.html">this post</a>, I was reacting to quite a lot of hurt and frustration with the Experiment. It got me in trouble. There was some concern about who might look bad because of it. And that made me wonder if I would look bad. And for a while I thought, Gosh, I don't want to look bad in church. I don't want to hurt any people in church. Because I LOVE my church. Rockharbor has shepherded me, pastored me, cared for me. Most of the spiritual growth I've done was during services, crying at the crosses, asking Jesus to forgive me and those who've sinned against me. Asking Jesus for his nourishment, to feed me with the Eucharist, with his body and blood. To allow me to be in Holy Communion with his saints and convince me that he'll always feed me, even when I can't feed myself. Most of my healing from past spiritual abuse occurred in the context of co-leading a life group. Working out community with people in love and commitment to our mutual development, despite our total depravity, despite falling victim over and over to the same sins.<br /><br />BUT--- But --- but....I guess I should've known not to expect too much when I look back now and realize we all applied to be celebrities. We all applied to be photographed like Britney Spears and I mean seriously, look at the devastation that has ensued for her. We are fragile human beings and must treat one another as such. We must treat each other with relentless tenderness despite the thorny responses we get. Any group that gets together and wants to serve the Lord by showing others "how it's done" is a big piece of crappy fly-ridden lies and only setting itself up for implosion. Although we were within the context of the church, we had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. And I sold little pieces of my soul along the way. I'm not mad, it's no one's fault but my own, but I'm saddened and disturbed at the parts of my soul that I now find missing when I'm searching for Jesus.<br /><br />The most profound thing I learned in the Experiment is that God could not F-ing care whether or not we have a big darn vision. To quote Garrett, "God isn't interested in turning the oceanliner around. He is trying to sink the oceanliner and send us all out in rowboats."<br /><br />He wants us to do small things with great love. He doesn't need you to start crusades under Billy Bob Ministries and drive a Rolls Royce. Also he doesn't hate the rich. If you're rich, that's what you are, just like I'm brown-eyed and can't do nothing about it. So enjoy it, give lots away, lavish it on those who've never had that, die completely broke and honor the Lord. Take care of your family<br />(um, and by care I don't mean help them learn to luxuriate in fine things). Teach your children the commandments. Read the Bible for what it really says. And stop trying to outdo God with your big vision. For what does the Lord require of you but to love justice and do mercy and walk humbly with your God.<br /><br />The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community even if their intentions are ever so earnest. But the person who loves those around them will create community. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer<br /><br />It's not easy to grasp a vision for the world that is a kingdom or an empire bigger than Rome, but as small as a mustard seed. This is the God who creates the universe, but chooses to be born in a manger. - Shane ClaiborneDawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-80748096230630248652008-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:002008-02-12T09:57:03.753-08:00ComplexityI had this thought in class today:<br /><br />Of course it's hard to understand humans. We're made in the image of God, and who's more complex than God?Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-18178153805279087842008-02-11T18:24:00.000-08:002008-02-11T18:33:03.654-08:005 things you should know1. If you're going to be counseling anyone, anywhere it is imperative that you attend at least 10 counseling sessions yourself.<br /><br />2. Never, and I mean NEVER try to drive and Blackberry at the same time. It is very dangerous.<br /><br />3. Unicorns are never extinct in your imagination.<br /><br />4. Coffee is good for the brain and the soul.<br /><br />5. Que-sa-dilla is NOT Spanish for "What's the deal?!"<br /><br />Now it's your turn...tell me 5 things I should know...:)Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220269.post-7733351692167186452007-11-25T22:36:00.000-08:002007-11-26T00:31:49.015-08:00Blessed and DispossessedI am reading a commentary on justice in the Old Testament that talks about Jesus being partial to the dispossessed. Some excerpts:<br /><br />"It is significant that the story of Israel's birth (and therefore our birth as a community of faith) begins not in a moment of nationalistic triumph but in a context of slavery and oppression...This portrait of numbing oppression sets not only the social context but the theological context for the events of Exodus. It is not in Israel's own resources that power can be found to oppose the oppressive power of the empire (pharaoh), but it is in the power of God. Therein lies hope that seem by human terms to lie beyond redemption."<br /><br />God's identification with Hebrew slaves in Egypt reveals a fundamental partiality of God towards the dispossessed. Exodus is but the beginning of a long list of canonical witnesses to God's special care for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, the exploited, the suffering."<br /><br />This helps me remember again why He is my God. I've been searching for a word that describes my recent situation. Dispossessed is the right word.<br /><br />Am I blessed? Oh yes. I just look at this computer I am typing on, my warm bed, my full cupboard and the fullness of God I am experiencing as I study His word and I know I am well kept under His wing.<br /><br />But my reality is that I am also dispossessed. And when that sad reality grates on my soul, it's nice to remember that God isn't a god for the victorious Christians, the ones who write books about praying your way to happiness or changing your life daily, He's a God for those who can't help themselves. He's a God for those who are still in exile, still waiting for the promised land.<br /><br />He's a God for the dispossessed.<br /><br />He's a God for me.<br /><br />And I am blessed to be one of His dispossessed.Dawn Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03098157872861581890noreply@blogger.com0