Travelin' Again

I'm not sure how it worked out that February would be our month for travel, and I never thought I'd think Houston had been too cold and too damp too long! But all these things are true and El Jefe and I are off for a week, so QG will be closed until our return.

We're going back to Mexico to enjoy some warm weather and a beautiful beach before going into full time MOB and FOB mode.

QG Podcast: Romans 8--Victory in Christ

If anyone is interested, here's a link to the podcast of my BSD lecture yesterday on Romans 8 from the MDPC website:

UPDATE:
There's some error with the previous link. If you go here:
http://www.mdpc.org/mediaservices/channel344.xml

Then click on the media files for the top entry--Victory in Christ dated February 17, you will be able to hear it.

Oh, Oh, Limpics

Last night I watched some Winter Olympics with Babs and P-Dubya. Babs has always been a HUGE fan of the Olympics, but these days its hard for her to stay up for her fav skating events because of her early appearance at work.

So we're watching something called the snowboard half-pipe, at least I think that is what it is called. It seems like something only a teenage boy would love--baggy loud clothing, risky stunts and lots of macho. We were highly amused by the "analysis" of the different tricks the guys performed--it seemed awfully pretentious and forced.

We miss the Jamaican Bobsled Team--now there was a really fun group to watch!

On the whole we were decidedly underwhelmed. Are you watching the Winter Olympics? What do you think?

Ash Wednesday Thought

Heard at yesterday's church meeting:

"Those called to leadership in the church have the privilege of seeing Christ's bride without her makeup and with all her flaws and wrinkles exposed, but love her anyway."

The Hurridier I Go...

The more behind I get! Why does a few days away create a frenzy on returning of:

• MOB business
• Church meeting business
• BSD Lecture preparation (Thursday!!)
• Re-adjusting Bea and Olivia to their daily routine
• Too much mail
• Too much laundry
• Not enough time

But it was worth it! San Miguel is a beautiful place and was a lot warmer--but not warm--than Houston. We were visiting friends who have retired there and they have a lovely home with a stunning view of the mountains. Their neighbor there was one of the founding members of our church! He told us some interesting stories about the early days of MDPC. I can't see us following their lead and retiring there, but we'd be happy to visit anytime!

Mexico Lindo

El Jefe and I are off to Mexico Lindo for the Valentine's Day weekend, visiting friends who retired to San Miguel from Dallas. We're wussies and glad to get out from our dreary cold weather in Houston--not used to it!

QG will be closed until Tuesday.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Schools for Yemen?

Thomas Friedman, the NY Times columnist, is now calling for the US to help build schools in order to promote peace and development--but in Yemen rather than Pakistan and Afghanistan.

I see that Greg Mortenson is onto something.

WNTW RevGal Episode

We were out Friday night so I recorded the What Not To Wear RevGal episode. Yesterday afternoon I had time to watch it.

I thought it was very cleverly done. Loved the choir processing in singing the Halleluia Chorus from Messiah as Stacy and Clinton surprised young (and very pretty) Episcopal priest Emily! Someone on the show knows something about classical Christian music and used excerpts as background music several times--notably Bach's Toccata and Fugue in C.

As always, Stacy and Clinton respected Emily's opinion about how she needed to present herself at work. They talked with her colleagues at the church about this, too. That was quite a challenge when you consider that she wears a clerical collar every day to her job at the church! They even had a custom made collar made for her that would work well with the suits and blouses she bought.

An online article that I read last week revealed that Emily tithed $500 to a charity in accordance with her beliefs, so she actually only spent $4500 on her new wardrobe. Good for her! She looked so beautiful and approachable when they were done.

Did you see this episode? What did you think?

Luncheon Report

Today I met the first woman to become a lawyer in Pakistan. Well, I didn't meet her personally, but she spoke at the sold-out Three Cups of Tea luncheon in Houston today. Greg Mortenson, the keynote speaker and author of Three Cups, introduced her to the crowd.

Portia, Queenie and I were really touched by the words of this sister lawyer. Mortenson said that she had suffered beatings and stonings at the hands of fellow students and teachers for daring to seek an education. Her family also opposed her ambitions but finally she was able to persuade them to grant permission for her to study law. She is the first woman to pass the bar exam in Pakistan and is now doing advanced studies at Montana State University--no doubt with the encouragement of the Mortenson family who lives in Montant. Her goal is to become an advocate for the property rights of women and widows in her country.

Mortenson's speech concentrated on three themes:

• the importance of elders
• the importance of building relationships to build peace
• the importance of the education of women

Mortenson quoted a statistic that only 10% of American children had ever spent any time listening to their "elders" (grandparents or others of that generation) recount stories of the events of their lives and the history they had lived while 99 to 100% of Pakistani and Afghani children have done so. He pointed out that in the US children are becoming ignorant of the history and culture that shapes their society. Listening and building relationships with the "elders" in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a major emphasis for the Central Asia Insitute in its efforts to expand schools and education for girls in the region and is a key to its success.

With respect to the importance of building relationships, Mortenson praised our military leadership for finally "getting it" and placing emphasis on building trust and partnership with the people of Afghanistan as they struggle to resist the forces of the Taliban in their country. Three Cups of Tea is now required reading for those taking counterinsurgency training. He shared an email from General Petraeus, who after reading Three Cups of Tea, summarized what he learned from it: "build relationships, listen and respect the people."

Mortenson criticized the current administration's secret discussions and failure to consult our military leaders and the important Afghan elder groups before setting the policy for a new surge. He fears that plans to bring troops away from the "forward" positions in the countryside and back into the fortified positions in the cities risks the destruction of the relationships they are successfully building in the remote areas more subject to Taliban violence.

"Unless girls are educated, things are never ever going to change," Mortenson said. He quoted an African proverb: "If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community." According to statistics from UNICEF, in 2000 there were 800,000 children in school in Afghanistan--almost all were boys. Today there are 8.4 million children in school--2.5 million are girls! That is impressive progress. That is the hope for our future together.

The crowd was filled with many Pakistani and Afghan women as well as several groups of high school students. The table next to us was an all-Pakistani or Afghan group and I noticed their enthusiastic response to Mortenson's speech--especially his words about our military's current approach to their mission in that area. The high school students wanted to set up Facebook relationships with their counterparts in Afghanistan, only to learn that the internet wasn't quite as ubiquitous in the mountains of that country as it is on the Gulf Coast of Texas!

It was an inspiring event that renewed my belief in the importance of education--especially for women--in the pursuit of peace.

Book Review: Stones Into Schools

This morning's news brought word of yet another attack on a girls' school in one of the northern provinces of Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. Three schoolgirls, a Pakistani soldier and three American troops were killed in the blast. Many girls were also injured.

Which is why Greg Mortenson's Stones Into Schools is such an important book. This is the sequel to Three Cups of Tea, the book that chronicles the story of Mortenson's mission to build schools and promote education for the women of the remote areas of northwest Pakistan. Three Cups of Tea became a best-seller and Mortenson, albeit reluctantly, became a much-sought after speaker and fund-raiser for the Central Asia Institute, which has built 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan serving 51,000 students with an emphasis on the education of girls. Why the emphasis on girls' education? Because Mortenson believes that girls are the key to social change in this part of the world.


Three Cups of Tea is now required reading for West Point's Counterintelligence School because of the insight it gives into the culture of the people of this area. I wouldn't be surprised to see Stones Into Schools added to that list because it expands that insight into remote areas of Afghanistan. Mortenson, the son of Christian missionaries to Africa, has a gift for communicating cross-cultural understanding.


Stones Into Schools picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off. The book recounts Mortenson's struggle to fulfill a commitment made to 14 brave Afghani men who crossed a dangerous pass into Pakistan to find him and beg him to build a school in a very remote are of their country. Ten years and many disappointments and hardships later, that vow was fulfilled. And it was fulfilled by the efforts of the Afghani people rather than by their American supporters. One of the reasons why the work of the CAI is so promising is that it empowers the local people to do for themselves and thus have real ownership of these schools and the expansion of education to their girls.

Stones Into Schools is not great literature, but I think it is as compelling and inspiring as Three Cups of Tea. The book combines a fascinating travelogue with individual stories of triumph, tragedy and heroism. I highly recommend it.

This Monday Greg Mortenson is speaking at a fund-raising luncheon in Houston, which I am happy to report is now sold-out. I'm going along with several other family members because we have adopted the CAI as our charity of choice in honor of my nephew, the navy doctor, who is waiting deployment to Afghanistan. I can't wait.

BSD Lecture Coming Up!

In a couple of weeks I will be giving a lecture on Romans 8 for our Bible Study Discussion program. I have about 50 minutes in which to do it for about 200 women on a Thursday morning. Oh, boy!

Our groups are studying Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter by chapter. Since this is the middle of the book, I think it is a good time to include a brief review and summary of the first 7 chapters as well as a look ahead to what is to come. It better be brief because Romans 8 is the apogee of Paul's letter--and one of the most significant chapters in all of the Bible.

Chapter divisions in the Bible can be helpful or arbitrary. In the case of Romans, they are arbitrary and don't always come at logical places in Paul's densely written argument. That makes a lecture on one chapter challenging!

If any of my Gentle Readers can give me suggestions for resources for this assignment, I would be most appreciative! I'm using Paul for Everyone by N.T. Wright and the Interpretation series commentary on Romans, written by Paul Achtemeier as well as the study notes in the NIV Study Bible, the Oxford (NRV) Study Bible.

What Not To Wear Alert!

Here's a Must See TV alert for all my RevGal friends--mark your calendars for this Friday evening, 9 Eastern/8 Central time on TLC.

My favorite reality show, What Not To Wear, features one of your own as the subject of Clinton and Stacey's makeover. The promo for this new episode says "Emily is your typical single girl with one divine difference... she's an Episcopal priest. She may have been called by a higher power but her friends and family called Stacy and Clinton. Can Emily find a feminine style that balances her youthful energy?"

Usually WNTW is very good at finding styles that are appropriate for the profession or lifestyle of their subjects. What will they do with Emily? Did they consult PeaceBang of Beauty Tips for Ministers fame?

Can't wait to see....

Looking for that Special Verse

Yesterday in worship, members of our church's third grade Sunday School class were each given a Bible. This is an annual custom in our church. The translation they are given is the NIV Adventure Bible.

The senior pastor told them he had highlighted a different verse in each Bible --one that he had chosen specially for each child--and signed his name by it. A very thoughtful gesture, especially since there were 55 children involved!

I wonder how many kids started looking for their verse as soon as they sat down again in the pew?

Kindle or IPad--That is the question

Allright, so I am a self-confessed gadget geek who just LOVES all things Apple. Well, almost all things.

So I've been reading up on the new IPad and watched the video demo of it that is posted on the Apple website. Very very cool.

I'm wondering if I would like it better than my Kindle for reading ebooks. I could see reading newspapers and magazines on an IPad, but haven't been tempted by the Kindle DX because it is all grey-scale.

Here is what I would like to change about the Kindle:

• a larger screen would be nice so I don't have to push the button to turn the page so frequently

• sharper resolution would help when photos are included (admittedly a low priority)

• add a back-lit screen option. I know many say your eyes tire more quickly with that, but I find the Kindle screen a bit dark

• color would be nice

• make it easier to highlight or take notes. I know you can do it now, but I can't seem to get the hang of it.

• A touchscreen keyboard might allow a larger screen without making the device larger. Love the touchscreen on my IPhone.
  

On the other hand....

• I probably won't be able to read ebooks from amazon on the IPad

• You don't get the free wireless internet with the IPad but you do have wireless capability

I did love the graphic bookshelf for the ebooks instead of the list of titles you get on the Kindle.

Fortunately, it's not available yet. I'll probably wait a while and see what others think and how it gets tweaked.

Anyone else tempted?

State of the Union Burnout

In the good old days of the early Republic, the President sent a State of the Union message in writing to Congress. He didn't come to the Capitol building and give a speech.

Fast forward to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Now the State of the Union address has become a big media event, hyped endlessly for days in advance.

I'm not sure when Presidents started the custom of inviting current heroes (like Captain Sully Sullenberger); youthful examples of good behavior and achievement; and -- inevitably--individual citizens with problems that demonstrate the need for whatever policies the Prez is advocating that year. Did it begin with Carter? Reagan? Earlier ? Later?

Whenever it began, I wish it would end. Props to the President who avoids the temptation to put people on display in order to prop up his policies--whatever his or her political persuasion. This is why I haven't watched the SOU address in many years.

Anyone with me on this?

Olivia Blogs: My New Diet

WOOF!

Olivia here.

So yesterday QG took me for my annual checkup with the vet. I was very proud to see I hadn't gained any weight since the last visit.

But that wasn't enough for the doctor! Oh, no! She told QG I really need to lose a pound or two.

Not fair! I only weigh 12 pounds. That's the same as Beatrice. Okay, well, so what if she is a lot bigger than I am. I have a lovely curvaceous figure and she is a stick. HMMMPH!

So now QG can't give me my fat-free cottage cheese (hey, doc, its FAT FREE!) and has to cut me back to 1/4 cup of food a day. No more delicious cheese snacks from El Jefe. No more mouth-watering peanut butter treats for doing my "bidness" when asked.

I tell you SOMEONE is going to be sorry!!!

Your despondent friend,
Olivia

Blog Controls

This weekend I was reading a review of a book in the local paper. The book was written by a Houston-area blogger and the reviewer also interviewed her. One of the questions was how did she decide what subjects were "off-limits" on the blog. She said she kept three "control persons" in mind for this purpose--her father, an ex-boyfriend and one other close friend.

Which made me think about my blog control persons. I would say they are Portia and Babs (and by extension other family members who do read my blog regularly), and the blogging friends I have made over the years who do NOT agree with me on all things religious and political. Thinking about their reactions to a possible post may prompt me to revise it or decide that it is more prudent not to post it.

Who are your Blog Control Persons?

MOB Redux Update: Nouveau Wedding Planning

Today I'm meeting Babs at the printer to pick up the save-the-dates and design the wedding invitations. That got me to thinking about the things that have now become part of wedding planning that we didn't do back in the day when El Jefe and I got married.

Things like:

• save-the-date cards
• multiple wedding registries
• hotel suggestion inserts
• Bachelorette parties
• wedding favors
• wedding home pages on the 'net (of course there was no net then)
• slideshows of the bride and groom's family pictures
• wedding themes (example: The Perfect Pair) Babs says the theme of her wedding is wedding. That was also the theme of Portia's wedding. Clearly we are squares.
  

And maybe I'm missing something. If so, leave it in the comments.

Mom of Congress: The Massachusetts Senate Race

The Mom of Congress has been following the Massachusetts Senate race. Last night she watched Martha Coakley's concession speech and Scott Brown's acceptance speech on TV. Here are her conclusions:

Martha Coakley seems to be an attractive candidate and gave a gracious concession speech. Her loss was less about her personally, and more about disgust with Congress.

Scott Brown is clearly one of the best campaigners in either party that has come along in a long time. Mom of Congress could not help but note that his two lovely daughters are a lot like her two lovely daughters: one very tall brunette and one not-quite-so-tall blonde.

Mom of Congress predicts that Scott Brown will give the Republican response to the President's State of the Union Address. Betcha! He's a Senator to watch.

Thinking About Radical Generosity

Like many churches, the one we are members of receives a large portion of its annual income in the month of December. Some years those entrusted with financial responsibility for the church are more stressed than others in that last month of the year. It all depends on how short of the budget the revenue is at that time.

This year was very stressful. The shortfall in December was well over $2 million (bear in mind this is a large congregation of over 4000 members). Hand-wringing, prayers and development of worse case scenarios were the order of the day in the year-end committee meetings.

But then.

In the last two weeks of the year the congregation gave generously--generously enough that a surplus of $400,000 over the budgeted revenues were received. Amazing. Just amazing.

We were given this news at the session retreat this past weekend. I'm still processing it. I mean, its a tough economy out there. Our congregation is not immune from job loss and financial difficulties common to the rest of the nation.

The treasurer told us that the year-end giving represented lots of small gifts--not a few very large gifts from wealthy, generous individuals. In fact, the "big givers" had made their contributions earlier in the year.

Why this significant outpouring from so many people?

I think it is because the church from its founding (in 1954) set a goal of matching the money spent in the operation of the church and its programs with giving to those in need in the community and the world. It's called the Dollar for Dollar benevolence program and it is taken very seriously every year. Since the congregation is committed to this kind of radical generosity, our faith-based budget works.

This dollar-for-dollar commitment also forces the staff, session and committees to be excellent stewards since for every dollar that is spent on the church's internal operations and programming, another dollar must be found to give away. Members know that their giving to the church does not stop at the church campus but goes to those in need in the local area, the state, the nation and around the world. This principle also forces the congregation away from being internally-focused towards being externally (or missionally, if you will) focused.

People say, "of course MDPC can do this--it is a wealthy, large congregation with lots of resources." But really, there is no "of course" about it. MDPC followed this guiding principle from its first days as a new struggling congregation in the far western suburbs of Houston more than 50 years ago. From time to time the church had difficulty adhering to this goal, but always found a way to do so and re-affirmed the commitment to radical generosity.

The fact that the founders had that kind of faith in God's provision for their congregation and sustained their faithfulness to the gospel still awes me today.

Understand that I am NOT saying that dollar-for-d0llar is some kind of magic formula -- it is NOT some kind of prosperity gospel for congregations. No, I think that it is an important spiritual discipline because it requires us to be constantly mindful of the needs of the world outside our doors instead of focusing on ourselves.

So what happened to that surplus? The session gratefully decided to allocate all of it to the Outreach Committee so it will be distributed among our mission partners in 2010 in addition to the dollar-for-dollar benevolence already allocated to Outreach in the budget. Because it's not about us, it's about bringing the love of Christ to a world in need.