Time for an upgrade

I waited six months after the first generation iPad was introduced before succumbing to its charms. Since the I've found it to be a creative workhorse. I've written syllabi, recorded grades, created presentations (and presented them) and so much more.
But today I took advantage of tax free weekend to spring for the new iPad. 64 gig, Wi-Fi and 4G. Now I can shoot and edit video and more.

"Driving in Memphis"

OK, so it doesn't have quite the charm of Marc Cohen's, "Walking in Memphis," but it's been a fun day here, the first time in forever that I've gone to Memphis other than to (a) catch a plane, or (b) get service at the Apple Store. Set foot on the University of Memphis campus for the first time since June 1991. The Communication Dept. is now in the old law school building; very nice digs. Went to the ginormous Macy's at Oak Court Mall, then drove out Poplar all the way to Saddle Cree, something I also haven't done in years. Now I'm about to leave Barnes and Noble at Wolfchase and head back home. Two classes in Trenton tomorrow and one tomorrow night at Jackson State.
Just over three weeks until Spring Break.
(I'm supposedly "retired," yet I'm still counting down to Spring Break!)

You are a Christian? I Do not think so.

OK, I can handle diversity. I even celebrate it. Diversity keeps life rich and prevents boredom.
As a Christian (with a Kierkegaardian existentialist perspective), I can consider many as Christian brothers and sisters who may have different doctrinal beliefs that I. They may be Catholic, may be Baptist, may even be "Reformed," and I'll find it quite easy to fellowship with them. Our differences do not overcome our unity through the Holy Spirit.
Recently, however, I've realized there are a number of people calling themselves "Christian" with whom I just cannot consider fellowship. I can value their lives as creations of God, I can care for their welfare, as I am called to do.
But I cannot consider them to be fellow Christians.
Certain things are what they are. I'm male and can't claim to be female. I'm white and can't claim to be black. I'm a native-born American and can't claim to be Canadian or European.
I am who I am either because of biology or belief.
So when some people claim to be Christian, but believe blacks are poor because they are lazy, or claim that God "called them to be president," or that God called them to "cure gays," or that God requires them to keep women in subjugation to men, then I have to ask:
Where do you get such ideas?
From Jesus?
No, that can't be, because he never said these things.
From the Bible?
Well, yes, what Christians call the Old Testament does have some strange rules, but we have to put them in context. Of time and of purpose.
From God speaking to you?
Yes, God does still speak, but he doesn't give private lessons. No, God hasn't told Pat Robertson who will win in 2012, but to keep it secret. God never even spoke to the great prophets of scripture that way.
Look, we can agree to disagree over the proper age for baptism, over the administering of the sacraments, over which Bible translation is more "true" to the original, over whether clergy should wear robes (I don't think they should), and so on and so on.
So long as we are united in our belief in the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, then we are brothers and sisters united by the Holy Spirit.
But if you believe a Christian should denigrate another based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity or income, then you are not a Christian.
I'll still regard you as a fellow human being, created in the image of God, but I will not, will not, will not, consider you a Christian.
How you regard me is your choice.
How I regard you is something you have no say in.

Christmas after Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and I'm, as the movie title goes, Home Alone.
But don't feel badly for me.
It's one of those years where I'll be going home to see the family after Christmas.
There are advantages, of course.
Some years when I've had to be home late, it's allowed me to do my Christmas shopping during the after-Christmas sales.

Now that most of the family is into giving and receiving gift cards, I actually have my shopping done before Christmas even though the recipients won't get them for a few more days.
There's no savings involved except for saving time. I'm flying home and packing gifts is a hassle. (Not to mention a potential extra charge for overweight luggage.)
So I'm kind of mellow being alone on Christmas Eve.
The cats will see what's in their stocking (hung on the fireplace mantle, of course) in the morning.
Then church, then packing, then a quiet Christmas evening at home.

When I was growing up, my family didn't put up the tree until a few days before Christmas and it didn't come down until just after New Year's Day. Very traditional.
So I'll be going home to Christmas trees still decorated, lights indoors and out still shining.
In other words, it will still be Christmas when I get there.

Conservative? No, not really

I not only have conservative friends, I kind of sort of used to be one. In college. Undergrad.
I can respect and dialogue with conservatives.
But those currently running for the GOP nomination are NOT conservatives They are rabid extreme rightists who want to return this country to the 1920s or earlier. Abolish Social Security. Abolish minimum wage. Allow workplace safety rules. Abolish food and drug regulations. Abolish the income tax. Abolish direct election of U.S. senators. Some even advocate taking away women's right to vote. Others are for limiting the right to vote to only property owners.
They are not conservatives.
They are destroyers.
They hide behind twisted interpretations of the Bible and the Constitution.
They hate America as it is.
They want to destroy this country.
We cannot let that happen.

So connected, I almost feel cut off . . .

A week ago tonight I was still on the train, returning from New Orleans, alone in my sleeping car roomette.
A week later and I've (a) got the new iPhone 4S (64 gig, enough for everything), and now I'm even on Twitter.
Yet tonight still feels little different from being in that room on the train a week ago.
Perhaps we're all so cyber-connected we are keeping really connected.
Maybe?

Just three days back and ready for a break

I never realized that, once I had retired, I'd be thinking about things such as Fall Break.
But, since I'm teaching more courses now than I did when I was a full-time faculty member, I'm getting that "It's almost Fall break" fever.
What's worse is that it's only Tuesday and I've only been back from New Orleans just over two days. (Well, two and a half. )
Next week was to be my trip to Hot Springs, AR for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Documentary Film Festival. I've been every year since 1996, and taken a van load of Lambuth students every year since 1998.
But Lambuth is gone and, apparently, so is my energy for driving six hours each way to see films and meet some people I see once per year.