8/10/08
Once Around

-Travels to Paraguay
Saw death the first 3 days
Visited congregation

-discussed how faith was passed down, noticed difference between own family with strong faith background, yet seem less tolerant. Other families who were less outwardly religious who were very open

-Simon Bolivar great leader dreamed of uniting the Hispanic countries but very expensive.

-Very nice to have sister/sister-in-law

-New job, principal, working at Keeping the door open to the office, enjoying building team and getting the school year started

-Working with Merit and seeing students working for the family
There are strong feelings about immigration and impact on employment

-irritated with Bush's comments at the olympics

-reconcile desire to be apart of Church service yet working with scripture as literal

-sermon had a good ending about not needing to be perfect

-dream where speaker at a church was offensive and 1/3 of the congregation left

-Conversation about voting, person taking part of socialized medicine in one state, but not connecting with the democratic push to socialize medicine

-wondered about baptism- actually a custom for Jews to baptize Gentiles but it Was new to baptize Jews. John essentially excommunicated the whole Jewish community with this act.

-taking son to Riley, could be allergies. But has been going on so long.
-how do we share thoughts about our faith, without shutting the doors to each other, many feel that their faith is right, not recognizing that faith is formed
-feel that an academic pastor could bridge gaps

07-27-08

Bob Mortimer & Sermon response

Hope & courage

We are capable of so much
Bob struggled to survive, but he is now thriving

Travel albums- thrive on travel, get and give energy from the people we meet.
-wanted a photo of a huge wood pile happened upon a man who used wood to pay for children's college, learned of the man and his wife's story
-impressed by and noticed sychronistic events
-sometimes these events seem much less positive, but definitely an adventure and always seems to work

Sermon Response
-Can cmc work towards breaking down barriers
-Freedom Writers is a great example of how a teacher helped students break down barriers.
-What happens when we sit with others who are so different?

7-20-08

Response to Bob Mortimer's message

Questions & thoughts
-Strong religious experience
-Message of hope
-What is the difference between Coaches and the motivational themes in Scripture
-Synthesized Bob's message of hope and courage with previous experiences of revivals but felt that the root message of hope and courage is desireable
-Self help speakers also bring in huge crowds, but religious speakers tend to also have community

7-13-08
Open Discussion/Announcements
Jail Sisters, is there a Jail Brothers?

Once Around
Scholarship to go to Ireland in two weeks, poetry

July 4 whole family was home, very enjoyable

Camping in woods in Northern Michigan, refreshing and nice

Reconcilliation with son, feels like a clean slate

Being home is not always easy

Three children in college, feels good

Little Eden good week, worked in Nashville

Traveled to Chicago-Ohare

Group formation - Sidewalk commission is coming up
Interest is critical as a reason to join
Reunited with others- learned more about others by discussing by discussing by discussing hobbies

Family vacation - family dynamics

Carolina- Friends and family, amusement parks, nice to be away

Family- Child-Parent
Mom-Dad versus first names