On Church Hopping, Public Schools and the First Day of Lab
Part the First:
This whole finding a church thing is a real drag. I know that we should be able to worship with the Christian family no matter the setting, denomination, age, music type, or whatever, but there are just some things that are a total turn off in a church. Like the time the guy next to me put his head on my shoulder during service, or the greeters that accosted me to fill out an address card before I was ten feet inside the door. And let's not even start in on theological differences.
So I did something unexpected. Three weeks ago, I went to a UB church. Crazy, right? After my senior year why in heaven's name would I put myself through that again? But it was okay, so I went back the next week. I even went to Sunday School. They don't really have a class for my age/marital status so I went to the "young marrieds" class (that's code for "just under middle age with kids"), and aside from the fact that they're in the middle of a series about raising children (cue eye rolling), it was pretty good. So yesterday I went back again. As luck would have it after sercive there was a carry-in dinner. (I brought angel food cake with blueberries.) After dinner I got to talk to Pastor Dan and his wife. They asked me who my professors were at Huntington. So in an effort to be polite and not incite any riots, I told them about Drs. N, B (mine, not yours' Joni), and M. We had a nice little chat about professors inspiring their students and then Pastor Dan asked me about any other professors I had. Deciding that now was better than later, I mentioned how much I enjoyed my philosophy, exodus, and religions classes and that professor. Pastor Dan immediately entered with what a horrible thing had happened last year, and how he didn't see how open theism and Armenianism are all that different. Also, Pastor Dan is apparently friends with a certain bible professor that I took Hebrew from, and that we all think is a neatest thing since sliced bread. Moral of the story: sometimes people surprise you, and you should totally let them. The good news: I think I may have found a church, we'll see how the next few weeks go.
Part the Second:
Last week I realized something really strange. I went from hanging out with a bunch of fun democrats at HC to working with a bunch of fun republicans at Purdue. Isn't it funny how that works? It really feels like it should be the other way around. It's also amusing to think about that fact that many of the republicans at HC have more in common politically with my coworkers than they do with the HC democrat contingent, despite a vast difference in worldview, lifestyle, type of education, etc.
Part the Third:
Today is the first lab of the semester for me. The first one was a 7:30 in the stinkin' morning. I don't know whose idea that was, but I'd really like the give them a piece of my mind. It actually went surprisingly well. I didn't have to teach anyone how to use a ruler, nothing broke, and no one bled. Definitely a sucessful lab. Unfortunately, it did take them almost the entire lab period to do a lab on measurements. I know I've probably forgotten alot about what it was like to be a freshman, but I really feel like three hours was an unreasonable amount of time for that lab to take. My next lab starts in about half an hour. Two labs on Monday mornings, yech! But at least they're done for the week after that!
Update:
I just got back from my second lab. I taught a junior pharmacy major and two freshmen how to read a ruler. It's official, I'm signing up for the first space shuttle to Mars I can find, and I'm only letting people who pass a minimum intelligence test come. This is ridiculous.
Anyway, that's all I've got to say right now. :-)
This whole finding a church thing is a real drag. I know that we should be able to worship with the Christian family no matter the setting, denomination, age, music type, or whatever, but there are just some things that are a total turn off in a church. Like the time the guy next to me put his head on my shoulder during service, or the greeters that accosted me to fill out an address card before I was ten feet inside the door. And let's not even start in on theological differences.
So I did something unexpected. Three weeks ago, I went to a UB church. Crazy, right? After my senior year why in heaven's name would I put myself through that again? But it was okay, so I went back the next week. I even went to Sunday School. They don't really have a class for my age/marital status so I went to the "young marrieds" class (that's code for "just under middle age with kids"), and aside from the fact that they're in the middle of a series about raising children (cue eye rolling), it was pretty good. So yesterday I went back again. As luck would have it after sercive there was a carry-in dinner. (I brought angel food cake with blueberries.) After dinner I got to talk to Pastor Dan and his wife. They asked me who my professors were at Huntington. So in an effort to be polite and not incite any riots, I told them about Drs. N, B (mine, not yours' Joni), and M. We had a nice little chat about professors inspiring their students and then Pastor Dan asked me about any other professors I had. Deciding that now was better than later, I mentioned how much I enjoyed my philosophy, exodus, and religions classes and that professor. Pastor Dan immediately entered with what a horrible thing had happened last year, and how he didn't see how open theism and Armenianism are all that different. Also, Pastor Dan is apparently friends with a certain bible professor that I took Hebrew from, and that we all think is a neatest thing since sliced bread. Moral of the story: sometimes people surprise you, and you should totally let them. The good news: I think I may have found a church, we'll see how the next few weeks go.
Part the Second:
Last week I realized something really strange. I went from hanging out with a bunch of fun democrats at HC to working with a bunch of fun republicans at Purdue. Isn't it funny how that works? It really feels like it should be the other way around. It's also amusing to think about that fact that many of the republicans at HC have more in common politically with my coworkers than they do with the HC democrat contingent, despite a vast difference in worldview, lifestyle, type of education, etc.
Part the Third:
Today is the first lab of the semester for me. The first one was a 7:30 in the stinkin' morning. I don't know whose idea that was, but I'd really like the give them a piece of my mind. It actually went surprisingly well. I didn't have to teach anyone how to use a ruler, nothing broke, and no one bled. Definitely a sucessful lab. Unfortunately, it did take them almost the entire lab period to do a lab on measurements. I know I've probably forgotten alot about what it was like to be a freshman, but I really feel like three hours was an unreasonable amount of time for that lab to take. My next lab starts in about half an hour. Two labs on Monday mornings, yech! But at least they're done for the week after that!
Update:
I just got back from my second lab. I taught a junior pharmacy major and two freshmen how to read a ruler. It's official, I'm signing up for the first space shuttle to Mars I can find, and I'm only letting people who pass a minimum intelligence test come. This is ridiculous.
Anyway, that's all I've got to say right now. :-)
posted by Victoria at 10:11 AM
10 Comments:
I would like to point out that it may be way harder to plug into a church on Mars. Food for thought. :)
I'm thrilled that you may have found a church, and pardon me, but I'm not too surprised that it's United Brethren. Clearly I was unconvincing in my frequent protestations that most UBers really didn't have a problem with Dr. Sanders at all and that they had a lot of love for God and for people in general--that the whole stink was raised by a handful of people that the rest of us as a rule didn't know or pay attention to--and that this community was one worth belonging to, or at least trying out. But I guess that's totally understandable. Some things you just have to experience for yourself. Now you know that I'm not a total liar about these things! ;)
Just out of curiosity, is the raising kids study by Dr. Kevin Lehman? Because that would be amazing...we definitely did that a year or two ago at my home church. Funny guy, and not politically shrill like Jim Dobson.
Speaking of politics, this might be weird, but it hasn't come up yet very much in conversations with my law-student friends. Okay, yeah, that's officially very weird. We talk about our families and what we want to do with our degrees. Maybe politics isn't a "safe zone" yet...I don't know.
And finally, I don't believe that you actually had to teach college students (presumably people who managed to graduate from high school) how to read a ruler!!! The insanity of it all is overwhelming. We need to start our own school, and people who can't read a ruler won't even be admitted. What do you think?
Hmmmm . . . maybe I should really just bite the bullet and try the good old UB down here. Heart o' the Lakes, right??? I think it's in Brooklyn though, which is about a half hour away.
Yup, Brooklyn. Kevin Cherry is the pastor--good man. He used to be the pastor at Sunfield until I was in junior high. And yes, he's Amy Cherry's dad. Strong quizzing program as a rule. Um...that's really all I can tell you. I've enjoyed being there for quiz meets, but have never been on Sunday morning.
Ah yes. I think Milan and Margaret Maybee go there.(Corey Maybee's grandparents.)I don't really know Milan--he used to be the superintendant of Michigan Conference. I've talked to Margaret a few times at conference and she is awesome, plus she gave Jay some lessons in evangelistic-style hymn playing and thinks he's great. So if you do try it out, I would recommend tracking her down. You'll love her, I'm sure. :)
One more note: I don't know if you're aware, but you've settled near Michigan's UB Belt, so you have other options. I like options as a rule, and I thought you might as well. Here are several:
1. Gethsemane UB in Jackson
2. Eden UB in Mason
3. First UB in Lansing
4. Heritage UB (only a couple of years old) in Dansville
There are a few others, but these are just the ones that should be less than half an hour from your house. FYI. ;)
Joni, you are a fount of UB knowledge. :-)
I find it very amusing that law students don't talk about politics amoung themselves. It's a very popular topic around here.
ah academia, how I miss thee. I spend most of my days now talking w/people about the price of natural gas. It's sad, but they pay me for it.
Incidentally, what IS the price of natural gas? We've never used it...
I love you guys! I would also have to say that I like the UB people. I feel like my brother might know this Pastor Dan person. I feel like he likes wood? Ok, maybe that's someone else.
I do happen to have some exciting news about churchgoing. Our church finally is starting a ministry for young adults! There was a lunch today to get things started, and from what Joni tells us about spiritual events and food, I think we got started out on the right foot. (It would have to be the right foot, because the other one is always left....ok, bad joke, but it makes me laugh, sorry victoria).
In other news, I would just like to say that I would like to join in on the school for the people who can read rulers. More power to ya!
PS--would these be metric or english rulers?
...I'm handsome Rob...
Both
. . . I going to need your shirt and your truck . . .
Joni, natural gas is at a national rate of about $1.35/ccf [cubic foot]. Last year it was still under a dollar.
Hmmm...interesting. Thanks for the info, Heather. Now that I think of it, I don't really know what we pay for electricity, so I have zero basis for comparison. I should check that out.
Also, way to be 23, Victoria. Happy birthday!!! :)
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