conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

not all fifteen

I experience rather than understand it. Here, then, without any arguing, I embrace the truth of God in which I may safely rest content. Christ proclaims that his flesh is the food, his blood the drink, of my soul. I offer him my soul to be fed with such food. In his sacred supper he bids me take, eat, and drink his body and blood under the symbols of bread and wine: I have no doubt that he truly proffers them and that I receive them.
- John Calvin, Institutio 1543

The alarm went off at 5:00am this morning. The first news story was about the space shuttle. Night launches are very cool. Well, in my half-dozing state, I also heard a a jet flying overhead...So, I spent the first moments of my morning trying to figure out why they were launching the shuttle from O'Hare. Some days just begin this way...just a little off kilter.

Yesterday's thesis-ing went well. I wrote twelve new pages. It was not the fifteen that I had hoped, but I'm pleased. I need another 15 or so to fit within the parameters of the thesis guidelines. This should not be a problem. And, honestly, I'm trying not to get caught up in thinking about the length. It takes as long (or as short) as it takes to say what I need to say about John Calvin's pneumotology. Right? Right. Wow.

I find the whole subject interesting. I want to learn more about the Humanism that arose in the Sixteenth Century. There are a couple of good biographies about Calvin that focus upon this aspect of his thinking. I think it is an essential facet to his personality and philosophy and, perhaps, has been ignored in some theological scholarship. And, in the case of my thesis, I think that Calvin's humanist focus is what makes his use of Chrysostom so interesting.

When I submitted my first draft many months ago, my adviser gave it back to me saying something like "There are six good scholarly articles in this draft. Ten of the pages you have written are your thesis." Ah well. Heh. One of the strains that I had to remove was about Calvin's humanism. I find it hard not to be distracted by it. Yesterday, in the midst of all that writing, I kept having to remove passages about Erasmus and humanism, and virtues such as eruditio. Ah, my life is such a trial!

Tonight is the first of four gigs that One of the Girls (myspace)has lined up in celebration of the Feast of St. Patrick. Four bars. Twelve hours of playing and singing and wearing of the kilt. I'm really looking forward to it. If you are in Chicago, please come on by. We would love to see you.

This, of course, adds a certain amount of stress to the week. I have a thesis to finish by Friday, four concerts, a church to love and a sermon to write. Wait. Hold that. No sermon. No, ma'am. I have no sermon to write. This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday. We will have a long-ish reading of the Passion of Christ in lieu of a sermon. Various people will read. It will be good to hear the voices of other people in the worship space and not my own. Plus, I am not sure I'll have the energy to preach on Sunday. I will be coming off a gig at the Town Hall Pub. That means arriving home at 2am or so. Wow. Ugly.

I feel a little like I am copping out. But it's not an uncommon practice in churches on Palm Sunday. We'll see how it goes. Easter (and the related celebrations) is so early this year! Oy. There's also a book study Wednesday evening. We are reading Life Together by Bonhoeffer. We'll discuss the book and enjoy some snacks this week and the next. Get a copy here.

Well, that's what I have before me this week. Trish has the car tonight and tomorrow. She has rehearsals out in the western suburbs the next several weeks. So, I'll be car free as well. Huzzah!

It should be a great week. I'm actually excited about it.

Posted by tripp at March 11, 2008 06:01 AM