Today is likely to be a historic day in the PC(USA) denomination. A measure called Amendment 10-A needs one more vote to be passed, and all indications are that the swing vote will come today. You can read the text of the amendment here. While the amendment stops short of condoning homosexual relationships, it removes the explicit ban on such matches for those seeking ordination. For what it's worth, the amendment also removes an explicit ban on any "self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin." This may seem kind of silly--we should all be trying to root out sin in our lives--but the rationale from supporters of the amendment is that the standing requirement is deeply hipocritical in light of everyone's ultimate sinfulness.

Many of you know that I'm a deacon at Blacknall (PCUSA), so our church will be affected by the vote--maybe in real and predictable ways, but more likely in strange, abstract, and unpredictable aspects of life as a church. I'm trying to pray through what this means for my walk with the Lord and his church, and I invite you to pray with me that His kingdom come, His will be done.

I've turned off comments for this entry. If you want to comment or connect with me on this issue, you can email me at miles@thetravisfam.com.

We had another full weekend highlighted by more home rennovations, church meetings, and football.

Now that I am a fully-credentialed homeower-plumber, Brooklynne and I finished off plumbing the drain to the new master shower and poured the bedding mortar for the shower pan. If you want to see what we are doing, you can watch this video, which is what we're using to guide us through the process. Our show will be very similar to this, except maybe twice as big.

 

 

Besides working on the house, I also attended a meeting detailing our church's budget from last year and the one for the coming year. Last year, due to the economic downturn and a poor year in 2009, we adopted a very conservative budget. The move paid off and the church did very well in 2010. We ran in the black by quite a bit, and despite ongoing economic worries, the congregation was very generous with their tithes and gifts. Praise the LORD that He has provided and we can continue sharing our blessings to further His work.

Finally, the Steelers came through for me. I now have a date with my TV and my favorite NFL team on February 6th. My invitation to join us at the new place stands, so come one and come all! (No Green Bay colors allowed.)

Tonight is Blacknall's annual Carols and Coaco celebration when we gather to sing carols before heading into the fellowship hall for cookies and hot chocolate--all of which makes me wonder what is my favorite Christmas carol? Right at the moment I'm feeling like "Hark the Herald."

Here is another one that I like alot. Cory Cavin turned me on to this video a few years ago, and I dug it up again since I'm getting in the singing spirit. After watching the video, click through to the comments and let me know what's your favorite Christmas tune, either secular or Christian.

I liked what This Classical Life had to say about Advent.

Our small group has been following up on the Sunday sermons, and this first week of advent, we studied Isaiah 11. My main impression from the passage was the image of the lion, lamb, wolf, kid, cow, and bear all laying down together in the peace that Jesus brings. I've always recognized this image for the absence of violence, but this time, I was struck by the absence of fear as well. The lion does not devour the lamb, and at the same time, the lamb rests without fearing that danger.

I'm going to mediate on that image this week. While we eagerly await the transformation that Christ will work in the world, how great would it be to share that kind of peace with our community today?

I went to pick up my new wood supply on Saturday. The load looked good and there were some really nice pieces burried down below, including one enormuos piece that was probably at least 14-16 inches across. I need to get serious about using it. If only I could arrange for a few 30 hour days....

In other news, We ate dinner and watched the first 3/4 of the game with Kristy Kent and Jen Hagin last night. It's always so good to see those guys and it is great to watch the game with other UNC grads whose minds are warped in a similar manner to mine.

Saturday night Brooklynne and I went out on a date to the Rockwood Filling Station. It was good, not too expensive, and the atmosphere was lively.

Sunday morning it was good to be a church for the first time in about a month. In Sunday School we are starting a series on community building, which generated a promising level of discussion. In the service, Alan challenged us to a renewed commitment to studying the sciptures. I plan to take that one to heart. Our small group is also starting a study of the Apostles' Creed. Between these three themes, I think I'll have my head filled most of the time.

Anyway, I'm just ramblng until I get inspired to do some real  blogging.

In the reading group last night, we were discussing a chapter on the relationship between science and Christianity. I thought one of the most interesting points made in the chapter was that Jesus did not perform miracles to suspend or circumvent the natural order--instead, his miracles were intended to restore the natural order to the way it was intended to be. I think that way of looking at the supernatural events of the Bible places the focus on the person and mission of Jesus, where I think it should be.

The Golden Compass comes out this weekend. I saw the previews and thought it looked like a fun movie. The artwork and design concepts are awesome, the cast is star-studded, the special effects look to be better than many recent offerings, and the movie promises to be full of action.

I was totally planning to go see it until I started hearing the rumblings about its supposed anti-God material. I read a couple reviews of the movie this morning, and I think the movie (and the books it's based on) probably falls into a gray area where a Christian's feeling toward it will depend on how sensitive they are to criticism of the church, and how easily they separate what they know about their God from a general idea of other people's negative characterization of religion in general. I've taken some time behind the "continue reading" cut to summarize my thoughts.

Warning: perhaps a slight spoiler ahead. Also, I have not read the books or watched the movie, so you can take this analysis with a grain of salt.

Brooklynne and I have started attending a small group of our church and the group is working through the letter to the Philippians and it's structured with a rotating leader/facilitator role. This week, Brooke and I will be leading, and the passage we will be discussing is the second half of the second chapter. I think the main points of discussion are:

phil 2:12 - working out our salvation

phil 2:13 - God works in us to "will" and "act"

phil 2:13 - God's good purpose

phil 2:14-16 - no complaining and arguing = becoming blameless = shining as a star in a dark sky

phil 2:19-30 - Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples

Your thoughts?

Once again, here's your weekly Halleigh Show clips. Today we have three videos. The first one is just random footage that we've gathered in the last week or so. The second one is Halleigh hanging out with our cousins, Bill and Sandy Green, who live in NOVA and were our some of our closest friends while we lived up there. The third clip is from our visit to our old church in VA, Gateway Bible Church. Jay, the pastor dedicated Brooklynne and I (and the church) to the Godly raising of our daughter. This is the clip from the end of the service.

Today was the first anniversary of Gateway Bible Church. Brooklynne and I did not attend until the second service, so I guess we will celebrate our anniversary next week. But it was fun to hear and see how people came together to get the church off the ground....