last but not least... ... ...listen intently

Playing catch up...

2011-10-04T22:51:00.002-04:00

Well... Been a few days. Sorry about that.

Ran Saturday with Troy. Supposed to be a 20 miler according to the schedule, but I knew that was impossible as the past three weeks had been so irregular. Was hoping to do 16ish, but called it quits after a miserable 10.

Ran again tonight, 8 miles at 7:55. Felt great the whole time which was very encouraging. This is another of those easy weeks where I just run an 8 miler and two 7s. All at easy pace.

Food:
Getting back into the swing of things, though I blame Troy and Justin for the two day hotdog binge. It was rough, but amazing.

Ethiopia:
Still waiting game. Been in contact with NMS about schooling for Matias especially this week. Oh and trying to figure out how to get our stuff there is going to be interesting.

TGIF...

2011-09-30T11:25:00.004-04:00

...even though it was only a three day work week.

RUN:
None scheduled today. Lifting weights at the Y later instead.

FOOD:
Invited to something literally called "Hotdog Extravaganza" later tonight. Needless to say, any salad or other healthy thing I eat will nowhere near negate what will happen there.

ETHIOPIA:
Ask me Monday if i fianlly got around to emailing NMS a few uestions and thoughts. Keep forgetting. And because of the time difference, everyone has left for the weekend.

Back in town...

2011-09-29T12:57:00.003-04:00

Ran three more times on the trip: a 6 and a 9 miler (hardest run I've ever "run", slow as molasses, but I never stopped, even though parts were at a 17min/mile, and then a couple on a treadmill at a hotel somewhere in the Midwest.

Run:
Supposed to run 6 mi, w 4 mi @ 7:08. Failed miserably. Too hot, too fat, too.... Well, prety much everything. Hope it won't take me too much time to catch back up.

Food:
Way better than when I was on vacation, but I still have a ways to go. Somebody left a bag od mini Hershey bars in our kitchen cabinet... Needless to say that didn't go very well...

Although 2 1/2 weeks off was wonderful, i am now having to play catch up in so many areas, which although not cancelling out the restfulness, certainly diminishes it.

Ethiopia:
Mostly a waiting game, but some paper work and dates and plane ticket stuff = mostly boring emailing.

6 miles easy... eh.. HARD!

2011-09-18T23:24:00.006-04:00

Run:
Still very irregular and I am in no way keeping up with my schedule. Thankfully it's becoming easier to breathe, but the hills here are unbelievable. Everything hurts way more than after a much longer run back in SC. But it is truly incredibly scenic here. (see below)

Food:
Better today.... i say that and remember the six, yes 6, pancakes for breakfast. Pizza for lunch and amazing taco soup for supper. Some fudge was bought and eaten. one piece of birthday cake. Still this is better than any other day while I've been gone.

Ashamed that I'm looking at my watch just as this pick was taken, but i could hardly wait for the 5.99 to become 6 miles....

I'm still here....

2011-09-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

Run:
Been traveling. Running has been difficult to schedule and when i have run it's felt like running with a wet dust mask because of the altitude (9K ft.) It's crazy beatiful out here.

Food:
I'm on vacation, so i'm eating like a pig.

Blogging will be sporadic for a while longer.

Ugh....

2011-09-09T21:40:00.002-04:00

Ethiopia:
Spent most of the day trying to get some last minute paperwork together. Needed certified copies of our birth certificates, passports, and marriage licence. Went to four differnt places without any luck at all. Very frustrating not to get it resolved. Plan B: Send off the originals instead of copies. To top it all off, the Saturn broke down.

No run scheduled today. Liking this easy week. 7 easy tomorrow.

Food:
- Scrambled eggs, bowl of Kashi granola
- Six dollar burger, fries, Coke Zero.
- Another ton of Oreos and two cans of Dr.Thunder (can't remember the last itme I felt that icky)
- Fishfingers, mashed potatoes and broccoli
- One of Leah's awesome homemade fudge pops.

A twofer..

2011-09-08T09:24:00.007-04:00

Yesterday:
It was a travesty. Didn't run (was supposed to run 6mi) and I ate all kinds of crap.

On a more personal note; as I was teaching the youth group on friendship evangelism is was struck by my own failings here. I don't put on my "what's-God-going-to-do-in-and-through-me-goggles" in the morning. I don't look out for people that God might put in my path. Hopefully by writing about this here every once in a while, I'll keep a better focus. We're not here by accident. We're here to live the Great Commission.

Today:
Food:
- Bowl of oatmeal
- Chic-fil-A Chicken Egg Multigrain Bagel Calories: 490(!) - Sodium: 1230mg(!!!!)- What?!?! It was free, how could I pass that up?
- Wendy's BLT Cobb Salad
- The leftover pack of Great Value Oreos made me feel really sick, as I ate way too many of them. A dozen at least.
- Tomato soup and a boiled egg.
- Two small slices of homemade bread with stuff on top.

Run: 6mi easy. First 3 and last 2 felt really good. The extra day off obviously did good.

Started humming this song this morning, it’s one of my favorite childhood TV memories. I haven't seen the clip in a long time, but it keeps popping up in my head fairly regularly.

Chow Fan deliciousness

2011-09-06T11:25:00.011-04:00

No run scheduled today. So I headed to the Y instead. Nothing fancy, just a couple of circuits.

Food:
- Oatmeal w/apple sauce, scramble eggs, glass raw milk.
- One PB&J and one ham & cheese sandwich, two carrots. Prot. shake.
- Two bowls fried rice. Apple tart w/ vanilla ice cream.
- Snacks: Handful of pecans and raisins, prot. shake.
- Slice of bread w/canned makrell in tomato sauce, it's almost 11pm, and I shouldn't eat it, but it's virtually impossible to pass up freshly baked bread.

Noticed at work today that I was able to restrain myself from bad snacks as I knew I'd have to post them here. Encouraged that the blog then serves it's new purpose.

Ethiopia:
Nothing new here. Trying to get an English language Norwegian birth certificate is proving to be more difficult that it ought.

Skoleboller and Troll Hunters.

2011-09-05T17:23:00.010-04:00

Watched the most amazing Norwegian movie tonight, called Troll Hunter. Not for young kids or the faint of heart, but if you like cheeky fake documentaries about trolls, it might be for you.

Run: 6 miles easy with Troy and Dillon. 9:45 pace (might remember wrong here).

Food:
- Oatmeal w/ apple sauce, two fried eggs.
- Three slices of bread with misc stuff on top, two carrots, protein shake.
- Two chicken and one fish taco.
- Snacks: Two granola bars, half a banana. Skolebolle. Handful of chips.

Ethiopia:
Paper work taking way too long on our side. Especially all the health forms. Had no idea that this could drag out the way it has. No forms = no visa. Not worried yet though. But there isn't really that much time until we leave. Mostly our fault though, we should have just organized everything straight away, set up appointments, etc., as soon as we got the list of required paperwork from NMS.

NMS sent a Norwegian volunteer out a month or so ago to work on our future home, here's a few pics. Not much but at least it'll give us an idea of how we'll be living.

Btw, as to time line: leave Greenwood right after Christmas, visit family in Norway, then move in mid-January to Addis for language school to learn Oromo. Then go home to Norway for missionary training in summer 2012. Only after all that will we actually move out to Bodji.

The second reason

2011-09-04T08:09:00.007-04:00

We're moving to Ethiopia as missionaries in Jan 2012. There'll be lost of stress, joys and weirdness related to that, so this mit be a good place to put some of that into words. More on this later.

Later...

We're going with the mission agency (NMS) that sent us to Hong Kong in my childhood. We'll primarily be partnering with Mekane Yesus (the Lutheran church in Ethiopia). We'll primarily be helping train local pastors, evangelists and lay leaders in the western part of the country. We'll living in Bodji, so small it doesn't show up on Google Maps(!)

Food:
- Scrambled eggs, bowl of oatmeal w/ maple syryp and frozen blueberries.
- A lot of meat, two potatoes, salad. Two brownies, scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Two servings Mac and cheese with peas and ham.
- Scoop vanilla ice cream and a pie e of Leah's apple almond tart.

Run:
Nothing scheduled; recovery day... Sorely (pardon the pun) needed, knees and calves are really sore.

The first reason

2011-09-03T11:03:00.007-04:00

I've finally taken the step to sign up for a full marathon (Kiawah on Dec 10th). Hoping that if I keep regular posts on here, I'll feel like I'm being held accountable, especially when it comes to my diet. It's far to easy to snack on junk when I'm at the office. There's always leftover cakes, bags of chips, bottles of soda, etc just laying around.

Run:
This morning I ran 14 mi (22.5km), at an avg pace of 8:53, goal pace was 8:30. Troy was kind enough to run the first 7 with me. Felt a lot better than I did during last Saturday's 12 mi. Though running past Westside Baptist's pancake breakfast at mile 10, felt like cruel and unusual punishment. The air was filled with the wonderful aroma of pancakes and bacon. Thankfully Leah had some ready when I got home.

Food:
- Banana and slice of plain bread.
- Two blueberry and two cinnamon/pecan waffles. Small glass of apple cider. Approx 1/3 cup vanilla yogurt.
- 4 slices of HW homemade bread, with turkey, cheese and bell pepper. 1 cup raw milk.
- Hand full almonds
- 4 pieces fried fish, grits, slaw.
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauce, chopped pecans.
- 100g Firkløver chocolate.
(I do fine during the day, it's just the insatiable craving for sugar at night that gets me.)

Here's to another attempt...

2011-09-02T17:11:00.002-04:00

It's made me sad to not keep this thing updated. another attempt is coming as i now have reasons to post. more later.

2010-03-25T14:13:00.004-04:00

I'm running Cooper River Bridge Run this weekend with Troy. Should be fun. Haven't run a race since November i think. Really haven't trained for it at all, a part from running with the track kids.

I find it very difficult to get excited about blogging. To attempt to do this twice a month seems to have been too ambitious. Yes, Troy, you still get to slap me.

I just ate a whole bag of Cadbury's Miniature Chocolate Easter Eggs in one sitting - my stomach is a little unsettled.

I want to go on a trip to a place i've never been before. The think about an international marriage is that all free time and money goes towards traveling to the country you're not living in. And even through going home is absolutely fantastic and i wouldn't change anything, it'd be so much fun to go somewhere completely different.

Below is another gem from Norwegian pop music Hall of Shame: "Bombadilla Life" by Franklin .
I listened to this song over and over and over on my yellow Sony Sports Walkman. I made ample use of (what i think was called) the "auto-reverse" button; no need to flip the tape!

FYI

2010-03-15T20:49:00.003-04:00

Leah is posting to her blog again.

Music at K-Mart

2010-02-23T00:41:00.004-05:00

So i was in there tonight helping to pick up a recliner for my grandmother-in-law, when Crash Test Dummies' "MMM MMM MMM MMM" came on over the PA. Since it has been stuck in my head ever since, and because the Olympics are in Canada, i figured i'd spread the love:

Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (Official Music Video) - Click here for more blooper videos

Thoughts on my fourth decade

2010-01-22T01:35:00.003-05:00

As I am now a few months into my 30s I realize that age doesn't matter. I feel more or less the same as when I was 20 or 25. There are many people much younger or older than I, that I'd much rather spend time with than many people my own age.

My only goal this decade is to finish a marathon at least every other year. I don't want to be one of those guys who stayed in decent shape and then all of a sudden give up and added forty pounds when they hit their 30s. Staying in marathon completing shade will hopefully keep me healthy for a long time to come.

We can barely fathom just how gracious God is. We know we struggle to comprehend all the "omni" attributes about God, but i am convinced that his mercy and grace are far more difficult to truly realize fully. (I guess if we did, even the thought of sinning would be beyond distasteful to us.)

Few things come even close mattering like God and family.

i didn't make any resolutions...

2010-01-09T00:03:00.002-05:00

...but I'm going to post here at least twice a month. Keep me accountable. You may slap me without warning if I forget.

I like writing here, but feel compelled to have something to write about, so therefore i more often than not simply don't. I probably just need to be more observant.

I'm not sure they're resolutions, but here are some hopes/plans/dreams/desires for the coming year:

I want to try to branch out socially this year. To really get to know at least two people that I now don't. Preferably, someone not in the little Christian Church bubble I exist in now. (this sounds negative, but it's not meant this way; i love my bubble, but i think that's part of the problem)
I only read one novel last year - this MUST change.
I have been quite upset at my own selfishness and self-centeredness. I seem to have become more-so in the past year or two, it should be the other way around, my sanctification progress seems to have slowed down and even gone backward in some areas. I see so much self and so little Christ in me at times. This really bugs me, yet I don't do much about it. THIS MUST CHANGE. Those of you who pray; remember me in this if you don't mind.
Sleep more and watch Hulu/Netflix less - there is a strong correlation between the two.

i'm hungry, so i'm going to go get something to eat

Class

2009-09-10T10:22:00.002-04:00

back in it now, last semester. it'll be busy, but oh my i can't wait!

Cross COuntry is going well, at least i hope so, we're having fun. First meet today. Will report back as to whether we did well or not. not really "in it to win it" this season. more of a building year, i guess. there's some awesomely fast kids on the team though, certainly don't want to sound negative.

going to Durham, NC Friday and Sat of next week. Counter Culture Coffee has a free two day seminar/training thing. should be good. because we have no money, i'll camp at a nearby state park. excited about that too. Been a long time since i camped on my own. there's something about the solitude in this that i find refreshing. pretty excited about the whole thing.

We're busy painting. not my favorite DIY project. Matias is moving into our old room and we're moving into what used to be the study. our old room has a horrible incredibly dark navy on the wall that we never got around to painting when we first moved in. so we're trying to knock this out before the baby comes.

i am sick of politics, the whole health care, Obama, republicans vs. dems. i know a lot of you find this very important. i'm not saying it's not important, i'm sure it is. it's just that i feel saturated. there's so much viciousness on both sides.

things unrelated

2009-08-19T23:49:00.005-04:00

I am finding Twitter to be a pleasant surprise. The personal "i just went to the mall" updates (not that i'm opposed to them, or that i haven't posted any myself), not so much, but i am following some interesting coffee people, athletes and companies.

Summer - where did it go? it went WAY to fast. i'm not comfortable with it being over already.

i wish i knew HTML, XTHML, CSS, etc, etc...

i'm excited about the 21st de Septiembre coffee Leah picked up for me yesterday, just needs to degas another day or two...

i'm coaching cross country at GCS, beyond surreal that they actually allow me to do that. been great fun so far, but i definitely feel like i'm out of my depth. i just hope the kids do okay in the end. never did run it myself. probably should buy a book or something...

i'd like to get rid of the Volvo and get a Vespa, sadly they're way out of our budget - most things seem to be :/

Read the Epistle of Jude a few times today, one i don't often read, certainly worthy of a more frequent read. it always surprises me that the church has been struggling with the same things for her whole existence. the letter could just as easily have been written today and been just as relevant.

it's been forever and rightly so

2009-05-27T15:33:00.005-04:00

because anything i would have posted would have just been posted in order to post something. I have a feeling the following will be pretty meager in terms of actual content too.

Here is a list:

Trying to finish school, hope to graduate Aug 7th.
Leah is pregnant again, due early Oct. A boy.
i'm meeting my brother in NYC this weekend , we will then fly down here together and he will stay about a week
recently, i've become a bit more serious about coffee, occasionally i'll talk about it here
i can't remember the last time i sat down with just the single purpose of listening to music
everyone should read Crazy Love by Francis Chan
it's true what they say: there's always room for ice cream
i haven't been to the Y in weeks

as you see all is well, i'm just not blogging as much as i used to, for no particular reason, neither are most of the people in my friends list i have noticed, "A Confessional Cannon", "Think Sublimely, Feel Passionately" and "Vespa Touring" being three notable exceptions.

The Welcome Wagon

2009-01-09T09:20:00.003-05:00

Incredible! Midwest/NYC Pastor and wife in a fantastic gospel-folk duo, produced by Sufjan Stevens. More here

John 17

2008-11-10T00:20:00.008-05:00

"JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An unusual sight greeted Jerusalem police as they entered one of Christianity's holiest sites Sunday morning: dozens of monks punching and kicking each other in a massive brawl.

Israeli police scuffle with an Armenian monk Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

Monks from the Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations were preparing for a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City when a disagreement led to a full-fledged fistfight.

The fight began when Armenian clergy were holding a procession to commemorate the finding of the cross believed to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus, according to The Associated Press.

The Greek members of the clergy wanted one of their monks present, the AP reported, for fear that the procession would undermine their claim to an ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus.

The two sides could not agree, and when the Armenians tried to begin the procession, the Greek monks stepped in and the fighting began, the AP reported.

"We were keeping resistance so that the procession could not pass through ... and establish a right that they don't have," a young Greek Orthodox monk with a cut next to his left eye told the AP.

Many among the dozens of monks came away with cuts and bruises, said police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld.

Officers were called to the scene to break up the brawl. They detained two monks, one from each denomination, Rosenfeld said.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is thought to be built on the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Rivalries between the different sects that share control of the church often lead to tensions" (More here, both video and pics)

These guys obviously need to check out John 17:20-23 (emphasis mine):
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Although this is really a funny story, and ought not to be taken too seriously or be over-analyzed, it is a reminder of how petty we can be, especially when dealing with denominational differences. They matter not. Getting our pants in a twist over submersion, predestination, Christ's presence (or lack thereof) in the Eucharist, is complete nonsense. Granted, they are all important questions; but not so important that they ought to break our fellowship with people who are of a differing opinion. St. Augustine said:

"In essentials unity,
In doubtful things liberty,
But in all things love."

And not to mention how off putting out pettiness and disunity is to those outside our family of faith! Bickering and backstabbing you can get anywhere, but true fellowship, love and unity is something rare and attractive that ought to be visible in our life and interaction with each other.

SC = Blue

2008-11-04T20:16:00.003-05:00

Realize it wont last long, but it's a rare thing to see...

Impossible Germany, Unlikely Japan

2008-11-04T11:58:00.005-05:00

Today's the day! Get out there and vote! and don't forget to swing by Starbucks to get your free coffee...

"We preach the virtues of democracy abroad. We must practice its duties here at home. Voting is the first duty of democracy." (Lyndon B. Johnson)

"If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost." (Aristotle)

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." (Hermann Goering)

At the end of day remember the following;
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Paul/Holy Spirit/Rom 13:1)
What a source of comfort to all of you/us, no matter what political persuasion...

Some favorite combinations

2008-10-28T12:53:00.002-04:00

Remembering why it's the little things in life that often makes it good:

Coffee and Toblerone
A fire and a great book
Vanilla yogurt, blueberries and granola
Running and a cool crisp morning
Prayer and nature
Thirst and an ice cold coke
Rich Mullins and a road trip through the mountains
Chocolate ice cream and a good movie
Family and a meal

i'm not sure what to say about this

2008-10-08T21:58:00.001-04:00

I know i'm impressed... but it at the same time, it seems like this guy might have too much time on his hands.

Either the coolest or stupidest thing I've seen in a while

2008-10-06T15:42:00.006-04:00

Ever been out camping, roughing it for a few days in the mountains and suddenly thought, i really, really need an espresso? well look no further...
The Handpresso Wild

Personally the idea of roughing it and drinking espresso seem contredictory. You're supposed to drink coffee straight from the pot right off the firepit, grounds getting stuck in your teeth... but hey, to each his own, i guess

yup

2008-09-30T11:58:00.003-04:00

i was definitively over thinking things in my last post. I ought rather to start a second blog if i ever think of some unified theme i wish to blog about. Last but not least will remain a source of wasted time and useless information.

Came across Film Metro today. They give out free tickets to movie screenings.Pretty cool if you live in a big city. Closest city for me would be Atlanta, Sadly it'll cost 5 times the price of a ticket in gas, not to mention the 5-6 hours I'd spend in the car driving back and forth.

I had my tongue surgically altered last week. As i like my bottom front teeth where they are, i had to clip part of my tongue-tie, because it was pulling so hard that my gumms were receding. Good fun; smoothies and soup for days on end. Better now though.

I can't decide on the new Cold War Kids album. So far i don't like it nearly as much as Robbers & Cowards. We'll see, it might be one of those that i need to listen to for a while to really appreciate.

Anyone planning on watching Appaloosa? Anyone read the book? Any good? I'm always a sucker for a western movie. Interesting cast. Might not be too shabby. Of course it's R... Oh well, it might be out on DVD by the time I go on Christmas break.

without title

2008-09-23T12:26:00.004-04:00

nothing to report today. i think that's good. i wish it wasn't though. it'd be nice to have some exciting news to share, but honestly, i mostly complain or post other people's thoughts and ideas or some useless link/pic/video.

what a self filled post this is so far; me, me, me, me. come to think of it, most of this blog is self focused, and honestly, i'm not that interesting. i need to find something bigger and important to focus on. don't you agree? simply cutting and pasting White Ninja just wont do anymore (not sure it ever really did)

it might be a Norwegian's observations of the Deep South, or all the reasons why Swedes are stupid, or maybe something more important like world hunger, fair trade or eco-farming? something spiritual? (what's bigger and more important that God?) something needs to change, i just don't know what or how.

i have a feeling this post will either be the death or the rejuvenation of this blog. time will tell which it'll be.

maybe i'm just taking all this way too seriously.

so good

2008-09-17T14:28:00.002-04:00

Here's another one

2008-09-16T20:41:00.003-04:00

I don't know why i find these so funny. The dryer the better.

Tuesdays

2008-09-16T13:23:00.007-04:00

They stress me out a little. School, driving, etc. Everything is so up in the air. I prefer days that are a little more routine. I like the car ride though; be on my own, listen to the radio/CD/podcast/audio book (t.m.i., i know). Sometimes it's nice just to keep it quiet though. I don't have enough quiet in my life. There's always something happening. Quite often this is my own fault.

My counseling prof just told us that the reason Star Wars was so popular was because they were based on Jungian principles. I'm not sure what that means. Mostly because I nothing about Jung.

My prof also said "We can’t change history, but we can sanctify it". I really like this. Just look at Joseph being sold into slavery.

I though that i might have lost my iPod today, but it was just hidden deep down in my book bag. It needs to be cleaned out.

I really want to go to Nashville Oct 20th and 21st, Man Man and Cold War Kids back to back.

I really want a bike. My budget is about $13, which wont get me more than a brake pad. I really like Troy's but he had to sell his car ;p

Recommended podcast of the week; The Final Sprint (running oriented, hosts are kinda cheesy, and their jingle should be banned worldwide and the composer ought never be allowed to touch an instrument ever again), but there are some interesting interviews, features, etc

New iPods are out

2008-09-09T14:18:00.002-04:00

the Nano Chromatic is pretty cool looking. i like that you can tilt them just like the Touch/iPhone AND that they brought the "old" shape back.

The thing about the iPod releases are that the updates are not amazing enough to discard your old one. I mean i'm sure i'll by another iPod when my classic dies, but i'm not going to by a new one until then, based on what they lauched today. having said that, i'm sure that there'll be a few hundred trillion iPods under the Christmas trees come December.

Turn the light out say goodnight no thinking for a little while

2008-09-09T12:08:00.003-04:00

I've noticed a great increase in physical activity amongst the people i spend most of my time with. Swimming, biking, running, weight lifting, all that good stuff. i think it's great! but it's curious that it's happening for so many at the same time. Is it that we're all getting older an realizing that we're in a "now or never" scenario? Is the mere act of some one exercising somehow contagious, creating a desire in others to do the same? Or, is it simply a means to an end, we can now eat more cheeseburgers, because we just ran 3 miles? Maybe it's a combination of all of the above...

Another favorite childhood TV memory:

"La Linea"/"Streken"/"The Line" - there are hundreds of these. All made by some Italian guy in the 70s

In other news, we had a little fire in the kitchen last night (our first ever). Baking soda is incredibly versatile.

Don LaFontaine is dead...

2008-09-02T20:22:00.002-04:00

More here. What are movie trailers going to be like now? It's actually kinda sad.

i was doing some editing

2008-09-02T17:56:00.003-04:00

in my friends list and contemplated whether to delete those who hadn't updated in a while. but i realized that this would mean deleting almost all of the links... so i decided against it. It made me a little sad though. Shame on you! (not that i'm that much better, i know.)

Recommended podcast of the week is Relevant Magazine's podcast. It's mostly fluff and hardly anything really important or thought provoking comes out of it, but they do at times make me laugh or bring up some interesting artists, etc... Probably a little too close too the emergent camp (although not officially in it) for me to fully endorse them, but they're good for a lark, and sometimes it's nice to listen to something Christian that's not a sermon.

Yo! Gabba Gabba!

2008-08-27T09:16:00.002-04:00

This is hands down the weirdest kids show i have ever ssen:

Of course Matias loves it...

"...it's been a while.." (please hear Fred Durst sing in your head)

2008-08-21T16:15:00.004-04:00

had no motivation at all this summer

first of all let me apologize for the grammar and spelling in the previous post, that was so bad i can't even blame it on the whole "English-is-not-my-first-language" spiel, which i feel is semi-justified, half the time.

I start school on Tuesday

check out Steven's new blog.

This week's recommended podcast is Cornerstone Simi Valley, Francis Chan's church (you might know him from the Passion conferences)

Troy! Happy for you, sad for me... Cried myself to sleep every day this week. Anyone else miss him?

New things and old memories

2008-07-03T11:00:00.003-04:00

Well i'm now in my third week at my new job at Calvary Chapel Greenwood. Tentative tile is Pastor of Youth and Administration. THis may cnage, but it might not. So far so good. CCG is in and interesting and exciting place. God's definately up to something. This also means that Leah is able to quit her job and stay home with Matias. Yet it does NOT mean i'm done with seminary. Still while to go there.

Came across this clip the other day. Definately one of my top three characters from Sesame Street.

Well

2008-05-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

..it's done, but far from the semester that i'm the most proud of by any stretch of the imagination.

I can't tell whether American movie is funny or sad. What's the deal with Mike Schank? you just can't make characters like that up...

Gratulerer med dagen Norge!

2008-05-17T00:01:00.004-04:00

For the ignorant masses; May 17th is our 4th of July (except we celebrate the Constitution). It's a day of marching bands, egg races, hot dogs and ice cream.

Swedes and GPS

2008-05-13T11:33:00.004-04:00

Not surprisingly the Swedes are struggling with these incredibly complicated gadgets, so much so that they now cause 10% of all auto-accidents (btw, article is in Swedish). Here's a little hint to GPS saftey; if there's not a road there, don't turn left.

Speaking of Swedish idiots; this is from a newspaper's questions to the man-in-the-street scenario, the questions are as follows: 1) Do you care if products you buy are made by children? 2) Do you do anything to control whether this in fact is the case? The lady circled answered as follows: 1) Yes, children have no sense of quality, you can tell by the product. 2) No

I think there's a theme going on here... This is just plain dumb.

a political one... (part 2)

2008-05-12T21:02:00.004-04:00

[EDIT: I'm realizing that I sound rather grumpy or upset in both of these posts, which I am not at all. this post was a failed attempt at humor, both items below were if not exactly hilarious, at least in my opinion worthy of a half hearted smile]

Please, if you have not already, read the post "a political one...", dated 5/6/08. the following email which I received today, is a prime example of the paranoia and "dooms-day-prophesying" that annoys me so much...

There are less than eight months until the election, an election that
will decide the next President of the United States.

The person elected will be the president of all Americans, not just
the Democrats or the Republicans. To show our solidarity as
Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support
for the candidate of our choice.

It's time that we all came together, Democrats and Republicans
alike.

If you support the policies and character of John McCain, please
drive with your headlights on during the day. If you support Obama
or Hillary, please drive with your headlights off at night.

That this one was the expense of the Dem, is completely arbitrary, there are surely, if not identical, emails circulating which do the same to the Republicans. Here is an example:

So here we are then

2008-05-12T12:47:00.002-04:00

so close to being finished, but there's still so much left to do...

watched half of a recording of Austin City Limit's featuring Explosions in the Sky, really liked it, i'd never seen them perform. Been really enjoying that genre of music lately; Ours to Alibi, Mogwai, Dirty Three (a more recent discovery), etc... just something about it that has a certain beauty that's hard to define.

circumcision is a funny word - very difficult to say 10 times fast, and also becomes completely nonsensical...

the new friends suggestion app on facebook causes some rather aquard situations. i don't think that facebook is better for it... do people know you reject their suggestions? Do the one's who are suggested know?

i haven't had dinner today, and it's not looking like i will either...

Snippets from my day...

2008-05-06T16:46:00.002-04:00

I overslept by over an hour - always a good start to a day.
I noticed a small crack in my laptop.
My prof paid for my lunch.
I drank my first V8 Fusion Pomegranate and Blueberry Juice (not bad at all)
I listened to many of the the sample songs on the ANTI- website as i finished up a couple of papers (Check especially out Michael Franti, The Promise Ring, Grinderman, Tim Fite, Tricky, Xavier Rudd and of course Man Man and Tom Waits).
I wrote a book report on Roy B. Zuck's "Teaching as Jesus Taught".
Troy called me about some pretty exciting Tom Waits news, which resulted in #4 above.
I was so desperate to procrastinate that had to post a blog post with snippets of my day.
I listened to parts of a podcast that must be one of the worst out there called "Hit or Miss", don't even remember downloading it or what i thought looked interesting about it
By midnight tonight i'll be done with 2 of 5 classes.

a political one...

2008-05-06T09:45:00.007-04:00

It's interesting for me as both an outsider and and insider to observe some of the goings on leading up to the election. I struggle with most of what's going on. Conservatives are freaking out because their only "real" option is McCain, who is far from a conservative favorite, liberals on the other hand are worried as they fear that as Obama and Clinton tear each other apart, McCain has time to strengthen his position. As a cynic, I struggle to see how it will make a difference. Granted, the president appoints supreme court justices and his/her stance on the war(s) will impact troop withdrawal, an many other such issues. nonetheless, how much will life change for the average Joe in Greenwood, New York or Memphis? Not much. Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in democracy and voting for the candidate who most closely represents your views. I just cannot see that if a president, prime-minister, or what have you, is elected that you strongly disagree with, warrants some of the doomsday prophecies that are coming out of both camps.

[EDIT: I am sure that I am revealing my ignorance of American politics in the above statements, so for anything erroneous I apologize.]

well then, hopefully that was my one and only political one for the year, i usually don't like to share my political opinions in a public forum, but since i am criticizing both sides, i thought it'd be okay.

on a less serious note, here's another "Cyanide and Happiness" strip:

Political views defined

2008-04-29T20:33:00.003-04:00

Stole these from my friend Sigmund's facebook wall:

Socialism:
You have two cows, the government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.

Communism:
You have two cows, the government takes both and gives you milk.

Bureaucrats:
You have two cows, the government takes both, shoots one, milks the other and then pours out the milk.

Fascism:
You have two cows, the government takes both and sells your milk.

Nazism:
You have two cows, the government takes both and shoots you.

Capitalism:
You have two cows, you sell one and buy a bull.

Well i don't know what to tell you...

2008-04-29T12:12:00.003-04:00

There's just not much going on, staying way to busy with school/work/parenting to really have much time for much of a social life (with the exception of the occasional movie or round of Cranium at Anna and Justin's) or to do anything truly interesting.

I cannot wait until school is out. i have a pretty serious case of senioritis, even more scary is that i don't graduate until Christmas... bodes well for next semester doesn't it.

I need to go get my lunch, but i left it in the fridge up on "The Hill"; so I can't be bothered yet.

L and I watched Princess Mononoke, liked it, pretty huge leap from Totoro, though.

Coldplay has put their new single "Violent Hill" (from their forthcoming album "Viva La Vida or Death and all his friends") up on their website as a free download for the next week or so (limited time offer, so to speak). Pretty interesting, a little different actually, need to listen to it more before i can make up my mind. Parts of the song are more rock'n roll than usual, not in a bad way though. Still pretty obviously Chris Martin & Co.

weary of academia

2008-04-08T16:33:00.002-04:00

yup, it's official...

in other news; Leah was able to save a stove-top percolator (a yard-sale-reject-item) before it was sent off to a local charity. Still not quite perfected the process, had a slightly over-cooked flavor. i really enjoy a good cup of percolated coffee, so this is something i do not with to quit. If any one has any good hints and tips they're greatly appreciated.

In a related note wikipedia stinks, the article on percolators was total misinformation. Generally, to equate this site with an encyclopedia is silly, for example it is not peer reviewed, nor are there any actual or real qualifications needed to contribute. We are not allowed to refer to it in our papers. It might be an OK site to find out about Battlestar Galactica (not a dig, i like it) or as a quick intro to the history of ice cream.

I almost deleted my MySpace account yesterday. Hadn't been on there in a very, very long time. not sure why i didn't. it seems like there is very little activity there anymore (at least within my Friends, the list actually keeps shrinking). Additionally, it's just noisy, ugly and cluttered.

Tomorrow and Thursday needs to be days of some serious catching up.

I love the piano solo at the end of Larry Norman's "Last Supper" on Upon This Rock. So sad.

Time to get back into the Greek translation thing.

I Can't Belive it's April

2008-04-01T14:17:00.004-04:00

Time passes all too quickly these days. The two weeks with my parents came and went so fast it was almost a little sad. We had such a great time. Mostly just hung out. Particularly important for them to hang out with M. Parent/child are an odd relationship at times. It seems like it is not possible to truly understand how much they mean unless there is some time spent apart. I would give almost anything to be able to see them as often as we wanted. Yet that is not what God has for us right now.

I was hoping to have some kind of April fools thing on here, but nothing which was clever enough came to mind. But for those of you who are Norwegians out there, check out Vårt Lands fantastically funny gag about Trond Giske (for you non-Norwegians, think the "annoyingness" of Al Gore, multiplied four or five times, and rather talking about the environment and being the inventor of the internet, as Minister of Church and Education) becoming Archbishop (a post we by the way do not even have in the Norwegian Church)

i could really go for a big juicy burger, but sadly as i'm stuck at school it'll just be the cafeteria salad bar, as the regular food they serve here is so gross that i'd rather not eat at all. if i finish my home work early enough i might take the time to drive somewhere and eat.

I've been listening to Leeland's song "Carried to the Table" a lot lately. I was a little disappointed by their recent sophomore release (Opposite Way).

BAAAARGH!

2008-03-18T15:17:00.004-04:00

feel better now. it's one of those days... my parents are in town (!), but i'm stuck here at school. It feels like i'm wasting a whole day. when you only see your family or part of it once a year, if that, the time you have together is precious.

qtrax is supposed to be available for the Mac platform today, but nothing has been put out so far. oh well... hearing good things from the PC users, so hopefully it'll be worth the wait.

i wish i had some sort of dinner thing with me. i'm pretty hungry. the cafeteria food at school is actually worse than not eating.

obviously all i'm doing right now is procrastinating. i needed to turn my brain off for a few minutes and think of something else than translation work.

i'm struggling to think straight today.

gosh, this is a whiny post so far

On a lighter note; i found the Czech animated show "A Je To" (or, "To Gode Naboer" in Norwegian) the other week, i loved this show growing up. Heres' a good sample for you:
It always pleases me when i re-watch a show years later and it's still great. This might be one of those shows you had to grow up with to truly appreciate. i dunno. all i know is that it's still funny.

Thoughts...

2008-03-07T23:24:00.005-05:00

Trying to get several papers done tonight. Struggling with all of them, not because it necessarily is all that difficult, it's more just that my brain has shut down. Actually, often it feels like my brain shut down several months ago. I don't know what it is, but sometimes there just seems to be some sort of mental block when it comes to schoolwork. maybe it's because I've been in school for the last 21 years... goodness, that's actually a quite shocking to see written down. i dunno... i need to get back to the papers.

[5 minutes later]

this weekend is all about getting the house ready for my parents' visit. those of you who have been over since Leah gave birth to a tornado a little over a year a go, know all to well what state most of the house is in. Leah and I were never overly orderly or clean, but after M it all just fell completely apart. I found a mixing/baking bowl in the bathroom today , he uses them as drums or hats, sometimes both at the same time. back to the paper.

[10 minutes later]

Now i don't even have anything to say, I'm just procrastinating. turning my focus away from the paper, and hoping that something will come to mind that i can blog about that's not a complete waist of both your and my time... sorry to disappoint

[7 minutes later]

Came across Cyanide and Happiness the other day, pretty funny actually, though some of them are quite crude. below is a sample; random, unconnected stuff like this will almost always make me laugh/chuckle/smile:

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

[45 minutes later]

well, one paper down, two to go. gah, I'd better really buckle down, and get this stuff done, which entails not getting on here every ten minutes or so to write nonsense.

Got $2 mill. you don't know what to do with?

2008-03-06T17:41:00.003-05:00

Look no further:
The Koenigsegg CCX-R. I'm usually not much for cars, but this is beautiful.

I love it when i'm wrong

2008-03-04T15:52:00.005-05:00

Leah and i went to a Xavier Rudd and Ane Brun show in NYC the summer of 2006. We already "knew" Ane Brun, as she is Norwegian (not that i know of every single Norwegian musician, but you get what i mean). She was warming up for Xavier Rudd, whom we had never heard of before, but really, really enjoyed. But, we also agreed that his music was the kind that probably only would be good live. Now i'm listening to "Solace" for the first time; and boy, were we wrong... should most certainly have picked up a couple of albums while we were there...

my parents are coming in a week, and staying for 15 whole days (!)

Gal 3:8 - "And the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." (ESV)

Babelfish is fantastic

2008-02-28T17:18:00.004-05:00

From English: "amazing grace how sweet the sound"

to Italian: "tolleranza stupefacente quanto dolce il suono"

then on to French: "tolérance de stupéfiant combien doux le son"

followed by German: "Suchtstofftoleranz, wieviel zart der Ton"

then back into English: "Craze material tolerance, how much tenderly the clay"

What a loss...

2008-02-28T12:01:00.004-05:00

Larry Norman
4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008

Was there a more ever a more influential Christian rock musician, historically speaking?

Just like Betamax and VHS...

2008-02-18T20:59:00.005-05:00

...only this time Sony (who created Betamax) is on the winning side. Blu-ray will soon be the only option, as Toshiba is apparently about to give up on their HD-DVDs. Already Netflix, WalMart and BestBuy no longer offer (or are phasing out) HD-DVD products.

I have yet to purchase either, so I really don't care.

NEW KAIZERS ALBUM!

2008-02-16T00:21:00.004-05:00

Out Feb. 18th!!! Stream the whole album on their MySpace Pretty Exciting, sounds quite different, yet again. These guys are easily in my top three bands of all time. There's just something about their sound that really appeals to me. Love the noise, love Ottesen's voice, love all the weird instruments and arrangements. Just wish they would get over here and tour; in particularly going through the South East. I still have not seen them live. They are apparently amazing.

Finally...

2008-02-12T17:54:00.000-05:00

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I only today got around to listening to "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace". I really, really like it. There's something about Grohl's different ways of singing that really appeals to me. I also like how varied the songs are.

I'm realizing more and more how out of touch I am becoming when it comes to the "current music scene" or whatever you want to call it. I used to be pretty up to date and have a fairly extensive knowledge of what was going on, but now i more or less totally rely on the scraps that fall from Troy and my two brothers-in-law's tables... I don't know what it is... maybe it's age, or having a family, or being so busy with school and work combined with little to no money for non-essentials like CDs etc... it's probably all of these factors, plus several others...

I think I use the "triple period" (...) more than anybody else i know, it's a bad habit and i'm trying to stop, but for some reason i just can't seem to give it up

With the exeption of water

2008-02-11T18:29:00.002-05:00

I don't think there is a single beverage which is as tasty and versatile as coffee. It can be prepared a thousand different ways; hot, cold, black, with milk, weird coffee shop frappa-jappa-mappa's, etc. But coffee doesn't stop there; it's great in ice-cream, cakes, chocolate, candy, even as a marinade(!) It increases alertness and stimulates the mind. It has tons of anti-oxidants, so it'll even keep you beautiful.

I'm just now realizing how much this post smacks of the desperation to "blog about something, anything". I enjoy posting but so rarely have anything of importance that i actually want to communicate.

Oh, btw, Leah and I found a website last night that shows you how to make a compost bin out of old shipping pallets. Pretty cool idea, looks really ugly though... might give it a try if we can get hold of some free pallets.

I've had this weird craving for almonds all day.

procrastination

2008-01-31T08:25:00.000-05:00

I've noticed that i both write more often and check other people's blogs, spaces and faces when school is in...

Rom 5:1-14

2008-01-30T14:59:00.000-05:00

"1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come."

Is this mind blowing or what!?!?!

Rediscovering old friends

2008-01-26T15:25:00.000-05:00

Few things please me more then when I rediscover an old favorite album. I don't know how many times I listened to "Upon This Rock" by Larry Norman when I was a middle-schooler, I even saw him live when I was in high school. How wonderful it was to put it on my iPod yesterday, and listen to it over and over.

This happens to me every once in a while (sadly, all too rarely, though). I think I enjoy it even more than when I first encountered it. It is like being reunited with an old friend. It is not just the actual music, but also all the memories, people and places which are associated with the songs. A couple of examples; "Undone/The Sweater Song" will always remind me of Kjell's parents' basement, and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" brings me back to my 16th birthday (the truly astute reader will know that this is impossible as the album came out 8 days after my birthday; but take one guess as to what I spent my birthday money on).

Music is so much more than just a melody and lyrics; it's memories, hopes, dreams, old and new friends, places, and feelings; all gloriously mixed together into (sometimes) life changing experiences which you can take with you through life. I think this makes us better people; or at least more conscious of how joy, sadness, fellowship and loneliness all play a part in who we are becoming.

yup, we got a walker...

2008-01-17T21:11:00.000-05:00

Troy is my hero!

2007-12-21T01:17:00.000-05:00

it just wouldn't be Christmas

2007-12-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

without the annual posting of this pic i took a few houses down from my in-laws

cut and paste

2007-12-04T23:58:00.001-05:00

been a little too many of those types of posts lately, sorry about that... I guess posting hasn't been much of a priority in the past few weeks as the end of term has been drawing nearer and nearer...

I just finished a cup of green tea, which really hit the spot. if i didn't have such a pleasant taste in my mouth i'd get some ice cream... that says a lot, because it's hard to beat the taste of ice cream, especially when it's Breyer's Brownie Mud Pie

Oh, well, enough procrastination... it's time to go back to Ladd... which i'm enjoying much less now and far less favorable toward than i was earlier in the semester (see post a few months back) - lesson learned: don't review or publicly comment on a book i haven't finished reading...

Norwegian word of the day: ærverdig - venerable

My favorite song so far this week Sæglópur by Sigur Rós (off Takk...)

Yup, it's that time again already....

2007-12-04T02:03:00.000-05:00

be there or be... well you get the drift...

Luther's 95 Theses

2007-11-27T01:40:00.000-05:00

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.

3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.

6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.

7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.

10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.

11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.

12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.

13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.

14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.

15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.

16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.

17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.

18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.

19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.

20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.

21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;

22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.

23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.

24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.

25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.

26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.

27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].

28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.

29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.

30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.

31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.

32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.

33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;

34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.

35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.

36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.

38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.

39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.

40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].

41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.

42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.

43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;

44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.

46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.

47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.

48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.

49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.

50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.

51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.

52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.

53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.

54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.

55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.

56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.

57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.

58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.

59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.

60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;

61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.

62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.

63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.

64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.

65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.

66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.

67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.

68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.

69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.

70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.

71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!

72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!

73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.

74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.

75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.

76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.

77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.

78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.

79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.

80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.

81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.

82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."

83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"

84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"

85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"

86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"

87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"

88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"

89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"

90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.

91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.

92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!

93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!

94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;

95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.

the library

2007-11-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes i thoroughly enjoy sitting here studying. Today is not one of those days. It's too nice outside and i'm too tired. To pour salt in open wounds; it's a Saturday as well. Whoever said student life is easy, must have been one of the following; not a student, a student who totally didn't care, or the type of student who should have started their PhD work after middle school. The worst part for me is that there is always something to do; a paper to research more throughly, an exam that should be prepped for, etc. School work is never ending. In a regular 9-5 job on the other hand, you're done when you go home; nothing more to think/worry/work on until tomorrow.

needless to say, i'm procrastinating

Norwegian word of the day: snål /snå:l/ = weird, unusual, strange

he, he

2007-11-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

White Ninja:

On Faith and Lyrics

2007-11-01T23:34:00.000-04:00

The following has been a struggle, issue, or what have you for several years. Which lyrics are okay for me to listen to? Some bands/songs are obvious; satanic, excessively sexual/suggestive or which contain political views which I oppose (e.g. I do not listen to Rage Against the Machine, as I strongly oppose their views on politics and Christianity). But, the majority of lyrics are not this extreme. I cannot expect non-Christians to behave as Christians, thus I cannot expect all lyrics in the “secular music industry” to be “family-friendly”; e.g. I ought not be surprised when Ben Folds uses the F-word. But does his use of this word, disqualify him from my listening to him? Do I skip those songs which contain cussing, or do I chose to avoid the whole album or even all of Fold’s music? (I am not deliberately picking on Ben Folds, he was an arbitrary example, any other similar artist could have served as an example.)

Often we say; “Well there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not going hurt me, is it?” The overarching question ought rather be; will God be glorified as I listen to this? Will I grow in my relationship with Him? Will this benefit or take away from my relationship with Christ? As a side note; these questions are also applied to movies. Interestingly, I have never heard anyone apply this to sports. There nothing bad about watching a baseball game, but how is it profitable? How will my faith be strengthened to see the Braves lose yet another game? I struggle to see how this is any different than watching a movie or listening to music which is not directly beneficial to you or honoring to God.

I do not have any definite answers to this whole issue, I can simply notice that I go through phases. Sometimes I’ll skip the song, other times avoid the artist all together, yet other times I’ll happily listen to the song without any problems. I am anything if not inconsistent :-/

Some people would say that this whole issue would in some way be resolved by deciding to only listen to Christian music or music made by Christians (Is there a difference between the two?) This might in some ways be true, yet naïve. There are many drug-taking, alcoholic, fornicating “Christian” artists. How are they different from a non-Christian? (If Christians are known by their fruits (Mt 3:8, 7:16, Lk 3:8, Jn 15:4-5, Col 1:10) and that those who love Jesus obey his commands (Jn 14:15, Mt 7:24))

Much rambling and very little content, sorry. As you can see, my thinking on this issue is very muddled, hence the struggle. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll arrive to a completely satisfactory conclusion until I stand before God Almighty.

Geir sings Elvis from memory

2007-10-16T13:53:00.000-04:00

Leah and I came across this the other day. We hadn't seen it since it was on TV several years ago. It made us laugh, so I wanted to share it:
(Don't worry, Geir is not real; the comedian's name is Kristian Valen...)

Nobel Peace Prize

2007-10-14T16:58:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that this is who got it?

I am ashamed to be a Norwegian... How can the Nobel committee ever expect to be taken seriously after this farce?

Nine convenient "untruths"

2007-10-11T13:47:00.000-04:00

Yes the title is horrible, couldn't help myself...

Our dearly beloved Gore and his movie "An Inconvenient Truth" appears to be unbalanced in its presentation of the climate issues. I am sure that you are as shocked and appalled as I am, to discover this. Can you imagine; Gore misrepresenting the truth... This inventor of the Internet, who has been a leader for morality and truthfulness for so many years. Sigh... London's (England) High Court has decided that the movie was too unbalanced to viewed in public schools, unless a written statement representing the "other side" is also studied. The court found nine factual errors in the movie:

Mr Gore's assertion that a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet would be caused by melting of ice in either West Antarctica or Greenland "in the near future". The judge said this was "distinctly alarmist" and it was common ground that if Greenland's ice melted it would release this amount of water - "but only after, and over, millennia".

Mr Gore's assertion that the disappearance of snow on Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa was expressly attributable to global warming - the court heard the scientific consensus was that it cannot be established the snow recession is mainly attributable to human-induced climate change.

Mr Gore's reference to a new scientific study showing that, for the first time, polar bears had actually drowned "swimming long distances - up to 60 miles - to find the ice". The judge said: "The only scientific study that either side before me can find is one which indicates that four polar bears have recently been found drowned because of a storm."

More here

It's not that I disbelieve or disagree with everything Gore presents, or that i take the opposing side. In this debate i find both sides to have lost their way. Instead of squabbling back and forth, they ought to focus their attention on reducing pollution, whether the warming we have now has human causes or not, is in many ways irrelevant. I think most people can agree, regardless of where your convictions are, that pollution is bad, that 1,5 bill are without clean drinking water is bad, fish dying in toxic streams is bad, birds dying of hypothermia due to oil spills is bad. So lets focus on these issues, rather than seeing who can win some arbitrary argument on Fox News.

What bugs me most of all, is when anyone, regardless of issue only presents one side of the issue (be it climate changes, communism, or Toyota Tundras). Show me what the options are, Al, and I'll make up my own mind; thank you very much.

Spice Girls

2007-10-09T07:55:00.000-04:00

they're back, but they're calling it a farewell tour... (cf. post on Oct 5th)

Not exactly the next Schroeder...

2007-10-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

...but he seems to be having a good time nonetheless

Is it just me...

2007-10-05T15:39:00.000-04:00

...or does it seem like there's a lot of rubbish music, movies and TV-shows out there? This obviously far from an original opinion, it just needed to be said.

Psalm 119:97-104

2007-10-03T15:47:00.000-04:00

"Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path."

Man, this is pretty mind blowing... Just imagine... It's reading stuff like this I realize how incredible immature and underdeveloped my relationship with God truly is...

blog post #104

2007-09-25T10:14:00.000-04:00

so i've posted just over a hundred of these. what strikes me is that none of them stick out in my mind. they all seem wholly unremarkable, actually with a few exceptions, most posts on other people's blogs would fall in the same category. apparently then, our posts are not intended to change the world or ourselves. Why then are blogs so popular? what compels so many of us to write something on a semi-regular basis? obviously, i can only answer for myself, and the most honest answer i can give is; i don't know. I would like to say that it helps me vent frustrations, or it is a way to gather my thoughts, or a way to communicate with the three of you who occasionally drop by this blog. but, honestly, i write posts simply to write posts. why i occasionally feel the need or choose to do so, is actually unclear to me. my days are no different whether i post here or not. i do not sleep better having posted during the day.

I don't know why i just wrote this post or chose this topic; i guess i just felt like it...

Dr. Egelkraut

2007-09-18T18:54:00.000-04:00

My NT theology prof said something today that made me think, it wasn't that it was so revolutionary or a completely new concept; it was more a poignant reminder of something I/we often get our thinking muddled. We are not saved by what Jesus taught, but by who He is and what He did. It is so easy to get sucked into an Evangelical sort of Bibliolatry. The Bible can't save us. The Bible is true, but Christ is the Truth!! No one comes to the Father except through Christ! (John 14:6)

I want to travel

2007-09-18T18:46:00.000-04:00

to somewhere i've never been, preferably where they speak a language that is uncommon and where they typically do not know English. Where there's strange but incredible food. Oh, and they'd have to have beaches....
see... who wouldn't want to spend a few days here?

Miuro

2007-09-10T11:35:00.000-04:00

I don't know if this Miuro thing is the coolest or most retarded iPod accessory I have ever seen. Apparently it can even follow you around the house. Have we really become so lazy and addicted to our music that the speakers have to follow us around as we move from one room the next?

I think so many of us have become slaves of convenience. We can't even be bothered to get out of the car when we go to the bank or pharmacy. We're so busy trying to not waste any time that we don't have time to just "be". When was the last time any of us just sat; without the TV on, a book in our hand or a paper to write. Even our relaxation time is busy: be it running, knitting, kayaking or getting coffee at Starbuck's. It seems to me that we've lost the art of being still. Lars Saabye Christensen writes about having lost the "in-between time". Everything is in the "immediate", and now. He uses the example of the a digital vs. a 35mm camera. With the 35mm there would be a time between when the picture was taken and when you saw it developed, now the digital images are immediately approved or rejected. We don't have to wait for anything anymore. There are only delays. If it (whatever "it" might be) is not there immediately, then it's delayed or running late. To wait for anything is near impossible; "WHAT!?!? TWO whole days to ship!?!? I have to wait that long!!!! I'd better become a premium member so they'll Fed-Ex it over night...."

Sadly, this whole attitude and lost art of being still is sorely evident in western Christianity as well. When was the last time you went to a church service and was encouraged to sit still for 10 minutes without anything being said or done on stage? I'm ashamed to admit that I hardly ever simply stay still in the presence of God. I come to God with a to-do-list a mile long, and demand an instant response and gratification.

It's kinda strange

2007-08-29T22:44:00.000-04:00

...i've noticed that my MySpace friends list has been dwindling recently... not sure who's gone, and whether they're trying to tell me something...

A thought or two, on this and that

2007-08-27T21:33:00.000-04:00

I've really enjoyed this book so far. I'm reading it as a part of a course at school. It's evangelical, but Ladd interacts with many of the more liberal scholars. It's refreshing to read a book which deals so well with both sides, rather than simply and quickly dismissing the other side (in this case the liberal scholars), simply because they are the "other side". All to often both sides throw out the baby with the bath water, much could and ought to be learned from either side (in any discussion, argument or controversy). Granted, the sides might never agree, but is that always the most important thing; to be right, or prove the other side wrong? I'm not promoting compromise or not taking a stand for orthodoxy and the Biblical essentials. I just think that all to often we muddle up what the true essentials are. Chrysostom said: "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, charity. In all things, Jesus Christ." Nothing but a great big "AMEN!" can be added to that.

The Danish language

2007-08-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

This is one of my all time favorite skits. Scarily not too far from the truth.
Done by three of Norway's funniest comedians; Harald Eia, Bård Tufte Johansen and Atle Antonsen (from the show "Ut i Vår Hage"):

btw, there's some crude language

Audio books

2007-08-23T14:37:00.000-04:00

Leah got me a iTunes gift card a while back to get some audio books for my commutes back and forth to Columbia. I'm struggling to decide. There's something about the whole iTunes thing that makes me feel uncomfortable as well as incredibly indecisive; it's weird not to be able to physically handle the albums and go up the the register to listen to the music (or in this case audio book). Call me old-fashioned. I dunno. it just seems like there's something missing from the shopping experience on iTunes contra a record store...

btw, anyone have any recommendations?

Well it's been too long

2007-08-21T23:17:00.000-04:00

and too much has happened, for me to even bother to try to catch you up on what's been going on. It'd just be boring anyways, here's a video that's more interesting than anything i might be able to spew out...

it might seem as

2007-06-10T00:47:00.000-04:00

though i have given up. And i haven't really, i've just been busy and had little to write about, a combination which results in little to no posting. hopefully, this will soon change.

minor update

2007-05-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

School's out and i'm working more than usual, it's a nice change, i get to be outside and enjoy the weather, a little hot, but that's ok. Got friends from N coming in this weekend, very excited about that. They've been in San Diego for a year and are touring the east coast before they head on home... on Sat we're all going to the Braves game. other than that there's little to tell

Done

2007-05-19T00:08:00.001-04:00

eeerrhhh...(?)

2007-05-15T09:45:00.000-04:00

Found some guy's slideshow from my hometown Sandnes (sorry, imbedding was disabled); just a teeny tiny bit skewed, but i realize he's trying to be funny. Stupid Swedes...

Warning: there's some pretty rough language in the comments

too funny, yet unbelievably creepy

2007-05-08T17:18:00.000-04:00

Cut and pasted from the NY Times:

Hamas militants have enlisted the iconic Mickey Mouse to broadcast their message of Islamic dominion and armed resistance to their most impressionable audience -- little kids.

A giant black-and-white rodent -- named ''Farfour,'' or ''butterfly,'' but unmistakably a Mickey ripoff -- does his high-pitched preaching against the U.S. and Israel on a children's show run each Friday on Al-Aqsa TV, a station run by Hamas. The militant group, sworn to Israel's destruction, shares power in the Palestinian government.

''You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists,'' Farfour squeaked on a recent episode of the show, which is titled, ''Tomorrow's Pioneers.''

''We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers.''

Children call in to the show, many singing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.

------------------------

Don't you just love a good old fashined dose of brainwashing?

on purposes and the lack thereof...

2007-05-08T13:18:00.000-04:00

Well, it been a while since i actually post something that was of actual interest (as if anything on here is of any actual importance). i guess it's because there's little to say or do, i have (or take) very little time to read, listen to or watch something which is of a wider interest. I could of course just write about how many diapers i'll change this week (i'm guessing it'll be between 30 and 40) or what i ate for breakfast yesterday (fried egg and turkey on toast and a banana). but i don't think you really care, do you? You (at least ought to) want to read something of real and true importance, that in some way will enrich your life and/or broaden your horizons.

So, ought I not then rather relay, for example, the news that Ian Paisley (Prot.) and Martin McGuiness (Cath.) of Northern Ireland, are now joining together in an attempt to achieve peace and self-government; and then give you a link where I can direct you to an article in the New York Times, which will elaborate further? Maybe, but these types of posts are so rare that, it'd be better for you to read a newspaper.

so then, what is the purpose and the reason(s) that i keep posting? i have no idea, do you?

i was right

2007-05-03T23:34:00.000-04:00

i ate it on my way down to school and it was delicious

I'm about to eat pasta

2007-05-03T15:56:00.000-04:00

yup, nothing like pasta leftovers. It was good yesterday, and it'll be just as good today. looking forward to it for sure. particularly because i'm really quite hungry

in other news; Leah's uncle Johnny fixed the really annoying dripping from the kitchen faucet today

blood part 2

2007-05-02T11:34:00.000-04:00

hdl cholesterol 43
ldl cholesterol 74
triglycerides 75

total cholesterol 132

so it's all normal apparently

æøå

2007-05-01T12:50:00.000-04:00

I can hardly wait for summer. it'll be so good to wind down a little (hopefully) and get some other things done than just school and things like that. our dear house is suffering from pretty severe neglect, so hopefully i (we) will be able to put som time and effort into doing some of the things which are desperately needed.

This made me laugh, so i thought i'd share it - White Ninja Likes Strong Tea:

oh, and by the way, on the gossip front; Courtney Love is selling all fo Kurt Cobain's stuff at Christie's... supposedly for charity.

AND even more importantly Hilary Clinton is now on MySpace (and to my great surprise all the comments were very positive), she's so young and trendy... you all better vote for her... God's gift to America. I usually don't care much about/for American politics/politicians, but few people grate me like she does, well except Gore... the worst one though is Trond Giske from the Labor party back home... bah! he's so redicolusly stupid and arrogant, in the worst possible combination... how he gets voted into parliament time after time is beyond me

many disconnected thoughts and ramblings this time; sorry...

blood

2007-05-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

was drawn from a vein in my left arm this morning. i will soon, for the first time in my life, know what my cholesterol levels are. Will post results.

he, he

2007-04-26T09:52:00.001-04:00

weird how it's this little thing in the corner... i'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this stuff... sorry