• I passed my Server+. Not sure which is next this week. I have an hourly gig tomorrow to fix some networking issues somewhere; the guys found my resume on a jobsite.
• Christmas tree is up. Kathryn and I have ony had one christmas fight so far. That’s pretty good for us. I’m difficult around the holidays.
• I’m singing in the choir for Advent. They wear robes and everything. To my chagrin, Kathryn packed the camera this morning.

For those who have been asking:

Dustin and Michelle, who kept our dogs, are bringing dinner tonight. Tomorrow Ellen is coming over to help and cook, and will leave us lots of leftovers. That’ll hold us until my mom arrives Saturday. Mom’s a hella good cook, so we’re set in that department for a week. After that, Sarah Wisdom is organizing a rotation of folks to lend us a hand while we get up to speed. We’re humbly grateful for folks who can help by jumping onto that list. Sarah is at spwisdom@gmail.com

And the support that we have been given and offerred is amazing. You guys rock.

Tonight is the last spaghetti night at the Kovarik house. If someone else would like to carry the torch, go for it!

Spaghetti Night will be ceasing with the end of this month. His Noodliness has touched us all and He has given His blessing. So tomorrow night will be the fourth to last Spaghetti Night at the Kovarik house.

Leviticus 27:28-29 Contemporary English Version

Anything that you completely dedicate to me must be completely destroyed. It cannot be bought back or sold. Every person, animal, and piece of property that you dedicate completely is only for me.

This part I kinda get. If it’s dedicated to God, we don’t get to use it.

Next verse:

In fact, any humans that have been promised to me in this way must be put to death.

So is YHWH sanctioning human sacrifice here? Is this what happened in the story of Jephthah in Judges 11? Eh?

OK all you seminary people - what is up with Exodus 4:24-26? God calls Moses to pull his people from Egypt - spends a chapter and three-quarters convincing Moses that YES, YOU - speech impediment and all - are going to deliver the Israelites from bondage and then oh! by the way and on the way God decides to kill him? WTH? Did someone slip LSD into God’s cornflakes?

I thought I’d try to get through the tome, too…so I am following the chronological reading plan. After reading about Noah, the flood, and his many descendants, it is time for me to read Job. I tried reading Job last August and found it mindnumbing. I find the first two chapters, as they are a narrative, easy to follow. Terrible and scary, but easy to follow: “a messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’” Exciting and terrifying.

The next thirty-four chapters are Job’s friends saying, “Confess! The reason all this has happened to you is because you have sinned!” And Job saying, “I didn’t do anything!”

“Yes you did.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yes you did”

I got bogged down and didn’t finish it. Maybe this time willl be better. Upon a friend’s suggestion, I am checking out the Comtemporary English Version. According to BibleGateway.com, “The text is easily read by grade schoolers, second language readers, and those who prefer the more contemporized form. ”

Maybe I need Job written at a second grade level to get it.

In which we discuss taking things a little too literally… Read more »

As well as honoring the incarnation and birth of the Most Holy God on Dec 25, we will also be honoring His Noodliness that evening. After all, it is a Monday. Come feel His noodly embrace - same time, same place. I will also serve fruitcake. And eggnog. Both will be well doctored.

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will, on your own initiative, make known to your Session the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?

3. Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity?

4. Do you accept the office of ruling elder (or deacon, as the case may be) in this church, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof, and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your life, and to set a worthy example before the Church of which God has made you an officer?

5. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?

6. Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and edification of the Church?

And with that, today our church ordained me as a ruling elder. No, I can’t marry or bury you. That’s teaching elders.