Another old review…
So – I really could watch Matt Damon run all day long. I mean, the action in Borne Supremacy was great and it was entertaining (yes, Marc, I know, it doesn’t follow the book). I had a great time just sitting back and watching a movie. It had been a while since I’d been out. So, that was great.
Watching I did realize that I really want to be part of the making of a movie. Really. I don’t really need to be in the movie, I simply want to be present. I’ll run errands, get coffee. Whatever. I just want to be there. So – if you are making movies or know anyone who is (wonder if Kevin Smith reads my blog?), give me a call.
My dad I went to see I, Robot in Allegan (this is one of the things that I’ve wanted to post for a while – since I’m not in Allegan, not so new…). I was entertained. THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS. The end made me think about our technology. Will we eventually create technology that will take over? While the robots thought that they were doing good – they were protecting humans from harming each other – it does remove choice. So – the robots became a god – to care for humans but didn’t see how free will was the best choice. Interesting concept….
Proper 20, Year C
16th Sunday after Pentecost
September 19, 2004
Heather Voss
Canterbury Northwestern
Luke 16:1-13
A follower of Jesus said to some others: There was a woman attending University who thought that the world was her oyster. She was going to go places, get things done, make a lot of money. She had a theory for life – “it’s all about me and what I want. And if I want it, I will get it.” However, she spent a little too much time partying and slacking off in class work. The Dean called her into his office and said, “You are failing out of school and, without vast improvements, will not be able to re-enroll next term.” She was horrified. She thought to herself, “There is no way that I can do a menial job. I will no beg and I will not be caught dead asking, ‘Would you like fries with that?’
Now, she also happened to work in the registrar’s office. So, she made a list of friends who needed some help in a few classes, broke into the files, and changed their grades, thinking that they would support her after she was kicked out of school. She was caught and, while not escaping being expelled, she was rewarded by people who had a similar theory for life. Those whom she had helped allowed her to stay with them. They were very happy that she had figured out how to take advantage of others and admired her conniving scheme. They encouraged her to continue to find ways to cheat the system to get what she wanted.
When dealing dishonestly, one will be commended by dishonest people. When people make money their master – they will do anything to get more. It creates a culture of selfishness. People think only of themselves and find others who can be purchased, bribed, or used. If you choose to join with them, they may also welcome you into their eternal home. Though – my real question with that is – where is their eternal home? I’m thinking that it isn’t where I would like to spend eternity.
God rewards us based on a different system. When we have been entrusted with a little and deal honestly and fairly with it, we will be rewarded with more.
What have you been entrusted with? How will you respond to that trust?
If you are an incoming student, you have been entrusted with freedom. College is a great time to explore and discover who you are and who you want to be. You will be able to choose when to do your homework, when to come home at night. No one will check in with you about the clothes that you wear or the people that you talk to or the activities that you do. Your parents are trusting that you use your time and their money wisely. When you act wisely with your parent’s trust, they will reward you with more. This is also a time to discover more about your relationship with God. God will give you responsibility during this time and when you are faithful with it, God will give you more. God continues to call you into relationship and you might find that the relationship changes and grows. When you respond to God’s call and try to listen and follow, you will receive the true riches.
Returning students have had some experience with freedom. You have made some choices and have lived with the consequences. Perhaps you made some great choices and responded well to what had been entrusted to you. You experienced that more is indeed given when you had acted fairly. However, I’m sure that you also made mistakes. You had been entrusted and did not act responsibly. These mistakes do of course happen. It is through grace that you are able to come back and receive forgiveness from both human friends and a loving God. As you have lived through some time at college, you may have felt some change in your relationship with God. You are starting to respond out of your own faith and belief – not out of what you knew as a child. God has placed on your more responsibility. As you are trustworthy with what you have been given, rewards will come to you.
If you are a senior, you have will soon have the opportunity to try freedom in a different realm – either grad school or a job. You look back at your experience with perhaps wonder or perhaps relief. You are excited about what is to come, and maybe a little afraid. As you reflect on your years at college, you can see where the trust had been given and how you responded. I think that you might see times of great reward where things went really well and also times of dark valleys when you had failed to be trustworthy in your responsibilities. These experiences will serve you well as you finish your college career and move onto your next venture. Your relationship with God is also reaching a new level. You have lived as an adult – more or less – away from your preant’ influence. But soon, you will get another opportunity to develop that relationship further. God will guide and direct your next steps. Listen with an open heart as you live through this next year, and see how God responds to your faithfulness.
Parents of adult children have a different responsibility. Your child, who used to depend on you for everything, is becoming an independent person. You are granted trust to serve as a resource and support to your child. This is not to be treated lightly. Please honor and respect the news that your son or daughter calls to share. Some days, you will receive joyous news that you want to share with everyone. That is great! However, some days your student will call needing help or a listening ear because things aren’t going well. This may be something to not gossip about with others, but rather something to hold close to your heart and pray about. You have been given your child’s trust and will be rewarded with more when you honor that.
It’s the beginning of a new academic year and the moment has come to decide how you will be spending your time. Will you serve the master of money or the Master of Love? Sometimes it is really easy to answer this question while sitting here, but much harder to live that out. The world does not work on God’s principles. The world is looking for the way to get rich quickly, get by easily, and is unconcerned with Godly things.
If you choose to serve God, you will be rewarded in ways that you could never imagine. However, it’s also not easy. Know that this community at Canterbury Northwestern is a resource. We are here struggling together – to continually commend ourselves to God as we work in the world. It is a place to retreat from the demands and temptations of life at the University and a great place to renew yourself. I would love to see you every week – at every event, but I know that this is not realistic. You have many responsibilities in other areas of your life. Feel free to come and go as you need to, taking part in activities and events as you have time and as you feel called. This community works because we encourage you to be involved both here and in your other activities. Your experiences in those activities enhance your involvement here; and the renewed sense of self gained here enriches your work in the other activities. Join us to worship the God of Love who entrusts us with the true riches. Let us use our time together to be renewed through communion and fellowship, creating of culture of selflessness that we can share with the world.
One of the things that I got to do this last week was to travel quickly (all in less than 24 hours) back to Allegan. It’s time for the Allegan County Fair (biggest county fair in Michigan, and one of the largest in the country). Last year I decided that I would buy a pig this year – because I would have a job and the money to do so. So, I traveled back and got to wander around the fairgrounds, which I always find entertaining. I think that the whole experience is fun. I see people I know, learn new information, and get free things. And I got to buy a pig. Well, actually, I had to buy a pen and one will get sold on the market. But my friend Danielle had her pen in and I got to do the actual bidding – which is something that I have never done at a real auction. AND I WON THEM! I thought that someone was going to out-bid me, but they didn’t! So, I have a new pig – it’s going to get processed. But, in my office I have a picture of Dani and the 2 pigs. They’re very cute. And soon, I’ll be able to serve them for dinner. Pork chops, anyone?
Yes, I know that it’s been forever since I’ve posted. And I’m really sorry about that. But things have been very busy in the last 2 weeks. The new job has started. Interim Episcopal Chaplain at Northwestern University. And it has kept me very busy. There are a long list of interesting things that I have been able to do, so I will share them with you.
- looking at houses and making maintenance lists
- preparing mailings for returning students
- working with the assistant chaplain to get things ready for the new year
- meeting with other chaplains at Northwestern to find out what is going on at the University
- meet with people who can answer my silly questions about the details and planning of activities
- have a birthday party
- catch up with all my friends in real life
- make up flyers and post cards for incoming students – grad and freshmen
- wait for Sears to come look at the refrigerator
- wait for Sears to come look at the dryers
- de-skunk Shane’s dog
- wait for Sears to come fix the refrigerator
- walk the dog (Shane was out of town)
- check email
- write email
- coordinate with caterers
- work on the conference for Young Adult Ministry – a David Gortner project
- wait for Sears to come and fix the refrigerator
- clean the house – for people coming over
- PRAY – A LOT!
- wait for Sears to come and fix the refrigerator (and pray more so that I wouldn’t crawl through a phone line to kill anyone)
- realize that the YAM conference is only a week away – and not 2. and wonder how I will get anything done.
- go shopping for 7 events in the next 4 days – ok – only 4 events in 4 days
- write a sermon
- give a sermon
- wonder how I will be able to write another one for Sunday and do the 4 events in the next 4 days (and pray a lot!)
- wait for Sears to come and fix the refrigerator
That’s the list. That’s what I’ve done with my last 2 weeks. It’s been great to catch up with friends in the Chicago-land area. It’s been interesting to start work – and I’m getting to use gifts that I had no idea that I would be using. And I have several old posts ready to be put up – mainly movie reviews… but really, it’s been a mess. And the day that I thought that I would blog, the dog got skunked. And while I had some fabulous help with that (thanks to the Scheid children and several kind donations from SWTS people), it still took out that time that I thought I would be doing that.
Okay - for those of you keeping track - I am empolyed. I began 3 days ago and life has been too busy to even type about it. I'm moving in and getting settled and trying to figure out what's going on.
The title - Episcopal Chaplain at Northwestern University. See the Canterbury Northwestern homepage - and know that I haven't touched it yet. On the schedule for next week. Anyone want to help me be creative with it? I'd gladly accept help!
My house is big and fun. Lots of great things going on. More (hopefully) soon.