One read, one received ~ books, of course!

(Click to enlarge any photos)

On Monday, I traveled to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville with my friend Donna, who must see a specialist in pulmonary hypertension there every few months.  Sorry it was so overcast as we headed home, with Donna driving and me using my cellphone as a camera.  Can you read "Chattanooga" and "Memphis" on the two highway signs?

You might say we used the time profitably by taking along books — but, of course!  While she drove, I read aloud and we discussed what Marcus Borg had to say about Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power — and How They Can Be Restored (2011).  Although I didn't distract her by reading when the traffic was heaviest, we still managed to get through the Introduction and four chapters.  Here's what I underlined in the introduction (page 2):

"To redeem means to set free from slavery, bondage, captivity; it is not about being saved from our sins.  In this sense, Christian language needs to be redeemed — to be set free from its captivity to contemporary literalism and the heaven-and-hell Christian framework."

When we got home last night (we're roommates), we found that UPS had delivered another book.  Ten days ago, Wendy @ Caribousmom emailed to tell me:

"You were one of the lucky winners over at the Chunkster Challenge blog giveaway this month. You won a copy of The Emperor of Lies by Steve Sem-Sanburg."

This novel (2009, English translation from Swedish 2011) is a "chunkster" itself, at 664 pages.  (Click to read Wendy's review.)  From the back cover of the paperback:

"In February 1940, the Nazis established what would become the second-largest Jewish ghetto in the Polish city of Lódz.  Its chosen leader:  Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski, a sixty-three-year-old Jewish businessman and orphanage director.  From one of Scandinavia's most critically acclaimed and bestselling authors, The Emperor of Lies chronicles the tale of Rumkowski's monarchical rule over a quarter million Jews.  Driven by a titanic ambition, he sought to transform the ghetto into a productive industrial complex and strove to make it — and himself — indispensable to the Nazi regime.  Drawing on the chronicles of life in the Lódz Ghetto, Steve Sem-Sandberg captures the full panorama of human resilience and asks the most difficult questions:  Was Rumkowski a ruthless opportunist, an accessory to the Nazi regime driven by a lust for power?  Or was he a pragmatic strategist who managed to save Jewish lives through his collaboration policies?"

This blurb says "February 1940," but the heading of the first chapter says "April 1940."  That's the month I was born, 72 years ago, so when this story takes place, I was alive on the other side of the world from Lódz.  Somehow, that makes it seem even more current and real to me.  I imagine, like Wendy, I'll find the novel emotional to read.

Revised Helen Reddy song
for the older woman:
"I am woman, hear me snore."


This was part of a "humorous" email that came while I was on the road yesterday.  Like this cartoon woman, my mom dozed in her recliner when she was elderly.  Wait!  That was when my mother was in her sixties, years younger than I am now.  Does this mean I'm elderly?  (Interesting how our perceptions change, isn't it?)

Sunday Salon ~ about those books

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING

"Which of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount says, 'Blessed are the theologically sound, for they shall be smug'?"

— Robin Meyers, The Underground Church, p. 8

"If the church were Christian, gracious behavior would be more important than right belief."

— Philip Gulley, If the Church Were Christian, p. 67

"I am not in the least accusing of dishonesty those who find the traditional framework of metaphysics and morals entirely acceptable. ... What dismays me is the vehemence — and at bottom the insecurity — of those who feel that the Faith can only be defended by branding as enemies within the camp those who do not."

— John A. T. Robinson, Honest to God, p. 9

"When we project qualities of the post-Easter Jesus back onto the pre-Easter Jesus, we make the pre-Easter Jesus not one of us."

— Marcus J. Borg, Embracing an Adult Faith, p. 26

"Contemplating a loving God strengthens portions of our brain — particularly the frontal lobes and the anterior cingulate — where empathy and reason reside. Contemplating a wrathful God empowers the limbic system, which is 'filled with aggression and fear.' It is a sobering concept: The God we choose to love changes us into his image, whether he exists or not."

— Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman,

How God Changes Your Brain,

quoted in Naked Spirituality by Brian D. McLaren, p. 71

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Caturday ~ cats do blog, you know

Kiki couldn't get her own blog because, having used her real birth date (born in 2000), Blogger considered her WAY too young to be blogging.  That's a true story.  Therefore, Kiki had to use my account to review books and comment on the world as she knew it.

Kiki Cat was much older in cat years than Blogger knew.


Thanks to Jan for finding this cartoon.

Bowling, anyone?

Twelve-year-old LaBraia

The bowling lanes across the road invited residents of my apartment complex for an evening of free bowling, shoe rental, prizes, and food.  I went, although I haven't bowled in 30-35 years.  I used a 10-pound ball for my first game, though I had used my husband's heavier bowling ball years ago.  I didn't do very well at all, with lots of gutter balls.

Bob and Vickie

Vickie's husband Bob was trying to move his ball over, using body language.  I met Vickie at the luau last summer, shortly after moving into my apartment complex.  We met again at the Christmas party and have now bowled together.  Three times a year ain't bad, except Vickie said they are moving to another state.  Just when I was getting to know her.  Oh, well, bye, Vickie, it's been fun!

Bonnie's fine form

We four — LaBraia, Bob, Vickie, and I — had small children bowling in the lanes on each side of us, sometimes rushing up beside us, forgetting to take turns.  This girl was waiting for me to finish.  Nine of the ten pins fell, leaving one (see the next photo).  Notice the lane on my left has the rails up for the child about to take his turn after me.  It was funny to watch his ball go wildly to the side, bounce off the left rail, bounce off the right rail, and — surprisingly — sometimes score better than we adults did.

Bonnie, hoping to nail that last pin

Vickie clicked the camera before I'd even swung the ball behind me, but I did hit that last pin standing down there at the other end of the lane.  For my second game, I chose a 12-pound ball and more than doubled my score.  But I'll need lots more practice before I get back in the swing of the game.  I did, however, make three strikes during my three games — none in the first game (which we'll call "warming up"), twice in game two, and once in my third game.

And here's Vickie, mostly hidden behind the equipment.  As you can see, the little boy in the next lane was moving in for his turn.  I don't think any of us will be "Bowling with the Stars" any time soon, even if someone comes up with such a thing.  But it was a family fun night, with lots of laughs and high-fives.

Monday Madness ~ you can't fix stupid

A friend emailed these, which are said to be actual call center conversations.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ONE

Customer:  "I've been calling 700-1000 for two days and can't get through; can you help?"
Operator:  "Where did you get that number, sir?"
Customer:  "It's on the door of your business."
Operator:  "Sir, those are the hours that we are open."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TWO

Samsung Electronics
Caller:  "Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?"
Operator:  "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about."
Caller:  "On page 1, section 5, of the user guide, it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning.  Now, can you give me the number for Jack?"
Operator:  "I think it means the telephone plug on the wall."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THREE

RAC Motoring Services
Caller:  "Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am traveling in Australia?"
Operator:  "Does the policy name give you a clue?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FOUR

Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while traveling in Europe):
"If I register my car in France, and then take it to England, do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIVE

Directory Enquiries
Caller:  "I'd like the number of the Argo Fish Bar, please."
Operator:  "I'm sorry, there's no listing.  Are you sure that the spelling is correct?"
Caller:  "Well, it used to be called the Bargo Fish Bar, but the 'B' fell off."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SIX

Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator:  "Woven?  Are you sure?"
Caller:  "Yes, that's what it says on the label — Woven in Scotland."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SEVEN

A man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator:

"I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on."


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

EIGHT

Tech Support:  "I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop."
Customer:  "Okay."
Tech Support:  "Did you get a pop-up menu?"
Customer:  "No."
Tech Support:  "Okay, right-click again.  Do you see a pop-up menu?"
Customer:  "No."
Tech Support:  "Okay, sir.  Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?"
Customer:  "Sure.  You told me to write 'click,' and I wrote 'click'."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NINE

Tech Support:  "Okay, at the bottom left-hand side of your screen, can you see the 'OK' button displayed?"
Customer:  "Wow!  How can you see my screen from there?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TEN

Caller:  "I deleted a file from my PC last week, and I just realized that I need it.  So, if I turn my system clock back two weeks, will I get my file back again?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ELEVEN

Actual dialogue of a former (in other words, "fired") WordPerfect Customer Support employee.  (Now I know why they record these conversations!)  I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired.  He or she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for Termination without Cause.

Operator:  "Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"
Caller:  "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."
Operator:  "What sort of trouble?"
Caller:  "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."
Operator:  "Went away?"
Caller:  "They disappeared."
Operator:  "Hmm.  So what does your screen look like now?"
Caller:  "Nothing."
Operator:  "Nothing?"
Caller:  "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type."
Operator:  "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?"
Caller:  "How do I tell?"
Operator:  "Can you see the 'C: prompt' on the screen?"
Caller:  "What's a sea-prompt?"
Operator:  "Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"
Caller:  "There isn't any cursor.  I told you, it won't accept anything I type."
Operator:  "Does your monitor have a power indicator?"
Caller:  "What's a monitor?"
Operator:  "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV.  Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?"
Caller:  "I don't know."
Operator:  "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it.  Can you see that?"
Caller:  "Yes, I think so."
Operator:  "Great.  Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall."
Caller:  "Yes, it is."
Operator:  "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?"
Caller:  "No."
Operator:  "Well, there are.  I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."
Caller:  "Okay, here it is."
Operator:  "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."
Caller:  "I can't reach."
Operator:  "Okay.  Well, can you see if it is?"
Caller:  "No."
Operator:  "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?"
Caller:  "Well, it's not because I don't have the right angle — it's because it's dark."
Operator:  "Dark?"
Caller:  "Yes — the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."
Operator:  "Well, turn on the office light then."
Caller:  "I can't."
Operator:  "No?  Why not?"
Caller:  "Because there's a power failure."
Operator:  "A power ... A power failure?  Aha.  Okay, we've got it licked now.  Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff that your computer came in?"
Caller:  "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."
Operator:  "Good.  Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it.  Then take it back to the store you bought it from."
Caller:  "Really?  Is it that bad?"
Operator:  "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
Caller:  "Well, all right then, I suppose.  What do I tell them?"
Operator:  "Tell them you're too damned stupid to own a computer!"

Sunday Salon ~ adding more books

I'M A BOOKIE

I keep adding to my collection as I study the way Christianity is changing.  UPS delivered more books this week.

The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus ~ by Robin R. Meyers, 2012

Meyers proposes that the faithful recapture the spirit of the early church with its emphasis on what Christians do rather than what they believe.  The best way to recapture the spirit of the early Christian church, he says, is to recognize that Jesus-following was and must be again subversive in the best sense of the word because the gospel taken seriously turns the world upside down.  No matter how the church may organize itself or worship, the defining characteristic of the church of the future will be its Jesus-inspired countercultural witness.

• Debunks commonly held beliefs about the early church and offers a vision for the future rooted in the past.
• Proposes that the church of the future must leave doctrinal tribalism behind and seek a unity of mission instead

A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-Filled, Open-Armed, Alive-and-Well Faith for the Left Out, Left Behind, and Let Down in Us All ~ by Doug Pagitt, 2008

This book weaves together theological reflections, Christian history, and Pagitt's own story of faith transformation.  He tells the story of his un-churched childhood, his life-altering conversion at age sixteen, his intense involvement in the church, and his growing sense of unease with the version of Christianity he was living.  Pagitt lays out his journey toward an authentic, passionate expression of a faith that feels alive, sustainable, and meaningful.

A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story ~ by Diana Butler Bass, 2009, religion

For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. In A People's History of Christianity, historian and religion expert Diana Butler Bass reveals an alternate history that includes a deep social ethic and far-reaching inclusivity: "the other side of the story" is not a modern phenomenon, but has always been practiced within the church. Butler Bass persuasively argues that corrective—even subversive—beliefs and practices have always been hallmarks of Christianity and are necessary to nourish communities of faith.

The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why ~ by Phyllis Tickle, 2008, religion

Rooted in the observation that massive transitions in the church happen about every 500 years, Phyllis Tickle shows readers that we live in such a time right now. She compares the Great Emergence to other "Greats" in the history of Christianity, including the Great Transformation (when God walked among us), the time of Gregory the Great, the Great Schism, and the Great Reformation. Combining history, a look at the causes of social upheaval, and current events, The Great Emergence shows readers what the Great Emergence in church and culture is, how it came to be, and where it is going.

I'M A READER

The book I've been studying this week is borrowed, and I'm trying to finish it so I can return it to my friend Larry.

Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief ~ by Gretta Vosper, 2012

I probably wouldn't have picked this book to read, a book about prayer.  The description has this sentence, though:  "Despite what it may have meant to previous generations, prayer now holds only a symbolic place in our busy lives and the deeper kinship with community is lost in the vestments of antiquated traditions."  In Amen, Gretta Vosper, United Church of Canada minister and author of the controversial bestseller With or Without God, offers us "a new tradition built on love and respect rather than on the rituals of ancient beliefs."  Parts of it have been interesting to read.

"Yet here we are, in our religious institutions, stuck trying to say new things with all the same old words" (p. 15).

That's why I bought  Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power — and How They Can Be Restored as I told you last Sunday.  It's by Marcus J. Borg, and I look forward to reading it.  I found some interesting things in it that have nothing to do with prayer, like this about a bumper sticker:

"Christian historian Diana Butler Bass ... drives a car with a 'Coexist' bumper sticker, each of the letters formed from the symbol of a different religion" (p. 27).  I have the same bumper sticker on my car.  This is what it looks like.

Can you name what these symbols represent?  The "+" at the end is a cross and represents Christianity.

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Caturday ~ friends

It's been six weeks since Kiki died, and I think it's time to continue her Caturday posts.  Although we weren't this identical, Kiki and I both gained weight during our years together.  I dedicate this friendship post to her.