Scribbles

Just thought i'd write something down today. we went to a church thing-a-mabob again today, and it had the usual effect on me. we got there just before the Lord's Supper was disseminated (actually, just 'twixt the bread and the wine) and the Introducer of the Sacrament quoted the scripture about not taking it all in an unworthy manner, and about eating and drinking damnation upon oneself. Therefore, i didn't partake. [When you see a "therefore," read before to see what it's there for. --ed.] i figured that was a Scripturally-backed one-way ticket to hell. Instead, i waited for it to end, and excused myself with all the kids en route to the Glory Factory. Funniest thing: one kiddo slides out of the Sanctuary, looks at his bud, and says, "Freedom!" i thought an Amen in his direction, and then i got a li'l embarrassed to m'self about Amening a twelve year-old. Was this one of those "From the mouths of babes" moments, or a "Leave behind you the elementary teachings" moment? At any rate, i planted me on a comfy chair in the foyer/vestibule, and fumed for 15 minutes or so about what?-- i could not say. Finally i retreated to a sandwich shop across the street with Bonhoeffer's "Discipleship" and read a while. Things started looking up from there.

we went out for lunch with some friends we hadn't seen in a while. One of 'em wants to go to a seminary, Westminster, for a Masters in Divinity. Even though the conversation didn't dive to any great depths, it was very encouraging to talk to someone who cares about what he believes-- is passionate about what he believes. i asked him why go to a seminary. He feels like German theologians have been on the leading edge of theology for 200 years, and that they've killed many people's faith-- not by their faithlessness, but by inadvertantly undermining the veracity of Scripture by parsing it apart with theories about how it came to be, and by basically by leaving wide open the door to the conclusion that it might not be from God, that it might be filled with errors. i didn't ask him what he'd do if he came to the same quandaries that have driven those guys to do what they've done. i didn't say that in the last five years or so it's been a handful of dead Euros that's-- i think by the grace of God-- kept my tiny faith afloat. It was so very nice to sit there in the presence of someone with an obvious passion and purpose, and i'm so tired of playing the Devil's advocate, that i just quietly cheered him on. In fact, they invited us to go listen to a guest speaker at their church tonight, and i'm kinda' looking forward to going. Haven't sat in a church building that i wanted to be in for a really long time. Maybe something good will happen. Maybe some fellowship will happen.

On a much brighter note...

we just got back from a trip to Denver, where we visited some friends, and picked up a much needed dosage of fellowship and altitude. Whilst there, we took a day off from our rigourous routine of lazing about and otherwise hardcore slouching to take the wiv's 'n' chiddlers out climbing.

Here're a couple o' pixels of my altogether unkempt barbarians having narrowly staved off pica and rickets.

Following are some pics of la hija mia pulling down the slab start to a 5.9 at the Little Eiger in Cold Creek Canyon-- still one of my most favoritest crags in the universe. The slab probably goes at about 5.6. This is the first time she'd ever been on real rock, and she took to it so naturally, i had a hard time not beaming in a proud fashion. So i just gave in, and beamed in a proud fashion.

...Et voila. Now if i can just do my fatherly duty, and trick her into sticking with it.

And that's why i luvs me some Colorado.