Friday Mishmash

I Found this Quiz at Rhapsody's blog:

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

I suppose 3 years at seminary and 20 years as an ordained minister win me something, even if it isn't an income. And, yes, I consider myself to be a "Biblical scholar"-and teacher.




Blogger Problems?

Yesterday I was unable to post comments on about three quarters of the blogs I read. I also had difficulty making adjustments to both of my blogs. Today things seem OK.

Should I trust Blogger? I had planned to update my Nick's Bytes blog template this weekend. I don't know is I should risk it.


Mother Update

My most recent telephone conversations with my mother have been hopeful. She complains less about the rehab therapy and adjustments to her pain medication seem to be working. Please join me in keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.


Alex and the Snow

It snowed more here last night and this morning. Even so, the Louisville snow accumulation is but a smidgen when compared to what others, such as those in Denver, have received. This morning Alex risked going outside, even with the fluffy water on the ground. He didn't stay out long-perhaps ten minutes. He also went straight to his litter box when he came back inside. I suppose the fluffy stuff did hamper his normal cat outside activities a bit.


How to Wash A Cat

Meow has placed a wonderfully funny and informative video on her site entitled How to Wash a Cat. Although Alex, who watched the video with me (after he attacked my coffee cup and decided that it was too hot for his paw and I threw the coffee away and obtained a fresh and cat-pawless cup) had threatened to shred my pants and anything beneath them if I share the video, I really must recommend that you click over to Meow's place and view the video. (You may want to do this only in catless privacy).


United Church of Christ on the Internet

My new blog, UCC on the Net, has been a real learning experience for me. When I studied church history in seminary, I was amazed that 500 years ago congregations hundreds of miles apart were interested in and received news (from travelers) about what was happening with each other while in the 20th and 21st century folks of the same denomination didn't what know was happening in congregations a few miles apart. The need I perceived to facilitate that interest and communication was the primary driver in creating UCC on the Net.

I believe that the Internet allows folks to exchange information more rapidly and extensively than any medium in history, even radio, TV, and telephones. In the few days that I have been researching the Internet and posting links, I have learned a great deal about what is happening within the denomination in which I am an ordained minister. (I
Obama).

Below are a few of the links I have found and placed on UCC on the Net:


Religious Leaders Blast "False, Malicious" Fox News Hit on Obama
(Faithful Progressive blog: 01-26-2007)

“While working as a young community organizer in the mid-1980s, working with a consortium of churches in a depressed neighborhood of Chicago, he became a Christian and became active in Trinity United Church of Christ.”


UCC President to Speak at Gay Megachurch
Gay Religion: news of religion and GLBT folks: 2 February, 2007

"The president of the largest Christian denomination to endorse gay marriage will officially welcome a Dallas gay mega-church as a member Sunday. The Rev. John H. Thomas of the United Church of Christ will be the first leader of a mainline denomination to address a predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregation when he preaches at the Cathedral of Hope, said The Rev. Jo Hudson, the cathedral's rector and senior pastor. The cathedral, which claims 4,300 members and will be the fourth-largest in the UCC, decided to join last year after the denomination endorsed gay marriage in 2005."


And Speaking of Texas Women
Is America Burning blog: February 91, 2007

"Four months ago, Baker was one of 71 people arrested during a protest in Washington for crossing a police line to sit on the steps of a Senate office building.

"Diane Baker, who has a degenerative muscle condition, had to work 8 hours in freezing weather.

"'I'm a rather fragile, small woman,' said Baker, a hospice chaplain at United Church of Christ in Dallas. "Being a minister, I offered to do counseling, but this is what they gave me."


Chicago pastor sentenced to 60 days in federal prison for SOA civil disobedience
United Church News (01-30-2007)

"The Rev. Don Coleman, a UCC minister in Chicago, was sentenced to 60 days in federal prison on Jan. 29 for trespassing at Fort Benning, Ga., during the annual protest of a military training school there."


Teen center paints pretty picture
The Connecticut Post: 1 February 2007

"Christine Parrella, 14, said a new teen center opening Friday at the United Church of Christ in Devon will be a great alternative for teenagers who typically hang out at the mall or walk around the neighborhood."


After the issues related to the United Church of Christ General Synod supporting gay marriage, including congregations leaving the United Church of Christ, the work I've done on UCC on the Net has reaffirmed to me why I am an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.