Sunday Rushed

Sunday disappeared in a rush of things. I rose at 8, and the coffee was waiting for me. This is a local roast I picked up at the veggie stand at the 185th and TV Highway corner. I have to grind it myself. It is bitter and reminds me of all the things we liberals have yet to finish. Justice with compassion is not something you always find in the USA or the world.

I started the blog, but today was church, and I spent time with Deborah. I did not finish the blog before I had to dress and leave for church. There I ushered and had a run-in with a homeless guy who nearly tripped without his cane, he blamed me for that (he left in a pew), and accused me of trying to kill him to anyone who would listen. I stayed back; he is harmless. My presence was causing him to react, and so I left after the service to calm him down.

Pastor Ken delivered the sermon, covering more of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. I consider the text to be splattered with blood as it has been used to justify denying science, philosophy, history, and even to force convert people; I don’t teach it. Ken explains that he sees the connection to such horrors as the Destruction of the Great Alexander Library, but he thinks it is wrong and that the Letter to Colossians should not be used to justify such horrors. Paul, in his studies, is not anti-intellectual but is defending the Faith from the Greek Philosophers at the time who denied any divine influence over the world. In Ken’s understanding, Paul is not anti-intellectual or denying history, but saying that we need to remember that the divine is part of our world.

Ken also reminded us that Methodists were more laity-driven in the past and that the focus on program and preachers is new and may not be serving us well. Before, the focus was on learning, serving, and well, the method. Now it is a polished music program, excellent sermons, and a feeling of well-being, not service. Ken suggests we have lost something and should return to service, focusing less on programs and polished services.

I found lunch at the Lake Oswego Grill in Beaverton and had a Monte Cristo that was excellent; this was part of their Sunday brunch menu. I finished the blog there and stuck to iced tea. I do not need the extra calories or the nap from a beer. Air VW the Gray got me home, and I spent some time reading, organizing the house, and starting to pack.

It was over 95°F (35°C) and I watered the roses and cut some for M@’s wife, Niki. I try to bring some roses from my collection when we play Dungeons & Dragons. The roses faded somewhat after being cut, but still were good when I got them there in the early evening.

The gaming was excellent, and the whole group was there. We surprised the DM, M@, by quickly sliding through a few parts of his planned adventures. We are an untraditional mix of character types, and we have followed a more hit-and-run tactic seen in the original version of Dungeons & Dragons. Get the loot and run.

We finished at 9, and I was soon home. I read for a while, did some more packing, and went to bed. I had trouble sleeping. Waking for proof of hydration and leg cramps. I drank some water with one of the packets in it, and that stopped most of the issues.

Thanks for reading.