Tag: Sacred-Secular Divide

Categories
Personal Posts

Celebrating St Patrick

St patricks day

Let’s play word association.  I say “St Patrick” and you might say “March 17,” “shamrock” (three leaf clovers), “Ireland,” “leprechaun,” or “adult beverages” with a green hue. To be cute, you might even answer with an Irish brogue.

Just like Christmas and Easter, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of religious origin, of which the original meaning has been largely obscured over time and altered by rampant commercialization. 

While the meaning of Christmas and Easter is not so completely hidden, the work and person of Patrick is largely unknown.

Let’s clear up some misconceptions. First, Patrick is not really a Saint (that is, not canonized by Rome). He was not Irish (he was English). And the whole thing about ridding Ireland of snakes is most assuredly mere myth.

Patrick did go to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He strategically targeted those in power for conversion, which had a ripple effect throughout the entire population. 

For up to 30 years, he traveled Ireland, promoting Christianity and setting up churches and monasteries. His impact was immense and profound.

It is believed he died on March 17, hence marking the day that we commemorate his life of service and accomplishment—largely by celebrating the myth that surrounds him.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

My Favorite Pen

favorite pen

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have a favorite pen. And I am quite attached to her.

Although I have a couple dozen in my desk drawer, I only have one on my desk—my favorite—her.

I know that you’re not supposed to have favorites, because it can really mess up the other pens and make them feel inferior. But the way I look at it, that’s okay, because they are!

My pen and I have been together for several years, now. I picked her up at a trade show booth. Her label reminds me of where she came from.

As pens go, though, she’s a bit odd. Her barrel is not round as with most, but triangular. Perhaps it’s her uniqueness that draws me to her.

A while back, she ran out of ink. I did what I had to in order to save her—I performed a transplant. Soon she was as good as new.

Last Thursday, the unthinkable happened.

She disappeared. I held her as I lay down a book and the next thing I knew, she was gone. This had never happened before. As soon as I realized it, I immediately stopped work and searched in vain.

I retraced my steps and looked in every conceivable hiding place—two or three times. I kept thinking that when I found her, I would remember leaving her there. But that was not to be.

Eventually I had to accept that she was gone. I pulled a replacement out of the drawer, but it wasn’t the same; it wasn’t her. Each time I went to write, I was painfully reminded of my loss.

Then today, a surprise of surprises happened. Sitting at my desk, I reached for a pen—and it was her. She came back. I didn’t ask where she’d been or what she’d done.

I was just glad to see her again and accepted her back without question.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

How Many People Does it Take to Install a Printer?

printer

As I mentioned on Valentines Day, I bought my bride a printer to express my deep and abiding love. That’s quite romantic of me, but I can’t help it; that’s just the way I am.

I actually hooked up the printer early—I had plenty else planned for V-Day itself.

My intent was to get up early Saturday morning and have a working printer before she ventured out of the bedroom.

How hard could it be to hook up a printer? Unbox it, connect the cables, turn it on, and boot the computer. Just “plug and play.” I’ve hooked up printers many times before—in a couple of minutes. 

Yet this effort took more than three hours. I was not a happy camper.

The install was anything but straight-forward. Twice I was prompted for the install disk, I had to download several updates, and then there were “dueling windows” to contend with. My quandary was which one to do first. 

Was it more important to “reboot now,” click “OK to continue,” or allow the update file to continue downloading?

Then there was way too much time wasted on installing the ink cartridges. My unit’s insides simply did not match the picture. I pushed, prodded, and probed, but could not ascertain were to insert the messy little contraptions. 

Eventually I determined that the carriage that holds the buggers was hidden under a panel on the far left of the unit, when it was supposed to be in plain sight on the far right.

Never mind that the instructions and diagram failed to even hint at the possibility of this annoying anomaly.

However, way before the test sheet printed, my bride appeared. She was a bit dismayed, unsure of what she should do or say—all the while sensing that anything would be the wrong thing. 

Frustrated and flummoxed, I was certainly not in the proper frame of mind to romantically convey my true love for her with words of eloquence or a clever printout of a red heart.

Once again, my efforts at romance failed—this time, stymied by an obstinate printer.

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

Wanna Wok?

wok

A couple of weeks ago my wife took me out for my birthday. The actual date of the event had long passed, but that’s okay; that’s how we do things.

Precise timing is not important to us, as long as it is eventually celebrated. Sometimes we’re several months late, but if it’s within six, it’s all good.

More than six months means we’re no longer late, but actually early for the next year.

Anyway, she took me to one of my favorite restaurants, bd’s Mongolian Barbeque. In fact, as far as restaurant chains go, it is my favorite. (At this point, it’s regional, so if it’s not in your area, why don’t you open one?)

At bd’s, you create your own recipe: select the items you want, in the quantity you want, and watch their grill masters turn it into a stunning stir-fry delight.

Aside from immensely enjoying a birthday treat, I also had a secondary agenda. You see, for Christmas, I was given a super duper deluxe gourmet wok.

My mission was to take more careful notice of how things were done at bd’s, with the intent of doing my own stir-fry thing at home, in my work.

Well, tonight was the night. Although I fell short of duplicating the total bd experience (highly attentive customer service with a touch of attitude from their grill masters), I did create a meal that delighted my taste buds and filled my stomach with contented bliss.

I should have stopped with the first helping and the second one put me over the top. I am so full but still craving one more delicious bite.

Wait a minute. There are leftovers in the frig. Gotta go!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

Trimming the Tree

Trimming the Tree

Last week we packed up our Christmas decorations, took down the lights (we couldn’t think of a good place to hang “mood lights“), and over the weekend, we trimmed the tree.

Say, what?

Yes, we trimmed the tree.  The first time we “trimmed” it was to put the lights on.  The second time we trimmed it was to get rid of it!

Yes, we really trimmed it. The tree was about twice as wide as our doorway.  It wasn’t going out the same way it came in, so we had to get creative. 

The bonus was that we enjoyed the tree once more, as it warmed our living room with its cheery glow.

(Kids, don’t try this at home. Leave it to your crazy parents—who know just how dangerous it is.)

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

The Christmas Five

the christmas five.

I gained five pounds over the Christmas holiday—and it’s all my wife’s fault. Really; it is.

A few days before Christmas, she, code named “the Queen of Desserts,” went on a baking spree, producing a bodacious bevy of delectable desserts that would have put a bakery to shame.

Ah! So much to enjoy. So little time.  What was I to do?

First, I attacked the Rice Krispie Treats; soft, tasty and good for you, too.  After all, they’re made of cereal and cereal is good for you, ergo Treats are good for you.  I don’t want to say that I ate them all — so I won’t.

The pecan bars, a personal favorite, caught my eye next.  They were so rich, however, that I invoked a self-imposed two-a-day limit.

Then there were sugar cookies, puppy chow, chocolate chip cookies, macaroon kiss cookies, cheese fudge, ginger bread cookies, and a birthday cake for Jesus. 

After all, Jesus is what Christmas is all about. It sounds a bit corny, but we even sing happy birthday to him. At some point, a light-hearted discussion ensues.

I say that somewhere in the Bible it mentions Jesus likes yellow cake with lemon frosting; my wife assures me his preference is chocolate.

Anyway, until I dispatch the desserts, there is no chance I will lose the five pounds. Right now we are down to the gingerbread man cookies. 

Wait, I want to be politically correct. Let me check. Yes, they are all men! How do I know? By comparing them to the icons on most public restrooms—none of these cookies are wearing dresses!

So, the gingerbread cookies are my least fave, but until they are properly dealt with (a euphemism for eaten), there is little chance of me losing my Christmas five.

Until then, happy snacking!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

[The photo at the top of this page is courtesy of https://ledlightstation.com.]

Categories
Personal Posts

Chiefs Win!

hockey

I didn’t have time to post anything last night, but I have a good excuse.

Son Dan’s hockey team was playing for their men’s league championship.  They won 8 to 0, for an undefeated season. 

Their opponent, having notched upset overtime victories in their first two playoff games, played admirably, but simply ran out of steam by the time they reached the finals.

Dan is the Chief’s goalie—their only goalie. As such, he played every minute of every game.

This is unlike most of his prior hockey experience, where he shared net minder duties with multiple goalies—sometimes as many as three others.

For men’s league, fan backing is minimal. Most players skate without the support of family and friends. A wife or two occasionally shows up, sometimes with kids in tow. 

For others, a girlfriend cheers them on. In the game, last night, Dan’s contingency outnumbered all the other fans combined.

Most of the action was on the opposite end of the ice and Dan didn’t have much to do (which is not his preference; he likes to be kept busy). 

When called upon, he responded admirably, keeping the puck out of the net throughout the entire contest.

I get tense when Dan is playing and the game is close. This, however, was a game I could thoroughly enjoy: an early lead was established, there is little doubt as to the outcome, and Dan played with excellence!

Yea!  The Chiefs win the championship!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

“R” You Ready?

pronunciation

After another post, considering how words are used—and misused—my thoughts turned to how words are pronounced—and mispronounced.

I, for one, have a “flexible” pronunciation style. For any word possessing more than two syllables, I am seemingly able to enunciate it in at least two different ways—sometimes within the same sentence.

Amazingly, I have not had to practice this skill; it just comes naturally.

In fact, placing emphasis on the wrong syllable occurs so effortlessly that when I try to avoid alternate articulations, I often invent a third utterance.

In this regard, the letter “r” is of special interest to me. When I was a lad, I pronounced “wash” by inserting an “r” in the middle, as in “warsh.”

Most of the time this was’’t a big deal; I think there was a local predilection to “warsh” things.

However, at age ten we moved a scant 15 miles west. There, nobody wanted to “warsh” anything; I faced all manner of ridicule and humiliation over my proclivity to “warsh.”

Although it took a concerted effort, I was eventually able to lose the “r” and I began to “wash” like everyone else.

Other people habitually interject an “r” into idea, as in “idear.” This usage is as odd to me as my “warshing” was to my friends growing up.

Then there are those folks who have a penchant for dropping “r”s.  For example “car” becomes “ca” and “bar” becomes “ba.” For example, did you drive your “ca” to the “ba”? P

ersonally, I admire the concise brevity of this approach, though I have yet to adapt that style.

It could be that the misplaced “r”s in the “cas” got used when they were “warshed.” There’s a certain symmetry here that I can appreciate.

Any “idear” where it’s extra “r” came from?

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

It Melted!

it melted

I mentioned that, from my perspective, the ideal winter was for it to snow on Christmas Eve and melt the day after New Year’s Day. In an uncharacteristically Michigan-winter manner, I got my wish! (At least so far.)

After about 12 inches of snow over New Year’s weekend, the temperatures began to rise, eventually shooting up to historic highs. Yesterday, January 7, topped out at 63 and today was in the high fifties.

This morning my bride witnessed a man driving with his convertible top down.

All the snow has indeed melted. Compare this to the same scene a scant 5 days earlier, on Jan 2.  Notice that there is still a green tint to some of the grass.

It even felt like spring (which is my favorite time of year). I couldn’t let such an unexpected opportunity go to waste, so I spent part of my lunch hour outside doing a bit of raking and picking up fallen branches.

For those who take this unexpected heat-wave as one more confirmation of global warning, do not be so easily convinced, as the temperatures are predicted to plummet tomorrow, with the rain turning to snow towards the weekend.

So the winter weather will soon be back and everything will again be as it should be. Until that happens, I will be thankful for a brief reprieve from winter snow and for the tantalizing glimpse of spring.

Onward!

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Personal Posts

Let It Snow!

let it snow

Over the holidays, friends from southern California made a surprise visit. Although my buddy grew up in Michigan, complete with it’s snowy winters, his bride and their three sons are California-raised. 

As such, snow is a greatly hoped for occurrence during any Christmas-time visit. This year did not disappoint.

With only mild embarrassment they admitted to becoming distracted by the awe-inspired beauty of the snow in the mall parking lot. 

Pictures were taken of the fluffy white precipitation and a spontaneous snowball fight erupted. 

People were staring, but they didn’t care. The snow was too glorious and joy abounded. (It is inconceivable that I would ever use “joy” and “snow” in the same sentence.)

They hoped for more snow—and the opportunity to take more pictures. I am pleased to say that they got their wish!

As a winter-jaded Michigander, I approach the snow season a little less enthusiasm each year. Yes, I want snow, but it doesn’t need to last for three or four months.

For me, the ideal schedule is for it to snow on Christmas Eve and melt the day after News Years Day. 

Do you like this post? Want to read more? Check out Peter’s book, Bridging the Sacred-Secular Divide: Discovering the Spirituality of Every Day Life, available wherever books are sold.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.