Signs of Spring and a Trip to Richmond

Yesterday I was in Richmond for a few hours, and to my amazement, there was snow on the ground!  On Sunday/Monday we had rain, Richmond had three inches of snow.  It was odd seeing blooming trees, and bulbs with the white stuff on the ground.  I wish now I had the presence of my mind to take a few pictures. Alas and the blossoms I did not.  as I drove there and back, I noted the bird songs I heard, and the blossoms I saw.  Forsythia, crab apple, pear, daffodil, hyacinth to mention a few.  I look forward to seeing the azalea and dogwood blossom.

My mind was on my purpose for being in Richmond.  An interview with the Admissions Director of  graduate program I have applied for. it went well I think.  The next step is for my application package to go before the admissions committee. I do not anticipate any issues at this point.  Some exciting news is they are retooling the Master of Divinity program, pending Association of Theological Schools approval.  I may take another look at that program in the next year.  For now I'm sticking with my application for the Master of Theological Studies degree. My interviewer is suggesting I need to have a conversation with the dean concerning transfer of my Clinical Pastoral Education Units into academic credits, especially if I transfer into the new M.Div.  I will pursue this, and I hope most if not all of the credits I have will transfer into my program. 
   
First though is the official  acceptance into the program must be attained. .


 

Monday Medley: Holy Week Edition

It Holy Week Monday.  Today begins Passover for my Jewish friends as well.  This week in many Christian churches there will be a service on Thursday call Maundy Thursday which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and his arrest. On Good Friday there are vigils commemorating the Crucifixion.  All leading up to Easter Sunday!  In honor of this week I want to share several songs with you Hope you enjoy
Have a great week!


 http://youtu.be/WBaEA0H02fI   All Glory laud and Honor (organ)



http://youtu.be/_ajFnnKFivY Hosanna Hillsong United.

http://youtu.be/EqmLkLDE82U  Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord Michael W. Smith

 http://youtu.be/FHrRJVjQCMw   Passover Seder Song

Gay In The News

Another State has legalized Same Sex Civil Unions!  Thank you Colorado! This brings the number of States with some form of legalized Same Sex Unions to eighteen. The forms of approved Same Sex Unions are marriage, Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships.  Its nice to know progress is being made on this front.  Though my preference is marriage, any movement toward same sex marriage is a positive development. 

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has defended the company's support of same-sex marriage.
Mr. Schultz stated the decision to back marriage equality was not for economic reasons, but for "respecting diversity." a very good reason, I like companies who value diversity. 

Chik Fil A, an update according to various sources, the company no longer supports or lobbies against Marriage Equality.  I may reevaluate my avoiding this Chicken.

Here is a link to a Stephen Colbert comment piece on the challenge to DOMA.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423360/january-30-2013/the-word---it-gets-worse

Happy Friday to All

Monday Medley: In Honor of St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day. .a day late.  For today I thought I would share an Irish song,  hope you enjoy.


http://youtu.be/8ozdTZjaZyE

So There Is A New Pope!

Though I am not Catholic,  I watched with interest for the selection of the new Pope. So now the selection has been made, Pope Francis is set to be officially installed next week. I like the name he selected for himself, Francis, obviously a nod to St Francis of Assisi.  I wonder what kind of leader he will turn out to be? How will the trappings of his office and power impact him as time goes by?  Well only time will tell.

He is the first Pope from this hemisphere! That is a good change, from Argentina, South America, I am told this area of the world has forty percent of the Catholics in the church.  I also understand the part of the world he is from holds to a liberation theology.  I wonder if or how that will carry over to his Papacy?    Again time will tell. 

Pope Francis is conservative, traditional which does not surprise me.  This means we will not see any movement on LGBT issues, female Priests, or other social issues. In Fact I read in Jeremy's blog,  My Side of the Street, his post  title New Pope Francis believes same-sex marriage and gay adoption are the Devil’s work, where the new Pope has made anti LGBT comments in the past.  I do not expect this to change.

So no surprise it will be the status quo. yet there maybe changes in other ways on other issues. As stated before only time will tell!

Monday Medley: Hand of Providence

Today is the beginning of my new position within the health system I work. Its a small promotion, but big to me. I will be in orientation, which is kind of odd as I am not a new employee. Its a step in the process. I thought an appropriate song for today would be this song by Michael W. Smith, "Hand of Providence"  A Scripture I want to share here that is meaningful to me and appropriate to the occasion. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

http://youtu.be/K2HbrNcfmYs

Hope you enjoy and this is meaningful to you!  Happy Monday!

A Reason To Celebrate!

Next week I begin a new position with one of the hospitals I work for.  I will have a change in my classification.  Which means guaranteed hours per pay period,  benefits. I will stay non exempt which is good since I will still have shift differential,  holiday pay when I work a holiday, and overtime.  (not that they allow overtime) Did I mention benefits?  Something I really need!

Most of my hours will be at the hub Hospital, but I will still work a shift hour at the smallest Hospital in our system.  This will give me more hours, and I will still work flex-pool for the other health system. I may need to reevaluate that but I like the idea of keeping my foot in the door there. 

This has been a long time in coming.  I am relieved, and very pleased! Next I have an interview for admission to the Master of Theology program I have applied to. I hope to start this in the summer, and that most of my credits will transfer. However, I have discovered my Clinical courses will not transfer which is a disappointment. Also I may not be able to take the pastoral counseling courses I want for my electives in this program.  Though it maybe allowed, I hope!  So if you pray please pray for that to be allowed. its part of the reason I chose this school and degree.

I want to celebrate!

Monday Medley: Usher

This Monday is a beautiful day. cold but sunny and bright.  Apparently we are supposed to have a major storm later this week.  Coming on a day I stay at one of our Hospitals, which means I maybe snowed in there! Guess I better go prepared, one nice thing about our area, snow does not last long.

Today I want to share a song by one of my favorite artists, Usher, I like his music, and his style, plus he is nice to look at. ;)

http://youtu.be/ZRXqQFXqXn8

Hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading my blog!  Hope you have a great week!

  

Self Acceptance or Self Hate.

There are a number blogs I follow, some publicly, a few privately. Usually, there is something in particular in the blog that draws me to keep checking and reading, sometimes commenting. A few I check and read daily.  There is one I read today which struck a chord in me, I want to highlight here. Its Rick Modien at This Gay Relationship.  He writes about his relationship with his husband of twenty plus years. In the post "Do The Work Now", he makes the point that until a gay person, comes to the place where he or she "learns to understand, accept, and love"  him or herself  how can  one accept and love that special someone?  Indeed this is true for anyone, straight or gay.

Rick has hit the nail on the head with this comment in his post. This is so important, somehow, some way there is a path to understanding and loving oneself as a gay person.  Otherwise, I think we can sabotage our relationships.   Self loathing only leads to self destructive behaviors, and destroys loving relationships

I recall when I finally came to the place where I found peace with my sexuality.  It was such a huge relief to me, I blogged about it here in a series of posts in 2008, then updated in 2010.  Yet the work continues. I don't think it is something that is ever complete, because I believe we evolve and grow.  Speaking for myself, I know its something I need to keep working on and growing.  For others it maybe something you need to grow through. 

The work is often not easy, otherwise it would not be called work!  How do you start?  One step at a time, one issue at a time find your path.    I encourage you as Rick says in his blog "do the work"

It's A Girl...the Day My Neice was Born

Today is my niece's Birthday!  She is married, has a very responsible job, and is a very creative person. She is the first born child to my sister, and grandchild to my mother. She is very special to our family. 

Today on her birthday,  there are a few historical events I want to mention.  On this date in 1638 the Scottish National Covenant was signed in Edinburg.  1784 the Methodist Church was chartered.  1935 Nylon is invented, In 1954, the first color TV is sold. 

Then today is the day Pope Benedict XVI abdicates his position. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!

 

A Hip First Lady and Tuesday News Items

On Jimmy Fallon's show our First Lady promoted the Lets Move program by dancing with Mr. Fallon.  I thought it was great! We have a cool and hip First Lady.  Mrs. Obama does great work promoting healthy living.  Hope you enjoy!

http://youtu.be/U5qr4ThoeQM


A Celebration is in the works! I will be receiving a small promotion (big to me) at one of the Health Systems I work for. This is welcome news!  Benefits, Benefits, Benefits!  What a relief that will be!  what shall I do to celebrate? Praise God.

Master's degree, I am waiting to hear from the school I applied to for finishing my graduate degree.  I am praying for good news in this area. I look forward to study and finishing my degree at this school.

Gay in the News, according the Huffington Post, and the New York Times, 75 republicans have signed a brief going before the Supreme Court, stating  same Sex marriage is a "constitutional right"
That is worthy of mention.

Investing News,  Investors appear to be moving money from fixed assets to equity assets.  I am following that trend in my Roth account.  I have made a plan to purchase specific stock positions this year, no plans for fixed in come investments at this point, but that is subject to revision. The companies I am purchasing positions in are for long term hold, and all have a history of paying dividends. I consider myself not just a small investor but a minuscule investor. A key for me is flexibility and responding to but not being ruled by market conditions.  Following a plan being long. unless short term speculation is part of the plan.  

My 403B account at work, I currently have 75% in an equity fund, 25% in a fixed income fund. I am looking at changing the mix to 15% fixed income and start allocating10% to a broad basket commodity fund.  This is a risky move but limits the risk exposure to 10%.  So I am thinking of making some combination of change.

Happy Tuesday







 

Monday Medley: In Honor of Oscar

Happy Monday!  The day after the all important Oscar awards.  Did I watch it all? No, do I follow the nominations and winners? Yes.  I like all the news stories surrounding the Oscars and the Red Carpet.

How about the weather?  I hope this pattern changes soon.  Fortunately I don't live in a snow prone area, however what we tend to get is sleet and icy conditions.  I would rather have snow than ice! The current weather pattern has foul and potentially winter weather hitting here every weekend. I'm on call every weekend!   So I don't like that! 

Please call your Congressional Representative and Senators! Let them know they need to come to a reasonable compromise to avoid the Sequestration.  Consider telling them to stop governing by self created crisis.  I am concerned it will create financial havoc for the average taxpayer/consumer. I hope they get to work do what we pay them to do and get something good accomplished. 

Today in honor of Oscar

I am sharing famous movies themes.   http://youtu.be/9S7EsAzITEs

Hope you enjoy.