The Foreign Policy Debate

Well, I wanted to post my intial reactions to the first presidential debate before I forget them. First, I believe both candidates represented themselves and their view very well. (which is part of the problem, I think Bush simply has taken Foreign relations in the wrong direction!) Who won the debate? Hard to say, but in my opinion John Kerry came out with the strongest evidence and logic for his viewpoints. Remeber, this debate was purely on foreign relation issues. Here are a number of key points.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina, or "divine reading" is a night class I am taking at Dordt right now. As an alumni I am able to take one a semester for 90 dollars, so I couldn't pass it up. The main title of the class is Spiritual Formation and has been amazing. It really is about learning how to pray with and through the Scriptures. It is designed to deepen one's prayer life by binding scripture with prayer, getting beyond needs centered prayer, and for a slower reflection on life. It stems from the monk tradition and lifestyle and is a true discipline. The "Desert Fathers" (Henry Nouwen, etc) really developed the art and practice. We are memorizing scripture and then sharing those memorizations outloud to each other, and also writing Scriptured inspired prayers and Psalms. If I get the courage I may share some of these Psalms in the future.
The opportunity to learn reading, prayer, meditation, and then contemplation has really made my current work situation much more bareable. I now memorize scripture while working and find myself much more couragous at speaking out to people. Learning to pray continously and muttering Scriptures is easier in my work context of mindless factory work. One, plus side I guess.

Currently and this weekend

Sioux City Farmers Market Tomorrow morning to get 40 lbs of organic local beef for our West Hall cookout! Yup, trying to go local! It may be a first for a Dordt sponsored activity! We also plan on going to a factory fabric store that sells lots of end of roll pieces since I have started to learn how to sow . . . that is sow just monk style bags. They are the simplist most comfortable bags around and I plan on getting good at making them and then selling them eventually. They are made out of whatever fabric you desire. Well off and blessings dan P

Rebekah (Julie's Younger sister), Melissa a friend visiting us, and Julie!!

Garden Spice 

A new page again

Hello all, I have created this new Dan and Julie blog page because the other one was simply to complex for what I wanted to do right now. I was having technical problems with people posting and it was making the site irrelavant and a pain to fix. I simply don't know enough computer language yet, however, I will keep working at it. Till then, I will use this very user friendly approach. Generic, for now but it will come.