{breakdance joy}

It seems weird to ask people to pray for a denomination, but I think it's not a bad thing to ask for.  I guess people ask for prayer for churches that are going through hard times, and so I might as well ask for prayer for the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA).  The PCA is the denomination that ordained and called my father into ministry and they have for a long time held to Biblical principles.  I memorized much of the Shorter Catechism when I was short enough to use the piano bench as a table.  I still love turning to the Westminister Confession of Faith when in need of some intellectual spiritual exercising.

Despite all my fondness for the PCA, human systems and human programs can err.  I am afraid the PCA is going down a path (regarding women's roles) that they will never return from - and a path, I should remark that we've seen many other denominations take.  I hope my fears come to nothing, but we could all use a little more time on our knees (I speak for myself) and starting with a denomination and praying for your local church, your family, your friends to all be enlightened by the Bible is a good thing indeed.

You can read more at Chris's website here: http://reformation21.blogspot.com/2009/10/hermeneutical-framework-recently-i-had.html

I'm hard away studying for our huge infectious diseases exam of bugs, drugs, immunology, malnutrition, etc.  Anyway, brain food is required to stay on task and classical music feeds my soul in a way that I can't describe.  I don't know what people have against classical, but I love it.  When I was little I would lay on the large persian rug in our living room surrounded by my parent's antique (old, at least :)) furniture, turn on the classical radio station with speakers on the floor, and close my eyes.  It was a game to imagine the music telling a story.  I always loved depicting epic battles with Chronicle of Narnia characters or Romans or some other fanciful creatures.  Crescendos would rise as battles would grow heated, eventually peaking in the victor standing gracefully over the defeated.

I'm not quite as imaginative anymore, but I still love closing my eyes and getting transported into a story by music performed well enough.  On my favorite classic track of late is Mozart's Symphony 5 in B flat - the first movement is best...

so i thought i had wanderlust licked, but somehow it creeps up on me out of nowhere and i have an extreme urge to travel.  sometimes it's when i'm driving home and i wonder if i just kept driving where i would end up.  i must be an absolute weirdo, but that's just the way it is.  sometimes it's when i'm at the grocery purchasing necessary items like food, and i think about how much i would pay for the same item in a different place, let's call it Y.  then i feel like not buying whatever it is because i tell myself if i save up enough maybe i could actually go to Y.  sometimes the feeling is so strong it's like i walked under a waterfall, othertimes it's just like the drizzle-rain that feels like the heavens are spitting on you - either way it's uncalled for.  but i sigh, and try to push the thoughts down again.

my friend Katie is in the philippines where a typhoon hit and has caused major disaster in manilla.  indonesia just had a massive earthquake killing hundreds.  another typhoon has leveled villages in cambodia, where Kate Pieps had been, and southeast asia.  i hear about these things and again i'm called to travel for a much more concrete reason -- all i want to do is go and help!!

not now.  not now.  hold off.  just pray for them.  that's all you can do.

This weekend, after a successful completion of our neurology domain earlier in the week, my roomate Meridith and I took an evening off.  Mer's a huge fan of Ethiopian food and claims the restaurant in Ann Arbor has the best she's had in many places (NY, OR, TX, MI).  So I went not knowing what to expect, and was enthralled by Injera (the special dipping bread made from Teff).  It was so delicious and I was happily surprised to discover that there might be more great "firsts" out there for me to try than I had thought. [My list of firsts generally includes only travel destinations or animals to ride... but, food! What a delicious new category!]

After we went to a concert at the Michigan Theater, which is a beautiful gold-guilded, old-fashioned theater in the downtown area.  Beach House opened and had me swaying and tapping to their indie-style chillaxin music.  The main singer has a voice from another era, with its sultry depth and easy flow she was a perfect match for the calming instrumentals.  Here's a taste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I8t0bxS8HE&feature=player_embedded

Next Grizzly Bear played, and while their music is good, I didn't quite enjoy it as much.

But yeah, Ethiopian food - if you haven't tried it... you should!