Half Revealed

Hear ye, hear ye

2006-12-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

****EDIT: Please note even newer URL. The one previously listed has locked us out, so we had to move yet again. Sorry for any confusion****

We are moved. I am done. Christmas is over. Sleep is marvelous.

Really, it's been the quietest holiday ever. Airline prices were too high to travel to Texas and we went to New York around the 15th. So, Christmas morning was just us, sleeping in, opening presents, and cooking omelettes. The peace is good for setting up house - the new apartment is amazing. We did have a bit of excitement with a pipe breaking late at night in the middle of Pride and Prejudice, but I learned that a hairdryer is a necessary tool for any plumber.

As of today, I will be switching URLs to one that suits my new name. Please update any links to http://danielandwhitney.blogspot.com/. Happy New Year!

2006-12-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

Putting together a home isn't easy, especially if you're doing it bits at a time because you're broke. This week I realized our new apartment needed curtains for its new but very large-and-see-through doors. I went to the fabric store to find a cheap but nice solution. An hour later, I emerged in shock. 20 bucks a yard for something I had to make myself wasn't going to work. I even tried the clearance racks, but found nothing.

So I went to the nuclear option. I went to Wal-mart.

For the price of three yards of fabric at the other store, I found two pre-made curtains of gorgeous redness and a matching curtain rod. Capitalism is a beautiful thing.

Well...

2006-11-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

I'm alive. My posting habits will be interupted, if non-existent, for several weeks. Within less than a month, I have two credits (last PHC credits!) to finish up, Spanish to not fail, and a move to Leesburg to complete.

2006-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Why Saddam's trial was fair and the next two months won't be fun for him.

History

2006-11-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

This is the first time I've ever seen R. J. Rushdooney's name on a site other that Doug Phillip's blog (which, by the way, I don't recommend). This from Slate:

If you think about it, though, the impending theocracy thesis was never really sustainable. Books about the Christian right written by ex-evangelicals or secular Jews tend to make two points: 1) Be afraid, be very afraid. And 2) Boy, aren't they weird? The best example of this is Michelle Goldberg's Kingdom Coming. After reading the first couple of chapters of her book, you will rush downstairs and bolt your doors because "something dark is loose," as she puts it. The seed of darkness, Goldberg explains, is R.J. Rushdoony, a Christian nationalist who advocated Christian dominion over America, the idea that pushed the Christian right into politics in the late 1970s.

From there the argument proceeds biblically. Rushdoony begat Jerry Falwell, Falwell begat George W. Bush, and Bush begat your one-way ticket to Canada. There's only one problem with this logic. Have you ever seen Rushdoony, or read a lot of his writing? He looks like the ayatollah. He advocated the death penalty for homosexuals, blasphemers, heretics, people who cursed or hit their parents, and probably Howard Stern. Even some Falwell associates once wrote an open letter calling him "scary." I'd bet a lot of money that any presidential candidate who had kind words for Rushdoony would lose a two-way race to Lenora Fulani.

You gotta love the "begat" sentence. But the author is right. The timeline is there. Those who don't know about Rushdoony should learn. The heritage of evengelical Christianity may be frightening, but being honest helps.

Election week

2006-11-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Anywhere I go, the election haunts me. My office, my daily journalism readings, and even my inbox (both electronic and physical) are full of reasons to vote this way or that. Most of it goes in the trash (either electronic or physical). I'm more cynical this year - blame it on watching Wag the Dog this week and talking to too many PHC graduates.

That said, I am enjoying good political analysis. A minor in this stuff is good for something. This morning, I picked up the New Republic (the cover with Bush sporting a halo was too good to pass up) and read Alan Wolfe's review of Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction by David Kuo. These paragraphs caught my eye:

The fact that Kuo saw an equivalence between opposition to slavery and opposition to abortion says volumes about the difficulty that so many evangelicals have in making sharp distinctions. Many evangelicals insist to this day that their campaign against abortion is the moral equivalent of the abolitionist campaign against slavery. Those leaders were evangelicals, too; they point to such figures as Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose father was indeed the leading evangelical preacher of his era. They also sided with the weak against the powerful. They were as uncompromising with respect to their principles as leaders of the religious right are today. Regrettably, some anti-abortion activists resort to violence, but so, after all, did John Brown. Right-wing Republicans today are finishing the business begun by yesterday's social reformers.
Are they really? Equating abortion and slavery is the kind of analogy that appeals to people who prefer sincerity to reality. Let us grant that today's anti-abortion activists are as sincere in their desire to prevent the destruction of fetuses as William Lloyd Garrison was in his desire to abolish the South's peculiar institution. But everything else about the analogy falls apart. Slavery was a social system that trapped its victims through coercion and custom; abortion is the result of a decision made by an individual. People argue about whether a fetus is a full human being; but no one, as Abraham Lincoln liked to point out, disputed whether a slave was. Abortion represents a clash between two goods, the right of personal autonomy and the potential birth of a human being; slavery was evil and represented no good at all. Pro-life activists have every right to mobilize themselves on behalf of their political beliefs, but they do not have the right to claim historical predecessors so different from themselves. True of any contemporary group in general, this is especially true of evangelicals in particular. White Southerners whose favorite politicians appeal to latent Confederate sensibilities are not exactly in the best position to claim the moral mantle of those who understood, quite correctly, that the existence of slavery in the Southern states was a rebuke to every principle for which America stood.

It's an interesting point and one that I'm still chewing on. Kao ultimately came to the belief that abortion was nothing like slavery and was not even murder. But is the analogy faulty in other ways? What does this analogy look like if, unlike what Wolfe says, abortion was a clash between one evil thing (personal autonomy for the sake of personal autonomy) and one beautiful thing (new life)?

2006-11-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

I've discovered a new way to torture students. When papers, quizzes, and readings don't seem to do the trick, have them take a three-hour midterm. I haven't taken a test that long since the SAT and that was in 2001.

on pause

2006-10-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

Life is on pause for a few days as I have my Spanish III midterm on the first. Previous attempts weren't successful, so prayer would be appreciated. I would like to graduate someday.

everything is normal

2006-10-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy few days, and in between work, school, and cleaning up botched plumbing (see below), life goes on.

Sunday = church, lunch with Matt and Jeff at Quiznos while trying to keep the wind from blowing our food away, Christmas shopping at the outlets, and Loudoun Symphony Concert (Mozart, Dvorak, and Rachmaninov, all good music. The pianist was like a child's picture of one. He had a shock of long grey hair and he flopped it around like a puppet when he played. A boy in front of me giggled and I wanted to). The day was complete with a trip to Laura's place, where we enjoyed a hayride through the gorgeous backwoods of Loudoun and a bonfire in the woods. I had forgotten that you could see stars in this county.

Monday = writing, school, spanish. The handyman came over to see why our laundry room floor was always wet. After tearing into the wall between that room and the kitchen, the problem was found. The drainage from the dishwasher and the sink (disposal material, complete with the food of your choice) was flowing directly into the wall. The house reeked of rotten food. I remember the bug problem we were having in that area. I asked him if this would cause maggots to come up the sink, and he said yes. "Then it wasn't my cleaning! Oh, I have to tell Mom!"

Our only other instructions: "Don't use the sink for anything." We had pizza for dinner.

Tuesday = work, finding out we're officially moving (to Leesburg, December 15), and the handyman comes back. He fixes the plumbing and we just wait for the mold and the water to dry up. It's a good thing the food is in the spare bedroom and not in the pantry (also in the laundry room). Instructions are to watch for more leaks and douse in Lysol. Since everything was in a wreck, we declared Asian night by grabbing dinner at the local Panda Express and watching Memoirs of a Geisha.

Now, I'm just paranoid about using the sink. I'm so glad we rent.

So yeah

2006-10-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a writer, a photographer, and a drummer.

I have the first one down, I'm saving up for the second, and the third, well, I've got the rest of my life to learn.

Hating the Options

2006-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Brent at Colossians Three Sixteen has a great post about being a Christian in a nation with a two-party system. When I read quotes like a recent one from the Post ("The redder they are, the harder they fall") in light of recent Republican leaders gone sour, it's hard to know how to vote come November.

I appreciate several things about Brent's piece:

First, he admits that America is a two-party nation. I've studied this in school and I appreciate the accuracy of this statement. Blame it on VanBuren, but it's that way for many reasons (including human nature). Sorry.

Second, he isn't afraid to mention the "P" word: pragmatism. When neither party is what you want, why not go for the "lesser of two evils?" Having two parties does put those parties pretty much smack in the middle of big issues. It's unavoidable.

Third, he doesn't end with the "P" word. I'll let his words sum it up:

This idea of choosing the “lesser of two evils” is simply not Scriptural, and as some of you have pointed out, evil is still evil (not that the two parties are necessarily truly evil). Christians are not free to guage life by pragmatism, even when it’s the expected norm. There might very well be times when neither party is completely compatible with a Christian worldview. However, we must not sway to the other end of the spectrum and begin calling for a theonomist position of government. Certainly the early church, following the footsteps of not only Paul but of Jesus Himself did not seek overthrow or control of the government.

Throughout the history of the church, most Christians seem to have focused on living the most God-honoring lives possible, heeding Scripture’s warnings to honor those in authority over them when biblical (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13-25, etc.). Democracy seems to have muddied the waters quite a bit because Christians will, by nature (I hope), vote based on Scriptural guidelines when they are clear. The problem for many is that there is then no clear “Christian” political party, and that’s probably a good thing. While I do think that there are particular issues that Christians cannot compromise (abortion among them), I am not one of those who think that to be Christian in America means to be Republican.

In a democratic process, how are we to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21) when in a sense, we are Caesar? We can vote in such a way to strive after the goal of government actually being good stewards to begin with. We can vote to protect the innocent, to limit government, to promote religous freedom. There are many ways to “vote your Christian conscience.”

There is no easy solution, as he points out, but the answer is neither straight-up pragmaticism or joining the Constitution Party (Thank God. I'd rather be a Democrat.)

Words that shouldn't shape

2006-10-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

In light of Christianity Today's list of books that shape evangelicals, Purgatorio has published a list of 50 books you shouldn't read. Some I disagree with, but over all, it's a beautiful sight. Marc Heinrich says this about the list:

"These are books that have influenced evangelicalism that one should generally steer clear of due to errant theology, outright heresy, just plain lousy writing, being extremely dated, your own time stewardship or a combination thereof. I’m not saying these shouldn’t be read at all, some cover issues that need to be addressed, but don’t go here for soul food."

In No Particular Order:

1. The Satan Seller - Mike Warnke
2. Good Morning Holy Spirit - Benny Hinn (I actually just learned who this is)
3. Left Behind - Tim Lahaye and Larry Jenkins
4. Your Best Life Now - Joel Osteen
5. Letters to a Skeptic - Gregory Boyd
6. Wild at Heart - John Eldredge
7. I’m OK, You’re OK - Thomas Harris
8. The Ryrie Study Bible
9. The Scofield Reference Bible
10. The Weigh-Down Diet - Gwen Shamblin
11. Living Positively One Day At a Time - Robert Shuller
12. Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture - John Shelby Spong
13. Absolutely Free - Zane Hodges
14. Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith - Marcus J. Borg
15. Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why - Bart D. Ehrman
16. The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant - John Dominic Crossan
17. The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? The Search for the AUTHENTIC Words of Jesus - Robert W. Funk
18. Christ Versus Religion - Witness Lee
19. The Prayer of Jabez - Bruce Wilkinson (not to mention he didn't really write it!)
20. The Laws of Prosperity - Kenneth Copeland
21. The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart - Peter J. Gomes
22. The Late Great Planet Earth - Hal Lindsey with C. C. Carlson
23. Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell
24. The Openness of God: The Relationship of Divine Foreknowledge and Human Free Will - Richard Rice
25. A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity - Spencer Burke
26. Institute for Basic Youth Conflicts Manual - Bill Gothard (haha! someone finally admits it)
27. A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation - Gustavo Gutiérrez
28. Revolution - George Barna (the blogging community hates this one)
29. The Bible Code - Michael Drosnin
30. Discovered: Noah’s Ark - Ron Wyatt
31. The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
32. Effective Biblical Counseling - Larry Crabb
33. Battlefield of the Mind - Joyce Meyer
34. The ELCA Gender-Neutral Hymnal
35. The Lost Message of Jesus - Steve Chalke (the British version of emergent leader McLaren)
36. The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence - John Sanders
37. The Grace of God and the Will of Man - Clark H. Pinnock
38. The Oneness of God - David K. Bernard
39. Woman Thou Art Loosed - T.D. Jakes
40. Jerusalem Countdown - John Hagee (this one's for Dad)
41. What Love is This? - Dave Hunt
42. Chosen But Free - Norm Geisler (This being on the list made my day gorgeous. I had to read and use this book for school. It's terrible writing, terrible logic, and terrible overall.)
43. King James, His Bible, and Its Translators - Laurence Vance
44. Jonathan Edwards 1703 - 1758 A Biography - Ola Elizabeth Winslow
45. Uprooting the Spirit of Fear - Creflo A. Dollar
46. The Beautiful Side of Evil - Johanna Michaelsen
47. Tithing: A Call to Serious, Biblical Giving - R T Kendall
48. Experiencing the Presence of God - Charles G. Finney (don't get Daniel started on Finney)
49. Why Churches Die - Ergun Caner and Mac Brunson
50. Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith - Anne Lamott

A few comments

2006-10-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

My husband Daniel has accused me in the last week of being a blog addict. I laughed. It's true - I spend over an hour almost every day blog cruising. It's a blast and the changing content is perfect for my ADD tendencies. So it's official - I'm hooked. My favorite ones on are the link list, but I go further on occasion. Just those alone is enough to spend lots of time online.

Most of y'all know that Daniel and I share a reformed faith. Over the past couple of years, I've come to really appreciate the heritage of this faith which is influenced by my husband, parents, and grandparents (who are not reformed, but still an influence) as well as writers and thinkers such as Luther, Kuyper, D.A. Carson, Grudem, Piper, and various preachers at Sovereign Grace. I find my worldview "clicking" fully with my theology and the combination is more potent than I thought possible.

This fact combined with my web travels makes for great learning. Where else can you find sermons both 100 years old and 12 minutes old? Where else can you find what Piper says about Driscoll? It's instant, accessible commentary and I'm loving the learning curve. And I've learned quite a bit - last week, I took a "which reformed blogger are you?" quiz. I understood all the jokes and laughed like crazy. That doesn't necessarily prove I'm learning, but it does prove the time I'm online and trust me, I'm learning.

God bless the internet.

Guarded Praise

2006-10-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

Reading through Brian McLaren's book with the arrogant and completely lame title, (A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN), I found this quote:

"In terms of intellectual rigor, I believe that Reformed Christianity is the highest expression of a modern Christianity, which is a sincere compliment - and a gentle warning, too. If we are moving beyond modernity in general, then the forms of Christianity that have most successfully adapted themselves to the assumptions and thought patterns of modernity are in the most trouble."

McLaren's presupposition is, of course, that modernity is in trouble and so is every local church that follows its epistemology. However, if you don't accept this presupposition, the quote is praise indeed. I was almost touched.

words that shape

2006-10-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of most Christian magazines. Go figure, I write for them. Consider it a bad personal joke that's too difficult to explain.

That aside, I got a sample copy of Christianity Today's recent edition. One of the cover articles is The Top 50 Books that have Shaped Evangelicals. The list reveals a lot about evangelicals: their weaknesses for theology and intellectualness, their strength of missions, and democratic tendencies to read the same books as the next person in their Sunday School class. Most likely they are the same titles you read in high school - I found I have read a good percentage of the list. Consider some of the more interesting titles and authors:

#48 - The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill (possibly my favoritest book while growing up)
#45 - The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark A. Noll (I was impressed this one actually made the list)
#43 - Operation World by Patrick Johnstone (Ok, who hasn't seen this one on their parent's bookshelves?)
#42 - The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren (ahem, no comment will be given)
#41 - Born Again by Charles Colson
#39 - Desiring God by John Piper
#37 - God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill (another childhood favorite)
#36 - Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (again, no comment will be given)
#34 - This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (another ex-favorite)
#32 - The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
#27 - Christy by Catherine Marshall (dumb book, dumb TV series)
#16 - Basic Christianity by John Stott
#13 - Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell (who wasn't given a McDowell book for their high school graduation? I think I had three)
#9 - Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot (a good writer, I must say)
#6 - The Living Bible (frightening)
#5 - Knowing God by J.I. Packer
#4 - The God Who is There by Francis Schaeffer
#3 - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (of course)

Would you add any others?

random

2006-09-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

When you're married, you can have insane conversations like this and be ok with it:

Whitney: Instead of having a kid, we should just get a pair of iPods.*
Daniel: (laughing) Because you can shut an iPod off and go to sleep?
Whitney: Sure. It doesn't require diapers and it likes rock and roll. What do you think?
Daniel: (laughing) Sure. It doesn't eat anything . You just have to feed it a diet of songs. But if you're broke, you can just skip a few feedings.

*Please note that this does not mean we are making plans anytime soon. This statement is not to be construed as such. It merely reflects the listing of iPods on our Christmas lists.

Writing tips from Orwell

2006-09-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to
seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of
an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

From Orwell's essay Politics and the English Language
HT: Justin Taylor

Is Edwards your homeboy?

2006-09-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you work in the District, are interested in religion of any sort, and go to PHC, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Grace Community, or any Baptist church, you have to read this.

And then tell me what you think about it.

Going public

2006-09-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm being published. You could say that the publisher is a small husband-wife team working with the local office supply company. Still, it's going public with 19,000 words that I've spent 190 hours writing. 100 wph, 10 credits, and 60 copies later, I have a work of umm, some thickness.

Wednesday, I will fly leave Dulles Airport a student and arrive in Nashville an author. I will spend the next five days smoozing and promoting my work. I can't imagine anything more terrifying. Why is finessing a sentence more rewarding to me than that? Still, the thrill of having a dedication page is worth it.

Dedication
To Daniel,
Because you believed I could do this and
because you gave me the inspiration in the first place.
I love you, Yankee.

I'm still packing suits and pumps so I don't reveal my status as a college senior with a severe introverted nature and lack of confidence. I can't wait to get home and do some more word wrestling. After all, I'm an author, not a PR agent.

Just had to share

2006-09-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

A rough night

2006-09-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last night, Daniel worked late, so he didn't pick me up from school until 7. That meant getting home near 7:45 and that's before dinner. It had been a rough morning, so we decided to go out. We ended up at Ross (one of my favorite - read cheap - stores) and Old Navy, where we found clearance racks all over the store (shirts for Daniel for $2 and me for $3).

By then, we were starving, so we stopped in a local pizzeria called Anthonys II. 15 minutes later, we were eating a huge pizza in our living room. We called it a night and went to bed.

That's when the nightmares began. I had dreams of friends announcing unwelcome news, me being forced to sit on a steep moutain for hours and then having to climb down it in the rain, slaving over food for hours only to find it disappeared while cooking (while the company starved, of course!), and of being hunted (twice!) by a man and his daughter with shotguns. I barely managed to escape the murderers by running and screaming through the neighborhood.

Daniel didn't have nightmares, but couldn't sleep and ended up snacking on antacids while playing on the computer. He also woke up to me crying in my sleep several times as I couldn't stop the horrible tales.

All in all, it was a rough night. We're giving up pizza after 8 pm.

A year ago today...

2006-09-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

I said "Are you serious?!?"

It's a joke

2006-09-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

If you've need a smile because it's Monday, go read the Constitution Party Platform. Now, I've been called a pragmatic by a Constitutionalist, but if he wants me to support this piece of ****, then yay for being a pragmatic.

Among other things, the party wants to
1. abolish the 17th Amendment
2. abolish the Department of Education and keep government completely out of all education, including regulating curriulum, teachers certification, standards, and of course, compulsory school attendance laws (Good grief, people. I work for HSLDA and even I find this offensive)
3. abolish the Voting Rights Act and mechanical vote-counting machines
4. abolish any "entangling alliances" (my personal favorite - people say we were lucky not to have a 9/11 under Clinton...we'd be all dead with this)
5. abolish fractional reserve banking (because all debts are bad)
6. abolish any power of the federal gov't over states
7. abolish anything resembling a "New World Order" (love that phrase)
8. abolish any involvement with the war on terror (Did you hear that, Osama? Go ahead)

Who wants to join Pragmatics Anonymous with me?

Bragging Rights

2006-09-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

I am a spoiled woman. Seriously, Daniel is way too good to me. Take last night, for example. I wanted to go looking at garage sales in the morning. I was just going to wing it, but I asked him to help. So he spent over an hour - staying up later - creating a detailed iternary for me to visit 5 places (since I can get to Walmart and that's about it here). And he had to get up at 5:45 in the morning. I went all over town in an hour. It would have taken three days and many tears before I would have found anything on my own. (As for my shopping, I got two boxes of Christmas ornaments for 4 bucks, so I was happy)

Did I mention he makes the best chocolate chip pancakes in the world?

Love you, Yankee. I don't deserve you.

Found while studying

2006-09-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

In light of the PHC debate from last semester, this is rather interesting. It's from Dr. Veith's book Why God's Word is All We Need. No editorial comment wil be given from this writer (I learned last semester what happens when your state your opinions), but draw your own conclusions.

Some charge those who love the Bible so much with "bibiolatry," with worshipping a book. We are, of course, not worshiping a book, but the One who wrote it. Nevertheless, I sometimes come so close to accepting the charge, such is the access to himself God gives us in the Bible, so real and intimate is his connection to his Word. Many people assume the Word is small and insignificant, of little compared to some spectacular religious experience or display of earthly power. But we remember that Jesus came not in glory but as a poor baby cradled in a manger, one who would group up to die on a cross, and thus remember that God's ways are not our ways.
That God reveals himself in a book may seem too simple, too unspiritual, not mystical enough. One might excuse someone for thinking it too good to be true. But it is true. The God who became man has revealed himself in human language. And his Word, recorded in a book, is the power of salvation.

Finally - wedding pics

2006-09-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

They're online. Lots of pictures, most of them of Daniel and I (so wierd, I swear), but some of them are pure genius.

If you want to see them, go to www.pictage.com, log in (simple), and search for Archer. If you only want to see the "best of" pictures, click "Whitney's folder."

Let me know if you have problems getting in (email: whitney.archer@gmail.com)

p.s. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Quezada!

New York, New York

2006-09-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

(The Strand)

(Times Square: Toys R' Us)

(Times Square: The Hershey Store)

(us)

(the Met)

(Brooklyn Bridge in the rain)

(Mulberry Street, Little Italy: home of the Lobster Ravioli in Vodka Sauce)

(street vendor)

(the sign says it all)

(Times Square: Toys R' Us - Lego hot dog stand)

(Times Square)

(walking to the Met)

(Brooklyn Bridge)

(the met)

(brooklyn bridge)

A salad?!?!

2006-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

What does a man on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List do when he's pulled over by a state trooper for expired liscense plates?

He eats a salad.

here we are, folks

2006-08-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Really, I'm alive. I just have a stupidly slow internet connection that limits pretty much everything. See, I have all these really cool photos to show, but I can't. So you'll just have to wait.

Last night, I was cleaning up the kitchen (from the massive dinner project known as roast and chocolate cake for a friend's birthday) and I cut my index finger on one of my new knives. It was bleeding a lot, so I started screaming for Daniel. I think I scared him, because he walked in the kitchen and said "Ohhh, I don't know what to do."

That made two of us.

What do you do when both people are clueless and there's more blood every second? It finally stopped as I ran water over my hand for several minutes and covered it in band-aids (which, since we just moved in, is the only first aid stuff we have in the entire house).

Daniel turned to me. "You worry me, sweetheart." That makes two of us.

Movie Friday night and week (it's still summer, after all)

2006-08-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Daniel and I watch a lot of movies. Why not? Blockbuster.com is wonderfully cheap and we don't even have to own a TV thanks to our computers. This week's selection included The Royal Tenenbaums, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The first was not at all what I was expecting, though I'm not quite sure what that was. There are a lot of movies that claim to put the "fun back in dysfunctional," but this one shows the fun and the not-so-fun. There's a lot of pain in the Tenenbaum family and none of them handle it very well. Then the deadbeat dad shows up with the pronouncement he's dying and their crazy, hidden lives take a turn for the worse. But somewhere along the way, secrets long held come public, (somewhat) relieving the pain. And there's a lot of random fun along the way like the moose head and the board game closet. It's a story that made us laugh, stare blankly, and exclaim "What the....?!?!"

The second two movies are, of course, part one and two of the Harry Potter series. Daniel and I are reading the book series, him for the first time and me for the second, and enjoying it immensely. So, the natural thing was to go rent the movies. There are liberties the directors take from the books, but the movie's characters are perfect. The kids are funny, the professors both mean and intelligent, and Moaning Mrytle hilarious. "Harry, if you die, you can share my toilet." Great stuff. The ghosts look like they should, Ron throws up slugs and you gag with him, and the entrance to Dumbledore's chambers is really cool. Overall, a clever adaption of brilliant books. We're hooked.

But there's no movies this weekend. Daniel and I are off to New York City tomorrow morning at 5 am. The idea of travelling together combined with complete freedom proves to be too big of a temptation.

Movie Friday Night: Paradise Now

2006-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, I know, but I meant to put this up earlier. Daniel and I signed up for Blockbuster's online service and we've loved it so far. Our first pick was Paradise Now. It's a foreign film about two Islamic young men drafted to become suicide bombers. Thing is, they're only given 24 hours notice. The struggle is enourmous - what is right, what is eternal, and what is political? It had us arguing afterwards, which is pretty good for a movie with no violence. That's right. It's about the Middle East and there's no violence shown. That doesn't cut short the terror of this surprising thriller or give away the ending in any sense.

Seen today

2006-08-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

We were coming out of Walmart, shopping cart full of groceries and house stuff when we saw two teenaged boys grabbed something something from a woman's plastic sack and one of them put it on, running in front of her to their van. I got a closer look - it was a lime green bra with a sticker proclaiming "push-up" on the front. Okkkkayyy.

In honor of Nathan

2006-08-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know the last thing you want to see from a newlywed is a link to this article about the Bible and birth control. Forgive me. I wasn't looking for it, I promise. The reason I'm linking to it is because it actually presents a biblical argument other than "Well, if you were godly, you wouldn't agree with this position." I absolutely love this sentence:

The Bible nowhere forbids birth control, either explicitly or implicitly, and we should not add universal rules that are not in Scripture (cf. Psalm 119:1, 9 on the sufficiency of Scripture).*

The mixture of sound doctrine and applied logic make for a great article that makes me wonder why I didn't think of that before. And I don't say that because I agree with the conclusion.

* How I wish more people would realize that Scripture forbids adding of "universal rules" to the canon of Scripture. This would include statements that dating is the same as fornication, being alone with a member of the opposite sex for any extended period of time, rock music, wearing pants or halter tops, or kissing before marriage.

tidbit #2

2006-08-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Daniel is posting again. Go visit.

tidbit for today

2006-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Floridians have an odd pride in their warm weather. Why else would they name towns Frostproof and Winter Haven?

It's like going "Nyah, nyah, we have warmmmerrr weeeeather" to people from say, New York.

Proof

2006-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Cabin fever (the result of moving in for three weeks) hit Daniel and I last night, so we headed to the local (tiny) mall in search of ice cream. Instead, we found a Japanese restaurant and a TCBY, so we settled for some frozen yogurt. BUT THE BEST PART: I got new shoes. And not just any shoes. They're not black. See?

I confess, I have a weakness for black shoes. They're so cute and they go with everything. I own multiple black shoes of every kind: flip-flops, heels, sandals, strappy sandals, and everything in between. Except now.

We're famous! (well, sort of)

2006-07-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

One of my new favorite blogs is Crummy Church Signs, mocker of bad well, church signs. This week, I finally submitted our favorite photo from our recent honeymoon at South Padre Island. We've laughed for days at this one, and this website did too. It was a Christian alternative beach store to the more normal stores aimed to beer-guzzling, raunchy-shirt wearing college crowd. We found the sign more disturbing than anything the other stores had to offer.

first informal pictures

2006-07-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

See, we aren't stressed!

Well, ok, maybe just a little.

(more coming later)

Revelation

2006-07-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

My husband (hehe...I love it) has a thing for techno music and knows all the words to "I'm a Barbie Girl."

I didn't know this until three days after the wedding. In a tourist shop. On a island.

Yep, we're back from a wonderful vacation, ready to face the world together. The house is a mess, we need to unbury the washing machine for our suitcases full of dirty clothese, but hey, we have new tans and big smiles.Life is good.

two annoucements

2006-06-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

First: my new email (for those who don't have it yet) is whitney.archer@gmail.com. Please don't use my student account anymore.

Second: I'm home. And it's nine days until the big day. It's hot both inside and out. But, I've had two naps today, went shopping for some last-minute wedding stuff, cleaned out all my junk from the whole house, and am about to finish two displays of photos for the reception. Not bad for being home for 24 hours.

I don't think I'll be posting until after everything cools down. Honestly, there's nothing to talk about. Who wants to hear about my adventures trying to make tulle decorations not look tacky? See, I told you. So yeah. I'm actually going on vacation.

See you on the other side.

2006-06-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Do you dare to enter? Do I dare to take the step that is front of me? That step means packing up all semblances of my familiar dorm life into a blue car and driving them away to store in an already brimming bedroom, full of hints of a another life: a photo album, new suitcases, and a paper towel holder. To make things more lively, I add a healthy dose of used schoolbooks and what-am-I-doing-to-do-with-this-now twin sized bedding.

Tuesday I fly home for the wedding. The goal is to clean house and pack the remainder of my stuff left in Texas, so everything will be in one house, not two houses and a dorm. I will have one home. That is hard to realize. I am not from Texas, I am from Winchester, Virginia. My Southern mind doesn't want to accept that.

Yet, the step is easy. I have a man who will be waiting for me at the end of the aisle in two weeks, who loves me very much despite my many imperfections and holy terrorishness. We're going to make a life together. He chose me, I chose him. We haven't looked back once. The step we're taking may seem big, but it's simple. It's just the next one. We won't look back.

Rough week

2006-06-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

This just in

2006-06-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

I passed economics 2! It may have been barely and I may had a near death experience after a misunderstanding (with a not passing grade that turned out not to be real), but I'm done. No more Keynes, no more inexplicable charts, no more classes where I learn more the book than attending. I'm done!

Deeper thoughts

2006-06-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Most people sleep in on Saturday mornings. I like to do my whole writing and reading (certain blogs and sites) that give me ideas for writing. I don't know why, but it comes so much easier on slower mornings.

Today's writings include a second pitch for Salvo Magazine. My article on BIID was published in their first edition and the second edition is on (get this) sex. So my assignment, pitch an article on sex. Okee-dokee.

I also need to write a proposal for some summer work on my internship handbook from last semester. It needs some serious editing and additions and I need credits. Thus, a proposal.

While cruising favorite blogs, I found this article about the emerging church. My brother is very much involved with the movement and I had never heard about it until he said something. This article gives people like me (reformed, with more of an orthodox perspective) a fair bit of information about the movement. The article doesn't just slam the emerging church with a quick judgement, but points out the best aspects about it (its emphasis on reaching others who wouldn't go to church, for example) and challenges church-goers from a more strict mindset to adopt this principle as well. The last paragraphy provides a compelling response:

As a response to Christianity’s PR problem, Emergent has clearly blurred the lines between church and world in troubling ways. Given their lack of confessional anchors, some Emergent leaders are likely to depart further from biblical standards, even scandalously so. And while history’s verdict on postmodernism remains outstanding, the movement seems likely to shift and redefine itself according to new categories in the coming years. Nevertheless, an opportunity remains for us to be sharpened and shamed by the important issues they are raising, and to bring the rich resources of confessional Reformed theology to the table, for their good and for ours. As sinners redeemed by the sovereign mercy of God, we have precious treasures to steward. The glory and honor of Christ, and the utter lostness of our neighbors who bear His image, demand nothing less.

So the challenge remains: will I, and others like me, be able to address the issues the emerging church attempts to solve? The sovereign grace of God demands nothing less.

2006-06-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. It means that we made it. Despite the two trips to the ER for my stress-induced illnesses, the 50-page paper I wrote, the weekly 3 hours of sleep that Daniel got because of work, wedding plans, daily drama at school, reporters, threats of a nightmare graduation, and more intensive counseling of peers than ever...we survived. Even better than survived, we did pretty good. Note the cords on Daniel's neck: that's magna cum laude with highest honors. And I passed Economics.

It also means that wedding plans are in full swing again. After I slept for many hours, we finally got the invitations out. The last big piece is figuring out all the music - something that should I have happened months ago. The Archers are hosting a full house for us June 10th and my mom is flying up to meet them. On top of all that, we also get to celebrate my birthday with all of them, which means awesome food and a homemade chocolate cake.

Most of all, this picture means God is good. We'll have more such photos in 36 days. (grin)

Graduation Weekend

2006-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Senior Appreciation Dinner

(freezing and wet, but lots of laughter and memories)

Senior Appreciation Dinner, cont.

Senior BBQ with all the families

(Matt and Nathan loved the food)

The Archers

The soon-to-be-Archers (the cords means he's smart)

Mark and us

Celebrating two milestones

2006-05-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

First, the completion of all my PHC coursework. I turned in my last paper this morning after finishing four finals and an article in the past 24 hours.

Second, the 50 day mark to the wedding. Tonight, we carried the second car load of stuff to the house, while Daniel's parents brought a ton of new furniture. And it's gorgeous too - I can't wait to figure out where everything goes.

It's on to the next chapter and I can't think of anything that sounds better.

Almost there

2006-05-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

16,000 words and 51 pages later, my internship project (book) is done. I thought it would never happen. More later, after I take four finals, finish a paper and an article (for publication- whoohoo!), and make my wing clean.

[audio post] Here Comes the Sun

2006-05-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

Weekend

2006-05-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

In between me editing my book draft, Daniel playing the championship softball games, and us working remaining papers, we bought a truckful of furniture (two couches, a soft chair, two bookshelves, an entertainment center, and an antique sewing machine). With the help of Tom Snyder (and lots of rope, a camera, and a middle aged couple laughing at the three of us), we were able to squeeze it all into one small truck and move it to our new house. Gotta love garage sales - only $150 was spent.

Tom, the hero

"Tighter!"

Me not doing any work

"Uh...is this tight enough?"

loading

Following Tom to our house. Laughing. Praying nothing falls off.

Sunday, we had a farewell dinner for Lauren. It was fun, the food was good,
but the laughter was the best. Love you, girl!

Laughing

my yankee

Me and my girls --- I'm going to miss them

Scary, isn't she?

Mr. President. Hehe.

schizophrenic doesn't describe it

2006-04-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up my book for internship (finally!) and as I'm excited to nearly be done, my thoughts become more helter-skelter:

"Wait, go back. You can make that shorter if you put that back here. Hehe, I'm a genius. There, not so much writing left to do."

"Check email again (for the 48th time)."

"STUPID !*#*$% TAB BUTTON! WHY WON'T YOU WORK?!?!

"Dum dum humm dee dum" (Beethoven's Fifth Symphony - the soundtrack of my work)

"Loser. The word responsibility is used fourteen times in this chapter. "

"One and a half more chapters.....and 70 days!"

"Dang it, I don't know anything about web publishing except for blogspot. Man..."

"Do I put 'he or she?' Or just 'he?' But that's discriminatory. But these are homeschoolers. Ack!"

"I hate writing. This is so miserable."

"Whoo-hooo! It's done. I love this!"

You know you're a senior when...

2006-04-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

your whole dorm is blasting music and getting ready for the Liberty Ball, when you're perfectly happy to stay home and address wedding invitations and then scoop out the Ross and Taco Bell in the the town you're moving to.

I had a great night.

Permanent state of being

2006-04-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm going for a collection of 'em

2006-04-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Our new home

2006-04-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

1986 Senseny Road

happy renter

Amazing lilac bushes

back yard

the biiiiigggg basement

I love the fireplace

Family room - this is our favorite besides the kitchen

Kitchen (with -get this- a moveable island)

Dining area

Bedroom #1
(other people still cleaning)

Bedroom #2
(also being cleaned)

Bedroom #3
(also more mess)

The formal living room
(needs some help, as you can see)

the little bathroom

My first pair

2006-04-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

I apologize for any noticeable lack of serious, thought-provoking posts. All thinking is being directed towards a mounting pile of writing. But I give you these, which are my new love. I think this is a beginning of a beautiful relationship.

In theaters now - go see it (if you dare)

2006-04-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

wow

2006-04-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

80 days

Writing and SAT

2006-04-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, I was at work, processiong PHC scholarship applications. I love the idea that these kids think I'm important because I give them access to money.

Anyway, one of the applicants said their SAT score was 2020. My first reaction was "Honey, this is the SAT, not your vision." I double checked - sure enough, this chick scored higher than Matthew DuMee. But as we all know that DuMee beat the rest of us and can't be improved upon, I did some research.

Turns out, lots of people are getting 1600 or above this year. Google led me into the world of standarized testing and public high schools, a world that I have ventured into twice: to get a low score on the original SAT (PHC admission people tell you the average around here is 1350 - I brought that average down) and to spank the ACT.

One article in particular caught my attention. Mark Franek, writing for the Christian Science Monitory, complains that the new writing test is too difficult for the students' ages and the time given.

The writing section is entirely new - 70 percent of
it is composed of pesky multiple-choice grammatical questions (where
students aren't writing anything - they're blacking in ovals), while
the final 30 percent is reserved for a persuasive essay that our
teenagers are supposed to draft and complete in 25 minutes.

The entire "writing" section of this new test is the
kind of assessment that most teachers of writing would run away from.
First of all, the idea that during the writing of this blitzkrieg essay
- from the official SAT exam preparation booklet - "You should take
care to develop your point of view, present your ideas logically and
clearly, and use language precisely" in under half an hour and under
extreme pressure is ridiculous.

I had to laugh. An essay in twenty-five minutes? Give me a break. Sure, high school students are going to find this more challenging than I would, but if you can't think on the spot and write some kind of coherent thought on paper...go to a state school.

Spring in DC

2006-04-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

Musical Crush of the Day

2006-04-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

This is Felix Mendelssohn. Find a copy of his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor and listen to it. You'll have a crush on him too. (I'm not crazy about the hair, though)

Quiet dreams

2006-04-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be a contented frog. I love Google's images search.

It's a rainy Saturday and I'm writing away on my internship projects. It always amazes me how writing calms my soul and quiets my heart. I'm grateful I've had the chance to develop my skills in this area and while I have so far to go, I've come a long way. Writing makes me happy and causes my mind to dream. We'll see if any of them happen.

Remembering and believing

2006-04-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

This week, I have cried more than any PHC week I can remember. And not because professors are leaving either, though that saddens me. Watching students react to fallen men’s actions by hurting each other and dividing among themselves is really hard to watch.

The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

To add to the excitement, I ended up in the ER Friday night with severe stomach pains. Sitting alone in on a hospital bed wearing a flimsy gown shifted my world into perspective. Suddenly, all I had was the clothes on my back, my wallet, and my God. Nothing else mattered. I had forgotten. And I was grateful.

As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Sunday, I didn’t expect God to work like He did. I was reminded that He is bigger than any madness I go through. Pastor Donahue reminded us that eternal life is God, not just heaven. In God, there is unity and peace. My heart has been longing for that and I burst into tears before realizing it. God will wipe away our tears one day, but they can be reminders of His goodness and healing power. I had forgotten. And I was grateful.

Psalm 103

silly grin

2006-03-30T04:41:00.000-08:00

100 DAYS
(for me to keep my name)

Overheard

2006-03-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Dad: "You know you're a redneck when you hunt from your front porch."

(Best friend and maid of honor) Jamie: "How about from the bathroom window?"

Spring Break

2006-03-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

Escape awaits me. At 1:04 am, that's what's on my mind. That and praise songs. How I need to be reminded of God's grace and goodness. Your blood has washed away my sins...

If you know Patrick Henry College well, you probably know the latest news: four key professors resigned this week. Professors were walking with silence and red faces, tears were flowing in classes, rumors were abounding, and anger was quick and harsh. People are predicting the beginning of the end. I believe God is bigger than any four men. I believe the school is bigger than them, too. If that's considered scandalous, fine.

God gives perspective. A good friend is hurting way more than any professor or any student here. Thursday, I walked into the school dining hall and heard the news. I didn't care. God gives perspective. I just continue to pray for peace and grace for my friend.

So, if you think about it, pray for me, my friend, and those involved. Hurt leaves lasting scars. Oh, PHC needs prayer too. Anger leaves lasting scars. God is needed to heal both.

in search of...

2006-03-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

that ever elusive sleepful night. It's that time of the semester again - when I walk around yawning and seeing when I can take a short nap to keep studying. Last night, I got 9 and a half hours, which was amazing. But I could still go to bed again for another night like that. Can God make sleep count as double? That would be amazing.

Bowling for RAs

2006-03-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

The RAs went bowling on Saturday - and had a blast! The discoveries made about each other were quite funny: Daniel bowls like a ballerina, Tiff like a lady, and Austin like an athlete. And Tom and Clarice are just plain good. I did my best on the last game: four strikes (apparently, called a turkey) and beating everybody. That part was the most fun. ::grin::

Wife for hire

2006-03-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

English writer Sharon Walker faces a question that many working women do: how are they supposed to work and have time to run errands, coordinate schedules, and pay bills? Her solution? Get a wife! Her new "wife," Sue, will do anything for a nice sum a day: fix her broken Prada heels, wrap presents, and in short, do any dull tasks that distract Sharon from her job. But what's evident from the article is a broken family who suddenly doesn't argue as much because of a maid.

There's a chandelier to hang, keys to cut, passports to renew, and the glove box of my car is lost in a field somewhere in Somerset (don't ask) - enough yawn-inducing jobs to put a whole orgy to sleep. She has agreed to find someone to help with the school run, a new cleaner (mine quit six weeks ago) and a plumber.

But none of this is a problem for Sue. This is a woman who once rustled up 100 extras for a film with four days' notice. When she tells me this, I raise the game; could she, I wonder, co-ordinate a christening - grandparents, church and several godparents who are rarely in the country at the same time? (I bought the invitations a year ago, but my son will be 17 before I get around to organising it myself.)

Then there are tasks I would genuinely like to do, but which never get off the bottom rung of the urgency ladder. I admit I feel not a little pathetic as I shove over boxes of family photos. What kind of woman am I, who can't make time to collate her own beloved children's photo albums? Oh well, never mind; when did my husband ever worry about such things?

It's shocking how quickly we have slipped into typical husband and wife roles. When Sue sends me a text reminding me that the passport forms have got to go off that day, I let out an exasperated wheeze, not unlike my husband when I remind him of things he has to do - "Hell, I can't believe she expects me to do this all by myself." In less than a week, I have become a spoilt man.

Spoiled man, huh? If that's her view of masculinity (and from the article, her husband does give that impression), no wonder she loves her new wife.

Pictures up!

2006-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

I just posted engagement pictures from last semester on my other blog. Enjoy!

2006-03-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

In honor of my new layout, which I love, I give you a favorite photo.

Technical difficulties

2006-03-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the new design without the old features. The whole page was gone for about 24 hours, nearly giving me a heart attack, but I think I've nearly fixed it. New design coming - stay tuned.

Bondage

2006-02-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

A paper on the presidency and hundreds of pages of reading on music, history, law, and government. I'll be in my jail this weekend. Visitors welcome if they bring chocolate.

future joy

2006-02-23T06:25:00.000-08:00

I just realized this morning, that in about three months, I will never have to sleep in a bunkbed again!

2006-02-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

You know you're a nerd when you go around singing Dies Irae by Mozart for two days straight. This music appreciation stuff is rubbing off on me, for good or bad.

Semi-annual soapbox

2006-02-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

I am a conservative. God help me.

Yes, I read and base my life on the Bible. I agree with capitalism and I like lower taxes. I voted for "W." I write for WORLD magazine. I read Olasky. I'm about to graduation from PHC. My credo for government is stated in Federalist Paper #51.* I believe Christians can and should be in journalism. I agree with deTocqueville in that democracy is harmful to a nation. I believe the best place for a mother is at home.

I disagree with Keynes, Sanger, and Darwin. I wrote a research paper against federally mandated minimum wage. I don't like the idea of hook-ups, and would not let my daughter wear mini skirts.

Yet today I'm depising the very people who I agree with. Most of them just open their mouth and let the "truth" come out. The verse about truth in love means nothing to them - love is getting the chance to say what you're thinking.

I was talking to my brother today about being a classical person. A large part of a classical lifestyle means moderation, living in the means. Conversatives aren't classical. They believe the Bible to mirror their political and social goals and thus they are allowed to spit out anything because they can attach a verse to it.

The reason for my rant should be rather obvious to PHC students. For others, let me suffice to say scorn and the word retarded came to mind after today.

God, forgive us our offenses even as we strive to bear Your name.

* "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to government men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

Econ 101

2006-02-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in Public Economics, Professor Macleod told us that Keynes had such insane economical theories because he was a very active homosexual. And I thought I was here to learn about supply curves.

For Daniel

2006-02-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Don't ask questions.

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T05:14:00.000-08:00

Published!

2006-02-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

WORLD magazine finally published my story about teen courts in this week's edition!

I'm dreaming of a white Sunday...

2006-02-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

The first real snow of the entire school year is fresh on the ground and it's gorgeous. Church was cancelled and the power knocked out most alarm clocks, so everybody got more sleep than they intended. It gives them energy to play - multiple snowmen are popping up on campus as well. I laughed earlier at the snowballs stuck to the brick dorms: remnants of bad shots during the many fights today.

A few newsy items to report:

I have a cold. Thus, the sneezing, hacking, and coughing sound you probably heard was me.

I have a new roommate, Samantha Clark, former resident of California and dorm 2. Welcome, Samantha!

I wrote the first section of my "book" for my internship. Do you know how scary writing a first page of a whole book is? I did it, though, and it made me very happy!

2006-02-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

wow...Daniel reminded me today that in 5 months exactly, I will be hearing this song and coming down the aisle to meet him. Just hearing it makes me makes me nervous, but it's a cool kind of nervous, I promise.

Being a bride-to-be, part 1

2006-02-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

I tried to explain to a co-worker today what a ironical thing it is to be a bride-to-be.

I was never one of those girls that has her dream wedding planned out. The drag-and-click-a-groom-right-in-the-picture thing just wasn't me. Suddenly, I found myself with a groom-to-be. So...I did what any normal American girl would do: I bought two bridal magazines.

I had a person tell me she called them bridal porn. Martha Stewart meets Playboy.

I bought them at the grocery store, paying good money for headlines that screamed "FIND YOUR DREAM DRESS FOR ANY BUDGET!" Rushing through the self checkout, I hid them behind a gift bag bought for my fiance's birthday present. They spent several days shoved in a drawer. The lustre of grinning brides and glittering Lennox ads did not appeal to me. I had only been engaged a week and I wanted to spend time with him instead. So, there they sat, knowing I still had to plan a wedding.

It's a conumdrum: planning a wedding and being engaged. It seems so simple, so inclusive. Yet the two are the opposite ends of a magnet. Planning a wedding is a group task completed with your mother ("That dress just doesn't go with your figure"), your father ("Are you sure that programs will only cost 30 dollars if you make them yourselves?"), and every female relative and friend. Being engaged requires two people: you and that guy who you're just getting used to the idea of marrying. If you've ever looked up from planning a wedding budget and noticed how handsome he is in a blue business shirt, you'll understand my dichotomy.

But the reasoning voices of the wedding planners call you back to reality. So, I pulled out those wedding magazines. Knowing that you are reading porn (with models in white dresses), yet you "have" to read this to know you're doing, creates a guilt complext that snowballs (tulle-balls?).

Any woman will tell you that the first step to planning a wedding is finding just the perfect dress. Your dress sets the tone of your wedding, your style, and your hairstyle (which of course, should be decided about 6 months in advance, immediately after getting the dress). My mother and I went to David's Bridal, a chain bridal store. An old memory flashed through my brain. When I was in high school, I went shopping for a prom dress. The same store advertised prom dresses, so I gathered enough nerve to look. As soon as I opened the door, all I saw was white dresses hanging in clear garment bags.

"Can I help you?"

I don't think I answered in my hurry to leave. It wasn't worth the white.

Five years later, I'm looking for white. God has a sense of humor.

"Can I help you?" Knowing she's probably looking for my engagement ring to see if I want to spend $600 instead of $100, I hide my left hand. "Um, yeah...I'm looking for uh, a wedding dress."

"Oh sure. Just fill out this form, and tell me what you're looking for. Here's a catalog of our latest styles and the business card of your dress consultant. Oh, don't forget, if you buy both your dress and the bridesmaid dresses here, they get a discount."

As the girl finds five dresses that match my definition of "um, looks like this (hand motion), and doesn't have a huge train, and is white," I start watching the other customers, all graduate-aged girls and their mothers. A petite Asian girl beside me is getting her dress altered while her mother reads out loud from a Hawiian travel magazine. A bridal store is the perfect place to learn about left hands - the rocks there are big as the tip of my finger.

The first dress I tried on weighed 40 pounds. The shopgirl instructed me on the petticoat, the store-owned bra and how to go under the dress to put it on.

"How old are you?"

"21."

"And your parents are letting you get married that young?"

"They're not letting me, they're forcing me. Does this dress come in maternity sizes?" Perfect comebacks come too late.

Three weeks after eagerly saying yes to the man I love dearly, I find myself surrounded by diamonds, tulle, satin, and ditzes. It's enough to make a liberally-educated undergrad want to yell "Hello, people! I've studied Nietzsche, Machiavelli, and DeToqueville in depth. I can recite constitutional doctrines, I'm writing a book for academic credit, and I can write detailed anaylis papers about congress and its leadership structure in three days! And now...I'm in a white dress and a store-owned bra, just like everyone one of you...oh, nevermind."

"The" dress was found and honestly, it's gorgeous. It's the prettiest dress I will ever own, and I do feel like a princess in it. Like any princess, I wanted to tell my prince what it looked like. And I ran into the dichotomy again.

"It's so pretty, Daniel. You're going to love it."

"What does it look like?"

Realizing the Laws of a Wedding prohibit him from seeing the dress, I respond "It's white."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Squeaky Clean

2006-01-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

Yale has soap - $100,000 of it. After 10 years of lobbying the school to supply soap in dormitory bathrooms, the school started putting in dispensers on an experimental basis. No longer will the students have to supply their own soap by pitching in money. The school put two-ply toilet paper in the dorms in the 90s.

Exploring Blogger: Freewayblogger

2006-01-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

I love Blogger's feature that well, features other bloggers. If you log in, you'll see a most random list of blogs of possible interest. Today's featured blog is Freewayblogger. His claim to fame: he's put up over 2,500 signs protesting the war in Iraq over the freeways of California. He even explains how to suspend a sign in two seconds. What more could a reader want?

On a roll

2006-01-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

Last semester I broke my finger by slamming in a drawer. Then I got a gum infection during finals. As if the tests themselves weren't enough torture. Over break, I sprained my knee during my first skiing lesson. Two weeks later, it still hurts. The doctor's orders? No heels, no stairs for two weeks. Oh, and stay off of your knee as much as possible.

Right. Flats for two weeks? Wonderful.

The Gospel and Journalism

2006-01-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

I love discovering little gems while studying. Today's was found while researching for my internship. It's from a speech by Larry Woiwode on the ethics of writing.

I’ve never understood how a writer is to depict redemption from sin if the reader can’t see sin in any of his characters to begin with. No writer would equate any mortal work to the inspired word of scripture, the creature grasping at the Creator--other than bearing an image that is tainted and flawed to begin with and has excreted the further stain of its rebellion--and any work that I’ve been able to complete is, I confess, an infinity of distance from scripture.

That’s the exact measure: an infinity of distance.

Yet in scripture I find deception and adultery and incest and rape and rebellion and murder and nearly every destructive act I would care to imagine, up to a tent stake hammered through the head of a man who is lied to. I receive this as instruction, without attributing it to the author, as I take instruction from the spikes driven into skin and flesh, between the bones of the hands and feet of the one lifted up to heal me of the destructiveness of death.

Later:

Do you worry about the ethics of all-nighters--when you have a story you must get in by a certain date and hour, a deadline? I can assure you that all writing is aimed at a deadline, whether for a class or the staff of life on your table, or a publication that pays enough to scare you witless, or the end of your days. All-nighters are not uncommon to the one who kneeled on rock at Gethsemane. And you can be sure that the one who causes cattle and wild animals to calve will squeeze from your mind the acceptable words to fulfill an assignment or a commission in an acceptable time.

Are you blocked--feel you can’t write another word? It means you’ve reached an ethical juncture you aren’t ready to face, or haven’t yet resolved, or are being held away from, because you’re not yet ready to handle it--a hand at your chest keeping you from the words or pages that may be irretrievable or rash or destructive.

So live in trust, which is faith, faith itself the exercise of love--giving yourself wholly to another in trust. Spend yourself this prodigiously in your prose. Carry on in the upright accuracy of objective sequence laid out by the one whose hidden attributes, unrevealed even in his Word, are visible everywhere in the cosmos surrounding you. And remind yourself daily, as I must, that as the ethics of the life you lead brings you nearer to the truth, you will more and more start to set down your own stack of stories within it.

Godspeed and bless you in your work.

This man sees the connection between the Bible, its gospel, and his calling. May I always do the same.

Back in P-ville

2006-01-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

School's back in session and I'm getting more used to the idea of studying once again. My motivation is the fact that it's my last semester of classes. It should be an interesting, if not schizophrenic, line-up.

The rest of break was quite amazing. New York wasn't as cold as usual and I had my new down blanket to keep my feet warm. Curtiss and Daniel took me skiing for the first time. Let me just say that what I thought was the best way to stop (crash into the wall) really isn't. My knee still hurts and I couldn't go ice skating last night as a result. I did, however, figure out the best way to get back up after a fall:

First, you lie on your stomach with your poles lying beside you. Then, you push up like you're doing a push-up. You realize you can't do a push-up, so you yell for your future brother-in-law to come help. He's wonderful. I think I provided the entertainment for the day, even if I did accuse him and Daniel of trying to kill me.

Break was also wonderful for more wedding plans, of course. If you want to know more details, I won't bore you with them here. Go to this instead. Things are coming together nicely, but it seems odd that the wedding will be over in just a few hours. That just baffles my mind. But we've seen God's grace, even in things like tuxes and photographers. I hope this is a glimpse of His goodness in our upcoming marriage.

Random News

2006-01-02T22:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Sorry for the dearth of writing. Daniel is in town for a week and we've been all over the place. It's fun - I love just getting things done with him.

In other news:

Raynel is officially Mrs. Jonathan Knight now. The wedding was very nice and she looked amazing. Jon was very happy sporting his new gold ring.

Lauren Leach and John Crutcher are officially together. The news (although expected) did make me grin ear to ear.

I'm going to bed. That is news itself and it makes me very happy.

My strange family

2005-12-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

Dad and Luke went hunting at four AM. Within thirty minutes, Luke shot his first deer. So...it's hanging up from our backyard tree and Doodle is a little freaked out at the dead, gutted intruder.

It's two days before Christmas. My family is so strange.

Christmas Cheer

2005-12-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

I laughed at this article by Gene Edward Veith.

Slappy holiday - Why not take the Santa Claus tradition a little further?

Santa Claus had his origins in St. Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. Known for his generosity and his love of children, Nicholas is said to have saved a poor family's daughters from slavery by tossing into their window enough gold for a rich dowry, a present that landed in some shoes or, in some accounts, stockings that were hung up to dry. Thus arose the custom of hanging up stockings for St. Nicholas to fill. And somehow he transmogrified into Santa Claus, who has become for many people the secular Christmas alternative to Jesus Christ.

But there is more to the story of Nicholas of Myra. He was also a delegate to the Council of Nicea in a.d. 325, which battled the heretics who denied the deity of Christ. He was thus one of the authors of the Nicene Creed, which affirms that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man. And unlike his later manifestation, Nicholas was particularly zealous in standing up for Christ.

During the Council of Nicea, jolly old St. Nicholas got so fed up with Arius, who taught that Jesus was just a man, that he walked up and slapped him! That unbishoplike behavior got him in trouble. The council almost stripped him of his office, but Nicholas said he was sorry, so he was forgiven.

The point is, the original Santa Claus was someone who flew off the handle when he heard someone minimizing Christ. Perhaps we can battle our culture's increasingly Christ-less Christmas by enlisting Santa in his original cause. The poor girls' stockings have become part of our Christmas imagery. So should the St. Nicholas slap.

Not a violent hit of the kind that got the good bishop in trouble, just a gentle, admonitory tap on the cheek. This should be reserved not for out-and-out nonbelievers, but for heretics (that is, people in the church who deny its teachings), Christians who forget about Jesus, and people who try to take Christ out of Christmas.

This will take a little tweaking of the mythology. Santa and his elves live at the North Pole where they compile a list of who is naughty, who is nice, and who is Nicean. On Christmas Eve, flying reindeer pull his sleigh full of gifts. And after he comes down the chimney, he will steal into the rooms of people dreaming of sugarplums who think they can do without Christ and slap them awake.

And we'll need new songs and TV specials ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Slap," "Deck the Apollinarian with Bats of Holly," "Frosty the Gnostic," "How the Arian Stole Christmas," "Rudolph the Red Knows Jesus").

Department store Santas should ask the children on their laps if they have been good, what they want for Christmas, and whether they understand the Two Natures of Christ. The Santas should also roam the shopping aisles, and if they hear any clerks wish their customers a mere "Happy Holiday," give them a slap.

This addition to his job description will keep Santa busy. Teachers who forbid the singing of religious Christmas carols—SLAP! Office managers who erect Holiday Trees—SLAP! Judges who outlaw manger displays—SLAP! People who give The Da Vinci Code as a Christmas present—SLAP! Ministers who cancel Sunday church services that fall on Christmas day—SLAP! SLAP!

Perhaps Santa Claus in his original role as a theological enforcer may not go over very well in our contemporary culture. People may then try to take both Christ and Santa Claus out of Christmas. And with that economic heresy, the retailers would start to do the slapping.

The future of the Putman family

2005-12-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

The future of my family:

Myself, aspiring to be a writer - expected income: nothing
Jared, aspiring to be a pastor - expected income: nothing
Taylor, aspiring to be a musician - expected income: nothing

The other three, Holly, Luke, and Cody, are too young to tell yet. Let's just hope they make more money that we will or Dad will have to follow up on his treat to start miming on 6th St. in Austin to supplement his retirement.

Internship news

2005-12-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

Daniel just found out that he got an internship with USA Today for next semester. He'll be working 20 a week for their online money section. I didn't know the paper's circulation, so I looked. It's number #1, with 2.1 million circulating. Needless to say, I was proud and he's excited.

As for me, I just told Greg Harris that I would help with the National Association of Christian Homeschool Journalism Clubs. It's a national journalism club based on the NCFCA model. My job is Project Manager in charge of writing and putting together the club handbook. It's a challenge I'm looking forward too, especially as I can help show high school students what Christians in journalism are really like (in other words, working in the field is better than any Ann Coulter). More details on that to follow. If you know anybody who might be interested in being a part of a club, please let me know.

God answered those prayers for opportunities. They (at least mine!) fell into our laps, and we've marveled.

Home...

2005-12-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

is warm(er), though these silly Texans don't think so. I've been walking around in one layer and flipflops. Daniel would laugh at me, but I'm laughing at the woman who was wearing a face mask at Wal-Mart and the man wearing ski overalls at Target.

Being away from school brings little realizations that make me grin. Shopping is more enjoyable when a deadline isn't over my head. It's hard to believe that yes, I really can sleep in as late as I can. I don't have to set my alarm. I can let my cellphone go uncharged and nobody cares! And finally, I can listen to the pre-marital counseling sermons the church gave us.

So, I'm cleaning my room, and listening to sermons. It always amazes me how my attitude changes when I plug in worship music and sermons during low-brain-level activities. Often I find myself singing praise later and my heart rejoices.

going home

2005-12-14T22:38:00.000-08:00

It's over - everybody breathe again. Tomorrow I'm cleaning up my room, packing a large suitcase, checking my girls out, and going on a long flight home. I need sleep (and to finish Spanish!).

A few thoughts about the end of the semester: Dr. McKamy is my hero. I'm finished with all math forever and ever! Econ was from the bad place, but I've never studied so little for a final in my life. Funny thing is, if I had studied 14 hours, it would not have been any different. Theology is over - double yay! No more 8'oclock classes EVER. Physics lab was good. Journalism history was fine: took it on two hours of sleep and did fine. I'll never do it again, though. I'm going to miss Dr. Carroll. She's the only professor I know that would cuss in class and threaten us if we disturbed her on football day. The librarian can't hate me anymore - I paid every last fine! Class evals can wait until I go home. They're the only revenge a student has around here, so I take them seriously. What file do all my papers from the semester go in? Oh, I need to switch the calendar to December. Whoops. Lauren Avey is going to Mexico tomorrow, which I think is very cool. There's a huge snow storm coming in and I just want to go home to warm weather! I have Taco Bell breath. Walk the Line was a good movie.

Ha - I dare you to understand that train of thought! See what becoming a senior around here will do to you?

2005-12-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

Last post before finals....five papers to write and five finals to study for in two weeks' time may just kill me. I'm so glad this semester is finally coming to an end.

In a short spirit of fun, I typed in "Whitney needs" in Google and laughed at the results:

1. Whitney needs to clean up before her voice crumbles

2. Whitney needs some help - and a new wigmaker.

3. Whitney needs to level with her mother.

4. Whitney needs to be more proactive.

5. Whitney needs to be acknowledged and preserved because she was such an important part of San Fransisco.

What do you need?

Announcing...

2005-11-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

...two things:

A date for Daniel and I's wedding is finally set at Saturday, July 8, 2006. Ceremony is at Wayside Chapel at 7 pm (late due to reception availability and Saturday night service) and reception immediately afterwards at the Bethoven Maennerchor downtown. Now if I could used to the fact that my name is really changing...(grin).

A new blog: www.danielandwhitney.blogspot.com. A website to give info to people making plans to come down to San Antonio for July. It's a long way both for Daniel's family (from New York) and our friends (all over), so that should give all a quick means of stuff to do, directions, etc. It's a work in progress, thanks to school, just check out our little beginning so far.

Comments/questions welcomed on both!

Pain

2005-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

Today, I saw pain in the eyes who usually doesn't show it. They had good reason to be hurt. Christians can be cruel. Especially when they think they're "correcting" something.

PHC people can be especially cruel. A small community means a lightly covered reference is made and everybody instantly knows the person intended. Hurt can be caused with little effort. Add blogs, Xangas, and IM. What seems personal is really public, and causes more pain than people realize.

To the people who write with dust-covered references: I'm sure you had a good reason in your mind to do what you did. Please remember the people you refer to are people too. If you feel they have done something wrong, you would do yourself a favor by attending to it a mature manner before just saying what you have heard. There is wisdom in finding all you can about a problem before coming down from Mount Sinai with your 10 judgements. Humbleness will be more of an influence than simply writing pot-shots, elegantly crafted as it may be. I know I'm an RA, and that automatically disqualifies me from having any intellectual say, but I do know pain. I've felt it before too.

2005-11-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

I grin every time I see this picture...'cause I'm marrying that guy there. Yep, the one in the white shirt.

Sunday

2005-10-30T15:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday is to be a day of rest, but I rarely find any day to be completely one of rest here. It is, instead, a day of order.

I go to church; I am reminded of my state before God. Perspective gives sight and peace after a week of dealing with my sin and struggle. My soul is put to order.

I return to my room and face the remnants of my academic week: a pile of ILL books, Student Life emails to write, reading to finish, and to do lists to complete. My work is put to order.

Next, I turn to my closet, drawers, and fridge top. I grin and think of what Dad always says about "horizontal surfaces" attracting stuff. Shirts are hung, sweater refolded, and belts put in their proper place. My belongings are put to order.

I call home. Doodle is sick and Holly is going to a party. Jared locked himself out of his car across town again. Grandaddy promises he won't move until after my wedding. My family is put to order (at least in my mind).

Daniel and I take a quick trip to McDonalds for dinner after he gets sleep to catch up from working all night. We talk, laugh, and think about church this morning. My relationship is in order.

"Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Cor. 14:40) I find peace in order, if not rest and my heart rejoices.