I love the Library of Congress

Starting today, I am going to read one chapter each day of five vastly different books I checked out from the Library of Congress:

1. Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, a Bethany Hamilton Story
2. Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart
3. Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart
4. Shabby Chic: Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide
5. Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality

More books on the way....lots to sift through here.

I'm a fan...favorite Olympian this round

He just seems so cool! I would love to meet any Olympian. There's not a more dedicated group of people out there, in my opinion. They have worked their hardest at whatever it is, and are not happy unless they are the best in the world at their particular sport.

Lord, what about him?

As an oldest child, I grew up constantly comparing myself, my benefits and responsibilities, privileges and punishments, with my siblings and my friends. I felt like I was not allowed to anything fun that my friends could do, like watch certain movies or TV shows, or spend the night at friends’ homes, stay out late, go on dates, wear certain clothes, etc.

But I specifically remember my parents telling me that I wasn’t allowed to do certain things because they were accountable to God for how they raised me, and God wouldn’t want me to see certain movies or listen to certain music. Of course, I challenged, “How to you know? Did God tell you that?” They said that even if He didn’t directly tell them so in an audible voice, He gave them reason and discernment to best raise us kids in a Godly manner. And they would have to answer to God for their decisions. 

My next line of questioning went something like this, “Well why would God tell you that I cannot do that, but tell other Christian parents that their kids can do that? Are you saying that you hear God correctly and that Pastor X doesn’t hear God correctly? Do you think you are holier or better than Pastor X?” (Oh, yeah, I was that bratty).

Still, I always wrestled with this question, and never felt quite comfortable with an answer. It is interesting to realize that different people are called to different standards of abstention of food, alcohol, media, etc, based on personal convictions and sensitivities. This is why we must be careful not to be a stumbling block to others. Although I don’t think it’s wrong to drink alcohol in moderation, if I will offend Christians who see it as wrong, I will not drink in front of them.

I think the life lesson came full circle for me today as I did my personal Bible study. I stumbled upon this passage from John 21:

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”  

My future kids probably won’t understand the message of this text. But that’s okay. Every time they compare, tattle, or challenge my personal convictions regarding the more permissive decisions of Christian living, I will let them copy and interpret this text over and over until it’s ingrained in their mindset. It would have helped me a lot.

Jesus tells Peter, “ …what is that to you? You must follow me.” 

Y'all, I'm addicted

Vocations, Callings, and Submission for Christian Women

Yesterday, my friend sent around a old article written by Dominican Priest and Trappist Monk Eugene Boylan. It was published in 1947, and has some very harsh things to say about women and our vocation. I have included relevant parts of the article here and then share my thoughts on the matter. What do you think? How do you respond?  

"The woman who marries, intending at all costs to retain her own career, or who absolutely refuses to be dependant on her husband, does not know the meaning either of Christian marriage or even of true human love. If she is in love with anybody, it is with herself. Marriage means abandoning one's self to enter into one new life, shared with her husband. There cannot be two "careers" where there is only one life. Nor can there be independence. For man and wife are dependant upon one another for everything. Where there is love, all joy or pleasure that cannot be shared, loses its value.

Angels

On Wednesday, I am going to a funeral for my boss's wife, Ethie. She died on Thursday after fighting ovarian cancer for three years.

I am really, really sad. My heart hurts and weeps for George and their son, King, age 11. Ethie was bright, beautiful, vibrant. Such a belle. And she must have been such a good woman because all through her sickness she had childhood friends come take care of her. If that doesn't say something about who she was, I don't know what does.

I know that this service will be really sad. Please pray for George and King Radanovich, for comfort and joy.

My sweet little tree house room

This is what I did during my snow day. Washed my linens, ironed them, organized, stuffed this comforter with a too-small, not puffy enough comforter. I think I need to get a king sized comforter to stuff in this home-made duvet. Overall, though, I love the cozy handiwork, and the window is actually open right now, in the midst of the February snow. And I, of course, am watching the whole, five hour Pride and Prejudice for the second time in five days. Snow, snow, go away.

But wouldn't it be hilarious to greet everyone with the Jane Austen-esque greeting of "Your parents are in good health, I hope?"

Love.

What should I wear today?

Wow....a friend forwarded this, and it is so true....ashamedly so. But a lot of it is true for me on some occasions. What about you?


The mathematical formula women apply in putting together the ideal outfit:
  
time of day
+ time of month
+ season
- what the other women at work wore yesterday
+ what you favorite fashion magazine proclaimed was the hottest trend
x how you feel today
+ how you want others to think you feel today
x where you're going
+ how long
x who you want to wish they were you
+ how much you want them to wonder how you could afford what you're wearing
- how much time you have to actually think about what you want to wear after you finish complaining about how few clothes you have
- the time you spend wondering how just last week you were a size less and today you can't get single leg into those new pants
_____________________
= The perfect outfit for the next eight hours!

Advice from women in Congress

“Look around—a roomful of men in navy blue suits! Women in politics hold a secret advantage over men: they can grab the attention of everyone around them by wearing a colorful outfit. I haven’t owned a blue suit since.” Representative Kay Granger (R-TX)

Many women in politics rely on “power dressing,” maintain a trustworthy community of family and friends and work hard to control their own image to advance their professional goals.

Many women note that when women surround themselves with supportive colleagues, they are more likely to take on bigger challenges and, consequently, more likely to succeed.

“A man is perceived to have natural strength that women are not automatically perceived to have, so I wanted to control my life. I didn’t want well-meaning people saying, ‘Oh, she has breast cancer, you shouldn’t ask her to do that.’ In the campaign I wanted to be the judge of how much I was comfortable doing and not have everyone else try and tell me how much I could do.”

“A woman’s natural instinct to hesitate and consider all of the ramifications before entering into a campaign may prevent her from getting a head start on a male opponent who may not have the same reservations.”

“I’m lucky…a lot of women can’t bring their kids to work. I prioritize more and use my time more wisely, because I don’t have a lot of it to waste.”

It is the skill set of forethought and multitasking that gives women an upper hand when it comes to politics.

Women are doing the work to get men elected. We need to get ourselves elected.

Female lawmakers agree that they should not only celebrate but leverage their differences from men to find success.

“Little lady, what qualifies you to run for the U.S. House of Representatives? Well, you know what? I’ve been the three-year old choir director, the room mother, the room-mother chairman, and the Girl Scout cookie mom, and if you can handle those jobs, you can handle the U.S. House of Representatives.” Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

My room with a view

This is the view out of my bedroom window on the third floor. I love actually seeing the flakes fall. It's so lovely. And I am so glad that I just have a short walk to my office. I am going to become a photojournalist of my life for you here, so stay tuned all my California friends who haven't been out to visit and see for yourself.

Russian Roulette with Rihanna

I have had such an interesting reaction to a new song by Rihanna called "Russian Roulette." There's something mysteriously compelling about it. I love and am so attracted to the sound of the song. It's intense and melodic and sounds a bit dark, just what I like. However, the lyrics are an anathema to me. It's so troubling, because she is engaging with one other individual in a game of Russian Roulette, where they each take turns pointing and shooting a gun loaded with a single bullet at each other until someone dies. The lyrics talk about her fear and trembling over this game, but she is not going to back down. One line says, "that he's here means he's never lost"

There is something so troubling to my soul about this song, but I am so drawn to it.....but I know I can't listen to it because it really gets to me and drags me down. I can't shake it when I hear it. That makes me think that it is spiritually charged. I guess that I should have the same reaction when I hear God glorifying music, not necessarily Christian music, but music that highlights the good and noble.

I wonder how my life would be different if I were to evaluate the spiritual valence of everything in my life. The good is a positive spiritual valence (every good and perfect gift comes from God), and everything bad is an evil spiritual valence.

I need to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus and that means not letting this song into my life, even though I am so drawn to it for some reason.

God please reveal yourself to Rihanna and help that woman out of her disturbing music and video themes.

Hallelujah!

I passed my test. My friends, that was the hardest thing I have ever done. Thank you, Jesus.

Ad maiorem dei gloriam. (For the greater glory of God).

I will soon be back to post more about what's on my mind and what's next. Quickly, though, I will be working four days a week starting this week. So I will be trying to figure out a new groove for my life and studies. I think this is a growing opportunity.

Thanks for your support, beloveds!

Teetering

I feel like I am teetering on the edge of something BIG. On this side of this week, I am still young and small and inexperienced and finding my footing in my life and work and job and school. When I hear that I pass my test (God willing) I will actually feel like the accomplished adult that I have been becoming for the last five or so years. But I feel like it hinges here. I have been wafting around, waiting and floating...but as of yet there has been no point of identification or acknowledgment of what I have done in any tangible sense.

But I have poured hundreds, literally hundreds of hours into studying IR, and I know it well. Now I hope I am able to show it on my exam Friday.

Principal Agent theory

Discuss the promises and pitfalls of the use of principal-agent theories in international relations. 

PA is dominant approach to the study of delegation. Draws from rational choice theories, arguing that instrumentally rational actors (voters, legislators, states) delegate power to executive and judicial agents systematically in order to lower transaction costs of policymaking and in doing so, they tailor the discretion of their agents, systematically, as a function of several factors including the demand for credible commitments, demand for policy relevant information, and the expected gap between the preferences of the principals and agents.

St. Peter's at 5pm last night

Last night I was feeling especially selfish. I had passed by Catholic churches no less than three times yesterday as I was moving about town, and each time had shook the thought of entering from my mind.

But as I got home last night and the familiar mind-flurry of "what do I need, what do I want, what would satisfy me right now" hit me full force, I decided to skip across the street for 5 o'clock Mass at St. Peters. It is a such a familiar, safe, peaceful feeling for me to walk into a Catholic church. I did so every week growing up, from birth through sixth grade. Then my family started to go to a protestant church, which I love as well.

It is amazing to me how, though I have not gone faithfully to a Catholic service since I was 12, and I am now 25, I remember most of the words and recited prayers and responses. It is so important to develop habits and expectations and practices with young children, as they are so impressionable and it WILL stick with them. I think that this is why the Bible promises that if you "Train up a child in the way he should go, he will not depart from it." It's in his/her blood. If I ever have kids, I will definitely make faith part of the foundation of training I will provide them.

The sermon (Homily) was on two amazing passages from the Bible. The first was on the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as words of wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, various kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12).  I especially noticed the last verse in this reading, "But one and the same Holy Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." I know there is much discussion about these gifts and a lot of observations, predictions, and pontifications, but it all comes down to the fact that God distributes to each one individually just as He wills. We cannot limit God only to do what we think He wills.

The second was on the wedding feast at Cana, where Jesus performed his first public miracle (John 2). Father Byrne pointed out that this passage is symbolic of Jesus's death and his free flowing sacrificial blood that overflows to cover all sins of all people. It also showcases Jesus's tenderness and love for marriage among this young couple, and not only marriage of a young couple but a POOR young couple, because a rich couple would never run out of wine. So Jesus, on top of displaying His might, also provided lavishly for a poor young couple to make their wedding celebration a grand affair.

The way that these two readings came together was  though the mechanism of Mary's direction to the servants: "Do whatever He tells you." We need to remind ourselves of this...."do whatever He tells you." What is that? What are your gifts (from the 1 Corinthians reading)? How are you using your gifts in the Church? Can you sing, read, argue, speak, run, make a great pie, etc. But even more than just using your gifts to glorify God in the church, we must do something much more profound.

It is our calling and challenge and privilege to bring the transformation of the Eucharist (Sacrament of Communion) from the altar to the world around us. We are not just sharing our wealth, our baked goods, or our talent, but we are literally taking Communion to the people around us. That is how we truly bring glory to God through our gifts.

I am challenged. And somehow, not sure how yet, but I intend to bring my transformational Communion experience into my exam this week. I'll let you know what that looks like when I figure it out, if I figure it out.

Decision Making and Prospect Theory

Thanks to prospect theory, economists have come to recognize that the assumption that individuals behave as rational actors maximizing utilities is not descriptively accurate. Do you believe that political scientists have adequately adjusted their own approaches given what we now know about human behavior?

Prospect theory runs counter to traditional economic rationality, in that according to an economic rational choice model, actors have fixed preferences that they are able to rank order. Therefore, given a decision situation, there is a clear order of what decision would give the best outcome, and there is no variance in this preference ranking.

Eavesdropping

Sometimes I cannot believe what I hear. I am studying next to an individual who is talking on the phone through a full mouth of muffin. The person on the other end must really love her and know her very well to understand what she's saying, because I certainly cannot.

Then, she makes the point that, "No, you have to get out of the shower with the phone. Even the steam will hurt the phone. Get out of the shower with that phone." And I don't think that the conversational partner was a child.

Just another incredulous conversation on a glorious study day in DC. I'm enjoying upper Georgetown very much! Cheers!

Non-state Actors

Through what mechanisms can non-state actors influence world politics?  Give at least two concrete examples.  Then discuss the theoretical implications of these modes of influence.  What implications do they have for IR theory? 

Nonstate actors have unique and powerful qualities that shape state behavior. This essay will address ways in which nonstate actors such as NGOs, International NGOs, epistemic communities, and transnational activist networks influence the international system.

Bows and Flows of Angel Hair, and Ice Cream Castles In the Air

This is what my dreams looked like last night. I don’t think that I have ever dreamed about food before in my life. I must have been hungry. In my dream, my sister made me brownies with caramel and marshmallow, and of course it was delicious. Maybe it’s because I had a cookie after dinner…one of my favorites, from Firehook. Its an “Presidential Cookie,” complete with everything you could want. Oatmeal, chocolate chips, walnuts, dried cherries…and lots and lots of butter. And as a plus, it gave me sweet dreams.

In truth, though a puzzling night of sleep, it was a welcome respite from the heavy burdens that have been weighing on me lately. Not just my test, but other big things that my beloved friends and family are going through. I have felt the weight of these things in a heightened proportion the last few days. Part of me thinks that it is an attempt of the enemy to disturb my peace. But I won’t be rattled! I am focused, focused, focused on my exam. God can take care of everything,  of that I am certain, so I am laying my burdens, anxieties and cares at his more-than-capable feet.

I just listened to a song this morning on my ipod that asked, “who planted the trees,” prodding me to think about the world in its original, pristine form after creation. God planted the first trees. How incredible! Were it not for the first act, we wouldn’t have any today. For many across the world, trees are their livelihood, their shade, and sustainers of their economy and life. Thank you, God, for your creativity. You are quite the artist. And everything you created is utterly original. There was no model or prototype. You created, you breathed, you spoke and world came together.

…and then I panic about some test….silly me.

Hopefully my dreams are full of candyland adventures this next week. It sure beats waking up and pondering, worrying, or criticizing myself and these hardships.

Miss Dior

Love this whole look. So classic. Maybe once I'm a professor......one day.