What are you learning?

Once again, I have decided to learn to speak Spanish.
Spanish is the official language of twenty countries and the US territory of Puerto Rico, plus it is widely spoken in Mexico, the USA, and the Philippines. 

I am using Great Courses plus to learn and am just over a week into the course. My greatest challenge is finding places to actually speak in Spanish. I need to find a cigar smoking Mexican man that might need help learning English so that we can smoke cigars, sip tequila, and help each other learn our languages. In today's world, I don't think that advertising for a Mexican person that needs to learn English would get any response, so I guess I'll have to find another way to practice.

I know there are AI courses that allow you to converse with an AI generated teacher. I might have to look into that if taking an old fashioned, repeat-after-me course doesn't work. I don't know that true fluency is the goal, but I would like to be conversationally fluent enough to do more than order a beer and tacos. I am glad there are online translation apps like Google Translate to help when we are in Mexico.

The US is a vast land and there really is no need to learn a second language if your travel is restricted to the US and Canada (although French would be helpful in parts of Quebec). However, it is a little pathetic that so few of us can speak more than just English. Truthfully, it's pathetic at the number that struggle to speak English properly.

Learning a second language is my current quest. 
That and shedding about 60 pounds (27 kg). 
Truthfully, I am doing more to learn Spanish than I am to lose weight, so it is more likely that I'll just be un gringo gordo rather than a normal sized English only American. 

I've completed today's Spanish lesson so I should probably get to work.
¡Adios amigos!

John

Theology and books

I am currently reading Peter Enns' book Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming. I am only 1/3 of the way through it, but I am thoroughly enjoying it -- so much so that I was thinking that this is a book worthy of a book club selection and discussion. I kind of wish I had someone to discuss it with as I am reading it.

Having said that, I really don't think I'm much of a book club kind of person. While I do read books of many different kinds, I generally read what I want and at my own speed. I am currently reading through a fiction series of a badass black ops team by Scott Conrad. I often have two books going at the same time -- one fiction and one nonfiction.

Back to Curveball;
I'll get around to writing a review for it when I finish reading it, but I'm wondering if there are theological books that others have read or would like to read that seem to call for discussion as you read through them. I don't know what an online as-you-read book club might look like, or if there are other people in my local area that would be up for an occasional group read of such books, but I'd be interested to try something out.
I'm thinking -- it doesn't even have to be a book centered on theology. They could be books on behavior or how we think or philosophy. I suppose they could be fiction or nonfiction, although I think the genre would typically be mostly nonfiction.

Whether or not such groups exist, I am interested in books of theology or philosophy that you have read and would recommend. I should include books of other religions or belief systems that might not really fall under theology, but address the spiritual lives of its followers. I am particularly interested in progressive Christian authors that have managed to evolve or deconstruct (or whatever they want to call it) in their following of God.

What are you reading?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

I think most people would say I have a boring life.
I don't.
I would agree that I have a simple life.
I am happy with that.

Up when I finish sleeping
Coffee on the deck 
Morning quiet time
Some computer time, light reading, maybe something to learn (currently online Spaanish course)
A couple of hours of yard work
Afternoon on the deck
Cigar, drink, book, music
Evening on the deck or maybe a baseball game
Simple, not boring.

It works for me.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I understand the sentiment, but being busy and doing stuff isn't the same as living. Find your peace. Be happy.

John

The USA and Democracy

The "demos" of the pre-Common Era Grecian world were considered to be the lower class of citizens. Our current language defines "demos" as the people making democracy the rule by the people.
Aristocracy is the rule by a few aristocrats -- often wealthy by power of inheritance or social status.
Plutocracy is rule by the rich where wealth translates to power. It is similar to oligarchy, except in oligarchy the rule is by a few that came to power by any means, not just wealth. Plutocracy is a form of oligarchy.

More and more, it appears that the USA is becoming more of a plutocracy (rule by the rich) than it is a democracy (rule by the people). When it costs more than a million dollars to run for a seat in the House of Representatives you know that we have strayed far from the representation of the people by the people that our founders envisioned.

I have to say that I am more than a little disillusioned about celebrating our freedom on this Independence Day. I am no longer sure about who is included in the "our" part of our freedom. The inalienable rights of all humans defined in our Declaration of Independence don't seem to apply to everyone anymore. It is now criminal to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. If we really believed in those basic human rights, shouldn't we be helping people that are seeking them rather than hindering or criminalizing them and their families?

I am not pleased with the current politics of the USA, and I fear that the current ruling class will make it very difficult to swing the control back to something more moderate. I am also at a loss as to what an old, retired guy can do to help change things. I am especially displeased with the so-called Christian Nationalists that claim to have God telling them to do some very un-Godly things with their power.

I just don't know how to describe my feelings today.
I do know that I am not alone.
I think I am going to fly my flag today. 
I am going to celebrate the years that I have been proud to live in the USA.
I am going to celebrate the hope that I have that I will again be proud of living in the USA.
I am going to celebrate that I have a vote and a voice to change the representation of the demos in government.

I will grill some burgers today, 
We'll have some corn on the cob. 
We watched fireworks last night and I am sure that we will see some from the deck tonight.
It's a little weird that this year's Fourth of July seems more like a day of reflection and remembrance than a day of celebration. 
I just don't know what it means to be a citizen of the USA anymore.
Honestly, I'm kind of bummed out about that.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 I hope everyone has a few people that are like medicine in their life.

John

July 1

The sun is poking through a mostly overcast sky in the Ozarks of SWMO. It looks like it will be another beautiful day in the Ozarks. Even under cloudy skies there is a serenity and solemn beauty that exists in the rural setting that I look out at as I enjoy my coffee each morning. I hope that I never take the privilege of early retirement for granted and that I will always appreciate the beauty and comfort of my home.

Happy Canada Day to my friends in the north!
Friday will be Independence Day here in the US. 
I guess July might not be a historically good month for Great Britain.

The calendar shows that we are beginning the second half of 2025. If you are actually counting days, the halfway point is noon on July 2nd. Maybe I should set some goals for the second half of the year. I feel like I am an underachiever. I think that most people would find my life incredibly boring. It is a little weird that I really don't do anything and yet I can't say that I am at all bored with life. Perhaps that is a part of the privilege of having the choice to do nothing.

I have gotten better about working earlier in the day as the summer intensifies. I feel like that is progress. I am a slow starter when it comes to doing things during the day. I can't really say how much I appreciate my quiet mornings on the deck. Alone with my coffee and Chromebook and the sounds of the birds that are gathering food and singing their songs is the best time of day and I tend to enjoy it for much longer than I really should.
I saw a pair of gold finches in the flowers this morning. I've seen them in the past, but it might be the first time this summer. 

I have some wind damage to clean up and just general yard maintenance to take care of today, so I'd better get to it. 

Have a wonderful July.

John

Scripture thoughts

Some time ago I said I was going to read through the gospels, looking specifically at the things that Jesus taught. I got started on that project, but like most things, it got set aside for reading that required less work and study. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to resume that work and continue where I left off.
Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not, the man Jesus taught us some pretty good stuff -- stuff you can live by and have a full and meaningful life.

Meditating on the words of Jesus is complicated for me. Knowing that the gospels were written many years after the death of Jesus concerns me. Because of the practice of teaching disciples by repetition, storytelling, and memorization it is possible that the quotes attributed to Jesus are accurate. Plus the message is consistent throughout the memories and writings of the different authors.
Perhaps it is my own experiences with men using scripture as a weapon to control others that concerns me. I am not convinced that today's religious leaders care about the eternal life of people as much as they care about attaining their loyalty and their money. 

Personally, I would like to be thought of as a good person. For some people, being a good Christian is a prerequisite for being a good person. I don't agree with that, but I am okay if that's the standard used to judge me because I wouldn't mind being thought of as a good Christian, as well.
You don't really get much say in what others think of you. And to be honest, it isn't a big deal. I know there are many that will see me as a heretic that left the church because I pushed back by questioning some un-Christlike policies. I'm okay with that, too. 

I would be sad to know that I had done something to cause somebody to hate me or to think I'm an asshole or really bad person. I am sure that I have done and said things that poorly represent the Jesus that I claim to follow. 
I'm still working on it. 

These are my thoughts on this Monday morning.
Have a wonderful week.

John

June 29: Day 180

It's difficult to believe that the year 2025 is almost half over. July 2nd is the 183rd day of the year, making noon of that day the halfway point. I can't say that I've accomplished anything significant in the first half of the year, nor do I have any great plans to achieve greatness of any kind in the second half of the year.
Unfortunately, I am happy to enjoy each day as it comes and I tend to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the small world around me.

Although I truly have very few people encounters throughout the week, I did manage a few good conversations last week. Reflecting on how much I've changed over the past few decades is interesting. Going from Southern Baptist Evangelist and doing revivals and kid camps that were complete with altar calls and encouragement for repentance and surrender to the religion of Jesus is pretty far from the seldom going to church, anti-religion, to each their own, but still a Christ follower that I am now.

In my few conversations with people, I find that many are searching for a community in an otherwise chaotic world. A trusted community seems to be an elusive thing for many adults in the US. It may be so in other cultures, as well, but I think that the competitive way of life in the US has destroyed community as a culture here. We would rather get ahead of our neighbor as individuals than to help the community be better as a whole. We seem to be far more concerned with getting more for me than doing better for all of us. 

Even as I recognize this need for community in our culture, I am not likely to be the one that ushers in the changes necessary to bring about the cultural shift. Community building requires far more people skills than I have in my limited toolbox. Plus, many of the community seekers are from younger generations and have community needs that I am unaware of. 

Perhaps something like the new cell phone restrictions in Missouri schools will help change the culture from the head down, eyes on the screen behavior to actual face to face communication with peers and teachers. The restrictions may provide more than eliminating learning distractions. It may bring cultural changes to how and when we use certain technologies.

Have we replaced our community with technology?
Have we taken technology that could give us more free time and used it to give us more time to work harder to make more money, accumulate more power, and achieve a higher status?
Has social media replaced personal friendships and interactions?
I think that is true for many people.

Honestly, I don't have much of a community. 
And that's okay with me.
I am fine with going to the ballgame alone, or going to watch the fights by myself. My only real hobbies are reading and working in the yard -- both are things that I do solo. 
Maybe I need a community more than I think I do.

Tell me about your communities.
How do you cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with groups of people?
Is it something that is teachable or easy to replicate?
Is community a basic human need?
Are we better off as a species when we work together?
If so, how have we gotten so far away from building and being cooperative communities?

Those are my thoughts.
What are yours?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 Definitely a worthwhile goal

Have a grand day!

John

Monday Motivation

No Meditation for this morning. I am out at the Ozark Starbucks using a gift card for my quad breve latte. I have an outdoor table that is in the shade which avoids the inside coffee shop chatter. 

Going out for coffee this morning is my method for getting an early start on the work portion of my day. I figure that I will take less time for coffee, I'm close to Lowes and can pick up some plants and mulch for my work, and then the work can begin. 

I noticed yesterday that the moon flowers were about to open, but then forgot to check them when we got home last night. This is what I saw this morning!

 

Seeing flowers bloom is good motivation for working in the garden!
Our gladiolas are close, so are the hibiscus. Dahlias are also budding and about to open.
Yeah, it's summer and life is good!

Some Monday morning coffee shop observations --
Although Starbucks has both a steady stream of customers that are using the drive-through, and a good number of people that order on the app and then just park and pick-up, there seems to be fewer people that use this as a meeting place than at other area coffee shops.

I like that the local shops get more of the morning meeting business. Personally, I think that may have as much to do with the ambiance as with the coffee or anything else. Starbucks has a pretty sterile kind of atmosphere. It seems more suited to the drive though or pick-up kind of traffic.

If I am going to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures, I'd better get to it.
I hope that you find some flowers or pretty colors to brighten your day.

John