a hodgepodge: or, when anything and everything seems more important than broadcasting yourself …

… that’s probably a good thing.

There’s a lot going on these days. We can look forward to a couple more months of Hillary and Barack beating each other over the head by proxy (or sometimes directly), an indeterminately long period of economic recession and $4 a gallon gasoline, and the continued ascendancy of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus/the good girl of pop with a million names over all the world.

Also, lots of good movies out these days: There Will Be Blood, for which Daniel Day-Lewis totally deserved his Oscar; Gone Baby Gone, the well-directed and well-acted movie that kept me in the dark until very very nearly the end (which rarely happens); Atonement, which moves like an incredibly interesting glacier that in the end runs over your grandmother’s house (at least that’s how jolting it is); and Into the Wild, a fascinating story about searching for the meaning of life. Plus of course the ones I want to see but haven’t yet, like No Country for Old Men.

In slightly bigger news, I am very much looking forward to becoming a dad. Becky is starting to show her pregnancy in her ridiculously cute belly, and there’s a small heart pounding like mad in there. I know, because I’ve heard it.

I find myself thinking a lot about theological and ministry issues, like: What is the nature of Biblical inspiration? What did Paul mean when he said scripture is “God-breathed”? Why do I feel like even the best churches I see around me frequently marginalize women?

Trying to take more of a role in helping move in a positive direction at the church. Pushing certain steps to strengthen the ministry. Also starting a small group in my home to help develop relationships.

Did I mention Becky is having a baby? Yeah, that’s cool.