Don't Forget Athanasius!

[Hey, when I was reading my devotion this morning his name came up! Though probably not on the top ten or top hundred of "History's Greatest Christians" in your mind, Athanasius of Alexandria get his commemoration today, the day he died in the year 373. For why "commemoration" is significant, please see yesterday's post.


It's what Athanasius did in his forty-five years as bishop of Alexandria (Egypt, in the then-Roman Empire), seventeen of which were spent in five exiles ordered by four different emperors -- really, this would make an awesome movie, or at least a trilogy! -- that we benefit from today, and not just in the Christian church.


The Athanasian Creed attributed to him and said on special occasions (it's embarrassing just now that I had to double-check my spelling of "occasions") in churches, in essence the Apostles Creed on uppers, affirms that God is the Father, God is Jesus Christ the Son, and God is the Holy Spirit, what we call the Holy Trinity.


In the fourth century this was seriously under attack, particularly by a creed the state tended to endorse (hence Athanasius' frequent exiles) that Jesus is God's Son, but he wasn't of the same being  as God, without which the Trinity falls apart. "One in Three, Three in One" prevailed, and we also have the New Testament today with its twenty-seven books as a result of his efforts and conflicts.

Now will these twenty-seven (I did NOT plan the number, it just worked out!) favorite posts and sayings I've heard and read the second half of April have quite the same impact over the next two millennia. Doubtful, but just imagine a gospel that begins "Thank you for the approval."! All spellings have been kept intact, and all names unless of publicly known figures are redacted.


And I bracketed a few notes and thoughts of mine for context, David]    


1. Thank you for the approval. There is something about old photographs. It hearkens a more gentile time, a more fashionable, kinder, more polite society. We wore a tie when we played a round of golf, and hats. I miss hats, both for men and women. A suit and tie were the standard.Even the cars were more stylish and artistic.

2. First, there's that moment of euphoria when you're able to recall some bit of arcane Star Trek trivia for your current writing project, without having to consult any reference sources.
Next, there's that moment you question your entire existence after you're able to recall some bit of arcane Star Trek trivia for your current writing project, without having to consult any reference sources.
#WritersLife...
#StarTrekWritersLife

(Dayton Ward, 041817, 1611 hrs)




3. Sometimes life gives you lemons. Sometimes it's rattlesnakes.
I've had some time to assess things and I realize that as many of you know, I take things to heart even when I shouldn't. Criticism especially.
I've always had a bent towards people pleasing and performance orientation. I've let it affect me.
I've also made excuses for myself when I'm not as productive as I know I should be. Why are we so hard on ourselves when we give grace to others?
Nobody is promised tomorro...w or next week. We need to make each day count. Who's life have you touched today? Have you invested in yourself? Have you pursued happiness?
What is your focus?



4. Thanks for inviting me into what I'm now beginning to think of as the "Oh God I Wish I Still Had That" group.




5. Why not make refrigerator pickles? Boil equal ants of water. And white vinegar. Add some sugar and a spoon of pickling spices. Slice cukes, some onion, sweet peppers and carrots and stuff in a jar. Pour hot liquid over and seal with lids. When cool, put in fridge for a week or so. You have pickles and the boiling vinegar will open the sinuses. See? I did have a reason for this recipe. Lol.




6. Dear student: Yes, the final is comprehensive. No, I won't change my mind. Welcome to college.

7. Out of all this came the most ironic lesson of all: that if a man talks with real sincerity about saving the people, no matter how his actions may hurt them, they will still love him.

(Margaret L. Coit, The Sweep Westward, "The President Embattled", p.46)

8. I love saying his name. His art is a bonus!

[This was in reference to some comic book art by Nestor Redondo, but I think it's got other applications.]

9. When people say PC, as in, "Politically Correct" I think Poop Cannon & it makes me smile~ :P Try it, you might like it!!!








10. Really aggravated can't find my shaver when my son wants a haircut I want this garage empty I will wait for hubby to find it or I'll buy a new one ugh




11. It has been decided that when I grow up I'm going to be a professional jeeper. That is all.




12. Talk so much about principles but all you really want is some free land and money that you'll use to buy flashy shit and then go bankrupt.



13. I admit the Prime Directive [Star Trek's non-interference rule] is handled poorly and inconsistently by the writers, some of whom wouldn't recognize a legitimate moral and ethical quandry if it bit them in the ass. Too often it's been used as a plot device that turns our usually noble and admirable characters into reprehensible cowards and monsters (the episode with Worf's foster brother leaps screaming to mind), never mind episodes of the original series where Starfleet made contact with non-warp-capable societies who Have Something We Need. The Prime Directive has good reasons and good uses, it's a tool and it can be mis-used through action or inaction... but to disregard it completely is as bad as applying it universally. It is not an absolute in either direction.



14. Stop saying that. Stop saying that. We don't want the Internet broken. We don't want shocking jaw-dropping OMG I can't believe that character did that moments. We want good, competently-told stories that don't rely on shock value and controversy.



15. Dear student: *big breath*
If you ask me a question which has been answered in the syllabus, has been answered on the course website, AND has been addressed during the last THREE classes, forgive me for being a bit snippy with my answer.
*exhales* #finalsweek

16. ... By 1819, a combination of factors -- the overexpansion of industry, loss of foreign markets, collapse of the Western land boom, failure of many banks -- had set off a national panic.

Now came a cry that the nation must use only American-made products. War and embargo had called American industry into being and the infant industries could not be left to die. A protective tariff was pushed through in 1816 to keep coarse English cotton goods off the American market.

At about this time Clay began evolving what he was later to call the "American System": effective tariffs against foreign goods plus a continuing federal policy of internal improvements -- roads, canals, etc. -- to build up domestic strength. It was a bold plan, but it brought sarcastic rejoinders from Webster, whose ship-merchant constituents opposed helping American industry at the expense of United States shipping. What was so "American" about protection anyhow, he asked, inasmuch as America had never even attempted to adopt it?

[Change the names here and change the date, and isn't it amazing how history repeats itself?]

(Margaret L. Coit, The Growing Years, "The End Of A Hectic Era", p.147)




17. What a day.
The rain filled trek to Ikea, the humiliating walk of shame with disenigrated shoes, and the eternal "Hugeness" of IKEA...
Our convo in the store: "the sign says this---> way to the checkstands." Five minutes later, "it looks like its this <--- way?"
2 minutes later, "did we pass these dishes already?"
...and again..."this looks familiar...is that the same curtains we passed once before?"...
...and finally, "we are NEVER getting out of this STORE!"
After much confusion and three employees later...FREEDOM!

18. I know it's something that should have been changed ages ago. Apparently coffee is not an acceptable breakfast. Who knew?????

[Well, I do know that just coffee is not an acceptable breakfast. At the end of the day, throughout the day, it works for me.]




19. So there I was sitting in a chair looking blankly at a painting and I noticed the artist I could not believe how one person perceives Beauty I kept looking at it and looking and looking and looking and looking and looking and looking and looking and looking I still couldn't find that stupid dinosaur

20. Then give me such letters as make me feel that I am a man and have a country and family to defend, and gives me an idea of freedom such as God intends all to possess.

(Daniel M. Holt, Surgeon, 121st New York Infantry, in a letter to his wife, March 7, 1863)




21. Today's Thought - 04/28/17
The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.
- G.K. Chesterton



(posted by KHRT 106.9 FM)




22. Ok, this is going where all discussions on abortions go - endlessly round & round. I advocate for MY beliefs. Y'all have a nice day.



23. Everyone wants to eat but few are willing to hunt.





24. What an amazing week! Filled with outright manifestations and synchronicities






25. Sweat, water, bedhead, the water mess



(Jeffrey to me, 042917, 1334 hrs, on his way to a friend's birthday party explaining what he did to get ready after we'd been laying around the house all that morning)




26. He is not obsessed with the past, but with the application of the past to the present and future. The business of a serious politician is to foretell; he uses history as an instrument of prophecy.



("Man of the Half-Century", TIME, January 3, 1950)


27. You know, this whole driving thing is actually quite easy when you're trying to hit something.

(Zelena, Once Upon A Time, "The Black Fairy")