Frappé with Philippians: Sent to the publisher this week. We have a cover now. Pub date: July.
Kona with Jonah: Almost ready to send to the publisher. Pub date: also July.
I have some options for what to write next, but I can't think about that right now! I'm up to my eyebrows in translation work and reading for my PhD. As mentioned earlier this week, I'm taking six hours in Greek translation via independent study. My project focuses on Artemis of the Ephesians and the affect she had on the city of Ephesus. I'm finding her in the New Testament and Ignatius and Pausanias (early Greek travel writer), and all over Asia Minor, really. Not "Artemis," mind you, but "Artemis
of the Ephesians," an apparently unique personality (at least that's what I've concluded from my work so far). I have no idea where I'll end up. I'm just seeing where the ride takes me.
At
Kindred Spirit we focused the last issue on the environment and God's creation. The next one, headed to the print shop soon, focuses on Darwin. Brace yourself--the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth will make headlines more than it already has this year when he celebrates his two-hundredth birthday next week. And we'll hit the 150th anniversary of his famous book later in '09...
On Wednesday nights I teach a journalism class. Normally we have twelve students. This semester we have twenty-three. Fortunately I have some help in the form of a former intern, Kelli. Whew! The close editing that students' papers deserve demands more than just "grading." But I came away from class this week so encouraged by the relevant topics my students have chosen and the degree of vulnerability they embrace--topics ranging from self-injury to the death of an unbelieving parent. Their interactions with each other also blessed me as they exhibited humility and grace with gentle suggestions for improvement.
Occasionally someone asks about my shoulder injury. I have an appointment with a trainer on Monday through my DTS-benefit membership at the Landry Fitness Center. I feel good in the ninety percentile. But it's time to take it back to 100 and return to my trimmer self.
Our pastor resigned and we're in transition at church. Bummer.
My husband is now full-time with East-West Ministries working stateside doing administrative work for a group of indigenous pastors in Kenya. They don't need him to live there, but they want his expertise to help accomplish their goal of building schools and orphanages, and planting churches (crunch numbers, run spread sheets, make a site visit a few times a year, calculate the need for lumber, find someone who digs wells...). If you've read Three Cups of Tea, their vision is sort of like that only with Christ at the center. They can't afford to pay him, and I'll tell you what I'd love... Rather than asking 50 people to support us at $100/month (salary plus expenses), I'd rather have about 650 people give $7/month. Is that crazy?
Have a great weekend!
