Your good is my goal, should be a driving force to maintain love for a lasting marriage. It involves commitment and self sacrifice.
Philippians 2:3-4
Psalm 34:3
Jul 13
Your good is my goal, should be a driving force to maintain love for a lasting marriage. It involves commitment and self sacrifice.
Philippians 2:3-4
Psalm 34:3
May 30
(This is far from finished and far from ready to be shared.)
Thesis: Work toward a more just, inclusive, and harmonious society, for everyone.
Outline:
Understanding systemic in our society: https://apple.news/ADHsEFKRXQtmpKl42AQbDOA
Listening, understanding, relationships, rapport.
Work toward a more just, inclusive, and harmonious society.
In this time, when we are listening and learning, so that we can work for a more just, inclusive, and harmonious society, it is good to look to God’s love and powerful grace, remembering the words of Isaiah 64:8 and Philippians 1:6.
Learning: https://youtu.be/AGUwcs9qJXY Race in America, by Phil Vischer.
Discussing and describing unconscious bias in schools, Phil says, “Are the teachers racist? No. Are they affected by bias? Yes, and it affects black students every day.”
Phil Vischer does not offer solutions. He asks us to do one thing: Care.
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17 NIV
Clint Smith says ,”Everyone should approach this moment with a level of empathy, a level of humility, and a willingness to step into conversations and think about things in ways that you might not necessarily been willing to do so beforehand.”
Consider: Blind spots…Your brain on autopilot https://www.pwc.com/us/en/about-us/blind-spots.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/04/blind-spot/302463/
I wrote to Jim Dallmeyer:
I think it’s a watershed period for our country.
We have to be able to build trust, relationships, and rapport. We (each of us) need to grow on a personal level.
I hesitate to use the phrase “take the next step*” (our country is ready to take the next step to reduce racism) because (as we are realizing) this is an ongoing growth process.
Isolated things such as new laws, new government spending, or even the taking down of a statue** will not grow trust, relationships, and rapport. I think we are realizing that we need (continually, and indefinitely) work for a more just, inclusive, and harmonious society.
There is no flipping of a switch or ending of racism.
Jim
*One does climb a mountain one step at a time – so, OK, let’s take the next step.
**laws, spending, and statue-removal feel good (OK, for you left-ists, spending money that doesn’t exist feels real good – haha-I couldn’t resist) but are mere bandaids and may not do a lot of good long-term.
Empty and pious platitudes (without works, faith is dead). Shouts of enough is enough. We’ve seen the story over and over: A few days of headlines, a few days of protest, short-lived initiative, hallow acts of repentance. A spark of hope is dosed by something else comes along to grab the headlines or financial resources are inadequate.
A piece of legislation that tempts us to feel as if we’ve done something. Not just increased awareness and ‘sensitivity’ without changes in the culture and the way people interact.
OK: An honest conversation that can create a movement for lasting change // responsible // pulpit into the pews into the world // transformation
A journey that intentionally walks into the pain, knowing that lament, confession, a deepened awareness, a deliberate plan, a change of heart, a conversion, an acceptance of a changed heart, and a deepened commitment to change the story will bring about the change we all long for and desire.
As MLK said.

We have people that are unheard (and disrespected and unappreciated and more). We need to improve communication. This is the hard challenge. We don’t know how to communicate very well.
Progression
Police brutality is wrong. They are to serve and protect. The use of force needs to be balanced and appropriate, remembering that they are here to serve and protect.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/richeisen/status/1266922958888464384?s=11 (video)
https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1269089929302343680
29 sec. video
We don’t want more chaos. We don’t want to destroy. We want to build up. Find the root of the problem and destroy it.
WE 22 statement from 22 coaches at Arizona State University https://twitter.com/AntonioPierce/status/1270468293371899904/photo/1
Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change (TED panel):
A couple comments on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. I do believe that the lives of black people matter. The lives of everyone matter, but I believe it is warranted to have a BLM movement to call attention to the many issues involving racism and that black people are still discriminated against in our country. However, the BLM movement has become a bit too multi-faceted. See https://www.city-journal.org/black-lives-matter
Not good enough
In summer 2020, after the death of George Floyd there as been a huge amount of discussion about racism. I have done much reflection (which I won’t log/detail at this time) and discussed it with people. My four take-away’s/goals I am setting for myself
May 20
Excellent hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier (1872)
Whittier started as a shoe salesman (as did D L Moody). He was an American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery.
Most of the verses can be used as prayers.
There are quite a few town (and a college) named Whittier, including Whittier, IA (unincorporated), just NE of Cedar Rapids.
May 09
Michael Rydelnick touched on some things to look up
The matzoh bread as a symbol for Christ body. For example it was pierced.
The wind as a symbol for Christ’s blood.
At the last supper the wine was in the 3rd cup. Why the3rd cup. There were 4 cups all together.
Mar 17
Some reflections. Wow, it’s been quite a wild ride already. Written 3/17/20.
Marilyn, I, Rachel, and Diane went to Washington, DC for spring break (March 7-12, 2020). The coronavirus (COVID-19) was already a big concern before we left home. Luke decided not go. Good decision.
We had a great 5 days, going to the (new) African American Museum of History and Culture, the (new) Museum of the Bible, a great Segway ride, Mount Vernon, and the Chart House restaurant.
We were scheduled to leave Thursday (March 12), so that I could attend a 2-day math conference in Chicago (which ended up being cancelled).
Wednesday (March 11) night, after we walked home from the Chart House, the Internet lit up. Things came crashing down and the snowball really started to roll. They cancelled the NCAA ‘Big Dance’ basketball tournament, the NBA, and on and on (I could list 50 more examples, but I won’t). Thursday morning, as we were getting ready to get on the plane for home, all the newspaper headlines were ’emergency,’ ‘panic button,’ ‘ring the bell,’ etc. As we sat in the airport, all my spring math conferences (for example) and everything was being cancelled. By the weekend they closed the Smithsonian museums (some 20 or so). So, we can say we were some of the last few hundred to go through the new African American Museum of History and Culture! For me, that Wednesday evening, 6 days ago, will stick in my memory.
We are so glad we had plane tickets to come home Thursday, rather than staying a whole week. The plane was only 2/3 full.
WIU will have no classes for an extra week after spring break and then we are to deliver our courses in an ‘alternative format.’ We/I have started the planning for that. I will not be turning Math 100 into an online course (for many reasons). The instruction will still be at the normal meeting time, MWF 11-11:50 am. We will use Google Hangouts Meet.
The Macomb HS students were on the Denmark trip. It was decided to have them come home early. It turned out, just in the nick of time. President Trump has now restricted planes coming in from Europe. (Again, more could be said. This is a news report. This is a reflection.)
We did have one Sunday of church worship (3/15). It was very settling for me. Pastor Scott Grulke had on the schedule (which was set months ago) the sermon topic of healing. He gave an excellent message on healing. I got to do the children’s sermon and also be the second adult in the youth SS class. I enjoyed it. Kathy Grulke is a wonderful teacher with a great personality and approach. OK, next Sunday, and for the foreseeable future we will not have the congregation in church but putting the services online.
Today I took a run. I’m glad I can still do that. I’m scheduled to run a half marathon at the Drake Relays. OK, that might not happen. I’m following Jeff Galloway’s half marathon prep plan. I’m thankful it’s going pretty well.
On my runs I’ve been listening to The Gospel In Life podcast sermons by Tim Keller. They are great. He is doing a lengthy series on sin. Wow, you’d think it would be a downer, but Pastor Keller is wonderful at teaching for understanding and showing that being rooted in God and trusting in Jesus is the good news. It is amazing to me how each sermon in the series is different and how he seems to take it to a higher (deeper) level as the series progresses. It is a good series for me. We need to continually humble ourselves and be rooted in God and trust in Jesus.
Walking back from my run I had two fairly long, driveway discussions with neighborhood men/friends. One (retired) neighbor was cleaning out his garage. We had a nice chat. He was actually getting rid of a couple old ball bats (no one in his family wants them). He gave them to me. Classics, Stan the Man (yes, with black, electrical tape, Mick Steiner) and Al Kaline Louisville Slugger wood bats. MLB greats from my childhood. So something positive came out of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Today’s newspaper had two sections (see pics). There is no Sport Section, but it is a section inside a section (starting on page B3). There is no Scoreboard page! There are no scores to report! It is just a bunch of reflections, for example, Bradley’s very good BB team, who had their dancing shoes taken off when the Big Dance was cancelled.
I’m thankful I have Marilyn. (Marilyn, BTW, got up at 5 am this morning to work at the Illinois Primary Election, so I’m reading the newspaper alone today).
OK, I need to wrap this up. I need to write emails to my students and get ready for the Communications Team meeting at Wesley Church (it will be done remotely) tomorrow.
I’ll end with some concluding reflections.
(I’ll close with the disclaimer I’ve mentioned already. This is a reflection and not a factual news report. The examples a mathematician gives are frequently abstract, with no claim that they are the best, or only, examples.)
May you experience Grace in Pilgrimage.
Jim Olsen, March 17, 2020
Jan 12
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth:
Set up your kingdom in our midst.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God:
Have mercy on us sinners.
Holy Spirit, Breath of the Living God:
Renew us and all the world.
– N.T. Wright
Closely related to my 5 breath prayer and the Trinity +1 (Lord).
N.T. Wright (1948- ) is an English New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and Anglican bishop.
Jan 07
There are two (different) Greek root words here.
The one in the Bible (at least 115 times) is (so, this is the meaning of church in the Bible)
Ecclesia – The Greek word “ecclesia” is correctly defined as: “The called-out (ones)” [ECC = out; KALEO = call]. Thus, you can see how this word was used to indicate a civil body of select (called, elected) people.
Quoting from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary on the word “ecclesia”:
Ecclesia [mediaeval Latin, and Greek – from : SUMMONED] -A regularly convoked assembly, especially the general assembly of Athenians. Later, the regular word for church. assembly
When the greeks (romans?) wanted to make an announcement, they would call people out of their homes to the street. ecclesea.
The English word ‘church’ is a different Greek word.
“Church” comes from the Old English and German word pronounced “kirche.” In Scotland, it was “kirk.”
In the earlier Greek It was pronounced “ku-ri-a-kos” or “ku-ri-a-kon.” As you can see, this word doesn’t even resemble the Greek word “ecclesia” whose place it has usurped. The meaning of “Ku-ri-a-kos” is understood by its root: “Ku- ri-os,” which means “lord.” Thus, “kuriakos” (i.e., “church”) means “pertaining to the lord.” It refers to something that pertains to, or belongs to, a lord. The Greek “kuriakos” eventually came to be used in Old English form as “cirice” (Kee-ree-ke), then “churche” (kerke), and eventually “church” in its traditional pronunciation. A church, then, is correctly something that “pertains to, or belongs to, a lord.” Lord’s house.
An interesting quote from the 1915 “Gospel Advocate” (Pg 589) says:
“The word ‘Church’ is really not a translation of any word that was used by either Christ or His Apostles, but is the Anglican form of a different word which Roman Catholicism substituted in place of the word used by Christ and His Apostles… It is in our english scriptures by order of King James, who instructed his translators of 1611 not to translate the word “Ecclesia” by either ‘Congregation’ or ‘Assembly’ but to use the word ‘Church’ instead of a translation.”
http://www.aggressivechristianity.net/articles/ecclesia.htm (has a negative tone)
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/church/
http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/church.html
Nov 13
I just learned of, and very much enjoyed, *A Christmas Mystery: The Story of Three Wise Men* by William J. Locke. Librivox (wonderful audio reading) and Gutenberg (text).