"Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose." - Garrison Keillor

Another benefit of living in Oregon: no nasty tan lines.

A disadvantage for me of living in OR, at least the outskirts of Elmira: I'm isolated from others who do theology. As I work on my writing project I want to run my musings past others who have mentally worked these issues and tried to answer some of these questions. Like:

• Will dispensational distinctions continue in eternity? I'm inclined to think they won't; why would they? But answering in the negative raises other questions, like:
• What does that say about the identity of the Bride of Christ in Rev. 21?
• But if those distinctions do persist, what about all the believers before Moses? Where do they go??

I'm coming to some conclusions that aren't within traditional mid-Acts dispensational orthodoxy, so I wish I could "check my work" with others.

NOTE: if all of that sounded like so much "blah, blah, blah" it's OK. At some level doing theology is a bit nerdy. 

I've been invited to preach at my home church on October 9, a.m. and p.m. It's the Sunday before their missionary conference and Pastor Jim wants me to ... sort of like the warmup act at a concert, get everybody ready. He asked me to do that based on my three teaching trips overseas in the last year. 

Not only is this my home church, but Jim and I grew up together and I consider him a good friend. So I want to do a good job, which is why I started my prep this morning. 

I've been impressed and pleased with the intensity of the team spirit among the U.S. women's gymnastics and men's swimming teams. A rare deviation from American individualism. And I'm sorry if this is sexism, or reverse ageism, or anything else politically incorrect, but our women gymnasts are just plain adorable. 

Soccer players are weenies, having turned the flop into an art form. Close behind are NBA players. 

I used to think hockey players were the anti-futballers but after watching rugby during these Olympics I've decided those guys lack the pain sensation. And how it is they don't come to blows after some of their encounters is beyond me. I can't figure out the rules for that game but I sure respect the animals that play it. 

Today's run did NOT go well. I think it was a combination of the effects of yesterday's hard track work, the higher temps (mid-80's) and longer distance (5 mi.). I had to walk some on the way back, and I HATE having to walk. The good news: I take tomorrow and Friday off in prep for Saturday's race, by which time I should be fine. Right now I'm not so fine. Ugh. 

Remember that ice cream I said Pam got for me? I think I'll be into that carton with a spoon.