The CRC and the HSR

 

Calvin Seminary

Yesterday while walking along the canal, my friend Peggy told me that she had seen a news story in which a Christian Reformed pastor had walked out of  this year's Synod in protest over the Human Sexuality Report issues.  The Synod's reaction to the HSR is a story I have been following but when it becomes national news I am thinking it is worth recording in this blog.

Synod 2022 passed a resolution that made agreeing to the HSR a matter of confessional status.  That meant that to be a pastor or elder or deacon in the CRC one had to agree with a document that forbade marriage between gay individuals as well as engaging in sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman.  Years ago there was also a multi-year controversy over women in office, but it was settled by allowing individual churches to make decisions.  This issue was not settled in that way but instead was made "confessional." 

Over the past year many churches including our own former church in South Bend sent overtures to classes and then on to Synod to temper this ruling.  However Synod 2023 reaffirmed the decision of Synod 2022 but with just one hour left to meet did leave the decision of how to discipline those who disagreed for another time.  So as one person we know who is greatly affected by this decision (teaches in a church-owned facility) said the hammer did not come down yet.  

A young man named Ryan Struyk wrote a passionate piece a few weeks ago on the 12Blog which I read daily.   He wrote of being baptized and raised in the CRC and now feeling rejected by them.  Ryan is a producer for CNN and thus the connection to the national news.  His father David Struyk, a CRC pastor and participant in Synod, stood up after the vote and spoke saying that he was walking out of Synod in protest.  That was the video on the national news with Jake Tapper, a CNN host, commending his action on Father's Day.  

Our church in South Bend considers itself an "affirming" church and a welcoming church.  What will happen to it now is a question to be answered in the next year or so.  There will be many affirming churches and pastors and professors at Calvin College and probably Calvin Seminary.  What will happen to their jobs and for that matter, their pensions?  What will happen to all the CRC employees in missions or denominational agencies?  

We are no longer members of the CRC but I am sad to see this judgemental attitude become official.  I am sad to see that it may divide the denomination into groups or even a new denomination.  It is possible that the affirming churches may join another denomination like the RCA (Reformed Church of America) which has also split up over this controversy. 

----------Two weeks later--we know of two people who were employed by the CRC who have resigned their positions--in one case being unemployed, in the other taking a job that she is very happy to have.

A Second Indictment

Documents stored
in a Mar-a-Lago
bathroom

Last Thursday a grand jury in Florida indicted Donald Trump on 37 counts of keeping classifed documents, hiding them after a subpoena searching for them, lying about them, and showing them to others who did not have security clearance.  Trump will be arraigned in Miami tomorrow and is expected to plead "not guilty." 

 President Biden and the former vice-president Pence were also found to have  classified documents at their homes but they cooperated with officials and did not lie about their presence.  They are not being charged.  

Trump's valet, a Mr. Nauta, is also being charged for helping the former president move the document boxes around his home Mar-a-Lago and lying about his help.   Documents were found in a store room, a bathroom, a bedroom and a ballroom stage. Some were spilling out of boxes.  Some files labeled classified were empty.  

Crowds are expected at the courthouse tomorrow so security will be strong.  The former president is insulting Jack Smith, the special prosecuter,  (I won't even repeat his words!) and claiming it is a witch hunt.  I hope there will be no repeat of the violence of January 6.    

This makes two arraignments for Trump in recent months with the potential for at least two others in Georgia and Washington DC.  Those potential charges seem to me to be more serious--influencing an election and inciting violence--but some say this one is more likely to be provable.  Trump's attorney gave significant information which led to the charges.  A few attorneys have resigned from representing him. 

-------------It occurred to me that I could watch the arraignment live on TV right now--at 2 pm Tuesday.  But I have absolutely no desire to watch that event.  It will be bad enough to watch the highlights on the evening news.  It is just all so sad.  We pray for our country and for good leaders.  At least the debt ceiling crisis was averted and Congress was able to agree on that issue.  

Air Quality at Dangerous Levels

A few days ago we were reading about wildfires in Nova Scotia.  It didn't take long for us to smell those fires here in New Jersey--and then to observe the hazy conditions they created. 

Wednesday Jim had a golf date scheduled at a new course for him--Tamarack--in East Brunswick where a fellow he met at the Meadows Golf Course had scheduled a tee time for the two of them.  Tamarack is a bit north of here so even closer to the wildfires.  He texted me from the course saying that he was wearing a mask--not for Covid reasons but to prevent getting the smoke particles in his lungs.  In an unfamiliar course, it was even harder for him to see where that little golf ball landed. 

Our weather app listed the air quality on Wednesday as around 375 in Princeton.  It was far worse in New York City.  Outdoor events including Major League ball games were canceled.  Everyone was warned to stay inside and to check on elderly neighbors.  Once Jim came home, we did stay inside and we did not open the windows to let in cool air in the evening as we often do.

The air smelled like one giant campfire--reminiscent of roasting hotdogs or marshmallows.  Dan and Alex texted photos of their landscape with no Catskill mountains in sight.  

Yesterday the air seemed clearer.  I went for a short walk in the evening.  Today the air is fresh again and it is a relief. Dry conditions due to climate change make the danger of forest fires more likely.  So this may not be a once in a lifetime experience as it was for us up to this point.

A Paean of Praise for the Cloud

 

Potential IT Help

Ted told me that Chromebook saves everything on the cloud.  That is why I was able to access what I wanted on Jim's laptop when I didn't have one of my own.  And he was so right and I was so relieved! 

One afternoon I panicked thinking that all the photos of my childhood and our early marriage were lost because they were on my laptop.  I went to a Google grid in the top right corner and then to Google Photos and there they were--along with other stuff that I forgot I had saved--a NYC diary from 2008, a bit on dementia thinking about our aged mother and step-mother, a day by day account of our downsizing in our move, a few presentations I had done at church plus various other documents and even recipes.  Amazing!  

It is mind-boggling to me to think all my stuff is out there "on the cloud" and so is stuff from millions of others.  My mind cannot grasp the enormity of it all.

Now what I need to figure out is ChatGPT lest I am totally out of sync with what is going on in the world around me.  But that will be for another day.  Maybe I can get one of my children or grandchildren to give me a lesson.  I'm eager and ready to learn! 

Help! My laptop died!

 Last night my laptop went dark.  I plugged it in but it would not open up.  We made a couple of calls in the morning and Ted of Princeton Computer Repair Service just left with my laptop.  Apparently there is a home call option because he picked up my precious ASUS laptop and will get back to us in 24 hours.  $105.  It was worth every bit of it because I feel someone gave me advice and reassurance. I may need a new one which is fine.  It is as if a part of my body is missing.  And it is so confusing.  But I had the correct password for gmail and Google so that was good.  

As Ted said, it is all there on the cloud!   So I am using Jim's laptop and happy to have found my blog.  I guess my precious journals (therapy journal and spiritual journal) are not lost.  My therapist is still available to me!    

---------Ted texted to say that they are going to be able to "restore your Chromebook and not lose any of your browser bookmarks either."  He also asked if I wanted to have a tutoring session.  I told him OK.  At least he can help me change passwords and know what to do if it happens again.  It may be time for a new laptop which is fine.  

I now know that I can do my journals and this blog on Jim's computer.  I can access the library site.  I can shop with Amazon.  So that is all a relief.  Things are not lost.  

Restoring my bookmarks--that is great.  I feel as if I am lost in a neighborhood on another computer when I know my way around my own.  I can find photos and websites and so much is already password protected like doctor's portals.  I am aware of how often I aimlessly pick up my laptop or phone and look for contact with others via email or Facebook.  At least my phone was still available all day.  

I was upset last night and frustrated.  Tonight I am still a bit stressed but grateful to have found someone to help me solve this situation.  I hope my next update is an all clear and written from my own little Asus Chromebook. 

------------Ted just left.  After years of tutoring as an occupation, I was the tutee not the tutor.  I was intimidated not wanting to feel like a Luddite.  He gave me high fives several times and said that because I was quiet, he thought I was a "neophyte" but when I showed him my process for cleaning out my inbox, he was impressed and said I had used a good five clicks!  Sure.  My laptop is so familiar to me and it is so good to have it back.  The one change he made was to enlarge my cursor whiich is probably good. I decided not to switch to a mouse but just use my touch pad--and not make too many changes in my life!  I definitely learned how to preserve battery life in a way that I had not been doing.  Hooray for Princeeton Computer Repair and Tutoring and for Ted!  Now I need to write a good review for him online.  

---------the saga continues.  The laptop is dying again!  Ted has ordered a new battery-not expensive at all--and says there will be no charge to install it.  His first source for the battery was China with a two-three month wait.  His second try was a place that will deliver next week.  So that is the plan for now.  It is frustrating but I am telling myself it is a small issue compared to Covid or cancer or anything else health related.  Meanwhile I have learned to use Jim's laptop--which I am doing right now.  So I can blog, I can journal, I can find books to read.  And I have my phone for email and Facebook.  And if this doesn't work, I am going to get a new Chromebook and start over.  

--------and it continues on May 23.  I thought Ted ordered another battery; he thought I ordered it.  He sent me several links a bit ago and I was totally confused.  I am waiting to hear from him hoping he will order the right thing.  But this means I will not get my Chromebook back for another two weeks maybe.  Fortunately I am learning to use Jim's laptop and I just accessed my portal from Women's Healthcare of Princeton with a new password.   I feel frustrated and confused but this is not crucial to my life.  I am so glad I can use Jim's machine for my blog and my journals and most of what I want to access.  

---------and today's update on May 24.  I asked Ted via text if I should just buy a new Chromebook.  He thought that was for the best because there might be some other issue making my batteries die.  He sent me a link to an ASUS Chromebook on Amazon and I ordered it.  It should arrive on May 26.  He thought I would be OK setting it up.  We shall see!  I told him I would do a review for him on Yelp and so I did!  I hope the next update is from my own laptop!  

NYT on laptop again!

May 26  I am writing from my new ASUS Chromebook and I am very pleased!  All my bookmarks are there.  I can access everything.  It was tense while waiting for the applications to be downloaded but slowly on there was 1 out of 6, 3 out of 6 and then all of them.  Then the wifi was not working but it is stronger in Jim's study so that is where I am.  Then I needed a pass code for my hotmail but I have it--and had to find my password for Facebook but I found it.  I need to text Ted.  He will be pleased.  I wouldn't have asked him for help this weekend anyway because he mentioned more than once that the Indy500 was his priority for this weekend!  Hooray! 

Discipline!

 

For anyone reading this blog, please be aware that I write these for me--and for Jim and for our memories.  The Blog2Print books that I make each January are fun for us to look at and sometimes they act as resources for our confused and cloudy memories.  So this is a blog about the routines of my daily life in the spring of 2023. 

Jim is far more disciplined than I am about exercise. He faithfully takes his morning, afternoon, and evening strolls--getting close to 10,000 steps each day.  I am grateful he does so even if it makes me feel inadquate at times.  I want him to stay healthy and walkiing like he does is a great way to keep that goal. I tease him that he is a one man neighborhood watch because he seems to know what is going on in our complex and reports it to me when he gets home. 

 I have set some limited goals and am trying to be disciplined about them. I need to keep moving and I want to lose a few more pounds to avoid diabetes.   And just as I did for our kids when they were young, I have made myself charts and I count my small achievements. I have not given myself stickers!  I don't enjoy longer walks because they give me back strain and I just want to sit down. Sometimes my arthritic left hip gives in although preventative Aleve helps with that pain. Four years ago our South Bend doctor told me I would need a hip replacement in one to four years.  I have far less problems with it now than I did then when we were in the midst of our big move. 

What are these goals?   Taking the steps to our second floor apartment--my goal is six times daily including two or three times before breakfast to get my metabolism going  Taking short walks--I walk to the "ugly tree" along the road in the afternoon and back and forth outside our apartment in the evening.  I especially like this evening stroll.  Sometimes the sky is still pink in the West and there is one familiar star or planet that looks down on me.  The air seems more perfumed at night. The easiest goal to achieve is sitting on the deck for a few minutes and soaking up vitamin D while practicing some mindfulness with breath prayers.  

So my small goals are usually achievable.  And I hope there are good results.  

Mother's Day

 

Yesterday was Mother's Day. It was a good day and I was, as I have been for many years, very thankful to be a mother of three--and a mother-in-law of their partners in life.

I never felt that I was a super-mom as I thought a couple of my friends were--who "loved every minute of it" and said things like "they grow up too fast." I was afraid the curse of my old age would be solitude because I at times craved it so much!  I thought babies and toddlers could be pretty cute but I enjoyed my children more as they grew older--as I enjoy them as adults now. And now in my senior years, I usually appreciate my solitude and am glad not to be chasing after little ones any more.

Our three children were born in 1972, 1978, and 1984.  That appears as if we planned a six year spacing but that is not the case.  That is just the way they were given to us and it has ramifications even now in that the cousins are all grown up in one family and the other family still has a pre-schooler.  

I am grateful that I received Mother's Day greetings from all of them!  We were

unable to have our usual cookout at Jeff and Susan's because of Jeff's Covid diagnosis.  Laura and her family sent a beautiful orchid bouquet. Dan and Alex called with Facetime so we could chat and see them too.  Jim and I treated ourselves to cooking a steak and having a coconut cream pie for dessert. It was a good day of going to church and then relaxing at home.  

Our pastor in his prayer was mindful of those who find Mother's Day difficult--due to not having children or having lost a mother recently.  I liked hearing one young son of friends of ours cooing during much of the service--happy baby noises added to my joy on Mother's Day as did his big smiles after the service.