Science (non) Fiction

So I’ve been reading some about reformed theology and I’m cool with everything so far - I agree with several people I’ve talked to in that it all comes down to total depravity - it’s not until we accept that we, in our natural state, can do nothing to recommend ourselves to God, that we can begin to see the truth - that rather than election being about who God comdemns, it’s about who He chooses to save, out of His mysterious mercy - and also understanding that just because something doesn’t make sense to me, doesn’t mean that it isn’t the most perfect, holy thing God could do - all of which goes back to the Table for Two post a little while ago. And as difficult as some of these concepts are to grasp, it’s easier (I think) than trying to understand a theology in which we have control over whether or not we’re chosen by God - but I’m still not 100% sure…

So it’s not official yet (grrr) but I am very close to being a 4th year grad student (or should I say, PhD candidate!) - which is frightening to the nth degree and also exciting - I don’t feel nearly ready enough to be this far along, but I remember feeling this way when I progressed into the upper levels of Sunday School, and suddenly realized that I was one of the ‘big kids’ now - yikes! This is going to be a big year, as I will have to publish at least the one paper I’m working on now, plus keep working on gathering data for a second paper (on which I will hopefully be first author - necessary for graduation) - plus I’ll have a full 1 hour seminar to give in the spring for the whole dept, and a lecture to give in one of the bacteriology classes for the 1st years (our dept’s only teaching requirement - grrrr) - and I hope my collaborator from NY will be able to come down this fall and I’ll need to have a committee meeting sometime before Christmas most likely - ahhh, the life of a grad student! But I’m actually enjoying most of the work I’m doing right now (except the necessary committee stuff) - the lab work is mostly enjoyable currently and I’m actually moving forward on several fronts and got some really good suggestions/direction from meeting with committee members, which has slightly rejuvenated me and parts of the project - very good!

In other news, Mom has a job interview tomorrow, so prayer for her would be greatly appreciated by all - it’s kind of a crticial one, as lots depends on whether or not this goes well, so I think she’s a little nervous - but who wouldn’t love her?!?! I sometimes think some of my friends are just friends with me so they can be friends with my Mom - she’s that cool!!! Anyway, job issues with the parents might make them move and one of their options is the triad, so this job interview will tell them a lot about the relocation possibility - I’d love to have them closer, but I do love the house they’re in now - I’d hate for them to leave it - so cute!

And I haven’t heard from my brother in a week or two now - Matthew, call me!!!!!!! Nothing big going on, would just like to hear from you - at least I know you’re alive, since you’re posting on your blog…

Other than that, it’s been a quiet past few days - I’ve reached the point in P&P (movie) where Lizzy goes to visit Pemberley, which is one of my fave parts, as you start to see Darcy’s true character coming through to Lizzy and her aunt and uncle - and she starts to see the errors she’s made in judging his character - and then all of that comes crashing to the ground with bad news about her youngest sister running off with a military guy (gotta watch those men in uniform!) - anyway, can’t wait to finish it and will then move on to Sense and Sensibility (movie) after I finish the re-read of that book - I think I actually prefer the movie of this one to the book in some ways (I know, horrible!), but the book is much slower than some of her other work. OK, and I was thinking about this today and it’s one of my fave moments in any movie (and I just found out that it’s not a Jane Austen line, it’s just in the movie - sniff) - it’s in Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow) and it goes like this:
Emma is in a carriage with a guy that she’s not interested in, but she had wanted to set him up with a friend of her’s - anyway, he starts making proclamations of love to her and she’s repulsed by his offers and as he leans in to speak again, she says, ‘Please, sir, refrain from the intimacy of whispering!’ - isn’t that understated, yet perfect!
OK, this is getting too long, so I’ll go back to my volunteering and cut it off!