Ok, so I set up a Xanga page called 0_dialogos (the greek word for dialogue, discussion, debate), so that we can have a central spot to discuss various issues.  The way it will work for now is that I will give each topic/question it's own post and all opinions will be entered in the comments.  So if you have a question or topic you want to debate, go to the site and click on "message me", and i'll throw it out there.  Here's the link:  http://www.xanga.com/o_dialogos

Be civil, be thoughtful, but also be honest and open and don't be offended...

Well, everyone has been weighing in on the working-mom / stay-at-home-mom issue, and it's a really interesting discussion, so I guess I'll jump in too.  I think this debate has really only taken shape over the past century or so thanks to some rapidly changing sociological conditions.  Prior to urbanization, industrialization, and amazing developments in transportation, there was no "workplace" to go out to for either men or women.  People labored on their own property, or if not there, a few hundred paces away in the town center.  Vocation and family were usually very closely tied.   Because of this, the Bible doesn’t provide us with examples that are precisely like our modern situation.  So, we have to take the more general principles and apply them to our various situations to the best of our ability.

Here are a few of the principles that are closely related to the issue:  a) God expects parents to spiritually nurture their children.  b) God expects parents to provide for the physical/financial needs of their children.  c) God expects each person to develop and exercise the "talents" he has given them. 

I think it is a mistake to assume that there is only one way for a family to accomplish these Christian ideals.  I would like to defend, or promote, the position I find my family in - but not in such a way as to denigrate the decisions of others.  My wife works as a music instructor and very much enjoys it.  She is able to exercise the gifts God has given her and has a lot to offer her students.  We do need the income that she generates, but she will continue to work even if we get to a position where her income is not a necessity.  We have worked to create a schedule that maximizes the amount of time and the quality of time that we spend with our daughter. 

I think it is also important to note that nurturing your child does not only occur when you are physically present with them.  I am very glad that my daughter has in her mother an excellent example of a woman who is well-educated and talented and uses her abilities to serve others (her students) and support her family financially.  I hope that this will inspire our child to learn, grow, and contribute to the lives of others.  Children need to know that the world is bigger than them, that we all have responsibilities that extend beyond family or even locality.  Proverbs 31 does not paint a picture of a woman whose only concern is her children.  Certainly she meets all their needs, but she also is involved in buying and selling property, making and selling clothing, reaching out to the poor, trading with merchants, etc.  Those things are a very important part of what made her such a great wife and mother.     

In addition to those things, the situation Gina and I have requires that I be more involved in the raising and nurturing of our child than I might be otherwise.  Sharing the money-earning and child-rearing responsibilities has made us more understanding towards each other's needs and struggles and has made our bond as husband and wife even stronger.

Not actually watching this at the moment, I watched it a few days ago.  I had seen it once before, in high school I think.  Apparently my tastes weren't terribly refined at the time because I don't remember being at all impressed.  Seeing it now, I realized how amazingly brilliant it is - thrilling plot, clever script, and amazing actors.

News from Cleveland - still waiting to get to work, actually have a few options now, so that is good.  I am just getting restless...

Well, our new life in Cleveland is proceeding slowly but surely.  I am not enjoying being unemployed but the job chase is moving along and it's nice to have so much time with the family.  I have two interviews coming up this week (National City and Bank of America), so we'll see what happens. 

Politics - I am currently basking in the genius of our founding fathers.  I find it really interesting that through out our history people have placed their hope in one party or another and have believed that if their party could dominate all would be right with the world.  That hope always seems to be debunked - witness the fiasco that Iraq is quickly becoming and the string of ethical scandals and political corruption.  Our system of checks and balances and gridlock created by the founders is so realistic about human fallibility and is such an important part of our continued existence as a nation. 

Entertainment - I haven't had a chance to listen to all of it, but this album by My Chemical Romance is a brilliant piece of modern rock...  In other news, I was thrilled to learn that Scrubs returns to NBC November 30. 

Sports - The Hawkeyes are disintegrating, the Bears are rolling.