This quote, in some ways, describes why I am doing my thesis. I want to know what space & place meant in the first century hellenized world. There is meaning there – a meaning I’d like to be grafted onto. Then, I’ll be able to take my supposed placeless/spaceless world of “new media” and just see what it brings to a contemporary interpretation of Scripture.
“Writers do not magically create texts out of nothing, and readers must bring a stock of other texts and cultural codes to bear upon a writing in order to read it. In Barthes words, “The text is a tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable creations of culture.”
From A Re-Reading of Romans: Justice, Jews, and Gentiles by Stanley K. Stowers (page 9).
I thought the ELCA changed my name on my candidacy documents. I was wrong. Yesterday, I received an email from the head of the candidacy committee connecting me with the staff person at the ELCA in charge of such things. When I married and took my wife’s last name over three years ago, I was already entranced into candidacy. At the time, I was told not to worry about it and that my paperwork will be resubmitted under my new name. It seems that didn’t happen. However, I’m impressed with how the ELCA handled my name change. They didn’t need my marriage certificate, a copy of my new passport, or a social security card. They just needed my wife’s name and date of birth. I know that I have (what feels like) dozens of forms at the churchwide offices with that information but they wanted it in email form. A few seconds of typing, a quick send, and I believe that my name change is officially taken care of at the churchwide level. That only leaves my Library Card as the last piece document in my old name. However, I was told that 
A few weeks ago, I received written confirmation of my approval for ordination in the 
I moonlight as a web developer and I continue dabble with one project that I’ve been working on for over 6 years. 
