I'm just back from the distribution. We've had some variations in both numbers flow through the lines; we're not sure what it means -- if the "Great recession" is lifting some, to the normal "recession" economics that exists within certain urban areas such as Mid-City, San Diego. Feeding America Foodbank remains stellar in their supplying -- today we have romaine lettuce, plums, and, yes, green tomatoes, perhaps beginning the long series of green tomato season that will most likely go on and on and on.

It is hard to believe that three weeks ago I was in Dublin, Ireland. Now if one wants to visit Ireland, it is my impression that Dublin is a good place to begin, but not the highlight that lies in the beauty of the Irish countryside. Dublin itself seemed "hung over" from the economic collapse that followed its boom years.

Continue reading "Resumption of Life"

Posted by johnwright at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
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Jiggety, jig.

It's Tuesday evening, and after over a week traveling England and France, returning to the US after an unintended day delay in Portugal, recovering jet lag, and a Samoan wedding, a routine slowly has emerged that opens time to blog again. I want to catch impressions up from the end of my Europe trip. Tonight downtown, I noticed the changes in the East Villaage streets make-up. The city pushed those who live on the streets around with Comicon coming into town; younger folk moved into the library area, and more and more people have left to "quieter" areas -- quieter from dislocation by the city and quieter in their fellow inhabitants that have lived on the streets, It was good being downtown again.

Continue reading "Home Again, Home Again"

Posted by johnwright at 8:51 PM | Comments (0)
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The last two days were full of the Charles Wesley Society. It was a very small meeting; 17 registered, I believe. With the average age there, I almost felt young!! I learned a whole lot and became aware of resources -- like Duke Divinity School has posted on line all the Charles Wesley poetry -- or at least soon will have it fully up and running. I found out about Oxford University Press' upcoming critical volume of Charles Wesley letters; I even heard a story about how his grave was temporarily moved for construction and then moved back. We heard a paper on how the development of the British postal service helped 18th century evangelicalism develop.

Continue reading "Methodist Holy Relics"

Posted by johnwright at 12:45 PM | Comments (7)
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I have found Sunday's life giving -- even as they are often life-draining -- within the last decade. Today amid being away from home, I looked forward to gathering in worship -- which we did at the Manchester Longside Church of the Nazarene. It's similarities and differences from Mid-City were interesting; not least because a friend from seminary, Dr. Dwight Swanson, has played and plays an important role in the formation of the church and its witness. As a matter of fact, the parallels between Dwight's and my life are at time scary.

Continue reading "A Real English Dinner and the Charles Wesley Society"

Posted by johnwright at 2:29 PM | Comments (20)
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It's almost 10 o'clock pm here -- the daylight is beginning to fade. One wouldn't know if the sun was setting or not; I've hardly seen the sun in days. But you can tell it's becoming night time in England because the clouds become less gray and more black.

The week has flown by -- and amid the study -- been very eventful. Eric and Tiana Lee graciously welcomed me back to Nottingham on Tuesday. Wednesday Eric arranged for a luncheon with Aaron Riches, a recent PhD under John Milbank at Notthingham, and John Milbank -- and of course, Eric too.

Continue reading "Full Week"

Posted by johnwright at 1:45 PM | Comments (3)
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I am back in my dorm room after a trip to Nottingham to York, and back again. I am hoping to get to bed earlier and bringing my body back around. But I wanted to blog a little of my thoughts today.

Continue reading "Brief Update before Bed"

Posted by johnwright at 3:48 PM | Comments (2)
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I have had two full, fruitful days of work. I've pretty much stayed in my NTC dorm, venturing out to get materials or ask questions. I still feel the jet lag -- I'm wide awake right now. The research probably could not have gone any better than it has -- for which I am thankful. I have had access to primary materials from the 17th century and early 18th century that I just couldn't have gotten without great difficulty -- or at all -- from San Diego. I continue to marvel at the differences in readings of John Wesley here from what is given in the United States. Here what I'm going is filling out what people have already begun to see; in the United States it will be a radically different reading.

Continue reading "Time Flies When You're Having Fun!"

Posted by johnwright at 2:19 PM | Comments (3)
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Today has been a "regular day." I'm currently upstairs watching the World Cup semi-final. Interest in the World Cup here seems to have waned following England's exit. Monday Tasha took me to a sporting goods store and England World Cup merchandise was deeply, deeply discounted. Today just held one quick trip to the village to get drinks and tuna salad for supper, and a good run before rain came -- there is a semi-drought here and the rain that was predicted has not yet materialized in force. I woke up about 10 times during the night, but never for long -- a different form of jet lag? I stirred awake for the morning at 9:00 am (or was it 1:00 am?).

Continue reading "More "Serious Call""

Posted by johnwright at 12:31 PM | Comments (5)
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I'm not sure when the day actually began. I have experienced the primary symptom of jet lag through waking up in the middle of the night. It seems that "bed time" has corresponded to the "nap time" in San Diego. Last night I awoke after a "three hour nap" pretty wide awake; what better time is there to read William Law's "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life"? The reading has been very beneficial for my work; the big issue will be how to frame it.

Continue reading "Fragment of the Gospel of John, Bus Rides, and William Law"

Posted by johnwright at 1:53 PM | Comments (10)
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I spent today getting connected. I could have suffered worse jet lag -- I woke up wide awake at 4:00, read until 6:30 and forced myself up and 8:00. The eight hour time lag between here and California is strange. I go to sleep and wake up to wish Kathy to have a good night.

The faculty at NTC have welcomed me warmly. Everyday the whole campus gathers for "tea" at 10:45 -- about 30 people. There are MA and PhD students "taking degrees" here. Professor Dwight Swanson gave me a tour of the faculties; Don,the librarian, initiated me into the library and the special research reading room. Of course it always takes me several times until I get procedures down. It is amazing how you can miss the "Do Not Exit" sign when you are trying to figure out a code system on the door of a library!

Continue reading "Getting Connected"

Posted by johnwright at 2:19 PM | Comments (1)
Filed under: Reflections