Work has given me a new variant of Whit and resurrected an old one.  My assistant program manager keeps writing my nickname as Whitt and resurrected one of my old nicknames (Witt).  Once this week, my supe wrote Whitt.  I don't mind and am happy to have those variants of Whit.

1.  Whit

It is a shortened form of my first name.  Certain people automatically assume that my full first name was of female gender, and I strongly dislike that.  Fortunately, my mom started calling me Whit in high school though not necessarily for the aforementioned assumption.  It has stuck since then.  I use my full first name in introductions in the professional and formal realms though quickly transition to Whit, and I use Whit in all informal introductions. 

2.  Patrick (English form) / Pádraig (Irish form) / Patricio (Spanish form) / Paddy / etc.

When I visited Ireland in 2001, most people either never heard of Whit(ney) or had difficulty pronouncing it even after several tries.  Some of the tries were "Wick" and "Witch" lol.  Hence, to make it easier for them, I adopted a familiar Irish name:  Patrick after the patron saint.  So, in Ireland, I am known as Patrick (or Paddy as some of the Irish have called me) except to my closer Irish friend Andrew and his wife.  To him, I am known as Whit (and he is one of the few Irish who can easily pronounce "Whit").  It is a name that I have retained and adopted.  If you call me "Padraig", "Patrick", or any of its variants, I will answer to any of them except one ("Pat").

3.  Kip

Actually, it's a product of some of my friends' confusion of my nickname Whit with my good Kenyan friend's nickname.  His name is Kipruto, but he goes by the shortened form Kip.  Maybe because it sounds similar in tempo, vowels, and rhythm that our friends (often our friends at church) unintentionally switch our names since he has been called Whit as many times as I've been called Kip.  I've been called Kip so many times that I no longer mind, and it's started to be friendly joke with Kip, me, and our other mutual friends.  (Actually, I also take it as a complement since Kip is one of most sincere and wise gentlemen whom I've met and known.  Much wiser than me I think.)

There are other nicknames by which I am known.  However, they are part of the past, and I am not really called them anymore.  Some of them are, in order of recent past to far past, Wills, Spock, Stealth/Stealthman, and Whitrock.   There is one I will not share, and only my future mate will know that one.

Not a good week

1.  Sunday, I tried to a help one of my newer friends with something that was bothering him.  My intent was only to challenge him and encourage him.  (I do recall that he once wrote that he likes to challenge people and to be challenged.)  With anyone, I challenge the person less than I encourage and affirm him/her so that (s)he won't be overwhelmed by the challenging.  Anway, my effort to help him had the opposite effect.  Somehow I annoyed him and have not a clue how I did it.  Reviewing the conversation several times, I couldn't discern any indication of his becoming or being annoyed.  I got annoyed and pissed off Tuesday when we tried to talk things out and clear the air because it immediately devolved from a constructive conversation on the true issue into divisive debate on a tangent based on the pseudo-word "ancy".   Hence (in addition to my needing sleep and his needing to do other stuff), I ended that conversation because both sides were being hardheaded.  I am no longer annoyed or po'd at all but rather confused and a little sad as to how I originally annoyed him.  I wish I knew so that I can change and thus won't offend or annoy people unintentionally.  I am taking a week of silence in hopes that in the meantime, both he and I individually reflect on the conversation; his finding where he went wrong; my finding where I went wrong (albeit quite unawares and unintentionally); and how I can further change into a better person.  Even when I was annoyed and pissed off, I never abandoned my positive opinion and high regard of him.  Overall, the friend I tried to help is definitely a good person and has a wisdom that is greater than most of his peers.  

2.  Thursday was the first session of the Dail (lower house) in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) after Summer recess.  I was dismayed to see that the session was fiery rather than civil and amicable.  There were Divisions (vote of the house when it's not a clear majority on the question) one right after the other.  One TD (member of Oireachtas), after clearly making his point in the time allowed, wouldn't yield the floor and kept shouting his point.  After putting up with the TD's shit for 5 or 10 minutes, Ceann Comharile (Speaker of the House) went on with business and asked the TD to leave the House.  The TD wouldn't leave; so, CC finally suspended him from the House. 

3.  Another friendly acquaintance is coincidentally going through the same thing as I am in #1.  Deja vu.

To the Outer Banks this weekend to visit my sister.

Celebration and Death

1.  I went to a friend's 30th birthday party Saturday evening.  It was a good time of conversation, meeting new people from his church, and good food.  We also played several rounds of the card game Uno.

2.  As I was leaving after the party, I noticed a Cicada struggling on its back and making its usually rattling noise occasionally.  Upon closer look, it was a European Hornet that captured it and was stinging it to death for food.  But it lay in the direct path of reversing my car out of the parking space; so, don't know if the hornet got its food or if the Cicada survived.

Yes, I am questioning Exclusive Psalmody.  There is a blank between Scotland and the Apostles via the Huguenots, and I am trying fill that blank.

Added Sat, 26/Aug/06:

Exclusive Psalmody - a Reformed distinctive that teaches that Scripture provides warrant for nothing other than the 150 Psalms in sung worship

Exclusive Scripturody - a belief that teaches that Scripture provides warrant for nothing other than Scripture in sung worship (my personal belief)

A cappela worship - a Reformed and Primitive Baptist belief that Scripture has not warrant for instruments in the worship of the NT Church

The 1st and 3rd belief date back to the Covenanted Presbyterians of Scotland (the original Church of Scotland) of the mid-1500's at least.  (Today's Church of Scotland and majority of the modern Presbyterian churches unfortunately are a far cry from the original Presbyterians, the Covenanted CoS.  I've only found 5 Presbyterian denominations of the 20+ Presbyterian denoms in the entire world that still hold to the original CoS beliefs.)

My physical ancestors are the Huguenots (our French Reformed brethren led by Calvin and scattered abroad when the Christ-forsaking Roi Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes).  Although I own and uphold the original Westminster Standards (including the Covenants) which additionally perfects and clarifies the Huguenot Standards (French Confession, & c.), I consider myself more Huguenot than Presbyterian since not only have I a spiritual connection to the Huguenots but also a physical connection.

The Blue Banner of the Covenanters, The Huguenot Cross

Nothing much new is happening with me.  However, I am starting to think that Exclusive Psalmody and Exclusive Scripturody for worship no longer is Scripture's Mean.

An excellent Reformed message on humility in relationships by Pastor Robert McCurley of Greenville, SC church.  It was given at the 2006 Free Church (Continuing) Conference last week:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=8120612957

It is one of the 2 best sermons/messages I've heard on humility and charity toward others.  The other message is Charitable Judgments by Ken Sande of Peace Maker Ministries.

I needed to hear that message since today, I was tempted in uncharitable judgment and pride towards others.  I listened to it this evening since I was unable to attend the conference due to work.  'Tis Grace in humility and considering others better than ourselves (Php. 2:1-4) since God oppose the proud and gives Grace to the humble (1.Peter 5:5 cf Prov. 3:34, James 4:6).   The greatest example of humility is Jesus Christ, THE perfect man and God incarnate, giving of his life for others and dying for us, dead in sin and children of wrath, that we may be reconciled to God and receive the gift of eternal life and fellowship with God.

I'm in Clarksville, VA (where I was born, baptized, and raised) this weekend for my monthly visit with my parents.  It coincides with the Virginia Lake Festival (AKA Lake Fest).  I should have pictures of it up.  Clarksville VA is on Virginia's largest man-made reservoir/lake that stradles VA and NC.  Virginians call it Buggs Island Lake, and North Carolinians call it by the official name, John H. Kerr Reservoir.  It is about 25 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 800 miles of shoreline.  To-day is the main day with the main street closed for pedestrian traffic and food and craft vendors lining the street.  The hot air balloons did not go up this morning because it was too windy.  This evening is the Gathering of the Boats (1000 boats) and Fireworks.

I saw the radio-controlled airplane exhibition with about 30 planes.  Two of them flying were able to hover in mid air.  My highlight of the day is my dad and I taking a helicopter flight over the Town, festival, and lake.  I should have aerial pictures up soon.  The helicopter was a Robinsion R44 powered by 220 hp (derated from 270 hp) gasoline engine. I don't know much about helicopters and licensing to flying them.  So, naturally, being an aviation nut, I had lots of questions for the ground crew, one of whom is a helicopter student.  The company that gave the rides was North State Aviation, based in Greensboro, NC.  (North Carolina's nickname is the "Old North State".)

(The flight crews and helicopter were dressed in red.  I wondered if that had anything to do with NC State, lol.)

Another highlight is seeing a local Independent Fundamental Baptist church handing out Gospel tracts and talking with people. The one they gave me is "God's Simple Plan of Salvation".  I reviewed it, and it seems a very Scripturally sound, organised presentation of the Gospel. One of the better Gospel tracts I've seen.  Although I am not a Baptist, it is encouraging to see the Gospel shared in my original hometown.  (I noticed they were going 2-by-2 in the town; 2 youth together followed shortly behind by 2 adults together.)  Very good for Clarksville since good local churches in Clarksville are very few.  (Good for the visitors from abroad this weekend since the Gospel can spread further than Clarksville.)

The local Presbyterian church (PCUSA) open their events/fellowship center for the Lake Fest visitors for rest and cold water (as they usually do at every Lakefest).  (The PCUSA is a liberal denomination.)  I met the lady "pastor" of the church and had a brief conversation with her.  (I never addressed her as "Reverend" or "pastor" since I believe in male leadership in the church.  I address her and always refer to her as "Ms. (her last name)".  The same with other lady "pastors" and "bishops".)  Thanking her for their minstering to the practical needs of the community that day.  Then, briefly discussing the similarities and differences between them (PCUSA Presbyterians) and us other Presbyterians especially the Covenanter churches.

Although I looked around, I didn't see many people from my past except my parent's people or sister's people.  It was fun talking to them, but my highlight talking to people was my HS and Scouting friend Jonathan around my age (and the HS class behind me) and briefly talking with another Jonathan from my HS and childhood church days.  I also talked with Meredith (younger step-sister of my HS friend Steph).

A Strange Dream about flight 2 nights ago

I'm not sure how my dream happened since planes weren't heavily on my mind.  Anywhoo, it takes place at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which is situated near Raleigh, NC:

In real life, immediately to the NW of the airport is small slope down to a service road and then a little further down to the main airport road from the N and I guess storm ponds  (not a huge hill, only 50' or so high).

We were in a SMALL commuter jet, #2 for takeoff at rwy. 5L (the NW runway).  Our small plane coincidentally had the same shape as an Lockheed 1011 (a jumbo jet):

The seats were in a single line just to the right of the aisle center in the aircraft because I could look left out the window and simultaneous look forward left to see the pilot clearly.

It was our turn for takeoff.  After an unusually short takeoff run, we banked towards the N.  We kept banking L.  I noticed the pilot reduced the throttle almost to idle (during climb!) and then after several seconds, gunned the throttle to full.  The cabin was shaking due to moderate turbulence in the area. 

Well, we kept banking, and the next thing I knew, we were heading back to the airport in a path that goes straight across 5L, the runway from which we took off.  Only, instead of a small knoll on the NW side of the runway, there was a deep beautiful valley, and the hill ascending to Rwy. 5L and the airport was several hundred feet high.  Much like this valley (the airport would be at the equivalent spot of the nearer mountain across the valley in the photo):

Right when I saw the valley immediately to the NW of 5L, the pilot started descending.  "Why? Is the plane OK?" I thought.  It turned out that the pilot did that only to give us a better view of the valley.  Then I woke up.