Logocentric (adj).Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics).
Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places:
I have always enjoyed the longer distance running and skiing. The Marathon in Summer Olympics and the 50km Mass Start in the Winter. My wife can't understand how I can watch the same race for several hours. But they are fascinating to me. I like the Downhill Slalom, Bobsled and Luge sports. Attending a Winter Olympics remains on my bucket list.
My favorite sporting events in the Winter Olympics are the Luge, Bobsled, Figure Skating and curling. Initially, I thought I would be bored with curling but I'm not. It's fascinating how they determine each glide's angle and potential score.
When my children were younger we built them a luge course, they loved it. We were lucky that winter to have lots of snow to build up the walls and with some help with pallets that we covered with snow, it kept them and the neighborhood kids busy until it warmed up and melted. I was a lot more at ease with the luge course than I was when they decided to try arial jumps off our house roof. Never a dull moment when you live in Maine.
I am reading ESV through the Bible this time. Like you, I've explored a bunch of translations. My church uses NIV but my women's Bible study group (part of the same church) varies based on what Bible study we're doing.
Hope you enjoy the Olympics! I agree that the every four year thing makes them feel more special.
I read the New American Bible, which is a Catholic Bible. (NABRE) They include Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, which generally aren't included in other versions of the Bible. I would be curious to read an orthodox bible or the Ethiopian Bible as I hear they have differences as well.
As for the Olympics, I love the Winter Olympics. I'm just crossing my fingers I have time to watch!
In terms of the original texts the NASB has the best reputation among conservative scholars. It looks at more translations, has a sensible hierarchy of text selection and the best principles for approaching the translation task. It favors original texts when possible. The ESV and NKJV are on a similar level. The Net Bible gives the best overview of the discussions in its commentary. The NIV renders the original text to make it more readable. It is a more functional text which is why many churches use it but it is also less precise. Greek or Russian orthodox are more Septuagint orientated and there is a considerable amount of ethical or emotional rendering to the text.The disadvantage of the NASB is that it loses much of the Hebrew poetical style in its effort to be precise as this does not translate into the English
I'm very fortunate to have met some practicing and humble Christians. Truly humble people seek to serve, not attain power and influence. The actions of many Christians make me run the opposite way... as fast as I can.
In his book, Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee states: "Nothing has done greater damage to our Christian testimony than our trying to be right and demanding right of others. We become preoccupied with what is and what is not right. We ask ourselves,' Have we been justly or unjustly treated?' and we think thus to vindicate our actions. But that is not our standard. The whole question for us is one of crossbearing".
Jeff, this is an excellent book. Perhaps one for your reading list?
Even though I don't normally watch the show, I am a huge fan of Lip Sync Battle... or at least the ones that Jimmy Fallon does on The Tonight Show. The Spike TV spinoff show is just okay... I generally feel like the added production value and setup takes something away from what used to be smart, low-key form of entertainment. But every once in a while the Spike TV spinoff manages to use their broader, large-scale format to great effect. I blogged earlier this year during the Soundtrackers activity about Channing Tatum covering Beyonce and his wife turning the tables by making him the recipient of the Magic Mike "Pony" striptease ("Pony" ).
Today, I'm sharing Anthony Mackie performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" versus Joseph Gordon Levitt's "Rhythm Nation." Now, ordinarily, it'd be pretty hard to top Anthony Mackie performing an MC Hammer song (complete with the outfits and dance moves), but Joseph Gordon Levitt manages to surprise everyone with a pitch-perfect rendition of a Janet Jackson classic, complete with choreographed backup dancers. And the looks on the faces of hosts LL Cool J, Chrissy Teigen, and special guest Seth Rogen are absolutely priceless as they watch two remarkable entertainers bring us back to the glory of the 90s.
This clip makes me smile every single time I watch it:
For the record, Joseph Gordon Levitt also did a great Nicki Minaj and Elton John back when this contest got its start on The Tonight Show
It might seem a little worrisome to start a positive blogging activity with a story about politics, but I think this is one worth mentioning because it's so rare that anything is a bipartisan effort at this point. Over the weekend, a Republican office was attacked by vandals who threw a Molotov cocktail through the window and spray-painted a swastika and "Nazi Republicans leave town" on a nearby building.
What's so surprising about this story is that a group of local Democrats started a GoFundMe campaign the very next day in an effort to raise money to repair their political opponents' offices as quickly as possible. Their message, one designed to promote a moment of "graciousness, not fractiousness" was as follows:
“As Democrats, we are starting this campaign to enable the Orange County, North Carolina Republican office to re-open as soon as possible.
Until an investigation is undertaken, we cannot know who did this or why. No matter the result, this is not how Americans resolve their differences. We talk, we argue, sometimes we march, and most of all we vote. We do not resort to violence by individuals or by mobs.
So, let’s all pitch in, no matter what your party affiliation, in and get that office open again quickly.”
The campaign met and exceeded its $10,000 goal (eventually raising just over $13,000) in less than a day.
It's nice to see, in this extremely polarized and volatile political climate, that some people still understand the idea that physical violence and terrorism is never the answer to a difference of opinions... and that regardless of whether we're Republican or Democrat, Independent or otherwise, we can still come together and help each other when tragedy strikes.
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