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?
Oh goodness, I haven't thought about Evanescence in years.
Evanescence was one of those bands that really affected me way back in the early 2000s, probably in large part thanks to the fact that songs like "My Immortal" and their other hits were prominently featured in all kinds of emo-themed movies and television of that time period, including everything from an episode of Smallville to a dance routine soundtrack on So You Think You Can Dance to their real high bar, which was having not one, but two songs included in the Daredevil soundtrack... the Ben Affleck abomination, not the newer Netflix incarnation. That soundtrack blasted both "My Immortal" and "Bring Me to Life," just in case one wasn't enough. And on the topic of the Daredevil soundtrack, has there ever been a more goth/nu metal soundtrack than the one for that film? Seriously... Evanescence, Fuel, Saliva, Seether, Nickelback, Drowning Pool feat. Rob Zombie, Moby, Chevelle, Hoobastank, Paloalto... it's like a who's who of somber, whining vocals backed up with industrial beats and a few verses of rap-rock lyrics thrown in for good measure.
I actually really loved this band (and this song) for a long time. A lot of bands in this moody, angsty space tend to have raw, scratchy lyrics and all kind of sound the same after a while, but Amy Lee's haunting, melodic voice really made the band stand out from their contemporaries.
As I was doing research for this blog post, though, my new favorite story about this band and this song is related to the cover of it that Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins did for her 2009 album Believe. While I don't particularly prefer that cover of the song over the original, she apparently mentioned to her producer that she wanted to do it and he told her he didn't think she was able to perform the song. More determined than ever after being told she couldn't, she reworked the song as a more orchestral piece with stringed instruments substituting for the percussion section of the original, which was a better fit for her voice. You just have to respect someone who is told they can't do something and then goes, "You know what? I can and I will." Here's a link to that cover version if you want to listen to it:
Whichever version you personally prefer, there's no question that Evanescence was at the top of their songwriting and musical production game in the early 2000s when this nu metal crazy was sweeping radio stations and soundtracks nationwide. Listening to their discography again thanks to this challenge was a real blast from the past.
Here's a link to that cover version if you want to listen to it:
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