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?
Here it is: the big enchilada. I know it's been used by others already in this competition, but I'm not going to hold anything back for this last guilty pleasures entry. I am an unabashed Glee fan, and I'm not just talking about the "good" songs. I'm talking almost all of their songs, even the covers of the really, really terrible songs.
Granted, I didn't love absolutely everything, and there have been some major missteps in the show's efforts to stay fresh. As much as I love Glee and Idina Menzel... a.k.a. Adele Dazeem to John Travolta... that slowed down cabaret version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" was a musical abomination which has few equals. Except maybe their cover of The GoGo's "We Got The Beat."
However, certain disastrous missteps notwithstanding, the soundtrack to the series, by and large, was really good and they came up with some really great covers of some really great songs. I almost (almost!) teared up at their a cappella rendition of "How Will I Know" during their Whitney Houston memorial episode, the Journey "Don't Stop Believin'" cover that pretty much put them on the map, the rendition of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" that actually made it sound like a good song, and any of the brilliant mash-ups.
But you all didn't tune into my final guilty pleasure entry to hear about the good songs, now did you? You came here for a train wreck! You're all at a monster truck rally and want to see some devastation! So here it is... a few selections of less-popular Glee covers that I actually like:
"Jump" (original by Van Halen)
"Open Your Heart/Borderline" (originals by Madonna)
"Telephone" (original by Lady Gaga and Beyonce)
"Fat Bottomed Girls" (original by Queen)
"Baby" (original by Justin Bieber)
"Sexy and I Know It" (original by LMFAO)
"Boogie Shoes" (original by KC and The Sunshine Band)
"Dinosaur" (original by Ke$ha)
"Friday" (original by Rebecca Black)
"Mean" (original by Taylor Swift)
"Give Your Heart A Break" (original by Demi Lovato)
"Wannabe" (original by The Spice Girls)
"Mamma Mia" (original by ABBA)
Still with me? Look, you guys (those of you who are still reading or will admit to knowing me, anyway) have been with me a long time. I'm not going to subject you to one of their terrible songs to end this week's guilty pleasures challenge. I'm going to leave you with something positive that won't leave a sour taste in your mouth... I have all next week - whatever that challenge may be - to dig myself a new grave.
One of my favorite songs from Glee, thanks in no small part to the fact that I think former American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez has a phenomenal voice, is when she guest-starred on the 22nd and final episode of Season Four as the competition for the main cast at regionals. (If you ask me, this cover of Zedd's "Clarity" and their other cover of "Wings" by Little Mix) were infinitely better than the New Directions' set list... but then again I suppose you can't have a competition where the protagonists don't win...
Anyway, while I make my escape out the back door, hopefully I can distract you with Glee's rendition of Zedd's hit "Clarity":
Well, Soundtrackers, we've only got two days of guilty pleasures left (well, technically one day but I'm posting two entries today to get caught up), so it's time to start dropping bombs and unloading the heavy artillery. While I can't confess to (nor would I want to) being a true Belieber, (using that phrase just made me throw up in my mouth a little), I have to admit that I really like the first three singles off Justin Bieber's new album. Okay, and a couple of tracks off his old albums. OKAY, and maybe he's not as much of a douche as I originally credited him as.
Admittedly, he was a horrible douche for a lot of years. I'm sure a lot of that probably has to do with the level of success he attained so young, and up until even a couple of years ago, he was frequently getting himself into trouble for his immature and irresponsible behavior. But he really seems to have grown as an artist (and generally as a human being) and recent interviews with him have shown a way more mature artist who seems to recognize the influence he carries and that he should be doing better things with his fame and fortune.
True story: my wife and I have friends who are planning on planting a church in San Diego later this year, and have been gathering with a small group of friends and supporters who want to help them. Last year, we were all talking about the kinds of things we usually pray for and one of the women said, "I pray for people like Justin Bieber. They just have so much influence on so many people, I pray that God gives them the wisdom and the maturity to use that impact for better things than bad behavior and selfish pursuits." It was less than two weeks later than Bieber gave this interview for Complex Magazine about finding faith and his changed, matured perspective.
Bieber's evolution as an artist, if not as a human being, is evident in this new album. He worked on it for more than three years, scrapping it completely more than once because he felt like it wasn't the right direction for him to go in as an artist. Eventually, he settled on a R&B and EDM-inspired sound and fused it with songs about apologies, faith, and recovery after difficult times. The album sold 522,000 copies its first week, has been almost universally cited by critics as not just his best album but as a generally impressive album that shows true growth, and the first three singles have all hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (which is a first for him).
I actually prefer "What Do You Mean?" and "Love Yourself" (the other two singles released so far) in terms of their lyrics and music, but "Sorry" is the most upbeat song and I really love the video (including the fact that Bieber doesn't appear in it at all). The girls dancing in the video are from Parris Goebel's Palace Dance Studio in New Zealand. Man, I'm really hitting the kiwi presence hard in this Soundtrackers challenge... maybe Elle will give me honorary membership in "Invalid Item" if this entry doesn't scare her off!
Oh, and if this blog entry hasn't scared you off, dear reader, and if you don't mind a little more Bieber, The Late Late Show with James Corden has a great bit called "Carpool Karaoke" where James drives around with another celebrity, interviewing them and singing songs. The one with Adele gained a lot of popularity about a month ago, but he has two carpool videos with Bieber, the first of which involves Bieber solving a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes, and the second of which involves an amusing shopping excursion.
Look, I know I've taken my shots at Bieber in the past, including An Un-Belieber-able Twist! from Wdc 14th Birthday Party Suspect Journal during Congrats Quill Winners!'s Masquerade activity the year before last. And I'm as surprised as anyone to say it, but I actually kinda buy his reformed act and I think he's currently got the album and the social presence to prove it. Who knows if it'll keep, but for right now I'm not ashamed only mildly ashamed to admit that Justin Bieber's new album is a guilty pleasure of mine.
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