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?
Song: "The Touch" Artist: Stan Bush Album:Transformers: The Movie Soundtrack
Just in case "Kiss From A Rose" wasn't retro enough, I've gone back another decade and into the 1980s to find my second Soundtrack week offering. Philistines might ask, "Isn't that the song Mark Wahlberg sings in Boogie Nights?" Well, yes... it is... but everybody knows it was done first - and better! - in the last decent Transformers movie, 1984's animated feature starring the voices of Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Stack, Orson Welles, Casey Kasem, Scatman Crothers, and Peter Cullen among others. The song was actually originally written for Sylvester Stallone's movie Cobra, but ended up being slotted into this animated classic instead (along with Bush's other classic, "Dare").
I was originally going to include this in my One Hit Wonders week lineup, but its status as a "hit" (at least by recording industry album sales or airplay standard) made it a questionable choice. Thankfully, lizco252 gave me a second chance to feature this masterpiece of 80s rock in this week's list!
If you want to know how to milk a one-hit wonder, look no further than our friend Stan Bush. Not only did he release the song on his own album after it gained traction on the Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, but he re-recorded the song in 1997 for a convention soundtrack, included it on another of his albums, submitted it for consideration in the 2007 live-action Transformers "movie," re-recorded it again in 2009 and submitted it for the second of Michael Bay's Transformers fiascoes, recorded a new version of the song for inclusion in one of the Guitar Hero games, and then remixed it yet again in 2012 to release exclusively on iTunes. Well, at least he doesn't have any illusions about which songs of his are paying the bills...
I used to listen to this song nonstop. At first I just rewound the VCR tape of the movie over and over again, re-watching the scenes where this song played... then I bought the CD and pretty much listened to that nonstop... then I ripped it into my iTunes and still listen to it pretty frequently. This is one of the few songs that I can legitimately say I've listened to for 25+ years, and my lifetime play count is probably - without exaggerating - probably in the high thousands, maybe even low five digits. So happy to finally be able to share it with all of you!
Song: "Kiss From A Rose" Artist: Seal Album:Batman Forever Soundtrack
Soundtrackers do soundtracks, eh? This week's challenge is right up my alley! And since lizco252 is still standing... and celebrating that fact... after my guilty pleasures entries, I might have to give some extra special thought to the songs that I'm going to lay out this week.
Why don't we get things started with a true gem from 1995? Originally released on his second eponymous album (gotta love an artist who doesn't just self-title his albums, but self-titles pretty much ALL of his albums ), the song didn't really hit big until it was chosen to be included in the 1995 Joel Schumacher epic Batman Forever. The song was an undisputed hit: Top 5 song on the Billboard Hot 100's best songs of 1995 (and No. 58 on their best songs of the decade), certified gold status (both physical and digital), and over two dozen different cover versions and counting. It also won Seal a trio of 1996 Grammys including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Plus, the video - actually the second one to be recorded - features singing against the backdrop of the batsignal and has clips from this epic movie interspersed throughout!
Fun fact: Joel Schumacher actually directed this movie tie-in music video. If possible, it actually makes the film itself look good by comparison! Seriously, how did the guy responsible for directing stuff like St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys and Falling Down end up doing this movie, the sequel-that-shall-not-be-named, Bad Company, and The Number 23? Okay, maybe that's more like a depressing fact...
Seal's was born Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (thank goodness he didn't self-title his albums after his real name!), which is derived from the Yoruban language of his Nigerian heritage, despite being born and raised in the United Kingdom. In addition to his music, Seal's fame has centered around his marriage to supermodel Heidi Klum, and, more recently, their divorce and his subsequent knocking-up of model Erica Packer. Also, while there have been many, many rumors about the cause of the scars on his face, it turns out that they're the result of a type of lupus and not some kind of dangerous accident or knife-fight.
I used to really dig this song when it was popular... okay, fine, I still really dig this song. Seal's a great vocalist and a talented songwriter, and it's no surprise that, with a little help from Batman, this song ended up being popular for as long as it did.
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