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?
First, can we take a moment to appreciate the full 80s-ness of this video? Feathered/permed hair, a drive-in, a car with a trunk that only opens with a key... this video is an amazing time capsule of things that existed thirty years ago.
I thought I was pretty well versed in the rock bands of the 80s, but I have to admit that I had never even heard of this band, much less any of their songs, before I stumbled across this track late last year on a streaming radio station. Not only was I surprised to discover a great song I hadn't heard before, but I was even more shocked to find that the band, formed in 1980, is still performing. I almost used a video of one of their live performances from 2016, but frontmen Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman are looking a little old these days and the tepid call-and-response of the smallish, mostly elderly crowd was kind of sad... so I decided to show them in all their 80s glory.
This song was the first single off their second album, and their first major hit, although it peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, so maybe the fact that it was outside the Top 20 nearly 30 years has something to do with why I didn't discover it until now. Still, I'm glad I found it because this is one of the songs that I've had in constant rotation on my "Current" playlist for several months, mostly because it's a fun, upbeat song that I really enjoy blasting on the way home when I get tired of podcasts and audiobooks.
Is it blasphemous to follow up a Christian music entry with a song that makes blatant use of the f-word and references to masturbation in the chorus, as well as frequent references to drugs and alcohol?
Oh well, I'm doing it anyway.
FLETCHER is an artist that I found on one of those random "new music" iTunes playlists early in 2019, and this song immediately caught my attention. There's a certain elegiac quality to her voice and this song's beat and lyrics that just kind of flows together. This was her first breakthrough single and her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and I can definitely understand why. The language and the content make it difficult to really hit as one of those universally-applicable breakup songs, but I think it's specific enough that the tone and the emotion of the song will really resonate with a more specific audience.
To date, FLETCHER has only released a handful of singles and two EPs, and I'd definitely be interested in seeing what a full album from her sounds like. I think she has the talent to make something really special. Am I basing that off of one song? Yes. But do I believe it? Also yes.
While we're on the topic of Christian music, this is the song that I'm currently listening to most often. I'm kind of in awe of the sheer number of amazing songs that Hillsong United (and their youth group offshoot, Hillsong Young & Free) have generated. They've created literally dozens of iconic songs which are performed in churches all over the world every week... and they just keep. coming. up. with. more. hit. songs. It's kind of crazy to me that, at this point, Hillsong concerts are on par with non-religious musical acts in terms of ticket sales and influence.
I know that Christian music is normally aimed toward a very specific audience, but I find Hillsong worship songs to almost transcend the "faith-based community only" arena that most worship and gospel songs fall into. They have catchy beats and good lyrics, and they feel like pieces that would - if not for their content - be otherwise categorized as traditional pop/rock songs. Hillsong isn't a bad way to go if you're looking to dip your toes into the Christian music scene but don't want to go full charismatic religious conversion.
I'll be the first to admit that the genre of "Christian hip hop" is a bit unorthodox, but every once in a while a song comes along that just kind of works. This is one of those songs for me, where it's not too hit-you-over-the-head religious, but is nonetheless inspiring and actually kinda works as a hip hop song. This particular song is off his 2019 album Never Fold, and I'm definitely planning on checking out more songs off that album, as well as his 2014 album Below Paradise which was recorded as part of his spiritual struggle and experiences dealing with the death of his one-year-old son the previous year.
I've been thinking a lot about using art to process through life experiences lately. Both Tedashii's early album and in a couple different podcasts I listened to this week, there's been a theme of writing (or creating art) in order to process through some sort of life event. I'm not sure I've ever done that, and it intrigues me. Writing, which is the only art form I'm even somewhat good at, has always been an outlet for me in terms of stress relief, entertainment, etc. But I've always written commercial, entertaining things. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've attempted to actually write something that helps me process something I'm struggling with in my personal life. Over the past week or so, I'm wondering if that's something I should actually try, and - if so - how to go about it.
Still, I'm glad I found it because this is one of the songs that I've had in constant rotation on my "Current" playlist for several months, mostly because it's a fun, upbeat song that I really enjoy blasting on the way home when I get tired of podcasts and audiobooks.
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