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?
This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I completely missed the release of Sara Bareilles' 2013 album, The Blessed Unrest. I was definitely aware of her hit single "Brave," but I guess I just assumed it was for a soundtrack of some kind or an EP release or something. And this is coming from someone for whom Bareilles' 2010 album Kaleidoscope Heart is an absolute favorite; it's one of the few albums that I can honestly say I love just about every song on it.
And yet, somehow, I was at a Sara Bareilles concert at the Hollywood Bowl late last year for her Amidst the Chaos tour and I listened to her perform a set of songs from both her collection of songs for the Waitress musical on Broadway (to be fair, I did know about that one, and almost picked the sensational "You Matter to Me" for this entry) and this album... and I didn't recognize any of the songs from this album except "Brave." She didn't even actually play this particular song at the concert, but I found it after I got home and went, "OMG she has a whole other album I've never heard!"
This is the song of hers I've been listening to on repeat the most since the concert a few months ago, and that includes "King of Anything" and "Uncharted," which are my usual go-to Bareilles songs. I'm not sure "Eden" will have the staying power of the other two (each of which has been listened to hundreds upon hundreds of times), but it's slowly climbing up the ranks of my leaderboard of all-time listens. Bareilles is a remarkable songwriter, a talented musician, and an entertaining performer. My wife and I had a blast at the concert, and I'm glad it prompted me to spend a little time delving into her back catalog where I was able to discover most of an album I didn't even know existed before 2019 (despite it being released six years ago ).
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