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?
"Blog Harbor" PROMPT (DAY 14): Blogger's Choice! All you have to do today is write about any movie and tell us why. What are you dying to talk about? Do you want to praise or rip on a movie you just saw? Mention your favorite movie that didn't fit into any of the prompts so far this week? Talk about your most eagerly-anticipated movie of this year? As long as you talk a little about why you picked it, write about any movie you want, past, present, or future!
I've mentioned this movie a couple of times in my blog entries this week, but today I'm featuring it all by itself because this is probably the movie in the entire course of my professional career that I'm most proud to have worked on. The Right Girl, which is the only film that I actually have a writing credit on, is up there, but I still think Avengers: Infinity War ekes out a slight lead. This is just such a huge, momentous movie, I feel privileged to have been a part of working on it, even as someone behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight.
This movie is truly unprecedented in a couple of ways.
First, the size and scope of the film is massive. I can't think of any movie that has as many A-list stars in it. Even if you only count the actors who have been the primary lead in another movie, there are over twenty. If you count all the actors with at least a modicum of name recognition, you're up to nearly fifty. Put all of those actors in a movie that's one of the highest, if not the highest, budget film of all time and we're talking about a movie with a size and scope that few people have ever seen before. It makes the Pirates of the Caribbean movies seem like modest fare.
Second, and more importantly, though, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has accomplished what no other franchise in history has done; it's pulled together eighteen films that have come before it, each connected in some way to the other movies. The only other film franchises that come even close to having eighteen entries are James Bond (24-26 depending on how you count them), Amityville Horror (18), and Star Trek (13), all of which have had a number of films not relate to one another. The fact that Marvel Studios has made not just eighteen blockbuster, box-office-record-toppling films, but blockbuster, box-office-record-topping interconnected films is nothing short of amazing.
I'm really proud of this film. Even for people who aren't huge Marvel movie fans, I think there's something to enjoy here. It's a good movie. But for fans of the Marvel universe? Oh man, it's going to blow you away. The size and scope of what the filmmakers have done on this movie will shock you. If you got a giddy feeling seeing the team assemble for the first time in The Avengers, imagine what it'll feel like to see eighteen films' worth of heroes assembling. The Avengers meet Guardians of the Galaxy meet Doctor Strange meet Black Panther meet Spider-Man.
It's been such an immense amount of work, and such an amazing experience to be a part of. I always get a little twinge of pride when the credits roll and I find my name in that long end crawl... and this one is particularly special. I can't wait until the world can see it. Only a few more days to wait!
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