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?
What was the best/worst letter or email you ever received or wrote? Write about the situation surrounding that letter, and why it was so significant.
The worst email I ever wrote was during my first full-time job out of college. I was extremely frustrated with a casting director and their assistant, who just couldn't seem to return a signed contract and start paperwork. At first they sent back the contract but forgot to sign one of the pages. Then they sent back the fully-signed contract but no start forms. Then they sent back a start form that had been filled out, but not signed. Then they sent back a completed and signed start form, but the scan was so bad it was illegible. All the while asking where their payment was, which would prompt me explaining to them what was missing and/or needed to be fixed.
At one point, I got so frustrated that I fired off an email to my boss along the lines of OMG why can't they get it right and just send us what we need? What I didn't realize is that I had left the casting director and their assistant cc'ed on the email. it was my first and most prominent exposure to the issue of inadvertently copying someone on an email they should never have seen.
On the plus side, they never said anything about the email and the next time they sent their paperwork, it was 100% correct.
This scenario definitely taught me valuable lessons about email etiquette, such as:
Don't talk shit in an email.
If you are going to talk shit in an email, don't do it about people on the email chain.
If you are going to talk shit in an email about people on the email chain, don't reply all.
If you are going to talk shit in an email about people on the email chain, and you do reply all, double-check to make sure you delete the recipients you're talking shit about.
These are important life lessons in the information age!
it was my first and most prominent exposure to the issue of inadvertently copying someone on an email they should never have seen.
Don't talk shit in an email.
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