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?
Run boy run! This world is not made for you
Run boy run! They're trying to catch you
Run boy run! Running is a victory
Run boy run! Beauty lays behind the hills
Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society
Tomorrow is another day
And you won't have to hide away
You'll be a man, boy!
But for now it's time to run, it's time to run!
Run boy run! This ride is a journey to
Run boy run! The secret inside of you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! And disappear in the trees
Tomorrow is another day
And you won't have to hide away
You'll be a man, boy!
But for now it's time to run, it's time to run!
Tomorrow is another day
And when the night fades away
You'll be a man, boy!
But for now it's time to run, it's time to run!
It's funny how sometimes a song can just completely capture everything that you're feeling in a particular moment. I'd never heard of this song (or this band) before this music challenge, and now it's something I've been listening to on repeat ever since I first gave it a listen. Maybe it's because I have a lot going on in my life right now (new parent, job uncertainty, struggling to get back to my writing and back to being active here on WDC), but whatever the reason, I've been thinking a lot about when people stick to their guns on something, and when they choose to run away or let it go.
In a way, I suppose that's a lifelong pursuit, trying to figure out when we need to keep going and when we need to walk away.
Ultimately, I think it's tempting for all of us to want to run, initially. That primal fight-or-flight reflex often encourages us to disengage and keep a safe distance rather than stick to it, right in the middle of the fray when things are toughest. But it's often that fray that, once we get through it, provides the experience and sense of satisfaction that we come to appreciate so much after the fact.
Still, it's important to know when to cut your losses, or to know when it's not a fight you can win. I like to imagine this song is about those moments, when you realize that there's plenty of time to learn that particular lesson or fight that particular fight, and that it's okay to remain where you are for the time being. I feel like that's a pretty universal experience we go through when we grow up and transition from childhood to adulthood; we desperately want to be older and get to the next phase of our life, but in retrospect we always seem to have a sense of nostalgia and wish that we had taken more time to be in the moment and enjoy our childhood just a little longer.
I don't know if that's anything close to what the band had in mind when they wrote this song (and for once I'm not going to do any research about the song or the artist for one of these challenges), or if I'm reading too much into it, but this was definitely one of those songs that made me think as I listened to it over and over again.
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