So it's been over a month, almost two, since the last post. Things got super crazy, super fast once we got to Texas. So here's a brief update on where and what Helen and Brett are doing.
First, Helen officially started her job last week. Although, she has been up in her classroom working for several weeks prior. Things are coming along nicely... she might disagree... but her classroom is shaping up well. She'll have her first grade students for the first time in two weeks... complete with lunchboxes, backpacks, toothless smiles, runny noses, and high pitched voices. I'll bet she's excited.
I have been keeping mildly busy working at the church. I have taken over the reigns for the youth worship time on Wednesday Nights, and have inherited several students to develop a band. So we'll get going on that in the next few weeks. I'm super excited about that opportunity.
Most of all, we're glad to be back in Texas. We'll get to see Helen's brothers Paul and Sam play football this fall. Paul is a varsity receiver for Hays High School, and Sam is on the JV. We'll finally get to see them play (maybe they'll throw the ball to Paul every once in a while... if not, i'll be that guy who yells at the coach from the stands. I've always wanted to be 'that guy.')
We'll get to see Anna (Helen's sister) play volleyball for Baylor. Helen and I are both excited to see that. I'll cheer for Anna and her team, but it will take a lot for you to see me wearing green and gold.
The best part about being back is that we get to see many of the people we love and have missed over the last year. It really has been a blessing from the Lord, and we are so grateful. The worst part is that we now have people in Louisville who we love and miss. So Louisville People... come visit. We miss you. And know that you always have a place to stay in the austin/san marcos/san antonio area. No charge.
Soon we'll have some pictures of the house and some other recent happenings. I'm about to start classes at Southwestern, so we'll see how busy I get in the coming weeks. Let us hear from you!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
We're Back
So Helen and I have a lot to update you on since the last post. Things have been crazy for the last few weeks, so you'll have to excuse our laziness in posting. Since the last you heard from us, we have been to Chicago and back. Then we loaded up the truck with all of our stuff and traveled across the country, making it safe and sound to Texas. We move in to our new place some time on Sunday. We have a bunch of pictures to upload. We'll get to that soon.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Want Free Pizza?
We need help moving on Saturday, June 30. We'll be serving pizza. If you are willing to help, please let us know that you'll be coming. Be at our place at 4:30pm. See you there!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Cincinnati or Cincinatti... Either Way We Had a Good Time
You would have thought we could spell the name of that town, but simply visiting Cinncinnatty doesn't help with spelling questions. Helen and I visited that city last week. Here are some pics...
The first thing we did was go to the Reds vs. Angels game. We parked in a parking garage across the Ohio river in Kentucky, and rode a ferry across the river which dropped us off right outside the park. Our tickets were $5 seats, way up high along the third base line. We actually moved higher so we could be under the overhang for shade. It was stinkin' hot! The game was a pretty good game, until about the seventh or eighth inning when the Angels blew it open. Cinci "fans" began to boo their team... at which, as Aggies, Helen and I were appalled.
The first thing we did was go to the Reds vs. Angels game. We parked in a parking garage across the Ohio river in Kentucky, and rode a ferry across the river which dropped us off right outside the park. Our tickets were $5 seats, way up high along the third base line. We actually moved higher so we could be under the overhang for shade. It was stinkin' hot! The game was a pretty good game, until about the seventh or eighth inning when the Angels blew it open. Cinci "fans" began to boo their team... at which, as Aggies, Helen and I were appalled.Ken Griffey, Jr was playing and we got to see him hit a homerun... with the exact same bat we saw being made in the Louisville Slugger Museum... well, probably... well, maybe (see post below).
Here is a ZOOMED IN picture of Ken Griffey, Jr waiting on a pitch... yes, our seats were closer to the sun than they were to home plate.
But all in all, we enjoyed our afternoon at the ballpark. It's definitely worth the visit for those of you who are still living in Louisville.
And here is a picture of me exiting the bridge as soon as possible. (Still being very brave.)
That night we watched the Spurs seal up game 4 of the NBA finals. We celebrated...
And celebrated...
The next day we woke up, parked downtown and viewed all things worth viewing. For example, we walked the perimeter of Paul Brown Stadium (where the Bengals play). There wasn't much to see, and there wasn't even that great of an entrance. This is the best picture we could take...
But we did learn that to everyone in Cinci, it's pronounced BANGls, not BINGls. So here I am making the distinction...
We also stumbled upon the University of Cincinnati. It was a really pretty campus. The funniest thing was that the football stadium was right in the middle of the campus, and there was no fence around it. You could just go on the field without anyone stopping you. So we did...
And I am the closest anyone on this field will ever come to winning the Heisman trophy.
Here is a ZOOMED IN picture of Ken Griffey, Jr waiting on a pitch... yes, our seats were closer to the sun than they were to home plate.
But all in all, we enjoyed our afternoon at the ballpark. It's definitely worth the visit for those of you who are still living in Louisville.
After the game, we checked into our hotel and then went walking around the area. There were various bridges that crossed the Ohio River between Kentucky and Ohio. This bridge was high, and it was a long way to the other side. To top it off, there were cars ZOOMING BY at dangerous speeds. Seriously, do people not consider others while driving across these bridges? Needless to say, I was terrified. It didn't help that Helen heard a noise and screamed, latching onto my hip. It creeped me out even further. Above is a picture of me being very brave. Very, very brave.
And here is a picture of me exiting the bridge as soon as possible. (Still being very brave.)
That night we watched the Spurs seal up game 4 of the NBA finals. We celebrated...
And celebrated...
But we did learn that to everyone in Cinci, it's pronounced BANGls, not BINGls. So here I am making the distinction...
We also stumbled upon the University of Cincinnati. It was a really pretty campus. The funniest thing was that the football stadium was right in the middle of the campus, and there was no fence around it. You could just go on the field without anyone stopping you. So we did...
This is the first time anyone has struck the Heisman pose on this field.
And I am the closest anyone on this field will ever come to winning the Heisman trophy.
All in all, we had a pretty good time. We still can't spell the stinkin' name of the city, but we did enjoy its fine dining, the ballgame, and its beautiful scenery. If you are ever in the area, Cinci is worth going to.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Visit from Mom and Dad
My parents came and visited a couple weeks ago, and we had some technical difficulties getting the pictures. But Helen worked hard to get them from my parents so we can now post them.
First, we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum in downtown Louisville. This is where they make bats for the Major and Minor Leagues. This is the largest bat in the world.
We took a tour of the Louisville Slugger Factory, but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. We watched them make bats from pieces of wood called Billets. It was really interesting. As we walked through, we saw some bats that had just been completed. They had tags on them with the names of players they were going to. One of them was for Ken Griffey, Jr.
There was a batting cage at the Museum, so I took a crack at it.
Helen did too...
I had a conversation with Micky Mantle. We just couldn't believe the ump made that call. I mean come on! If he had one more eye, he'd be a cyclops.
After the Slugger Museum, we drove out to Churchill Downs to catch a race or two.
We had no clue what was going on. There were numbers and colors and everyone around us seemed to know what going on. It was like a whole new language. The only thing we were sure about was the horse that crossed the finish line first won the race.
The next day we went to Huber's Farm in Indiana to pick some strawberries. It's this huge farm out in the middle of nowhere. There were so many twists and turns, it's a wonder we got there, and it's even crazier that we made it out. Once we got to the farm, we got on a tractor with this guy who drove us out to this field with strawberries in it. He let us loose and we could pick as many strawberries as we could eat and/or pay for.
Of course, as soon as we got away from the shelter, it started to rain on us. But here is what we managed to pick before we got soaked. I think my mom was excited about the strawberry shortcake and smoothies we were going to have later that day....
After we paid for our strawberries, we headed over to the ice cream shop where we bought some homemade ice cream. It was great. Here I am enjoying my delicious homemade chocolate ice cream while riding a cow.
After that, we went on a cruise down the Ohio River on the Star of Louisville. The cruise included a meal and a two hour cruise up and down the river.
We had a great time with my parents, and we got to do some things in Louisville that we hadn't had a chance to do yet. We were glad that they got to come, and we're even more glad that we are getting to go back to Texas here in a few weeks.
Goodbye Louisville...
First, we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum in downtown Louisville. This is where they make bats for the Major and Minor Leagues. This is the largest bat in the world.
We took a tour of the Louisville Slugger Factory, but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. We watched them make bats from pieces of wood called Billets. It was really interesting. As we walked through, we saw some bats that had just been completed. They had tags on them with the names of players they were going to. One of them was for Ken Griffey, Jr.There was a batting cage at the Museum, so I took a crack at it.
Helen did too...
I had a conversation with Micky Mantle. We just couldn't believe the ump made that call. I mean come on! If he had one more eye, he'd be a cyclops.
After the Slugger Museum, we drove out to Churchill Downs to catch a race or two.
We had no clue what was going on. There were numbers and colors and everyone around us seemed to know what going on. It was like a whole new language. The only thing we were sure about was the horse that crossed the finish line first won the race.
The next day we went to Huber's Farm in Indiana to pick some strawberries. It's this huge farm out in the middle of nowhere. There were so many twists and turns, it's a wonder we got there, and it's even crazier that we made it out. Once we got to the farm, we got on a tractor with this guy who drove us out to this field with strawberries in it. He let us loose and we could pick as many strawberries as we could eat and/or pay for.
Of course, as soon as we got away from the shelter, it started to rain on us. But here is what we managed to pick before we got soaked. I think my mom was excited about the strawberry shortcake and smoothies we were going to have later that day....
After we paid for our strawberries, we headed over to the ice cream shop where we bought some homemade ice cream. It was great. Here I am enjoying my delicious homemade chocolate ice cream while riding a cow.
After that, we went on a cruise down the Ohio River on the Star of Louisville. The cruise included a meal and a two hour cruise up and down the river.
We had a great time with my parents, and we got to do some things in Louisville that we hadn't had a chance to do yet. We were glad that they got to come, and we're even more glad that we are getting to go back to Texas here in a few weeks.
Goodbye Louisville...
Saturday, June 09, 2007
THE COOKIE MONSTER and the BETHANCOURTS
C is for cookie that's good enough for me. C is for cookie that's good enough for me. C is for cookie that's good enough for me. Cookie cookie cookie starts with C.
We had dinner with the Bethancourts the other day, and after dinner, we decided to experiment with something. Cheddars serves this dessert, a cookie in an iron skillet, topped with ice cream and some other goodies. Who needs Cheddars though, when you have 4 aggies and a gift card to bed, bath and beyond?
Here is the result:
That's two rolls of cookie dough and a gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream.
And here's the damage we did (especially garbage disposal Phillip):
Phillip swears up and down that he could have eaten more, but we were pretty stuffed afterward. Just a hint, one roll of cookies is plenty for four people.
We had dinner with the Bethancourts the other day, and after dinner, we decided to experiment with something. Cheddars serves this dessert, a cookie in an iron skillet, topped with ice cream and some other goodies. Who needs Cheddars though, when you have 4 aggies and a gift card to bed, bath and beyond?
Here is the result:
That's two rolls of cookie dough and a gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream.
And here's the damage we did (especially garbage disposal Phillip):
Phillip swears up and down that he could have eaten more, but we were pretty stuffed afterward. Just a hint, one roll of cookies is plenty for four people.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Those Clever Aggies...
Coach Fran will be speaking at the Capital City A&M Club (Austin, TX) Coach's Night on Tuesday July 24th. He'll be speaking at 6:48pm. "Why 6:48?" you ask. Well, if someone asked you for the time, and if you wanted to give the time in reference to 7 o'clock, you might say that it's 12 to 7. Hmmmm.....
BLAM!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Surprise Guest in Class Today
This week I'm taking a week-long course at Southern. Basically, it's an 8-5 class for a week. You do almost the same amount of reading and assignments as you would in a semester-long course. Right now, I'm taking a really practical course called Discipling Adults. Dr. Hal Pettegrew is the prof. Obviously it is a challenge to keep students engaged for eight hours a day, and Dr. Pettegrew is doing a great job of it. He has wisely brought in guest speakers in the afternoons to talk about different topics pertaining to discipleship.
Today we had a break just before the guest speaker came. I was sitting in the classroom with a few other students as the guest speaker walked in. He wasn't anyone famous (to my knowledge, at least) and yet he treated all of us as if we were the famous ones. This man, who had to be in his seventies, came to meet each of us before the class started, walking around to greet each of us. After meeting each of us and learning our names, he responded with "Glad to know ya."
As I sat at my computer, waiting for the break to be over, this man looks over my shoulder and says "Gig 'em." I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting something like that. I looked down and he was pointing at my ring. Then, he pointed at his hand which had a smooth gold ring on his finger. He grinned at me and said, "class of 1956." His ring didn't look quite like mine. The year and shield had worn off, and you could hardly tell it was an Aggie Ring. I shot a "Gig 'em" right back at him, and I listened to him speak for about an hour and a half. I learned much about pastoring and discipleship, and I really appreciated his humility, as I learned from his actions as much as his words.
Today we had a break just before the guest speaker came. I was sitting in the classroom with a few other students as the guest speaker walked in. He wasn't anyone famous (to my knowledge, at least) and yet he treated all of us as if we were the famous ones. This man, who had to be in his seventies, came to meet each of us before the class started, walking around to greet each of us. After meeting each of us and learning our names, he responded with "Glad to know ya."
As I sat at my computer, waiting for the break to be over, this man looks over my shoulder and says "Gig 'em." I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting something like that. I looked down and he was pointing at my ring. Then, he pointed at his hand which had a smooth gold ring on his finger. He grinned at me and said, "class of 1956." His ring didn't look quite like mine. The year and shield had worn off, and you could hardly tell it was an Aggie Ring. I shot a "Gig 'em" right back at him, and I listened to him speak for about an hour and a half. I learned much about pastoring and discipleship, and I really appreciated his humility, as I learned from his actions as much as his words.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The McDonald Coaching Legacy
Here is a link to a story about my Dad.
For the lazy, here are some snippets:
And here I am upholding the legacy with 7th and 8th graders...
The legend lives on...
For the lazy, here are some snippets:
This offseason has made it abundantly clear. The McDonald family is firmly established as one of the top basketball families from the San Marcos area.
Donny McDonald, son of legendary Texas State head basketball coach Vernon McDonald, was named one of the Dean Weese Outstanding Coaches of the Year for 2007, the girls 4A Texas Coach of the Year, by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
His brother Lynn, the head coach at Clear Lake High, earned the boys 5A honor.
And here I am upholding the legacy with 7th and 8th graders...
The legend lives on...
Monday, May 07, 2007
Summer is Coming
Helen is down to 3 1/2 weeks of teaching left. I have two finals this week, one take home and one in class. Then we are done for the Spring semester. I'll be taking two J-Term classes... Discipling Adults and (against my better judgment) Hebrew Exegesis of Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. After those two classes, we'll have a few weeks before we move.
Summer has several good things in store for us.
1. My parents are visiting at the end of May for about a week.
2. My brother and his wife are going to help us move. We are going to meet them in Chicago and watch the cubs, then drive back to Louisville and move out.
3. Several good movies are coming out... Shrek 3, the Simpons... what else do you need?
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out in July. Will Harry make it out alive?
5. Texas.
Summer is the best time of the year.
Summer has several good things in store for us.
1. My parents are visiting at the end of May for about a week.
2. My brother and his wife are going to help us move. We are going to meet them in Chicago and watch the cubs, then drive back to Louisville and move out.
3. Several good movies are coming out... Shrek 3, the Simpons... what else do you need?
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out in July. Will Harry make it out alive?
5. Texas.
Summer is the best time of the year.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
All in the Family
My uncle Lynn and Dad sporting their trophies for 5A Boys Coach of the Year and 4A Girls Coach of the Year respectively. Way to go!
PS It looks like Dad has an idea with that light above his head. Haha!
PS It looks like Dad has an idea with that light above his head. Haha!
We Bleed Maroon
From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Thanks for Playing Mavwrecks
The Mavs were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors. The Mavs were the 1 seed and the Warriors were 8 seed. This is the first time an 8 seed has beaten a 1 seed in a 7 game series. It's just the third time an 8 seed has ever beaten a 1 seed in any type of series. The Mavs won 67 games this year, which is the most regular season games won by a team eliminated in the first round. This is for all the arrogant, loud, and ignorant Mavs fans, for the players, and for the whiny, annoying, bratty owner Mark Cuban...
Good luck next year. Thanks for playing.
Good luck next year. Thanks for playing.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Biggest News of the Year
We've been waiting to post until we announced it to the church. We did that today, and it was very sad because we love Grace Community.
While home on Spring Break, Helen was offered a job as a first grade teacher at Fuentes Elementary. We also were asked to rent a house from a family who is going to Indonesia for two years. Several other things fell into place during Spring Break, and we are confident that we should move back to Texas this summer. We will be leaving the last week of June. Helen will teach, and I will spend a year taking classes from the Southwestern extension center in San Antonio, and then finish my last year at Southern online.
While we are sad to leave our friends and church family here, we are thrilled to go back to Texas.
While home on Spring Break, Helen was offered a job as a first grade teacher at Fuentes Elementary. We also were asked to rent a house from a family who is going to Indonesia for two years. Several other things fell into place during Spring Break, and we are confident that we should move back to Texas this summer. We will be leaving the last week of June. Helen will teach, and I will spend a year taking classes from the Southwestern extension center in San Antonio, and then finish my last year at Southern online.
While we are sad to leave our friends and church family here, we are thrilled to go back to Texas.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Back in KY
Yes we're back. We flew from San Antonio to Chicago Midway and then from there to Louisville. The ride from Chicago to Louisville was pretty bumpy, but I was able to get some sleep anyway. We got back, ate lunch, and mailed our taxes. Now it's back to business as usual. I have three weeks left of school and Helen has about a month and a half.
More coming soon...
More coming soon...
Friday, April 13, 2007
Something to Pass the Time
We have several months before Fightin' Texas Aggie Football kicks off. This should help.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
That's Right You're Not From Texas...
We're in Texas right now. Our trip is a little past half way through, and we're having a good time even though people have to work during the day. We were able to watch Helen's brother Sam play baseball and we'll get to see her other brother Paul pitch on Friday. It should be a good time. Maybe we'll get some pictures or something.
We'll be back Saturday in the early afternoon, just in time for church on Sunday. The semester is winding down and we both have much to do before it ends.
In other news, billy gillispie decided to go to Kentucky, which I can't be upset about. However, the manner in which he left was very disappointing. He did not meet with his players, and in fact was a little dishonest with them and with the incoming recruits. He also told a big time recruit a day before he made the announcement that he was leaving for Kentucky and he wanted the recruit to come with him. That's either an ncaa violation or unethical or both. But either way, he's gone. At first I was distraught, but I forgot we still have Bill Byrne on our side. And lo and behold, the new Aggie coach that I'm extremely excited about...
Mark Turgeon from Wichita State. A heck of a coach, a family man, and one mean snarl. So I'm excited about Aggie bball again. Now if only he can keep Deandre and Co. for next year. (BJ Holmes, Nathan Walkup, Victor Dkzkwzsky -- don't know how to spell it-- and Co.)
We'll be back Saturday in the early afternoon, just in time for church on Sunday. The semester is winding down and we both have much to do before it ends.
In other news, billy gillispie decided to go to Kentucky, which I can't be upset about. However, the manner in which he left was very disappointing. He did not meet with his players, and in fact was a little dishonest with them and with the incoming recruits. He also told a big time recruit a day before he made the announcement that he was leaving for Kentucky and he wanted the recruit to come with him. That's either an ncaa violation or unethical or both. But either way, he's gone. At first I was distraught, but I forgot we still have Bill Byrne on our side. And lo and behold, the new Aggie coach that I'm extremely excited about...
Mark Turgeon from Wichita State. A heck of a coach, a family man, and one mean snarl. So I'm excited about Aggie bball again. Now if only he can keep Deandre and Co. for next year. (BJ Holmes, Nathan Walkup, Victor Dkzkwzsky -- don't know how to spell it-- and Co.)
Friday, March 30, 2007
We're Still Here
We haven't posted anything in awhile, but we are still here. Helen is still teaching her little ones and preparing them for their big tests coming up in a few weeks. She's down to two more months in her first year of teaching. She's already excited about next year and thinking about what she'll do differently. I have been busily reading and writing for school. April is going to be very busy for me. I have almost 2000 pages worth of reading to do and two fairly large papers to finish. I've started one of the papers, and I'm about halfway done. It's crazy to think that this semester is winding to a close and that I'll be over 1/3 of the way done with my degree.
Church has been going well. Last Sunday, the Church voted unanimously to keep me as their worship leader. (I had been serving as Interim since January.) It's a blessing to know that I'm doing something right, and the Lord has really blessed Helen and I to be at such a great place. I've learned so much about ministry just in the last three months, and I can't imagine what I'll learn in the months and years to come, Lord willing.
Next Friday is Good Friday. Helen and I will be leaving on a flight that leaves at 630am and we'll arrive in Texas around 11am. We'll be in Texas for the week, and we're really looking forward to going back and seeing everyone. It will be a good break, although I will probably be working diligently on school stuff while there.
Thanks for your support and prayer.
Church has been going well. Last Sunday, the Church voted unanimously to keep me as their worship leader. (I had been serving as Interim since January.) It's a blessing to know that I'm doing something right, and the Lord has really blessed Helen and I to be at such a great place. I've learned so much about ministry just in the last three months, and I can't imagine what I'll learn in the months and years to come, Lord willing.
Next Friday is Good Friday. Helen and I will be leaving on a flight that leaves at 630am and we'll arrive in Texas around 11am. We'll be in Texas for the week, and we're really looking forward to going back and seeing everyone. It will be a good break, although I will probably be working diligently on school stuff while there.
Thanks for your support and prayer.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
ANNA!
Well, here are the promised pictures of our time with Anna. All but one of the pictures were taken when we went to Mammoth Cave. Anna's camera has all the other pictures, I'll try to get them from her.
Ignoring warning signs, Anna crosses into a dried up creek bed. She really is a daredevil.
Anna posing on a bridge that leads to a little spring. How nice.
Brett and Anna posing inside the cave. That thing was spooky!
Wasting time before the tour started.
Waiting for the tour to start.
The tour started late...
It started really late.
At the 1st round NCAA game in Lexington against Penn. Ryan hooked us up and we had great seats. Hope Anna isn't beaten mercilessly for sporting a&m gear. We all know where her heart is anyway. Thanks and gig 'em.
Ignoring warning signs, Anna crosses into a dried up creek bed. She really is a daredevil.
Anna posing on a bridge that leads to a little spring. How nice.
Brett and Anna posing inside the cave. That thing was spooky!
Wasting time before the tour started.
Waiting for the tour to start.
The tour started late...
It started really late.
At the 1st round NCAA game in Lexington against Penn. Ryan hooked us up and we had great seats. Hope Anna isn't beaten mercilessly for sporting a&m gear. We all know where her heart is anyway. Thanks and gig 'em.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
BCG Article
This is a great article on Billy Gillispie from the Houston Chronicle. Texas A&M is very lucky to have a coach of this caliber and they would be very stupid not to do what it takes to keep him around. Dollar Bill, give him whatever he wants and do whatever it takes to keep Billy around.
"Why not us? Why not Texas A&M?"
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Off to Lexington...
Because I am friends with a generous and thoughtful person (thanks nichols), Helen, Anna, and I scored some free tickets to watch the fightin' texas aggie bball team beat the ever livin, ever lovin, compound, complex etc etc...
Make sure you have us winning it all in your bracket. This could win you some big bucks.
"That's what I do!"
BTHO Penn! Whoop!
Make sure you have us winning it all in your bracket. This could win you some big bucks.
"That's what I do!"
BTHO Penn! Whoop!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Global warming?
thoughts from this article from msnbc.com.
Scientists are reporting that within a few decades, hundreds of millions of people will face starvation and many animals face extinction. One scientist claims that we as a human race are on the brink of extinction as well. Are these scientists blowing smoke? Are they overreacting? Or are they right? Are humans really facing a global disaster?
What does this mean for Christians? How should we respond to these claims by the scientific community? We know that not everyone will be destroyed because our Lord hasn't returned yet. But that doesn't discount a terrible change in climate that could lead to the destruction of millions of people.
Here are some of the claims from this report:
Is this an overreaction from the scientific community? What are we to think?
Scientists are reporting that within a few decades, hundreds of millions of people will face starvation and many animals face extinction. One scientist claims that we as a human race are on the brink of extinction as well. Are these scientists blowing smoke? Are they overreacting? Or are they right? Are humans really facing a global disaster?
What does this mean for Christians? How should we respond to these claims by the scientific community? We know that not everyone will be destroyed because our Lord hasn't returned yet. But that doesn't discount a terrible change in climate that could lead to the destruction of millions of people.
Here are some of the claims from this report:
* Hundreds of millions of Africans and tens of millions of Latin Americans who now have water will be short of it in less than 20 years. By 2050, more than 1 billion people in Asia could face water shortages. By 2080, water shortages could threaten 1.1 billion to 3.2 billion people, depending on the level of greenhouse gases that cars and industry spew into the air.
* Death rates for the world’s poor from global warming-related illnesses, such as malnutrition and diarrhea, will rise by 2030. Malaria and dengue fever, as well as illnesses from eating contaminated shellfish, are likely to grow.
* Europe’s small glaciers will disappear with many of the continent’s large glaciers shrinking dramatically by 2050. And half of Europe’s plant species could be vulnerable, endangered or extinct by 2100.
* By 2080, between 200 million and 600 million people could be hungry because of global warming’s effects.
* About 100 million people each year could be flooded by 2080 by rising seas.
* Smog in U.S. cities will worsen and “ozone-related deaths from climate (will) increase by approximately 4.5 percent for the mid-2050s, compared with 1990s levels,” turning a small health risk into a substantial one.
* Polar bears in the wild and other animals will be pushed to extinction.
* At first, more food will be grown. For example, soybean and rice yields in Latin America will increase starting in a couple of years. Areas outside the tropics, especially the northern latitudes, will see longer growing seasons and healthier forests.
Is this an overreaction from the scientific community? What are we to think?
Monday, March 05, 2007
Why Must I Fail in Every Attempt at Masonry?
Why must life be so hard? Why must I fail in every attempt at masonry?
Saturday, March 03, 2007
The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views Review
The Meaning of the Millennium outlines four views about the coming of Christ and the millennium. Each of the four authors defends their viewpoint in a chapter, and at the end of each chapter, the other three authors challenge that view. The authors attempt to firmly establish their position, but leave the reader with a few additional unanswered questions.
Summary
George Ladd begins the work with his explanation of historic, nondispensational premillennialism. He explains that premillennialism is “the doctrine stating that after the Second Coming of Christ, he will reign for a thousand years over the earth before the final consummation of God’s redemptive purpose …” (17). He asserts that Old Testament prophecies must be interpreted by the New Testament, and also claims that the nondispensational view “forms its theology from the explicit teaching of the New Testament,” since a contemporary Christian cannot be sure how Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled (27). Ladd then presents a brief exegesis of the Book of Revelation where he concludes that the entire argument rests on the interpretation of Revelation 20:4-5. He affirms that there are two resurrections: one at the beginning and one at the end of the millennium (37). Finally, Ladd explains that the purpose of prophecy regarding the millennium is not to be a complete rendering of things to come, but rather to encourage believers to endure their present sufferings (39).
Hermann Hoyt makes similar conclusions albeit through a different method. He argues that the purpose of God from the beginning of time is to establish His kingdom, and that both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy should be interpreted as literally as possible (66). Where Ladd presents an uneasiness of interpreting Old Testament prophecy, Hoyt claims that if taken literally, many Old Testament prophecies have not been fulfilled yet, and must be applied to the End (67). Next, Hoyt examines the Scriptures with regard to the mediatorial kingdom. He concludes from the Old Testament that the mediatorial kingdom will be a literal, physical kingdom governed by a King (78-9). Hoyt asserts that Christ must have referred to that same kingdom in His teachings since the kingdom is always mentioned in conjunction with Old Testament prophecy and Christ never makes a distinction between two different kingdoms (85). Finally, he explains that the present time is a transition period for the mediatorial kingdom in which Christ will be literally present (91). When the mediatorial kingdom comes, Christ will place all His enemies under subjection, and once “this mission is accomplished, he will then voluntarily deliver the kingdom into the hands of the Father, and the mediatorial kingdom will be merged with the universal kingdom …” (92).
Loraine Boettner, a postmillennialist, takes a different approach to defending his view. Instead of using his chapter to examine many specific passages of Scripture, he simply explains her position, supports it with logic, and concludes with an exhortation. First, Boettner directly explains his postmillennial position, stating
Postmillennialism is a view … that holds that the kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the gospel … that the world eventually is to be Christianized, and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace… (117).
In contrast to premillennialists, postmillennialists understand that when the text warrants, prophecies must be taken figuratively instead of literally, and he supports this with scriptural examples (134). Finally, Boettner explains that all positions regarding the millennium agree that the Bible is authoritative and that Christ will return, and that there is only disagreement in an area of interpretation and should not be divisive (140-1).
Anthony A. Hoekema defends the last position, amillennialism, by an examination of applicable Scripture and then a description of the key points of the position. First, Hoekema asserts that the Book of Revelation should not be viewed as a chronological sequence of events, but rather “progressive parallelism,” where much of the events take place coincidentally (156). This directly affects the reading of Revelation 20:1-6, where Hoekema concludes that the millennial reign of Christ occurs before His return (160). He asserts that the millennium is nothing more than figurative language to describe a complete period of the reign of Christ from heaven, in which believers who have passed away also reign (169). Hoekema also claims that many prophecies used to describe the millennium should not be viewed as literal, future events, but rather should be read figuratively. (172). Finally, Hoekema briefly explains the amillennialist position, claiming that Christ’s return will be a “single event.” (182). At His return, both believers and unbelievers will be resurrected, and those who are still alive will be transformed into their new body (182). This is followed by the final judgment and the eternal state (183-4).
Strengths and Weaknesses
Each author presents an adequate defense of their positions, but there also remain a few weaknesses that must be addressed. First, Ladd demonstrates a deep understanding of his position, and very clearly indicates that the debate centers upon Revelation 20:1-6 (32). He spends a significant portion of his chapter explaining how he believes this Scripture should be interpreted and why he interprets it as such (36). He holds tightly to his hermeneutic of literal interpretation and claims that when interpreted properly, Scripture teaches that there are two resurrections of the dead (37). The strength of his argument is found in his regard for Scripture’s authority and his commitment to a literal interpretation of Scripture.
However, he fails to use Old Testament prophecy about the coming of Christ because he believes only the New Testament may interpret the Old Testament. This weakens his argument because he ignores the rich wealth of information in over half of the Bible (27). More solid conclusions may be drawn, as Hoyt argues, if a believer interprets the New Testament in light of the Old Testament (43).
Hoyt succeeds where Ladd fell short, claiming that “all the biblical material must be surveyed …” (71). He examines a large amount of Scripture from both Old and New Testaments and from there makes his conclusions. Hoyt claims throughout his essay that he has chosen the “biblical” interpretation, and this appears to be very accurate due to the large amount of Scriptural interpretation and proof-texts (84). On the other hand, claiming to have the “biblical” interpretation inaccurately assumes that the other views are not biblical. The problem is not that the other views are unbiblical, but that there are differences in the interpretation of the biblical data. Obviously, there is only one possible correct view, but since we do not have the complete answers recorded in Scripture, proponents on all sides may claim their view is the biblical one.
Boettner’s essay defending postmillennialism explains the position very simply and adequately. While some of the other authors wait until the end of their respective chapters to state their position, he begins his essay by succinctly defining his interpretation which allows the reader to easily understand her position. Also, Boettner demonstrates a genuine concern for the Church by reminding proponents of all positions that they “agree [Christ] will return personally, visibly and in great glory.” (119). He rightly understands that the issue of the millennium should not be divisive among believers because it is not an essential issue with regard to salvation.
However, Boettner does not use much Scripture to make his position. In fact, most of the Scripture he uses is to demonstrate that Scripture cannot and should not always be interpreted literally. His argument would be stronger if he supported it with more Scripture. Also, attempting to prove that the millennium will be brought about gradually by forces already present in the world, Boettner claims that “Today the world at large is on a far higher plane. Christian principles are the accepted standards in many nations even though they are not consistently practiced.” (126). He claims that the world is moving toward righteousness, prosperity, and the return of Christ (132). In reality, the world seems to be heading in the opposite direction. Crimes and other atrocities seem to be on the rise, while Christian perspective appears to be constantly questioned due to the onset of postmodernism.
Hoekema thoroughly explains why he interprets Revelation 20:1-6 differently by demonstrating his overall interpretation of the Book of Revelation. He makes an intriguing case showing how Revelation can be separated into divisions, and “these seven sections are parallel to each other [revealing] a certain amount of eschatological progress.” (158). Through this framework, his interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 that begins at the end of the New Testament time period and continues to the Second Coming of Christ flows logically (168). Also, since Revelation uses much figurative language, Hoekema finds strength in his argument that the millennium indicates a completeness of time, and not necessarily a literal millennium (161). By shifting the understanding of the Book of Revelation and also by appealing to the symbolic nature of the book, Hoekema argues compellingly for amillennialism.
However, Hoekema tends to treat Revelation as if it is all symbolism and mostly about events that have already happened. He dismisses the notion that some of the events in Revelation could be literal or future. Also, as Ladd discusses, some of Hoekema’s interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 is derived from assumptions that may be faulty (189). For example, Hoekema claims that the binding of Satan mentioned in the Gospels is the same as that mentioned in Revelation 20, but this is not an obvious conclusion. Ladd contests that the binding of Satan described in the Gospels refers to his defeat on the cross and Revelation expresses something different (189).
Remaining Questions
After reading and critiquing these essays, a few questions about each position remain. First, how do nondispensational premillennialists apply unfulfilled Old Testament prophecy? Do they assume that all Old Testament prophecy that is not mentioned specifically in the New Testament has been fulfilled? Second, dispensational premillennialists seem quick to apply Old Testament prophecy to the future, but how can they be sure that they apply these Scriptures appropriately? Nondispensationlists stand on one side fearing to apply any Old Testament prophecy without New Testament interpretation, but dispensationalists must be careful in this endeavor. Where do they draw the line? Third, postmillennialists argue that the world is improving and Christian values are becoming standards. How do they support their assertion with reality where the world appears more hostile to Christian values? Fourth, while ammillennialists hold to progressive parallelism in Revelation, are there many other notable theologians who support this interpretation of Revelation? Is it wise to base an entire millennial position from one small passage of Scripture?
Summary
George Ladd begins the work with his explanation of historic, nondispensational premillennialism. He explains that premillennialism is “the doctrine stating that after the Second Coming of Christ, he will reign for a thousand years over the earth before the final consummation of God’s redemptive purpose …” (17). He asserts that Old Testament prophecies must be interpreted by the New Testament, and also claims that the nondispensational view “forms its theology from the explicit teaching of the New Testament,” since a contemporary Christian cannot be sure how Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled (27). Ladd then presents a brief exegesis of the Book of Revelation where he concludes that the entire argument rests on the interpretation of Revelation 20:4-5. He affirms that there are two resurrections: one at the beginning and one at the end of the millennium (37). Finally, Ladd explains that the purpose of prophecy regarding the millennium is not to be a complete rendering of things to come, but rather to encourage believers to endure their present sufferings (39).
Hermann Hoyt makes similar conclusions albeit through a different method. He argues that the purpose of God from the beginning of time is to establish His kingdom, and that both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy should be interpreted as literally as possible (66). Where Ladd presents an uneasiness of interpreting Old Testament prophecy, Hoyt claims that if taken literally, many Old Testament prophecies have not been fulfilled yet, and must be applied to the End (67). Next, Hoyt examines the Scriptures with regard to the mediatorial kingdom. He concludes from the Old Testament that the mediatorial kingdom will be a literal, physical kingdom governed by a King (78-9). Hoyt asserts that Christ must have referred to that same kingdom in His teachings since the kingdom is always mentioned in conjunction with Old Testament prophecy and Christ never makes a distinction between two different kingdoms (85). Finally, he explains that the present time is a transition period for the mediatorial kingdom in which Christ will be literally present (91). When the mediatorial kingdom comes, Christ will place all His enemies under subjection, and once “this mission is accomplished, he will then voluntarily deliver the kingdom into the hands of the Father, and the mediatorial kingdom will be merged with the universal kingdom …” (92).
Loraine Boettner, a postmillennialist, takes a different approach to defending his view. Instead of using his chapter to examine many specific passages of Scripture, he simply explains her position, supports it with logic, and concludes with an exhortation. First, Boettner directly explains his postmillennial position, stating
Postmillennialism is a view … that holds that the kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the gospel … that the world eventually is to be Christianized, and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace… (117).
In contrast to premillennialists, postmillennialists understand that when the text warrants, prophecies must be taken figuratively instead of literally, and he supports this with scriptural examples (134). Finally, Boettner explains that all positions regarding the millennium agree that the Bible is authoritative and that Christ will return, and that there is only disagreement in an area of interpretation and should not be divisive (140-1).
Anthony A. Hoekema defends the last position, amillennialism, by an examination of applicable Scripture and then a description of the key points of the position. First, Hoekema asserts that the Book of Revelation should not be viewed as a chronological sequence of events, but rather “progressive parallelism,” where much of the events take place coincidentally (156). This directly affects the reading of Revelation 20:1-6, where Hoekema concludes that the millennial reign of Christ occurs before His return (160). He asserts that the millennium is nothing more than figurative language to describe a complete period of the reign of Christ from heaven, in which believers who have passed away also reign (169). Hoekema also claims that many prophecies used to describe the millennium should not be viewed as literal, future events, but rather should be read figuratively. (172). Finally, Hoekema briefly explains the amillennialist position, claiming that Christ’s return will be a “single event.” (182). At His return, both believers and unbelievers will be resurrected, and those who are still alive will be transformed into their new body (182). This is followed by the final judgment and the eternal state (183-4).
Strengths and Weaknesses
Each author presents an adequate defense of their positions, but there also remain a few weaknesses that must be addressed. First, Ladd demonstrates a deep understanding of his position, and very clearly indicates that the debate centers upon Revelation 20:1-6 (32). He spends a significant portion of his chapter explaining how he believes this Scripture should be interpreted and why he interprets it as such (36). He holds tightly to his hermeneutic of literal interpretation and claims that when interpreted properly, Scripture teaches that there are two resurrections of the dead (37). The strength of his argument is found in his regard for Scripture’s authority and his commitment to a literal interpretation of Scripture.
However, he fails to use Old Testament prophecy about the coming of Christ because he believes only the New Testament may interpret the Old Testament. This weakens his argument because he ignores the rich wealth of information in over half of the Bible (27). More solid conclusions may be drawn, as Hoyt argues, if a believer interprets the New Testament in light of the Old Testament (43).
Hoyt succeeds where Ladd fell short, claiming that “all the biblical material must be surveyed …” (71). He examines a large amount of Scripture from both Old and New Testaments and from there makes his conclusions. Hoyt claims throughout his essay that he has chosen the “biblical” interpretation, and this appears to be very accurate due to the large amount of Scriptural interpretation and proof-texts (84). On the other hand, claiming to have the “biblical” interpretation inaccurately assumes that the other views are not biblical. The problem is not that the other views are unbiblical, but that there are differences in the interpretation of the biblical data. Obviously, there is only one possible correct view, but since we do not have the complete answers recorded in Scripture, proponents on all sides may claim their view is the biblical one.
Boettner’s essay defending postmillennialism explains the position very simply and adequately. While some of the other authors wait until the end of their respective chapters to state their position, he begins his essay by succinctly defining his interpretation which allows the reader to easily understand her position. Also, Boettner demonstrates a genuine concern for the Church by reminding proponents of all positions that they “agree [Christ] will return personally, visibly and in great glory.” (119). He rightly understands that the issue of the millennium should not be divisive among believers because it is not an essential issue with regard to salvation.
However, Boettner does not use much Scripture to make his position. In fact, most of the Scripture he uses is to demonstrate that Scripture cannot and should not always be interpreted literally. His argument would be stronger if he supported it with more Scripture. Also, attempting to prove that the millennium will be brought about gradually by forces already present in the world, Boettner claims that “Today the world at large is on a far higher plane. Christian principles are the accepted standards in many nations even though they are not consistently practiced.” (126). He claims that the world is moving toward righteousness, prosperity, and the return of Christ (132). In reality, the world seems to be heading in the opposite direction. Crimes and other atrocities seem to be on the rise, while Christian perspective appears to be constantly questioned due to the onset of postmodernism.
Hoekema thoroughly explains why he interprets Revelation 20:1-6 differently by demonstrating his overall interpretation of the Book of Revelation. He makes an intriguing case showing how Revelation can be separated into divisions, and “these seven sections are parallel to each other [revealing] a certain amount of eschatological progress.” (158). Through this framework, his interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 that begins at the end of the New Testament time period and continues to the Second Coming of Christ flows logically (168). Also, since Revelation uses much figurative language, Hoekema finds strength in his argument that the millennium indicates a completeness of time, and not necessarily a literal millennium (161). By shifting the understanding of the Book of Revelation and also by appealing to the symbolic nature of the book, Hoekema argues compellingly for amillennialism.
However, Hoekema tends to treat Revelation as if it is all symbolism and mostly about events that have already happened. He dismisses the notion that some of the events in Revelation could be literal or future. Also, as Ladd discusses, some of Hoekema’s interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 is derived from assumptions that may be faulty (189). For example, Hoekema claims that the binding of Satan mentioned in the Gospels is the same as that mentioned in Revelation 20, but this is not an obvious conclusion. Ladd contests that the binding of Satan described in the Gospels refers to his defeat on the cross and Revelation expresses something different (189).
Remaining Questions
After reading and critiquing these essays, a few questions about each position remain. First, how do nondispensational premillennialists apply unfulfilled Old Testament prophecy? Do they assume that all Old Testament prophecy that is not mentioned specifically in the New Testament has been fulfilled? Second, dispensational premillennialists seem quick to apply Old Testament prophecy to the future, but how can they be sure that they apply these Scriptures appropriately? Nondispensationlists stand on one side fearing to apply any Old Testament prophecy without New Testament interpretation, but dispensationalists must be careful in this endeavor. Where do they draw the line? Third, postmillennialists argue that the world is improving and Christian values are becoming standards. How do they support their assertion with reality where the world appears more hostile to Christian values? Fourth, while ammillennialists hold to progressive parallelism in Revelation, are there many other notable theologians who support this interpretation of Revelation? Is it wise to base an entire millennial position from one small passage of Scripture?
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Mr. Clutch IV
Acie Law IV is clutch.
video evidence.
"That's what I do!" Acie Law IV upon drilling a 3 in Kevin Durant's face to send the game into OT.
and in 2006...
more evidence coming soon.
video evidence.
"That's what I do!" Acie Law IV upon drilling a 3 in Kevin Durant's face to send the game into OT.
and in 2006...
more evidence coming soon.
Monday, February 26, 2007
All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes Review
Kenneth Myers of Mars Hill Audio is on campus this week. I recently read his book All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes Here's my take.
Kenneth Myers asserts that those who do not have much contact with popular culture will not enjoy nor do they have need to read his book, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes, in which he closely examines popular culture and its nature, effects, and value and attempts to demonstrate the aesthetic superiority of high culture over popular culture (xii). Myers begins by defining culture and demonstrating the importance of studying culture. He claims that we are commanded to love God with all our being, and this includes our participation in culture. Thus, “we cannot be indifferent about culture.” (26). Culture is, he writes,
a dynamic pattern, an ever-changing matrix of objects, artifacts, sounds, institutions, philosophies, fashions, enthusiasm, myths, prejudices, relationships, attitudes, tastes, rituals, habits, colors, and loves, all embodied in individual people, in groups and collectives and associations of people…in books, in buildings, in the use of time and space, in wars, in jokes, and in food (34).
Clearly culture is not something that is easily or briefly defined.
Next, Myers explains the extent to which Christians should participate in culture and allow it to influence their lives. He writes that “we cannot expect our culture to be a holy enterprise, [and that] we can at least try to avoid participating in its profanities.” (53). Modernism found its roots in popular culture, and teaches that “what is popular determines what is good,” which has led to individualism and to subsequent isolation (71). Furthermore, modernism has contributed to popular culture a restlessness that desires the newest and most efficient devices (66).
Finally, Myers compares the aesthetic qualities of high and popular cultures, asserting that the debate is not rooted in taste, but rather in aesthetic value. He explains that since there is no quantitative measure by which we might easily compare high and popular culture, other bases for evaluation must be established (78). Myers claims, “The problem with standardized popular culture is that what is standardized wasn’t very good in the first place,” explaining that good art is supposed to reveal truths from human nature and it should not be suppressed by the demands of the populace (79-80).
Furthermore, popular culture “emphasizes the self and the present… it [encourages] a self-centeredness that Christians ought to avoid.” (101). Thus, when making decisions about culture, Christians should seek that which is most likely to “transcend our earthly preoccupations” (101). Popular culture has a tendency to highlight the artistic medium itself more than the actual message it is trying to convey, and for this reason Myers argues for the aesthetic superiority of high culture and the danger of the influence of popular culture (114).
Myers defends high culture throughout the book, while gently attempting to dismantle any value Christians might find in popular culture. He inadequately demonstrates the superiority of high culture, and makes large generalizations that apply only to pockets of popular culture. First, he compares popular culture to fast food which is served quickly, but lacks sufficient nutrients (89). Those who survive only on fast food, according to Myers, might be severely under prepared for “the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” (89). His analogy successfully conveys his ideas: that prepackaged food is similar to prepackaged art, for example. However, Myers’ analogy unsatisfactorily describes popular culture because it falsely and prematurely degrades it. Fast food is practically a loaded word due to its negative connotations.
Myers cites Scripture to further make his point that high culture is superior to popular culture. He uses Philippians 4:8, claiming that Paul calls believers to think on that which is objectively true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. According to Myers, popular culture is more individualistic and subjective, and one cannot make objective decisions about whether it meets these Scriptural criteria (98). This trend of subjectivity, Myers fears, has crept into Christian worship services. He illustrates his point by imagining a service where a soloist sings a popular song that is
exceedingly trite, clichéd, maudlin, and pretentious. While the text it presented was generally true… the music was not true, noble, lovely, or admirable. If the soloist had some classical music training, you might stand a chance of persuading her that this was the case (99).
I too would be discouraged with such a performance. However, in this example Myers falsely characterizes popular music as “exceedingly trite, clichéd, maudlin, and pretentious.” (99). Surely Myers does not think that all popular music is this shallow. He makes large generalizations about popular music, and neglects much of popular music that could be characterized as true, noble, and lovely. Furthermore, not all people are “classically trained musicians,” and trite melodies may not be obvious to them. Also, not all people are well-educated theologians, and what he would call trite descriptions of God may not be so trite to them. Moreover, many of the terms in Philippians 4:8 are subjective, depending upon the culture in which one lives. For example, what is noble in the Middle East may not be so noble in America.
Myers seemingly neglects differences in classes and types of people by appealing to high culture as the superior form. Myers addresses this, however, arguing that judging culture means not only being concerned with taste and social class, but also with “the nature and the effects of cultural phenomena…” (76). He explains it this way:
If what happens when we listen to classical music, read literature, or attend the theater is fundamentally a different kind of experience than listening to rock ‘n’ roll, reading romance novels, or watching ‘The Cosby Show,’ then it is clear that having a ‘taste’ for high culture is a very different matter from having a ‘taste’ for popular culture (77).
Popular culture, according to Myers, focuses on ethos, while the quality of high culture is preserved by objective standards (77). However, mankind is not all on the same plane with regard to art, and not everyone appreciates classical music in the way that Myers does. In fact, one might find more aesthetic beauty, nobility, and loveliness in a popular song than a classical song, and there may be more truth in a popular song than the other.
Moreover, Myers generalizes, “The problem with standardized popular culture is that what is standardized wasn’t very good in the first place.” (79). He still makes objective a quality that is subjective by nature. People who are not classically trained musicians may actually prefer the popular as opposed to the classical, and they may not wish to “acquire the taste” of high culture (83).
Myers argues that great culture “imprints itself in our lives and becomes a reference point for our most subtle and profound experiences.” (82). According to Myers, if held by this standard, anything that meets these criteria should be considered good art, whether it is a part of high culture or otherwise. There is a fundamental fallacy in trying to dogmatically quantify something that is truly subjective. Because of this, Myers inadequately transcends his high culture biases, and in doing so, makes highly generalized strokes that are too broad to be completely valid.
Kenneth Myers asserts that those who do not have much contact with popular culture will not enjoy nor do they have need to read his book, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes, in which he closely examines popular culture and its nature, effects, and value and attempts to demonstrate the aesthetic superiority of high culture over popular culture (xii). Myers begins by defining culture and demonstrating the importance of studying culture. He claims that we are commanded to love God with all our being, and this includes our participation in culture. Thus, “we cannot be indifferent about culture.” (26). Culture is, he writes,
a dynamic pattern, an ever-changing matrix of objects, artifacts, sounds, institutions, philosophies, fashions, enthusiasm, myths, prejudices, relationships, attitudes, tastes, rituals, habits, colors, and loves, all embodied in individual people, in groups and collectives and associations of people…in books, in buildings, in the use of time and space, in wars, in jokes, and in food (34).
Clearly culture is not something that is easily or briefly defined.
Next, Myers explains the extent to which Christians should participate in culture and allow it to influence their lives. He writes that “we cannot expect our culture to be a holy enterprise, [and that] we can at least try to avoid participating in its profanities.” (53). Modernism found its roots in popular culture, and teaches that “what is popular determines what is good,” which has led to individualism and to subsequent isolation (71). Furthermore, modernism has contributed to popular culture a restlessness that desires the newest and most efficient devices (66).
Finally, Myers compares the aesthetic qualities of high and popular cultures, asserting that the debate is not rooted in taste, but rather in aesthetic value. He explains that since there is no quantitative measure by which we might easily compare high and popular culture, other bases for evaluation must be established (78). Myers claims, “The problem with standardized popular culture is that what is standardized wasn’t very good in the first place,” explaining that good art is supposed to reveal truths from human nature and it should not be suppressed by the demands of the populace (79-80).
Furthermore, popular culture “emphasizes the self and the present… it [encourages] a self-centeredness that Christians ought to avoid.” (101). Thus, when making decisions about culture, Christians should seek that which is most likely to “transcend our earthly preoccupations” (101). Popular culture has a tendency to highlight the artistic medium itself more than the actual message it is trying to convey, and for this reason Myers argues for the aesthetic superiority of high culture and the danger of the influence of popular culture (114).
Myers defends high culture throughout the book, while gently attempting to dismantle any value Christians might find in popular culture. He inadequately demonstrates the superiority of high culture, and makes large generalizations that apply only to pockets of popular culture. First, he compares popular culture to fast food which is served quickly, but lacks sufficient nutrients (89). Those who survive only on fast food, according to Myers, might be severely under prepared for “the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” (89). His analogy successfully conveys his ideas: that prepackaged food is similar to prepackaged art, for example. However, Myers’ analogy unsatisfactorily describes popular culture because it falsely and prematurely degrades it. Fast food is practically a loaded word due to its negative connotations.
Myers cites Scripture to further make his point that high culture is superior to popular culture. He uses Philippians 4:8, claiming that Paul calls believers to think on that which is objectively true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. According to Myers, popular culture is more individualistic and subjective, and one cannot make objective decisions about whether it meets these Scriptural criteria (98). This trend of subjectivity, Myers fears, has crept into Christian worship services. He illustrates his point by imagining a service where a soloist sings a popular song that is
exceedingly trite, clichéd, maudlin, and pretentious. While the text it presented was generally true… the music was not true, noble, lovely, or admirable. If the soloist had some classical music training, you might stand a chance of persuading her that this was the case (99).
I too would be discouraged with such a performance. However, in this example Myers falsely characterizes popular music as “exceedingly trite, clichéd, maudlin, and pretentious.” (99). Surely Myers does not think that all popular music is this shallow. He makes large generalizations about popular music, and neglects much of popular music that could be characterized as true, noble, and lovely. Furthermore, not all people are “classically trained musicians,” and trite melodies may not be obvious to them. Also, not all people are well-educated theologians, and what he would call trite descriptions of God may not be so trite to them. Moreover, many of the terms in Philippians 4:8 are subjective, depending upon the culture in which one lives. For example, what is noble in the Middle East may not be so noble in America.
Myers seemingly neglects differences in classes and types of people by appealing to high culture as the superior form. Myers addresses this, however, arguing that judging culture means not only being concerned with taste and social class, but also with “the nature and the effects of cultural phenomena…” (76). He explains it this way:
If what happens when we listen to classical music, read literature, or attend the theater is fundamentally a different kind of experience than listening to rock ‘n’ roll, reading romance novels, or watching ‘The Cosby Show,’ then it is clear that having a ‘taste’ for high culture is a very different matter from having a ‘taste’ for popular culture (77).
Popular culture, according to Myers, focuses on ethos, while the quality of high culture is preserved by objective standards (77). However, mankind is not all on the same plane with regard to art, and not everyone appreciates classical music in the way that Myers does. In fact, one might find more aesthetic beauty, nobility, and loveliness in a popular song than a classical song, and there may be more truth in a popular song than the other.
Moreover, Myers generalizes, “The problem with standardized popular culture is that what is standardized wasn’t very good in the first place.” (79). He still makes objective a quality that is subjective by nature. People who are not classically trained musicians may actually prefer the popular as opposed to the classical, and they may not wish to “acquire the taste” of high culture (83).
Myers argues that great culture “imprints itself in our lives and becomes a reference point for our most subtle and profound experiences.” (82). According to Myers, if held by this standard, anything that meets these criteria should be considered good art, whether it is a part of high culture or otherwise. There is a fundamental fallacy in trying to dogmatically quantify something that is truly subjective. Because of this, Myers inadequately transcends his high culture biases, and in doing so, makes highly generalized strokes that are too broad to be completely valid.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Transformers... more than meets eye
Helen and I didn't sleep well last night. It started out as a regular Saturday night. Helen and I were both working on school work while watching a movie on TV. We watched Back to the Future II which was followed by Back to the Future III. Around 8:45, we heard an explosion and the power went out. A transformer must have blown somewhere. So what do you do when there's no electricity? I thought we should just go to bed, but Helen wasn't tired. So we decided we would watch a movie on our laptop. The problem was that the battery wasn't fully charged and we weren't sure if we would be able to watch the whole thing. We started Coach Carter and put the laptop screen on super dim to conserve battery.
Much to our delight, at 9:45, the power came back on. We both got ready for bed and decided we would watch the rest of the movie. At 10:45, there was another explosion and the power went out again. Frustrated, we kept watching the movie until the battery ran out.
We couldn't sleep, it was too quiet. About 1 am, the power came back on. We turned on the fan for some noise, and I finally started to sleep well. But, guess what happened at 2:45. Another explosion and another power outage.
We opened the window, fell asleep at some point, and woke up this morning with the power back on. What a crazy night!
Much to our delight, at 9:45, the power came back on. We both got ready for bed and decided we would watch the rest of the movie. At 10:45, there was another explosion and the power went out again. Frustrated, we kept watching the movie until the battery ran out.
We couldn't sleep, it was too quiet. About 1 am, the power came back on. We turned on the fan for some noise, and I finally started to sleep well. But, guess what happened at 2:45. Another explosion and another power outage.
We opened the window, fell asleep at some point, and woke up this morning with the power back on. What a crazy night!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
No funny stories, just a life update
Things have been going well lately. School is just starting to kick into full swing, and since I did a lot work over Christmas break, I'm not feeling to overwhelmed right now. I've been trying to stay a couple weeks ahead on reading, and I've been successful so far.
On Wednesdays, I've been dropping Helen off at work, and then spending the day at church. We have staff meetings in the morning, and then I spend the rest of the day reading and writing for seminary. It's been so good to trap myself away from internet and TV, since it forces me to do something. If I stay at home, nothing will get accomplished. I wish I could fix that.
Helen and I are excited about Anna coming to visit next month. Helen is giddy, especially since Anna will be here for 6 or 7 days. She's probably going to blow all of her leave from school, but it's worth it.
Soon I'll have some book reviews and papers to post so you can see what I've been doing in school. Maybe that will interest some of you, or maybe it won't.
Today, if you're feeling down in the dumps, at least you're not having a day like this guy had:
On Wednesdays, I've been dropping Helen off at work, and then spending the day at church. We have staff meetings in the morning, and then I spend the rest of the day reading and writing for seminary. It's been so good to trap myself away from internet and TV, since it forces me to do something. If I stay at home, nothing will get accomplished. I wish I could fix that.
Helen and I are excited about Anna coming to visit next month. Helen is giddy, especially since Anna will be here for 6 or 7 days. She's probably going to blow all of her leave from school, but it's worth it.
Soon I'll have some book reviews and papers to post so you can see what I've been doing in school. Maybe that will interest some of you, or maybe it won't.
Today, if you're feeling down in the dumps, at least you're not having a day like this guy had:
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
Amazing Grace
Somehow this slipped past my attention. Amazing Grace is a movie that is coming out in a couple of weeks.
"Gruffudd plays Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. Albert Finney plays John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. Benedict Cumberbatch is William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament."
The movie's title is taken from the popular hymn by John Newton. Newton was a captain of a slave ship until he had a radical conversion after navigating his ship through a storm. Newton is quoted as saying in his journal about that day, "that the tenth of March is a day much remembered by me; and I have never suffered it to pass unnoticed since the year 1748-- the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters." (Then sings my soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.)
After watching the previews on the website linked above, it looks like a good movie. Go see it. It releases 2/23/2007.
"Gruffudd plays Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. Albert Finney plays John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. Benedict Cumberbatch is William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament."
The movie's title is taken from the popular hymn by John Newton. Newton was a captain of a slave ship until he had a radical conversion after navigating his ship through a storm. Newton is quoted as saying in his journal about that day, "that the tenth of March is a day much remembered by me; and I have never suffered it to pass unnoticed since the year 1748-- the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters." (Then sings my soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.)
After watching the previews on the website linked above, it looks like a good movie. Go see it. It releases 2/23/2007.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Vote!
A girl that plays for my dad's bball team is in a poll for best player in centex. Her name is Lindie Kimbro and she's a junior. She averages 25 points and 9 rebounds a game. she shoots 85% freethrows... the team is 20-6. they just beat #2 in the state last week. in that game she had 32. Please help...
go to this link.
go to this link.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Sounds like Somebody has a case of the Mondays
This is preemptive, because I already feel a case of the Mondays coming tomorrow. If this blog finds you in the same condition, please watch this video and see if this doesn't make you feel better.
Super**wl Sunday
The NFL is enforcing their copyright on the Super**wl, and going after the big culprits who abuse the system: churches. That's right, churches and their Super**wl parties are singlehandedly costing the NFL millions... or BILLIONS of dollars in advertisement revenue. Just like Christianity brought the downfall of the Roman Empire, so too might FBC Anywhere, USA cause the demise of the National Football League. So beware... no showing the Super**wl on a TV larger than 55", and for crying out loud, don't call it a Super**wl Party!! Call it an NFL Championship Party or Big Game Watching Party... or maybe call it what it REALLY is: Funny Commercial Watching Party. Because seriously, who really cares about the Super**wl when the Cowboys aren't in it?
Take that SBC! Watch the commercials in small groups at your houses on your undersized TV's!
Take that SBC! Watch the commercials in small groups at your houses on your undersized TV's!
Huge Win for Aggie Basketball
They beat #6 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. A big 12 south team has never won there. A&M has never beaten Kansas in basketball... EVER. Huge win for the Aggie program.
A&M students watched the Aggie women beat Kansas in college station, then watched the men's game on the big jumbotron at Reed Arena. After the win, the students stormed the court. Check out this amazing video. It's pretty sweet.
A&M students watched the Aggie women beat Kansas in college station, then watched the men's game on the big jumbotron at Reed Arena. After the win, the students stormed the court. Check out this amazing video. It's pretty sweet.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Snow!
Helen had two Snow days this week, Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, I still had class, but we spent the rest of the day playing in the snow. On Friday, we decided we would go sledding with the Bethancourts at Reservoir Park. We used the lid to a big plastic tub as a sled and we had a blast! Here are some pictures from our adventures.
Look how graceful the Bethancourts doubled up on their sled!
Our second try was a little better.
It was so steep and slippery that we had to use the railing to walk up. It was quite a work out.
This is right outside our apartment in the courtyard.
Look how graceful the Bethancourts doubled up on their sled!
And look how graceful Helen and I did it. Notice that there is no sled in sight. It slid out from under us and stayed at the top of the hill. Amateurs!
Our second try was a little better.
Phillip decided he would go without a sled. But he lived in Connecticut for awhile, so he knows what he's doing. Yankee.
That's me sledding. The marks on the outside are places that we sledded before.
It was so steep and slippery that we had to use the railing to walk up. It was quite a work out.
This is right outside our apartment in the courtyard.
My first snow angel. I made this on Thursday.
Not bad, eh?
On the steps leading up to our apartment.
The Southern campus.
Our truck was covered in snow on Thursday. It was worse on Friday, but we didn't get a picture.
This is Southern's campus also.
For more coverage of the sled-fest, please see the Bethancourt's blog.
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