From the Phone 2

09/11/2008, 10:28 am -- by | 1 Comment

“My apartment hallway always smells like some unholy onion fraternity spent the night hazing the Vidalia freshmen.”

Make Par While the Sun Shines

09/11/2008, 10:24 am -- by | No Comments

What is it with golfers? I can’t tell you how many times I have been watching the ESPN ticker thing and see stuff like BELLSOUTH PGA INVITATIONAL….Singh (-3)…Leonard (-1)…suspended on account of darkness… Like it was a surprise that the sun went down! They didn’t know it was going to get dark when they started?

Quotes of the Day, 9/11/08

09/11/2008, 8:46 am -- by | No Comments

“For those of us who lived through these events, the only marker we\’ll ever need is the tick of a clock at the 46th minute of the eighth hour of the 11th day.” — President G.W. Bush

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” — R. Giuliani

Battle of the Bands LXIX

09/10/2008, 1:15 pm -- by | No Comments

Next round in the Battle of the Bands — Stoning Stephen moves on…

{democracy:295}

Bible Discussion — Acts 8

09/10/2008, 1:00 pm -- by | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com heads on to the next chapter of Acts.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Esther: 1-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-10
Acts: 1 | 2 | 3-4 | 5 | 6-7

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
An expanded translation of Saul\’s participation in the martyrdom of Stephen says, “And Saul was together with the others approving of his death, taking pleasure in his death, and applauding it.” This chapter gives us a glimpse of the rest of his short career persecuting the church of God.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
Advertising was kind of lame ’round the turn of the AD, no? Simon says he’s “someone great,” fires off a few magic tricks, and suddenly the crowd is all, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power!” Imagine how scruffy old David Blaine could have done back then.

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
David: Make Havoc
Steve: Someone Great
Josh: Havoc

Continued here!

Three Links (Vol. 3)

09/10/2008, 10:23 am -- by | 2 Comments

— I was stunned by what former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel had to say about Sarah Palin — and so were the left-wing radio hosts who had welcomed him to their program!

— Camille Paglia shows again why she’s my favorite atheist left-wing libertarian feminist. Really!

— Something that has nothing to do with politics: here’s how you would — no, will — die in a black hole, your atoms “extruded through space like toothpaste being squeezed through a tube.” Minty. But if it was going to happen, it already would have…

EDIT: I already linked to Paglia in today’s quote, so here’s a bonus link: who knew that Cindy McCain was an accomplished “drifter”?

One Hundred Words (32)

09/10/2008, 10:16 am -- by | No Comments

I have two classes on a given day. One professor seems self-absorbed and condescending when answering questions. He requires that we turn our cell phones off — completely off — because vibrations, even shielded by knapsacks, are too disruptive. I wouldn’t want to be disruptive, so I comply. In a few weeks, some phones have already gone off at full volume.

The same day, I have another, much larger, class with an engaging, funny, interesting professor. He respects our work. I don’t think he said anything about phones. I haven’t heard a single phone go off during his class since day one.

–MCB

On Thought; On Thinking

09/10/2008, 10:00 am -- by | No Comments

“If I have a book to serve me as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all.”

Because, frankly, who wants to exert themselves?

I am at that point in life where we\’re supposed to take our beliefs and make them our own. We all have this sense of independent thought, this underlying ethos of self-determined path. I. I. Just the assertion of such bespeaks incredible audacity. I am saying this. It has come from me, and, further, I am worth listening to. I live and breathe and participate in life. I have a voice.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Is this true? It has to be. Who could deny it? Rational, thoughtful consideration of what we\’re doing and why we\’re doing it. Intentionality ”” purposefulness. Are we thinking? Am I thinking? Are you my responsibility? Spinoza said that his happiness was contingent on persuading others to think as he did. If I attempt a thoughtful life, and find it even marginally satisfying, isn\’t encouraging the same in you the least I could do?

Mental exertion. Laborious. So hard to ascend the mountain. Why do it? Why do anything? I mean, really now. Why expend so much energy to rise up out of sensual, physical comfort? Why get out of bed in the morning? Why rip off the cozy comforter and spring up into the spare clear air bare and awake?

Why not?

That\’s the thing about thinking. You begin thinking that thinking is a waste of time; unproductive, nothing to show for it in the end, that sort of thing. But you do it long enough and you realize that without it, nothing else has worth. I got out of bed this morning. I went surfing this morning. I am going to be late to my Intro to Philosophy class if I don\’t finish this soon. I am going to rip off my unexamined blanket of beliefs and plunge into the cold clear water, inky grey-green obsidian glass, and paddle.

Quote of the Day, 9/10/08

09/10/2008, 7:00 am -- by | No Comments

“A feminism that cannot admire the bravura under high pressure of the first woman governor of a frontier state isn’t worth a warm bucket of spit.” — C. Paglia

Always a Bright Side

09/9/2008, 9:11 pm -- by | No Comments

Today I had to drive to New Jersey to pick up some dentures (don’t ask). Anyway, on my drive, I saw a billboard for a website: IwantoutofNJ.com. Of course, I was interested. Unfortunately, I didn’t have Internet access. Fortunately, I was driving a car, so I could handle the situation myself.

Best of Erin: Imagine

09/9/2008, 1:00 pm -- by | No Comments

Originally published in October 2007.

Looking through Houghton’s course catalog the other day on a quest to decide my future, I noticed a class called ‘Psychology of Religion,’ which included Sören Kierkegaard in its great theological and psychological thinkers. This was especially interesting to me because I had been hoping to write on the subject of the imagination, and I had thought of that as more of a psychological than theological topic. Kierkegaard tackles the issue of imagination from various perspectives and pseudonyms throughout his writings, but unites theology and psychology in his analysis of the imagination and what it means to humanity. In his work, especially Philosophical Fragments and Fear and Trembling, a possibly preposterous idea arises: that the human being would be incapable of imagination without the existence of God.

Much of Fear and Trembling centers on the story of Abraham and his belief — a prime example of how imagination is feasible only through faith. Commanded to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham dutifully obeyed, believing “on the strength of the absurd” that “through faith [he would not] renounce anything, on the contrary in faith [he would] receive everything.” What makes this belief possible?

Johannes de silentio (Kierkegaard’s pseudonym) details for us the “faith paradox” in which “the single individual as the particular is higher than the universal [: and] stands in absolute relation to the absolute.” In plainer language, a person who chooses for himself to make continual choices for faith in God comes into an appropriate relationship with God (the only real absolute), characterized by a “paradoxical and humble courage.” For this continual choice to be possible, humans must in the first place be able to comprehend something larger than themselves.

In the process of creation God gave to humanity not just a spirit of immediate understanding, but also a perception of God Himself, in whose image humanity was created. This ability to perceive God (but not fully understand Him) is why Abraham could “imagine” that although he fully intended to go through with the sacrifice, God would keep His promise to give him Isaac as well. It’s a logical contradiction, but Abraham’s imagination allowed him to make what Johannes Climacus (a later pseudonym) will call the “leap of faith.”

Making this leap of faith, therefore, is nothing more than humans imagining against logical thought that God will provide or move or manifest His will, then choosing to immerse themselves in the belief that their imagination is the only the beginning of God’s working. It is the choice to believe the imaginative perception God gave to humans.

I am not talking about dreaming crazy situations where God swoops in and, in nothing short of a miracle, saves the day; neither do I mean our usual, modern definition of imagination — that gift required to write a novel or create a beautiful work of art or escape boredom. Though those are manifestations of the ability to imagine, given to humanity by God, the root of all imagination is God’s need for a relationship with man. God gave man the imagination to create scenes or ideas or pictures beyond the immediate, but His love for man requires that this imagination be fulfilled by an absolute belief.

The example of Nicodemus in John 3 is not explicitly given in Philosophical Fragments, but the reference to Nicodemus’ struggle with this very concept was unmistakable, especially considering Kierkegaard’s audience. His chief problem was that he imagined in too literal a sense what Jesus meant by “born again.” His imagination lacked faith’s leap into the absurd and could not process Jesus’ metaphor. Although as a member of the human race he had been given the ability to imagine — the ability to have faith — he was “essentially deceived” into thinking faith was entirely his work. As a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus saw God as one who would “draw the learned up toward himself” because of a careful Pharisaical lifestyle. Instead, as Jesus instructs and Climacus’ writings echo, he must concede the essence of faith is that God “will appear, therefore, as the equal of the lowliest of persons.”

But this is unthinkable! Disrespectful! Unimaginable!

That is exactly is what Johannes Climacus shows: the human mind and its capacity for imagination are totally reliant on a consciousness of something far beyond it, far greater than it, and yet also of something (Someone) who condescended to become equal to it. This condescension overleaps the limits of mere human imagination.

Only once God “poetized himself in the likeness of a human being” could man begin to truly and imaginatively marvel at God’s love, “for love does not have the satisfaction of need outside itself but within [:]” God’s love, completely justified in His being, still needs man’s imaginative, passionate, absurd faith to be complete.

What could be more preposterous — yet absolutely true — than this?

Amazing Limerick Offer!

09/9/2008, 9:42 am -- by | 2 Comments

G.B. Shaw purportedly, perhaps apocryphally, said that there were two types of limericks: the dirty and the bad. I don’t agree, and I intend to prove it. Same rules here as on Facebook — for the low, low price of $0.03, I will write you (yes, you!) a personalized limerick about the topic of your choice.

And for an additional cent, I will include at least one word you will have to look up in a dictionary! What a deal!

Offer void where prohibited. Limit three (3) limericks per individual. Cash value: 1/100 of one cent. Avoid contact with eyes.

Joke of the Day, 9/9/08

09/9/2008, 7:00 am -- by | No Comments

An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his accountant and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom, and the preacher motioned for them to sit on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything.

Finally, the lawyer asked, “Pastor, why did you ask us to come?”

The old preacher mustered up some strength, then said weakly, “Jesus died between two thieves, and that’s how I want to go, too.”

Too Late To Be Today’s Quote

09/8/2008, 12:25 pm -- by | 1 Comment

“Autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful. A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying, since any life, when viewed from the inside, is simply a series of defeats.” — G. Orwell

The Council’s Ruling — Iraq

09/8/2008, 12:00 pm -- by | 1 Comment

This and every Monday, the Bweinh!tributors, having convened in secret for hours of reasoned debate and consideration, will issue a brief and binding ruling on an issue of great societal import.

This week’s question — Given the benefit of hindsight, was the war in Iraq worth its cost?

The Council was unable to agree on a rationale, but gives a tentative ruling of “yes.”

David offers this opinion, joined by Djere and Connie:

Yes. Saddam was a bully who invaded two neighbors and was our sworn enemy. He continually violated UN-imposed restrictions and his war machine needed to be dismantled to give us a chance to stabilize the Middle East.

 

Tom offers this opinion, joined by David and Djere:

Can you put a price on the freedom of 28,221,181 people?

 

Steve offers this opinion, joined by Kaitlin:

It could go either way, but I lean toward yes. For all the rabid, baseless foaming of its opponents, I believe history will vindicate the war as measured, efficacious, and transformative.

 

Chloe offers this opinion, joined by Steve:

When the children of this war have grown up knowing democracy and become democratic voters, then we will know the war has been a success. If, however, they grow up angry or weak and either choose fundamentalism or choose to do nothing about fundamentalism, we will know the war has failed.

 

Kaitlin offers this opinion, joined by Josh:

We’re not at the point of hindsight yet.

 

Mike offers this opinion:

I still don’t know…

 

Erin dissents, joined by MCB:

No, it wasn’t. It has cost lives unecessarily, greatly damaged the USA’s foreign credibility, put us further billions of dollars into debt, was based on faulty information/oil lust/personal Bush family past-clearing issues…

 

Job played no part in the determination of this issue.

Next time: How relevant is a political candidate’s private life to his or her performance in office?

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