Head-dibs

" . . . not as chance will have it, but with prudence and foresight. Without amusements it is wearisome, like a long journey where there are no inns: manifold knowledge gives manifold pleasure. The first day's journey of a noble life should be passed in conversing with the dead: we live to know and to know our-selves: hence true books make us truly men. The second day should be spent with the living, seeing and noticing all the good in the world. Everything is not to be found in a single country. The Universal Father has divided His gifts, and at times has given the richest dower to the ugliest. The third day is entirely for oneself. The last felicity is to be a philosopher." (Balthasar Gracian, 1601-1658)

I've watched this video repeatedly and am just downright astounded by the outcome. Notice from the beginning of the clip the movement of the boulder from the top of the mountain. It's too dark to see it roll, but the splash and crash is traumatic. What gets me is the driver's reflexes, but it looks to me as if even with the car's turn, the vehicle is shoved further left than a normal turn would result. Also, the boulder nearly tips over onto the car, then rocks back. Debate the shape of the boulder and the splash if you wish, but I feel like two big ol' angels were protecting someone.

Can't help but wonder about Puffer-fish evolution. Which came first: the need to reproduce or the ability to reproduce? How quickly over the course of millions of years did this 5 inch Puffer-fish develop the skill to construct such an elaborate mating bed (up to 7 feet across) that would be attractive to the female in order for the species to survive?

It can happen very quickly, the swing from “what’s on your mind?” to “are you out of your mind?”. The look on one’s face is easy to read: the contemplation is deep, but the expression of the thought--often-times, our thoughts are received in unexpected ways. The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers that, “ we have the mind of Christ ” (1 Cor. 2:16). The Philippian Christians were encouraged to demonstrate Christ-mindedness toward one another (Phil. 2:1-2, 5). When one who is hard after God shifts from living “ under the sun ” to learning “ under heaven ” and applying heavenly wisdom, the world does not know how to receive the lessons. Like Festus to Paul’s ears, “ you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind !” (Acts 26:24) The mind of Christ is not the mind of the world. Learning the mind of Christ is to gain the viewpoint, understanding, wisdom, thoughts, feelings, purposes, the desires of God’s anointed Messiah. Paul had the mind...

I’ve spent the last couple of days thinking about learning and the Christian worldview. Past blog posts have considered the difference between learning “ under the sun ” and learning “ under heaven ” as explored by wise King Solomon. We now he did not turn out so well in the end because of compromised worldview. Is it possible to learn, to pursue education, to grow in wisdom in the context of the world in which we live? Long after Solomon’s golden age ended and the kingdom was divided, we read in the historical literature that Israel was carried away in Babylonian captivity. Caught up in the capture were some notable young men that receive this assessment of their captors: “ And in every manner of wisdom and understanding about which the king [Nebuchadnezzar] inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom .” (Daniel 1:20). Consider the situation: these young men were uprooted from their homeland and transp...

Back in the day, D em O l' D udes G o E verywhere!

“ And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all [is] vanity and grasping for the wind .” (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14, NKJV) There, you see! Don’t waste your time reading and pursuing knowledge! King Solomon himself said that seeking wisdom is burdensome (“evil business”) and vanity! Actually, Solomon said everything under the sun is vanity, striving after wind so if we follow the logic, we should stand perfectly still with our hands by our sides, eyes closed and holding our breath. Solomon states a conclusion from a lesson learned: wisdom pursued apart from God is vanity. Learning is hard work and has a reward in the end--but learning must be done correctly. Solomon only increased in wisdom by learning in context, by learning “under heaven.” Look again at those who followed Jesus--...

One great reward of translation work is seeing words as they are. The truth of a word in its original brings unexpected surprises, sometimes a shock--like licking a 9-volt battery. Once you do it, you don’t want to do it again . . . or do you? Especially when you have few to choose from and your guitar needs a replacement. But I digress . . . (who puts old batteries back in a drawer?) We grow up saying it--”learning stinks” (or something to that effect). Hardly a day goes by when a Junior High schooler expresses his or her heart-felt woes concerning education. As home- schooling parents, we’ve heard our share of learning woes. There’s nothing new under the sun with this sentiment. Which brings me back to that place from which I began: the unhappy business of learning. Old Solomon said it plainly. “ And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised .”...