I don't understand a lot of worship songs. I am not talking about the continual debate between hymns and contemporary (or at least what is contemporary now). However, I do wish to question the standard of worship found in many places today. People get up on stage and sing thier songs with useless lyrics and repetative phrases. Is that worship? How do we define what worship is, and can worship be defined in the same way for all people?
Walter Pater got me thinking about our perception to God and our worshipful interaction with Him. Pater talked of the human response to beauty and our ability to understand something and define as beautiful to be the highest standard in life. Many worship songs today define God as beautiful, but they do not elaborate as to why, and even if they did I do not think that someone's particular view of God's beauty would be the same for all. Our love of God is very relational and personal. We are in a sense defined and changed by our relationship with and belief in God. Pater, while a pagan, would say that something that changes us because it is beautiful is the definition of something beautiful.
Let's say God is beautiful, or to say further that what he does in our lives is beautiful. He guides us, opens our souls, and interacts with us daily in a process that continually changes how we live. Worship sometimes speaks of a common experience as salvation and attempts to universalize that experience in its lyrics. Today, many worship leaders attempt to bring the individual to a place where they can reflect and interact with God, which no doubt is a sentiment brought on by America's low context and individualistic culture. While this might be a good way to do corporate worship, I would contend that real worship takes place on our own, at least in our cultural context. On our own we truly experience our understanding of God and how we percieve beauty in his creation, our ability and opportunities to fellowship, and God's use of us as tools for the advancement of his kingdom. What might be beautiful to me is not beautiful to someone else, and the saying could be switched around as well. While we cannot fully define God because we cannot know all of Him, we can understand our own perceptions of beauty and reflect on God through living a worshipful life. I think it is important to take note of the beauty in things, and I also think that it is important to talk with others about such things. Perhaps corporate worship should not take place in the chapel, but rather in the living rooms, restaurants, and coffee shops; wherever we find ourselves reflecting on the beauty of God and his relationship with us either individually or with others.
Walter Pater got me thinking about our perception to God and our worshipful interaction with Him. Pater talked of the human response to beauty and our ability to understand something and define as beautiful to be the highest standard in life. Many worship songs today define God as beautiful, but they do not elaborate as to why, and even if they did I do not think that someone's particular view of God's beauty would be the same for all. Our love of God is very relational and personal. We are in a sense defined and changed by our relationship with and belief in God. Pater, while a pagan, would say that something that changes us because it is beautiful is the definition of something beautiful.
Let's say God is beautiful, or to say further that what he does in our lives is beautiful. He guides us, opens our souls, and interacts with us daily in a process that continually changes how we live. Worship sometimes speaks of a common experience as salvation and attempts to universalize that experience in its lyrics. Today, many worship leaders attempt to bring the individual to a place where they can reflect and interact with God, which no doubt is a sentiment brought on by America's low context and individualistic culture. While this might be a good way to do corporate worship, I would contend that real worship takes place on our own, at least in our cultural context. On our own we truly experience our understanding of God and how we percieve beauty in his creation, our ability and opportunities to fellowship, and God's use of us as tools for the advancement of his kingdom. What might be beautiful to me is not beautiful to someone else, and the saying could be switched around as well. While we cannot fully define God because we cannot know all of Him, we can understand our own perceptions of beauty and reflect on God through living a worshipful life. I think it is important to take note of the beauty in things, and I also think that it is important to talk with others about such things. Perhaps corporate worship should not take place in the chapel, but rather in the living rooms, restaurants, and coffee shops; wherever we find ourselves reflecting on the beauty of God and his relationship with us either individually or with others.
Last week the Sabres got into an amazing fight in their win over Ottawa. Ottawa took a shot at the Sabres captain in open ice (very bad form) and thus the Sabres head coach pretty much told his guys to start this brawl, which is just so amazing. I love watching the Sabres play because they have such a sense of team. There are a couple really talented guys, but it's more about everyone together. The Sabres are a class act and won't do cheap stuff, but if you do something stupid like this to them, they fight back. I look forward to the scrappy Sabres going all the way this year. Anyway, now that I've set up the situation, watch the you tube video below.
Oh also, Syracuse won tonight in a huge game aganist G'Town...Go Orangemen!
http://Sabres Fight
Oh also, Syracuse won tonight in a huge game aganist G'Town...Go Orangemen!
http://Sabres Fight
James Cameron (yes, the Titanic guy) announced that he was releasing a new documentary about Jesus' lost tomb. He claims that they found Jesus, his family, Mary his mother, Mary his lover, and his son Judah. The film producers said that people out there should be responsive because they like to poke holes in the tradition of Jesus.
Here's what I love. I love how people think they are smart when they seek to just poke holes into something because it exists. They do not realize that the archeology used is awful, that the graves were marked with common Jewish names, or that if they used their "statistics" to look at textual criticism, they would find that the Bible has more evidence than this new find of Christ's body. I love how we can just ignore things and hold onto theories that have no foundation at all and use complete scholarly disregard for the field of archeology and first century historical backgrounds.
America is awesome. You can just make a movie filled with crap, and people will accept it as truth just because it pokes holes at the norm. If we keep following our logic, in a hundred years we will poke holes in the things we use to poke holes into other things. Congrats, Director Cameron. You will make millions off something secular scholarship would call hogwash.
I am not writing this from a Christian view, but from a view of one who has studied archeology and is familiar with the first century context that this film chooses to ignore. But in the case of America, we will easily believe anything like sheep without for a second looking at scientific, philosophical, or historical facts behind the issue. So be American, believe the film. And in a year everyone will realize the lack of scholarship, and it will fall by the wayside. Have fun America, can't wait to see you be predictable again.
Here's what I love. I love how people think they are smart when they seek to just poke holes into something because it exists. They do not realize that the archeology used is awful, that the graves were marked with common Jewish names, or that if they used their "statistics" to look at textual criticism, they would find that the Bible has more evidence than this new find of Christ's body. I love how we can just ignore things and hold onto theories that have no foundation at all and use complete scholarly disregard for the field of archeology and first century historical backgrounds.
America is awesome. You can just make a movie filled with crap, and people will accept it as truth just because it pokes holes at the norm. If we keep following our logic, in a hundred years we will poke holes in the things we use to poke holes into other things. Congrats, Director Cameron. You will make millions off something secular scholarship would call hogwash.
I am not writing this from a Christian view, but from a view of one who has studied archeology and is familiar with the first century context that this film chooses to ignore. But in the case of America, we will easily believe anything like sheep without for a second looking at scientific, philosophical, or historical facts behind the issue. So be American, believe the film. And in a year everyone will realize the lack of scholarship, and it will fall by the wayside. Have fun America, can't wait to see you be predictable again.
Karen and I went out shopping before my Emory trip for some "interviewish" style clothing at some of Longviews finest stores. J.C. Penny was one of our stops and had some fruitful sales, like 100 dollars off my suit jacket. However, the real deal came when Karen was tearing through the sale racks in deperate hopes. She found a sweater that looked nice and held it up. I liked it a lot and so I went to the pricetage (pictured below). It was a 100% Cashmere sweater marked down to 4.97 from 125 dollars! I really hate shopping, but we found 3 sweaters like that, and if shopping can feel more like robbing someone, I'm all for that. Anyway, my wife is yet again full of awesome little abilities, like saving hundreds of dollars while out shopping; she's almost better than switching to Geico car insurance.
I got back yesterday from my trip to Emory in Atlanta, GA. They put me up in a hotel that is owned by the university, one of many various institutions that the university owns. The school has a huge convention center, hospital, apartment tower, and bus system right there on campus. So coming from LeTourneau, I find myself in a bit of a shock as my cabbie drove me past the giant skyline of downtown Atlanta and through the mile long main road that ran through the heart of Emory University.
After I checked in, I spent the rest of the day walking around marble-encrusted buildings and giant medical centers to get a feel for the place. The school has the second largest collection of theological materials in their library, which is just one of six at Emory. On our little admissions tour, they made sure to show us the many first editions of Reformation first editions, including Luther's German Translation and Erasmus' Greek New Testament.
On the whole it was a great experience. The campus was wonderful, the people in the theological commmunity there were smart and friendly, and while some there embraced other attitudes than my own, I felt good there. Many of the other students came from far different backgrounds than myself, and I am fairly certain that I am one of few stundents from an Evangelically based school. However, I'm up for a new experience, and while I do not think it will be easy academically or emotionally to attend there, I do believe it will help me grow a lot and place me in a wonderful position to advance in my field.
I'm glad all of the searching is finally over and I feel relief along with a sense of accomplishment. The program I am in at Emory is one of the best and most selective in the US, and I'm proud to go there. I have more stories about cabbies in Atlanta and the fanatic attraction of the admissions staff to my middle name ("Oh, you're David TRAIL Blaser? Hahahah"), but those can wait for another time. I had a great trip, learned a lot, and like where I'm ending up. I just hope all goes well from here on in. But some advice: if you're a Bible nerd and are in Atlant, make sure to see all of those pretty first editions in the Candler library, but they won't let you check them out since they're written by German-folk...I just WWII still hits home there or something.
It's amazing how the food channel can dictate my interests. While it may seem bad that the TV can guide my budding passions, this is not necessarily a bad scenario. Last week the Food Network told me to learn about chocolate, because it was chocolate week. So what did I do? I learned about chocolate. Again, this is not a bad thing. Karen and I have been experimenting with powders and combinations for the last few days. We've spiced up cookies and found out that chocolate is good for you in it's purest form with the coccoa butter removed. Anyway, Chocolate is good stuff. Not really the sugary milky stuff or the white filled with cocca butter bars, but the real thing. Made right, it drives the senses to euphoria and makes any cold day seem just a bit warmer. So get your hands on some of the good stuff: pure, without preservatives, uncut, chocolate.
I woke up this morning to find a candy trail leading to my computer--I like candy. I think a trail of candy is probably one of the coolest ways to wake up ever, thanks to my wife Karen.
It's Valentine's Day. We have our British Literature presentation today on Evolution. In light of today's events and the numerous dates occuring tonight, I wrote a small sketch to contrast the victorian era with our world today. It is as follows:
Date 1: A modern date with a guy and a girl out for V-Day. Girl is an incessant talker while the guy politely nods and is only half satisfied at his efforts to find a mate.
Girl: So, did you like chapel today?
U: Yeah, I really like how Dr. Hummel incorporated the..
Girl: Urhg, I can’t stand Dr. Hummel, did you see that tie he had on?
U: Tie? Um, no I really didn’t get..
G: It was ugly, believe me. And he just seems so droll and boring, honestly, I don’t know how anyone can listen to him.
U: Well, he’s a pretty nice guy when you get to know..
G: Speaking of ties, did you see What Not to Wear Last Night? This poor man had pants that definatley did not complement his lower portions, and his ties…get this, he had a (color of tie Ludwhig has on) I mean who wears those anymore?
U: Well, haha, yeah, I don’t know... (Dave walks in as waiter) oh here, I’ll take the check….
Dave acts as narrator as actors freeze. Now the Victorian skit, Date 2.
Girl: So darling, how was your day at the factory?
U: Fine, as usual. I don’t have enough time to have anything go wrong.
Girl: I had a good day too, my friend and…
U: Can you believe this? (Points to newspaper) Apparently Morse just sent a telegraph across electrical signals…amazing what us men can do when we put our minds to it.
G: Oh, how very true darling.
U: I’m just glad my education allows me to have a family that can carry on my name. It wouldn’t be the same if I couldn’t have a son to carry on my legacy.
G: Oh yes, I cannot wait to be able to raise children for you. They’ll be so lovely darling, we should call the first child Michael if he’s a bo…
U: Yes, yes, later darling, the food has arrived (Enter Dave as waiter to end scene).
Anyway, hope all you all have a good V-Day today. And if not, then chocolate will be on sale tomorrow. I'm thinking that I may just set up a candy trail before I go to bed every night, just because it's a wonderful way to wake up. Make sure you take a hint from Karen though and don't put any candy in the bathroom or on the toilet, I'm guessing it would kill the buzz.
It's Valentine's Day. We have our British Literature presentation today on Evolution. In light of today's events and the numerous dates occuring tonight, I wrote a small sketch to contrast the victorian era with our world today. It is as follows:
Date 1: A modern date with a guy and a girl out for V-Day. Girl is an incessant talker while the guy politely nods and is only half satisfied at his efforts to find a mate.
Girl: So, did you like chapel today?
U: Yeah, I really like how Dr. Hummel incorporated the..
Girl: Urhg, I can’t stand Dr. Hummel, did you see that tie he had on?
U: Tie? Um, no I really didn’t get..
G: It was ugly, believe me. And he just seems so droll and boring, honestly, I don’t know how anyone can listen to him.
U: Well, he’s a pretty nice guy when you get to know..
G: Speaking of ties, did you see What Not to Wear Last Night? This poor man had pants that definatley did not complement his lower portions, and his ties…get this, he had a (color of tie Ludwhig has on) I mean who wears those anymore?
U: Well, haha, yeah, I don’t know... (Dave walks in as waiter) oh here, I’ll take the check….
Dave acts as narrator as actors freeze. Now the Victorian skit, Date 2.
Girl: So darling, how was your day at the factory?
U: Fine, as usual. I don’t have enough time to have anything go wrong.
Girl: I had a good day too, my friend and…
U: Can you believe this? (Points to newspaper) Apparently Morse just sent a telegraph across electrical signals…amazing what us men can do when we put our minds to it.
G: Oh, how very true darling.
U: I’m just glad my education allows me to have a family that can carry on my name. It wouldn’t be the same if I couldn’t have a son to carry on my legacy.
G: Oh yes, I cannot wait to be able to raise children for you. They’ll be so lovely darling, we should call the first child Michael if he’s a bo…
U: Yes, yes, later darling, the food has arrived (Enter Dave as waiter to end scene).
Anyway, hope all you all have a good V-Day today. And if not, then chocolate will be on sale tomorrow. I'm thinking that I may just set up a candy trail before I go to bed every night, just because it's a wonderful way to wake up. Make sure you take a hint from Karen though and don't put any candy in the bathroom or on the toilet, I'm guessing it would kill the buzz.
I was sitting in my office chair typing a paper this afternoon. The rain was trickling down the window next to me and the TV was humming at me softly in the background. As I paused to ponder, I glanced out the window only to see a very large flash in the sky. The flash itself was quite stunning and brilliant. After waiting a couple or silent seconds to hear thunder, I began to think that it must have been far off. With my gaurd down, a giant rush of noise came over me, as if God himself had picked up MSC and then threw it down to the ground to see how many pieces He could make of it. In fact I looked out my window to make sure MSC had not blown up, perhaps it wasn't thunder after all. However, as the sound continued to ring thorugh the sky and shake my walls for numerous seconds, I knew that this was no engineering experiment gone wrong. This whole thunder thing is something new for me. I'll gladly concede to any Texan that their state does in fact of the "biggest and best" thunder out there.
