Book Thoughts #10, and #11

This weekend, I finished reading "The Survival Guide" by Tony Compolo, and William Willimon, or perhaps the title is "For Christians on Campus: The Survival Guide", you can see a picture of it on my xanga at xanga. Well, I picked it up because I sort of liked the primer aspect to it. And for me I like to get back to the basics. I wanted to also find inspiration. On the corner of the book, there is this caption, "How to be students adn Disciples at the same time." And although I'm not on campus, I am still finding out what it is to be a disciple.

The 11th book is "A is for Ox" by Barry Sanders. Its a book that came out in 1994, and I cracked it open in July, it took me about six weeks to finish it, it is short, but with school and everything else. The book deals with literacy, and documents a world slipping into illiteracy. The subtitle or slogan on this book's cover reads, "The Collapse of Literacy and the Rise of Violence in an Electronic Age." And perhaps that says it all. In a sence I see the rise of violence, but I wonder if not the nature of humanity is a touch of violence, and hatred...anyhoo Sanders argues that orality is best transmitted from mother to infant, and the act of breast feeding helps procure the development of the child. Pretty surprising conclusion, but perhaps he says it best, that a child needs to be nurtured and developed...

Well, the mosquitos are eating me up in this room. I am going to go kill them now, so more later, hopefully....thanks for reading.

Whoa, I haven't updated lately.

Just noticed this blog is gettin neglected. I believe the last time I posted, the Olympics had not begun. I cannot believe that the month of August is just about over. Well, good reason why I haven't been here much. School started a few weeks ago, and I am taking six hours. I'm taking "The Pentateuch" and American Lit. Mostly though, I've been blogging occasionally at Xanga. You can check it out at www.xanga.com/mezuzah.

Well, Gotta run and get my weekly dose of "Trading Spaces".

Person of Interest; California for Jesus; Blogs Are For Venting

I was reading some bios on the web belonging to members of a church staff. I noticed that someone was using the term Jesus Follower. What happened to good old, I became a Christian? At first I thought, well, we don't even hear the word suspect anymore on the news, they have become a "Person of Interest". But Jesus follower is cool I guess, it doesn't totally hide what you are. Yet it occurred to me that people say, oh I'm not "religious", but tend to say "spiritual". Hmmm. Does the word religion become equated to/with old, worn, not relavent, and traditional? Whereas spiritual is mystical, searching, and discovering?

I've heard someone postulate that there would be a revival in America if Californians took up Christianity. I guess this person was thinking in terms of starting a major fad, Californians are intstrumental. And it was observed that more people would become Christians because it would be hip. Anyhoo, California, you know what to do...

So have you ever been dumped via a blog?

and at another level, if someone de-links you from their blog, is that like being dumped?

Rorshack Test, Bert

Rorshack Test (not sure if that is how it is spelled, but I'm thinking of those ink blots)

I was thinking of going to this Career Retreat. I was telling a friend, yeah, the workshop "Change of Heart" is speaking to me. I told him that I thought it was designed for those reconsidering Christianity. He told me he didn't read it that way. So I went back and this is the description:

Change of Heart
Not sure if this church stuff is for you? Perhaps you've heard everything you need to hear about Jesus but just aren't sure about making the commitment. Whether you're just curious about what the bible says about Jesus, or you're looking for some sign from heaven, this workshop is designed for those who want to understand Christianity a little bit more, or for those who want to hear some good reasons on why to believe.


My friend says thats not how he read it, and I guess its like that inkblot test...Not that I'm thinking of leaving the faith, I guess I was, but I wonder if the verse "faith comes from hearing" works also for believers. The more you hear the word of God, the more your faith increases?

I wonder if I get bummed as I look at the world and my fellow Christians? I'll tell you though, I can be critical of Christians, but isn't that everyone's story?

Bert
I was perusing my old blog: The Wonderful World of Woo and on the sidebar I have a link to this site that records the "threat" level. And its been on "elevated" for a long time. This site uses Bert from Sesame Street show. Well, now the graphic features Bert and in one corner Ernie in NYC, and DC. Its the only time I've noticed it changing. I should check it out more often, but it always seems to be on "elevated".

Children's Nutrition

I'm gonna email this post, let's see if I can manage not to have
the template altered.

Ok, I'm watching t.v. tonight and I notice that a certain fast
food restaurant has some new alternatives on their kids meals.
Now you can substitute milk for coke, or mandarin oranges
for fries. Incidentally at work (I teach in a public school), there
are all sorts of new rules concerning nutrition. One of the results
of these mandates is that sodas are not sold during lunch time.
The other day, I walked into our lunch time "High -Q" (quiz bowl)
meeting with a 12 oz. bottle of pepsi. One of the freshmen ask me,
"Where did you get that?"

"The teacher's lounge," I answer.

"Can you get me one," he replies.

And I just smiled. But no, I couldn't get him one. I'm not sure how
they will enforce things, but I figure I would get sanctioned if I ended up
dealing "coke". Or rather in this case, pepsi dealer.

Blog Readers, "De-Lovely", A Week Gone By

I noticed quite a few visitors seem to exit my blog after reading the page "Lost In Translation". I went there to read it, and it occurred to me that it was not a full blown review of the movie, and perhaps with a title that sophisticated I should've written something with a little more punch.

But since that night I've seen quite a few movies, and not on the dvd. Actually at the theater. The most recent flick, I caught "De-Lovely" last night at the super cinema. It was in #15, the 15th theater, a smaller screening towards the back of the complex. Some person actually was pounding a code on the door. As if someone would open it. Unlike other screens where you get 15 minutes of movie previews (or in the lingo of the trade: trailers), I walked in ten minutes late, and the movie was already starting. I'm not sure how much I missed, but I figured not much.

I was a bit surprised to find this to be a musical. I was expecting a drama. The movie is about the life of Cole Porter and his wife, who apparently put up with his homosexuality. It has been awhile for me, but I don't recall seeing a movie lately that depicts a man and wife growing old together. Defn. the movie was high on nostalgia but for me, a product of growing in the 80's and 90's I enjoyed watching the sets and just the feel. I could not hearken a memory of listening to Cole Porter's music, just only passing moments in other films. So the movie was a bit more of a piece of history for me, but I imagine if lived in the 50's the movie would hit me a little harder in terms of nostalgia.

As I mentioned I've only come across Porter's music in passing or in random places, but what struck me are the lyrics to the words. Esp. in the context of his life as projected in this film. Defn. the man's use of words would easily pit him ahead of many of today's lyricists and song writers. To be quite frank, I never did "get" into his music, and as I watched Kevin Kline as Porter give life to the man, the music seems to grow on the audience. Perhaps because the songs are on celluloid, wax, whatever medium, the "soul" of the music was lost to me. But seeing Porter's life on film and watching his passion as portrayed by Kline, I gained and empathy for his music. Porter teaches a young actor how to sing one of his songs, and its is deeply moving as he toys with this actors feelings. There is a vulnerabliltiy in this scene. The actor/singer must pull within him feelings that perhaps we keep locked up too much. And only then does the song work.

I've wanted to write love letters with that kind of passion and intensity. I thought, yeah, how you sing that song, is what I've been attempting to write, periodically in my life. (I am the potential novelist, writer slacker who has not put much pen to paper.)

Well at first I thought the film to be ironic, a film that features the film industry, but Porter also lived in Paris, worked on Broadway, and we get these lush scenes of early 20th centurly life. If you love historical fiction, this movie is that with a cast of "real" people appearing, from Irving Berlin to Louis B. Mayer. Ashley Judd is a marvel to watch, and Kevin Kline is magnificent. There are some great musical moments, one of my favorite musical pieces is Porter receiving advice from L. B. Mayer on the type of music he wishes him to write. At first Porter seems to grow angry and then as he walks away from Mayer he turns to us, breaks the 4th wall and gives us the sage advice from his childhood. His mother told him to be a clown, and thus begins a whimsical dance number.

A Week Gone By
Yikes, I almost lost this long rambling blog. Well, work has been keeping me busy, its now Saturday, and I need to do stuff for work. But I am thinking of going to a chess tournament, and see if I can get in.

Keeping up with...

I caught wind via the internet that some friends were in Egypt. You can check out there exploits at: Egypt '04. Something quite romantic about overseas missions.

Well, rushed home from work today, actually left to register for classes. I have six hours left. The Pentateuch and American Literature. Looks like we are going to use the Norton Anthology of American Literature. *boo hoo, I was hoping we'd try out some novels. But I have six hours left. What next for me. I don't know.

Work is flying by. Soon it will be another school year gone by. This year is quite an interesting year. The topics for study in Academic Decathlon are based on the theme "The Ancient World". The super quiz topic is astronomy. Also keeping me on my toes is an American history, dual credit course that I am simply proctering, but I am reading along in the text with my students.

In about 8 weeks, the grading period will be over, and we will be out, i.e. we will be on "Intercession". So 2 weeks of vacation. We are thinking of taking the Academic Decathlon kids to Denver. And speaking of, I can't wait for High Q to start. That is an academic contest similar to "Jeopardy". But alas, all this will come. As will football season!

Hold you

On my Xanga I had written about my nephew. I am amazed at his ability to communicate, but that he would ask his parents to hold him is really fascinating to me. I know that at a very small age, he would cry and cry, but that he actually vocalizes this desire. I wonder too, does he mean to say, I want to hold you. Or hold me?

Well, I cannot believe that its been about ten days that I've written on this blog. I've been busy with work, and trying to hang out with folks, but soon the college semester will start. I'm slated to take an Old Testament Class, and American Literature. I'm quite looking forward to that class. I wonder what we will read?