This Side of the Pulpit » The World
Practice Makes Better. All the Time.
We’ve heard the story before: the brain has two halves, and the right side is the “creative” side, the left the “analytic” side. And people are either right or left brain dominant. It’s a myth. There are some localized brain functions, but modern science is proving again and again that the entire brain is used; the brain is a system, a whole. This post explains it well. Reality is, you use what you need to, and practice makes better. Humans are good at two things: adapting and making routines. Yes, they are contradictory, but it’s true. We are wonderful at changing, but also very prone to habitual actions, thoughts and so forth. In other words, don’t make the excuse that you are right-brained and “cannot understand” math. Or that you are analytic and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Fiction & Art, The World
Happy Thanksgiving Day
Give thanks in all circumstances! Avoid grumbling about what was, what might have been, or what should be. Don’t worry if it’s sacred or secular, its about giving thanks to the Lord. Give thanks for your family, for your friends, for your day, for the rain and sun, for all that you are and have. It’s a gift. Now, go eat some chocolate pie and get off the computer! … Read entire article »
Filed under: The World
Freedom, Apple and the Brilliance of Steve Jobs
Over the last five years it has been easy for me to disdain Steve Jobs and Apple, Inc. The Fanboys are the worst, nearly worshiping the man, the products and stuff. Jobs minimalist aesthetics bordered on the inhuman, however sleek they were. The Apple Stores with the “Genius Bars” were condescending temples of consumerism. This is a nice satire: I like that I can open my own computer, swap out parts if necessary, upgrade it myself and tinker. I like that freedom, even if sometimes parts don’t work and my “user experience” falters. But you can’t deny how influential Jobs was. He was a true inventor and innovator who changed the world. Others invented the personal computer. Jobs invented the mouse and the ability to move it and click on things on … Read entire article »
Does the Supreme Court Really Have to Tell the LCMS to Act Like Christians?
Today the Supreme Court is hearing arguments in the case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC. The Wall Street Journal has an opinion piece here. Essentially, a teacher at the school became “rostered” and was then called as a Commissioned Minister, a Called Teacher, no longer under contract. Good for her. But then she fell ill, went on partial disability for a while and after several months informed the school that her doctor believed she would be able to go back to full time in several more months. Then the Church and School royally screwed up. They changed their health care plans, cutting her benefits, hired another teacher and asked her to resign her call. She threatened to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and she was fired. So … Read entire article »
Falling Skies and Christianity
Falling Skies is a new summer series on TNT, starring Noah Wylie (why is it that Dr. Carter always seems to play bookish types?). The series begins several months after bug-like aliens have invaded the earth, killed 90% of adult humans and enslaved the children. The series itself has some brilliant moments, as well as some really awkward dialogue and acting. Religion is slowly becoming a theme in the show–namely, how can one have faith after what happened? One of the characters is a former medical student who is vocally “a believer.” But what makes it even more remarkable is that she is explicitly Christian and Catholic. She just doesn’t pray, she invokes the Most Holy Trinity at the beginning of her prayer, crossing herself then and at other times. It’s refreshing … Read entire article »
Beards and Fund Raisers
Two weeks ago I decided to do something silly to help motivate giving for our building program here at church. I said I would shave my head and goatee once the money was raised….but until then I would not shave or get a haircut. There was an audible gasp from the congregation when I said this during the announcements. Heh heh heh. Of course it’s a gimmick. A silly thing. It doesn’t mean much but gives the congregation something to laugh and joke about, and a visual reminder of the need to give (we are 2/3 funded for our building renovation and hope to finish it without incurring debt). It’s not a Nazirite vow–though I am not partaking of any fruit of the vine either. Now, I’m not afraid of being hairy. … Read entire article »
Filed under: The World
Thoughts on the Storm Shelter
So I grew up in the Kansas City area and remember watching the horizon darken, the air grow green and then, in a flash, like a thrown light switch the rain appear, pelting the front yard. We would watch from the front porch, breathing the ozone-rich air, smelling the rain, feeling the temperature drop by the second. It was lovely. And I’ve lived in Oklahoma now for years and years–sixteen years almost total– and can’t see the storms brewing, but they come with their vengeance here too. With all of this I’ve always thought storm shelters were dumb. Dumb. What are the chances? What are the chances a tornado will hit your house bad enough to kill? Really? It’s like buying lottery insurance, I always thought. Or lightening strike insurance. What … Read entire article »
Saying “No”, Hook-Ups and Literature
Here is a teaser from an excellent article about the “hook-up” culture and pornography’s destructive nature. The article may be found here. Nevertheless, the advent of the so-called hook-up culture has fostered expectations among young men that encounters with co-eds naturally lead to no-strings-attached sex. Sex is not preceded by an altar, commitment, “I love you”, or even a decent conversation. In a hook-up culture anonymous sex is not a scandal but, it would seem, the ideal, for when sex is depersonalized, it cannot lead to the complications associated with affection, vulnerability, and the desire to sacrifice for the good of the other person. On a related note, the biggest problem I had with the Twilight series was Jacob’s pursuit of Bella even after she … Read entire article »
Filed under: The World, Theology, Writing&Books
Death Cabs and Death Songs
I think it was on the radio where someone called in and asked if a certain song was appropriate to play at their wedding. Apart from the obvious problem of asking this on the radio and not with the minister whose church they are using, the lyrics speak for themselves. Here they are: Love of mine some day you will die But I’ll be close behind I’ll follow you into the dark No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white Just our hands clasped so tight Waiting for the hint of a spark If Heaven and Hell decide That they both are satisfied Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs If there’s no one beside you When your soul embarks Then I’ll follow you into the dark In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles bruised by a lady … Read entire article »
Jesus Said There Would Be Days Like This
A Christian couple opposed to homosexuality have lost a battle over their right to become foster carers. Eunice and Owen Johns, 62 and 65, from Derby, said the city council did not want them to look after children because of their traditional views. The pair, who are Pentecostal Christians, say they were “doomed not to be approved”. The High Court ruled that laws protecting people from sexual discrimination should take precedence. (read more here) No doubt you’ll hear more about this from other places. If you’re into AFA and OneNewsNow and Pat Robertson it will be histironic, outrage and reationary garbage. For my part, I’m just somewhat sad. The United Kingdom was a Christian nation, where the head of state was also head of the (Christian) Church of England. Obviously that is no … Read entire article »
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