The point to evolution is that we are getting better, more improved, more complex in our thinking and doing. People (and cultures) start off primative and move up from there.
Language is said to work the same way. We started off with noises, then words, then complex means of communication.
Except: the most complex languages are found in the most primitive tribes. Our language is very simple compared to theirs.
Anyone want to explain that?
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Sometimes Being Spontaneous is Good
I like plans. I like to know how my day will go and what will happen. I do not do well with large blocks of unplanned time; I crave structure.
So maybe someone can explain the small sleepover that happened here Friday night. I can't. Usually I plan these a week or two in advance, not the night they happen. But, Friday night we had a wedding shower for a young couple from our church (who got married in December and then spent the semester in Israel, so this was as soon as we could have it). Near the end, as people were cleaning up and heading out, two of the girls from church cornered me and asked if they could sleep over that night (they had missed the last official sleepover). Every instinct said no, but what came out was "ask your dad." Silly me; what dad wouldn't say yes to having half his children taken off his hands for a while! Then they convinced a third girl's mom to say yes too (because they knew that I wouldn't object; I'm such a sucker).
And so I had 3 preteens sleeping on my living room floor that night. They ate a pile of popcorn and some Popsicles and whatever else I had in the kitchen, played some games, and watched The Sound of Music. And, sweet things that they are, slept until almost 9:00 the next morning.
And it was fun. There was no planning, no stress, no worries. They ate and watched whatever I had and it was good. We laughed a lot and played games and talked and had fun.
That was my foray into spontaneity. I should plan to do it again some day!
So maybe someone can explain the small sleepover that happened here Friday night. I can't. Usually I plan these a week or two in advance, not the night they happen. But, Friday night we had a wedding shower for a young couple from our church (who got married in December and then spent the semester in Israel, so this was as soon as we could have it). Near the end, as people were cleaning up and heading out, two of the girls from church cornered me and asked if they could sleep over that night (they had missed the last official sleepover). Every instinct said no, but what came out was "ask your dad." Silly me; what dad wouldn't say yes to having half his children taken off his hands for a while! Then they convinced a third girl's mom to say yes too (because they knew that I wouldn't object; I'm such a sucker).
And so I had 3 preteens sleeping on my living room floor that night. They ate a pile of popcorn and some Popsicles and whatever else I had in the kitchen, played some games, and watched The Sound of Music. And, sweet things that they are, slept until almost 9:00 the next morning.
And it was fun. There was no planning, no stress, no worries. They ate and watched whatever I had and it was good. We laughed a lot and played games and talked and had fun.
That was my foray into spontaneity. I should plan to do it again some day!
Saturday, 1 August 2009
What I Have Been Reading
I thought, to counteract the last post, I'd give you good book suggestions!
The Savage my Kinsman by Elisabeth Elliot
In 1956 Elisabeth Elliot's husband, Jim Elliot, and four other missionaries were speared to death by the Auca Indians in Ecuador. In this book, Elisabeth tells of her response to the killings and of her eventual venture into Auca territory three years later (along with her daughter and Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the other men). It's an interesting read and a good look at what it is to be a missionary to a people whose language and customs you do not understand and who know nothing about the outside world.
Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper
Here Noel Piper looks at five women: Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Alward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare. She gives short biographies of each and shows how they lived for God in the toughest times. What I liked best is that she wrote about missionaries who were real people; not perfect Christians, but people who struggled and wondered and made mistakes... but without excusing or justifying their sins. It was very encouraging.
There you go; two books to go read!
The Savage my Kinsman by Elisabeth Elliot
In 1956 Elisabeth Elliot's husband, Jim Elliot, and four other missionaries were speared to death by the Auca Indians in Ecuador. In this book, Elisabeth tells of her response to the killings and of her eventual venture into Auca territory three years later (along with her daughter and Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the other men). It's an interesting read and a good look at what it is to be a missionary to a people whose language and customs you do not understand and who know nothing about the outside world.
Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper
Here Noel Piper looks at five women: Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Alward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare. She gives short biographies of each and shows how they lived for God in the toughest times. What I liked best is that she wrote about missionaries who were real people; not perfect Christians, but people who struggled and wondered and made mistakes... but without excusing or justifying their sins. It was very encouraging.
There you go; two books to go read!
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
What I'm NOT Reading
I'm starting preliminary research for my essays today. Step one is to see if the public library has anything useful. Usually I can get some general information from them and use the bibliographies is those books to find better books elsewhere. From there I'll move on to inter-library loans and then the university library.
Anyway, I entered "New Testament" as my search term and found a couple books that I will definitely not be reading:
The yoga of Jesus : understanding the hidden teachings of the gospels : selections from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda 1st ed. Yogananda, Paramahansa, 1893-1952.
Jesus, interrupted : revealing the hidden contradictions in the Bible (and why we don't know about them) 1st ed. Ehrman, Bart D.
(Side note: can anyone find the problem with that title?)
The first book claims that Jesus knew and taught yoga (a claim of which I am highly skeptical). The second book, based in its description on Amazon and the reader comments, is pure heresy. It claims that Jesus, Matthew, John, and someone else, were all writing about different religions.
Anyway, I entered "New Testament" as my search term and found a couple books that I will definitely not be reading:
The yoga of Jesus : understanding the hidden teachings of the gospels : selections from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda 1st ed. Yogananda, Paramahansa, 1893-1952.
Jesus, interrupted : revealing the hidden contradictions in the Bible (and why we don't know about them) 1st ed. Ehrman, Bart D.
(Side note: can anyone find the problem with that title?)
The first book claims that Jesus knew and taught yoga (a claim of which I am highly skeptical). The second book, based in its description on Amazon and the reader comments, is pure heresy. It claims that Jesus, Matthew, John, and someone else, were all writing about different religions.
So that's what I'm not reading. I'm going to check whether or not they have anything worth reading.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Thinking About Stuff
There was a time when I just accepted life the way it was. I went along with everything and never really put a lot of deep thought into what people were saying or teaching.
Now people are making me think. The elders at my church are the worst (or best) for this. They won't let me sit back and accept everything and they won't just give me answers (well, they will if I really can't figure it out). For example, there was a song we sung in church that one of the elders had a bit of an issue with and he wouldn't tell me what, he just asked me why the line was a problem...and I had to think...and I knew the answer! Which was kind of nice, actually!
The thing is, I'm doing it all the time now. I do it when we're singing in church and when I'm listening to sermons, even sermons by people I trust completely. And sometimes I disagree with what I hear. Sometimes I disagree with what the elders tell me (but don't tell them!). Actually, they're okay with disagreement. It's hardest for me because I'm sure they must be right and I'm not always good at verbalizing my point and I still think people will laugh at me because they either won't understand me or I'll be wrong (which is unfair to the people who have never laughed at me). There are people that it is safe to disagree with out loud.
Okay...back to the point...
It's good, this habit of thinking things through, even if it's work. Even if I agree with most of what I hear, which I do. It keeps me from getting lazy and from possibly letting untruths leak through when I don't expect it. So maybe I should thank the people who make me think.
Now people are making me think. The elders at my church are the worst (or best) for this. They won't let me sit back and accept everything and they won't just give me answers (well, they will if I really can't figure it out). For example, there was a song we sung in church that one of the elders had a bit of an issue with and he wouldn't tell me what, he just asked me why the line was a problem...and I had to think...and I knew the answer! Which was kind of nice, actually!
The thing is, I'm doing it all the time now. I do it when we're singing in church and when I'm listening to sermons, even sermons by people I trust completely. And sometimes I disagree with what I hear. Sometimes I disagree with what the elders tell me (but don't tell them!). Actually, they're okay with disagreement. It's hardest for me because I'm sure they must be right and I'm not always good at verbalizing my point and I still think people will laugh at me because they either won't understand me or I'll be wrong (which is unfair to the people who have never laughed at me). There are people that it is safe to disagree with out loud.
Okay...back to the point...
It's good, this habit of thinking things through, even if it's work. Even if I agree with most of what I hear, which I do. It keeps me from getting lazy and from possibly letting untruths leak through when I don't expect it. So maybe I should thank the people who make me think.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Back at Masters
Yesterday afternoon I arrived back at The Masters College for my annual week of classes. Suddenly all those hours spent doing homework seem worth the effort for this one, glorious, happy week of being with other students and with teachers and learning.
I think coming back was even better than coming the first time. This year there was no uncertainty or wondering what it would be like. It was like coming home. The campus is familiar and I know so many people and it feels right. No matter who is around we can just talk and catch up and share stories and laugh and be together easily. Or we can sit around working or reading or whatever with only occasional bits of conversation here and there and that's okay too.
Tomorrow I start classes. Tomorrow will be a happy day too.
I think coming back was even better than coming the first time. This year there was no uncertainty or wondering what it would be like. It was like coming home. The campus is familiar and I know so many people and it feels right. No matter who is around we can just talk and catch up and share stories and laugh and be together easily. Or we can sit around working or reading or whatever with only occasional bits of conversation here and there and that's okay too.
Tomorrow I start classes. Tomorrow will be a happy day too.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Happy Henday!
You didn't know that tomorrow is Henday? It's a very important day that we set aside to celebrate chickens, a very important part of our diet. After all, they provide us with eggs and... well... chicken. Surely you plan to celebrate!
Perhaps an explanation is in order. Sunday evening a friend and her 6 year old son were driving me home from church when we crossed Anthony Henday Drive. The boy pointed out the Henday and then asked what a Henday is. His mom was nice enough to tell him that it was named after a person. I told him that it was the day set aside to celebrate chickens. He liked my version better (go figure). He laughed and asked when Henday is. I didn't know, so I asked him what he thought and he said "Friday." Then he asked how we celebrate Henday so his mom and I asked him what he thought (I should really think about the details before saying whatever comes to mind).
He wanted fireworks high up in the sky and balloons on the roof of the house. We convinced him that the celebration had to involve chickens, like drawing pictures of chickens or eating chicken. He agreed, adding that we can eat eggs too and sugar (all his celebrations have to involve sugar in some form).
I've already apologised to his mom for telling him about Henday. I hope he forgets, but he assures me that he won't, so I suspect they may be celebrating Henday soon. Well, as long as he stays away from fireworks it should be all good!
Happy Henday everyone!
Perhaps an explanation is in order. Sunday evening a friend and her 6 year old son were driving me home from church when we crossed Anthony Henday Drive. The boy pointed out the Henday and then asked what a Henday is. His mom was nice enough to tell him that it was named after a person. I told him that it was the day set aside to celebrate chickens. He liked my version better (go figure). He laughed and asked when Henday is. I didn't know, so I asked him what he thought and he said "Friday." Then he asked how we celebrate Henday so his mom and I asked him what he thought (I should really think about the details before saying whatever comes to mind).
He wanted fireworks high up in the sky and balloons on the roof of the house. We convinced him that the celebration had to involve chickens, like drawing pictures of chickens or eating chicken. He agreed, adding that we can eat eggs too and sugar (all his celebrations have to involve sugar in some form).
I've already apologised to his mom for telling him about Henday. I hope he forgets, but he assures me that he won't, so I suspect they may be celebrating Henday soon. Well, as long as he stays away from fireworks it should be all good!
Happy Henday everyone!
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