End O' the semester

Why is it so difficult for me to remain calm and get my work done the closer it gets to the due date? It seems that I cannot relax and procrastinate even more when deadlines get closer and closer. Perhaps I am so tired I cannot focus so my mind wanders. Regardless, I am getting a good nights sleep tonight and making sure that I at least get 7 1/2 hours. I think that getting some rest will allow me to better focuse when I next study and attempt to write papers.

...At least I think it will.

Quiz Time

I took this quiz about a year and a half ago, this time I have different results.

You scored as John Calvin. Much of what is now called Calvinism had more to do with his followers than Calvin himself, and so you may or may not be committed to TULIP, though God's sovereignty is all important. John Calvin 93% Anselm 87% Karl Barth 53% Friedrich Schleiermacher 53% Martin Luther 47% Jonathan Edwards 47% J?Moltmann 27% Paul Tillich 27% Augustine 20% Charles Finney 20% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Writer's Bloc

Well, right now I'm working on a rough draft that is due on Monday. The rough draft is supposed to be a polished rough draft when I turn it in, but nonetheless it's a rough draft. My biggest problem and frustration when writing papers is writer's bloc. I was very frustrated by it yesterday when I was working on my paper. However, I think that I have developed a solution to dealing with writer's bloc... ready... here we go - keep reading what I have written. What? You ask me what kind of solution is this? A good solution says I. When I can't write anymore I go back over what I have previously written, and edit that. This gives me more ideas for writing and helps tighten my argument also. This is actually a really good solution for me to cure my writer's bloc. I must confess that it is stressful when one encounters writer's bloc. This stress then produces more stress, which makes it even more difficult to overcome writer's bloc. So, then I just re-read aloud what I have previously written.

Now, I shall return to my paper. Reading my paper outloud.

Johnny Cash - Hurt

At the end of his life Johnny Cash got together with producer Rick Rubin and they covered a lot of different styles of songs. Some of the bands that were covered by Johnny Cash included, Soundgarden, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails. I think one of the most powerful songs was his cover of Nine Inch Nails hurt. Very powerful religious imagery. He basically speaks of the regrets in his life. There is one point in the video when he sings "I will let you down" and it flashes a picture of Christ. Then another line is "I will make you hurt," and it shows a picture of the nails being hammered into Christ's hands. He also sings of "[his] empire of dirt" then the video flashes to all the awards that Cash has won. Very powerful video. In some ways it seems to be a New Testament interpretation of Eccesiastes.

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Eccl 12:13-14 (NASB95)

Practicality of Doctrine

One of the things that vanHoozer is emphasizing in his hermeneutics book is the practical nature of doctrine. Doctrine is designed to help us live our lives as Chriistians. I can't think of any particular examples that he gives, but the main emphasis is that doctrine is not merely a propositional belief, but a belief that changes one's actions.

Another point of emphasis of vanHoozer's is that we are in a drama, the Bible is a dramatic book, a divine play so to speak. However, we are actors in this play. God calls us to act, not just sit passively. This definitely is a new approach to hermeneutics but an interesting one nonetheless. Too often people in churches believe that the Bible is a book to be read and quoted and venerated but it stops there. However, the Bible is a DIVINE book that calls us to act. It tells us how to act. It calls us to a relationship with God and to participate in God's works.

Hermeneutics & Theology

I've been reading Kevin vanHoozer's new book, The Drama of Doctrine. It is definitely causing me to think about how I read the Bible. Often I think that we read the Bible without thinking about how it should affect our actions - but all too often we read it as a book that gives us information. Then, the pastor will make the information relevant for our lives. However, in The Drama of Doctrine, the idea is that the Bible the way it is calls us to action. We are called and asked and commanded to respond to God's words.

I'll post more on this later, as I continue to read through it...

All is well that ends well.

I got a call today from the food and housing office telling me that they would release me from my lease when I brought a copy of my marriage liscense in.

Breaking the Lease

So in about 5 weeks I'll be leaving for IL to get married to Jessica. After our honeymoon we will get back to OK around December 18. Jessica's apartment lease is up on the 22, mine, sometime in May. Now, I live in the University of Oklahoma student apartments. I signed a lease for one year, from May to May. I thought that I would be able to get out of this lease for my wedding. However, today, I went to the apartment manager and to give her a form for me to break my lease and she very coldly informed me that I couldn't. I was so taken aback I didn't even respond to her, I didn't know what to say. To be honest, I was really upset and still am about this situation. Jessica would have to drive to work about 45 minutes to an hour with traffic, one way. However, I did put in an application to break my lease with the university food & housing department. Jessica's theory is that the lady I spoke with today has no power - she is the apartment manager. According to Jessica, this lady probably has a domineering husband and then takes things out on people during the day. Hopefully I will be able to get out of my lease. I think the thing that upset me the most today was that the lady didn't even try to compromise or help me out, she basically signed the form 'no' and showed me the door. She wasn't even sympathetic. ...I'll try and study tonight, but I'm still pretty upset.