HARMLESS THOUGHTS

I was too busy to read Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung.  The full title of the book is Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem . It was produced by Christian Audio . I didn't actually read the book, I listened to the book thanks to Christian Audio. This book was read by Adam Verner.  He does a great job of capturing the feel of the book he is reading.  I always feel like I am actually listening to the author of the book when he is reading. This book deals with the problem of business. ...and it is a problem.  We are too busy, or at least it feels that way.  This book seeks to first address the reasons why we are busy or feel busy. As he attempts to diagnose the problem of busyness, Kevin DeYoung freely acknowledges the reality that he does not stand above the problem, but is right in the middle of the problem. In so many ways, he hits the nail on the head as he describes the different realities of "why" we are busy. Near the end of ...

I felt a Cleaving in my Mind -- As if my Brain had split -- I tried to match it -- Seam by Seam -- But could not make them fit.  The thought behind, I strove to join Unto the thought before -- But Sequence ravelled out of Sound -- Like Balls -- upon a Floor Emily Dickinson (1864) These words ring true of my ADD mind.

education EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties. with proper citation this time... "education." Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2013. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/education (20 September 2013).

“If the study of the Bible is to be excluded from all state schools; if the inculcation of the principles of Christianity is to have no place in the daily program; if the worship of God is to form no part of the general exercises of these public elementary schools; then the good of the state would be better served by restoring all schools to church control.”   Oh... did I fail to mention that this statement was made in 1892?

Somehow I have managed to maintain this blog for 10 full years.

Four Views of the End Times  is a rather short book.  It is meant to be a quick overview of the four predominant Biblical views of the End Times.  These four views center on the Biblical understanding of the Millenium and other apocalyptic prophecies normally found in the final book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation. These four views are Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism. I know that the majority of people that I am acquainted with would be slightly surprised that there is more than one Christian view of the End Times. The view that is most popular today, in American culture is the view called, Dispensational Premillennialism. Most think that real Christian scholars are in agreement over this view, but they just don't know the timing of when these things will come to pass. End Times discussions that I overhear or are involved in tend to focus on this pervading thought that the rapture is going to...

I have heard that I should read some G.K. Chesterton.  So I did.  I read Manalive and The Man Who Was Thursday .  I also read another one of his fictitious works, it might have been Lilith. But I have heard that I shouldn't just read his fiction, but one of his other works.  Recently I saw on a blog an encouragement to read Orthodoxy with a link to a free version on Amazon. Orthodoxy is almost autobiographical, but not really.  It is a collection of thoughts that tell the story of Chesterton's journey away from Orthodox Christianity into truth, only to find that at the center of truth was Orthodox Christianity. His writing style is fairly unique, and reminds me of C. S. Lewis.  There are references to names and ideas that are time-period specific, quaint little comments that I didn't understand, but gathered that his audience would have understood completely what he was talking about.  There is a whimsical edge to his words, but there is also a...