Friday, December 21, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
it just wouldn't be Christmas
without the annual posting of this pic i took a few houses down from my in-laws
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
cut and paste
been a little too many of those types of posts lately, sorry about that... I guess posting hasn't been much of a priority in the past few weeks as the end of term has been drawing nearer and nearer...
I just finished a cup of green tea, which really hit the spot. if i didn't have such a pleasant taste in my mouth i'd get some ice cream... that says a lot, because it's hard to beat the taste of ice cream, especially when it's Breyer's Brownie Mud Pie
Oh, well, enough procrastination... it's time to go back to Ladd... which i'm enjoying much less now and far less favorable toward than i was earlier in the semester (see post a few months back) - lesson learned: don't review or publicly comment on a book i haven't finished reading...
Norwegian word of the day: ærverdig - venerable
My favorite song so far this week Sæglópur by Sigur Rós (off Takk...)
I just finished a cup of green tea, which really hit the spot. if i didn't have such a pleasant taste in my mouth i'd get some ice cream... that says a lot, because it's hard to beat the taste of ice cream, especially when it's Breyer's Brownie Mud Pie
Oh, well, enough procrastination... it's time to go back to Ladd... which i'm enjoying much less now and far less favorable toward than i was earlier in the semester (see post a few months back) - lesson learned: don't review or publicly comment on a book i haven't finished reading...
Norwegian word of the day: ærverdig - venerable
My favorite song so far this week Sæglópur by Sigur Rós (off Takk...)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Luther's 95 Theses
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
the library
Sometimes i thoroughly enjoy sitting here studying. Today is not one of those days. It's too nice outside and i'm too tired. To pour salt in open wounds; it's a Saturday as well. Whoever said student life is easy, must have been one of the following; not a student, a student who totally didn't care, or the type of student who should have started their PhD work after middle school. The worst part for me is that there is always something to do; a paper to research more throughly, an exam that should be prepped for, etc. School work is never ending. In a regular 9-5 job on the other hand, you're done when you go home; nothing more to think/worry/work on until tomorrow.needless to say, i'm procrastinating
Norwegian word of the day: snål /snå:l/ = weird, unusual, strange
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
On Faith and Lyrics
The following has been a struggle, issue, or what have you for several years. Which lyrics are okay for me to listen to? Some bands/songs are obvious; satanic, excessively sexual/suggestive or which contain political views which I oppose (e.g. I do not listen to Rage Against the Machine, as I strongly oppose their views on politics and Christianity). But, the majority of lyrics are not this extreme. I cannot expect non-Christians to behave as Christians, thus I cannot expect all lyrics in the “secular music industry” to be “family-friendly”; e.g. I ought not be surprised when Ben Folds uses the F-word. But does his use of this word, disqualify him from my listening to him? Do I skip those songs which contain cussing, or do I chose to avoid the whole album or even all of Fold’s music? (I am not deliberately picking on Ben Folds, he was an arbitrary example, any other similar artist could have served as an example.)
Often we say; “Well there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not going hurt me, is it?” The overarching question ought rather be; will God be glorified as I listen to this? Will I grow in my relationship with Him? Will this benefit or take away from my relationship with Christ? As a side note; these questions are also applied to movies. Interestingly, I have never heard anyone apply this to sports. There nothing bad about watching a baseball game, but how is it profitable? How will my faith be strengthened to see the Braves lose yet another game? I struggle to see how this is any different than watching a movie or listening to music which is not directly beneficial to you or honoring to God.
I do not have any definite answers to this whole issue, I can simply notice that I go through phases. Sometimes I’ll skip the song, other times avoid the artist all together, yet other times I’ll happily listen to the song without any problems. I am anything if not inconsistent :-/
Some people would say that this whole issue would in some way be resolved by deciding to only listen to Christian music or music made by Christians (Is there a difference between the two?) This might in some ways be true, yet naïve. There are many drug-taking, alcoholic, fornicating “Christian” artists. How are they different from a non-Christian? (If Christians are known by their fruits (Mt 3:8, 7:16, Lk 3:8, Jn 15:4-5, Col 1:10) and that those who love Jesus obey his commands (Jn 14:15, Mt 7:24))
Much rambling and very little content, sorry. As you can see, my thinking on this issue is very muddled, hence the struggle. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll arrive to a completely satisfactory conclusion until I stand before God Almighty.
Often we say; “Well there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not going hurt me, is it?” The overarching question ought rather be; will God be glorified as I listen to this? Will I grow in my relationship with Him? Will this benefit or take away from my relationship with Christ? As a side note; these questions are also applied to movies. Interestingly, I have never heard anyone apply this to sports. There nothing bad about watching a baseball game, but how is it profitable? How will my faith be strengthened to see the Braves lose yet another game? I struggle to see how this is any different than watching a movie or listening to music which is not directly beneficial to you or honoring to God.
I do not have any definite answers to this whole issue, I can simply notice that I go through phases. Sometimes I’ll skip the song, other times avoid the artist all together, yet other times I’ll happily listen to the song without any problems. I am anything if not inconsistent :-/
Some people would say that this whole issue would in some way be resolved by deciding to only listen to Christian music or music made by Christians (Is there a difference between the two?) This might in some ways be true, yet naïve. There are many drug-taking, alcoholic, fornicating “Christian” artists. How are they different from a non-Christian? (If Christians are known by their fruits (Mt 3:8, 7:16, Lk 3:8, Jn 15:4-5, Col 1:10) and that those who love Jesus obey his commands (Jn 14:15, Mt 7:24))
Much rambling and very little content, sorry. As you can see, my thinking on this issue is very muddled, hence the struggle. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll arrive to a completely satisfactory conclusion until I stand before God Almighty.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Geir sings Elvis from memory
Leah and I came across this the other day. We hadn't seen it since it was on TV several years ago. It made us laugh, so I wanted to share it:
(Don't worry, Geir is not real; the comedian's name is Kristian Valen...)
(Don't worry, Geir is not real; the comedian's name is Kristian Valen...)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Nobel Peace Prize
Can you believe that this is who got it?
I am ashamed to be a Norwegian... How can the Nobel committee ever expect to be taken seriously after this farce?
I am ashamed to be a Norwegian... How can the Nobel committee ever expect to be taken seriously after this farce?
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Nine convenient "untruths"
Yes the title is horrible, couldn't help myself...Our dearly beloved Gore and his movie "An Inconvenient Truth" appears to be unbalanced in its presentation of the climate issues. I am sure that you are as shocked and appalled as I am, to discover this. Can you imagine; Gore misrepresenting the truth... This inventor of the Internet, who has been a leader for morality and truthfulness for so many years. Sigh... London's (England) High Court has decided that the movie was too unbalanced to viewed in public schools, unless a written statement representing the "other side" is also studied. The court found nine factual errors in the movie:
Mr Gore's assertion that a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet would be caused by melting of ice in either West Antarctica or Greenland "in the near future". The judge said this was "distinctly alarmist" and it was common ground that if Greenland's ice melted it would release this amount of water - "but only after, and over, millennia".
Mr Gore's assertion that the disappearance of snow on Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa was expressly attributable to global warming - the court heard the scientific consensus was that it cannot be established the snow recession is mainly attributable to human-induced climate change.
Mr Gore's reference to a new scientific study showing that, for the first time, polar bears had actually drowned "swimming long distances - up to 60 miles - to find the ice". The judge said: "The only scientific study that either side before me can find is one which indicates that four polar bears have recently been found drowned because of a storm."
More here
It's not that I disbelieve or disagree with everything Gore presents, or that i take the opposing side. In this debate i find both sides to have lost their way. Instead of squabbling back and forth, they ought to focus their attention on reducing pollution, whether the warming we have now has human causes or not, is in many ways irrelevant. I think most people can agree, regardless of where your convictions are, that pollution is bad, that 1,5 bill are without clean drinking water is bad, fish dying in toxic streams is bad, birds dying of hypothermia due to oil spills is bad. So lets focus on these issues, rather than seeing who can win some arbitrary argument on Fox News.
What bugs me most of all, is when anyone, regardless of issue only presents one side of the issue (be it climate changes, communism, or Toyota Tundras). Show me what the options are, Al, and I'll make up my own mind; thank you very much.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Is it just me...
...or does it seem like there's a lot of rubbish music, movies and TV-shows out there? This obviously far from an original opinion, it just needed to be said.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Psalm 119:97-104
"Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path."
Man, this is pretty mind blowing... Just imagine... It's reading stuff like this I realize how incredible immature and underdeveloped my relationship with God truly is...
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path."
Man, this is pretty mind blowing... Just imagine... It's reading stuff like this I realize how incredible immature and underdeveloped my relationship with God truly is...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
blog post #104
so i've posted just over a hundred of these. what strikes me is that none of them stick out in my mind. they all seem wholly unremarkable, actually with a few exceptions, most posts on other people's blogs would fall in the same category. apparently then, our posts are not intended to change the world or ourselves. Why then are blogs so popular? what compels so many of us to write something on a semi-regular basis? obviously, i can only answer for myself, and the most honest answer i can give is; i don't know. I would like to say that it helps me vent frustrations, or it is a way to gather my thoughts, or a way to communicate with the three of you who occasionally drop by this blog. but, honestly, i write posts simply to write posts. why i occasionally feel the need or choose to do so, is actually unclear to me. my days are no different whether i post here or not. i do not sleep better having posted during the day.
I don't know why i just wrote this post or chose this topic; i guess i just felt like it...
I don't know why i just wrote this post or chose this topic; i guess i just felt like it...
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Dr. Egelkraut
My NT theology prof said something today that made me think, it wasn't that it was so revolutionary or a completely new concept; it was more a poignant reminder of something I/we often get our thinking muddled. We are not saved by what Jesus taught, but by who He is and what He did. It is so easy to get sucked into an Evangelical sort of Bibliolatry. The Bible can't save us. The Bible is true, but Christ is the Truth!! No one comes to the Father except through Christ! (John 14:6)
I want to travel
to somewhere i've never been, preferably where they speak a language that is uncommon and where they typically do not know English. Where there's strange but incredible food. Oh, and they'd have to have beaches....
see... who wouldn't want to spend a few days here?
see... who wouldn't want to spend a few days here?
Monday, September 10, 2007
Miuro
I don't know if this Miuro thing is the coolest or most retarded iPod accessory I have ever seen. Apparently it can even follow you around the house. Have we really become so lazy and addicted to our music that the speakers have to follow us around as we move from one room the next?
I think so many of us have become slaves of convenience. We can't even be bothered to get out of the car when we go to the bank or pharmacy. We're so busy trying to not waste any time that we don't have time to just "be". When was the last time any of us just sat; without the TV on, a book in our hand or a paper to write. Even our relaxation time is busy: be it running, knitting, kayaking or getting coffee at Starbuck's. It seems to me that we've lost the art of being still. Lars Saabye Christensen writes about having lost the "in-between time". Everything is in the "immediate", and now. He uses the example of the a digital vs. a 35mm camera. With the 35mm there would be a time between when the picture was taken and when you saw it developed, now the digital images are immediately approved or rejected. We don't have to wait for anything anymore. There are only delays. If it (whatever "it" might be) is not there immediately, then it's delayed or running late. To wait for anything is near impossible; "WHAT!?!? TWO whole days to ship!?!? I have to wait that long!!!! I'd better become a premium member so they'll Fed-Ex it over night...."
Sadly, this whole attitude and lost art of being still is sorely evident in western Christianity as well. When was the last time you went to a church service and was encouraged to sit still for 10 minutes without anything being said or done on stage? I'm ashamed to admit that I hardly ever simply stay still in the presence of God. I come to God with a to-do-list a mile long, and demand an instant response and gratification.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
It's kinda strange
...i've noticed that my MySpace friends list has been dwindling recently... not sure who's gone, and whether they're trying to tell me something...
Monday, August 27, 2007
A thought or two, on this and that
I've really enjoyed this book so far. I'm reading it as a part of a course at school. It's evangelical, but Ladd interacts with many of the more liberal scholars. It's refreshing to read a book which deals so well with both sides, rather than simply and quickly dismissing the other side (in this case the liberal scholars), simply because they are the "other side". All to often both sides throw out the baby with the bath water, much could and ought to be learned from either side (in any discussion, argument or controversy). Granted, the sides might never agree, but is that always the most important thing; to be right, or prove the other side wrong? I'm not promoting compromise or not taking a stand for orthodoxy and the Biblical essentials. I just think that all to often we muddle up what the true essentials are. Chrysostom said: "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, charity. In all things, Jesus Christ." Nothing but a great big "AMEN!" can be added to that.
The Danish language
This is one of my all time favorite skits. Scarily not too far from the truth.
Done by three of Norway's funniest comedians; Harald Eia, Bård Tufte Johansen and Atle Antonsen (from the show "Ut i Vår Hage"):
btw, there's some crude language
Done by three of Norway's funniest comedians; Harald Eia, Bård Tufte Johansen and Atle Antonsen (from the show "Ut i Vår Hage"):
btw, there's some crude language
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Audio books
Leah got me a iTunes gift card a while back to get some audio books for my commutes back and forth to Columbia. I'm struggling to decide. There's something about the whole iTunes thing that makes me feel uncomfortable as well as incredibly indecisive; it's weird not to be able to physically handle the albums and go up the the register to listen to the music (or in this case audio book). Call me old-fashioned. I dunno. it just seems like there's something missing from the shopping experience on iTunes contra a record store...
btw, anyone have any recommendations?
btw, anyone have any recommendations?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Well it's been too long
and too much has happened, for me to even bother to try to catch you up on what's been going on. It'd just be boring anyways, here's a video that's more interesting than anything i might be able to spew out...
Sunday, June 10, 2007
it might seem as
though i have given up. And i haven't really, i've just been busy and had little to write about, a combination which results in little to no posting. hopefully, this will soon change.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
minor update
School's out and i'm working more than usual, it's a nice change, i get to be outside and enjoy the weather, a little hot, but that's ok. Got friends from N coming in this weekend, very excited about that. They've been in San Diego for a year and are touring the east coast before they head on home... on Sat we're all going to the Braves game. other than that there's little to tell
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
eeerrhhh...(?)
Found some guy's slideshow from my hometown Sandnes (sorry, imbedding was disabled); just a teeny tiny bit skewed, but i realize he's trying to be funny. Stupid Swedes...
Warning: there's some pretty rough language in the comments
Warning: there's some pretty rough language in the comments
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
too funny, yet unbelievably creepy
Cut and pasted from the NY Times:
Hamas militants have enlisted the iconic Mickey Mouse to broadcast their message of Islamic dominion and armed resistance to their most impressionable audience -- little kids.
A giant black-and-white rodent -- named ''Farfour,'' or ''butterfly,'' but unmistakably a Mickey ripoff -- does his high-pitched preaching against the U.S. and Israel on a children's show run each Friday on Al-Aqsa TV, a station run by Hamas. The militant group, sworn to Israel's destruction, shares power in the Palestinian government.
''You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists,'' Farfour squeaked on a recent episode of the show, which is titled, ''Tomorrow's Pioneers.''
''We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers.''
Children call in to the show, many singing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.
------------------------
Don't you just love a good old fashined dose of brainwashing?
Hamas militants have enlisted the iconic Mickey Mouse to broadcast their message of Islamic dominion and armed resistance to their most impressionable audience -- little kids.
A giant black-and-white rodent -- named ''Farfour,'' or ''butterfly,'' but unmistakably a Mickey ripoff -- does his high-pitched preaching against the U.S. and Israel on a children's show run each Friday on Al-Aqsa TV, a station run by Hamas. The militant group, sworn to Israel's destruction, shares power in the Palestinian government.''You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists,'' Farfour squeaked on a recent episode of the show, which is titled, ''Tomorrow's Pioneers.''
''We will return the Islamic community to its former greatness, and liberate Jerusalem, God willing, liberate Iraq, God willing, and liberate all the countries of the Muslims invaded by the murderers.''
Children call in to the show, many singing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.
------------------------
Don't you just love a good old fashined dose of brainwashing?
on purposes and the lack thereof...
Well, it been a while since i actually post something that was of actual interest (as if anything on here is of any actual importance). i guess it's because there's little to say or do, i have (or take) very little time to read, listen to or watch something which is of a wider interest. 
I could of course just write about how many diapers i'll change this week (i'm guessing it'll be between 30 and 40) or what i ate for breakfast yesterday (fried egg and turkey on toast and a banana). but i don't think you really care, do you? You (at least ought to) want to read something of real and true importance, that in some way will enrich your life and/or broaden your horizons.
So, ought I not then rather relay, for example, the news that Ian Paisley (Prot.) and Martin McGuiness (Cath.) of Northern Ireland, are now joining together in an attempt to achieve peace and self-government; and then give you a link where I can direct you to an article in the New York Times, which will elaborate further? Maybe, but these types of posts are so rare that, it'd be better for you to read a newspaper.
so then, what is the purpose and the reason(s) that i keep posting? i have no idea, do you?
I could of course just write about how many diapers i'll change this week (i'm guessing it'll be between 30 and 40) or what i ate for breakfast yesterday (fried egg and turkey on toast and a banana). but i don't think you really care, do you? You (at least ought to) want to read something of real and true importance, that in some way will enrich your life and/or broaden your horizons.So, ought I not then rather relay, for example, the news that Ian Paisley (Prot.) and Martin McGuiness (Cath.) of Northern Ireland, are now joining together in an attempt to achieve peace and self-government; and then give you a link where I can direct you to an article in the New York Times, which will elaborate further? Maybe, but these types of posts are so rare that, it'd be better for you to read a newspaper.
so then, what is the purpose and the reason(s) that i keep posting? i have no idea, do you?
Thursday, May 03, 2007
I'm about to eat pasta
yup, nothing like pasta leftovers. It was good yesterday, and it'll be just as good today. looking forward to it for sure. particularly because i'm really quite hungry
in other news; Leah's uncle Johnny fixed the really annoying dripping from the kitchen faucet today
in other news; Leah's uncle Johnny fixed the really annoying dripping from the kitchen faucet today
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
blood part 2
hdl cholesterol 43
ldl cholesterol 74
triglycerides 75
total cholesterol 132
so it's all normal apparently
ldl cholesterol 74
triglycerides 75
total cholesterol 132
so it's all normal apparently
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
æøå
I can hardly wait for summer. it'll be so good to wind down a little (hopefully) and get some other things done than just school and things like that. our dear house is suffering from pretty severe neglect, so hopefully i (we) will be able to put som time and effort into doing some of the things which are desperately needed.
This made me laugh, so i thought i'd share it - White Ninja Likes Strong Tea:
oh, and by the way, on the gossip front; Courtney Love is selling all fo Kurt Cobain's stuff at Christie's... supposedly for charity.
AND even more importantly Hilary Clinton is now on MySpace (and to my great surprise all the comments were very positive), she's so young and trendy... you all better vote for her... God's gift to America. I usually don't care much about/for American politics/politicians, but few people grate me like she does, well except Gore... the worst one though is Trond Giske from the Labor party back home... bah! he's so redicolusly stupid and arrogant, in the worst possible combination... how he gets voted into parliament time after time is beyond me
many disconnected thoughts and ramblings this time; sorry...
This made me laugh, so i thought i'd share it - White Ninja Likes Strong Tea:
oh, and by the way, on the gossip front; Courtney Love is selling all fo Kurt Cobain's stuff at Christie's... supposedly for charity.
AND even more importantly Hilary Clinton is now on MySpace (and to my great surprise all the comments were very positive), she's so young and trendy... you all better vote for her... God's gift to America. I usually don't care much about/for American politics/politicians, but few people grate me like she does, well except Gore... the worst one though is Trond Giske from the Labor party back home... bah! he's so redicolusly stupid and arrogant, in the worst possible combination... how he gets voted into parliament time after time is beyond me
many disconnected thoughts and ramblings this time; sorry...
blood
was drawn from a vein in my left arm this morning. i will soon, for the first time in my life, know what my cholesterol levels are. Will post results.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
he, he
weird how it's this little thing in the corner... i'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this stuff... sorry
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Query
Do you ever feel like posting something without having anything to say? I dunno, I'm tired of seeing the previous post at the top. This is my main motivation for writing this post. Like i said, i have nothing to say, nor anything interesting to share. I'm just filling space and procrastinating from the PP-presentation i'm working on for a class. As i was 'googling' for some visual illustrations for a point i am attempting to make, i came across these shoes by Van Gogh. I just liked the painting, and felt like posting it (additionally it'll take up more room to make this post seem longer), and in doing so i'm probably breaking multiple copyright laws... sorry, Vincent
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
One of my favorite things about the internet
is when I randomly and accidentally stumble upon a website that I did not know existed; yet brings me great joy to browse and read. Today, I was procrastinating a little in the library, and unexpectedly found a website which I was unaware. It's not that it's going to change my life forever, it's just a pleasant feeling to find something good in the midst of all the randomness out there on this world wide web. It probably won’t have the same impact on me tomorrow or the next time I visit the site, but for a few moments it made me smile. I don't think it was the website itself that made me excited (because truthfully, it's not that great) but it was more the unexpected discovery itself. A similar reaction could be expected if I were to drive through some particularly beautiful scenery as I am going somewhere I have yet not been, or if my channel surfing results in finding a good movie that I have not seen. So although the experience itself is pleasant (the scenery or movie), the joy of the actual discovery in itself is of equal impact and importance.
Monday, April 16, 2007
booking airline tickets
especially on the internet, is the most anoying and frustrating thing ever, it never goes as smoothly as one initially thinks/hopes/plans... but we finally got it worked out though...
Coming home July 3rd and staying until the 31st!!!!
Coming home July 3rd and staying until the 31st!!!!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Jesus' death
yes i know a few weeks late... I was reading in John the other day about how the Pharisees, claimed they were not allowed to carry out a death penalty (John 18:31). as i was reading this it struck me(for the very first time) that this was contrary (their actions, not the Bible) to the incident where Jesus stops the Pharisees from stoning the adulterous woman (John 8:2-11). Why did they retreat to claiming that they were not allowed to execute Jesus themselves? The whole court case against him was the biggest farce in human history anyways. Why get so stuck on this, when so many other laws and regulations were broken? Why not just go ahead and stone him in some back alley... doubt a single Roman would every have noticed or cared. There is of course one obvious 'larger' answer; it happened so that the prophecies concerning Jesus death would be fulfilled (e.g. John 18:32, Zechariah 12:10, Psalms 22:16). but I'm more curious as to what was going through the Pharisees minds as they decided to not take matters into their own hands... (fear of the people?) I'm sure that if i could be bothered to look in a commentary or two i might find answers rather than semi-coherent postulations... if i do indeed look this up and find some answers, i might just let you know, unless this is answered in a satisfactory way by others who might comment. As this is unlikely (not the intellectual capabilities of the two people who might read this, but rather the possibility of anyone commenting), as is my own further study on the subject, this will probably remain an incomplete or rather unconcluded discussion. Not that this was really the hope of this post; it’s purpose was to ask the question rather than to find the answer (not, that this is a good thing, I’m just plain lazy, and I have Greek homework to do)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
i just couldn't resist
The pic is from Easter Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's:
He's doing really well, growing something awful. He has the appetite of his dad. He's usually in a good mood, especially on the changing table, which i find a little strange.. difficult for me to interpret the reasons for this seemed pleasure... hope it's not an indication of things to come... as i told my brother in law the other day; i will never look at Dijon mustard in the same way, and certainly not put it on my sandwich. He's even got to the point of laughing, smiling (as evidenced here) and making some really weird sounds...
He's doing really well, growing something awful. He has the appetite of his dad. He's usually in a good mood, especially on the changing table, which i find a little strange.. difficult for me to interpret the reasons for this seemed pleasure... hope it's not an indication of things to come... as i told my brother in law the other day; i will never look at Dijon mustard in the same way, and certainly not put it on my sandwich. He's even got to the point of laughing, smiling (as evidenced here) and making some really weird sounds...
Monday, April 09, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
On blogging, MySpacing, facebooking and so on and so forth
Why do we join all there network/blog things? i rarely, if ever update any of these, present blog excluded, yet i find my self checking them all on an almost daily basis. Why? few of my contacts update their sites either, yet i continue to check them. little or no information is actually gleaned nor is there much direct contact. it is simply this 'passive' interaction via reading other people's posts/notes/updates... i think to some extent it is my own need for being 'in the loop', but why? am i really this insecure? seemingly, i am. this bothers me a little... even so, i'll more than likely continue to check tomorrow and the next day and the day after that...
an even more interesting feature of this whole issue, is that there is rarely any further interaction concerning a specific post, with the actual person; with only one or two exceptions, i cannot remember reading and or commenting on someone’s blog, myspace etc, and then talking about said post further in person the next time we meet face to face. Why is there this chasm between 'virtual' and 'real' conversations?
an even more interesting feature of this whole issue, is that there is rarely any further interaction concerning a specific post, with the actual person; with only one or two exceptions, i cannot remember reading and or commenting on someone’s blog, myspace etc, and then talking about said post further in person the next time we meet face to face. Why is there this chasm between 'virtual' and 'real' conversations?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Heck yeah!!!
Reminds me of the good old days growing up back home... good times... nothing like a little pillaging on a Saturday afternoon when there's nothing on TV...
PATHFINDER - Legend of the Ghost Warrior:
Sadly, it's R...
PATHFINDER - Legend of the Ghost Warrior:
Sadly, it's R...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
there's always something
it continues to astound me that there is always something going on. Never a day where nothing happens. it might not be life changing or worldview shattering, but something happens every day that was not planned or occurred in an unforeseen way. Why is this? Realizing that i do not know the future, i know that every detail of my life is unknown to me, yet why is there never a single day in which something unexpected occurs. would it not be interesting to live just one day where things turn out just as one had thought/expected? i guess this might actually be a little eerie...
I'm very sick of yellow pollen
I'm very sick of yellow pollen
Monday, March 26, 2007
Norwegian Music Videos...
just thought i’d try to post something interesting on a weekly(ish) basis... probably won't always be some of my favorites... all i can promise is that it won't be a-ha, Dimmur Borgir or Aqua...
this week it's Magnet, he's pretty interesting, been getting some attention on both sides of the Atlantic. if you are into the OC you might have heard some of his music, they have supposedly played some of his music (as i understand it one of the producers like him or something like that...)
this week it's Magnet, he's pretty interesting, been getting some attention on both sides of the Atlantic. if you are into the OC you might have heard some of his music, they have supposedly played some of his music (as i understand it one of the producers like him or something like that...)
Friday, March 23, 2007
The MiniCAT - Isn't she a beaut!
well, actually, no... pretty dang ugly... BUT, it actually runs on compressed air! Pretty cool if you ask me. Sadly I do not think it'll catch on as it's max speed is about 37 mph, and has a limit of about 15 miles traveling distance. There will also be a hybrid version with much better capabilities. Say what you want, but i think it's great that there are some people out there willing to make stuff that's environmentally friendly.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Where does the time go?
i wish i knew...
i need some fresh air (...and maybe a cup'o Joe)
btw; does anyone know why coffee is sometimes referred to as 'Joe'... i struggle to see an obvious connection...
i need some fresh air (...and maybe a cup'o Joe)
btw; does anyone know why coffee is sometimes referred to as 'Joe'... i struggle to see an obvious connection...
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
On Norwegians singing...
don't worry.. i'm not about to break in to song. I accidentally stumbled upon one of my favorite Norwegian praise and worship artist’s MySpace the other day. I realized that he had moved to England and started singing in English. In fact, the two songs which are featured are translations of songs already put out in Norwegian. I am a bit ambivalent as to whether i like this or not. I understand that Rudi wishes to gain a broader audience (the Norwegian CCM market is rather limited),
yet the songs seem to have lost something. I also think that we (the Christians of the world) have more than enough English singing artists (it's not like we can't buy Third Day or Delirious? albums in Norway), yet there are very few Norwegian Christians singing in Norwegian. I still like Rudi Myntevik, what he has done for my generation's ability to sing praises to God in a contemporary way, can never be underestimated. I'm not sure where i'm going with this post or what i am trying to say. I just had a need to write about it. I guess i'm struggling a little with bridging the gap between music which truly glorifies God and a desire for commercial success. I'm just curious as to how far one ought to go to achieve widespread commercial success when the main purpose (at least, ought to be) glorification of God through song and music. Where is the balance between God providing through one's music (and hopefully, calling) and the money making machines that we see some of the big bands/names within CCM? (The current Third Day tour is sponsored by Chevrolet!) I'm not judging per se, more just struggling to see where the line ought to be drawn or the balance ought to be held.
yet the songs seem to have lost something. I also think that we (the Christians of the world) have more than enough English singing artists (it's not like we can't buy Third Day or Delirious? albums in Norway), yet there are very few Norwegian Christians singing in Norwegian. I still like Rudi Myntevik, what he has done for my generation's ability to sing praises to God in a contemporary way, can never be underestimated. I'm not sure where i'm going with this post or what i am trying to say. I just had a need to write about it. I guess i'm struggling a little with bridging the gap between music which truly glorifies God and a desire for commercial success. I'm just curious as to how far one ought to go to achieve widespread commercial success when the main purpose (at least, ought to be) glorification of God through song and music. Where is the balance between God providing through one's music (and hopefully, calling) and the money making machines that we see some of the big bands/names within CCM? (The current Third Day tour is sponsored by Chevrolet!) I'm not judging per se, more just struggling to see where the line ought to be drawn or the balance ought to be held.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Everything Is Illuminated
I saw it for the first time today, i realize that pretty much everyone and their brother has already seen it... (proving how out of it we have been lately) Been meaning to for a very long time, just one of those movies we never got around to. Without a doubt one of the funniest and saddest movies i have seen in a long time. VERY well written. The dialogue was incredible. Would highly recommend it to anyone (who is okay watching a PG-13 movie, which is as close to R as it possibly can be). Anyone read the book? Anyone know how biographical the story is?
Little else going on... Matias is growing like crazy, Leah's back at work part-time, and I just had a bowl of ice cream... God is truly good.
Little else going on... Matias is growing like crazy, Leah's back at work part-time, and I just had a bowl of ice cream... God is truly good.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
His name is
Ludivg. He lives with Solan Gundersen and Reodor Felgen in a little place called Flåklypa. Since no one was able to answer, there'll be no oversized picture, so instead i'll include some clips from one of Ludivg's famous movie appearances (Flåklypa Grand Prix):
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
This is one of those times...
... when I have nothing to blog about, yet decide to do so. So I pretty much end up talking about nothing. It have become a form of procrastination. Right now it's a substitute fro browsing the mindless world of MySpace, as for some reason (my theory is the gross advertising) the school library's firewall (?) will not allow me access. So rather than actually study I decided to post a blog, even though I really have nothing to say.
In order that the reading of this post will not have been a complete waste of time for you, I will have a small competition exclusively for my NON-Scandinavian readers. Name this beloved Norwegian:
Answers can be posted in the 'comments'. Winner will receive honor and glory in the form of an exclusive post devoted to him/her, wherein every possible positive attribute is mentioned with great fanfare, followed by an oversized picture of them (if any such picture is submitted), as well as some fantastic, recently smuggled Norwegian chocolate (when/if you come to visit our home).
In order that the reading of this post will not have been a complete waste of time for you, I will have a small competition exclusively for my NON-Scandinavian readers. Name this beloved Norwegian:
Answers can be posted in the 'comments'. Winner will receive honor and glory in the form of an exclusive post devoted to him/her, wherein every possible positive attribute is mentioned with great fanfare, followed by an oversized picture of them (if any such picture is submitted), as well as some fantastic, recently smuggled Norwegian chocolate (when/if you come to visit our home).
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
James Cameron's brilliance...
...has now dispelled this silly notion of Jesus' resurrection. He and his crew have found Jesus' tomb. Apparently Jesus died as husband of Mary Magdalene and father of Judah - and there was of course no resurrection. Cameron even has DNA evidence. It's so good to know that this great Biblical archeologist and scholar is relentless in his search for the unbiased truth. More here
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Apologies... sort of...
I realize that i've had a bad case of babyitis... And i'm sure (that if you're anything like me) you think it's great that someone has a new baby, but it's not like it's going to your own world upside down. New parents can truly be annoying... I've never cared for them much; all they are capable of talking about is their baby. I vowed to NOT become one of those parents. (If you, dear reader, are a new parent and love nothing more than to talk about your baby - i hope i have not caused offence - but for crying out loud; there are other things happening in the world). And before anyone of you can accuse me of doing otherwise; I LOVE MY SON! It's just that i don't think that every post needs to be about how many times he pooped or what kind of new and funny face he makes...
So on to other, but far from better, things.
I went to Wal-Mart yesterday. I hate the parking lot there. There's always people waiting in the middle of the lane for a spot as close to the entrance as possible. Thus causing others to be stuck behind them with nowhere to go. The funny thing is, that the majority of the people who are willing to wait half an hour for parking right by the door, are the people who really could use the extra fifty yard walk if they had parked a little further back! Wow, that was negative... but that is probably one of the-top-ten-annoying-things to me.
So on to other, but far from better, things.
I went to Wal-Mart yesterday. I hate the parking lot there. There's always people waiting in the middle of the lane for a spot as close to the entrance as possible. Thus causing others to be stuck behind them with nowhere to go. The funny thing is, that the majority of the people who are willing to wait half an hour for parking right by the door, are the people who really could use the extra fifty yard walk if they had parked a little further back! Wow, that was negative... but that is probably one of the-top-ten-annoying-things to me.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
So I'm a dad now...
... well I guess I've been for the past 9 months, but now it's for real...
Leah did most of the laboring at home on Tuesday, but had to go in for an emergency c-section. Matias had a collapsed lung, which meant he had to stay at the NICU for a few days. But now they're both home and everything is going great.
Leah did most of the laboring at home on Tuesday, but had to go in for an emergency c-section. Matias had a collapsed lung, which meant he had to stay at the NICU for a few days. But now they're both home and everything is going great.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Confucius and Inductions...
I have been trying to get a paper on Confucius finished for the past four days, finally got it done three minutes ago. It is of such a poor quality it is almost embarrassing, but I just had to get rid of it. Normally, a paper on somebody like him would be very interesting to me. But sadly, this weekend was just bad timing on his part.... He should have know better than to try to hang out the last weekend of this WAY over-due pregnancy. If nothing happens in the next 36 hours we're going to have to go in for an induction on Wed at 8am. It's apparently not same for the baby or mom to go much past 2 weeks. This means giving up our plan to have the birth at home. This saddens us, but at the same time all we can do is trust God and his divine plan for the three of us. All we can do in the end is leave it up to Him. He can 'kick' Leah into labor as I am writing this if He wishes. If He chooses not to, we can only see this as it not being His time yet.
I am so sick of this Anna Nicole thing... It is so sickening to me that the news media chooses this kind of soap-opera-fluff, rather than to report on actual news.
I am so sick of this Anna Nicole thing... It is so sickening to me that the news media chooses this kind of soap-opera-fluff, rather than to report on actual news.
Friday, February 09, 2007
HTML ignorance...
does anyone know how i can right-align the "...listen intently" in the header? (HTML is not exactly one of my strengths) For some reason it just bothers me where it is now...
Thursday, February 08, 2007
I have to admit it...
I am now a regular watcher of both Lost and 24... I don’t really know how this happened. I prefer to not be hooked on any show, but somehow this happened. It is more a need to know what will happen next, rather than loving every second of every episode. Anyone else struggle with similar addictions?
Little else happening... still no baby... can't remember whether or not I mentioned that our heater busted. It's so old that we're not sure whether it's worth fixing. Either way, the cost is going to be ridiculous. The timing is of course impeccable...
I'm still eating awesome bread - it makes me smile...
My good friend Kjell emailed me this pic. It made me laugh, so i figured i'd share it:
Little else happening... still no baby... can't remember whether or not I mentioned that our heater busted. It's so old that we're not sure whether it's worth fixing. Either way, the cost is going to be ridiculous. The timing is of course impeccable...
I'm still eating awesome bread - it makes me smile...
My good friend Kjell emailed me this pic. It made me laugh, so i figured i'd share it:
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Success!!!
We got another week. They've also moved the date back to the original date of Jan 31st, which means that L is officially only one week late, rather than three - which is a pretty big difference. We've got another week to try to have it at home, before it has to be induced next Wed (14th).
i'm sure that this is totally uninteresting to the two of you that will read this post, but it's good for me to vent. Just wish it was over and done with. We're all ready to move on and see the little guy.
i'm sure that this is totally uninteresting to the two of you that will read this post, but it's good for me to vent. Just wish it was over and done with. We're all ready to move on and see the little guy.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Labor developments...
...or rather, lack thereof. Leah is now 3 weeks overdue according to most recent ultrasound. It was changed sometime in Dec from Jan 31. Of course it now seems as though this change was a mistake. If we go by the 31, she's only a week late. It's all wonderfully confusing. Leah was scheduled for an induction tomorrow (Wed 2/7), but we wanted to wait another week if this was medically responsible. We went to the doctor this morning and he agreed to postpone the induction another week, contingent on Leah going in for a contraction stress test tomorrow morning. If the results are negative (which is good), we'll wait another week, if they are positive (which is bad), they'll induce straight away. Strange to live in such limbo. We would love to have the extra time in order for nature (and God) to take it's course, as well as having the birth at home, but we are not so fanatical as to risk anything happening to the baby or mom.
On a lighter, but more annoying note, i got to spend $102 on an audio CD for a class at school today... That's of course on top of the five books and the regular tuition that I paid last week for the same class. Higher Education often seems like a gyp.... I always liked Will Hunting's attitude that all we really need, to be educated, is a library card.
I had awesome bread today
On a lighter, but more annoying note, i got to spend $102 on an audio CD for a class at school today... That's of course on top of the five books and the regular tuition that I paid last week for the same class. Higher Education often seems like a gyp.... I always liked Will Hunting's attitude that all we really need, to be educated, is a library card.
I had awesome bread today
Saturday, February 03, 2007
This really ticks me off!
"SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - The government on Tuesday said it will resume its program to provide free "morning-after" contraceptives to girls as young as 14"
More here
The morning after pill is bad enough (because it's murder), but for the state to offer it to 14 year old without parental knowledge is a new low! In what kind of a messed up mind does this make any sense. As I am writing this I am honestly trying to see things from their point of view, but it just does not compute. How can any government encourage a 14 to abort a human being without letting the parent's of the 14 have knowledge and input into the situation? If the 14 year old were caught shoplifting they would notify the parents, if the child (as I think most of us agree 14 year old still are) got in a fight at school or were caught cheating on a test, the parents would be involved. But somehow murder is not within the scope of parental responsibility. Is there not something here that seems terribly distorted?
More here
The morning after pill is bad enough (because it's murder), but for the state to offer it to 14 year old without parental knowledge is a new low! In what kind of a messed up mind does this make any sense. As I am writing this I am honestly trying to see things from their point of view, but it just does not compute. How can any government encourage a 14 to abort a human being without letting the parent's of the 14 have knowledge and input into the situation? If the 14 year old were caught shoplifting they would notify the parents, if the child (as I think most of us agree 14 year old still are) got in a fight at school or were caught cheating on a test, the parents would be involved. But somehow murder is not within the scope of parental responsibility. Is there not something here that seems terribly distorted?
Friday, February 02, 2007
I wonder why...
Sometimes I ask myself why I make my life so (seemingly) complicated. I know that all that matters is God and living in His will. But somehow it all too often gets muddled. I forget to live in His will. I forget that He is present in everything I say, think and do. Most of the time I think it’s just plain and simple laziness – it’s easier to just limp along in life, than it is to stop everything and cry out to Him. If I am completely honest I would all too often rather watch an episode of Battlestar Galactica, that spend 45 minutes in the Word and/or prayer. Why is this? I know what I should do, yet I don’t. (I realize the similarity to Rom 7:15-16 and I am in a strange way comforted that even Paul struggled with this). The only conclusion I have come to so far is that it comes down to love. Those I truly love I want to spend as much time with as I possibly can. So therefore it seems as though I do not love God in the way I ought. What is hindering me? Why don’t I love Him as I should? Here I struggle to find answers… My sinful nature maybe?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Well I decided today that...
...I'm really going to try to start blogging on a consistent basis. Granted, my track record is far from impressive, but you never know, this time it might stick. There's just so much blog-stuff out there now, I’m kind of sick of the whole thing - everybody has 5 different sites which they rarely update. What's the point of it all?
Life is good right now, back in school, and although time off is always appreciated, it is nice to start back up. I think this term will be pretty interesting, hopefully signed up for some good classes... I'm getting pretty sick of the drive down to school though; a little over an hour and a half one way twice a week... blah, but the school is worth it ;)
We've been waiting 9 and a half months (tomorrow) for our first child to enter into the world. If your math and biology skills are up to snuff, you ought to have been able to discern from the previous sentence that he is now 2 weeks past the original due date. It is strange how all-consuming it becomes the longer he waits. David W. kept whispering the word 'baby' after every other sentence I spoke as we were hanging out yesterday; and this is truly how it is. it is virtually impossible to think and focus on anything else.
On a completely different note; I am in a (so far, purely mental) process of thinking of why do I go to church. There are many external factors which cause me to go; I teach MS Sunday school, I meet family and friends there, I feel guilty if I skip for no reason, and I believe the Bible tells me to. But why, when I am deeply and brutally honest with my self, do I really go? Should there not be other motivations than these? I'm supposed to meet with and worship God, right? Yet how often do I actually do this? Sadly, not as often as I would like... Why is this the case? Why it (or seems) so hard?
K
Life is good right now, back in school, and although time off is always appreciated, it is nice to start back up. I think this term will be pretty interesting, hopefully signed up for some good classes... I'm getting pretty sick of the drive down to school though; a little over an hour and a half one way twice a week... blah, but the school is worth it ;)
We've been waiting 9 and a half months (tomorrow) for our first child to enter into the world. If your math and biology skills are up to snuff, you ought to have been able to discern from the previous sentence that he is now 2 weeks past the original due date. It is strange how all-consuming it becomes the longer he waits. David W. kept whispering the word 'baby' after every other sentence I spoke as we were hanging out yesterday; and this is truly how it is. it is virtually impossible to think and focus on anything else.
On a completely different note; I am in a (so far, purely mental) process of thinking of why do I go to church. There are many external factors which cause me to go; I teach MS Sunday school, I meet family and friends there, I feel guilty if I skip for no reason, and I believe the Bible tells me to. But why, when I am deeply and brutally honest with my self, do I really go? Should there not be other motivations than these? I'm supposed to meet with and worship God, right? Yet how often do I actually do this? Sadly, not as often as I would like... Why is this the case? Why it (or seems) so hard?
K
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