Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

« Older Entries

They ask the questions we avoid (or) Why does God save yet not prevent?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I have one of the best jobs on the planet. Pastoring a small church whose primary ministry is with international students and scholars. Most of whom are here for a limited period of time. Many of whom are studying the Bible and learning about the Christian faith for the first time. We also have Americans and internationals who have been strong Christians for many years.

The thing about extremely intelligent and well educated internationals who are studying the Christian faith for the first time is that they ask questions that American Christians do not normally ask. Either because we have asked and answered them long ago. Or we avoid them because we have yet to find a satisfactory answer.

Jesus teaches us to forgive others. So why does God not forgive human beings unless we believe in Jesus? And why could God not forgive unless his son died on the cross? And yet God expects us to forgive others without such conditions.

Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek and love our enemies. President Bush is supposed to be a Christian. So why did America go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying there are no satisfactory answers to these questions. Just that they sometimes ask questions that one does not hear from Americans who have grown up going to church. This Sunday they hit me with a good one. We were discussing the Psalms. A short study on different types of Psalm. Wisdom. Lament. Thanksgiving. And praise. For the last type looking at Psalm 146. How often we think “God must be on the side of those who prosper and must be angry with those who suffer”. And yet Psalm 146 clearly proclaims that God cares especially for the oppressed the hungry the imprisoned the blind the fallen the foreigner the widows and the orphans. We might think God must have been punishing the people of Haiti because they “made a deal with the devil”. And yet Psalm 146 invites us to see how God cares about them.

And how does God care for all these different kinds of people who are in need or are suffering? Does he make food *poof* appear out of thin air? Or does he help them through us? I do believe in miracles. That God can and does *poof* provide what people need. But I also believe strongly that we are junior partners with God. That we participate in his ongoing mission to heal and to forgive and to save.

And then someone asked:

Yes but why did God not prevent the earthquake in the first place?

I did not have a good immediate answer for that. Perhaps I should have. Yes there is Genesis 1-3 and the story of the Fall or more precisely the Falling Apart. We can talk about the brokenness of creation and how that goes back to when human beings first turned against God. Paul Achtemeier argues persuasively that the book of Romans is not primarily about the doctrine of salvation by grace which we receive by faith. It is really about the story of God and his relationship with a world in rebellion against him. And it is in that context as part of that story that yes indeed Paul the apostle brings up salvation by grace received by faith.

But somehow that does not seem to answer adequately the question my Chinese friends ask. Or does it?

We talk about how God saves. But these people from other nations who frankly are the best in their home countries ask why God saves but does not prevent in the first place.

In The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien why does Eru Ilavatar allow the drama to continue?

Posted in Christianity, Hebrew Bible, Internationals, Personal, Theology, Tolkien | 2 Comments »

Chaim Potok and sermons

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Was listening to NPR in car this morning (yeah yeah I know) and “Writer’s Almanac” with Garrison Keillor came on. It was more interesting than most days.

Ah yes a poem about cleaning up after the dog. Guess who walks the dog in our family? And yes letting everyone see you use the bag is important.

Birthday of Chaim Potok. This got my attention because Potok is one of my favorite writers and I have read most of his books. He is one of the people I draw upon for my theology of the importance of silence. His books also help us understand the Jewish religion. Most of my teachers were Jewish and so I have a special respect and affection for the Jewish religion and people.

Premiere of the opera “Madame Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini. Did terribly until Puccini made some changes and then presented it again later that year.

And a great quote that every preacher should heed:

A good sermon should be like a woman’s skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.

Word! From Ronald Knox born this day in 1888.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Today we enter Lent.

Posted in Art, Judaism, Literature, Media, Personal, Sermons | No Comments »

Down with colleges and universities?!? (or) Barbecue stands and education reform

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Baton Rouge Community College - 15,000+ students

Baton Rouge Community College - 15,000+ students

Okay just trying to get your attention with a provocative title.

Background. Every month or two(?) we have an early release day. Pick up first daughter at at McKinley Middle 11:30 a.m. then drive to pick up second daughter at Baton Rouge High. Along the way there is an empty lot with a small trailer that advertizes barbecue. Normally it is closed when I drive that way in the afternoon. But on early release days I have formed the habit of taking the opportunity to stop and get a barbecue sandwich, side, and drink.

Arguably the best dang barbecue in the city. They have a piece of paper on the window that sez so.

Anyways they are so friendly and so are others who come by. Have been getting to know this guy who comes for lunch – wears Dickie work clothes, long gray hair, glasses. Apparently his kids went to Baton Rouge High. Today asked him about his work. They build “big ass mufflers for boats” – as in tugboats. As in mufflers that are 3 feet diameter and 10 feet long. How is business? Good. Everyone been working full hours without having to go into overtime. He has six employees.

They make $28 an hour.

Wow. That’s good money. Making “big ass mufflers” for boats? That’s more than I make.

He tells me about his two best employees a father-son team. The son is 18 and been going to the vocational school up the road.

“Back in Massachusetts we had that. It was one of your options”.

Yeah but here it is like college – after high school.

He is from Chicago and knows just what I am talking about. They had shop, metalwork, woodworking, automotive, eventually even plastics. Each year they built and sold a house and a fiberglass mold – covered materials for the entire school year. Good stuff.

Here’s my point.

We have too many colleges and universities – or at the very least not enough vocational schools and community colleges.

Several months ago was reading National Review and they had a list of twelve things that would revitalize the middle class. One of them was this very issue – strengthen our non-college non-university educational institutions. I say this as someone who went to university and has three graduate degrees. But not everyone who goes to college will get a good job. How many people four years and tens possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars later are still not able to find work in their field? For some reason we have gotten to the point where it is considered a basic requirement.

Is it? What about trades? skills?

The director of Teach for America for this region – who grew up in this church – mentioned that Louisiana with its population size really only needs two universities. We have several state and several private. The courses/credits do not always transfer smoothly between community colleges and universities or even between different universities in the state system. Louisiana greatly needs to strengthen its network of vocational schools and community colleges – and coordinate them better with the state university system.

So that a kid with mediocre grades and almost no money can start at a community college… knock out his core requirements… transfer to a university… and eventually get a PhD.

Think I am exaggerating?

My grandfather Edwin Warner was for much of his career the dean of Mohawk Valley Community College which was the first community college in the state of New York. His great achievement was to visit big universities around the state and ask “what do you require – in terms of your core courses and basic course requirements?” So he went back and made sure that students at Mohawk Valley got what the universities expected – so they could transfer to those universities and all their courses and credits would transfer with them.

And he did not have a PhD. Although people often addressed him as “Doctor” Warner.

He used to get letters from people decades later – people with PhDs, CEOs of companies, professors, doctors, engineers – thanking my grandfather for the start they got at Mohawk Valley Community College.

And what if someone does not go any farther? What is wrong with an Associates degree in a useful trade that leads to a solid job?

Just thinking out loud.

With my two master’s degrees and a doctorate – I make less than experienced skilled high school graduates who build “big ass mufflers” for boats. Not that I need to change careers. So much as to emphasize that if we want to help Americans get a good education that leads to good job…

It does not necessarily mean we need to work on getting everyone a college education.

Posted in Education, Louisiana, Personal | No Comments »

December is the cruelest month (for some)

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Lanesboro Massachusetts 1968

Lanesboro Massachusetts 1968

Glory to God for Advent and for Christmas when we celebrate the incarnation of God the Son in Jesus of Nazareth! Advent preparation and Christmas joy.

Keep that in mind when I say that for our family December is a difficult month. I know there are many who will feel acutely and painfully the absence of loved ones on Christmas.

Between my wife and me three out of our four parents died – all of them very unexpectedly – within a week of Christmas.

December 26 before we ever met. She drives back to seminary – only to hear the news about her dad and must turn around and drive back for the funeral.

December 22 2000. Finishing up dinner when my mom calls. Something about having some sad news she found someone on the floor of the house. Could not quite catch who she was talking about so I asked her to repeat. She found my dad on the floor and he had obviously been dead for some time. I had not seen him in a year and a half – Virginia too far from Minnesota and now Louisiana too far from New York.

December 18 2006. Three years ago today. Getting ready to drive to Florida later that week to spend Christmas with my mother-in-law and her husband. We had not seen them in three and a half years – long way to Tennessee for some reason we had not been in a while. And my sister was flying from Minnesota to join us there. Church staff Christmas party. Step outside to answer a call from my wife. Her mother had a heart attack and had died.

So the fun trip to Florida and family and Disneyworld turned into a very rushed trip to the mountains of northeast Tennessee.

Buck Mountain Tennessee 2006

I am a dreadful poet – but this is what I wrote a few weeks later:

Buck Mountain

The wind is cold because it blows across the snow
That rests upon the frozen earth
In which our ancestors sleep.

They sleep these names that once
Are fathers husbands brothers
Wives and sisters mothers
Even children.

With slow and quiet smiles
They let me walk among them
And share with me
Their watch from high above the valley.

The wind is cold because it blows across the snow
As I return upon the melting path
That leads me back
To the valley of those
They loved and birthed.

What am I trying to say? Not sure entirely. Only to share that there is something about December that to us is dreadful and threatening. Dates on the calendar that are monsters of darkness and grief with gaping maws lined with teeth past which – through which? – we journey on our way to the new year.

We are not alone. We know others have lost loved ones. And each experience of grief is different. We do not “know just what you are going through”. Although we might understand a little bit.

There was a pastor who so many years ago – before my wife and I met – who in his morning prayer one Sunday said “and we know there are some for whom the Christmas season is difficult”. Just one brief sentence during a gathering of joy and celebration. But with that one sentence that young seminary student felt included. And was able to worship.

Ba`ereb yali(y)n bki(y) wlabboqer rinna(h)

In the evening spends-the-night weeping. But in the morning rejoicing. (Psalm 30:6)

Posted in Family, Personal | No Comments »

Not feeling the warm liberal fuzziness (or) "Bleep you and die Senator Lieberman!"

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

This may cross a line.

There is a man I love and respect – whom I regard as a better man/husband/father/minister than I am – whose social-political views are often very different from mine. We are “friends” on Facebook. He often posts opinions that are pretty strong – very critical toward conservatives and Republicans. Which is fine. Normally I ignore them because (a) not always in the mood for a debate and (b) we have day jobs.

He posted something that did not require a response but the chain of comments got interesting.

Someone #1: if you die of crime or terrorism you can blame the criminal or terrorist. :/
i agree with a___…somebody needs to take joe lieberman into the senate cloak room and beat him with a sock full of pennies

Friend: [Link to Daily Kos article: "F--k you Senator Lieberman!" I will not link to it.]

Someone #2: Tell him to sue those bitches when you guys die.

With me so far? So I took the risk of chiming in.

Rick: Hmm – disagree with a person (say Lieberman) even strongly. But “f–k you”? Not feeling the love or the warm liberal fuzziness here. Can one say “you are wrong” without saying “you are stupid and evil and should suffer”? Does such rhetoric persuade the opposition? Normally content not to chime in but this was a bit much.

The reactions were interesting.

Someone #2: We Democrats learned such tricks from the Republicans.

Someone #3: Richard – Hate to burst your bubble…but just cause everyone assumes that liberals are all tye-dye wearing, pot smoking and free loving…it is not so…and we are, at times, not so warm and fuzzy. [emphasis added]

And that boys and girls is why I normally avoid these exchanges.

What struck me about this was:

1) My complete and utter failure to communicate successfully. Which is “wait a second – you characterize conservatives as evil and stupid and even worthy of violence. Can I assume you think of yourself as a liberal? Can I also assume you regard yourself as being more caring compassionate loving tolerant and open-minded than conservatives? Maybe you do not – but I think that is a safe assumption. So why can you not just say ‘Lieberman is dead wrong and this is why‘? Why do you say ‘f–k you!’ and fantasize about beating him with a sock full of pennies? Do you think that conveys the impression – perhaps we should ask is that consistent with your assumption that you are caring compassionate loving tolerant and open-minded?”

2) The effort to redirect attention onto the person asking the question. “Everyone assumes that liberals are all tye-dye wearing, pot smoking and free loving” – speaking of assumptions.

3) Yeah yeah I know conservatives say it a million times each day but might as well say it again. How would self-described liberals respond if I said “Frak you Senator Reid! Someone should take you into a cloakroom and beat you with a sock full of pennies. You want hundreds of thousands of Americans to be enslaved to the government”?

For the record the issue here is not “liberals bad – conservatives good”. In fact the title of this post is problematic. “Liberals”? What kind of a gross generalization is that?

The primary prayer of the Christian is “Lord have mercy on me” not “Lord have mercy on that heartless scumbucket over there”.

The conservative websites I visit do sometimes exhibit (a) profanity and (b) hateful rhetoric (mainly in the comments – much harder to control). Conservatives are not immune to “you are not merely wrong – you are evil and stupid”.

Perhaps I should lay off asking liberals to remove the motes in their eyes and continue to work on the beams in my own. That sounds like a good plan.

Posted in Fun and Geek Stuff, Healthcare, Personal, Politics, Rhetoric | No Comments »

Unwashed angels in the passenger seat of my car (or) The challenge of strangers who ask for help

Monday, December 7th, 2009

During the last few weeks I have emptied my wallet 3 times for strangers who ask for help.

Last month getting ready for a Church of the Nations planning meeting in the chapel. Raining hard outside. Bible Study Fellowship is also at our church facility for their Monday gathering.

Bang bang bang.

Some fellow I have never seen knocking on the glass doors leading to the chapel. One of the BSF leaders brought him to me. He comes in and quickly goes on about gee whiz Christians are supposed to help each other and he used to be a pastor and complains no one would stop and help him when he was stuck on the side of the road – on his way home from working in the area has a slow leak in his tire some shop down Nicholson Drive will fix it and he needs something like $23.46. He talks and talks and talks and even calls me out when I respond with a slight frown or furrowed brow.

I do not believe a word he is saying. But frankly he does not seem open to “no I cannot help you” so I walk with him to his car – rather new rather nice (nicer than mine by far) and the tires look great – hand him everything I have in my wallet and send him on his way. I felt manipulated and forced into that and am a bit angry.

The next Sunday Church of the Nations leads worship for University Baptist Church. We do not normally have an invitation but the American church does so I lead it – and some fellow I have never seen walks up and says something about “get back with the Lord” and needing to be baptized so I present him to the congregation that says “thanks be to God”. (For the record I do not approve of this sort of instant receiving of people who make decisions – but that is how they do things.)

Afterward I find out he has an eviction notice in his pocket – tomorrow no less. *Sigh* I am so sick of people who come to the church asking for financial assistance the day before a deadline – they have known for three four or more weeks that their telephone or electricity or such would be disconnected. And we have to help them now without any chance of taking just a day or two to consider their request. For the record this gentleman does not ask for help – he just lets us know about the eviction notice.

I am supposed to be greeting people and driving internationals home – puts me in a bad spot. He says he is going to walk through neighborhood looking for yardwork – I ask him to come back at 5:00 p.m. when I will be back for Harvest Festival activity.

He does. I help him fill out benevolence application. Scan it. Email it to the committee. He prepares to walk home. I object rather strongly – I will drive him home. No no no – he would rather walk. I manage to persuade him. And drive him to the single darkest (as in no house/street lights) scariest neighborhood in north Baton Rouge I have ever been in. I have never been afraid to be somewhere in Baton Rouge but this time wonder if I am going to get shot. Drop him off. Pray with him first. Hand him $20 to buy some food for his kids. Am happy to help him out especially since he never asked for anything. Get the heck out of there and call my wife on the way just in case something happens on the way.

Turns out one of the benevolence committee persons checks things out – he is about three months behind on rent. We are talking more than $1000 – she takes care of it and calls the landlord who was at the courthouse. No kidding. No more eviction. But he needs a job and a car. Comes by the church later that week. Thanks us for the help. Might have a car to buy. Needs $200 – will look for yardwork again. I offer to hire him for $100.

Ah – but to get a permanent job he needs his cell phone on again. Can I advance him what it costs to reactivate? *Sigh* I go to my office and empty out my “secret emergency stash” and hand it to him. Tomorrow around 9:00 a.m. at my house – give him my cell number and address. This time I am irritated and feel manipulated and forced to give something I would rather not give – not until he shows up and does the work.

Next day I am working from home. He never shows. Or calls. I try to text him – his cell phone should be on again right? but nothing. Try not to judge him or jump to conclusions. Maybe something happened.

Next weekend he comes to church but does not find me. Says his bus was in a wreck they all got $700 from the transit company – my wife thinks it sounds fishy – and he has a car. Says he still wants to come by and do that yardwork for me. Cool beans. Theoretically he has a phone… and a car… so he can take that job offer that only requires him to have transportation. He still does not reply to phone calls or text messages. I saw him yesterday morning when I was in the “big sanctuary” to conduct a baptism. He did not come up to me or talk with me. That backyard is not getting cleaned up by itself.

With me so far?

Yesterday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. Do note the time – normally no one would be at the church at that time but Church of the Nations had a fellowship lunch. I was going to head to the hospital to visit Ellis family.

There is a man I have never seen. Wearing what look like hospital pants and an orange vest? shirt? and shoes with no laces. Homeless? He is asking for someone – no Pastor Jay has left. Oh no! He is upset because Jay has been so nice to him and helped him a lot with money. Now it is my turn.

I listen to him cry and stammer out his predicament – he is so distraught and his speech pattern such I can barely understand a word. He shows me various body parts to let me know how sick he is and he can’t sleep because he thinks he will die and not see his kids again and he needs to go to Tulane Medical Center for surgery.

Do you need me to take you and your wife to New Orleans? Yes.

But then how will we get back? My wife will stay with me but she will need to eat and we have no money.

At this point I am wondering how to help him… and get to the hospital… and even if I burn my afternoon driving him to New Orleans what happens a week later when he is discharged?

So I drive home. Get $50 from my other “secret emergency stash”. (I usually do not carry more than $10 on me if that.) Fill a bag with groceries from our pantry. And drive him home. The $50 is for “Mr James” who said he can take them down and back but needs (1) gas money and (2) money for a spare tire. (Yeah yeah I know – that second part sounds a bit strange.)

So I start driving him home along Burbank because I thought he lived off Nicholson. Quickly becomes apparent he led me down the wrong way – the interstate would have been better because he lives off Government. Ah well.

It smells pretty bad in my car at this point. A combination of urine and stale sweat smell.

But while I am heading down Burbank it suddenly hits me: Genesis 15.

What would an angel look like who shows up and asks you to give him lunch or something? I am not saying this guy really was an angelic messenger but I thought “perhaps I need to see how God is present in this person and in this situation”. Perhaps it is a kind of test. How will Rick Wright respond to some stranger in desperate need? Will I turn him away with “go, eat and be well”? Or will I sacrifice time money and resources? What kind of a Christian will I be in this situation? Plus I finally figure out his “language” (hard to explain – the point at which I know how to relate to someone) and we talk about cool cars and such. Oh and he does yardwork.

His apartment is right along where I drive to pick up my kids from school. I meet his wife(?). No kids in sight. I wonder if this whole situation was a scam of some sort. The tears looked real. And if you were working poor and got clobbered with cancer and liver problems how the heck would you get the medical care and the medicine you need?

I still have very mixed feelings about all this. And I still think “look – I can’t keep doing this I can’t keep emptying out my wallet for every stranger that comes by tells a story and expects me to give them something”. Or maybe I can.

I am almost 100% sure the first guy was scamming me. The second person – well he still comes to church although he does owe me yardwork. The third guy – not quite sure but once I thought of the situation as “opportunity/test from God” was much more able to deal with it positively. And it does make this conservative(?) free-market libertarian Republican(?) wonder how do we best help(?) people in such desperate need? The working poor when their lives get blown apart by a single illness or car repair? You know what I’m saying?

What do you think?

Posted in Ethnicity and race, Healthcare, Ministry, Personal, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Why I removed a 2 year old post from this site (or) Pressured into censoring myself

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Well well well.

Two years ago – read that again – I attended a youth rally in Baton Rouge sponsored by our local Baptist association. During that youth rally someone came on stage and promoted a Christian rally/youth event which would be held during a school day. He offered an argument for (1) why the event could and should be held during a school day and (2) why public schools have to allow this.

I wrote a post which critiqued the youth rally – and during that post critiqued the rally/youth event that was being promoted. I thought it entirely inappropriate (a) to schedule such an event during a school day and (b) to insist public schools must allow this because “we can call it a religious holiday and the government cannot say what is or is not a religious holiday”. I did not critique the person who heads up the ministry that organizes the event nor did I critique the event itself.

Let me share with you the exchange – with names/details removed.

Dear Rick,

I assume your a great guy that is not into bashing denominations,or against soulwinner’s . However after reviewing a blog about “how not to plan a <removed> rally” i was very concerned about the misinformation that was put out. I also believe that you probably did not know the info is not factual that was put out…I am the founder of <removed> of which is mulicultural and interacts with multiple denominations to host an event in different cities . The event itself is determined by a committee formed in that city.
Every event all citywide ministries are invited to join together for a common cause. Please understand we have never hosted an evening event anywhere. Along with other non – facts this blog is not becoming of a christian whoever wrote it.
I am asking that it be removed . It is unlawful to post inaccurate info.. please respond with your decision.

Sincerely ,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xx
Xxxx xxx Xxxxx Xxx.
xxx-xxx-xxxx

My reply:

With respect – I suggest you read it again and more carefully. Focus particularly on the second sentence.

What misinformation? Everything in it is eyewitness account. I was not describing a <removed> rally. I was describing the youth rally (Citywide Youth Rally) sponsored by local Baptist association – at which someone appeared and promoted the <removed> rally which would be later in the year.

At no point does it claim <removed> is an evening event. Therefore it does not contain misinformation and is not inaccurate and so I do not see the need to remove it. Do feel free to leave a comment if you wish.

What came back was:

I would suggest as a brother in Christ.The title is using our trade marked name and as a brother in Christ you would recognize the title tries to imply our organizational tie. It is clear its slanted by some denominationalism. One thing you might of overlooked was many attended the through the field trip aspect of which was not accurately
Reported. Call me if you want more info. We are however requesting the removal

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

My final reply was:

This has been an unfortunate exchange and I am struggling to understand what your objections are. I think I have explained myself quite clearly and that the post does not lend itself to the sort of deliberate or accidental misunderstandings you suggest.

I could be wrong but my best effort to understand what motivates this is:

a) “<removed>” is indeed in the title of the post (even though the post is mostly about something else at which <removed> was mentioned and described and promoted)
b) which means people searching for information might come across this 2 year old post
c) which does indeed offer a critique of the “excused absence” argument

So here is what I am going to do. I am going to remove the post simple because I do not care to deal with this any further. I have work to do and a congregation to serve and do not need the stress even though I am entirely unpersuaded that your objections are valid. I will not call you. And I request that you do not attempt to call or contact me in any way whatsoever.

One wonders how someone could (legally) express disagreement with some aspect of <removed> (namely the “excused school absence” argument) without being accused of some sort of “inaccurate information” upon which one bases a request for removal.

I have rather strong opinions about this exchange. It is possible that I am not entirely or even mostly in right – that maybe this person has a point somewhere somehow.

What do you think?

Posted in Education, Law and Justice, Louisiana, Personal, Religion | 1 Comment »

"Avatar" and other movies that make you throw up(?)

Friday, November 27th, 2009

I have my reasons for not liking James Cameron. But the concept of and trailers for the new “Avatar” movie did get my interest. However came across an early anonymous review (caveat lector – how reliable is this?) which included the following:

The new technology they’ve been using to eliminate the headaches and sickness conducive to old 3D tech has not been used properly in the action scenes throughout Avatar.  The problem is with cutting in between 3D focal points and perspective – the mind cannot adjust to it without a buffer – thus, Avatar is literally vomit inducing.

This particularly gets my attention because of an experience my family had a couple years ago. In Upstate New York to visit my mom -my sisters and my brother and his family were all there. We have a long family tradition of seeing movies together especially on holidays. So our July 4th movie was the disappointing “Hancock” starring Will Smith.

My brother and his daughter had to cover their eyes for most of the film because the constantly moving camera (shaking around, moving in a circle around the target, and so on) made them extremely nauseous. Basically two hours of misery and not being able to enjoy the movie. Did not seem to bother anyone else in the theater. But apparently some people are susceptible to that sort of thing – such as one encounters in many first-person video games. That his daughter had the same problem suggests it might be genetic.

I wonder how much movie makers are aware of this problem. I wanted to tell the theater manager about this so they might include some sort of warning to film-goers. Of course they might hesitate because it could hurt ticket sales.

H/T Big Hollywood and Guardian (UK).

Posted in Movies and film, Personal | No Comments »

Society for Biblical Literature meeting – day 3

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

From hotel toward river in New Orleans

Been strange but good this year. Enjoyed the time with my friend Chris Brady and chance to meet some of his friends and colleagues and fellow bibliobloggers. Lunch at Bacco’s was excellent and only $15. Dinner at Ralph and Kacoo’s pricey and not so good and service was weak. Had to drive back to Baton Rouge on Sunday morning for Sunday morning Bible study and worship. Dinner by myself in hotel restaurant was my first Kobe beef hamburger very good and cooked perfectly. Had to drive back to Baton Rouge again today for memorial service for Lois Draayer. Lunch at Middle East restaurant in French Quarter was decent. Right now waiting to meet Eric Mason for dinner.

I have not been to many sessions and papers largely because of the back-and-forth and how tired this has left me. Been focusing on sessions on Psalms – did not have enough energy for session on Sabbath this evening. Creation imagery and theology in the Psalms. And more insight into the formation of the Psalter. Caught end of a talk last evening by Shalom Paul on Late Biblical Hebrew in Isaiah 40-66 – was disappointed he made no reference at all to my work which does briefly touch on the issue and points toward a future article.

I have noticed that some biblical scholars use cliches and buzz phrases without(?) quite realizing what they are saying. In the Psalms sessions several references to “global warming” – I care very much about the environment but believe there is legitimate cause for questioning Anthropogenic Global Warming dogma. Many references to how Katrina “exposed injustice and inequalities in our community” along with some gratuitous and ill-informed Bush-bashing – but do people who throw that around really know what they are talking about? Plenty of middle and upper class New Orleans residents suffered and lost everything. It was in the recovery process that one sees more of the disparity. And although the Federal government responded poorly one should not overlook the colossal ineptitude of Louisiana authorities.

If some scholars engage in casual Bush-bashing and Global Warming kvetching during their talks – why do other scholars not engage in casual Obama-bashing and in digs against Anthropogenic Global Warming?

For years we have noted the abundance of facial hair. And how much biblical scholars dress in black. Biblical scholars male and female are a surprisingly good looking bunch.

Appreciate Andrew Das saying hi when I was waiting for valet to bring down my car.

I do feel a little out of place largely because I have fallen behind and not been involved much in my field. Wonder what it would take for me to get “back in academic shape” so as to produce new research and writing that would stand up and receive respect at this gathering. But I can no longer beat myself up so harshly for not ever having secured a position at a college or seminary. The competition in biblical studies is astonishing. About ten (10) open positions this year. For just one position at Judson College (my friend Eric is in charge of the search) they have sixty (60) people who are interested.

In other words you can be smart and good – and never get a teaching position.

The exhibitors’ hall is overwhelming. Booth after booth full of books and publications – which are worth buying? which are worth reading? And I wonder if all of them are necessary. To what extent do people write books because they need to in order to get a position or get tenure? That is a risky thing to say and perhaps I do not understand. Often congregants comment that my Bible studies are very “academic” rather than “practical” – to which I try to explain that good application will grow out of good academic(?) analysis. How many people thought Einstein’s theories were too academic? And yet they yield results that are deadly practical.

I do wonder sometimes why I spent so many dang years working on that PhD and that dissertation given what I do now. But I trust that God led me in that direction for a reason. That is what I have been struggling with. Given my gifts and education – what exactly am I supposed to be doing right now?

(On my wish list - recommended by Michael Legaspi)

Update (11/24/09): Had excellent time with Eric Mason last evening. We hiked over to the Gumbo Shop and each of us got the 4-course “Creole dinner” special. Best meal I have had here so far. Main entree was Chicken St Peters which was outstanding. I have always liked Eric but was especially impressed to realize just how strong and productive he is in his field – focusing particularly on Hebrews and 2nd temple/Qumran. He is well involved in scholarly circles and produces an amazing number of articles papers and books each year. Toward the end of dinner a few large groups started to come in and Ralph Klein of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Chicago famous for his work on Chronicles (and Ezra-Nehemiah) came over to say hi. (Wonder if I should try to snag some Hermeneia volumes before leaving.) Grateful to God that I know Eric – he demonstrates you can be an excellent scholar and a great guy at the same time.

Posted in Bible, Fun and Geek Stuff, Personal, Sabbath, Travel | No Comments »

We're gonna party like it's 536 B.C.E. – Society for Biblical Literature meeting

Friday, November 20th, 2009

The Society for Biblical Literature annual meeting is coming to town!

Since graduate school I have attended nearly every meeting of this large national and even international organization for biblical scholars. The last two years I have missed partly because of financial reasons – which are related to my also going to another conference in October. Hard to be away twice in two months.

And to be honest the last time I went it was a little rough. A prominent Israeli scholar mentioned my book – and was “mean” to quote my major professor. And it received a devastating review in the Review of Biblical Literature. About least half of the review was fair and accurate criticism. But there was a certain excessive gratuitousness that was hard to stomach. So I have stayed away for a while.

But now it is in New Orleans for the second time in nine(?) years. One of my best friends will be there and I will be rooming with him. No hotel and no air travel means much less expensive to attend.

What is interesting is that there will be sessions devoted to the whole issue of diachrony (historical change over time) in Biblical Hebrew. I thought that debate had largely played out and that my “side” had lost. Most of the presentations appear to be from the chronological camp – those who think we can describe to a large extent how Hebrew changed over time. So perhaps the debate is not over. (H/T Chris Brady at Targuman for bringing this to my attention.)

The papers and presentations are important. And I have a good track record – I spend at least half or more of my time in sessions.

But arguably the larger purpose of such gathering is social – a chance to see and meet old friends and colleagues and also to meet and talk with scholars you have heard of and read. The “night life” during such academic conferences is remarkable. People dress up and go out to nice restaurants and hang out until late at night. Receptions galore! Some of them offer excellent food and drink.

Some go to interview for positions. I tried that a couple times. At this stage of my life – nah.

And strange as it may sound it is when we stock up on our libraries. Dozens of publishers famous and obscure will be there selling books at discounts typically 40-60% off. I plan to buy at least two sets of commentaries that we will keep at the church for ministerial staff to use. (We assume the senior pastor will take his library with him – and we use many of his books to prepare for Bible studies and sermons.)

See you in New Orleans!

Posted in Bible, Louisiana, Personal, Travel | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries