All The Leaves Are Brown
Recently Dave Bird and I were discussing the idea of worldview. In connection with a previous topic --the ubiquitous "supernatural"-- David mentioned Charles Kraft's book Christianity With Power. I studied Kraft in a missiology course some years ago, and although I disagree with many of his views, I'm certain his presentation will prove provocative. Ralph Smith interacts with Kraft (and N.T.Wright) in this essay on worldview and culture.
Speaking of... the Kuyperian site has been updated with an piece from David Naugle. I suppose it needs a little reformatting, but it's quite readable.
This past week Calvin's comments on Psalm 73 were particularly challenging and comforting to me. Perhaps you might find them helpful in difficult times.
11.21.2004
11.10.2004
Maison du Resevoir
Please update your address books:
Gregory Baus
2503 Brookfield Avenue Apt.#3
Baltimore MD 21217
U.S.A.
443-278-3020 [new as of 20 jan 05]
I now have [a cell phone]. And I suppose the above info should be good through at least next summer.
In other news, I'm enjoying Updike's early collection. And secular fundamentalists in popular U.S. media and across Europe continue to baffle over how "religious" most Americans seem.
Please update your address books:
Gregory Baus
2503 Brookfield Avenue Apt.#3
Baltimore MD 21217
U.S.A.
443-278-3020 [new as of 20 jan 05]
I now have [a cell phone]. And I suppose the above info should be good through at least next summer.
In other news, I'm enjoying Updike's early collection. And secular fundamentalists in popular U.S. media and across Europe continue to baffle over how "religious" most Americans seem.
10.27.2004
Information About Neocalvinism
Please do visit the Kuyperian info site. I hope you find the materials there interesting and helpful.
In other news, I'm finally feeling settled. Soon there should be enough space on my bedroom floor to sleep upon.
This Reformation Day weekend I'll be visiting friends and taking care of some business in Chattanooga, TN.
Please do visit the Kuyperian info site. I hope you find the materials there interesting and helpful.
In other news, I'm finally feeling settled. Soon there should be enough space on my bedroom floor to sleep upon.
This Reformation Day weekend I'll be visiting friends and taking care of some business in Chattanooga, TN.
10.14.2004
My Life In Boxes
Over the years I managed to keep the ever growing archives of my adult life in my parents' basement. However, now it all fills my new bedroom, stacked chest high and overflowing into the hall closet and living room. Going through it all in the next few months will be like a really long Christmas... rediscovering old college papers, lost trinkets, and books I forgot I owned.
So anyway, I'll be busy for a spell. And, unfortunately, I don't have web access in my new place. This means a short blog hiatus. But check in every once in a while --I might post at the library now and then til I find a more suitable arrangement.
In the meantime, to keep occupied, you could visit Ireland and hear my youngest brother play alto sax at the Cork Jazz Fest.
Over the years I managed to keep the ever growing archives of my adult life in my parents' basement. However, now it all fills my new bedroom, stacked chest high and overflowing into the hall closet and living room. Going through it all in the next few months will be like a really long Christmas... rediscovering old college papers, lost trinkets, and books I forgot I owned.
So anyway, I'll be busy for a spell. And, unfortunately, I don't have web access in my new place. This means a short blog hiatus. But check in every once in a while --I might post at the library now and then til I find a more suitable arrangement.
In the meantime, to keep occupied, you could visit Ireland and hear my youngest brother play alto sax at the Cork Jazz Fest.
10.07.2004
The Sundae Debacle
I took my brother to the ER yesterday morning. After having eaten at Be-Se-To, our favorite asian cafeteria, he complained that his stomach was going to burst. He thought that perhaps he had gobbled down the Korean sundae ("soon-die") too quickly.
The next morning I found him rolling around and moaning. "What's wrong? Why aren't you at work?," I asked. "I'm sick," he said, and proceeded to describe his unsavory symptoms, which I will not repeat here. Just before I was about to leave for work myself, he was crying out in excruciating pain. He had sharp pains in his lower right abdomen, and I supposed it was appendicitis. "Bro, I should take you to the hospital." He was doubled over, and looked up at me with pleading eyes, and managed to gurgle out: "Yes, would you?"
While we were in the waiting room, his pain subsided slightly (he wasn't screaming anymore). When we spoke to the physician, the doctor asked "What does it feel like?" and Jeff said, "At first the pain was localized. But now it's just a general burning."
Well, the short of it is, he got all manner of tests and they were all inconclusive. However, he didn't have a fever, and he wasn't vomiting, and various other things pretty much ruled out appendicitis. We got carried away and started imagining he had cancer or crohn's, and discussed what he would do with the last month of his life.
After ten hours or so, it was concluded that he had inflamed intestines, and he'd have to wait it out. By then the pain was much reduced, and he checked himself out. On the way home Jeff thought about all the spicy food he had eaten in the past few days. "I shouldn't have had that Kenyan goat dish," he said.
I took my brother to the ER yesterday morning. After having eaten at Be-Se-To, our favorite asian cafeteria, he complained that his stomach was going to burst. He thought that perhaps he had gobbled down the Korean sundae ("soon-die") too quickly.
The next morning I found him rolling around and moaning. "What's wrong? Why aren't you at work?," I asked. "I'm sick," he said, and proceeded to describe his unsavory symptoms, which I will not repeat here. Just before I was about to leave for work myself, he was crying out in excruciating pain. He had sharp pains in his lower right abdomen, and I supposed it was appendicitis. "Bro, I should take you to the hospital." He was doubled over, and looked up at me with pleading eyes, and managed to gurgle out: "Yes, would you?"
While we were in the waiting room, his pain subsided slightly (he wasn't screaming anymore). When we spoke to the physician, the doctor asked "What does it feel like?" and Jeff said, "At first the pain was localized. But now it's just a general burning."
Well, the short of it is, he got all manner of tests and they were all inconclusive. However, he didn't have a fever, and he wasn't vomiting, and various other things pretty much ruled out appendicitis. We got carried away and started imagining he had cancer or crohn's, and discussed what he would do with the last month of his life.
After ten hours or so, it was concluded that he had inflamed intestines, and he'd have to wait it out. By then the pain was much reduced, and he checked himself out. On the way home Jeff thought about all the spicy food he had eaten in the past few days. "I shouldn't have had that Kenyan goat dish," he said.
9.28.2004
Pursuing Peace
This evening I attended a lecture at Goucher on Jewish-Arab reconciliation. Eliyahu McLean is a founder of the Sulha Peace Project, utilizing indigenous methods of conflict resolution. I arrived late due to the storm, but I caught the bulk of it. It was quite stimulating, and you can discover more via the above links.
I was invited to the lecture by my new friend, "Pierre." He is an orthodox Jew and something of a Dooyeweerdian, having come upon Roy Clouser's views through his various philosophical readings. I certainly look forward to more discussion of the topic.
This evening I attended a lecture at Goucher on Jewish-Arab reconciliation. Eliyahu McLean is a founder of the Sulha Peace Project, utilizing indigenous methods of conflict resolution. I arrived late due to the storm, but I caught the bulk of it. It was quite stimulating, and you can discover more via the above links.
I was invited to the lecture by my new friend, "Pierre." He is an orthodox Jew and something of a Dooyeweerdian, having come upon Roy Clouser's views through his various philosophical readings. I certainly look forward to more discussion of the topic.
9.27.2004
Crashing The Parties
The Public Broadcasting Service will air a documentary on the other presidential candidates this Wednesday [29th Sept] some time around 10pm. Check your local listings, and spread the word. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for to reflect on your political responsibilities and the up-coming election. Record the program and watch it later if you have to.
The Public Broadcasting Service will air a documentary on the other presidential candidates this Wednesday [29th Sept] some time around 10pm. Check your local listings, and spread the word. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for to reflect on your political responsibilities and the up-coming election. Record the program and watch it later if you have to.
9.25.2004
Around Town
Jeff and I browsed a flea market today, hoping to find some stuff for the apartment. We didn't find much, although later in the day I did get a full-22 volume hardback set of Calvin's commentaries very economically!
Anyway, we stopped by downtown's Lexington Market to get a drink at the friendly Mt. Kenya Tea & Coffee (check out their page on economic justice). Afterward we visited the St.Jude Shrine, operated by the Pallottines who advocate a kind of R.C. "priesthood of all believers" --if you can imagine it. (Rumor has it that a good friend once prayed there for the return of his beloved cat, seeing as Jude is the patron saint of lost causes).
We also made our way to the newly renovated Botanical Conservatory & Gardens in Druid Hill Park which is adjacent to our new neighborhood. It was very well done. I hope to have a picnic there before winter.
Jeff and I browsed a flea market today, hoping to find some stuff for the apartment. We didn't find much, although later in the day I did get a full-22 volume hardback set of Calvin's commentaries very economically!
Anyway, we stopped by downtown's Lexington Market to get a drink at the friendly Mt. Kenya Tea & Coffee (check out their page on economic justice). Afterward we visited the St.Jude Shrine, operated by the Pallottines who advocate a kind of R.C. "priesthood of all believers" --if you can imagine it. (Rumor has it that a good friend once prayed there for the return of his beloved cat, seeing as Jude is the patron saint of lost causes).
We also made our way to the newly renovated Botanical Conservatory & Gardens in Druid Hill Park which is adjacent to our new neighborhood. It was very well done. I hope to have a picnic there before winter.
Demonstrations Of Her Power
I mentioned Oprah in the last post, and as any observer of contemporary American culture knows, she is --for good or ill-- one of the most influential opinion-shapers around. She does what academic "public intellectuals" used to do. In her variegated arsenal, Oprah has a book club, and almost every book she reads or recommends shoots straight to the best-sellers list.
This past week, she recommended a sort of romantic self-help book. Before the hour was up (!) every copy in our store was reserved by customers who called in. Every single day since then about 20 women come in to the bookstore asking for the title.
The main premise of the book seems to be that in things romantic (as in general) men are neither confusing or indirect. However, women are ever circuitous and cryptic, constantly trying to interpret the frank and unsymbolic actions of men. This book apparently speaks femalese and helps women understand otherwise obvious male behavior.
Sometimes I say to Oprah: more power to ya.
I mentioned Oprah in the last post, and as any observer of contemporary American culture knows, she is --for good or ill-- one of the most influential opinion-shapers around. She does what academic "public intellectuals" used to do. In her variegated arsenal, Oprah has a book club, and almost every book she reads or recommends shoots straight to the best-sellers list.
This past week, she recommended a sort of romantic self-help book. Before the hour was up (!) every copy in our store was reserved by customers who called in. Every single day since then about 20 women come in to the bookstore asking for the title.
The main premise of the book seems to be that in things romantic (as in general) men are neither confusing or indirect. However, women are ever circuitous and cryptic, constantly trying to interpret the frank and unsymbolic actions of men. This book apparently speaks femalese and helps women understand otherwise obvious male behavior.
Sometimes I say to Oprah: more power to ya.
9.20.2004
Home Is Where Your Books Are
This weekend I strolled through the annual Book Fest. I asked the Book-Thing folk if there was any progress on finding a new location (or financial donations). They told me things seem dire, and that I should write Oprah to request help. I also stopped by the CityLit Project tent to say hello to Gregg Wilhelm (but he's a busy guy and wasn't there). I also visited the YPR booth to congratulate them on the quality debut of The Signal, a long overdue radio zine on local arts&culture.
Recently I bought "The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career: a portable mentor for scholars from graduate school through tenure." So far I have found it quite encouraging. Perhaps I will have opportunity to explore some other books on this list.
The biggest piece of news, however, is that brother Jeff and I are moving into a new apartment in Reservoir Hill the first week of October. Rejoice all you peoples!
This weekend I strolled through the annual Book Fest. I asked the Book-Thing folk if there was any progress on finding a new location (or financial donations). They told me things seem dire, and that I should write Oprah to request help. I also stopped by the CityLit Project tent to say hello to Gregg Wilhelm (but he's a busy guy and wasn't there). I also visited the YPR booth to congratulate them on the quality debut of The Signal, a long overdue radio zine on local arts&culture.
Recently I bought "The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career: a portable mentor for scholars from graduate school through tenure." So far I have found it quite encouraging. Perhaps I will have opportunity to explore some other books on this list.
The biggest piece of news, however, is that brother Jeff and I are moving into a new apartment in Reservoir Hill the first week of October. Rejoice all you peoples!
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