OK, I need some good character idiosyncrasies. Please comment on any weird little anecdotes, strange personality traits, or anything other odd things you can think of in people you know (friends relatives. And no need to mention names. Of course, you could... but...).
I would greatly appreciate it.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
About Communion
I had never realized this before, but some denominations think communion is really important. When I was having a discussion with a certain someone, the aforementioned said if you don't take communion, you're starving yourself spiritually. Now, personally, I never thought about communion that way. I thought of it as (and still do) as a way to remember what Jesus did for us. How he came to earth and sacrificed his body and blood.
I don't remember anything in the bible saying that communion is spiritual food. I just glanced through my Bible at some passages where communion is mentioned. Jesus instituted it in Matt 26:26. I read through that, and I'm not exactly sure why you would say communion is 'spiritual food'. It seems to me that 'spiritual food' is meditation on the word of God, prayer with God, and discussing things with fellow Christians.
Just thought that an interesting little topic.
I don't remember anything in the bible saying that communion is spiritual food. I just glanced through my Bible at some passages where communion is mentioned. Jesus instituted it in Matt 26:26. I read through that, and I'm not exactly sure why you would say communion is 'spiritual food'. It seems to me that 'spiritual food' is meditation on the word of God, prayer with God, and discussing things with fellow Christians.
Just thought that an interesting little topic.
Friday, February 16, 2007
King Francis
I LOVE the last stanza of this poem.
It's another one from my memorization slate (which means I did not write it). And remember, if you read it, read it ALOUD. All poetry should be read aloud.
King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport,
And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court;
The nobles filled the benches round, the ladies by their side,
And 'mongs them sat the Count do Lorge, with one for whom he sighted:
And truly 't was a gallant thing to see that crowning show,
Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.
Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws;
They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws;
With wallowing might and stifle roar, they rolled on one another:
'Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thunderous smother;
The bloody foam above the barscame whizzing through the air:
Said Francis, then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there."
De Lorge's love o'erheard the king,-a beauteous, lively dame,
With smiling lips, and sharp, bright eyes, which always seemed the same;
She thought, "The Count, my lover, is brave as barave can be,
He surely would do wondrous things to show his love for me;
King, ladies, lovers all look in; the occasion is divine;
I'll drop my glove to prove his love; great glory will be mine."
She dropped her glove to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild;
The leap was quick, return was quick, he soon regained his place,
Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face.
"In faith," cried Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat;
"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."
It's another one from my memorization slate (which means I did not write it). And remember, if you read it, read it ALOUD. All poetry should be read aloud.
King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport,
And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court;
The nobles filled the benches round, the ladies by their side,
And 'mongs them sat the Count do Lorge, with one for whom he sighted:
And truly 't was a gallant thing to see that crowning show,
Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.
Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws;
They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws;
With wallowing might and stifle roar, they rolled on one another:
'Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thunderous smother;
The bloody foam above the barscame whizzing through the air:
Said Francis, then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there."
De Lorge's love o'erheard the king,-a beauteous, lively dame,
With smiling lips, and sharp, bright eyes, which always seemed the same;
She thought, "The Count, my lover, is brave as barave can be,
He surely would do wondrous things to show his love for me;
King, ladies, lovers all look in; the occasion is divine;
I'll drop my glove to prove his love; great glory will be mine."
She dropped her glove to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild;
The leap was quick, return was quick, he soon regained his place,
Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face.
"In faith," cried Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat;
"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A Revelation
I have had a brilliant idea for a story. I have recently been building my knowledge of writing skills by reading multiple books on writing. And, I've come up with a really cool story idea. I've tried fantasy (like three years ago, and I actually got 50 pages down before the plot fell apart), I've tried one set in the modern age (that would be Malckem, and I actually still like that idea, he's just on the back burner), and now, I'm going to try sci-fi. Like outer space Sci-Fi, but there're no aliens. It is a much more realistic space age... or at least from my point of view.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Writing
Well, I'm sort of cooling off now. I look back, and find that I've posted about every two days (which is very good, at least compared to 97% of people who own blogs who post every month or so). For the past few days, I have been reading a book by Stephen King. Now don't be horrified, and gasp, and think how evil I must be to read one of his horror stories. I suppose you shouldn't do that because... It's not fiction. It's a book about writing. But, I must say, it is an extremely well written book. There is no doubt about it, King is a great writer.
But besides that, he gives some incredibly helpful information. It's all straight-forward, practical, no-nonsense info, really great stuff. If you want to take a look... click here
If you are into writing, I strongly suggest you read it.
Lately, I seem to have had a resurgance in reading interest. I've always liked reading, and read like heck when I was younger (isn't it ironic that I can say that? It strikes me as funny how I can say, "yup, back when I was just a lad..." when I'm only 15) But for the past year or maybe a litte more, I really haven't read much. Especailly not fiction. But today, I went down to Barnes and Noble and got myself two new books. They are both on writing. After I finish this post, I'm going to read and sleep (maybe even write a tiny) for the rest of the day. I quite look forward to it.
Friday night, I watched 'A Beautiful Mind' which although a little disturbing, was an excellent movie (it did win 4 academy awards after all).
Well, sadly, I seem to be falling below my usual standards... I guess I'm just your average, light-headed, stupid, surly, rebellious, annoying teenager. Wait. No I'm not. What an idiot I am. I'm sorry, forget all that I just said; I'm a genius.
smiles in a satisfied manner
A perfectly angelic, kind, patient person. Oh dear, wait a minute... I'm not that either. Well, I guess I'm somewhere inbetween.
One thing that strikes me as kind of funny is that most teens and pre-teens can't see when they're being rebellious and surly and all the things I said before. I have the unusual gift of being able to look at things very objectively. That doesn't stop me from being all of the former... but I at least aknowledge it.
Well, I think I've gone on about nothing at all for quite long enough. Time for some sleep and reading!
P.S. and if you don't know already, I'm quite against the use of exclamation marks. I only put them in if absolutely necessary. They are much to overused in my *humble* opionion.
* smirks for no reason but that he feels like smirking *
But besides that, he gives some incredibly helpful information. It's all straight-forward, practical, no-nonsense info, really great stuff. If you want to take a look... click here
If you are into writing, I strongly suggest you read it.
Lately, I seem to have had a resurgance in reading interest. I've always liked reading, and read like heck when I was younger (isn't it ironic that I can say that? It strikes me as funny how I can say, "yup, back when I was just a lad..." when I'm only 15) But for the past year or maybe a litte more, I really haven't read much. Especailly not fiction. But today, I went down to Barnes and Noble and got myself two new books. They are both on writing. After I finish this post, I'm going to read and sleep (maybe even write a tiny) for the rest of the day. I quite look forward to it.
Friday night, I watched 'A Beautiful Mind' which although a little disturbing, was an excellent movie (it did win 4 academy awards after all).
Well, sadly, I seem to be falling below my usual standards... I guess I'm just your average, light-headed, stupid, surly, rebellious, annoying teenager. Wait. No I'm not. What an idiot I am. I'm sorry, forget all that I just said; I'm a genius.
smiles in a satisfied manner
A perfectly angelic, kind, patient person. Oh dear, wait a minute... I'm not that either. Well, I guess I'm somewhere inbetween.
One thing that strikes me as kind of funny is that most teens and pre-teens can't see when they're being rebellious and surly and all the things I said before. I have the unusual gift of being able to look at things very objectively. That doesn't stop me from being all of the former... but I at least aknowledge it.
Well, I think I've gone on about nothing at all for quite long enough. Time for some sleep and reading!
P.S. and if you don't know already, I'm quite against the use of exclamation marks. I only put them in if absolutely necessary. They are much to overused in my *humble* opionion.
* smirks for no reason but that he feels like smirking *
Friday, February 9, 2007
Of life
Life is a tradgedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think.
~Fortune Cookie
The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
~Thucydides
~Fortune Cookie
The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
~Thucydides
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
music
Some experiments on music and humans.
Dr. Racher, a behavioral scientist, did some experiemtns on college students. She teaches at the Universtiy of CA Irvine. She tested the students with a spacial temporal iq test. This test was with no music. Next for one group, she played Mozart for 10 minutes before the test, another she played 'relaxation' music, and for the third, she played no music. The ones listening to Mozart preformed 8-10 IQ points higher than the other two groups on average.
Dr. Raucher did another experiment, this one with preschoolers. Bear with me, it doesn't exactly have to do with music, as in rock being bad, just a sort of general thing that I find rather interesting. Dr. Raucher took four different groups of preschoolers, and gave them 20 minutes of suplemental activities daily, for six months. Now, the adult to student ration was the same, classroom space, time, etc. everything was closely measured. The four subjects were these: free play, singing, computer (I'm not sure what you do with a preschooler on the computer, but anyways...), and piano. Before the six months, she gave them a spacial temporal IQ test (scaled down for preschoolers. It's like say you have a camel, then you cut it into four sections. They had to piece the four sections together.). At the end of the six months, they had all improved, but of course, that would be expected, because they were growing anyways. But, amazingly, the ones doing piano improved 46% more than the others did.
Another experiment was done to see if there was any measurable effect on human emotions from music. There were four groups, classical, new age, grunge rock, and designer music (this was sort of the point of the experiment... to see if you could manufacture music that would have desirable effects). Tests were admistered, testing for mental clarity, caring, relaxation, and vigor; hostility, fatigue, sadness, and tension.
classical: slightly increased the four positives and decreased four negatives.
new age: increased relaxation fatigue and sadness, decreased hostility
designer: increased four positives, decreased four negatives
grunge rock: significantly increased four negatives and decreased four positives
Dr. Racher, a behavioral scientist, did some experiemtns on college students. She teaches at the Universtiy of CA Irvine. She tested the students with a spacial temporal iq test. This test was with no music. Next for one group, she played Mozart for 10 minutes before the test, another she played 'relaxation' music, and for the third, she played no music. The ones listening to Mozart preformed 8-10 IQ points higher than the other two groups on average.
Dr. Raucher did another experiment, this one with preschoolers. Bear with me, it doesn't exactly have to do with music, as in rock being bad, just a sort of general thing that I find rather interesting. Dr. Raucher took four different groups of preschoolers, and gave them 20 minutes of suplemental activities daily, for six months. Now, the adult to student ration was the same, classroom space, time, etc. everything was closely measured. The four subjects were these: free play, singing, computer (I'm not sure what you do with a preschooler on the computer, but anyways...), and piano. Before the six months, she gave them a spacial temporal IQ test (scaled down for preschoolers. It's like say you have a camel, then you cut it into four sections. They had to piece the four sections together.). At the end of the six months, they had all improved, but of course, that would be expected, because they were growing anyways. But, amazingly, the ones doing piano improved 46% more than the others did.
Another experiment was done to see if there was any measurable effect on human emotions from music. There were four groups, classical, new age, grunge rock, and designer music (this was sort of the point of the experiment... to see if you could manufacture music that would have desirable effects). Tests were admistered, testing for mental clarity, caring, relaxation, and vigor; hostility, fatigue, sadness, and tension.
classical: slightly increased the four positives and decreased four negatives.
new age: increased relaxation fatigue and sadness, decreased hostility
designer: increased four positives, decreased four negatives
grunge rock: significantly increased four negatives and decreased four positives
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Of Unicorns and Spirits
I found this post in a certain forum...
Hoyla! I recently acquired a book by Odell Shepard entitled "The Lore of the Unicorn." Here's something from it that I thought you people would be interested in, in light of reading Herodotus in GB1.
"In the King James version of the Bible there are seven clear references to the unicorn, all of which occur in the Old Testament. The animal is mentioned twice in the Pentateuch, once in Job, once in Isaiah, and three times in the Psalms. These passages read as follows:-
"God brought them out of Egpyt; he hath as it were the strength of the unicorn."
-Numbers 23:22
"His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth."
-Deuteronomy 33:17
"Save me from the lion's mouth; for thou hast heard me from the horns of unicorns."
-Psalm 22:21
"He maketh them [the cedars of Lebanon] also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn."
-Psalm 29:6
"And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with their bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness."
-Isaiah 34:7
"Wilt the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide in thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into my barn?"
-Job 39:9-12
I thought that was kind of neat. I went and looked up those references in my New King James Bible; they've changed "unicorn" to "wild ox." Go figure.
Any comments or insights?
The reason I found this so interesting, is because recently, I've been listening to some tapes by J.P. Moreland (the same guy I got the other two posts from), and he was talking about something that struck me as similar. The topic was about spirits and souls, and he was saying that you aren't your brain, and that's not where your memories are stored and stuff... well, it was all very interesting, but then he got to talking about animal souls. He said that in the King James version, in the old testament in multiple places, there is reference to the animal soul. But if you look in newer translations, it has been changed to 'life' or 'life-force' or 'vitality' or something of the sort, because it has kind of been assumed (on a scientific basis) that animals don't have souls. The post about unicorns seemed almost exactly the same. There is no such thing as a unicorn, so it must be an ox or something. Let's change that little word. An interesting little discrepancy don't you think?
Hoyla! I recently acquired a book by Odell Shepard entitled "The Lore of the Unicorn." Here's something from it that I thought you people would be interested in, in light of reading Herodotus in GB1.
"In the King James version of the Bible there are seven clear references to the unicorn, all of which occur in the Old Testament. The animal is mentioned twice in the Pentateuch, once in Job, once in Isaiah, and three times in the Psalms. These passages read as follows:-
"God brought them out of Egpyt; he hath as it were the strength of the unicorn."
-Numbers 23:22
"His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth."
-Deuteronomy 33:17
"Save me from the lion's mouth; for thou hast heard me from the horns of unicorns."
-Psalm 22:21
"He maketh them [the cedars of Lebanon] also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn."
-Psalm 29:6
"And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with their bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness."
-Isaiah 34:7
"Wilt the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide in thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into my barn?"
-Job 39:9-12
I thought that was kind of neat. I went and looked up those references in my New King James Bible; they've changed "unicorn" to "wild ox." Go figure.
Any comments or insights?
The reason I found this so interesting, is because recently, I've been listening to some tapes by J.P. Moreland (the same guy I got the other two posts from), and he was talking about something that struck me as similar. The topic was about spirits and souls, and he was saying that you aren't your brain, and that's not where your memories are stored and stuff... well, it was all very interesting, but then he got to talking about animal souls. He said that in the King James version, in the old testament in multiple places, there is reference to the animal soul. But if you look in newer translations, it has been changed to 'life' or 'life-force' or 'vitality' or something of the sort, because it has kind of been assumed (on a scientific basis) that animals don't have souls. The post about unicorns seemed almost exactly the same. There is no such thing as a unicorn, so it must be an ox or something. Let's change that little word. An interesting little discrepancy don't you think?
Thursday, February 1, 2007
An interesting question
Will we retain our memories, thoughts, and all that stuff when we die/go to heaven?
Can we have painful memories in heaven?
I would say that we retain our memories and thoughts and what not. If we didn't, we'd be a different person/soul/being. I mean, that's pretty much what makes 'you'.
What I think happens, is that when we go to heaven, we gain a new understanding of all the events that have previously happened to us. God is working for the greatest good, it's just that sometimes we're so stuck up with ourselves and so selfish that we can't see the big picture. When we die, we will be awed at how God intricately wove together the events of history into a perfect masterpiece, and how everything was always working for the greater good.
That's my take on things at any rate.
Can we have painful memories in heaven?
I would say that we retain our memories and thoughts and what not. If we didn't, we'd be a different person/soul/being. I mean, that's pretty much what makes 'you'.
What I think happens, is that when we go to heaven, we gain a new understanding of all the events that have previously happened to us. God is working for the greatest good, it's just that sometimes we're so stuck up with ourselves and so selfish that we can't see the big picture. When we die, we will be awed at how God intricately wove together the events of history into a perfect masterpiece, and how everything was always working for the greater good.
That's my take on things at any rate.
The Soul
I was listening to a seminar thing on tape by J.P. Moreland and taking some notes. Wrote a short paragraph today about a couple points. He has some interesting points. This isn't really morbid... but I dunno if it's happy. It's sorta neutral. :)
The Human Soul
Because of the scientific times we live in, many people wrongly think that you are your brain, and you're ideas, beliefs, and memories are stored there. This is simply not true. A human-being is a soul that presides and resides your body. On the other hand God, who is a soul as well, is to the universe as you are to your body. Spirits are not 'spacial' beings. While angles are spirits as well, they can temporarily manifest themselves in apparition-like forms. Essentially, humans are meant to have bodies. Paul said that he would rather Christ came back before he died, so that he wouldn't have to go through the period of disembodiment. That is, before Christ gave us our new, resurrected bodies. Having a body is more comfortable, it isn't that being disembodied is uncomfortable. When we go to heaven, will we have the same memories and personality? I believe yes, because it's what makes you you. Obviously these things aren't located or stored in your brain, because if they were, they would die with your body.
The Human Soul
Because of the scientific times we live in, many people wrongly think that you are your brain, and you're ideas, beliefs, and memories are stored there. This is simply not true. A human-being is a soul that presides and resides your body. On the other hand God, who is a soul as well, is to the universe as you are to your body. Spirits are not 'spacial' beings. While angles are spirits as well, they can temporarily manifest themselves in apparition-like forms. Essentially, humans are meant to have bodies. Paul said that he would rather Christ came back before he died, so that he wouldn't have to go through the period of disembodiment. That is, before Christ gave us our new, resurrected bodies. Having a body is more comfortable, it isn't that being disembodied is uncomfortable. When we go to heaven, will we have the same memories and personality? I believe yes, because it's what makes you you. Obviously these things aren't located or stored in your brain, because if they were, they would die with your body.
Hum
I look back, and all my posts so far have been about... the world coming to an end. Hmmm. Maybe I should post about something good for a change. The only problem is... I can't think of anything good to post about. Maybe I will write a post about myself. And try to make it entertaining at the same time.
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