My attempt at posting a picture of my daughter Elizabeth on a pony.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
BobBlog :: Manage Posts
Gotta figure out how to make this smaller!
My attempt at posting a picture of my daughter Elizabeth on a pony.
My attempt at posting a picture of my daughter Elizabeth on a pony.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Subject: Profanity
I'm a person who really hates to listen to profanity. It disturbs me and I'm uncomfortable around it. This article from Christianity Today made me think a lot. What do you think about it?
Bob
by Jeffrey Overstreet
posted 05/21/04
Q: I'm surprised to see that Christianity Today Movies sometimes gives good reviews to movies that have lots of profanity. How can you justify that?
A: Foul language, like murder, pride, jealousy, and other sinful behavior, is part of the reality of our world. People do these things. Art reflects our world, and thus responsible artists will sometimes reflect the flaws of our world. Some of these flaws may be troubling, but that does not mean the artist has done something wrong. They may be merely reflecting the real world honestly.
Imagine what the Bible would be like if it did not portray people committing adultery, lying, stealing, speaking harshly with each other, betraying each other, murdering each other. Just because bad behavior is portrayed in a story does not mean that such behavior is being condoned. We must weigh carefully whether we think such behavior is being recommended or merely reflected.
Paul exhorts us to avoid letting "any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" (Eph. 4:29). This includes gossip, self-righteous put-downs and condescension, arrogance, and prideful talk. We should not speak this way. I don't think this means we should never listen to such talk. If so, then we must turn off almost every program on television, even children's stories, where characters speak pridefully, arrogantly, and harshly with each other as part of typical storytelling.
I have worked among people who use profanity excessively all of the time. It is the way that many people talk. Instead of running away from those people, I am challenged to listen to them, to understand what they are saying, to have patience with them and to love them. Moreover, I am challenged to be strong and to ask the Lord to help me avoid absorbing their way of talking. Foul language is often used to get the attention of others, to help the speaker express a sense of frustration or powerlessness. I should be able to listen and respond with patience and grace. If I cannot deal with this harsh reality when it is reflected in art, I certainly will not be able to deal with it when someone is shouting at me or speaking harshly in my presence.
Discerning moviegoers should consider these questions when they encounter harsh language in a film:
What does the foul language tell me about the character who is speaking? Why are they speaking that way?
Does the filmmaker want me to admire this character? Or is this merely part of the character's flawed nature? If a film glorifies bad behavior, we should acknowledge this. We may still do well to pay attention to the film, though, since one character's language is only a small part of a larger whole which may include meaningful storytelling and moments of revelation. Each viewer must attend to their conscience, and we must not judge each other for our differing choices. Only when a person begins to exhibit the misbehavior that they encounter should we suggest that they reconsider whether they are strong enough to spend time contemplating such art and entertainment.
Does seeing such behavior lead me to absorb and mimic such behavior? If so, I should avoid this kind of film until I am strong enough in spirit to deflect such harsh realities. Perhaps I should avoid such films entirely.
Children have not yet developed strong filters for separating wise behavior from foolish behavior. Is this film exhibiting behavior that might influence a child? If so, we should protect that child from such material until they are ready, just as we would keep them from a meal in which the fish might contain tiny bones on which they could choke. Furthermore, we should train up children to remove the bones, to be careful about what they watch and resist imitating bad behavior.
If the portrayal of bad behavior is unethical, than we must all quit paying attention to any kind of stories. Shakespeare is full of coarse language. Scripture itself includes foul language, although our English translations have softened some of it. What the New International Version calls "rubbish" was, in earlier translations, a term equivalent to dung. The Apostle Paul, in discussing the accomplishments of the Pharisees, compared such acts to … well … you know what I mean. Indeed, Scripture includes descriptions of some of the most reprehensible behavior in all of history.
Jesus did not demand that those he talked with clean up their act before they approached him. He loved them, listened to them, and went to work on the heart, knowing that was more important than starting in on the surface details.
Bob
by Jeffrey Overstreet
posted 05/21/04
Q: I'm surprised to see that Christianity Today Movies sometimes gives good reviews to movies that have lots of profanity. How can you justify that?
A: Foul language, like murder, pride, jealousy, and other sinful behavior, is part of the reality of our world. People do these things. Art reflects our world, and thus responsible artists will sometimes reflect the flaws of our world. Some of these flaws may be troubling, but that does not mean the artist has done something wrong. They may be merely reflecting the real world honestly.
Imagine what the Bible would be like if it did not portray people committing adultery, lying, stealing, speaking harshly with each other, betraying each other, murdering each other. Just because bad behavior is portrayed in a story does not mean that such behavior is being condoned. We must weigh carefully whether we think such behavior is being recommended or merely reflected.
Paul exhorts us to avoid letting "any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" (Eph. 4:29). This includes gossip, self-righteous put-downs and condescension, arrogance, and prideful talk. We should not speak this way. I don't think this means we should never listen to such talk. If so, then we must turn off almost every program on television, even children's stories, where characters speak pridefully, arrogantly, and harshly with each other as part of typical storytelling.
I have worked among people who use profanity excessively all of the time. It is the way that many people talk. Instead of running away from those people, I am challenged to listen to them, to understand what they are saying, to have patience with them and to love them. Moreover, I am challenged to be strong and to ask the Lord to help me avoid absorbing their way of talking. Foul language is often used to get the attention of others, to help the speaker express a sense of frustration or powerlessness. I should be able to listen and respond with patience and grace. If I cannot deal with this harsh reality when it is reflected in art, I certainly will not be able to deal with it when someone is shouting at me or speaking harshly in my presence.
Discerning moviegoers should consider these questions when they encounter harsh language in a film:
What does the foul language tell me about the character who is speaking? Why are they speaking that way?
Does the filmmaker want me to admire this character? Or is this merely part of the character's flawed nature? If a film glorifies bad behavior, we should acknowledge this. We may still do well to pay attention to the film, though, since one character's language is only a small part of a larger whole which may include meaningful storytelling and moments of revelation. Each viewer must attend to their conscience, and we must not judge each other for our differing choices. Only when a person begins to exhibit the misbehavior that they encounter should we suggest that they reconsider whether they are strong enough to spend time contemplating such art and entertainment.
Does seeing such behavior lead me to absorb and mimic such behavior? If so, I should avoid this kind of film until I am strong enough in spirit to deflect such harsh realities. Perhaps I should avoid such films entirely.
Children have not yet developed strong filters for separating wise behavior from foolish behavior. Is this film exhibiting behavior that might influence a child? If so, we should protect that child from such material until they are ready, just as we would keep them from a meal in which the fish might contain tiny bones on which they could choke. Furthermore, we should train up children to remove the bones, to be careful about what they watch and resist imitating bad behavior.
If the portrayal of bad behavior is unethical, than we must all quit paying attention to any kind of stories. Shakespeare is full of coarse language. Scripture itself includes foul language, although our English translations have softened some of it. What the New International Version calls "rubbish" was, in earlier translations, a term equivalent to dung. The Apostle Paul, in discussing the accomplishments of the Pharisees, compared such acts to … well … you know what I mean. Indeed, Scripture includes descriptions of some of the most reprehensible behavior in all of history.
Jesus did not demand that those he talked with clean up their act before they approached him. He loved them, listened to them, and went to work on the heart, knowing that was more important than starting in on the surface details.
My Friday. TGIF!
Been so busy this week. Had computer problems at the school. Server went down and the kids couldn't work. Dog and Pony show all day long. Yuck.
Going to look at furniture again today. Looking for a big bookcase. Also, got the new pool filter in yesterday! Pool is actually starting to look good again. Took long enough to get it installed.
So, we've put in new carpet downstairs, new tile, got the pool fixed and getting new windows soon. I think I'm probably broke now. :-)
Going to look at furniture again today. Looking for a big bookcase. Also, got the new pool filter in yesterday! Pool is actually starting to look good again. Took long enough to get it installed.
So, we've put in new carpet downstairs, new tile, got the pool fixed and getting new windows soon. I think I'm probably broke now. :-)
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Software Woes
Today our server at school crashed. Bad Kernel. Don't remember eating any corn upstairs. Well, Joey and I worked on it and didn't get anywhere. I decided it was an issue for Norton Utilities. I went to Walmart and bought something similar. Got back upstairs at school, opened the box, and hey! There's no cd in there! Had to go back and get another. Found almost all the boxes on the shelves had been opened and were empty. Walmart, get your security people to wake up, you're losing money!
Sunday, May 16, 2004
More Birthday
Well, I went to my folks for my birthday dinner. Every year Mom makes me enchiladas, frijoles, fideo, salad and dessert. Yum! I never ask for any other dinner. Nobody makes enchiladas as good as my mom's. We had a nice evening together.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Evangelist Graham Still Stable After Fall
Just found this out tonight:
May 15, 2004 09:54 PM EDT
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Evangelist Billy Graham remained in stable condition Saturday after injuring himself in a fall for the second time this year, hospital officials said.
Graham, 85, fell at his home in Montreat on Friday. Preliminary test results indicated a possible hairline pelvis fracture.
The accident was similar to one in early January, when Graham broke his hip in a fall in a hotel room in Jacksonville, Fla., Graham spokesman A. Larry Ross said Friday. Graham had partial hip replacement surgery and was hospitalized until Feb. 2.
Ross said Friday that doctors at Mission Hospitals in Asheville were to run more tests Saturday to determine the extent of Graham's injuries, after which the evangelist would make decisions about any impact on his ministry schedule.
Ross did not return messages seeking comment Saturday.
In the past few years, Graham has been treated for a variety of conditions, including Parkinson's disease and skin cancer.
May 15, 2004 09:54 PM EDT
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Evangelist Billy Graham remained in stable condition Saturday after injuring himself in a fall for the second time this year, hospital officials said.
Graham, 85, fell at his home in Montreat on Friday. Preliminary test results indicated a possible hairline pelvis fracture.
The accident was similar to one in early January, when Graham broke his hip in a fall in a hotel room in Jacksonville, Fla., Graham spokesman A. Larry Ross said Friday. Graham had partial hip replacement surgery and was hospitalized until Feb. 2.
Ross said Friday that doctors at Mission Hospitals in Asheville were to run more tests Saturday to determine the extent of Graham's injuries, after which the evangelist would make decisions about any impact on his ministry schedule.
Ross did not return messages seeking comment Saturday.
In the past few years, Graham has been treated for a variety of conditions, including Parkinson's disease and skin cancer.
Happy Birthday To Me
Well, I'm still a year short of 50, but time is trickling by quickly! Hard to believe I'm older than Jack Benny...
Got a new printer from Connie for my birthday. I was still using an Epson 740. Not a bad printer, but I can't believe how much better this one is. She got me an Epson C84. It seems to have a much finer jet spray. The letters are so much crisper as are the photos. Prints way faster too. I think my 740 was about 5 years old, give or take a year.
So, I'm off to print!
Happy birthday to me.
Bob
Got a new printer from Connie for my birthday. I was still using an Epson 740. Not a bad printer, but I can't believe how much better this one is. She got me an Epson C84. It seems to have a much finer jet spray. The letters are so much crisper as are the photos. Prints way faster too. I think my 740 was about 5 years old, give or take a year.
So, I'm off to print!
Happy birthday to me.
Bob
Welcome To The New BobBlog
I have decided to move my Bobblog from the Polywogg server I was using for a variety of reasons. One reason was that I didn't know when I set it up that my friends would have to pay to subscribe and post to it. Only people registered with Polywogg could post for free and I didn't know any of them! So, here you can respond to the things I share and post. I hope you will. I want to hear from my friends. I'll post my daily things that happen to me as well as my opinions on the news of the world, country and religion. I hope you'll continue to read here online and write back to me as well.
I'll be looking for you here!
Bob
I'll be looking for you here!
Bob
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