If you have Javascript enabled and would like to view the lastest version of this Weblog, please go here.
May 31, 2003
Snapping synapses...
Yesterday was rather unproductive from an intellectual standpoint. It was the last day of my week off before Summer School begins. I hadn’t gotten too much accomplished during my week off, except for rest — which I guess is a good thing to get on a vacation. But, if you know me, you know that I’ve always got to be doing something. So, after Morning Prayer, I came home and got to work. I put a shelf up in my studio after putting it off for about a month. I cleaned the entire house, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, etc. I even polished the light fixture in our kitchen. But intellectually, I didn’t waste too much time.
Last night, though, while talking with my brother, Luke, on the phone, he mentioned that my Blog has a lot of postmodern verbiage in it. Does it? I mean, I have studied postmodernism, I have read a lot of postmodern literature, and my latest film (see below) was an experiment on many postmodern concepts… My church even touts itself as being a “postmodern church.” (Not to mention the domain name of my website!) But “postmodernism in my writing”? Sure, why not!
Luke is currently studying linguistics in Dallas, Texas. Not too long ago, they studied the concept of “sense.” Not as it pertains to us, as humans, touching, tasting, and smelling things (actually, the second meaning of the word), but as it pertains to words and the different senses of meaning that they convey. Take, for instance, the word “dig“ (as I have used it on the right side of this page). Not only does it mean “to break up, turn, or loosen,” but it also means to “pay attention to, notice, understand, or appreciate.” That is what is meant by different “senses” of a word.
In my latest film, Creative Regression: A Frictional Prolepsis (if that doesn’t sound like postmodernese gibberish, I don’t know what does!), I use the phrase, “I will strain to understand.” You can figure out the different “senses” of that on your own, I hope. But is “sense” the same at double entendre? While similar, I don’t think that “sense” implies anything so risqué. ( There’s a great old Film Noir movie where some policemen are searching a woman’s apartment when one of them says, 
“Ma’am, we won’t be finished here until we search your drawers.” And the woman comes back, “But, Officer, you haven’t even asked me out yet.” )
No, sense tends to be much more subtle than a simple double entendre. And it doesn’t even need to occupy the same language ( e.g., the word “ au pair“ is French and sometimes refers to “a young foreign girl” and “a pair“ is English for “two corresponding things,” but when spoken aloud, could mean the fruit “a pear“ ). Another example is in a book that Julianna is reading (Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck), that points out the peculiar sign found in most hospital waiting rooms: “Patient Waiting.” Well, the hospital does trust that the people present are all patients, but even more so, I think that they hope the patients are all patiently waiting.
Which brings me to my snapping synapses. Are they making a snapping, popping sound or are they snapping, breaking in half? After this post, you be the judge.
Informatio: Culture, Faith, Life, Theory and Philosophy
Posted at 4:29 pm | Permalink | Trackback | Make Comment
May 29, 2003
It's Impossible To Overstate the Value of One Day...
“It’s Impossible To Overstate the Value of One Day”: it was a funny thing to read on a flashing LED marquee above a used car dealership in Independence, MO. But, this is the Midwest, God love it. It kind of hits the mark with me today, on a day that began rather awkwardly and seems to be continuing that way.
You know those days when it seems like no one understands what you are trying to say? Or where everything seems to be on a slightly different frequency than you are — as if a layer of gauze separates you from the rest of reality? I don’t know what it is, but I feel it.
Morning Prayer left me with another invitation having to do with time. Not my time, but God’s time. At the end of Matthew 28:16-20 ( “The Great Commission” ), shortly before Jesus’ ascension, He says, “...I am with you, even to the end of the age.“ The word “age,” in this sense, comes from the Greek, “aion” (ahee-ohn). Aion (Strong’s #165) emphasizes a period of time rather than a duration of time in which not only a “period to come” is encapsulated, but also, “this present age.” In the context of this particular verse, Jesus is using the word “age” to describe “forever and ever.”
Is this a concept that humans can comprehend? Is “forever“ a word that even holds any meaning with us today? Some people want to make their mark on this world, they want to leave legacies, but do they actually think of the term “forever” when they’re striving for these goals? Personally, I cannot grasp “forever.” What I do realize, though, is that my time is not my own. Time, with all of its glorious definitions is, in the end (and the beginning), God’s.
So, what are we to do with God’s time? I know that I have wasted it on more occasions than not. Once again, in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus tells us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.“ Have I done this with His time? Can I do this with His time?
Speaking of the value of my day, I remembered to go to court (unlike yesterday). Talk about a place where time is on its own terms. Nevertheless, after about 45 minutes of wading through the docket, I pleaded guilty, paid my fine and went on my merry way. As I returned to my car though, lo and behold, I had a little yellow gift waiting for me under the windshield wiper: a parking ticket. I won’t get into the details of how vague the sign pointing to where I was parked was, but I’m sure that I made the City of Independence happy by feeding them two fines today. You’re welcome.
One final note on making your day more valuable. Head over to the Adbusters website and read some ideas (and post your own) on how to do something that won’t compute today. I’ve grabbed this picture from the article there.
Seems like a great idea to me. My day already seems worthwile!
Informatio: Culture, Faith, Humor, Introspection, Life, Linkage
Posted at 11:34 am | Permalink | Trackback | Make Comment
May 28, 2003
Family...
A few weeks ago, My wife, Julianna, my brother-in-law, John, and I went to St. Louis, Missouri for the weekend. 
It was an amazing trip. Along with the splendor of the Arch and all of the things to do in the city, St. Louis is, quite simply, a beautiful city. We visited the Hill District, we saw the stadium, we went up in the Arch (which was scarier than I ever expected), and we went to a place that, alone, would make a trip to St. Louis worthwile: the City Museum. I’m not even going to describe the wonder of this museum. Every city needs one. You can check out their website, but I strongly urge you to visit the museum in person. You won’t be disappointed.
Beyond all that St. Louis had to offer, though, we had a good time because we were spending it as a family. Family is something that has always been an integral part of my being. My “nuclear“ family was always close to our “extended“ family on both my mother’s & father’s side. Every year, while growing up, we would visit our grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, et cetera a few times a year. Sometimes it didn’t even have to be a holiday or special occasion.
Now days, family is still important to me. Julianna and I see her parents a few times a month. I go bowling with my brother-in-law, John, every Thursday. I speak regularly with my family on the West Coast. Familial support is a value that was instilled in me at a very early age.
In July, Julianna and I, and my brother, Luke and his family, are flying to California to visit my parents and my sister, Amie and her family. I am very excited to be doing this. It has been less than a year since seeing them (at our wedding in September 2002), but I feel a strong need to connect with my “roots“ again.
We will also being visiting with most of our extended family and friends at a party we are throwing at my parents’ house. We’re calling the party a “reception” for those who weren’t able to make it out here for our wedding but, in actuality, we just want to see everyone.
I wonder if I will be as good as my parents were at keeping our family connected. They always seemed to have a knack for creating reasons for us to meet. I’ve tried to be good about it with my friends. I’ve helped out a few times with my family. I need to keep these connections, though. It is who I am. I am glad that I need my family. I pray that I will be able to teach this sense of stability and support in my children.
Informatio: Life, Photography, Trips and Adventures
Posted at 4:29 pm | Permalink | Trackback | Make Comment
Time...
I’m really not in the mood to make an initial entry on my Blog. Initial Blog entries are usually brief. They introduce the writer and welcome the readers. The thing is, I’ve been dealing with installing MoveableType (what runs this Blog) on my server for a few days now and after finally getting everything to work smoothly, I’m a bit…spent. But the day goes on no matter how I feel.
Today didn’t quite proceed correctly either. After Morning Prayer this morning, I was supposed to drive over the the Independence Municipal Court and take care of a traffic violation, but I completely spaced and forgot. I hope I can get in tomorrow.
Morning Prayer was fruitful and I think it pertains to how I began this post. For the last week, or so, my invitations have all had something to do with time and how we, as humans, judge it on a much different level than God does. Here on Earth, everything seems to move so slowly. But what is a day, a year, 100 years to God? Nothing. These periods of time are but a quick blink of the eye to the Allmighty. Why then, is patience so difficult for us? Why do temporary bouts of suffering take up so much of our existence and…time?
Time is something that I am going to try to conquer — not scientifically, not metaphysically, but mentally and, hopefully, spiritually. God desires us to seek Him at all times. He desires to give us abundant life. Ultimately, He desires us to be in total communion with Him. To God, in His sense of time, this has already happened. To us, it will remain a process. Whether this process finds one of us dead later on this afternoon or still toiling 60 years from now, to God, if we are seeking His kingdom, we are already with Him. I’d like this concept to be a part of who I am. In the here-and-now of my own human understanding, I’d like to know that time doesn’t matter. I’d like to know that anything I go through, here on Earth, is already a fleeting memory.
Informatio: Blogging, Introspection, Life, Faith
Posted at 12:55 pm | Permalink | Trackback | Comments (1)
May 24, 2003
Learning to deal with the concept of "image."
This is Julianna and me at Loose Park in Kansas City, MO. I’m using this photograph to learn how to post images on Live Journal. To see a larger version of what you see above, click ( here. )
Informatio: Blogging, Life, Photography
Posted at 11:04 am | Permalink | Trackback | Make Comment
May 23, 2003
Blogging back to reality...
Is this what I want to do? Is something (or someone) telling me that I should be updating my Journal more regularly? I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see. And if so, maybe not here.
I am taking my wife to have her wisdom teeth removed today. I’m praying for an easy weekend. I still have my wisdom teeth. I hope I always do.
Through another’s Blog I came across an interesting concept at: http://www.longnow.org. Check it out.
In entries to come I will be much less “dry.” I swear.
Bye for now.
Informatio: Blogging
Posted at 08:55 am | Permalink | Trackback | Make Comment
