Ein Neuer Blog

I've created a new blog to organize my language studies. When you have a chance, give it a read.
http://altegeschichtedersprachen.blogspot.com/

Blog Recommendation

I just recently found a fun blog via Twitter. I bumped into a picture of cupcakes with Greek alphabets and followed the link (click bait for nerds). It led to "It's All Greek To Me", a pretty good blog. I find pastries with ancient scripts captivating, and this blog has that! The first pasty I've seen with ancient script were cookies with cuneiform:

After I seen that, I knew that the occasional peak into google images for these would be an occasional distraction from work. The new blog recommendation doesn't do cuneiform, but it has cupcakes with Greek, and what's funner than Greek? Very few things are.

Disagreements as Passive Violence?

After the heinous mass shootings in Orlando last week, there was a lot of commotion on whom to blame. Needless to say, it was the shooter's fault. Some on the left agree with the right: that Islam is inherently violent, and it might be so (I really don't know as its theology goes-I don't have an interest in studying it). Nevertheless, history of Christianity (and Judaism) will show the violence perpetrated. The OT had called for genocide, e.g., I Samuel 15, and later Roman Judea had terrorist, the Sicarii. Violence, it seems, is part of the grand narrative of horrible human nature, a consequence of sin. One can easily see this in reading Thucydides.  Yes, Pericles spoke great of Athens'  democracy and the finest qualities of its people, but after the plague, people had no limits in their debauchery. Now, I am not condoning violence; I am against it wholeheartedly. I pray that I have no need for it ever-(part of faith requires that we trust in God, especially when violence is an answer). What I wish to say is that violence is a part of reality. No one in their right mind wants to experience it. And those who do need to be kept away from society. I wish violence on no one, too, whether I disagree with someone completely. And this is my point: I, as a Christian, wish violence on no one, especially a heinous murder such as what happened in Orlando, even though traditional Christianity disagrees with the practice of homosexuality. I am still found, however, to be blamed for an act which I condemn.

https://twitter.com/Residente/status/742147412924506112

Here and there, one will find some who feel that we, as traditional Christians, are complicit in the attacks in Orlando. We are not. My beliefs are that which I find in ancient Christianity, as is the case for many Christians. Just as many Muslims disagree with the practice of homosexuality, they are also not guilty for the shootings, even though they are Muslims, as the Orlando shooter claimed to be. It is absurd to spread guilt on those who disagree with one on something for something someone else did. My lovely older (not quite elderly) traditional Mexican mom is not to blame, nor is her mother or father. Likewise, neither are those from older generations who are not even Christians to be blamed. It is the act of the shooter. This is not to say that he worked off of a clean slate, but whether his slate was clean (which it was not) or filled with self-loathing or hate, it simply cannot be blamed on every group that might share some similarities. To try to rid opposing views simply by blaming them for actions that weren't their own is lazy and irresponsible. Now, as a citizen, one's sexuality is one's own business. It would be equally wrong for me to attempt to rid homosexuality from our society, and the world. Nevertheless, as a Christian, I see sexuality as clearly placed in the scriptures and its practice clearly defined. Hence, the churches with which I affiliate see things differently than others, and it's okay. We can disagree.

Happy Fathers' Day

Happy Fathers' Day to all the good dads out there. Sadly, my dad has passed away a few years ago, but he left me with a good memory of what a man ought to be. I hope what I am becoming would be pleasing to him. Though I do not have my dad anymore, I still have good men from whom I learn. My brother, my pastor, and some of my professors (two in particular) have been great to me. I pray that I may be as impactful as they have been to me.

Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude

J.S. Bach's "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude" is possibly my favorite song. The music is beautiful and the lyrics are too. Here are the lyrics and a translation (not my own because my German isn't that good yet -though it is decent- and it's an older form). Jesus ist meine Freude. Ich kann mir ein Leben ohne Jesus nicht vorstellen.
Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe,
o wie feste halt' ich ihn,
daß er mir mein Herze labe,
wenn ich krank und traurig bin.

Jesum hab' ich, der mich liebet
und sich mir zu eigen giebet,
ach drum laß' ich Jesum nicht,
wenn mir gleich mein Herze bricht.

Jesus bleibet meine Freude,
meines Herzens Trost und Saft,
Jesus wehret allem Leide,
er ist meines Lebens Kraft,

meiner Augen Lust und Sonne,
meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne;
darum laß' ich Jesum nicht
aus dem Herzen und Gesicht.

Well for me that I have Jesus,
O how strong I hold to him
that he might refresh my heart,
when sick and sad am I.

Jesus have I, who loves me
and gives to me his own,
ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus,
when I feel my heart is breaking.

Jesus remains my joy,
my heart's comfort and essence,
Jesus resists all suffering,
He is my life's strength,

my eye's desire and sun,
my soul's love and joy;
so will I not leave Jesus
out of heart and face

Dr. Karen King Responds

Professor King responded to The Atlantic's article by Ariel Sabar (click here for the brilliant investigation) about the, so called, Gospel of Jesus' Wife. She conceded and said that "It tips the balance toward forgery." Here's the report: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/karen-king-responds-to-the-unbelievable-tale-of-jesus-wife/487484/

Sadly, as a commentator said, it would be far worse for the credibility of an evangelical university if this were to be done there. Fraud is fraud and King knew what would it entail if she was wrong. It's a shame she could make fantastical statements and will likely be untouched. Well, she will be for future scholarship, at least with me.

Irony

The Orlando shooter has been discovered to likely be gay, a closet gay, however. The tragedy that he killed forty-nine people is painful, but it was his doing. Some were willing to blame him for his actions, before his sexuality was known. When he was a Muslim shooter, he was self-radicalized, at least to the left, but as he came to be better known, it was the fault of the religious right. I find it strange that he was responsible for his actions a few days ago, but, now, he is a product of "hateful homophobia", an obvious swipe to Christianity, though he was Muslim. It's strange that religion is protected to the left, as long as it's not Christian or against non-traditional sexual practice. He was to blame earlier, and now religion is at fault. What irony.

Old Wives' Tales...

Ariel Sabar did a fantastic piece of journalism regarding the background of the "Gospel of Jesus' Wife" papyrus. Here is the link and everyone who has any interest in it should read it. It is well written and curious. I applaud The Atlantic for supporting this piece.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/the-unbelievable-tale-of-jesus-wife/485573/