Music Review

Recently wrote a music review for the recent Sunset Rubdown album, Dragonslayer. If you're interested, you can find it here.

Three Things

There are currently three things that frighten me, no more, no less, and they are the following:
1) China
2) The next ten years
3) God's displeasure

The relation of these three fears is minimal, although not negligible. That's all for now.

(Facts?) of Personal Interest

[The information below was stolen directly from my professor's lecture; although it may read like I know a lot about the ancient Greek language and history, I don't. In fact, this information comprises about 90% of what I know about them. Nevertheless, I found it cool and wanted to share =)]

Today, I learned that of the many books in the New Testament the only 'sermon' like ones are 1 John and Hebrews. [I'm not sure if this is actually true; our Greek professor told the class the information. Feel free to correct me.] This was exciting news as my deep affection for 1 John and Hebrew, two of my favorite New Testament books, now makes sense - they were poet/academics!

Hebrews and 1 John's status as homiletic texts is not totally surprising given the distinct styles of these books compared to the rest of the new testament; nonetheless, it's still interesting to note that this status, at least in the case of 1 John, I learned, is not just just a product of style, but also structure - not only does John read like a homily, it is intentionally presented as such. In the John 1:1, we find at the end of a series of relative clauses, the phrase, περὶ του λύγου τῆς ζωῆς [transliteration: peri tou logou tes zoes; roughly, concerning the word of life]. Apparently, this typical, 1st century declaration was used in the introduction of all homiletic texts at the time. Writers would inform readers of the their topic by placing the main idea/subject directly after περὶ τοῦ. Thus, the writer of 1 John declares his main topic to be λύγου τῆς ζωῆς (the word of life) when he writes, περὶ τοῦ λύγου τῆς ζωῆς.

Now comes the really interesting question: what the heck does the writer mean by 'the word of life'?

J.S. Bach and His Partita No. 2 in D minor

Ever since a friend played this piece earlier in the year, I have not been able to stop listening to it. Why is unclear, but that doesn't make the compulsion any less powerful; in fact, if anything, it is the very piece's mysterious quality that keeps me bound to it. Somehow, despite having played hundreds of times in my headphones, it continues to sound fresh, almost organic, as if the piece were secretly rearranging itself every time.

This is not insignificant. Why can only be explained by a personal confession of apostasy. It began in high school with an early falling out with 'main-stream, commercial' music. This disillusionment led me to embrace the redemptive message of the independent music movement, very popular at the time. 'Indie' music was, much to my dismay, a sham. When I discovered my messiah to be false, a regular Sabattai Zevi, I returned to the mundane, but occasionally beautiful world of pop music, a prodigal son, but also a broken man. I let radio music keep me alive - low nourishment, quick buzz hooks, beats that keep the body active, fending off decay and apathy. It wasn't much of existence, but I couldn't complain. Sure, I still kept tabs on indie music, but no longer a true believer, my curiosity was infused with a twisted disdain and loathing, which was, undoubtedly, unhealthy for my soul. Music had ceased to delight me. No longer did I believe in its powers; nor, I thought, would I ever again.

I was wrong. One day this past April (?), a saw a miracle, a Dirty Projector's concert. Suddenly, I felt again. Swept off my feet, elevated by the tight harmonies and strong rhythms, my soul awakened - but only for a moment, this was no reconversion experience; I was not shaken, only stirred. Then, around that same time, a friend preformed Bach's Partitat No.2 in D minor, and sweet music, once again, penetrated the depths of my hard heart; I almost repented there, on the spot - yet again, I resisted. Now, I continue to listen, testing this piece to see if it is a sham, waiting for the all-telling dull resentment and the hateful desensitization to once again arise. But, I wonder, could I be wrong?

A Few Details

Today and Yesterday's Notable Events:

Worked out today for the first time in ages with my old man; the result: tired- and sore-ness. Got up at 5 p.m. to drive to Austin's highest 'mountain' and break my body.

Had my first day of class for two audit courses I'm taking at a local seminary (Ancient Greek and Hebrew). Courses are full of people 10-30 years my elder. The professor's are both PTS grads.

[My stance towards listing uninteresting details about daily life - previously unfavorable - may be shifting]

In other news, this video provided some laughs last week for my family and myself:



I don't really understand what William Shatner, or for that matter, the persons in charge of this event, was thinking. [<-- is it 'was' or 'were' there?] Anyhow, apparently it was a common error an aesthetic sensibilities at the time; As evidence, I present exhibit B: