Month: July 2005

O That I Might Be a Curmudgeon Too!

I have learned from Victor Reppert at [Dangerous Idea](http://dangerousidea.blogspot.com) that a new Christian philosopher blog has been started. That is, another Christian philosopher has taken up the mantle of blogging, not that a blog has been started by a new Christian philosopher. That would also be interesting, but I would link to it for quite the opposite reason.

Doug Groothuis is a professor at Denver Seminary, and he’s started a new blog called [The Constructive Curmudgeon](http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/). He has only 3 posts up, and each of them is so excellent that not only am I adding him to my blogroll, I think I have finally found a model for my life: When I grow up, I want to be a curmudgeon. At least, I’d like to be a curmudgeon as defined by Doug Groothuis in his [introductory post](http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2005/07/curmudgeonhood-opening-salvo.html).

Things

What is it about me that is so fixed on *things*?

When I was in high school, there was a time when my whole spiritual life was bound up in worship music. Part of this was because I was part of a group of friends that had formed a mini-culture around worship music as the highest expression of worship or ministry. Forget the low calling of the pastor, we wanted to be true spiritual leaders – worship leaders! But this was only amplified by the fact that I had just discovered a tremendous backlog of high-quality worship recordings, and there was a huge Christian book and music store just down the street. I was so addicted to the stuff that I don’t think I would have really believed you to hear that it was possible to worship God outside some kind of musical expression.

Since worship was solely an expression of adoration in my mind, it seemed to follow that the best form of expression of my love for God would be the most intimate, “powerful” encounter. Ideally, this was simply my own personal expression of “the gratitude and brokenness that comes from intimately knowing almighty God,” but better music obviously makes that kind of heartfelt expression easier, so my approach to worship gradually began to hinge on the quality of the music I was listening to.

In one sense, that was bad, because our worship should never have to depend on externals. In another sense, though, it was kind of fortunate because I had access to so much really good worship music. Insofar as worship *is* adoration, I was worshiping quite a lot, albeit with a sort of crutch. Continue reading “Things”

frenetic loquacia

I don’t post as much personal stuff as I ought to, my mom tells me, but I thought I would announce that I’m taking the day off tomorrow. Because I want to? Only so much I wish! I’m having my wisdom teeth removed.

Valerie mocks me when I complain, but I still protest that surgery isn’t natural. Nevertheless, I will be doped up, knocked out, cut open, and eating nothing but soup and yogurt the next few days. Have pity on me.

I’m also getting married in two weeks. And quitting my job. And moving to Boston.

I’ve forgotten to water the plants the last 3 weeks. Valerie’s going to kill me.

Other than that I have no news.

The Book Meme.

I normally try to resist these things pretty firmly, but this one I had to fall for, both because I was “tagged” by Doug Bass at [Apprehension]( http://www.douglasbass.com/blogger.html), and because of my book addiction. Books are the only kind of collecting that has ever made me happy. It’s also the only kind of materialism I truly [revel](http://www.neumatikos.org/2005/06/easton-press/) in. No man can ever have too many books. Obviously, the answers below only apply to me. Valerie will have to answer for herself. Continue reading “The Book Meme.”