So Dave, is Emmanuel Jones breathing air yet or what?

Andy in Japan

I finally fixed my photos site and uploaded pictures from Andy's visit to Japan:

Where do you stand on the flag burning amendment?

And why? For those who don't know what I'm talking about, there have been groups in the United States pushing for an amendment banning desecration of the flag for many years now. It has never received the 67 votes required in the Senate for amendments, but the amendment only needs a couple more votes to pass, which it is close to now. Granted there are more critical issues to vote and debate on, but this one strikes me as controversial, yet less consequential than many political issues.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-22-flag-burning_x.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

Our TV is broken. gems like this make it hurt.

Japanese birdman.

A little tid-bit from Bowling Alone

I'm working my way through _Bowling Alone_ by Robert Putnam; I'm sad I haven't read it sooner. Have any of you read it? What did you think? Do you know of any similar studies?

anyway, here's a little bit about online communities ; )

"Computer-mediated communication is, to be sure, more egalitarian, frank, and task oriented than face-to-face communication. Participants in computer-based groups often come up with a wider range of alternatives. However, because of the the paucity of social cues and social communication, participants in computer-based groups find it harder to reach consensus and feel less solidarity with one another. They develop a sense of "depersonalization" and are less satisfied with the group's accomplishments. Computer-based groups are quicker to reach an intellectual understanding of their shared problems--probably because they are less distracted by "extraneous" social communication-- but they are much worse at generating the trust and reciprocity necessary to implement that understanding" (176).

A worthwhile project ? I think so

"Thanks to the automobile, the American dream has become the American nightmare. If you are like most Americans, you drive alone to your job, drive your kids to school, soccer practice and music lessons, and jump in your car for every little errand because no stores are within walking distance.... To compound the frustration, it's no longer safe for your kids to play in the street like you did as a kid because the traffic has become so fast and reckless. You don't know half your neighbors because you never see them except when they zip by at 35 mph.

...CarFree City, USA's goal is to provide Americans with an alternative: carfree cities. By creating new neighborhoods and cities or redeveloping existing areas on a scale that is for people and not cars, yields a host of personal, community and global benefits. It's an ambitious task, but not mere wishful thinking..."

http://www.carfreecity.us/home.html

This might hit home for many of you...

http://www.elsewhere.org/cgi-bin/postmodern/

Check it out.

Another Question [trying to stir up a fight...I mean discussion]

Is the Church a product of Scripture, or is Scripture a product of the Church? Which one founds/legitimizes/is logically prior to the other? Why is the answer to this question important?

Storewars--funny!!

I'm not talking 'bout nothing but STOREWARS!!!

An Open Letter to the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush

As most of you probably already know, President Bush gave the commencement address at Calvin College yesterday afternoon, encountering unexpected opposition from the students and faculty. Nearly 1/3 of Calvin’s faculty signed on to a letter published Saturday in the Grand Rapids Press welcoming Mr. Bush but taking issue with his handling of war, the environment, and social justice issues—points at which, these Christian professors argue, Mr. Bush’s conduct diverges from how Christians are called to act in the world. (If you haven’t been following this story, see the coverage in Christianity Today for a quick rundown).

The text of the letter follows:

On May 21, 2005, you will give the commencement address at Calvin College. We, the undersigned, respect your office, and we join the college in welcoming you to our campus. Like you, we recognize the importance of religious commitment in American political life.

We seek open and honest dialogue about the Christian faith and how it is best expressed in the political sphere. While recognizing God as sovereign over individuals and institutions alike, we understand that no single political position should be identified with God's will, and we are conscious that this applies to our own views as well as those of others. At the same time we see conflicts between our understanding of what Christians are called to do and many of the policies of your administration.

As Christians we are called to be peacemakers and to initiate war only as a last resort. We believe your administration has launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq.

As Christians we are called to lift up the hungry and impoverished. We believe your administration has taken actions that favor the wealthy of our society and burden the poor.

As Christians we are called to actions characterized by love, gentleness, and concern for the most vulnerable among us. We believe your administration has fostered intolerance and divisiveness and has often failed to listen to those with whom it disagrees.

As Christians we are called to be caretakers of God's good creation. We believe your environmental policies have harmed creation and have not promoted long-term stewardship of our natural environment.

Our passion for these matters arises out of the Christian faith that we share with you. We ask you, Mr. President, to re-examine your policies in light of our God-given duty to pursue justice with mercy, and we pray for wisdom for you and all world leaders.

--Concerned faculty, staff, and emeriti of Calvin College

I wonder, first, what reactions people have to this letter in particular, or the vigorous support evangelicals have shown for this president more generally (and surely, it goes without saying that we should treat these responses with respect and tact). I also wonder what relationship this situation has to our current discussions on what it means to be a Christian and to follow the teaching of scripture, or the law.

notes from my moleskine

OK, first off, I need to tell Adam (and the rest of you, I suppose) that I acquiesced to his request and posted a sizeable response to the comments on my "Question". This post is not entirely unrelated to that response (as you will see if you read them both), so you can probably use this to fill in some of the gaps in my thinking in said response. Or maybe they're both unintelligible...

This is a little different kind of post for me. I am for the most part just copying a page out of my moleskine notebook, but it's something I wanted to share and I would appreciate responses to it. So, without further ado:
05-12-2005
from Auden's "Sir, no man's enemy, forgiving all":
"Prohibit sharply the rehearsed response
And gradually correct the coward's stance."
-- leaping from the "ethical" to the "spiritual": no safety in laws, no easy answer in ready imperatives
--the terror of the spiritual leap lies in leaving the ethical but not returning to the merely aesthetic: responsibility without regulations. "I was just following orders" is no longer an excuse. Christ, save us in the time of trial! Let us find that Justice which the Law could never bring. Justice, the to come. Come. Oui, oui. Come.
--this "leap of faith" is a leap into doubt, from certainty (uncertainly rejected) into a place where the answers are not known before the particular question is asked (if they are ever "known" in the way you used to know things), where Justice arrives at an unexpected time and in the form of a stranger. Faith is an unlocked door.
--It's like stepping from a boat and walking on the water: impossible, perhaps, but it has been done.
--Faith and Doubt aren't opposites? Is faith, then, more like responsibility than it is like certainty? Like openness to the Other?

Am I the only person posting on this blog? I mean, come on! (j/k of course)

Adam, this is too precious. I wish I was one of those kids, getting stuffed monkeys thrown at me by you. I MISS YOU BUDDY.

Graduations

Hey, I just got back from my sister's graduation at Messiah College today. I have to admit it made me a little nostalgic at times. The commencement blew the commencement of the Wheaton College class of '03s out of the water. If any of you haven't done it recently I encourage you to take stock of how you have or haven't been living your life for Christ since our own graduation. I got reminded that my personal accomplishments since graduation have not necessarily done much for the kingdom. My preaching is done now.

Also, apparently the Christian college world is fairly well linked. In a minivan of 3 Messiah girls other than my sister, driving to a night before graduation celebration. I started getting the inevitable peppering of do you know so and so. I think it's the first time that I was able to say yes to knowing all of them. The names were Tim Mitchell, Kristen Hauber, and Ben Courtemanche. Dave, it took a little prompting, but I managed to get Tara Vanderploeg to admit to knowing you and Sarah. Apparently, you are expecting a baby. I hope all is well in the T6 community, especially you guys in Iraq.

Dear friends

Dear friends, I am pleased to announce my intention to leave Japan. It has been a good year and a half , but I'm ready to get back to the people and places I know. In fact, I feel like I'm ready to "settle down." I will leave in October, shortly after the end of the current teaching semester. I'll probably go to Dallas then to live with family or friends; but, on the other hand, I'm willing to go where I'm called, wherever that might be, if it's the right person doing the calling.

I've still got months ahead of me here, though, so I'm trying not to daydream but rather focus on the things at hand, work, rest, and play, mainly work. I am teaching a lot more classes than I have before and I can already feel pressure on my weak organizational and planning skills. I'm sure I'll make it through all right, but I do ask for your prayers.

I'll keep you posted as I decide where I'm going and what I'll be doing in America. I'll be home over summer vacation to work this out.

Right. Banek in Japan, out.

BTW, I updated my photos, which was why I started this post in the first place: http://photobucket.com/albums/v464/RyanBanek/

Page 39

As much as I usually think of the Wheaton alumni magazine purely in terms of ridicule, I found this fantastic picture on page 39 of the current issue. It has these three really good looking guys somewhere in the far east... Japan, or something like that. You might want to check it out.

Question...

Is it OK for a Christian to be romantically involved with someone who is not a Christian? If not, why not? I grew up, like I'm sure most of you did, with admonitions from several sources against dating unbelievers. Why? Are there good reasons for such a prohibition?
Sincerely,
Attracted in Amarillo

Where is everyone?

Here is what I know based on recent communications with people.

Steve and Ryan have sworn off blogging because they discovered that they are allergic to high speed internet.

Dusty is too busy scrolling through eharmony.

Steimel is just working too much at McDonald's and his second job. He may have a third job, too, for all that I know.

So I would like to apologize for dropping off the blogosphere and encourage the rest of the missing to come back. Post what you've been up to lately if nothing else.

Personally, I'm feeling sort of blah. My job is good, but the honeymoon phase has worn off. I could really go for a date. It's been a while since I had one of those. Actually I could go for about any positive social activity that consists of more than video games with the guys or drinking with coworkers. Last weekend I got to see what life might have been like at some school other than Wheaton. I went out to celebrate the birthdays of a couple coworkers, and after going out to dinner. One guy convinced almost everyone else to ducttape a bottle of 40 oz malt liquor to one's hand which couldn't come off until the bottle was completely drunk. I can't say that I really enjoy watching out for drunk people. Hopefully my whirlwind of May activity will liven me up.

My sister's college graduation is two weeks away. Then, I get to try out being in a wedding the next weekend, before i take off for Japan a few days later to visit Steve and Ryan. I feel like this is a crappy contribution to the blog, but I wanted to post something since it's been a while.

Senate

The US Senate is presently considering legislation that would create a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, banning same-sex marriages in all 50 states. Ironically, the bill is being co-sponsored by MY senator (needless to say, I've already written and asked her to reconsider her position on the subject). I thought some of you might like to know that our conversation about same-sex marriage has ceased to be a hypothetical problem, so now is the time to figure out where you come down on the issue and write to your senators. Another issue that the senate is currently deciding (the House already passed this nifty bit of legislation) is whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. They tacked that on to an energy bill that is currently being debated in the upper house, so if you have any strong feelings about that, you'd better make them known post haste. [I feel like such an activist... almost like Ryan Schiffer or something!]

University of Texas, Austin

Here is a little picture I found of the (in)famous tower of the University of Texas in Austin (set against a rather lovely sunset, I think). This iconic structure stands only yards from Calhoun Hall, the home of UT's graduate English department-- that is, MY department starting this fall. For some reason, I can't seem to get away from academic institutions that are primarily symbolized by towers (I can't wait for Andy's Lacanian reading). There is a difference, though, because while Wheaton's tower is iconographically synonymous with marriage, UT's tower is a reminder of August 1966 when Charles Whitman shot 45 people in downtown Austin (killing 14) until his 96 minute reign of terror ended with his own death. Not quite so romantic and pastoral, is it? Although some would see both as incidents of male agression, in which case the tower is an all too fitting symbol.

Proposal to Move

Proposal: Let's move our discussions to a Word Press format
Why? Because Word Press categorizes and sub-categorizes posts.
Imagine: Having a discussion that continues for more than a week.


How we would do this: Someone (*Cough* dusty) who has MySQL on their server would start the wordpress blog, tell us about the domain and upgrade us to posting status as we join. I'd be happy to move older posts from this blog over as a labor of love. I just really want to discuss through categories; it seems like the blogger format exagerates our natural propencity to forget, we need some nice catagories running along the right side telling us what discussions have been started.

So what do ya'll think?