On The "Hiddenness" Of Husserl

I can hardly understand Phenomenology at times. Needless to say, it's nice to know that even phenomenolgoists don't understand each other:

these circumstances forced me to delve into Husserl's work anew. However, my repeated beginning also remained unsatisfactory, because I couldn't get over a main difficulty. It concerned the simple question how thinking's manner of procedure which called itself 'phenomenology' was carried out. What worried me about this question came from the ambiguity which Husserl's work showed at first glance.

- Martin Heidegger, On Time and Being, trans. by John Macquarrie & Edward Robinson (London: SCM Press, 1962).

On Prayer, Wine, And The Soul

I am humbled by Hannah's prayer. Moreover, I love her response to the Priest, Eli, who thought she was drunk. Hannah replied with, in my opinion, an interesting play on words that highlights a disposition of her soul that is worthy of reflection.

"I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord."
- 1Samuel 1:15b (emphasis added)

Indeed, she did not pour wine and drink in her distress and bitter weeping, but instead she poured out her soul before the Lord in prayer. I am thankful for a God who is sovereign of creation, life and my soul -Soli deo gloria.

On Anime, Depravity, And Darkness

This past week, I have been watching the Anime Tokyo Majin Gakuen. My youth watch it, and I wanted to see what exactly was influencing them. Needless to say, it is demonic and full of divination, so I am not too thrilled they watch it. With that said, there are themes of sin, death, atonement, salvation, resurrection, redemption, love and even the need for a savior. Sadly it's wholly deficient and distorted without revelation of Jesus. The anime struggles with the human condition (mixed with themes of divination). Although it's not like reading Nietzsche or Dostoyevsky where a sin wrought, depraved humanity drips off the page in honest fashion, there is still something to learn. So what is seen when one goes below and within and observes the human heart? There is a telling monologue in episode 13:

"That man said to me, 'to exact your revenge you will need a mighty power. A power to violate or obliterate the laws of this world and change it forever.' He told me I could obtain that power if i was willing to sacrifice. I would have to abandon my human heart. What heart? I don't need any human heart? What good is it? I abandoned it a long time ago. A human heart -what is a human heart? What a useless organ -much more trouble than it's worth. What did the human heart ever do for me? What did the human heart ever do for my mother. Those people, those miserable pigs don't deserve to live -so why don't you kill them? There is nothing stopping you. I have been chosen -I don't have to worry about those swine anymore. Destroy them... do them in.... end their lives... MURDER every last one. And then.... become a demon. I'll show you once and for all why we call it the dark arts."

- Tendo Kozunu, Episode 13, Toyko Majin Gakuen Kenpucho

On Obamacare

“'The President's Proposal,’ as the 11-page White House document is headlined, is in one sense a notable achievement: It manages to take the worst of both the House and Senate bills and combine them into something more destructive. It includes more taxes, more subsidies and even less cost control than the Senate bill. And it purports to fix the special-interest favors in the Senate bill not by eliminating them—but by expanding them to everyone.”

- “ObamaCare at Ramming Speed: The White House Shows It Has No Interest In Compromise,” from The Wall Street Journal Online, February 23, 2010 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704454304575081391789004352.html

On God, Poetry, And Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

- Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914.

On Smiles

"Cause I don't wanna break

Your fine face I can't take

The way you wanna wrap me up

Inside your smile."

- Weezer, Smile, on The Green Album (2001).

On Sunshine, Optimism, And Angels

"Thank you so much. It is really a pleasure. While the boys chose songs that cast an eye inward on the irresponsible life choices of sexual hunger of today's modern teens we have chosen a selection of songs that speaks to the nation as a whole during these troubling times filled with economic uncertainty and unbridled social woe because if there's two things America needs right now, that is sunshine and optimism... and also angels."

- Rachel Berry, "Vitamin D," of Glee, Season 1, Episode 6.

On January

January Statistics:

Points: 2,574

Segments: 10

Miles: 3,960

On Revelation, Relationship And Christology

Reflecting on U2's music. Bono writes:

"I have spoke with the tongue of angels

I have held the hand of a devil

It was warm in the night

I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for"

I suppose this is small, but it seems that in light of biblical revelation such as Colossians 1:13-20; John 1:1-18 that the hook should be changed from an object to a person. The lyrics should be as follows:

"But I still haven't found [who] I'm looking for."

Granted, Bono probably wasn't intending the song to be thought this way -maybe. Regardless when I listen to it, I can't help but say in my head, "person -not thing."

On Gospel Informed Ecclesiology

What is the relationship between the Gospel of Christ and the salvation from God by the Spirit with how one should do ministry? Paul reminds Titus:

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned."

- Titus 3:1-11