text:
Game Review: Soul Calibur 4
Soul great, soul fun.
The Good:
Skill-based weapon fighting mechanic a boon * Each character is unique * Over 30 characters with guest stars from Star Wars * Great new features like Critical Finish and Armor Destruction * Solid character creation mode * Tower of Lost Souls mode provides a comprehensive single-player experience * Extended replayability with online multiplayer * Lots of unlockables * Strong graphics and music
The Bad:
Star Wars characters are rather imbalanced * Haphazard Story mode * Omission of tag-team battle in online multiplayer
If you have just enough money to pick up one fighting game, it would not be fallacious to say that you're going to want to choose one that is different from all the others. But given the high rate at which fighting games are coming off the conveyor belt annually, each offering gameplay that is far too similar to each other, selecting your desired fighter may not be that easy afterall. Fortunately, the Soul Calibur franchise has always been one to deliver that distinct gameplay – switching the paradigmatic hand-to-hand combat for a more skill-based weapon fighting mechanic. Soul Calibur 4 doesn't stray too far from that standard Soul Calibur formula, yet offers enough new features and characters in one competent package that would indubitably entice both veterans and new players alike.
Make no mistake. I have always loved the weapon-based fighting mechanic of the Soul Calibur franchise – Soul Calibur 4 doesn't change that and that's a good thing. With the usage of weapons comes a new layer of strategy that goes into each game of Soul Calibur 4. The game truly goes beyond what is typically needed to master a fighting game – a memorization exercise of convoluted move lists – and into the challenge of knowing how and when to parry an incoming attack and counter it with your own. It's this aspect of Soul Calibur 4 that makes it the game that has one of the deeper, if not the deepest, fighting mechanic.
Depending on which weapon a particular character is equipped with, fighting styles from character to character will also differ, so each character in Soul Calibur 4 is unique – this, is another advantage of having a weapon-based fighting mechanic. When drawn into comparison with the usual hand-to-hand combat, the aforementioned has the ability to offer a better variety of skill sets. Considering that Soul Calibur 4 has a cast of over 30 characters, having each of those characters to be unique isn't going to be simple – but the weapon-based fighting mechanic has made it possible.
Speaking of characters, there are some returning ones, including Kilik, Taki, Maxi, Ivy, Astraroth and Voodoo, as well as new ones. More noteworthy are special guests Yoda and Darth Vader, which are exclusive to the Xbox 360 version and PS3 version respectively – which means if you only have the Xbox 360 version, you won't be getting Darth Vader, and if you only have the PS3 version, you won't be getting Yoda. While I understand that the choice to not include both Star Wars characters in both versions may be due to promotional purposes, it's odd nonetheless – and one that is a real bummer. The developers attempt to compensate for this by including The Apprentice, star of the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, in both versions, though. Since I only have the Xbox 360 version with me, I will discuss about Yoda and The Apprentice.
To set the record straight, I must say that Yoda and The Apprentice are great additions to the rooster of characters. Instead of shuffling them into the game haphazardly like gimmicks, the developers actually dedicated the same amount of attention that has been given to all the other fighters in the game to these Star Wars characters. Like the other characters, both of them have their personal fighting styles and strengths. However, I find these 2 characters rather unbalanced. Yes, Yoda is short, but he is so short that a good number of attacks go over his head, leaving him unharmed. This makes him the choice character for players who would like to adopt a more defensive approach, but at the same time, it gives players who play as Yoda an unfair advantage. Furthermore, Yoda cannot be grabbed – which means he is immune against some of the moves in the game, including a couple of combos and hurls. The Apprentice, on the other hand, has the ability that no other fighter in Soul Calibur 4 has – the power to shoot projectiles. More often than not, these projectiles are shot when you least expect and can be considerably hard to defend against. He is also one of the more agile characters in the game – couple that with the said and you have a very capable character – but one that unbalances the entire game. A few well-placed tweaks to these 2 characters would be more than welcomed, though.
As far as new features and characters are concerned, the Star Wars dudes aren't the only ones which made it into Soul Calibur 4. Significant to the fight are the all-new critical finish and armor destruction features. Basically, a critical finish, when executed, overwhelms your opponent in one devastating move – and depletes his or her lifebar instantaneously. However, a critical finish can only be performed when your opponent blocks excessively and completely drains his or her Soul Gauge meter. While it may sound intimidating, this brilliant feature will serve to discourage players from spending a ridiculous amount of time blocking and punishing them if they so choose to; the idea of this feature is to get players to truly engage in the game instead of resorting to cheap blocking and waiting for time-out to attain victory. Armor destruction, as it name suggests, allows you to crack the armor of your opponent if you deal enough damage to a specific spot. For instance, if you continuously swing your sword at the head of your opponent, his or her head armor will shatter and your opponent will become weaker. It's a great feature that sinks more depth into the already-deep gameplay.
The fantastic list of features Soul Calibur 4 offers doesn't stop here, though. Also key to this game is the character creation mode. This mode allows you to customize existing characters, as well as create new ones from the ground up. There's a catch, however, if you want to create entirely new characters: you have to select the any of the fighting styles already possessed by the existing characters for your new character – what this means is that your new character won't be actually unique, but more of carbon copies of existing characters. Look past that, though, and you will find a very rich character creation mode. There is a monumentally large variety of garments and accessories for you to play dress-up with your characters – much like Barbie Dolls if you will. As you play with each character, they will also level up, unlocking even more garments and accessories for you to toy around with. But it's one thing to make a gorgeous female fighter and another thing to create a very skilled female fighter. You see, each piece of garment and accessory has statistics attached to it. For example, a piece of garment may provide more defense points than the other, or another garment may net you more speed than the other. What this translates into is that whatever garment and accessory you put on your character will affect his or her abilities and performances in the fight itself. Wherefore, your best fighter may not be the most gorgeous fighter; in fact, she may even look awful. You may also attribute specific skills to your characters such that one may have be immune to 'Ring Out', while the other may be more adept at reversing counterattacks. The real good news is that you can port your character to anywhere: you can use him or her in single-player mode – complete with cut-scenes that reflect his or her looks, or you can pit your character in the online arena. All in all, the character creation mode is one hell of a feature and it's one that you would want to immerse yourself in for a good amount of time.
Now that we have gotten the features of the game expatiated upon, let's get down to the single-player modes. Soul Calibur 4 sports the usual Arcade mode, Story mode, Versus mode, as well as its very own Tower of Lost Souls, but more on that later. What I want to touch on now is the Story mode, which is surprisingly very disappointing. While each of the characters has his or her personal story mode, the cut scenes for each character are the same. The exception is the final cut scene after your character defeats the sword holder. After playing story mode for quite a while, the cut scenes grow really predictable and stale. Moreover, before actually starting the 'journey' with each character, there will be a whole chunk of boring text scrolling up – and I can't really be bothered to scan through the text – much less read novel-esque unsightly chunk of text. There also seems to be very little thought that went into the production of the Story mode as there are only 5 rounds for each character before the end credits show up. Yes, it's very short because it only takes 10 minutes before I see the credits. The whole Story mode feels really ersatz, rushed and uncompleted – it doesn't feel like it's a real component of this game. The Arcade mode and Versus mode, however, are fine.
The crux of the single-player lies in the Tower of Lost Souls, which replaces the strategy-like Conquest mode from Soul Calibur 2 (that's the previous Soul Calibur game I played because Soul Calibur 3 was only released on the PS2 and I don't own a PS2). In a way, this mode is more straight-forward – now, I prefer that. This mode is so elaborate that they could just do away with the story mode and no one would have cared. Before engaging in this mode, you would have to choose whether to ascend of descend the tower. If you select ascend, there are 20 floors to fight through and at the end of which, you will battle the boss. Each set of floors or stage pits you (and sometimes your tag-team partner) against several enemies, say 2 vs. 7. There are also specific conditions to fulfil in each stage and garments and accessories for the solid character creation mode would be unlocked if you accomplish the said. Defeat all the opponents in a stage and you will progress up the tower. Being provided with the option to switch characters before every stage is useful. Descending the tower, however, is more challenging as you will need to choose 2 characters and stick with them throughout 20 floors. When you are not using a character, he or she will gradually regain health – much like in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Otherwise, descending the tower is similar to ascending the tower. Put together, this mode will initiate you to keep the game disc in the DVD tray for quite a while. Unlike Story mode, this mode offers a more comprehensive single-player experience.
Online multiplayer gives this game extra legs even after the single-player experience has been completed. Online multiplayer is a first for the Soul Calibur franchise and there is no better time to have this addition than now – because if a fighting game ships without online multiplayer in this day and age, it's doomed. As expected, you can participate in either ranked or unranked matches. The omission of tag-team play is a little missed, though. Needless to say, the online multiplayer extends the replayability of Soul Calibur 4 in a big way.
Rounding off the whole game is the long long list of unlockables – and that's already excluding garments and accessories for the character creation mode. There are concept artworks, images of real-life 3D character models, and videos to unlock – it just doesn't get any better than this.
Final Comments
You won't grow tired of the repeated tale about the Soul Swords – because this game's just soul great and soul fun. Pardon the pun, please. The imbalanced Star Wars characters and haphazard Story mode are the only flaws of this otherwise features-rich and enjoyable game. Before I forget, the graphics and music in this game are equally, if not more, amazing as the other components of the game. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game are identical save for the exclusive Star Wars characters and the ability to install the game onto the HDD on PS3. Whatever console you own, be it the Xbox 360 or the PS3, this game's a no-brainer purchase.


text:
The 4th and final round of the NBA Junior Series took place on 1st April at Ashington Leisure Centre, with its popularity being maintained with an entry of 46 players ranging in age from 8 to 17.
The U13 open singles was the biggest event, with boys and girls combining to provide 17 participants spread across 4 groups. In the first semi-final, Matthew Gilchrist (Benfield Bears – BB) managed to overcome Daniel Smith (Wearside Health and Rackets Club – WHRC) in two sets, with the second semi-final between Will Richardson (Hexham – H) and Matthew Thompson (North Tyneside Badminton Academy – NTBA) being won by Will, also in two sets. The final saw Matthew Gilchrist produce a calm and controlled display to withstand a spirited challenge from Will. Daniel clinched 3rd place, winning the play-off against Matthew Thompson.
In the open doubles event, Matthew combined with Benfield team-mate Ben Matthewson to win the final against Jonathan Peart/Dan Smith (Wearside Health and Rackets). 3rd place went to Emily Harrison (Elmfield Tigers – ET) and Anna Railton (Morpeth Riverside – MR) in tight and exciting match with the "royal" pairing of Harry Johnson (MR) and Will Richardson (H).
NTBA continued to dominate the girls open events, with team-mates Megan Porter, Georgina Ross and Robyn Luckley producing a 3-way tie. Based on points, Megan was declared the winner, with Georgina the runner-up and Robyn in 3rd. Special mention here to debutant Josephine Cobden (Elmfield Tigers) who remained competitive throughout against more experienced opponents.
In the girls doubles, Megan and Robyn took the title, with standing a combative challenge from Beth Railton (MR) and Ellie Roberts (WEC). Georgina (NTBA) and Josephine (Elmfield Tigers) combined to take 3rd place.
The boys U15 singles continued to be one of the closest event, with 12 competitors playing in 3 groups of 4. Group winners Daniel Wight (NTBA and the defending champion), Ryan Macciocchi (NTBA) and Jonathan Elsdon (Morpeth) played off against each other to decide the final placings. Ryan emerged as the winner, his use of space eventually overcoming the powerful overhead hitting of the eventual runner-up Daniel. Both the players had to overcome a excellent challenge from Jonathan, whose technical and tactical skills provided a stern test when matched against the physicality of his opponents.
In the boys u15 doubles Calvin Watson and Jonathan Elson (MR) came out on top, remaining undefeated in a group of 6. Dillen Henry and Daniel Wight (NTBA) secured second place with 4 wins, followed by team-mates Djembe Askins and Andrew Lynn in third.
The boys U18 singles saw Michael Dunlop (WHR) regain the title he last won in November, beating Steve Brown (NTBA) in 3 sets. Joe Borrowdale (St. Gabriels) maintained 3rd position (which he achieved in February's event) by virtue of a win against team-mate Matthew Chipchase.
Matthew and Joe then combined to regain the title they last won in November 2011, clinching the 1st position by virtue of a very close win against Steve Brown/Jack Bennett (NTBA), with Elmfield debutants Patrick Cunningham and Pushan Basu finishing 3rd.
A special mention to Michael Moon and Daniel Torczynowycz (St Aidans Wasps), who gave everything they could in both the singles and doubles U18 events.
In the final event, the Open Mixed, NTBA achieved a clean sweep, with Jack Bennett/Robyn Luckey first, Ryan Macciocchi and Georgina Ross second and Daniel Wight/Megan Ross 3rd.
North Tynesdie Badminton Academy (NTBA) retained the NBA Super Series Junior Club Cup, a great achievement as they remained undefeated throughout the season.
Thanks to everyone everyone who supported the 4 events throughout the season, especially the parents who transported then supported their children and the coaches who provided invaluable back-up to help the event run smoothly.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Getting The Most From Your College Counsellor
As you begin to plan for college in high school, your college counsellor can be one of your greatest resources. Your counsellor has valuable information on the application process, has access to important contacts at many institutions, and has the skills to assist you in exploring career and college options.
The following are some important tips for getting the most from your college counsellor:
Get assistance writing a resume
Many US universities require recommendation letters from at least two teachers and the counsellor. It is important to include a resume/curriculum vitae (CV) since teachers and counsellors cannot remember what every student has participated in and has done throughout high school.
Be aware of deadlines
Make recommendation requests to teachers and the counsellor well in advance, I usually recommend at least 2 weeks before the due date. For those students that are applying Early Action or Early Decision, it is important to know which schools require SAT subject tests and note the deadlines for other college admissions tests that may need to be taken.
Stay organized
It is important to keep track of information and deadlines for each institution. Work with your counsellor on creating a spreadsheet with important information such as the colleges to which you are applying, deadlines, requirements, college admission tests, essay deadlines, and any scholarship deadlines.
Work on your interview skills
Many colleges may request a personal interview, even if you are international - they may request a Skype interview. Your counsellor can help you learn techniques on how to be successful with an interview, including mannerisms, what to expect and how to respond to questions, and overall tips on personal presentation.
Maintain communication
If you have questions, or may be uncertain about something in the process, ask your counsellor! Continue to keep an open line of communication so that everything gets completed. It is best to ask rather than leave things for the last minute and risk missing a deadline.
Article written by Crystal Perdue, MA, LPC, NCC
Guidance Counselor at Marian Baker School in San José, Costa Rica.


text:
Nikita Kalinin: Tropical series
Tid: Ti 2018-02-13 kl 14.00
Föreläsare: Nikita Kalinin, HSE St. Petersburg, Laboratory of game theory and decision making
Plats: Seminar Hall Kuskvillan, Institut Mittag-Leffler
Abstract: I will discuss a generalization of tropical polynomials: tropical series. I show how they describe a dynamic of a certain sandpile model and present formulae in number theory, suggested by summing the values of tropical series over the vertices of the corresponding tropical curve. This will be a summary of my joint work with Misha Shkolnikov over the past years.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197242522018-09-03T09:39:35.155-05:00Sensus Divinitatis"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." - Romans 1:19-20Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-23041310691448328392017-03-01T13:00:00.000-06:002017-03-01T13:00:00.964-06:00Whether Aeneas should have killed Turnus
Whether Aeneas should have killed Turnus.

 "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." Addressing Frodo Baggins' wish that the creature Gollum had been put to death, these lines were spoken by the wise wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf cautioned Frodo against assuming he possessed the wisdom to determine life or death, and the wizard's words are relevant to a situation at the end in Virgil's Aeneid. In the Roman epic, the Trojan Aeneas was fighting his arch-rival, Turnus, a man as dangerous as a bear, in single combat, to determine the outcome of a bloody war between Italians and the Trojans. Aeneas, after some delay, finally disarmed and wounded Turnus, who yielded victory to Aeneas. Aeneas contemplated sparing Turnus' life, but ultimately decided to kill him after recognizing the belt of Pallas, one of Aeneas' allies, and victim of one of Turnus' combats.

 While it is widely accepted that both Aeneas and Turnus agreed to fight to the death, only some believe that Aeneas should have killed Turnus, whereas others believe the Aeneas should not have killed Turnus. Yet, Aeneas should have killed Turnus for three reasons: Aeneas killed Turnus in battle, Turnus slew many in the war, and Ascanius needed a future in Rome.

 The first reason why Aeneas should have killed Turnus was that Aeneas killed Turnus in battle. First, Aeneas and Turnus met on the field of battle, acting not as individuals, but as representatives of their respective peoples. Thus, the conflict was not merely personal, but also carried an impersonal aspect of embodying warring nations, which precluded Turnus' death from being considered murder. Second, Turnus was also the aggressor in the war and commander-in-chief of the forces who attacked the Trojans, whereas Aeneas was the defender in war and the recipient of the attackers who assailed the camp, thereby making Aeneas' action self-defense. Third, Turnus' death brought a swift end to a costly war, making it also expedient to kill Turnus.

 The second reason why Aeneas should have killed Turnus was that Turnus slew many in war. In the first place, being driven by his lust for war and destruction, Turnus killed a great many Trojans and their allies in his quest to destroy Aeneas. Unless stopped, Turnus might have killed more men repeatedly, and Aeneas might have fought him continually. In the second place, Turnus was also a friend and ally of Mezentius, a ruler as revolting as a rancid raisins. A prince such as Turnus who protects and tolerates the tyrannical oppressor of the Tuscans threatens the greater stability of the region. Finally, The point is only further strengthened by the fact that Turnus' actions brought about much disorder to the region on account of his war with Turnus, and endangered the lives of not only the soldiers who fought with him, but the women and children of the Latins, who were drawn into the conflict.

 The third reason why Aeneas should have killed Turnus was because Ascanius needed a future in Rome. The future Rome granted to Aeneas and the the Trojans required a unified Trojan and Latin people that was not likely to be possible unless Turnus were dead. Just as anything with two heads must be a monster, so would the Latin people be with both Turnus and Aeneas vying for leadership. Secondly, Turnus' death prevents him from siring sons who could continue to serve as a counter-weight to Aeneas and his family down through the centuries. Finally, Rome is Ascanius' inheritance, not Turnus', and so if only for the sake of granting quieter days to his son should Aeneas have killed Turnus.

 Yet, as Gandalf reminded the furry-footed Frodo, even the wisest of men may err in judging matters of life and death. Some do contend that Aeneas should not have killed Turnus because it was dishonorable, and because it was unpopular. Some consider it dishonorable because it is an act of revenge for the slain Pallas, because it made Aeneas no different than Turnus, and because Venus had previously warned Aeneas to rule his rage. Yet this counter-argument is not relevant since these actions happened in a time of war between two combatants fighting a previously agreed upon fight to the death.

 The second reason some give as to why Aeneas should not have killed Turnus is that it was an unpopular action with many influential people and groups. Firstly, the Latin people greatly admired Turnus and followed him into battle against the Trojans, and the Latin queen, Amata, also greatly loved him. Secondly, Turnus' sister, Juturna, was very upset with her brother's pending death that she attempted to intervene and delay Aeneas' victory. As a nymph, Juturnal wielded supernatural power and could have become a great nuisance to Aeneas. Thirdly, Juno, a goddess as spiteful as Iago, favored Turnus and, as goddess of the home, desired Lavinia to wed him, not Aeneas. However, these reasons are insufficient because the Latins and the gods were fickle and inconstant.

 While some say that Aeneas should not have killed Turnus because it was dishonorable and unpopular, these reasons are not adequate because Aeneas killed Turnus in a time of war, and because popularity with fickle people is not a good basis for making decisions.

 In conclusion, Aeneas should have killed Turnus because Aeneas killed Turnus in battle, Turnus slew many in the war, and Ascanius needed a future in Rome. This issue matters to Romulus, the founder of Rome. If not for the death of Turnus, there may not have been a Trojan-Latin people from which Romulus could spring and found Rome.
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-73244792254232394182017-01-04T08:00:00.000-06:002017-01-04T08:00:14.170-06:00Whether Odysseus should warn his men about Skylla and Charybdis In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus should have warned his men about Skylla and Charybdis for three reasons: Odysseus and his men resolutely and firmly survived many dangers together, Odysseus and his crew were able work together, and the crew was responsible for themselves.

 The first reason Odysseus should have warned his men about Skylla and Charybdis is that Odysseus and his men resolutely and firmly survived many dangers together. Odysseus and his men survived the destruction of their comrades on the journey home from Troy. Odysseus and his men are all tough and hearty Trojan War veterans. Odysseus and his men have even travelled to Hades and back together.

 The second reason Odysseus should have warned his men about Skylla and Charybdis is that Odysseus and his men were able to work together to get home. If he shared information about the coming danger, he would have shown trust and confidence in his men, thereby inspiring them to hold fast. He would not have had to carry the burden and worry of the dangers ahead all by himself. He would have also benefitted from any ideas his men may have had in order to survive the ordeal.

 The third reason Odysseus should have warned his men about Skylla and Charybdis is that the crew was responsible for themselves. Odysseus' men were able to prepared themselves for the encounter with these foul, brash and vicious monsters. The men themselves were very motivated to go home, as was Odysseus. The men, not Odysseus, were responsible for how they react in times of danger.

 Therefore, Odysseus should have warned his men about Skylla and Charybdis because Odysseus and his men resolutely and firmly survived many dangers together, Odysseus and his men were able to work together to get home, and the crew was responsible for themselves. Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-25976724983568934872016-12-28T08:00:00.000-06:002016-12-28T08:00:30.169-06:00Whether Brutus should have conspired against Caesar. "These conspiracies were not the work of the worst men, but of the noblest, most high-spirited, and most courageous, because such men are least able to brook the insolence of princes." Though written some two hundred years before the death of Julius Caesar, the Greek historian Polybius noted that tyranny would cause noble men to rise up against them. As a noble man, Brutus should have conspired against Caesar for three reasons: the expediency of the conspiracy, the character of Caesar, and the character of Brutus himself.

 The first reason why Brutus should have conspired against Caesar is that the conspiracy to kill Caesar was expedient. Simply exiling Caesar was not enough to free Rome from his ambitions, as he might return once again in force and plunge Rome into yet another civil war. Also, death was a common penalty for those who plotted to replace the Republic with a monarch, so Caesar's death was just. Finally, Cassius, known as a very shrewd and cunning Roman, organized and initiated the conspiracy against Caesar, and increased the likelihood of its success. Therefore, Brutus should have conspired against Caesar.

 The second reason why Brutus should have conspired against Caesar is that the character of Caesar demanded it. Caesar had already demonstrated his ambitions by marching on Rome in spite of the laws forbidding it. Further, he retained in his services Mark Antony, a violent, manipulative, and ruthless figure. Lastly, Caesar showed contempt for the people's duly elected Tribunes by punishing them for their actions at the feast of Lupercal. Therefore, Brutus should have conspired against Caesar.

 The third reason why Brutus should have conspired against Caesar is that the character of Brutus himself demanded his participation. Brutus' family honor demanded his participation because his ancestor Junius Brutus helped drive out the last king of Rome. Secondly, Brutus loved the Republic in his own right, and had already served in the Senate. Finally, Brutus was not afraid of dying for the sake of doing the right thing. Therefore, Brutus should have conspired against Caesar.

 Thus, Brutus should have conspired against Caesar because of the expediency of the conspiracy, the character of Caesar, and the character of Brutus himself. Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-46064240867645893222016-12-21T08:00:00.000-06:002016-12-21T08:00:19.277-06:00Whether Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave In Aristotle's Politics I.5, the noted philosopher wrote: "For that some should rule and others be ruled is a thing not only necessary, but expedient; from the hour of their birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule." That some are fit to rule, while others to be ruled is a very controversial statement and has bearing on the broader question of who should receive an education. More specifically, it has some relation to the issue of Socrates and Meno's slave. Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave for three reasons: Socrates was skilled at teaching, the slave was made in God's image, and an educated slave was a benefit to Meno.

 Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave because Socrates himself was skilled at teaching. Meno respected Socrates and recognized the benefit of having a conversation with him about life's most essential questions. Socrates was very capable of helping even the hostile Anytus better understand what virtue is and what it is not. Socrates demonstrated throughout the Meno dialogue his ability by helping Meno himself gain deeper insight into virtue.

 Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave because the slave was made in God's image. God created the slave, and all men, with the capacity for reason, and the slave demonstrated this clearly. Socrates also revealed to Meno that his slave was not merely a soul, but a soul and a body that was able to observe the world around him. Finally, Socrates' interactions elicited the slave's capacity for language and speech, another critical human attribute associated with Imago Dei.

 Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave because an educated slave was a benefit to Meno. An educated slave had greater capacity and usefulness to their masters. This led to a slave saving more of his master's time, as Meno would not have to laboriously explain exactly what he wanted accomplished. Together, the slave's greater ability and economy with Meno's time enabled the slave to make and save more of Meno's money and resources.

 Socrates should have instructed Meno's slave because Socrates was skilled at teaching, the slave was made in the image of God, and an educated slave was a benefit to his master. This issue matters to all men because, independent or indentured, prosperous or poor, they were made in God's image and flourish through the education of the soul. Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-25936509930144727432016-12-14T12:43:00.000-06:002016-12-14T12:43:06.857-06:00Whether Evander should have allied with Aeneas.
 Imagine having to chose between sides in a titanic struggle between great and fearsome peoples. This is what Evander does in Book VIII of Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid. Though he was king of the Arcadians in Italy, Evander was an old man, too old to fight, whereas His son, Pallas, was a young man, too young to fight. When Aeneas reached Evander's kingdom, he asked for aid in the war against the Rutulians and Latins. After hosting Aeneas for the night and pondering the matter, Evander chose to ally with Aeneas.

 The question remains whether this was the right choice. While everyone agrees that Evander was in a difficult position and wants him to make the right choice, some believe that Evander should have allied with Aeneas, and others believe that Evander should not have allied with Aeneas. Despite this disagreement, it is clear that Evander should have allied with Aeneas for three reasons: The gods supported pious Aeneas, Aeneas demonstrated good qualities, and the decision had good consequences.

 The first reason Evander should have allied with Aeneas is because the gods supported pious Aeneas. In fact, Aeneas is the son of Venus herself, who showed steadfast support for Aeneas' quest to found Rome. Further, the Italian river-god, Tiberius, also supported Aeneas and directed the Trojan prince to seek out Evander for men and aid. Most importantly, Jupiter, the king of the gods, supported Aeneas, as he granted not only the founding of the Roman people to Aeneas, but to Rome herself "empire without end."

 Secondly, Evander should have allied with Aeneas because Aeneas demonstrated good qualities. As already alluded, his support from the gods indicated that Aeneas was very pious, and Evander himself was very pious, as seen by his observance of rites in Hercules' honor during Aeneas' arrival. Aeneas also possessed prowess in battle, and would be able to teach the inexperienced Pallas by excellent example. Finally, Aeneas, being wholly of non-Italian stock, was qualified to lead not only Evander's army, but also the Etruscan army as well. The Etruscan army sat encamped, waiting for the fulfillment of a prophecy about the coming of a non-Italian leader, such as Aeneas.

 Finally, Evander should have allied with Aeneas because the decision had good consequences. The combined arms of the Trojans, Etruscans, and Evander's Arcadians defeat the Rutulians and Latins and end the war. The precincts of Arcadia encompass the future site of Rome itself, and so Arcadia becomes the Eternal City. Finally, the alliance with Aeneas was critical in his defeat of Turnus. This enabled Aeneas to fulfill his fate as founder of Rome in Italy, and allowed Rome to complete her destiny as bringer of law to the world.

 Some believe that Evander should not have allied with Aeneas because of the danger to Pallas, and the fact that the Trojans were already a defeated people. The young, inexperienced Pallas found himself in a fight with Turnus, a soldier as cunning as a wolf, that ultimately cost him his life and brought Evander great sorrow. Yet, it must be remembered that Pallas died with great glory and honor, and left a great name for himself among his friends and enemies alike, and Evander mourned not for his son's chance at honor and distinction, but his youthful death before Evander's own.

 Additionally, given that the Trojans had already been defeated by the Greeks, some question whether Evander was wise to ally with Aeneas. Not only had the Trojans been defeated, but their king was killed, they were exiled from their homeland, and few in numbers. Nevertheless, Jupiter himself had granted to Rome an endless empire, and it was Jupiter alone who decided the Trojan War in the favor of the Greeks.

 So, the danger to Pallas and the past defeat of the Trojans are not sufficient reasons to keep Evander from allying with Aeneas and joining the destiny of the Arcadians and Trojans.

 Evander should have allied with Aeneas because the gods supported pious Aeneas, Aeneas demonstrated good qualities, and the decision had good consequences. This issue was especially important to the Arcadians, because their fate became intimately tied up with that of Rome, a city that dominated first Italy, then the known world.

 Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-47416512104442118812013-01-25T10:35:00.000-06:002013-02-03T19:10:51.078-06:00Abraham Kuyper, Part IV

This is the conclusion to my four-part introduction to the Dutch theologian and statesman, Abraham Kuyper. Read Part I, Part II, and Part III)
During all of his life, Kuyper never set down the pen, writing many different devotional and theological books. Following his term as Prime Minister, Kuyper was invited to Princeton to deliver the Stone Lectures. His lectures focused on the idea that Christianity is a life-system, or worldview, and that its distinctive stamp on reality makes it fundamentally different from its competitors, including Islam and Modernity. These ideas would come to shape the theological and philosophical minds in the United States, especially those in the Reformed and Presbyterian communities.

Kuyper understood that Christianity was an all-encompassing system of beliefs. He knew that he could not relegate his faith to one little box. Rather, Christian truth saturates everything. He articulated this in a series of talks published as Lectures on Calvinism. The extent to which Abraham Kuyper acted on what he believed is plainly seen in his involvement in so many different spheres of life and culture: in journalism and writing, in the Church as pastor and theologian, in government as a party leader and Prime Minister, and in education as a university founder.

The study of Kuyper and his writings is difficult since so few of his works have been translated into English. Further, since he is a relatively unknown figure, there are few secondary sources available. When I wrote a paper on him in college, this was a wall I constantly ran up against. Nevertheless, there are some books and essays that will give you a start:

Lectures on Calvinism
Since it was delivered in English this is the most popular and easily acquired book by Kuyper. He introduces the idea of life-systems, or worldviews, and shows how it affects art, science and many other "spheres" of life.

Principles of Sacred Theology
This is the only other work by Kuyper himself that I have been able to get my hands on. While I only had time to read parts, what I did read looked good and I'd love to finish it someday.

Worldview: A History of the Concept, by David Naugel
This is a book mentioned at the beginning of the series that introduces Kuyper by way the discussing the history of the "worldview."

"Abraham Kuyper and the rise of Neo-Calvinism in the Netherlands" by Justus M. Van der Kroef
This is a good biographical overview of Kuyper's life and work. It comes from a periodical called Church History, Vol. 17, No. 4 December 1948.

"Dutch Reformed Philosophy in North America" by Thomas K. Johnson
This essay does a good job of showing the connections between Kuyper's thought and later thinkers. Most of the figures discussed are probably not familiar to most readers (or at least, I had never heard of them), but again, it shows the impact that Kuyper's ideas had on those who came after him.Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-70914124741407323352013-01-18T10:23:00.000-06:002013-02-03T19:13:59.922-06:00Abraham Kuyper, Part III

In Part I, I introduced Kuyper as a forgotten figure who has played a key role in developing the intellectual tools that many Christians today take for granted when defending the faith. In Part II, I gave a short biographical overview of Kuyper. Today, we continue the biography and look at how he waged his war on modernism.
Abraham Kuyper once said, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'" Since God is the creator of all things, all things belong to him. Thus, all areas of human existence owe homage to God. What he is expressing is the same idea found in Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." If all parts of reality belong to God, then his truth is supreme and affects all areas of life: philosophy, economics, education, government--everything.

Driven by this belief, Kuyper took the field against modernity in every sphere of life he could. He became involved in politics and helped found the Anti-Revolutionary Party, whose main aims were to resist the secular spirit of the bloody French Revolution. He also founded and edited two newspapers, De Heraut, and De Standaard. These papers allowed him to communicate and appeal to the people of the Netherlands. When the state-controlled church went too far, Kuyper helped found a new church. Not content to stop there, he was also instrumental in the founding of the Free University of Amsterdam. The university helped train and educate pastors in Christian doctrine, free from the liberal taint of the state-run universities, such as the one that Kuyper himself had gone to. Kuyper's involvement in politics increased when he won a seat in Parliament, and culminated when the coalition he formed won control and made him Prime Minister.

In Part IV, I will conclude this introduction to Kuyper and focus on some of his ideas as well as list some resources for those interested in learning more.

Abraham Kuyper: Part I, Part II, Part IV
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-68670507704445483742013-01-11T10:16:00.000-06:002013-02-03T19:13:29.911-06:00Abraham Kuyper, Part II
In Part I, I introduced Abraham Kuyper as an important example in the context of Christian apologetics, worldviews and cultural contribution. Today, I will be giving a brief overview of Kuyper's life and the ways in which he sought to influence his culture.

Abraham Kuyper was born in 1837 into the family of a Dutch Reformed minster. He studied at the University of Leyden, focusing on theology as his father had. While at Leyden, he was indoctrinated by the latest liberal theology of his day, rooted in German theories of higher criticism. It was not until he went to his first church in the rural dutch countryside that he became a Christian, largely due to the faithful example of the simple farmers in his congregation. Despite being indoctrinated into the liberal spirit of the age at the university, it is Providential irony Kuyper was converted by pious low- and middle-class Dutchmen. Kuyper then devoted the rest of his life to fighting modernity and its liberalizing influence on the dutch church as well as the culture in general. He saw the conflict as a war, describing it thus:

Two life-systems are wrestling with one another, in mortal combat. Modernism is bound to build a world of its own from the data of the natural man, and to construct man himself from the data of nature; while on the other hand, all those who reverently bend the knee to Christ and worship Him as the son of the living God, and God himself, are bent upon saving the "Christian Heritage." This is the struggle in Europe, this is the struggle in America, and this also, is the struggle for principles in which my country is engaged, and in which I myself have been spending all my energy for nearly forty years.
In Part III, we will learn more about how Kuyper waged his campaign against modernity.

Abraham Kuyper: Part I, Part III, Part IV.
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-44065116309807439952013-01-04T15:01:00.000-06:002013-02-03T19:14:49.057-06:00Abraham Kuyper, Part I
No education in the concept of a worldview is complete without a mention of Abraham Kuyper. The grandfather of contemporary presuppositional apologetics and the propagator of the concept of worldview, Kuyper is an all but forgotten giant. Yet, in a survey of academic works on worldview and presuppositional apologetics, Kuyper continues to pop up in the footnotes and historical overviews, and rightly so. Kuyper, more than any other figure of his time, is responsible for spreading the idea of worldview to Christians, not only in his own Netherlands, but also in American through the Stone Lectures he gave at Princeton. His words and ideas influenced the next generation of theologians, including Cornelius Van Til, who developed the presuppositional method of apologetics, whose ideas, in turn, influenced not only his students-turn-apologists, such as Francis Schaeffer and Greg Bahnsen, but also noted contemporary Christian philosopher, Alvin Plantinga.

I first heard about Abraham Kuyper through studying worldviews and apologetics. I cannot remember where I first heard his name, but as noted before, his name has a habit of popping up in footnotes and introductory chapters. A few years ago, I finally got a hold of Lectures on Calvinism, and experienced Kuyper in his own words. While looking up Christian philosophers while in college, I came across an essay chronicling the three different branches of Christian philosophical thought that all have their roots in none other than Abraham Kuyper. Kuyper was a visionary who saw and understood the rising conflict between Christianity and modernism. While liberalism did not begin affecting American life and culture in full force until the 20th Century, Kuyper lead the fight in Holland against liberalism at the end of the 19th Century. More than just understanding the scope of the war, Kuyper's Lectures on Calvinism are evidence that he could effectively communicate that understanding as well. More than just sitting in an armchair as an academic, Kuyper's life bears witness that he truly believed all spheres of life belong to Christ, as he personally interacted with more than a few of these spheres (at the same time, no less).

For this reason alone, Kuyper is worth studying and learning from. I hope that as a result of this little introduction to Kuyper, you will be interested in reading more about this giant of the Faith and inspired to follow his example by involving yourself in ever sphere of life.

Abraham Kuyper: Part II, Part III, Part IV.
Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-48032260047313447082012-12-24T10:46:00.001-06:002012-12-24T10:46:36.249-06:00Athanasius' Thoughts on Christmas

On the Incarnation of the Word of God

by Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)

Ch. 2: The Divine Dilemma and Its Solution in the Incarnation

 We saw in the last chapter that, because death and corruption were gaining ever firmer hold on them, the human race was in process of destruction. Man, who was created in God's image and in his possession of reason reflected the very Word Himself, was disappearing, and the work of God was being undone. The law of death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape. The thing that was happening was in truth both monstrous and unfitting. It would, of course, have been unthinkable that God should go back upon His word and that man, having transgressed, should not die; but it was equally monstrous that beings which once had shared the nature of the Word should perish and turn back again into non-existence through corruption. It was unworthy of the goodness of God that creatures made by Him should be brought to nothing through the deceit wrought upon man by the devil; and it was supremely unfitting that the work of God in mankind should disappear, either through their own negligence or through the deceit of evil spirits. As, then, the creatures whom He had created reasonable, like the Word, were in fact perishing, and such noble works were on the road to ruin, what then was God, being Good, to do? Was He to let corruption and death have their way with them? In that case, what was the use of having made them in the beginning? Surely it would have been better never to have been created at all than, having been created, to be neglected and perish; and, besides that, such indifference to the ruin of His own work before His very eyes would argue not goodness in God but limitation, and that far more than if He had never created men at all. It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself.

 Yet, true though this is, it is not the whole matter. As we have already noted, it was unthinkable that God, the Father of Truth, should go back upon His word regarding death in order to ensure our continued existence. He could not falsify Himself; what, then, was God to do? Was He to demand repentance from men for their transgression? You might say that that was worthy of God, and argue further that, as through the Transgression they became subject to corruption, so through repentance they might return to incorruption again. But repentance would not guard the Divine consistency, for, if death did not hold dominion over men, God would still remain untrue. Nor does repentance recall men from what is according to their nature; all that it does is to make them cease from sinning. Had it been a case of a trespass only, and not of a subsequent corruption, repentance would have been well enough; but when once transgression had begun men came under the power of the corruption proper to their nature and were bereft of the grace which belonged to them as creatures in the Image of God. No, repentance could not meet the case. What—or rather Who was it that was needed for such grace and such recall as we required? Who, save the Word of God Himself, Who also in the beginning had made all things out of nothing? His part it was, and His alone, both to bring again the corruptible to incorruption and to maintain for the Father His consistency of character with all. For He alone, being Word of the Father and above all, was in consequence both able to recreate all, and worthy to suffer on behalf of all and to be an ambassador for all with the Father.

 For this purpose, then, the incorporeal and incorruptible and immaterial Word of God entered our world. In one sense, indeed, He was not far from it before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, while ever abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are. But now He entered the world in a new way, stooping to our level in His love and Self-revealing to us. He saw the reasonable race, the race of men that, like Himself, expressed the Father's Mind, wasting out of existence, and death reigning over all in corruption. He saw that corruption held us all the closer, because it was the penalty for the Transgression; He saw, too, how unthinkable it would be for the law to be repealed before it was fulfilled. He saw how unseemly it was that the very things of which He Himself was the Artificer should be disappearing. He saw how the surpassing wickedness of men was mounting up against them; He saw also their universal liability to death. All this He saw and, pitying our race, moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that death should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should perish and the work of His Father for us men come to nought, He took to Himself a body, a human body even as our own. Nor did He will merely to become embodied or merely to appear; had that been so, He could have revealed His divine majesty in some other and better way. No, He took our body, and not only so, but He took it directly from a spotless, stainless virgin, without the agency of human father—a pure body, untainted by intercourse with man. He, the Mighty One, the Artificer of all, Himself prepared this body in the virgin as a temple for Himself, and took it for His very own, as the instrument through which He was known and in which He dwelt. Thus, taking a body like our own, because all our bodies were liable to the corruption of death, He surrendered His body to death instead of all, and offered it to the Father. This He did out of sheer love for us, so that in His death all might die, and the law of death thereby be abolished because, having fulfilled in His body that for which it was appointed, it was thereafter voided of its power for men. This He did that He might turn again to incorruption men who had turned back to corruption, and make them alive through death by the appropriation of His body and by the grace of His resurrection. Thus He would make death to disappear from them as utterly as straw from fire.
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-35261110510753031832012-12-07T09:09:00.000-06:002012-12-07T09:16:15.772-06:00The Unprovoked and Dastardly Attack

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-641494883879467932012-10-24T10:30:00.000-05:002012-10-24T10:30:03.219-05:00God's Unconditional Pledge"God says: "I will put enmity" and "he shall bruise your head." These promises to apply and accomplish redemption contain no "ifs." They depend on God alone. God here enlists no cooperation whatsoever from fallen men. Rather, redemption is his work, accomplished and applied by divine power. God stands committed supernaturally to establish and perpetuate this spiritual war in the devil's house. Christ is God the Son incarnate, sent from God the Father to save his people from their sins. Christ's work can never fail. Its success is certain. Its success does not rest on any decision of fallen men, any more than the application of redemption does (Rom. 8:31-39). Therefore, this divine pledge is unilateral and efficacious."

Greg Nichols, Covenant Theology: A Reformed and Baptistic Perspective on God's CovenantsJacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-36590146393079440092012-09-18T09:30:00.000-05:002012-09-18T09:30:04.229-05:00Multiculturalism and Nationalism

 As I prepare to teach my students about the Late Roman Empire and the reasons for its transformation (or fall, depending on whom one asks) into the various Germanic kingdoms of Western Europe, I just found a scholarly article, "Late Antiquity and the Concept of Decline," from a class I took in college. The author, J.H.W.G. Liebeschutz, points out that many historians today approach the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire from a multicultural outlook in which harmony and continuity are considered more important than turning points. Of the consequences of this multiculturalism, Liebeschutz notes:

 "An important consequence of multiculturalism is the devaluation of the nation state. The right of nation states to uphold their territorial integrity, their independence and their peculiar national culture is given low priority. I quote from a recent political analysis by G. Mulgan: Nations that cling to the values of nationalism 'live in their boxes, are most of all concerned with the integrity of those boxes, whether they come from invasion or succession. These are the states that often initiate wars, partly to shore up their national unity, partly to win territory, partly to sharpen their own reflexes.' Such nationalism is outmoded in a world order 'which rests on interference, and transparency and pooling of powers. Borders no longer count for much. Few economies are national in any meaningful way at all. Changing your borders is less necessary and less important than accumulating economic and cultural power.' If you see the world like this, the disintegration of political and administrative structures such as that of the Roman Empire is no longer interesting. Disintegration is no longer problematic. It is inevitable, and in any case, to be welcomed.

 If the break up of the state is no longer to be feared, and therefore no longer interesting, the same is naturally true of a state's administrative and political institutions, including the details of parliamentary democracy. To quote Mulgan once more: 'Paradoxically, more countries engage in democratic politics than ever before yet this is a profoundly anti-political age ... With widespread access to global media, databases and multiple opinions, today's politicians have lost their edge ... the res publica, or the public realm, is no longer primarily organized in parliaments and party conventions.' This feeling too has influenced the direction of research in Late Antiquity. Compared with earlier times, there has been little interest in constitutions and laws, which tend to be seen as camouflage for the selfish maneuvers of interest groups.

 The underlying assumption is that the present is so different that the past is no longer relevant. In the words of A. Giddens: 'At at time of thoroughgoing detraditionalization, those who hold to traditions have to ask themselves, and are asked by others, why.' 'Traditions have lost the capacity to make claims on people because in multicultural societies they no longer have any special status.' What has broken historical continuity is the revolution in communications, wireless, television and above all the internet. As a result we now live in a post-modern, post-traditional society which must build up its own rules with global scope. Traditions will not have to be invariably abandoned, but traditional behavior can no longer be justified on the ground that it is traditional."
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-37569584638851343722012-07-14T15:53:00.002-05:002013-08-12T11:20:19.101-05:00Free Books: Public Domain and the Internet

 Due to curricula changes at PCCA, I have spent part of my summer compiling a primary-source document reader for my 9th and 10th grade Humanities classes. Together, the classes span from the Ancient World into the 17th Century, and I focus on literary, philosophical, historical and some theological developments in Western Culture. With the expansion of our rhetoric program, many of my composition duties have been reduced, giving me more time to strengthen the historical and cultural component of the classes. Using primary sources ensures that I let the ancients, medievals and reformers speak in their own words.

Since I am only using parts of many of these works, and since existing primary source readers are expensive (and deficient in one way or another), I decided to put together my own reader, using the plethora of books and documents available in the public domain. Not only does Google Books contain a great number of free books (all of which can be downloaded as .pdf files to your computer, but a number of other excellent websites make many other books available as well.

Fordham University's Internet History Sourcebooks were critical for the construction of my document reader. Most of the titles available are historical, rather than literary, but many different genres are mixed together.

The Internet Classics Archive provides a range of texts from the Ancient Greco-Roman world, including many of literary works.

The Online Medieval and Classical Library (OMACL) had some books in the public domain that I had a hard time finding anywhere else, including the medieval Spanish poem "The Lay of the Cid."

New Advent is a Roman Catholic website that hosts an excellent collection of Patristics (1st - 5th Cent. AD) and the Summa Theologica of Medieval theologican and philosopher, Thomas Aquinas.

The Lacus Curtius Page offers a number of Greco-Roman works, as well as some useful secondary sources.

Hanover College's Historical Texts Project is not as extensive as Fordham's, but was nevertheless useful.

The Perseus Collection not only has classical titles in English, but also in Greek and Latin. Primary texts, as well as public domain secondary texts (Latin and Greek grammars, lexicons, etc) are here.

The Christian Classics Ethereal Library has Christian texts, both primary and secondary. An excellent resource!

Mongergism also makes available many classic theological texts of Christendom. They also have a very helpful directory with links to articles on all manner of biblical and theological topics.

The Puritan Library, hosted by Monergism, contains a large number of Puritan writings, the preeminent Protestant movement of the 17th Century.

The University of Virginia's American Studies site has a some titles by American authors.

Bartleby.com has a wide range of Great Books available.

EarlyChurch.org.uk has resources on Church history in its earliest centuries.

(As with any links to external sites, I cannot vouch for the entirety of its contents, past, present or future (since I don't own and operate these sites), so please proceed with caution and only allow children to use the internet with responsible supervision.)Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-2525739638001030712012-07-05T10:00:00.000-05:002012-07-05T10:00:04.027-05:00Pericles' Funeral Oration - 431 BC

 "Most of my predecessors in this place have commended him who made this speech part of the law, telling us that it is well that it should be delivered at the burial of those who fall in battle. For myself, I should have thought that the worth which had displayed itself in deeds would be sufficiently rewarded by honours also shown by deeds; such as you now see in this funeral prepared at the people's cost. And I could have wished that the reputations of many brave men were not to be imperilled in the mouth of a single individual, to stand or fall according as he spoke well or ill. For it is hard to speak properly upon a subject where it is even difficult to convince your hearers that you are speaking the truth. On the one hand, the friend who is familiar with every fact of the story may think that some point has not been set forth with that fullness which he wishes and knows it to deserve; on the other, he who is a stranger to the matter may be led by envy to suspect exaggeration if he hears anything above his own nature. For men can endure to hear others praised only so long as they can severally persuade themselves of their own ability to equal the actions recounted: when this point is passed, envy comes in and with it incredulity. However, since our ancestors have stamped this custom with their approval, it becomes my duty to obey the law and to try to satisfy your several wishes and opinions as best I may.

 "I shall begin with our ancestors: it is both just and proper that they should have the honour of the first mention on an occasion like the present. They dwelt in the country without break in the succession from generation to generation, and handed it down free to the present time by their valour. And if our more remote ancestors deserve praise, much more do our own fathers, who added to their inheritance the empire which we now possess, and spared no pains to be able to leave their acquisitions to us of the present generation. Lastly, there are few parts of our dominions that have not been augmented by those of us here, who are still more or less in the vigour of life; while the mother country has been furnished by us with everything that can enable her to depend on her own resources whether for war or for peace. That part of our history which tells of the military achievements which gave us our several possessions, or of the ready valour with which either we or our fathers stemmed the tide of Hellenic or foreign aggression, is a theme too familiar to my hearers for me to dilate on, and I shall therefore pass it by. But what was the road by which we reached our position, what the form of government under which our greatness grew, what the national habits out of which it sprang; these are questions which I may try to solve before I proceed to my panegyric upon these men; since I think this to be a subject upon which on the present occasion a speaker may properly dwell, and to which the whole assemblage, whether citizens or foreigners, may listen with advantage.

 "Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighbouring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favours the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if no social standing, advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity, class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition. The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life. There, far from exercising a jealous surveillance over each other, we do not feel called upon to be angry with our neighbour for doing what he likes, or even to indulge in those injurious looks which cannot fail to be offensive, although they inflict no positive penalty. But all this ease in our private relations does not make us lawless as citizens. Against this fear is our chief safeguard, teaching us to obey the magistrates and the laws, particularly such as regard the protection of the injured, whether they are actually on the statute book, or belong to that code which, although unwritten, yet cannot be broken without acknowledged disgrace.

 "Further, we provide plenty of means for the mind to refresh itself from business. We celebrate games and sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private establishments forms a daily source of pleasure and helps to banish the spleen; while the magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our harbour, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as familiar a luxury as those of his own.

 "If we turn to our military policy, there also we differ from our antagonists. We throw open our city to the world, and never by alien acts exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or observing, although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally profit by our liberality; trusting less in system and policy than to the native spirit of our citizens; while in education, where our rivals from their very cradles by a painful discipline seek after manliness, at Athens we live exactly as we please, and yet are just as ready to encounter every legitimate danger. In proof of this it may be noticed that the Lacedaemonians do not invade our country alone, but bring with them all their confederates; while we Athenians advance unsupported into the territory of a neighbour, and fighting upon a foreign soil usually vanquish with ease men who are defending their homes. Our united force was never yet encountered by any enemy, because we have at once to attend to our marine and to dispatch our citizens by land upon a hundred different services; so that, wherever they engage with some such fraction of our strength, a success against a detachment is magnified into a victory over the nation, and a defeat into a reverse suffered at the hands of our entire people. And yet if with habits not of labour but of ease, and courage not of art but of nature, we are still willing to encounter danger, we have the double advantage of escaping the experience of hardships in anticipation and of facing them in the hour of need as fearlessly as those who are never free from them.

 "Nor are these the only points in which our city is worthy of admiration. We cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy; wealth we employ more for use than for show, and place the real disgrace of poverty not in owning to the fact but in declining the struggle against it. Our public men have, besides politics, their private affairs to attend to, and our ordinary citizens, though occupied with the pursuits of industry, are still fair judges of public matters; for, unlike any other nation, regarding him who takes no part in these duties not as unambitious but as useless, we Athenians are able to judge at all events if we cannot originate, and, instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of action, we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all. Again, in our enterprises we present the singular spectacle of daring and deliberation, each carried to its highest point, and both united in the same persons; although usually decision is the fruit of ignorance, hesitation of reflection. But the palm of courage will surely be adjudged most justly to those, who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet are never tempted to shrink from danger. In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours. Yet, of course, the doer of the favour is the firmer friend of the two, in order by continued kindness to keep the recipient in his debt; while the debtor feels less keenly from the very consciousness that the return he makes will be a payment, not a free gift. And it is only the Athenians, who, fearless of consequences, confer their benefits not from calculations of expediency, but in the confidence of liberality.

 "In short, I say that as a city we are the school of Hellas, while I doubt if the world can produce a man who, where he has only himself to depend upon, is equal to so many emergencies, and graced by so happy a versatility, as the Athenian. And that this is no mere boast thrown out for the occasion, but plain matter of fact, the power of the state acquired by these habits proves. For Athens alone of her contemporaries is found when tested to be greater than her reputation, and alone gives no occasion to her assailants to blush at the antagonist by whom they have been worsted, or to her subjects to question her title by merit to rule. Rather, the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be ours, since we have not left our power without witness, but have shown it by mighty proofs; and far from needing a Homer for our panegyrist, or other of his craft whose verses might charm for the moment only for the impression which they gave to melt at the touch of fact, we have forced every sea and land to be the highway of our daring, and everywhere, whether for evil or for good, have left imperishable monuments behind us. Such is the Athens for which these men, in the assertion of their resolve not to lose her, nobly fought and died; and well may every one of their survivors be ready to suffer in her cause.

 "Indeed if I have dwelt at some length upon the character of our country, it has been to show that our stake in the struggle is not the same as theirs who have no such blessings to lose, and also that the panegyric of the men over whom I am now speaking might be by definite proofs established. That panegyric is now in a great measure complete; for the Athens that I have celebrated is only what the heroism of these and their like have made her, men whose fame, unlike that of most Hellenes, will be found to be only commensurate with their deserts. And if a test of worth be wanted, it is to be found in their closing scene, and this not only in cases in which it set the final seal upon their merit, but also in those in which it gave the first intimation of their having any. For there is justice in the claim that steadfastness in his country's battles should be as a cloak to cover a man's other imperfections; since the good action has blotted out the bad, and his merit as a citizen more than outweighed his demerits as an individual. But none of these allowed either wealth with its prospect of future enjoyment to unnerve his spirit, or poverty with its hope of a day of freedom and riches to tempt him to shrink from danger. No, holding that vengeance upon their enemies was more to be desired than any personal blessings, and reckoning this to be the most glorious of hazards, they joyfully determined to accept the risk, to make sure of their vengeance, and to let their wishes wait; and while committing to hope the uncertainty of final success, in the business before them they thought fit to act boldly and trust in themselves. Thus choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonour, but met danger face to face, and after one brief moment, while at the summit of their fortune, escaped, not from their fear, but from their glory.

 "So died these men as became Athenians. You, their survivors, must determine to have as unfaltering a resolution in the field, though you may pray that it may have a happier issue. And not contented with ideas derived only from words of the advantages which are bound up with the defence of your country, though these would furnish a valuable text to a speaker even before an audience so alive to them as the present, you must yourselves realize the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her from day to day, till love of her fills your hearts; and then, when all her greatness shall break upon you, you must reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty, and a keen feeling of honour in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valour, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution that they could offer. For this offering of their lives made in common by them all they each of them individually received that renown which never grows old, and for a sepulchre, not so much that in which their bones have been deposited, but that noblest of shrines wherein their glory is laid up to be eternally remembered upon every occasion on which deed or story shall call for its commemoration. For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb; and in lands far from their own, where the column with its epitaph declares it, there is enshrined in every breast a record unwritten with no tablet to preserve it, except that of the heart. These take as your model and, judging happiness to be the fruit of freedom and freedom of valour, never decline the dangers of war. For it is not the miserable that would most justly be unsparing of their lives; these have nothing to hope for: it is rather they to whom continued life may bring reverses as yet unknown, and to whom a fall, if it came, would be most tremendous in its consequences. And surely, to a man of spirit, the degradation
of cowardice must be immeasurably more grievous than the unfelt death which strikes him in the midst of his strength and patriotism!

 "Comfort, therefore, not condolence, is what I have to offer to the parents of the dead who may be here. Numberless are the chances to which, as they know, the life of man is subject; but fortunate indeed are they who draw for their lot a death so glorious as that which has caused your mourning, and to whom life has been so exactly measured as to terminate in the happiness in which it has been passed. Still I know that this is a hard saying, especially when those are in question of whom you will constantly be reminded by seeing in the homes of others blessings of which once you also boasted: for grief is felt not so much for the want of what we have never known, as for the loss of that to which we have been long accustomed. Yet you who are still of an age to beget children must bear up in the hope of having others in their stead; not only will they help you to forget those whom you have lost, but will be to the state at once a reinforcement and a security; for never can a fair or just policy be expected of the citizen who does not, like his fellows, bring to the decision the interests and apprehensions of a father. While those of you who have passed your prime must congratulate yourselves with the thought that the best part of your life was fortunate, and that the brief span that remains will be cheered by the fame of the departed. For it is only the love of honour that never grows old; and honour it is, not gain, as some would have it, that rejoices the heart of age and helplessness.

 "Turning to the sons or brothers of the dead, I see an arduous struggle before you. When a man is gone, all are wont to praise him, and should your merit be ever so transcendent, you will still find it difficult not merely to overtake, but even to approach their renown. The living have envy to contend with, while those who are no longer in our path are honoured with a goodwill into which rivalry does not enter. On the other hand, if I must say anything on the subject of female excellence to those of you who will now be in widowhood, it will be all comprised in this brief exhortation. Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men, whether for good or for bad. "My task is now finished. I have performed it to the best of my ability, and in word, at least, the requirements of the law are now satisfied. If deeds be in question, those who are here interred have received part of their honours already, and for the rest, their children will be brought up till manhood at the public expense: the state thus offers a valuable prize, as the garland of victory in this race of valour, for the reward both of those who have fallen and their survivors. And where the rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens.

 "And now that you have brought to a close your lamentations for your relatives, you may depart."

Pericles' "Funeral Oration" (431 BC) from Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian WarJacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-89322564045655262672012-07-04T09:19:00.000-05:002012-07-04T09:19:38.951-05:00The Declaration of Independence - 1776 When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

 He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
 He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
 He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
 He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
 He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
 He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
 He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
 He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
 He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
 He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
 He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
 He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
 He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
 For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
 For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
 For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
 For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
 For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
 For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
 For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
 For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
 For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
 He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
 He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
 He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
 He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
 He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

 Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

 We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-7537502986799851452012-06-26T10:00:00.000-05:002012-06-26T10:00:11.127-05:00What He Said: Augustine"There was a pear tree near our vineyard, loaded with fruit that was attractive neither to look at or to taste. Late one night a band of ruffians, myself included, went off to shake down the fruit and carry it away, for we had continued our games out of doors until well after dark, as was our pernicious habit. We took away an enormous quantity of pears, not to eat them ourselves, but simply to throw them to the pigs. Perhaps we ate some of them, but our real pleasure consisted in doing something that was forbidden....The evil in me was foul, but I loved it. I loved my own perdition and my own faults, not the things for which I committed wrong, but the wrong itself. My soul was vicious and broke away from your safe keeping to seek its own destruction, looking for no profit in disgrace but only for disgrace itself"
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, II.4Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-32084137569303612232012-06-25T10:30:00.000-05:002012-06-25T10:30:01.308-05:00What He Said: Francis Schaeffer IV"The Lordship of Christ over the whole of life means that there are no Platonic areas in Christianity, no dichotomy or hierarchy between the body and the soul. God made the body as well as the soul, and redemption is for the whole man. Evangelicals have been legitimately criticized for often being so tremendously interested in seeing souls get saved and go to Heaven that they have not cared much about the whole man."

 - Francis Schaeffer, Art and the BibleJacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-46407587092973205032012-06-23T10:00:00.000-05:002012-06-23T10:00:08.102-05:00What He Said: Francis Schaeffer III"As a Christian we know why a work of art has value. Why? First, because a work of art is a work of creativity, and creativity has value because God is the Creator."

 - Francis Schaeffer, Art and the BibleJacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-21626252679042796322012-06-22T12:30:00.000-05:002012-06-22T12:30:03.342-05:00What He Said: Francis Schaeffer II
"Art is not something we merely analyze or value for its intellectual content. It is something to be enjoyed."

- Francis Schaeffer, Art and the BibleJacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-49872957740003269672012-03-06T11:44:00.004-06:002012-03-06T11:44:35.745-06:00Book Recommendation: A Canticle for Leibowitz The Fall Semester of my senior year at Hillsdale, I took an inter-disciplinary class called "Reflections on American Order and Disorder." The purpose of the class was to examine the inter-play between Christian Humanism and true conservatism. Conservative ideas are built on the belief that the institutions of society ought to be preserved, and changed slowly over time only when their faults have become clearly apparent. The rejection of these institutions results in chaos and disorder, evidenced by the secular tyrannies of 20th Century fascism, socialism and communism. The traditional institutions of society strengthen and uphold the order and fabric of culture. To help us wrestle with these and many other ideas, Dr. Birzer, my professor had us read A Canticle of Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr.. Dr. Birzer recently reviewed this book, which is available on The Imaginative Conservative blog:

An Augustinian Wasteland: A Canticle of Leibowitz

Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-70501603945207391832012-02-29T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-29T09:00:14.988-06:00Psalm 16: I have no good apart from you David opens the 16th Psalm with the cry: "Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge." David finds his soul in such danger that he cries out unto the Lord for deliverance. Yet, in the next line, he speaks not of his calamity. Rather, David affirms that the Lord is his God and utters: "I have no good apart from you." Amidst David's troubles, he remembers that all the goodness he experiences come from no other source that God Himself.

 Consider the rains which water the earth. Which drop falls at the behest of man? Look to the clouds that veil and reveal the sun. Who commands them? It is the Lord, the Almighty God. Man works no good for even himself, save those passed into his capacity by Providence.

 David teaches us that in trials and hardship, our chief consolation is in the goodness of God himself. Apart from the Lord, there is no good thing.

 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
 you hold my lot.
 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
 indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

(Psalm 16:5-6)Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-85413256645286616162012-02-27T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-27T09:00:11.300-06:00Single Column Paragraphs and the Bible
"Why Paragraphs? Why Single Column?" by J. Mark Bertrand for BibleDesignBlog
Jacobhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-28475024962897359022012-02-20T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-20T09:00:01.130-06:00The Value of Systematic Theology

"All Systems Go: Why We Shouldn't Devalue Systematic Theology" by Colin Hansen for Christianity Today
Jacobhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-19724252.post-42867685417818207122012-02-17T09:00:00.000-06:002012-02-17T09:00:02.584-06:00Psalm 40: God's Mercy

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
Your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
When I think of God restraining something, I usually think of God restraining his wrath, or holding back the wickedness of men, so when I came upon this line from Psalm 40, I found it to be worth meditation. Here David is praising the Lord by confessing that he "will not restrain" his mercy. Though I daily struggle with sin, be it mine or another's, the mercy of God will not be withheld from me. This mercy, taking shape in the love and faithfulness of God, is David's rock and salvation. Not in his own ways and means, nor even in his love for God does David find security. In God alone do I have my justification.
Jacobhttp://email@example.com


text:
Shrek The Musical Full casting Announced!
Full casting has been announced for Shrek The Musical, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 14 June 2011, following previews from 6 May - booking to 19 Feb 2012.
Joining previously mentioned Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad, Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona, and Richard Blackwood as Donkey are: Delroy Atkinson, Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Dean Chisnall, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Alice Fearn, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Emma Lindars, Grant Murphy, Spencer O'Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, stuart Matthew Price, Jacqui Sanchez, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson.
The roles of Young Shrek and Young Fiona will be shared by actors Samantha Allison, Chorlène Biron-Monnier, Lauren Dawes, Madeleine Hill, Emilia Jones, Sophie Wythe.
Shrek The Musical played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010. The original creative team has now re-assembled to stage the production with new songs and additional scenes.
Book & Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Jeanine Tesori. Based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek! and the feature film Shrek.
It is directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, designs & costumes by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, choreography by Josh Prince, sound by Peter Hylenski. Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions.
Tells the story, of the swamp-dwelling ogre who, in a faraway kingdom, embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey who won't shut up, this unlikely hero - not a handsome prince - fights a fearsome dragon, rescues the feisty Princess Fiona and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales.


text:
I had it in mind today to have a great time doing the things that I enjoy but it wasn't to be. It's funny how people can wittingly or unwittingly conspire to spoil things.. from being woken up at 8am by three pneumatic drills (do they really need to start at 8am?? on a non essential job?? I didn't think builders would be keen to spend money on overtime these days but it just shows you!!) to other things... Anyway, despite it all, I made one card.. a thank you for the teacher.
Papers and image are Pink Petticoat - always gorgeous.. and coloured with copics!


text:
This show features the incredibly inspiring story of Dr. Terry Wahls, a clinical professor of medicine, author, and living testament to the power of healing your body with real food. A few years ago, Terry was sentenced to a tilt-recline wheelchair with progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Today, she bikes to work, speaks all over the country, and teaches others to reverse degenerative conditions.Learn More
healing brain
Dr. Perlmutter: Brain Maker, Fecal Transplants, and How to Heal Your Gut with Real Food
It's my pleasure to have Dr. David Perlmutter on the show again– the author of the number one book in America on brain health after being out for just six days on Amazon. His cutting-edge new book, Brain Maker, essentially validates Dr. Perlmutter's other wildly popular book—Grain Brain.Learn More
Dr. William Pawluk: Beat Electronic Pollution, The Power of Electromagnetic Healing, & How to Rebalance Your Brain
You may have seen Dr. Pawluk on the Dr. Oz show, or perhaps heard him on the radio. He's an international expert in the use of electromagnetic fields for health and healing and a board certified physician.Learn More