Quote of the Day

For my fellow Whovians:

"Tracked you down with this. This is my timey-wimey detector. It goes 'ding' when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces, whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've learned to stay away from hens. It's not pretty when they blow." ~The Doctor

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Quote of the Day

~John Hodges in his lecture "Philosophical History of Beauty"~

Concerning the misuse of emotion (i.e. laughing at slasher films and crying during Hallmark commercials) :

"Because if you can see the image of God dismembered and not be moved, something's wrong. You should be angry about that; you should be revolted about that. There's something perverse about that. If you can be moved to tears by things that are sentimental hogwash, you see, then you're off base - you're off balance. What need to be able to do is re-calibrate our emotional sensibilities, our relationships in our emotions to things that are genuinely worth being upset about or worth not being upset about. That's wisdom."

Concerning the absolute of beauty:

"The modernist position in aesthetics I think is spelled out pretty well by Kant: 'There's nothing that's absolute, but we can yet know beauty based on our subjective responses.' And most people in our day hold that position - whether they are Christians nor not.  So I think Christians need to take a stand at that point and say, 'No. That's not all there is.' The pre-modern position described by [Jonathan] Edwards has been all but forgotten in our relativistic age, and it's the source of beauty is the nature of God Himself. In any other area of thought, we would be the first to hold to absolutes. Why not here? Rethinking our position on beauty may seem abstract, or theoretical, and without practical use. But, I want to argue that doing so will give us a new insight into a lot of things: man's nature, general revelation, common grace, creativity, worship, art, the gifts that God has given the people to be salt and light in the culture. All those things will be revamped, rethought, I think, far more multifaceted, if we take up this chore."

Quote of the Day

From Lectures on Calvinism:

"Understand that art is no fringe that is attached to the garment, and no amusement that is added to life, but a most serious power in our present existence, and therefore its principal variation must maintain, in their artistic expression, a close relation with the principal variations of our entire life; and since, without exception, these principal variations of our entire human existence are dominated by our relation to God, would it not be both a degradation and an underestimation of art, if you were to imagine the ramifications, into which the art-trunk divides itself, to be independent of the deepest root which all human life has in God?" (p.151)

Quotes of the Day

"However, a quiet voice inside her argued that it was worth dying, if death would prove that truth was more powerful than physical strength. " ~Elantris (p.245)

"Truth can never be defeated... Even if people do forget about it occasionally. " ~Elantris (p. 246)

Quote of the Day

"But it remained the special trait of Calvinism that it placed the believer before the face of God, not only in His church, but also in his personal, family, social, and political life. The majesty of God, and the authority of God press upon the Calvinist in the whole of his human existence. He is a pilgrim, not in the sense that he is marching though a world with which he has no concern, but in the sense that at every step of the long way he must remember his responsibility to that God so full of majesty, who awaits him at his journey's end. In front of the Portal which open for him, on the entrance into Eternity, stands the Last Judgment; and that judgment shall be one broad and comprehensive test, to ascertain whether the long pilgrimage has been accomplished with a heart that aimed at God's glory, and in accordance with the ordinances of the Most High...

Love and adoration are, to Calvin, themselves the motives of every spiritual activity, and thus the fear of God is imparted to the whole of life as a reality - into the family, and into society, into science an art, into personal life, and into the political career. A redeemed man who in all things and in all the choice of life is controlled solely by the most searching and heart-stirring reverence for a God Who is ever present to his consciousness, and Who ever holds him in eye - thus does the Calvinistic type present itself in history. Always and in all things the deepest, the most sacred reverence for the ever-present God as the rule of life." (69-70 & 72) ~Abraham Kuyper in Lectures on Calvinism

Quote of the Day

"When I think what a wonderful aid tobacco is to friendship and Christian practice I have sometimes regretted that I never began to smoke." ~J. Gresham Machen (p.64, J. Gresham Machen by Ned B. Stonehouse)

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Quote of the Day

All of the quotations below were taken from Murray N. Rothbard's excellent book Keynes The Man. 

"[John Maynard Keynes possessed a] deep hatred and contempt for the values and virtues of the bourgeoisie, for conventional morality, for savings and thrift, and for the basic institutions of family life" (9).

"Indeed Keynes displayed a positive taste for lying in politics. He habitually made up statistics to suit his political proposals, and he would agitate for world monetary inflation with exaggerated hyperbole while maintaining that "words ought to be a little wild - the assault of thoughts upon the unthinking." But revealingly enough, once he achieved power, Keynes admitted that such hyperbole would have to be dropped: "When the seats of power and authority have been attained, there should be no more poetic license" (24).

"The young Keynes displayed no interest whatsoever in economics; his dominant interest was philosophy. In fact, he completed an undergraduate degree at Cambridge without taking a single economics course. Not only did he never take a degree in the subject, but the only economics course Keynes ever took was a single-term graduate course under Alfred Marshall" (31).

Quotes of the Day

At last! Quotations from my new hero, Neil Postman. :O)

"A written sentence calls upon its author to say something, upon its reader to know the import of what is said.  And when an author and reader are struggling with semantic meaning, they are engaged in the most serious challenge to the intellect. This is especially the case with the act of reading, for authors are not always trustworthy. They lie, they become confused, they over-generalize, they abuse logic and, sometimes, common sense. The reader must come armed, in a serious state of intellectual readiness. This is not easy because he comes to the text alone. In reading, one's responses are isolated, one's intellect thrown back on its own resources. To be confronted by the cold abstractions of printed sentences is to look upon language bare, without the assistance of either beauty or community.  Thus, reading is by its nature a serious business. It is also, of course, an essentially rational activity." (50)

"It is quite likely that most of the first fifteen presidents of the United States would not have been recognized had they passed the average citizen in the street. This would have been the case as well of the great lawyers, ministers and scientists of that era. To think about those men was to think about what they had written, to judge them by their public positions, their arguments, their knowledge as codified in the printed word.  You may get some sense of how we are separated from this kind of consciousness by thinking about any of our recent presidents; or even preachers, lawyers and scientists who are or who have recently been public figures. Think of Richard Nixon or Jimmy Carter or Billy Graham, or even Albert Einstein, and what will come to your mind is an image, a picture of a face, most likely a face on a television screen (in Einstein's case, a photograph of a face). Of words, almost nothing will come to mind. This is the difference between thinking in a word-centered culture and thinking in an image-centered culture."  (60-61)

"What reading would have been done was done seriously, intensely, and with steadfast purpose. The modern idea of testing a reader's 'comprehension,' as distinct from something else a reader may be doing, would have seemed an absurdity in 1790 or 1830 or 1860. What else was reading but comprehending?  As far as we know, there did not exist such a thing as a 'reading problem,' except, of course, for those who could not attend school. To attend school meant to learn to read, for without that capacity, one could not participate in the culture's conversations. But most people could read and did participate. To these people, reading was both their connection to and their model of the world. The printed page revealed the world, line by line, page by page, to be a serious, coherent place, capable of management by reason, and of improvement by logical and relevant criticism." (61-62)

"There could not have been a safer bet when it began in 1969 than that 'Sesame Street' would be embraced by children, parents and educators. Children loved it because they were raised on television commercials, which they intuitively knew were the most carefully crafted entertainments on television.  To those who had not yet been to school, even to those who had just started, the idea of being taught by a series of commercials did not seem peculiar.  And that television should entertain them was taken as a matter of course.
Parents embraced 'Sesame Street' for several reasons, among them that it assuaged their guilt over the fact that they could not or would not restrict their children's access to television. 'Sesame Street' appeared to justify allowing a four- or five-year-old to sit transfixed in front of a television screen for unnatural periods of time. Parents were eager to hope that television could teach their children something other than which breakfast cereal has the most crackle.  At the same time, 'Sesame Street' relieved them of the responsibility of teaching their preschool children how to read--no small matter in a culture where children are apt to be considered a nuisance. They could also plainly see that in spite of its faults, 'Sesame Street' was entirely consonant with the prevailing spirit of America.  Its use of cute puppets, celebrities, catchy tunes, and rapid-fire editing was certain to give pleasure to the children and would therefore serve as adequate preparation for their entry into a fun-loving culture." (142) Emphasis mine.

"'The Little House on the Prairie, 'Cheers' and 'The Tonight Show"'are as effective as 'Sesame Street' in promoting what might be called the television style of learning. And this style of learning is, by its nature, hostile to what has been called book learning or its handmaiden, school-learning. If we are to blame 'Sesame Street' for anything, it is for the pretense that it is any ally of the classroom. That, after all, has been its chief claim on foundation and public money. As a television show, and a good one, 'Sesame Street' does not encourage children to love school or anything about school.  It encourages them to love television." (144)

Quote(s) of the Day

 From Fahrenheit 451:

Montag moved his lips.
"Let's talk."
The women jerked and stared.
"How're your children, Mrs. Phelps?" he asked.
"You know I haven't any! No one in his right mind, the Good Lord knows; would have children!" said Mrs. Phelps, not quite sure why she was angry with this man.
"I wouldn't say that," said Mrs. Bowles. "I've had two children by Caesarian section. No use going through all that agony for a baby. The world must reproduce, you know, the race must go on. Besides, they sometimes look just like you, and that's nice. Two Caesarians tamed the trick, yes, sir. Oh, my doctor said, Caesarians aren't necessary; you've got the, hips for it, everything's normal, but I insisted."
"Caesarians or not, children are ruinous; you're out of your mind," said Mrs. Phelps.
"I plunk the children in school nine days out of ten. I put up with them when they come home three days a month; it's not bad at all. You heave them into the 'parlour'  and turn the switch. It's like washing clothes; stuff laundry in and slam the lid." Mrs. Bowles tittered. (p. 96)

"With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word `intellectual,' of course, became the swear word it deserved to be. You always dread the unfamiliar. Surely you remember the boy in your own school class who was exceptionally 'bright,' did most of the reciting and answering while the others sat like so many leaden idols, hating him. And wasn't it this bright boy you selected for beatings and tortures after hours? Of course it was. We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it." (p. 58)

"If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the Government is inefficient,
top-heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag. Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so [darn] full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely `brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy." (p. 61)

Quote of the Day

From Lectures on Calvinism:

"Everything that has been created was, in its creation, furnished by God with an unchangeable law if its existence. And because God has fully ordained such laws and ordinances for all life, therefore the Calvinist demands that all life be consecrated to His service, in strict obedience. A religion confined to the closet, the cell, or the church, therefore Calvin abhors. With the Psalmist, he calls upon heaven and earth, he calls upon all peoples and nations to give glory to God. God is present in all life, with the influence of His omnipresent and almighty power, and no sphere of human life is conceivable in which religion does not maintain its demands that God shall be praised, that God's ordinances shall be observed, and that every labora shall be permeated with its ora in fervent and ceaseless prayer. Wherever man may stand, whatever he may do, to whatever he may apply his hand, in agriculture, in commerce, and in industry, or his mind, in the world of art, and science, he is, in whatsoever it may be, constantly standing before the face of his God, he is employed in the service of his God, has strictly to obey his God, and above all, he has to aim at the glory of his God." (p. 53)

Quote of the Day

Jasmine Baucham's new book, Joyfully At Home, is encouraging, convicting, and challenging. In short, quite fabulous - and even if there are points where we disagree, I still highly recommend this book. Perhaps a few short quotes to get you hooked. :O)

"Proverbs 23:26 is a beautiful verse: 'My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.' We are commanded in God's Word to honor and obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1), not because they're perfect, or because they know everything, but because our God is a God of order, and if the family unit is going to work smoothly and effectively for the kingdom, all of the little nuts and bolts need to be moving in the same direction. Our parents need to have our hearts, to know that we're fully invested in our God-given role, and that we're all working towards the same goal. Otherwise, we can forget living effectively at home-in fact, we may as well forget even trying to live peaceably with them! The first step to living in harmony at home is to trust your parents as the God-given-authorities that they are-despite their faults-and to determine that you will live alongside them and learn everything that you can during this season in your life. Once that determination is made, I promise, you will see your home in a different light." (68,69)

"How does one act like an adult? Not by false displays of bravado and independence, but by responsibility, accountability, trustworthiness, and discernment...  When you are given a new responsibility, don't complain; and adult takes on responsibility with competence and worthiness, not by whining. Rise to the occasion. When you do something wrong, take responsibility; don't blame it on anyone else. Fall on the sword, apologize, and make a note to do better next time. Show true repentance and growth; adults make mistakes, bu they shouldn't respond in the same way children do-they should grow from them." (71)

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Quote of the Day

I would be willing to bet a good deal of money that most single young people think a lot about singleness/marriage/etc. And while this is not necessarily a problem in and of itself, we need to be careful where our priorities lie. Do we despise our current state of life while idolizing another? Joyfully Home and Sacred Singleness have some gems to share in this regard... Without further introduction, Leslie Ludy.

"The bottom line is this: Singleness is a gift, an opportunity, and a blessing, and it should be treated as such. That doesn't mean we should swear off marriage. That doesn't mean the desire to be married is wrong. And that doesn't mean we should stop praying that God would bring our spouse into our life in His own time and way.
But it does mean we should stop griping and complaining about singleness and that we should allow God to reveal His amazing purpose for this season of our lives... The dreams [of marriage and family] themselves are good and God given, but keeping a death grip on them is not." (Sacred Singleness 111)

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Quote of the Day

"Now the position of Calvinism is diametrically opposed to [religion for the sake of man.] It does not deny that religion has also its human and subjective side; it does not not dispute the fact that religion is promoted, encouraged and strengthened by our disposition to seek help in time of need and spiritual elevation in the face of sensual passions; but it maintains that it reverses the proper order of things to seek, in these accidental motives, the essence and the very purpose of religion. The Calvinist values all of these as fruits which are produced by religion, or as props which gave it support, but he refuses to honor them as the reason for its existence. Of course, religion, as such, produces also a blessing for man, but it does not exist for the sake of man. It is not God who exists for the sake of His creation; the creation exists for the sake of God. For, as the Scripture say, He has created all things for Himself." Abraham Kuyper in Lectures on Calvinism (45).

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Quote of the Day

Whilst reading When the Wicked Seize a City, I came upon this compelling quote:

"When the law of God, which is the only standard of protection for society, is discarded, then by what standard do you maintain decency and order in that society? When a father rejects God's law with respect to the care of his family, what's to keep him from abandoning them? Even if he doesn't abandon them-for whatever reason-surely the next generation will act out the logical consequences of his doctrine. The second generation becomes 'twice the sons of hell.' It's not a matter of rejecting 'absolutes' versus accepting 'relativity'; it is the rejection of God's absolute standard that makes the difference. As Christians, we do not advocate 'absolutes,' as such, as the ground of our behavior, but rather the absolutes of God's law, clearly found in the Word of God, as the basis of society. Even the relativity of the unbeliever is his absolute-absolutely not God's!" (221).

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Quote of the Day

Excerpt of a letter from Lewis Machen to 4th Presbyterian Church 

as quoted in

J. Gresham Machen: A Biographical Memoir:

"In pursuing this course, I am actuated by no unfriendly spirit, and I have felt the difficulties which surround the points in controversy. To reconcile the foreknowledge of God, and his absolute control over all events with that free agency of man which makes him accountable for the moral conduct upon which these events apparently depend, is not the work of human reason. The brightest intellect has never yet penetrated the mysterious cloud which envelopes this subject. Taught by experience the fallibility of my judgment, I bow with submission to that Divine Word which represents God as the moral governor of the world and the absolute disposer of events; operating by his spirit upon the hearts of men; and, according to the councils of his own will, making some of the fallen posterity of Adam vessels of wrath, and others vessels of mercy." (6)

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Quote of the Day

"The fellowship of being near unto God must become reality, in the full and vigorous prosecution of our life. It must permeate and give color to our feeling, our perceptions, our sensations, our thinking, our imagining, our willing, our acting, our speaking. It must not stand as a foreign factor in our life, but it must be the passion that breathes throughout our whole existence." ~Abraham Kuyper

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World and Life View

"[The] report urged that the new believer be inoculated from the threat of secularism by establishing a Christian world and life view: 'A robust Christian theism is our heritage. We are to set forth the God who is sovereign in all dimensions of life. There is no possible area of life that is neutral. All of life owes its true meaning to God the Creator and Sustainer.'" (Fighting the Good Fight 62)