The Strength of Sorrow

We all want to be happy, don’t we? In fact, in a way, we’re all somewhat hedonistic. We see happiness as the ultimate goal. We think this is the best that we can get in this life. There are so many people desperate for happiness that they will fill their bodies with drugs, legal and illegal, just to feel happiness again. Happiness is a beautiful thing, I don’t deny it. It is wonderful to be happy. But maybe we’re all too eager to silence the sorrow we inevitably face in this life. Because it is through sorrow that we discover…

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In Defense of Liberty

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My latest post, The Lesser of Two Evils, resulted in quite the controversy. I had a feeling about that, so I wasn’t completely surprised. I really hesitated to publish it because I knew the topic was so loaded. I have compiled a list of arguments against my position, and I’d like to take the time to respond to each of those.   1) A person must use the “lesser of two evils” principle and vote for the candidate who has the best chance of winning.  I don’t see why this is necessary. We are called to do what is right. As long…

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The Lesser of Two Evils

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The Republican National Convention has been nothing short of a complete overthrow of any pretensions of justice, as Dana Milbank of the Washington Post explains. “The Romney campaign had taken pains to stifle the Paul rebellion, by denying him a speaking role, expediting the roll call, changing party rules and even unseating Paul delegates from Maine.” I haven’t even bothered to follow the events because it sickens me to think of the utter lack of principles, the blatant disregard for integrity, and the deep animosity against the libertarian movement. And regardless of the Republican Party, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates have…

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Imagine

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I guess this post title was inevitable, considering that I’m listening to John Lennon’s Imagine as I type, and considering that the book I will be reviewing is called Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer, haha. I’m sorry it is so unoriginal, but I guess I’m not being very imaginative tonight. Warning: This isn’t going to be a completely proper book review (maybe that statement isn’t necessary since I don’t ever do proper book reviews anyways, haha). (Edit: As it turned out, I hardly even mentioned the book Imagine, so this post turned out to be even less of…

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Strangely Silent

So I haven’t been posting much on here for the last few days. That is not because I can’t think of anything to say, I actually have a list of about 6 topics I want to blog about. The problem is that I simply don’t have the time. Why? You’re probably thinking “yeah right, she’s just lazy and doesn’t feel like doing anything.” Actually… I’ve watched about 6 chemistry videos from Khan Academy. Any videos I watch take a long time because I keep pausing the video to take notes. I also really like the format of the Khan videos,…

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Distracting Ourselves to Death

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I recently listened to a podcast from The White Horse Inn titled “Scatterbrained.” As a side note, I have found The White Horse Inn to be an excellent source for thought-provoking podcasts, interviews, and commentary on American culture. So  I’d highly recommend checking their website out. Anyways…the podcast was inspired by a new book by Nicolas Carr called “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.” I see this whole topic as a sequel to Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death which dealt with the Age of Television. Now we’re post-TV and living in a society shaped by the…

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Insanely Simple by Ken Segall

If it wasn’t already obvious, I’m a huge fan of Apple. I mean, what company is so amazing, so brilliant, and so inspiring as Apple? Our library got a new book in recently about Apple, it tries to identify what sets Apple apart from the mediocre companies. Or in the lingo of the corporate world, what makes Apple great and other companies good. The title, Insanely Simple, is a pretty good giveaway for the main lesson of the book, and the subtitle is even more revealing. Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple’s Success. Apple is dedicated to simplicity. It goes…

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Why Bother Learning?

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I haven’t been very active on here this week, but my school schedule has been pretty hectic. Yeah. I know. You don’t believe me. Fine. Let me delineate… – I read two chapters of The Consequences of Ideas, on Rene Descartes and John Locke. – I finished reading Oliver Twist, about 225 pages. – I read the preface and first two chapters of The Industrial Revolution by T.S. Ashton. – I’m reading The Mortification of Sin by John Owen, am currently on Chapter 7 of 14. – I started Insanely Simple by Ken Segall, a book on Apple and their…

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You Don’t Have To Yell

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So I’ve mentioned my appreciation of Chris Rice, but in case you missed it the first time, I’m posting another of my favorite songs, titled You Don’t Have to Yell. I have included the full lyrics below, but would like to highlight the lines that I especially like, or more accurately, the verse: Everybody take a breath Why are all your faces red? We’re missing all the words you said You don’t have to yell Draw your lines And choose your sides Cause many thing are worth the fight But louder doesn’t make you right You don’t have to yell……

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For What Will Tomorrow Bring?

The congregation of Grace Reformed Baptist  had the great pleasure of having our own full-time pastor back in the pulpit preaching on Sunday after he had been on leave due to health issues. It was really good to have him back! Although our other pastors have filled in well and although we’ve enjoying having guest preachers, it just wasn’t the same. Anyways…his sermon was on James 4:13-17, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will…

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