Top Story

The Christian Stoic
09/5/2008, 3:00 pm -- by David | No comments

Acts 17:18 — “Then certain. . . Stoic philosophers. . . “

Once while studying the text above, I found that the Stoics believed in something called “suspended judgment.” They did not believe in responding to things immediately, and saw no value in forming opinions about, or reacting to, everything that happened around them — hence, our concept of the stoic, unemotional person.

I like that idea. I think people have too many opinions. Maybe it’s just my natural laziness, but I have no interest in pursuing things outside my realm of concern. It’s a waste of time and energy. Forming an opinion is hard work — or at least it should be — and doing so about a subject that doesn’t concern me is like voluntarily writing a 50,000-word essay for a class I’m not in, just to get in on the discussion.

Several years ago in New York, our senior pastor suddenly left the church, taking about one-tenth of the people with him to start another church in the same town. It was a painful and confusing time for all of us. Around that time, one of the young men from the church came to our house for lunch; as we sat around talking, he asked me my opinion of the man who had left.

I said, “I don’t have one.” He said, “What? Are you sure?”

I remember searching my heart for a few seconds, then responding, slightly embarrassed, that I honestly had no opinion of the man and his recent actions.

After a pause, he said, “You’re the youth pastor…you’re part of the leadership! How can you not have an opinion?” After thinking again, I remember shrugging my shoulders. “Because I don’t have to?”

The truth is that God had called me to that church, and while that man was there, he was my pastor. But after he left, he was no longer my pastor, and ceased to hold any interest for me in that regard. I loved him, I prayed for him, but I didn’t feel any need to judge him, examine his actions, or form an opinion about him. Other people in positions of authority might have had to form opinions and deal with him on a disciplinary level but — thank God — I was not one of them.

Ten years after this, while I re-read The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis, I ran across a passage (reprinted below) that I first read around that same time. I guess it must have sunk down deep, because although I had no specific recollection of reading it before, it perfectly summarized a chief foundation stone in my personal philosophy: I refuse to force myself to have an opinion on everything that crosses my line of sight.

I read once that worry is a “bevy of inefficient thoughts whirling around a point of fear.” I wonder how much of our examination of people and events springs from worry. How many of our opinions are produced by inefficient thoughts that surround the fear in our lives? How much sweeter it is to find that point of fear and remove it, so that your thoughts can work on something that does require your attention. I hope you take a minute to read this passage below, and that you find it as liberating as I have.

The main character, John, is speaking with a character named Reason, trying to determine if the island he seeks is real or imagined. This passage begins with a question from Reason.

Who told you that the island was an imagination of yours?
Well, you would not assure me that it was anything real.
Nor that it was not.
But I must think that it is one or the other.
By my father’s soul, you must not — until you have some evidence. Can you not remain in doubt?
I don’t know that I have ever tried.
You must learn to if you are to come far with me. It is not hard to do it. In Eschropolis, indeed, it is impossible, for the people who live there have to give an opinion once a week, or once a day, or else Mr. Mammon would soon cut off their food. But out here in the country you can walk all day, and all the next day, with an unanswered question in your head; you need never speak until you have made up your mind.
But if a man wanted to know so badly that he would die unless the question was decided — and no more evidence turned up?
Then he would die, that would be all.



The Last Ten Featured Pieces

Clash

Best of Bweinh! — Crosswords v Sudoku
09/5/2008, 12:00 pm -- by Bweinh | No comments

Djere (crosswords): “Unlike the crossword, which requires creativity, logic, and knowledge, Sideko is solved by logic (or luck) alone. And speaking of alone, Saduka is usually solved alone, a testament to the poor social and hygiene skills of its practitioners. The crossword is truly a democratic puzzle — the game of the everyman.”

Tom (Sudoku): “Sudoku’s simple, yet elegant rules can be learned in minutes. . . Compare that to the nuances of a typical crossword puzzle. If there’s an abbreviation in the clue, does that mean the answer is abbreviated as well? In what tense do they want this word? And what’s with all the Latin?”

Read the rest — and cast your vote — here!



Clash of the Titans LXXXIX: Text Messages
08/29/2008, 1:00 pm -- by Bweinh | 6 comments

Josh (anti-texts): “I like having actual conversations, raising the level of discourse somewhere above three letter quips and emoticons. I like actual human contact and real social interaction, yet I see people surrounded by readily ignored friends, heads down, thumbs blazing. No, thanks.”

Steve (pro-texts): “When my phone buzzes, I’m truly excited — there are all manner of interesting people in my contact list, and I can’t wait to see which one has fired a thought my way. Maybe an interesting observation, maybe a long-forgotten reference to a shared experience, maybe the continuation of a philosophical debate: whichever, whatever, I want to see it. I guess I’m sorry Josh’s friends are so boring.”

Read the rest — and cast your vote — here!






Bible Discussion

Bible Discussion — Acts 6-7
09/3/2008, 1:00 pm -- by Bweinh | No comments

This week, Bweinh.com progresses to the next 2 chapters of Acts.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Josh:
Stephen refers to those who sold Joseph as “the patriarchs” (7:9) — which they were, but it’s certainly not how I think of Joseph’s brothers in that story.

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
Chloe:
7:49 says: ” ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or where will my resting place be?’ ”

What temple do we have that can compare with the universe God has created? The common metaphor is that Jesus lives in our hearts — He’s living in us, in our minds and our souls. What kind of mind is He living in? How does it compare with the splendor of His creation? Most importantly, do we endlessly strive to make a better resting place for our Savior?

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
David:
Of the six deacons, Stephen became a martyr, Philip an evangelist, Nicolas a heretic (see the Nicolaitans in Rev 2:6), and Timon a beloved friend of both Pumbaa and Simba.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Connie; Steve:
6:7 — “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Read it all here!




Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands LXVIII
09/3/2008, 1:15 pm -- by Bweinh | No comments

Congratulations to Distant Shore, which joins onestone (Luke), Plan B (Romans), Kindred (Genesis) and Stripe for Stripe (Exodus) in the pantheon of Biblical band names!!!

In Acts, it’s Fallen Shadow that moves on!

Which band name is the best?
View Results



Our Opinion

The Council’s Ruling — Portion of a Song
09/2/2008, 12:00 pm -- by Bweinh | 1 comment

This and every Monday, the Bweinh!tributors, having convened in secret for hours of reasoned debate and consideration, will issue a brief and binding ruling on an issue of great societal import.

This week’s question — What part of a song most affects whether you will like it?

Kaitlin delivers the ruling of the Council, joined by David, Chloe, and Steve:

Sound is paramount. Music is about emotion, and the feeling that a song creates constitutes its main value.

Read the rest here!



Chick’s Medical Mystery Solved
08/31/2008, 12:30 pm -- by Bweinh | No comments

What caused this CODE BLUE?

 
If you picked “He went into shock after he was confronted with the truth about Jesus,” you’re a winner!!

Yes or no, turkey?!

©1984-2008 Chick Publications, Inc. Reprinted without permission as fair use (parody).


One Hundred Words

One Hundred Words (31)
08/25/2008, 2:30 pm -- by Chloe | 1 comment

I heard this in Target’s shoe section on Sunday:

Mom: Don’t you pull that tooth out, Morgan Bradley!
Daughter: Why not?
Mom: Because the tooth fairy is off tonight.
Daughter: No, she’s not! Really?
Mom: She’s in Jamaica. Didn’t you know that? She’s on vacation. I wish I was in Jamaica with the tooth fairy.

Later, the daughter wandered the shoe aisles, preparing to ask for Hannah Montana paraphernalia.

Daughter: Mom! Mom, where are you?
Mom: (sneaking around the aisles) Mom isn’t here right now! Please check back later. (snicker)
Daughter: Mo-om!

I could enjoy being that kind of mom.

–CLA


One Hundred Words (30)
08/20/2008, 10:00 am -- by Steve | No comments

Any list of the best Biblical names has to start with Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, second son of Isaiah, immortalized in chapter 8 of his father’s book. The NKJV translates his name literally as “Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty.”

What’s “Hasten the Booty” not a good motto for? It was perfect for a college intramural water polo team, I’ll tell you that.

The strangest thing I ever learned about this name is that Corrie Ten Boom, that brave Dutch woman who saved so many Jews from the Holocaust and survived three months in a German concentration camp, used it for her cat.

–sm



Daily Feature

Joke of the Day, 9/5/08
09/5/2008, 7:00 am -- by Bweinh | 2 comments

Why did the lemon stop crossing the road?

He ran out of juice.


Quote of the Day, 9/4/08
09/4/2008, 7:00 am -- by Bweinh | No comments

“Perhaps the most delightful friendships are those in which there is much agreement, much disputation, and yet more personal liking.” — G. Eliot (M. Evans)