When it comes to art I have far more opinions than expertise, but I do have an interest in art as a reflection of social values. In a word, I view art from the standpoint of a social critic rather than an art critic. Like most art novices, I know what I like and what …
Month: January 2010
Julian of Norwich link
The Anonymous God Blogger has just posted two great posts about Julian of Norwich. I have a particular affinity for Julian going back to my seminary days. Julian is the patron of saint of Protestant-feminists-who-practice-the-theology-of-one-liners-and-sound-bites. You see, she referred to Christ as Mother. Can you give a Protestant-feminist-who-practices-the-theology-of-one-liners-and-sound-bites a better gift? Ah, but the things …
Glory Be To God in All Things
In the previous essay I spoke of miracles in the small, ordinary sense. The cynic might say that reducing a miracle to the finding of one's keys is to reject the miraculous altogether. Even though no one actually made that accusation, it's a point worth noting. Since writing that essay something rather more dramatic has …
Fog, Phanourius, and Faith
Fog, fog, fog. In the years we've lived in Siouxland I've never experienced fog quite like this. It's lasted, on and off, for nearly a week. That much fog gets a person thinking. We live in a river valley, which means high humidity. Since this isn't an arid climate, the humidity is always present, even …
Another Header Change
I thought the collage header looked too busy (if you missed it, it can be found here) so I decided to change it to a photo I took at Crystal Cove, a local park with a walking trail around a lake. Any critiques are welcome.
Not Very Secure
I've been warning my readers about the falling dollar for some time. Even Linus VanPelt understands the danger of the dollar and wants his hard assets back:
What the Hell’s Hyssop?
Overheard in the YMCA locker room on Monday (which is the day after the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord on the western liturgical calendar): Presbyterian elder: "I liked how you sprinkled everyone with water at the end of the service. Our former pastor did that too." Presbyterian pastor: "Sprinkling water on the congregation …
WordPress Update = New Look
WordPress (the blog software I use) recently had a major update and I just noticed that the theme I use isn't compatible with the new WordPress. As a result, my right column disappeared (probably a week or so ago -- that's how observant I am!). As a result I had to install a new theme …
Lonely?
Listening to this weekend's Prairie Home Companion, it occurred to me just how lonely most of Garrison Keillor's stories and sketches are. They feature people with no friends who are alienated from family and live in a cold and anonymous world. This week it was a sketch about a man at a party who almost …
Brrr!
Just for kicks I thought I'd reshoot the blog masthead photo as a winter scene. Whether you're in Bismarck, Berlin, Beijing, or Birmingham for that matter, this has been a brutal winter. But the frigid temperatures (by Siouxland standards) are precisely what has made the last couple of weeks so enjoyable for me in spite …
Just Another Jim 