Theodidacti

JRR Tolkien said that “the Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man’s history.”
Eucatastrophe is a word Tolkien invented. He adds the Greek “eu,” meaning “good,” to “catastrophe,” and so, we end up with a word meaning “good catastrophy.” This is an excellent thought on Christmas day.
The English “catastrophe”  comes from the Greek katastrephein, which [...]

[Read more →]

Cogito ergo sum. Latin, written by Rene Descartes, meaning, “I think; therefore I am.”
Look at the derivation of the first word: cogito. It is made from two words: [1] c0, meaning “together” and [2] agitare, meaning “to shake.” So the word “think” is, metaphorically speaking, “to shake together.”
Philosophically, if you are not shaking up things, [...]

[Read more →]

Clark Griswold, eat your heart out…

Amazing Grace Techno – Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.
Here is an explanation of how he does it:

Behind the Scenes – Holdman Christmas Display from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

[Read more →]

Just read someone’s twitter that said, “I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day.”
What a sad comment; imagine spending an entire day and not considering anyone to be important.

[Read more →]

A hymn I lettered way back in 1984 – 25 years ago – that still hangs in our dining room

Some days I just don’t feel like showing up for this job. I want to; I just don’t feel like it. Satisfying moments are few and far between and so briefly enjoyed. When I was [...]

[Read more →]

I just stumbled across a quotation by Katharine Hepburn: “I’m an atheist, and that’s it. I believe there’s nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for people.” —Katharine Hepburn, Ladies’ Home Journal, October 1991
How did she “know” that she could “believe” that principle was [...]

[Read more →]

I just applied for a Faculty Directed Research project during Spring A term at CEDS. It would be for one class credit in my additional MA (Biblical Studies). I have asked to be directed by Dr. Ron Selleck in a study of Galatians that uses Luther’s Commentary on Galatians.
I would read the entirety of his [...]

[Read more →]