Posts from — January 2008

My friend Travis posted about music on vinyl today. I commented, and thought it was worthy of its own post.

I had always heard that vinyl was a warmer, richer sound. But I never really knew what that meant, and I always doubted my ears would really be able to tell the difference. I didn’t necessarily doubt the difference, I just thought it was something for audiophiles to quibble over, and my normal ears wouldn’t really be able to tell.

Then a friend of mine got into vinyl, and i happened to go over to his house this past Christmas Eve. His wife had given him Wilco’s new album on vinyl, and it also came with a cd of the same. Interested, I asked if he could play a bit of each so I could finally see if I would be able to hear a difference.

First he played a minute or so from the cd. And then the vinyl. And immediately I heard the difference. How could anyone not? And, to my amazement, the best description was to say it was a warmer and richer sound. A fuller sound. I compare it to a standard, analog television, that is measured by the horizontal lines across the screen. A cd is like every fourth line missing from the display. You can still make out the picture easily, and enjoy it. But there’s a much more enjoyable experience out there.

Here is a blog that has all the 2008 election debates archived. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Brent Thomas on children and priorities.

The Bible repeatedly teaches God’s people to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22, 28; 8:17; 9:1, 7; 35:11, etc.). Psalm 127:4-5 says that the man who has many children is blessed. The truth of the matter is that many, even in our churches, simply don’t believe this.

Amen and Amen.

Well, I kept a list of the books I read this year, and impressive it is not. For what its worth, though, here it is, along with my mini-reviews:

#1 Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design, Michael Shermer
Mostly an argument in favor of darwinian evolution. The points where he touched on the scientific elements of ID were light and mostly misrepresented it. The political/ideological critiques were a little more pointed and applicable, but didn’t seem to be as serious as he seemed to think.

#2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
Always good to read a HP novel. I wanted to at least read this one before 7 comes out. I’d like to have read them all, but come on. This is book #2 for the year, and I wasn’t going to kid myself.

#3 The Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey
Boy, am I glad I finished it. It has some very useful information, but by the end I wanted to just throw it across the room every time he used one of his lame phrases (which I refuse to repeat) or talked about having a TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER (which you should hear echoing). I felt less and less like the book applied to me the more I got into his program. I have some debt (our van), and I don’t enjoy it, but I don’t think I feel as bad about it as Dave thinks I should. I pay more than the minimum payment, but I’m willing to bet that if Dave looked at my finances, he’d call me stupid or something along those lines.

At our church we’re very clear to distinguish between principles and methods. This book has great principles, but is too heavy on method. And by ‘too heavy’ I mean ‘my way or the highway’. It’s like saying that homeschooling is the only way to provide a christian education.

I recommend the book, but I’d warn you not to feel beaten down by the threats that Dave throws out for those that dare to not follow his plan to a T.

#4 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis
This I was reading to the girls before bed. I don’t remember when I finished Prince Caspian. I think it must have been this year, because I’m pretty sure it didn’t take six months to read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. But maybe it did, I don’t know. But I know I finished this with the girls last week.

#5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Bittersweet.

#6 The Edge of Evolution, Michael Behe
good, worthwhile read.

#7 The Case for Covenant Communion, Gregg Strawbridge, ed.
I’ve been reading this for a long time… I think I got it for Christmas, maybe earlier. So anyhow, it’s good to finally be finished, even though it was a fun read. I especially liked the chapters by Rayburn, Meyers, Sutton, and Lusk.

#8 The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis
Finished this with the girls. Virgil mentioned Puddleglum in a sermon, and Geneva thought it was great.

#9 Leepike Ridge, Nate Wilson
Fun little book. I borrowed it from some friends and read it in a day.