"The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."
Science, by definition, is anything can be observed, tested, and repeated. When people have questions about the world, then they use science for clarification, not reassurance. "Reassurance" assumes that a person was upset or lacked confidence, but then he or she regained his or her original peace of mind. Science does not reassure. It can frustrate and lead to further questions, but its main purpose is clarification.
Art is a creative expression of somebody's perspective on the world or current issues. It can be based on science, but it is subjective, while science should be objective. Art can certainly upset people, but can also soothe, encourage, and yes, reassure.
It can be agreed that science can upset people. If it does, then it is not real science. Evolution, for example, upsets people who believe that the world was created in six literal days and that man was created by an intelligent designer, not by chance or by millions of years. Evolution, however, is not a real science. It is only a body of theories that cannot be observed, tested, or repeated. These theories, indeed, are actually art forms, creative expressions of somebody's perspective.
In Medieval times, Copernicus and Galileo observed that the earth revolved around the sun, and it did upset the religious people of the day. These conclusions, however, were observable, testable and repeatable. Copernicus and Galileo did use proper science, and it clarified something that was not clear to them. It did not reassure anybody, however, that the world revolved around the earth.
There is more to art than controversy. The song, "Imagine" by John Lennon is upsetting. It has a beautiful tune, but its lyrics praise a world without heaven. This is very upsetting to people who long to see deceased loved ones and divine intervention to stop the wars and injustices of this planet. Art can be upsetting, but that is not its main purpose. A realistic painting of a little ship against a massive tidal wave is not upsetting, but majestic and awe-inspiring. Mary Cassatt uses paint to portray women in peaceful situations; some of these women are newly grown-up, causing bitter-sweetness, and others hold babies in their arms, displaying contentment.
Art and science are both valuable. Art is subjective, while science is objective. Science's very value is its objectivity. Something will be true no matter how many times someone experiments on it. Art's value is not in its controversy or subjectivity, but in its ability to free people to express their emotions.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
GRE argument analysis prompt
"Typically, as people age, their bone mass decreases, making them more vulnerable to bone fractures. A recent study concludes that the most effective way to reduce the risk of fractures in later life is to take twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium daily. The three-year study followed a group of French women in their eighties who were nursing-home residents. The women were given daily supplements of twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium. In addition, the women participated in a light weightlifting program. After three years, these women showed a much lower rate of hip fractures than is average for their age."
The conductors of this study came to the conclusion that double doses of vitamin D and calcium will more likely prevent hip fractures. They conducted a proper experiment with variables and controls, but they did not check for other medical factors that might also result from the extra doses. Also, does this help octogenarians regain independence or not?
In the study, nursing-home residents in their eighties took double the normal amount of vitamin D and calcium, and they broke their hips less often than other women who only took normal amounts of vitamins. Although the paragraph shows no indication that the students tested women who did not take extra supplements, one can assume that they compared the current women subject to extra vitamins to average three-year hip fracture rates.
There is some concern as to side effects from taking so much of two specific vitamins. The bone density in these women may be better, but could taking more calcium and vitamin D affect heart rates? What about blood pressure? Did anybody monitor the ladies to make sure the vitamins were not causing their bones to overdevelop? Those conducting this study should take into consideration all aspects of these women's health, not just their bone density.
The last sentence of the paragraph concludes that the women had less fractures, but readers can still conclude that they still had fractures. Medical innovations and discoveries can help the older generation live more independently, but other factors need attention. Women in their eighties are also subject to loss of balance, strokes, blackouts, and dementia that can cause falls and fractures. While they should get exercise, they should always have a caregiver watching them to make sure they don't get overenthusiastic about their speed or overconfident in their balance. Although bone density is a major factor in broken hips, there is so much more that this author has not taken into account.
The scientists conducted a proper experiment with accurate results, but to protect women from falling, fractures, and even death, they need to consider other aspects of their health such as heart problems and cancer that occur in degenerate bodies. Also, they should never encourage octogenarians to live without some professional caregiver available in case of an emergency.
The conductors of this study came to the conclusion that double doses of vitamin D and calcium will more likely prevent hip fractures. They conducted a proper experiment with variables and controls, but they did not check for other medical factors that might also result from the extra doses. Also, does this help octogenarians regain independence or not?
In the study, nursing-home residents in their eighties took double the normal amount of vitamin D and calcium, and they broke their hips less often than other women who only took normal amounts of vitamins. Although the paragraph shows no indication that the students tested women who did not take extra supplements, one can assume that they compared the current women subject to extra vitamins to average three-year hip fracture rates.
There is some concern as to side effects from taking so much of two specific vitamins. The bone density in these women may be better, but could taking more calcium and vitamin D affect heart rates? What about blood pressure? Did anybody monitor the ladies to make sure the vitamins were not causing their bones to overdevelop? Those conducting this study should take into consideration all aspects of these women's health, not just their bone density.
The last sentence of the paragraph concludes that the women had less fractures, but readers can still conclude that they still had fractures. Medical innovations and discoveries can help the older generation live more independently, but other factors need attention. Women in their eighties are also subject to loss of balance, strokes, blackouts, and dementia that can cause falls and fractures. While they should get exercise, they should always have a caregiver watching them to make sure they don't get overenthusiastic about their speed or overconfident in their balance. Although bone density is a major factor in broken hips, there is so much more that this author has not taken into account.
The scientists conducted a proper experiment with accurate results, but to protect women from falling, fractures, and even death, they need to consider other aspects of their health such as heart problems and cancer that occur in degenerate bodies. Also, they should never encourage octogenarians to live without some professional caregiver available in case of an emergency.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tweaking Sunday School and traditional VBS
I started reading Already Gone by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer. This book is about why children leave the church once they graduate high school and start college. This book came from Barna research that showed alarming numbers. Not satisfied with just that, Ham called on Beemer to actually interview 1000 adults who left church after high school years as to why they left.
One disturbing answer was that Sunday School did not do its job. These people who came from conservative, Bible-believing church who went to Sunday School saw it as irrelevant and that it did not answer questions they had concerning what they taught in school, specifically over evolution and creation. In fact, Sunday School made them even bigger heathens than before. The ones who went to Sunday School were more likely to disbelieve the Bible, support premarital sex, support abortion, and consider the church to be hypocritical.
One solution was to get rid of Sunday School and youth programs altogether. That, however, was not recommended by the authors. What was recommended, however, was to encourage parents to coach the children at home. The church was never meant to be the main teacher of children in all things Christian; that role belongs to Dad. The man is the head of the household, so he should lead the theological discussions about the Bible and salvation. Sadly, there are kids that don't have a father in their household. The mom has to take control. The sad effect of this is that boys won't think it is cool for a man to love Jesus. This is why dad's are so important.
With this knowledge in mind, I plan on tweaking my monthly youth newsletter. Starting in August, I plan on including a section about what we are studying, encourage the parents to read the passages and discuss them at dinner or in the car on the way to soccer/dance/softball/gymnastics practice. I also have kids that don't have Christian parents at all. I will probably challenge them to talk about what they've learned with mom and dad. I'll have to talk with the pastor and his wife about this in a few weeks, but I'm sure they won't mind. This week the pastor's youngest daughter is marrying and next week I'm taking the GRE, so I think I'll wait till after then to consult them.
And VBS. I have one more week to go. All I can say, is I'm not doing it on Sundays during church next year. I'm glad I did it this year because now I know why it doesn't work. But next year, building or no building, we're going to try to have it during the evenings of only one week. My problems are that the kids are not consistent. I had 12 the first week, 2 the second week, and 6 this past week. I've been happy with the numbers. I know they don't mean much, but I want as many kids to hear the lessons as possible. I know God's in control of the numbers, and he's destroying my pride for the moment. Also, with the skits and songs during the main worship service, the older people, who are actually quite accommodating, say it takes away from their worship experience. There would be a time where I objected, but I totally agree with them in this instance. Sunday worship should be about preaching the Word, singing the Word, and eating the Word. It was really complicated when we had communion this Sunday on top of the VBS activities and I helped add to the confusion. Nope, next year, we can at least borrow someone's back yard, though I feel really sure that we'll have a for real building by then. I'm just thankful that I have a very forgiving congregation that's willing to work with me.
One last thing: the curriculum. I've been very happy with the content of Gold Rush. It's good solid Gospel that exalts Jesus and portrays him as everything that he is: God, Man, the fulfilled Promise, and our only Savior. However, the songs are too wordy, the motions are complicated, the skits were feature length and my dad had to rewrite them, and one teacher thought the lessons were more lecture format and didn't have enough interaction. I thought the lessons were fine, but I will take this teacher's comments into account and both write Answers in Genesis and possibly choose another curriculum from Group or Gospel Light. I've always been happy with what they've put out. I really did want to give AiG a chance, though. Perhaps I'll get their teacher book next year and really use it for Sunday School this time and not VBS. I'm not quite ready to give them up yet.
I'm also really happy with the involvement of a family that's new to the church and who are still new to the faith. Their daughter Alexis, age 8, recently accepted Christ, and I can tell because her answers are more profound. I'm just happy with what the Lord has done with these lives.
One disturbing answer was that Sunday School did not do its job. These people who came from conservative, Bible-believing church who went to Sunday School saw it as irrelevant and that it did not answer questions they had concerning what they taught in school, specifically over evolution and creation. In fact, Sunday School made them even bigger heathens than before. The ones who went to Sunday School were more likely to disbelieve the Bible, support premarital sex, support abortion, and consider the church to be hypocritical.
One solution was to get rid of Sunday School and youth programs altogether. That, however, was not recommended by the authors. What was recommended, however, was to encourage parents to coach the children at home. The church was never meant to be the main teacher of children in all things Christian; that role belongs to Dad. The man is the head of the household, so he should lead the theological discussions about the Bible and salvation. Sadly, there are kids that don't have a father in their household. The mom has to take control. The sad effect of this is that boys won't think it is cool for a man to love Jesus. This is why dad's are so important.
With this knowledge in mind, I plan on tweaking my monthly youth newsletter. Starting in August, I plan on including a section about what we are studying, encourage the parents to read the passages and discuss them at dinner or in the car on the way to soccer/dance/softball/gymnastics practice. I also have kids that don't have Christian parents at all. I will probably challenge them to talk about what they've learned with mom and dad. I'll have to talk with the pastor and his wife about this in a few weeks, but I'm sure they won't mind. This week the pastor's youngest daughter is marrying and next week I'm taking the GRE, so I think I'll wait till after then to consult them.
And VBS. I have one more week to go. All I can say, is I'm not doing it on Sundays during church next year. I'm glad I did it this year because now I know why it doesn't work. But next year, building or no building, we're going to try to have it during the evenings of only one week. My problems are that the kids are not consistent. I had 12 the first week, 2 the second week, and 6 this past week. I've been happy with the numbers. I know they don't mean much, but I want as many kids to hear the lessons as possible. I know God's in control of the numbers, and he's destroying my pride for the moment. Also, with the skits and songs during the main worship service, the older people, who are actually quite accommodating, say it takes away from their worship experience. There would be a time where I objected, but I totally agree with them in this instance. Sunday worship should be about preaching the Word, singing the Word, and eating the Word. It was really complicated when we had communion this Sunday on top of the VBS activities and I helped add to the confusion. Nope, next year, we can at least borrow someone's back yard, though I feel really sure that we'll have a for real building by then. I'm just thankful that I have a very forgiving congregation that's willing to work with me.
One last thing: the curriculum. I've been very happy with the content of Gold Rush. It's good solid Gospel that exalts Jesus and portrays him as everything that he is: God, Man, the fulfilled Promise, and our only Savior. However, the songs are too wordy, the motions are complicated, the skits were feature length and my dad had to rewrite them, and one teacher thought the lessons were more lecture format and didn't have enough interaction. I thought the lessons were fine, but I will take this teacher's comments into account and both write Answers in Genesis and possibly choose another curriculum from Group or Gospel Light. I've always been happy with what they've put out. I really did want to give AiG a chance, though. Perhaps I'll get their teacher book next year and really use it for Sunday School this time and not VBS. I'm not quite ready to give them up yet.
I'm also really happy with the involvement of a family that's new to the church and who are still new to the faith. Their daughter Alexis, age 8, recently accepted Christ, and I can tell because her answers are more profound. I'm just happy with what the Lord has done with these lives.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
VBS week 3-- Jesus is Radical: His miracles and sayings
Here is my 9:30 spiel:
Imagine for a while that Austin started hanging out with an oddball. One day, they hang out in the desert, they talk about a kingdom that’s not in this world. One day, Austin comes home and says this Kook is the one everyone has been waiting for to bring freedom from the enemy. What would you think?
So, you decide to follow this man. He says a lot of crazy things like turning the other cheek when someone hits it, or loving your enemies, or even that he’s God. Then he displays powers: he heals incurable diseases like leprosy, blind people can see, a wedding runs out of wine, so out of water he supplies the best wine ever, and he even raises the dead. Could he really be the one you are waiting for?
Today, we’re going to study the things Jesus said and did. We may even touch on what other religions say about him. He is so much greater, more holy, and more better than us, in fact, he’s our perfect God. Yet God calls us to listen to him and even follow his example. He is such a mystery.
Here is my talk after the skit at 11:00 when we found empty candy wrappers, helping us further to catch Ragin' Ronny!
Looks like we’re getting closer to getting Ronny. Even the empty wrappers could be considered some backwards miracle. Speaking of miracles, that’s what we’re talking about today. What are some miracles we mentioned today? I’ll briefly mention God’s greatest miracle.
Once upon a time, God created this world. He created it perfect. There was no suffering, sickness, or death. He then created Adam and Eve and told them they could do anything and eat any plant, except don’t eat from a certain tree. They ate from that certain tree and had to be separated from God. Soon, bad things happened. Their first son, Cain, murdered his brother Abel. Then all people decided that they did not want God as their creator, so God decided to send a flood on the whole earth and kill everybody. In his mercy, he saved Noah’s family and started again. God had no reason to forgive us, but he sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to die the perfect sacrifice on the cross, and then raise again, showing he defeated death. That’s the greatest miracle of all. Now, if only he could help us get Ronny! Come with me for crafts! Because Blogger is stupid at the moment, I'll post videos of my VBS lessons separately. Groan
Friday, July 1, 2011
Walking to Cincinnati
One day at Newport on the Levee on Kentucky's northern border
I had a sudden urge to use the bridge and go across the water
The Purple People bridge connects Kentucky to Ohio
So I need to set foot on it and told Dad and brother Good-bye-o
Along the bridge the city loomed, a barge of sand went under
A band on shore played many hits by ELO and Chicago
The band was heard for miles around from hotels to those restaurants.
Even the Kentucky hillsides soaked in the music the band flaunts.
As my footsteps got closer, I had to look behind at Newport
And pass some guys with their Ipod blaring. I'd stop them but I'm too short.
And there I was, the city of Cincinnati in my face.
Too bad I had to turn around once I set foot upon this place.
Savoring the moment, I take one snapshot of the bridge
And venture to the edge and land myself on Ohio's ridge.
A man there snapped a picture of my next to this here sign.
Spurgeon and I both got here, so I guess I cannot whine.
PS -- Does this picture make me look fat?
Spurgeon has a necklace on. How about that?
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