Coming very soon...

Yer Olde Gini Index

Reading in the textbook for my Sociology course I came across the "Gini Index". Here is the definition from Encarta Dictionary online:

"income distribution index: an index of income distribution in an economy, expressed as a fraction, that indicates the level of inequality between incomes. The higher the fraction, the greater the inequality of incomes."

I'm sure the knowledge of this term won't impact your life profoundly; however, I was intrigued by the name. Which, by the way, comes from the Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

Slow Journey Back

Northbound I-75, including myself on my way home from prayer meeting, was stopped dead for at least 1/2 hour this evening due to an accident.

Justice & Grace

This evening I am sitting at an ice cream/coffee shop writing a paper for my Sociology course. The purpose of the paper is to provide an overview of Charles Colson's book Justice That Restores. Here is an excerpt from my almost-finished paper:

As I write this portion of the paper in Ben & Jerry’s a live band is playing and singing “Amazing Grace” in the background. Surely it is only God’s amazing grace that affords any hope to the transgressor. Mr. Colson so poignantly points out in his book that no other religion, worldview, or approach, save the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can give an adequate answer to the sin problem; a problem that is at the true heart of crime. Not only does the Biblical worldview provide a transcendent authority for law, recognize the reality of sin and provide a mechanism to restrain it, but it also provides the only way out of the human dilemma through redemption (Colson, p. 157-158).

What Weather!

Image from MSN Weather as displayed on live.com

One view of downhill skiing

I have immensely enjoyed downhill skiing ever since I was old enough to learn. However, I still thought this quote (from an unknown author) was worth making into a poster. Enjoy!

The Risen Sun

"I believe in Christianity just as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. -C.S. Lewis"

Student Development Day

Today was Student Dev. Day here at GBS. David Stonestreet* from Summit Ministries* was the guest speaker for the three sessions held in the morning. Here are some quotes from Mr. Stonestreet's presentation on "Thinking Worldviewishly: Loving God with Your Mind":

"No information is neutral, because information contains ideas and ideas have consequences."

"You may not live what you profess, but you will live what you believe."

* external link to summit.org

Much of You

I just again heard the song "Much of You" by SCC and was struck by the challenge it presents. May each one of us be able to honestly share in the chorus' prayer...

Verse 1:
How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
‘Cause I’m just a whisper
And you are the thunder and

Chorus:
I want to make much of you Jesus
I want to make much of your love
I want to live today to give you the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of your mercy
I want to make much of your cross
I give you my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of you

Lyrics courtesy of stevencurtischapman.com

Truth is reality

"Truth is reality. Truth is the sum total of the way things really are. Therefore, truth is the explanation of all things. You know you have found the truth when you find something that is wide enough and deep enough and high enough to encompass all things. That is what Jesus Christ does." - Ray Stedman

Truth and Action

My Mom shared two related quotes with me today:

From C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters: "And the great thing is to prevent him from doing anything. To think about it, to consider it is fine but not to actually do it."
- Screwtape, advising a junior devil

"Many people stumble over truth on their way through life, but most get up, dust themselves off, and go on again."
-Sir Winston Churchill

Shall we use a phenomenological approach?

From my "World Religions" class notes: "The phenomenological approach to the study of religion attempts to understand religion from the perspective of religious persons themselves."

Anyway, I just thought the word sounded interesting. Click to hear the word phenomenological pronounced from Merriam-Webster online. (external link to m-w.com)

Character & Greatness

Here are a couple more quotes from Rev. Quesenberry:

"Character is forged in ordinary life and showcased in extraordinary events...and always in that order."

"Greatness is borne out of a commitment to excellence in the mundane and undesirable assignments of life."

I Will Lift My Eyes

Late last year I heard a song that spoke to me then, and continues to speak to me now. Entitled "I Will Lift My Eyes", the poignant lyrics are as follows:

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

-Written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

A Couple of Quotes

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Here are two quotes from Dan Glick, professor & chair of the Missions Department here at GBS:

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"If we think there is any good outside of God's will, we are vulnerable to missing His will."

"I don't want to go through this thing called life, without the Creator of life along with me."

...and yes, the photo above has been tinted!

Good Quotes Day

So far today I have heard several good quotes in class. Here are two:

Quoted by Dr. A. Philip Brown in Advanced Homiletics:

"Good intentions pave the road to hell"

Quoted by Mr. Miles in Principles/Problems of Missions:

"The heart of the matter is the heart"

Two Great Quotes

1. In chapel service this morning President Avery quoted Spurgeon by saying:

"Nothing can enter heaven which is not real; nothing erroneous, mistaken, conceited, hollow, professional, pretentious, unsubstantial, can be smuggled through the gates. Only truth can dwell with the God of truth."

2. Then in class this morning, an "anonymous" student's paper was read by the professor and contained the following quote from Sir Winston Churchill:

To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.”

Those are both certainly sobering truths!

Committed to the Truth

This past week in my Adv. Homiletics class, the professor said:

"Even though we are absolutely committed to the truth, we must realize we are not the only one who can see it...because that would be arrogance." -Dr. A. Phillip Brown

In the pursuit of knowing the truth, we must remember that we do not have the monopoly on it!

Revival Services

The school year at GBS started with a series of revival services. The speaker was Rev. John Parker who so powerfully delivered relevant messages from God's Word. One evening the school's president, Dr. Avery, opened the service with an admonition which spoke to me poignantly:

"Let's enter this service with our hearts on tip-toe"

To my mind, it painted a picture of someone expectantly stretching in order to see more clearly. Certainly, God's presence was felt in the services and the expectations of the heart were not disappointed.