funny hebrew connections

It looks like my Hebrew class is going to have only 3 people in it this semester.  That means more than 10 people dropped from last semester's intro class.  At this rate, I might be the only person taking Hebrew III and IV over the next year.

Thinking about this made me think about not wanting to be alone in my Hebrew class.  Then I thought of the Hebrew word for "being alone" which is BAD...pronounced with a long "a".  (Read this as "Being alone in Hebrew is BAD").  Of course, the hebrew and english have nothing to do with each other, but it is a funny coincidence for me.  

Then I thought of a couple of other funny ones.  Such as the hebrew word for "she" is pronounced HE in Hebrew. And the Hebrew word for prince or ruler is TSAR which sounds like the Roman or Russian "tsar" or "czar" both of which come from "Caesar."  This last one might have some connection, but I doubt it.

What to do?

From time to time, I think about all of the things that I am studying and compare it with all of the subjects that I would like to know about...and my head explodes. There is so much that I want to know about...to think about...to do...

I want to be a secular musician, a hymn writer, a theologian (or at least a serious student of theology), to study Communication and Literature (my majors) at a graduate level. I want my hobbies to include photography, linguistics, and studying abroad. I want to immerse myself in all kinds of theological and philosophical books, but at the same time, I want to be a person who gives invested time to others. I want to be a beer/wine/cigar connoisseur and an art/music critic. I want to become well trained in the culinary arts. Some aspects of taking Geology this semester have made me want to spend some time at a dig site in the middle east...

That list only scratches the surface. One of the most freeing things about Christianity is that you can take any number of those things and live a fulfilled, Christ glorifying life. But you can't do it all. Lately I have been questioning why I want to do those things...any and all of them. A phrase from Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life keeps coming back to my head...

Just one life, twill soon be past
Only whats done for Christ will last

It's my responsibility to separate these desires. I must decide what my abilities and gifts are and how they can be used for the sake of the Kingdom. Everything else is just arrogance. It is my desire to feel accomplished when I look at myself in the mirror...rather than seeing a reflection of the glory of God shown in a sanctified servant of the Kingdom.

A "Christian" Paradigm

From time to time I have these realizations that, being in college, I really am supposed to be learning something. Sometimes I get so used to routine that I forget that the point of an education is to get educated. I realize at these times that I have a further responsibility, as a Christian, to process my education in terms of the gospel.

So lately I have been contemplating some ideas that were expressed in my Intro to Communication Research Methods class and I have been trying to process them Christianly. This class deals with how research is conducted in the field of communications (my new major...see post below). A large section of the class is devoted to what is called research paradigms. These paradigms guide the researcher in how and why he/she conducts research. The three paradigms are as follows:

1. Discovery Paradigm: There is an absolute truth that can be found with research on any subject. Nothing is subjective. Research can tell us exactly what is true for everyone. (Ex: Good Communication in marriage leads to relationship satisfaction)

2. Interpretive Paradigm: Ideas found in research are subjective. The person being studied creates his or her own meaning. This paradigm wants to collect as much data from as many people as possible because every person has a unique take on each subject. (Ex: What aspects of marriage increase relationship satisfaction for individuals?)

3. Critical paradigm: This paradigm seeks to correct what is perceived to be wrong in the world. A researcher studies some injustice and provides research on why it should be changed. (Ex: Husbands should use good communication because it leads to their wife’s relationship satisfaction.)

As Christians, which paradigm should we use to process truth? At first I thought the answer was simple: We should use the Discovery paradigm because we all know that there is objective truth in the world. Most of us have been affected enough by the Church’s reaction against post-modernism that we chafe at the idea of something being “subjective.”

The more I think about this, however, the more I realize that the paradigms are not merely a pronouncement of truth, they are “ways of knowing something.” I think therefore that we can use all of them in both Biblical scholarship and our everyday lives.

Let me give an example. I know that God is sovereign because the Bible tells me as much (objective reality=discovery paradigm). I also know that God is sovereign because when I hang out with friends, they give me examples and I myself can experience the sovereignty of God (Interpretive Paradigm). Finally, I can prove that God is sovereign in my own life by trusting that he will work things out for me. This means I SHOULD trust him (Critical Paradigm).

Thus, God uses many means to convey truth to us. We believe that the Bible is truth. But the way that we unpack and apply that truth is by examining our personal experience and by making changes based on what we have observed.

A Major Major Change

After nearly two weeks of prayer, talking with godly friends, and consulting my amazing parents, I have decided to change majors. Currently, I am a business management major and I have nothing against business as a whole, or the professors, or the department. However, I am under conviction that God would have me develop the particular gifts he has given me in the areas of Communication Studies and English.

Its totally crazy, in a sense, that I am switching (as a finishing sophomore) to a double major in two subjects that I am currently not in. But I am really excited about it. Ever since I came to college, I have been longing to develop my reading, writing, and communication skills. I started out in Engineering. I pretty much couldn't get any of these skills in that department (no offense to anyone). Then I switched to business and communication studies minor. This was good for a while. The communication classes became my favorites and I even got some communication skills from my business classes. However, it became clear this semester that I am never really going to be able to write in business classes.

So that brought me to this point. I will probably switch majors tomorrow. I am nervous and excited and happy. I must give a hats off to my parents here. I was able to talk with mom and dad this weekend and they were the most supportive and caring people that I could ever want as parents. They are godly and perfect models of depending on God's sovereingty.

Now all I have to worry about is finishing my business classes this semester...ugghh.