I’ve been ‘scolded’ for not updating my blog as much. That’s good to hear because it means people miss it. It’s usually just my mom who bugs me to write.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any wild and crazy adventures to relate. I’ve been doing all those things I said I’d have to do (okay, I haven’t done the taxes yet) and have only gone out for choir practice and church, strange as it may seem for a world traveler. Though the sudden decrease in correspondence took some getting used too, I’m starting to enjoy that I don’t have to be on the computer so much just to keep up.
Favorite current activities are sight-reading through the hymnal (I’ve always preferred to practice the instrument I don’t ‘have’ to), improvising on fiddle before my left arm falls off (about 40min), reading (currently in Perelandra), and eating (especially baked beans – I didn’t see them in Switzerland). I had a wonderful evening all by my lonesome watching a great movie that I can’t recommend – unless you like German and sign language. For me, it was fascinating. Beyond Silence (Jenseits der Stille) is a German film about a hearing child of deaf parents who wants to become a clarinetist and this separates her from her parents but they make up in the end. Thrilling plot, I know, but that’s not why I watched it. I decided to try it without any subtitles and was surprised that much of the signing wasn’t translated for the viewer. German Sign Language is different from American Sign Language, but it has some intersection, such as the alphabet, unlike British Sign Language which is completely different (they use a two handed alphabet). Thus I could read what they finger-spelled (mostly names) but because the hearing girl spoke while she signed I picked up a few basic signs and was able to follow a fair amount of the other conversations. It’s such a beautiful medium for communication. Natsukashii.
That’s my exciting life, and here’s a sneak preview of a book review I’m going to write. Some readers will recognize the name John Stackhouse and I’m thrilled to bits that he’s written a book called Humble Apologetics. I heard about it from The Prodigal Kiwi’s Blog, which I’ve mentioned before. At the end of the post is a link to the four part interview of Stackhouse on the radio show The Kindlings (02 Aug 07). Before listening to all four I ordered the book. The interview segments are not long, but if you only have time for one, listen to the third part. What he has to say on conversion touches a nerve with me. It’s serious stuff, but he has a sense of humor, too. When asked to define apologetics he says “Apologetics is the art of making people sorry they asked you why you are a Christian.” :)
Peace and love,
Janet
The movie you mentioned sounded familiar. Sure enough it was one I had pulled out of the book sale pile as one that looked interesting. I had no idea it was in German (you can't tell from the cover or the description on the back), but upon closer inspection it does say so in the fine print. I look forward to watching it.
Have fun with it. In case it's only in the fine print as well, there's a sex scene I did not like. When the main character invites a guy into her home and plays clarinet for him, skip to the next scene and you won't miss a thing of importance.
Sigh—a full day later and I haven't managed to read the Stackhouse. But I feel it necessary to make it clear that, though I might not be one of the ones scolding, I count among those who miss it when posts are sparse.
