Research paper January 22, 2008

So it’s that time….the time when I get to write a research paper.  I’m actually kinda excited — yes, I know, I’m ridiculous, but I am! — because I enjoy writing papers and I’m really super excited about my research subject…chaos theory.Here’s the proposal I sent to my teacher:

  Is it possible for math to have a theological impact?  Thanks to an obscure theory, the answer appears to be yes.  Chaos Theory describes a mathematical phenomenon that can best be described as “unpredictable predictability.”   It occurs in mathematical functions that seem to be random but, in reality, are deterministic.  Chaos Theory, a newly popular theory, has an extremely wide range of applications, including applications in climatology, psychology, chemistry, astronomy, economy, physics, biology, meteorology, and even theology.  So far, Chaos Theory has been applied only to Pantheism and the New Age Movement.  I would like to research the theological implications of Chaos Theory, especially as it relates to the different schools of Calvinism and Arminianism and their views of predestination.   

I’m really excited about this whole thing.  The hilarious thing about it is that my teacher was all like “hey I don’t want you to get all caught up in the New Age movement and all that…” Which, I mean, it’s nice of her to be concerned and all that, but I….there is seriously no way that that would happen.  I am about as reverse of New Age as they come.  Plus I learned loads about that kind of thing over the summer when I took a summer class on “God, Humanity, and Knowledge.”

 

In other news, I’ve heard back from Taylor’s admissions about going to Purdue.  They say it’s OK as long as I get some stuff signed and keep a 3.2 GPA in my college classes….shouldn’t be that bad.

 

That’s about it. 

Waiting for College December 15, 2007

I am a senior in high school, and I’ve been accepted to Taylor University, which is officially the best place in the world. Most of the people I really care about are either at Taylor this year or will be at Taylor next year. Right now, I’m kind of in limbo.  I want to be done with high school and moved on to college, but I can’t.  At the same time, I don’t want to lose contact with all my high school friends.  It’s annoying. Also I’m applying for a scholarship that means a full ride to any college in my state which would be wonderful…but I don’t know if I’ll get it.  But it would be really helpful for my parents so that they can pay. ALSO, I’m going to go to the local university, where my mom is a professor, and take summer classes there…but I’m not sure whether or not it’ll mess up my acceptance to Taylor…it’s slightly messy at the moment.  But the plus about the local university is that 12 credit hours are only $874 which is ridiculously cheap.  That doesn’t include textbooks or anything but STILL! So, I have many decisions to make.  Fun! In other news, it’s snowing, and I just came back from the Keller Competition concert, and my sister is now in love with the pianist who played. 

Job 3 and Snow December 4, 2007

So today is my day to write about Job 3.  This is the first chapter that Job begins to question various things.

Job curses the day he was born in this chapter.  The language here is highly poetic.  He talks about where he would be if he had never been born or had died at birth — it’s great literarily.

The most interesting verse in this chapter is verse 23.  “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?”  He’s questioning the meaning of suffering in this verse.  Now, since I already know the end of the story, I know what it is that the ultimate answer to this question is.  But it’s interesting to know that Job struggled with it.  Job is always presented as a righteous man…but he also questions things like the meaning of suffering.  It’s not just those of us who really aren’t all that righteous.

It’s also interesting that through all of this Job doesn’t commit suicide.  He keeps saying, “It would be better if I were dead!” but he never actually kills himself.  It’s kind of intruiging.  It also tells us quite a bit about the ethics of suicide, I think.  Job had every reason to kill himself, according to today’s society.  Many people in less desparate positions have committed suicide, but Job — who had lost everything he had except his wife and his three friends — didn’t.  Job is counted as a righteous man.  It’s interesting that he didn’t.  It seriously does tell us a lot about the ethics of suicide.

Well, that’s all for Job 3.

Beyond the “Read More”:  thoughts on snow

In The Absense of Failure December 1, 2007

This is a poem I wrote…it was intended to be an application “essay” for Wheaton college. But then I realized that Wheaton doesn’t have my major! Oh dear! I still like the poem though.

Failure: no longer an option. freedom. How should I spread my wings? flying through a realm of possibilities glancing over each one in particular catches my eye playing my violin my Lionheart forever and ever and ever always in symphonies in soundtracks in worship in bands recording composing improvising creating juilliard wheaton oberlin sherwood new england conservatory royal college of music living on music But is music me? no. another glistening possibility shining from below I dive in, examining– evangelism preaching all over the country seeing thousands come to Christ bringing millions into the kingdom But is evangelism me? no. yet another, glinting in the sky far above me this time space travel to the unexplored heights discovering God’s creation anew for the first time again seeing things completely new and yet always there jupiter saturn neptune pluto and beyond where there’s just me and God and a metal flying vessel alone and content But is space me? no. where is this shining from? everywhere all at once travel the world visit every single country learn the language the culture the people seeing God’s artistry in its infinite neverending countless innumerable forms of landscape mountain ocean desert forest lake prarie tundra ice steppe swamp wetland volcano encountering everywhere under the sun But is travel me? no. one last possibility straight ahead of me what can it be? one lone mountain in a sea of mountains rising above all others the highest place on earth Mt. Everest. “what is the use of climbing mt. everest?” “it is no use. the struggle of this mountain is the struggle of life itself. what we get out of this adventure is sheer joy.” striving upward exploring the utmost of God’s handiwork here alone closest to God seeking for Him and finding Him in the midst of my journey to the top of the world and finding the joy of life of Him on the way But is seeking me? yes— y e s . “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” I would climb Mt. Everest.