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The Jevlir Caravansary

Author: jevlir

  • Not WHAT You Read but HOW

    Occasionally one of my Christian acquaintances will question my taste in reading, movies, TV programs, or even games, though having attained 50 years of age, video and other online games are less a part of my life than they used to be. I don’t think their question is inappropriate, but I do very often disagree with their suggested choices.

    But I was thinking about this today, and it occurred to me that we have a much bigger problem with how we read than with what, and this problem not only applies to fiction and other entertainment, but also to our informational reading. No matter what we read, we have two choices: 1) We can be led along by the author wherever he leads, or even to places he may not have intended, or 2) We can read with an active mind, discernment, and will.

    1. By an active mind I mean one that is tuned to what one is reading or viewing, and is considering and evaluating it.
    2. By discernment I mean use of whatever moral standards one has chosen to evaluate or judge actions or statements.
    3. By will I mean the ability to put one’s evaluations into action.

    For my wife and I, TV programs in the evening often result in ethical, political, or religious discussions. We watch characters and ask questions like these:

    • Is that realistic? Would a person like the one portrayed do that?
    • What would I do in those circumstances?
    • Can I understand and excuse, if not approve, what the character did?
    • What if the world really was like that?

    . . . and there are often many more.

    When I listen to a news story, I’m asking questions like these:

    • How was that statistic derived? What questions were asked in a survey, or what data was collected in order to accomplish that?
    • Is there more context to this story?
    • On what basis does that pundit make his predictions?
    • Can I find a reference for that information and check it out?

    Now I’m not some sort of paragon of virtue who checks every single fact he reads or hears. But before I make something my own, I do check references and determine whether it is well-supported or not.

    Finally, I will also ask just how much of my time I want to spend watching that particular kind of show, or reading that particular kind of book. Is it constructive for me at this point in my life? Is the time I spend with it balanced?

    Many times, people will spend hours watching a disaster or true crime story on TV, and feel superior to a person who watches a violent show or plays a violent video game. But were the folks who watched O.J.’s odyssey in the white Bronco using their time any more wisely than the most addicted teenage video game fanatic? Were they improving their minds or their bodies? Were the truly engaged in recreation?

    Despite the title, I think there are things that are better left unread or unviewed. But I think that is a much less important issue than your decision to live your life with mind engaged. It may not all be in how you read, but much of it is.

    I’ll take the risk that you may decide my blog is not the best way to spend your reading time!

  • Christian Carnival Posted

    The latest Christian Carnival has been posted at Ancient Hebrew Poetry.

  • Not a Christmas Carol


    * “No!” yelled Evelyn at the apparition. “No! You’ve got it all wrong!”

    “As I was saying,” the ghost intoned, “you will be visited by three spirits.”

    “Yes, I know. Christmas past, Christmas present, Christmas future. Everybody knows that. It’s been done and redone. But it doesn’t apply to me.”

    The ghost looked mildly disturbed, as though programmed to intone certain things and expect certain results. “Before dawn,” it continued, “you will be visited by three spirits.”

    “Yes, you said that already,” Evelyn interrupted peevishly. It didn’t help that the ghost looked a great deal like her late husband, a quiet and self-effacing man who could easily lose his place in a conversation if interrupted.

    The ghost looked a bit mistier, not to mention mystified. “You will be visited,” it started again.

    Evelyn jumped out of her chair, the comfortable recliner where she had been dozing briefly, preparing herself for Christmas eve, a busy night for her. She charged straight at the ghost, unconcerned by its resemblance to her late husband—or perhaps the resemblance drove her on. She was already wearing the Santa suit, one of several items of apparel that helped earn her the nickname “Ms. Claus.”

    (more…)

  • Christian Carnival #203 Posted

    . . . at Bounded Irrationality. Check it out.

  • Finished Reading Nefertiti

    I posted a mini-blog about Nefertiti when I first found it.  I have finished and would now rate it a 3.

  • Homeschooling in Germany

    In a “real life meets fictional blogging” moment for me, Germany’s high court has ruled against a homeschooling family. From the quote shown there, the German court would recognize some of the arguments used in my short story here. (HT: Christian Carnival 302.)

  • Creation in Death

    My wife got me started with these J. D. Robb books, and I really liked the latest one, Creation in Death. Interesting psychology. There is a certain similarity to the books in the series, though.

  • The God-Talk Club – Homeschooling

    [This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters, places, or events to reality is strictly coincidental. It is also part of a series. Characters who have been introduced in previous episodes will not be re-introduced. You can find a list of characters from episodes up to this one here.]

    The God-Talk Club was gathering again at the Roadside Cafe, their regular meeting place. Recently, the owner had added a couple of couches and some more comfortable chairs in groups, trying to take advantage of the number of students who chose to study in his cafe, and coincidentally eat large amounts of snacks and drink a great deal of his soft drinks. He had bought an assortment of used furniture, which kept up the general décor of the place—accidental crossed with tornado aftermath.

    Mark arrived earlier than usual, and claimed one of the new, more comfortable seats. He had just gotten settled in, when Ellen showed up with his regular large Coke. Generally they needed no words. This time when she delivered the drink she was leading a man who appeared to be in his late 20s, and who was dressed professionally. Mark immediately thought he was some type of executive, and wondered what he was doing here at the Roadside Cafe. Generally, the clientele ran to blue jeans and t-shirts, not professional dress.

    “Mark, this is Bob. I told him about your group.”

    “It isn’t much of a group. We just get together and argue on Friday nights.”

    “It’s the only group that meets regularly and seems to keep most of the same people,” said Ellen.

    “OK, yes, and I’m being rude.” He turned to Bob, half got up out of his seat, and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

    “You too,” said Bob, though he looked a bit uncomfortable.

    “Just settle in anywhere. There are no rules at the Roadside Cafe.”

    Bob found a seat on another couch. “How many people are there in your group?” he asked.

    “It really isn’t a group. It’s too informal. Usually there’s about half a dozen who show up. They show up when they want and leave when they want, but the discussion goes on. Most people just join by interrupting the discussion. Speaking of interruptions . . .” he waved at Jerry who was approaching.

    “This is Bob,” he said, looking at Jerry and waving in Bob’s general direction.

    Jerry walked over to where Bob was sitting and held out his hand. “I’m Jerry Simonson,” he said.

    “If Jerry had his way, we’d have rules, and maybe a chairman,” said Mark.

    Jerry, in a collared shirt and dark slacks looked a bit out of place as well, sort of a balance between Bob’s office wear and Mark’s torn and faded jeans.

    Jerry chuckled. “And if Mark had his way, none of us would know anyone else’s names.” He paused. “So how has it been going, Mark?”

    “It’s a pretty ordinary day in the middle of the semester. I finally got my grade back on that essay we discussed, and I passed.”

    “What are you studying?” asked Bob.

    “I’m at the seminary, M.Div.”

    “M.Div?”

    “Master of Divinity, preacher.”

    “But he doesn’t really know if he wants to be one,” said Jerry.

    “Maybe I’ll be a lawyer.”

    “And lie about people instead of God?” Bob looked like he thought he’d just scored points.

    (more…)

  • Why Marry a Robot

    Regina Lynn at Wired has 10 reasons.

  • Nefertiti

    I just found this mystery set in ancient Egypt. It’s near the top of my reading list.