Term Papers and Concerts

It has been a tremendously busy month. Last week and a half was completely devoted to doing my first real term paper. I learned very quickly this ain't undergrad. Of course, I really started getting serious about my research last week and I was going to write the whole thing Monday. Hehe, yeah right. I spent Monday starring a hole into my computer screen and writing nothing. I finally started writing on Tuesday and got done with my 15 pages on Friday. The whole paper was basically me writing through writer's block. So I turned in my term paper on Friday when it was due Tuesday. I can write long posts on whatever I'm thinking about at the moment like anything, but I don't like research writing. I might if I was passionate about the topic. Maybe I have finally learned to not wait until the last minute. This was the first time that didn't work for me. It took me about 2 hours per page when it was all over. The only sentences that came easy were the ones that I was highly encouraged by my proofreaders to take out. My subject was the structure of James, which I encourage you not to bother writing about. It brought no value to the text for me at all.

Oh, those editted sentences were as follows:

It jumps around so much it makes ADHD persons wish for some cohesive element so they could at least know where the next distraction was taking them. Yet on closer investigation, it is revealed that James does have a flow and thematic structure that was well understood in the time it was written. Some have thrown off any attempt to see a structure, and some have tried to squeeze the various aspects of the epistle into tidy outlines that work like jeans five sizes too small.

and a footnote at the end:

In writing this paper, I was mildly tempted to organize the information in the same style as James. But in the interest of readability, failure to originate good catchwords, and my own grade I decided against it.

I think it would be good for scholars to include things like this, because it really comes across like they are taking themselves way too seriously. And it is also apparent to me that I probably have some maturing to do.

So on to the study break concerts. In the last 3 weeks I have seen Caedmon's Call w/Derek Webb, Andrew Peterson w/Donald Miller, and Casting Crowns w/Leeland


I saw Caedmon's Call in Dyersburg, TN. Wow, I hadn't seen them since college, and Andy Osenga (formerly of the Normals)blew me away with his guitar playing. I had no idea he was that good! Derek opened with a solo show just playing a 12 string acoustic. Total they played for three hours of shear enjoyment. Afterwards, because I am now in the Guild (Caedmon's fan club) I got to hang out with Andy and Derek, and my niece, sister, and a great kid from my youth group got to go back too. They are great, funny guys. Derek told the story of how his song "Name" ended up on Grey's Anatomy playing while all these doctors were fornicating. Oh, for this reason Grey's Anatomy is the stupidest doctor show on TV.


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Last Saturday I was supposed to see Derek again in Memphis, but he was sick so Andrew Peterson (who is also an excellent song writer) filled in. It was only announced at the show, and at the end Andrew got a standing ovation. I think was one of about 5 people who had heard of him before the show. Really great considering most came to see Derek. I think was one of about 5 people who had heard of him before the show, but he impressed everyone. But the main reason I went was to see Donald Miller, my favorite author. He talked about the four things a story must have, and related that to how we should live. He introduced it saying, "If you watch a bad movie, you don't come out saying "Movies are terrible!' You say 'That movie was terrible.' So if someone tells you 'Life is meaningless,' then tell them, 'No, YOUR life is meaningless.'" He then went into the four necessary elements of a story are 1) A stong protagonist, 2) That is likeable, 3) and you can only know that by what they do, not what they think or say, and 4) Conflict that must be overcome. Then he asked the question, "So what kind of story are you writing with your life, because if you want a good story, these must be present." Point 3 and 4 stuck with me because I often think people just know I like them or care about them, but the story they are seeing is different than the one in my head if I don't do concrete things to show it. Point 4 stuck because I avoid conflict too often. But a good life is made by embraicing conflict and overcoming it. Seriously, tell me a good story without conflict. None of those quoted things are direct quotes except the for "Your life is meaningless." It is the gist of what I remember. I strongly suggest his books. They are great. (Through Painted Deserts, Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What [my favoirte], and To Own a Dragon: Reflections on Growing up without a Father).


Thursday I saw Casting Crowns in Murray, KY. They are a great live band, and a rarity. They have solid, challenging, honest lyrics that challenge the stale church with deep questions and observations, and they do so as a popular Christian mainstream band with talent. There are very few of those. Most of the popular stuff is pretty generic.

--Written while watching Ray Davies perform on Austin City Limits