17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written:“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Message of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1:17-31
Saturday, March 22, 2008
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Portraits of leaders
Elizabeth I: The Rainbow Portrait, c1600, by Isaac Oliver
[Click painting to view larger version]
There have been some great female leaders. Some that come to mind are Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, and earlier ones such as Queen Elizabeth I and to some extent Catherine the Great of Russia.
All of these female leaders will of course be contested by someone or other, but no-one can deny their lasting influence and legacy.
Hillary is aspiring to be one of these leaders. Some have even suggested that through the nomination process, she has acquired some of the gravitas required (earned) by leaders.
I will of course beg to differ.
I've put together photographs where these modern female heads of state have looked their most likable and serious - something we expect of leaders - and I've found plenty for Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi, but Hillary Clinton's were very difficult to find.
Even the ones I've picked, which compliment her more than others, are spoiled by a stubbornly, immaturely, pouting lower lip, and slightly frantic-looking eyes and too wide a smile.
Plus, in these photos below, Clinton is 58 and 60 years old. Thatcher in 1983 was 58 ; Golda Meir in 1956 was 58. Indira Gandhi in 1972 was 55 (she looks several years older int the undated photo). At 60, Clinton looks like their younger sister, especially in her 2008 photo where she looks like she's in her thirties.
Are these photos showing Hillary with gravitas, worthy of being a world leader? I don't think so.
Even in their youth Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi show glimpses of their later greatness. They were born to be leaders. Hillary, on the other hand, seems to have found this difficult to demonstrate.
Another disconcerting thing about the Hillary photos on the internet: I have never seen such a collection of "faces" made by one person's photographic documentation. I know that these days photographers have ample chance to shoot the most uncomplimentary pictures, and maybe Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi were spared this particularly modern fetish. But surely, the person also has to contribute to the picture? After all, photographers aren't shooting into the void.
Margaret Thatcher: left in 1979, right in 1983
Golda Meir: left in 1956, right in 1969
Indira Gandhi: left undated, right in 1972
Hillary Clinton: left in 2006, right in 2008
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[Click painting to view larger version]
There have been some great female leaders. Some that come to mind are Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, and earlier ones such as Queen Elizabeth I and to some extent Catherine the Great of Russia.
All of these female leaders will of course be contested by someone or other, but no-one can deny their lasting influence and legacy.
Hillary is aspiring to be one of these leaders. Some have even suggested that through the nomination process, she has acquired some of the gravitas required (earned) by leaders.
I will of course beg to differ.
I've put together photographs where these modern female heads of state have looked their most likable and serious - something we expect of leaders - and I've found plenty for Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi, but Hillary Clinton's were very difficult to find.
Even the ones I've picked, which compliment her more than others, are spoiled by a stubbornly, immaturely, pouting lower lip, and slightly frantic-looking eyes and too wide a smile.
Plus, in these photos below, Clinton is 58 and 60 years old. Thatcher in 1983 was 58 ; Golda Meir in 1956 was 58. Indira Gandhi in 1972 was 55 (she looks several years older int the undated photo). At 60, Clinton looks like their younger sister, especially in her 2008 photo where she looks like she's in her thirties.
Are these photos showing Hillary with gravitas, worthy of being a world leader? I don't think so.
Even in their youth Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi show glimpses of their later greatness. They were born to be leaders. Hillary, on the other hand, seems to have found this difficult to demonstrate.
Another disconcerting thing about the Hillary photos on the internet: I have never seen such a collection of "faces" made by one person's photographic documentation. I know that these days photographers have ample chance to shoot the most uncomplimentary pictures, and maybe Thatcher, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi were spared this particularly modern fetish. But surely, the person also has to contribute to the picture? After all, photographers aren't shooting into the void.
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Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Empress Theodora
And her past
A comment at VFR comparing the 6th century Byzantine Empress Theodora with the Spitzer escort girl prompted me to write this post, especially since I had just finished reading - coincidentally - a short excerpt on Theodora in Daniel Boorstin's The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagination. Theodora started off with lowly beginnings as the daughter of a bear keeper, followed her mother's profession as an actress, and eventually became a prostitute. Here is an excerpt from Boorstin's account of her:
I will venture to say that this change wasn't unaccountable. By gleaning through various written and internet sources, it appears that in her early twenties, she briefly stayed in Alexandria and converted to Christianity. Although no source I have reviewed makes this association, where inference follows logic, it would surely be her Christian conversion that led her to abandon her previous life, and live modestly as a wool spinner.
Her extraordinary life with Justinian is immortalized in the mosaics at the San Vitale Basilica in Italy, where she stands with her cohort of women on the south wall of the apse, facing her husband Emperor Justinian, who is on the north wall. Justinian had made her joint ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
With great contrition at putting Theodora's name together with Spitzer's call girl, here's a headline from Times online entitled: Prostitute Ashley Alexandra Dupre behind Eliot Spitzer sex scandal cashes in.
One can never accuse the expiated Theodora of cashing in. In fact, her legacy lives on as one can only hope, after renouncing sin and attempting to live an exemplary life.
Mosaic of Justinian in San Vitale
[Click image to see larger version]
Mosaic of Theodora in San Vitale
[Click image to see larger version]
A comment at VFR comparing the 6th century Byzantine Empress Theodora with the Spitzer escort girl prompted me to write this post, especially since I had just finished reading - coincidentally - a short excerpt on Theodora in Daniel Boorstin's The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagination. Theodora started off with lowly beginnings as the daughter of a bear keeper, followed her mother's profession as an actress, and eventually became a prostitute. Here is an excerpt from Boorstin's account of her:
[A]ccording to Procopius "As soon as she was old enough and fully developed, she joined the women on the stage and promptly became a courtesan." Who would have predicted that she would become an emperor's faithful wife, a passionate Christian theologian, and the most powerful empress in the history of the Roman Empire?Boorstin continues to say that this all happened after:
Suddenly and unaccountably, [she] abandoned her lascivious ways, settled in a modest house near the palace, and earned her living by spinning wool. Attracted by Theodora's beauty, wit, intelligence, and youth, Justinian determined to marry her.The mysterious word is "unaccountably."
I will venture to say that this change wasn't unaccountable. By gleaning through various written and internet sources, it appears that in her early twenties, she briefly stayed in Alexandria and converted to Christianity. Although no source I have reviewed makes this association, where inference follows logic, it would surely be her Christian conversion that led her to abandon her previous life, and live modestly as a wool spinner.
Her extraordinary life with Justinian is immortalized in the mosaics at the San Vitale Basilica in Italy, where she stands with her cohort of women on the south wall of the apse, facing her husband Emperor Justinian, who is on the north wall. Justinian had made her joint ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
With great contrition at putting Theodora's name together with Spitzer's call girl, here's a headline from Times online entitled: Prostitute Ashley Alexandra Dupre behind Eliot Spitzer sex scandal cashes in.
One can never accuse the expiated Theodora of cashing in. In fact, her legacy lives on as one can only hope, after renouncing sin and attempting to live an exemplary life.
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[Click image to see larger version]
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[Click image to see larger version]
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Unwearable Genius of John Galliano
Fashion as Inspiration
John Galliano is the enfant terrible of the fashion industry. And whatever deviations he takes, he will always be forgiven (at least by me) for his talent, and, I really believe, his deep desire to create beautiful clothes.
For some reason, he seems to be stuck on tarnishing the very women for whom he creates his clothes. His models have strange doll-like make-up at times, some he adorns (!) with moustache-like paint, others walk in heavy fur winter boots while modelling silk floral spring clothes.
Another strange obsession of his is are wispy, dusty veils. These grey head-gear look like they're made of cobwebs from dusty interiors. They look like death at the doorstep.
His obsession with death (and with distorted, doll-like women) almost has a romantic feel to it, of the decadent, violent type.
I can hardly go into what makes Galliano deface (literally) his designs. That is why his work will only remain an inspiration and perhaps this is as lofty a compliment as I can make.
Galliano's Genius
Everything from the great Valentino, on the other hand, is always for the wearing.
John Galliano is the enfant terrible of the fashion industry. And whatever deviations he takes, he will always be forgiven (at least by me) for his talent, and, I really believe, his deep desire to create beautiful clothes.
For some reason, he seems to be stuck on tarnishing the very women for whom he creates his clothes. His models have strange doll-like make-up at times, some he adorns (!) with moustache-like paint, others walk in heavy fur winter boots while modelling silk floral spring clothes.
Another strange obsession of his is are wispy, dusty veils. These grey head-gear look like they're made of cobwebs from dusty interiors. They look like death at the doorstep.
His obsession with death (and with distorted, doll-like women) almost has a romantic feel to it, of the decadent, violent type.
I can hardly go into what makes Galliano deface (literally) his designs. That is why his work will only remain an inspiration and perhaps this is as lofty a compliment as I can make.
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Everything from the great Valentino, on the other hand, is always for the wearing.