I moved. This is my actual blog.

Harding and money

So I have a lot of things to say, but I am never sitting at the computer when I am thinking of them. Then when I sit down to write, they all flee my mind. Dr. Wilson commented on this phenomena the other day. It's weird.

It's occurred (that looks like it's spelled wrong...) to me in the past few days how Harding is such a business. I don't know if anyone reading this watches House, but Lana and I have been watching the first season on DVD. During this season, this guy named Vogler contributes $100 million to the hospital and thereafter has control of the hospital, basically. His purpose: to turn the hospital into a business, a money-making research machine and putting away the financial-black-hole hospital. It struck me.

And now I'm seeing the same thing with Harding. Notice the programs that have been favored from on high recently: education, Bible, computer stuff. Why? Think about it. Harding benefits most from large, cheap classes that generate teachers, business people and preachers. They get plenty of tuition money, pay for very little besides professorial salary, minimal equipment and building costs. The free time that these people have can be spent in the many social activities that Harding encourages, which will increase their bond to the Harding experience, which leads to what? Alumni donations.

The physical sciences, though? They're financial black holes. They require material, expensive material, and lots of it. The classes are small, it's inefficient. The students are studious and more reclusive. They don't get as involved, they're more likely to go on to a medical school or graduate school and not care as much about Harding. They aren't going to come back and speak in chapel about how great Harding is, they're not wildly popular (outside the Pryor Science Building) or beloved of the powers that be. They aren't beneficial to the accepted view of what Harding should be, so they get pushed to the side. Meanwhile, the nursing school is cramped and overflowing. The people who embody (in my opinion) Harding's purpose the most are neglected in favor of what?

I'm not ranting - Harding is free to do whatever it wants to do, and I only care a little about what happens here after I'm gone. I'm just commenting on something I think is an apparent trend, and it makes me sad for the Harding that I used to see. So what if Keller wasn't the nicest dorm? They didn't have to fix it up. So what if the Heritage building was so 20th century? I never heard anyone complain. There's another motive here, and I don't like it. I don't want Harding to sell its soul for money, and I'm afraid of what it will turn into.

Hemehemememeh

I hate it when you actually have a good opportunity to write, but no words, no inspiration. Other times I have inspiration, but no time. It sucks.

So I kinda am thinking about LiveJournal or WordPress again. I like Blogger, but there are some features they have that are cooler than anything Blogger has. And LiveJournalland is so full of old friends that are just needing to be made fun of...but I regard that as a good reason not to go back to LiveJournal. I don't want to be a pest...but it's so fun!

School is kinda in a moderate stage right now: not too hard, not too easy (at this very moment). Biochem doesn't cease to be uniquely interesting and fun (in a weird way)...yeah, it's an 8 o' clock class too! P-Chem is kind of a pain, what with all the calculus and the fact that I sit through 3/4 of every class period not understanding what in the world is being said. Homework is helpful in that class, otherwise I'd be completely lost. Inorganic is...something. I do understand the whole MO theory thing but there are some elements that I couldn't explain myself if I were put on the spot, and I don't really like that. I'm just hoping I'll catch on by the time we have our next test. Bible is fine, I haven't gone to Psych this week since we aren't required to now, but I'm a little nervous about that because I need to feel sure of when things are due. Labs are just lecture at this point, which isn't bad.

Anyways, I'm at my parents' house with my wife, who is telling me I should get ready to go presently, so I shall.

Seek ye first...

There are some kinds of people who are a theologian first and Christians second. There are some who are workers first and a Christian second. There are some who are a friend first and Christian second. Such people are genuinely motivated, but they miss the mark terribly. The Bible makes it plain that we are to be a Christian first, and whatever else we are is secondary at best. Any person who "finds identity" in something or someone else outside of Christ and His kingdom will only find confusion and discontentment.

I've seen this play out in the lives of those around me, as well as my own life. One person finds their identity in something besides Christ, but unless they recognize the secondary nature of this "calling," they will centralize that identity and begin to worship it. Once that idol is erected, it is extremely difficult to tear down, especially if it is enshrouded in these genuine but deceptive motivations. Led on by their self-deception, the laws of nature that God instated lead the sheep to the slaughter.

The person who loves money more than anything will seek it to their destruction. The person who idolizes marriage and family will seek it first, and will end up raising unfaithful and misguided Christians. The person who idolizes doctrine will end up making a mockery and a "by-word" of what they believe. The person who idolizes working will fall prey to the Martha superiority complex. Those who view themselves as proponents of global social justice first will associate with like-minded God-haters rather than Christians.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus didn't say it for kicks, for a pretty song, or for advice on how to live to your maximum potential. He said it because it is Truth, it is Light and it is Life, just as all His laws and commands are. And ignoring those laws that He established before time began will only bring pain, anguish, and death of all kinds.

Random update on nothing

So I'm sitting in the living room at my parents' house. We're watching Labyrinth. If you, my dear reader, haven't seen Labyrinth, I would encourage you to do so. It's a unique experience. Kinda like Alice in Wonderland on drugs. As though Alice in Wonderland wasn't cracked out enough.

I'm glad school is done for the week. More school is coming, more things to accomplish, but it's nice to have a break and enjoy everyone's company.

I'm pretty happy with my life now. Imperfect? Of course. But it's good. No complaints here at all.

There was a good quote from earlier, but I can't recall it now. And I knew I'd forget it! Oh well.

Psalm 106.1-5, 47-48 (from the Trinity Psalter)

O praise the LORD! O thank the LORD!
For bountiful is He;
Because His lovingkindness lasts
To all eternity
Who can express Jehovah's praise
Or tell His deeds of might?
O blest are they who justice keep
And ever do the right.

Regard me with the favor, LORD,
Which Thou dost bear to Thine.
O visit Thou my soul in love;
Make Thy salvation mine;
That I may see Thy people's good
And in their joy rejoice,
And may with Thine inheritance
Exult with cheerful voice.

Save us, O LORD, our gracious God,
From heathen lands reclaim,
That we may glory in Thy praise
And thank Thy holy name.
Blest be Jehovah, Israel's God,
Through all eternity.
Let all the people say, "Amen."
Praise to the LORD give ye.