The Year in Review

As I did last year, I find it helpful to reflect upon the good and the bad of 2016.

Minimization

After 2015 focused on minimization, I didn't need to do as much in this area.  I did notice, however, a general spirit in my life now of 'use it or lose it.'  It's a helpful attitude to have, and I continued to minimize (albeit at a slower pace) in 2016.  May it continue!

Personal Spending

I did reasonably well here, using only gift money (or proceeds from game/card sales) for personal spending. That is, until November, when I became infatuated with a 'dead' CCG and spent a few hundred dollars on that.  I must make up for it; my Christmas money went towards minimizing that deficit.  I'm less materialistic than I used to be, but I'm not there yet.

Reading

I met two important goals this year in the books:
- I read down the number of books in my "owned but unread" pile
- I read less

Regarding the first goal: after starting the year at 30 such books, I ended at 5.  As long as the number is less than 10, I'm happy.  I don't want to start piling up things here I'll never get around to doing.

Regarding the second: yes, this sounds odd, but there's only so much time in a day, and reading 80+ books/20,000 pages per year came at the expense of other priorities.  So though I exceeded my 2016 goal (36 books), my numbers are still down from the year prior: 53 books, just over 14,000 pages.  Solid; I'm happy with that amount.  My post here recaps this year's recommendations.

Fitness

My goal was to get to 180 lbs; I failed.  I dropped 5 lbs in the first few months, then gained it back and leveled off the rest of the year- I'm still at 195 lbs. My overall health improved, though, as I worked out a lot more and exceeded my goals in that area:

2014: 51 runs for 104.6 miles, 98 gym workouts
2015: 47 runs for 103.0 miles, 81 gym workouts, 5 soccer games, 5 PT sessions

2016 goal: 80 runs for 150 miles, 100 gym workouts.
2016: 98 runs for 205.8 miles, 115 gym workouts, 4 bike rides

I also did 36 yard work sessions (mowing, raking, weeding, trimming), which definitely counts as exercise.  Unfortunately, I did not stretch more frequently, and that's shown.  I need to work hard on flexibility in 2017.

Nutrition

Ahhh, here's the problem.  I worked out more and didn't lose weight in part because I ate poorly.  I need to eat less sugar and snacks in 2017.

Spiritual

My relationship with the Lord still isn't where it should be. I read the entire Bible this year (well, I listened to it).  This year I want to do more focused, in-depth study.  I didn't make the time for prayer  nearly as consistently as I should; that must improve next year. I didn't get the family into daily devotionals, either- that must change.  On the plus side, we got actively involved in our church community, which was a blessing.

Parenting

This section is a verbatim repeat from last year.  I'm not a great parent. I'm too quick to anger at home- I have to remember that I can't expect my children (ages 6, 4, and 1) to act (or reason) like adults. I also get uneasy when the house is a mess- which is all the time- so I have to dial back the OCD if I have any hope of surviving their childhood. Finally, I don't do a good job cherishing the time, frequently looking away to the future when the current challenges will be overcome. May I remember that current challenges will be replaced with other, possibly harder, ones, so I need to learn to enjoy each stage for what it is. Our kids actually like us now- so may I take advantage of that rather than view it as a burden that they're CONSTANTLY in our faces, even when we're in the bathroom.

Conclusion
This year, I made considerable progress in:
- reading
- working out
- Scripture reading

but fell short in:
- flexibility
- nutrition
- prayer
- family devotionals
- parenting

I'm glad I made certain strides, but 2017 needs to see improvement in many areas.

Thus Concludes 2016

Another enjoyable reading year "in the books." This post recaps the year and presents what I consider the best of the bunch.

According to my spreadsheet, I completed 44 books this year, but read a percentage (10%-80%) of 9 more works. Those 'partials' totaled 1,362 pages read, so I feel obligated to include them- that's a lot of time. So let's make it 53 books read, and those totaled 14,008 pages- about 38 pages a day. That takes less than an hour- it's not nearly as imposing as some think, especially when 2,249 of those pages were listened to on my commute into work.

Of the 53 books, 4 were audiobooks, 2 were eBooks, and 5 came from the library or friends. I rated 23 a solid 'A' or higher, and 2 a 'C' or lower. By category, I read 12 history books, 14 religion, 7 fantasy, 5 literature, 4 Arthurian/Robin Hood, and a smattering of other genres.

Here are my top ten reads from this year:

Glen Paauw: Saving the Bible from Ourselves

T.H. White: The Once and Future King

Bram Stoker: Dracula

David Dark: Life's Too Short to Pretend You're Not Religious

Charles Dickens: Great Expectations
John Frame: Systematic Theology

Robert K. Massie: Nicholas and Alexandra

Barbara Mertz: Temples, Tombs, and Heiroglyphs

Keith Martel: Storied Leadership

Bryan Stevenson: Just Mercy

And three honorable mentions:

Hear the Word ESV Audio Bible [we should read the Bible every year, which is why it normally doesn't appear on my lists- it's a given.  I included it this year because audio bibles vary in quality (mainly due to the narrator's performance), and this was an excellent choice.]

C.S. Lewis: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Susan Wise Bauer: The History of the Medieval World

Happy reading in 2017!

Systematic Theology (John Frame)

John Frame is a noted theologian, prolific author*, and Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida.  He's known for his 4-volume set on the Theology of Lordship among other things.  It's appropriate that he would produce a volume on Systematic Theology, the subject of today's review.  Any quotes here are from that book.

First, what is theology?  It is "a study of God," but Frame argues that we should develop a more precise definition.  In his view, "theology must be essentially a study of Scripture."  Scripture is sufficient, though.  "Why, then, do we need theology in addition to Scripture?"  Frame's answer: "because we need to apply Scripture to life."  Hence his definition: "theology is the application of Scripture, by persons, to every area of life."  For what purpose?  Edification.  It "responds to the needs of the people.  It helps those who have questions about, doubts about, or problems with the Bible."

What is systematic theology?  "Systematic theology seeks to apply Scripture by asking what the whole Bible teaches about any subject."  The Bible is not written systematically; for example, we hear about God's attributes across many books throughout the Old and New Testaments.  We develop a comprehensive understanding about this (or any) topic only through careful study of all such passages in their respective contexts.  In other words, systematic theology helps answer the question "what does the Bible teach about _______?"

Systematic is just one of several kinds of theology.  For example, "exegetical theology is interpreting the Bible verse by verse . . . it aims to help people understand particular passages in Scripture," and historical theology is "a study of the church's past theology, for the sake of its present and future." In Systematic Theology, Frame's focus is on the Bible as a whole; his "chief interest is to state what the Bible says" about a given topic.  His monster (1100+ page) tome is organized in the following sections:

Introduction to Systematic Theology
The Biblical Story

The Doctrine of God

The Doctrine of the Word of God

The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God

The Doctrine of Angels and Demons

The Doctrine of Man

The Doctrine of Christ

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

The Doctrine of the Church

The Doctrine of the Last Things

The Doctrine of the Christian Life

This is an amazing book for these reasons:
- Frame's writing is simple and concise; he has a gift for teaching.
- He can discuss alternative points of view without sounding judgmental or demeaning.
- He focuses on what Scripture says and does not deviate from it, acknowledging where people (even those from within his tradition) have strayed (or at least added things that have no Biblical basis)
- He's not afraid to be uncertain.  God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and there are mysteries in the Bible.  Frame's humble enough to acknowledge areas where we just don't know the full picture.

When I began (way back in August), my goal was to read it cover to cover.  As I read, I learned so much, was humbled and pointed to the Bible, and realized how little I know; all good things.  I particularly appreciated his discussion on the Word of God.  However, I eventually decided to read only portions of greatest interest to me at present.  This is a reference book- it's meaty.  Every page was akin to eating a steak . . . it felt good, but needed time to digest.  I would miss/forget a lot reading it all the way through.  So I took a few months to read 30%, and this will sit on my shelf as a handy reference for future use.  This one is highly recommended.

Rating: A

*some of his works are available for free

Maintenance Complete

image from here

A few weeks ago, I posted that the blog was under renovation.  It's complete!  Well, 99% done, anyway.   You may not notice, but I:

- changed almost all the tags, streamlining them for brevity
      > example: "book review" became "books"
- updated links on 108 posts to point to this new site (I changed the name back in July)
      > note to self: before changing the URL next time, think it all the way through  
- made 22 other changes for consistency and 'quality,' though that latter term should always be used loosely on this site

I now have a better appreciation for what it takes to keep a site consistent, correct, and current.  More hours (and drudgery) than you might think . . . anyway, we're now in reasonable shape heading into 2017.

Wisdom in the Rings, Part 1

The Lord of the Rings movies (reviewed here, here, and here) are among my favorites of all time.  Don't tell anyone . . . but I probably enjoy them more than the books (also excellent, and reviewed here, here, and here).  One reason I enjoy the films so much: it's more than just action and adventure.  Genuine wisdom is pervasive throughout the trilogy; today, I look at wisdom in The Fellowship of the Ring (hereafter, FR), nominally grouped by category.

On Life in General

The Hobbits know that "it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life."  They love the simple things- but most of all, they desire peace.  The Bible speaks of peace hundreds of times.  Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and seeking peace (Psalm 34:14) is commanded.  We could learn a thing or two from that mindset.

On relationships, Bilbo delivers a classic line:

I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

I use this routinely.  I desire to know many better than I do . . . but in my sinful state, I also think less of many people than I ought.

On adventure, Bilbo has another classic:

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.

Later in the film, Frodo responds:

I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else . . . off with you on one of your adventures . . . my own adventure turned out to be quite different.

We're all on an adventure in this world, and it is both dangerous (at times) and tempting to wish we were part of someone else's story.  Our own is worth telling; there is no greener pasture.

On the Nature of Man

"Men," the film tells us, "above all desire power."  Yes, "the hearts of men are easily corrupted."  It's the reason for the trilogy in the first place- a man had the power to destroy the one ring eons ago, and chose instead to keep it for himself.  The ring eventually destroyed him, and its presence allowed evil to remain in the world.  Throughout the films, the fellowship is affected by the corrupting ability of the ring due to their natures.  It's always tempting to give in to evil; Scripture says that none is righteous (Romans 3:9-18) and our temptations are due to this (James 1:13-15).  Yes, FR nails the condition of man.  

We get only hints of Gollum in this film- the one who had the ring for decades as it consumed and destroyed him.  Gollum "hates and loves himself," which is related to our sinful condition.  More on that in parts 2 and 3.

On Unity

To accomplish their quest, the fellowship must be unified.  "You will unite or you will fall," says Elrond as he addresses the fellowship before their departure.  Later in the adventure, when the group is grieved and beset by trouble, Galadriel adds, "hope remains while company is true."  Unity is important in this world- and we see it several times in Scripture (including Philippians 2:2 and 4:2).  We'd do well to remember this today; the temptation is to nationalism and protecting 'us' at the expense of 'them.'  Yet, our best hope moving forward in society lies in mutually beneficial (and sacrificial) relationships.

On Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a theme prevalent throughout the films.  Consider:
- As Frodo is (at one point) ailing, Arwen speaks "what grace is given me, let it pass to him."
- Later, she (an immortal elf) states to her love (a mortal human) that "I would rather share one lifetime with you, then face all the ages of this world alone."
- Boromir speaks of his people's sacrifice: "By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe."
- Frodo sacrifices a life of peace and comfort to carry the ring.  "What must I do?" he asks, adding "I will take the ring to Mordor . . .only, I do not know the way."  There's both courage and humility in this statement- a willingness to do what is necessary for the good of all coupled with acknowledgement that he has no idea how to get the job done.
- Gandalf tells the ring bearer "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."
Sacrifice is a great theme in Scripture, too.  Jesus came to serve and give his life for many (Mark 10:45), we're called to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), we need to look to the interests of others (Philippians 4:2-7), and the greatest love is laying down our life for our friends (John 15:13).  We may be wounded in this process, as Frodo was by a Nazgul ("The wound will never fully heal . . . he will carry it the rest of his life.").  Yet whoever would save their life must lose it (Luke 9:24).

On Mercy & Purpose

It's tempting to look at unfortunate events and think on what might have been in an alternate reality.  Frodo does this below, as he mourns Gollum's tracking of the fellowship.  Gandalf, however, has a different perspective.

FRODO: It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him [Gollum] when he had the chance.
GANDALF:  Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?  . . . Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment...even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
FRODO:  I wish the ring had never come to me...I wish none of this had happened.
GANDALF:  So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.  There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring. In which case, you also were meant to have it...and that is an encouraging thought.

Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13), and God has a purpose for all of us (as with Jeremiah, who God knew before he was in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5).  It's comforting to know that nothing can separate us from His love in Christ (Romans 8:35-39), and who knows whether or not we've come for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)?  Therefore (as Elrond says to the fellowship), "hold to your purpose."  "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."  Let's not forget that God chooses the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).

On Power
"To bear a ring of power is to be alone."  I quoted this in a post on leadership.  Being in any position of power is indeed lonely.  Appreciate your leaders.

Conclusion

The Fellowship of the Ring is probably my favorite Lord of the Rings film, in part for the wisdom summarized above.  If you haven't already, watch it and enjoy these pearls.

Star Wars: Rogue One

This review is spoiler-free, assuming that you've seen a trailer or two.

Last year, Star Wars returned to the big screen with Episode VII (The Force Awakens).  That movie, however, was set decades after Episode VI (Return of the Jedi) and was an "Episode" film- part of the main story arc which (to date) has seven movies, with at least two more to come.  This week, Disney released the first non-Episode film, Rogue One.  Set immediately before Episode IV (A New Hope), this is a side story, featuring all-new characters.  Here, the Empire is building a superweapon- the dreaded Death Star- and a band of rag-tag Rebels works to steal its schematics, hoping to find a weakness and bring hope to a galaxy gripped by fear.  Will they succeed?  Anyone who's seen A New Hope knows they do, as that movie starts with Princess Leia in possession of said plans.  But how they succeed, it turns out, is a tale worth telling.

I liked this movie.  A lot.  The time period takes us back to the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) era, which (for me) is the best and most interesting.  It's fun to meet new characters, and there are some good ones here; the droid and blind monk were my favorites.  The movie was darker/grittier than the originals, which I enjoyed.  There were some delightful 'easter eggs'- pay attention, star wars fans.  There are several surprising twists, which were fun (though some are sad).  And the action- wow.  Epic battles on land (stormtroopers!  Imperial walkers!) and in space (spaceships!) made me want to watch this again and again.  Now, there are some downsides- the pace is super-fast, rushing character/plot development, and the music (not done by John Williams) lacks the power of the Episodes.  But overall, this is a good one.  I need to see this again in the theaters.

Rating: A

The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World (Stephen Nichols)

We rapidly approach 2017, and with it, the 500th anniversary of The Reformation.  In his book of the same name, Stephen Nichols gives a brief overview of the primary personalities, events, and/or movements in select countries and how they shaped Reformation efforts in those areas.  After an introduction to the Reformation and why it matters today, he discusses:

- Martin Luther (Germany)
- Ulrich Zwingli (Switzerland)
- Conrad Grebel and the Anabaptists (Switzerland)
- John Calvin (Switzerland)
- King Henry VIII, the Anglicans, and John Knox (UK)
- The Puritans (England and America)
- Prominent women of the Reformation (multiple countries)

The book was a solid introduction.  Each chapter (sort of) stands alone, so it's not one interwoven narrative.  That's both good and bad- it makes it easy to read selectively, but also felt choppy in places, and it ended abruptly (with no overall conclusion).  It's a favorable treatment to be sure; at times it even felt a little defensive (especially of the Puritans and their beliefs; the author argues that they're misrepresented in current culture).  But it's a quick read (128 pages), and it's good for those wanting an introduction to this seminal event in history.

Rating: A-

Encouraging the Heart (Kouzes & Posner)

In Encouraging the Heart, James Kouzes and Barry Posner offer "a leader's guide to rewarding and recognizing others."  They argue that many today are starved for encouragement/recognition, and
"if you're going to lead people you have to care about them."  In fact, of three basic needs we express and desire- inclusion, control, and affection- the highest-performing managers were ones that expressed and wanted affection.  Yes, "we all really do want to be loved."  So how can we encourage each other?  The authors spent the bulk of the book presenting:

The Seven Essentials of Encouraging
1. Set clear standards
2. Expect the best
3. Pay attention
4. Personalize recognition
5. Tell the story
6. Celebrate together
7. Set the example

The book offered good points but could have been much shorter than its 200 pages.  Most of the above list is pretty intuitive; in fact, the first two chapters (31 pages) summarized things nicely.  Perhaps even a blog post by an amateur writer could suffice here.  Repetition can be a key to learning- but it can also get old fast.  I'll end on a high note- it reinforced that employees want more than anything to be appreciated and feel informed.  It also gave me some points to ponder concerning values and goals, something I personally have a hard time developing/sharing with others:

- "Human beings just don't put their hearts into something they don't believe in."
- "Clarity of personal values is the force that really makes the difference in an individual's level of commitment to an organization."
- "The important function of a goal is to get us moving with purpose and energy."

Rating: B

Splendor

Today's game review is for the 2014 release Splendor.  For 2-4 players, it can be played in 30 minutes.

Overview
You play the role of a merchant who uses gems to acquires resources (development cards).  These in turn allow you to produce more gems to acquire more resources.  Collect the right combination of development cards, and  you'll warrant royal visitors.  Some cards you acquire, and any royal visitors, will carry with them victory points.  Be the first to acquire 15 and you win!

Each resource (development card) in the game has a cost and a output, and some have victory points.
- cost: indicated on the lower left of the card.  The cost will be a certain color and quantity of gems, which you need to pay to acquire that card..
- output: on the upper right of the card.  If you can pay the cost and acquire the card, you then get to use the output one time per turn for all future turns.
- victory points: on the upper left of the card.  If you own that card, you get that many victory points.

For example, look at the image below.  The leftmost card has a cost of 2 blue and 2 red, and yields 1 green.  So if you have two blue and two red gems on your turn, you can pay for the card and put it in front of you.  The next turn (and any thereafter), you can use that card to produce 1 green to pay for other development cards.  Note that some development cards also have victory points.

example development cards; image from here

Simplified Gameplay
There are three development decks, each with development cards that offer higher benefits (for higher cost, of course).  See illustration below for how the decks are laid out; each turn, you perform one of four actions:

- pick up 3 gems of different colors
- pick up 2 gems of the same color
- reserve a card and pick up a gold coin

reserving a card means to keep it face-down in front of you; it allows you to buy it later (if you want) and prevents others from doing so.  The gold coin is a 'wild card' and can be used as any color of gem when paying for a development card.

- buy a card (either on the table or in your reserve) and put it on the table in front of you

Whenever you buy or reserve a card, put another card (from the corresponding development deck) onto the field.

At the end of your turn, if you've amassed enough development cards (with gems of the right colors/quantity) to meet a noble, that noble permanently visits you and adds his/her victory points to your total.  The nobles are at the top of the example below.  For example, if you collect 4 cards with a brown jewel output and 4 cards with a red jewel output, you'll get a visit from Henry VIII and earn 3 victory points.

the layout- image from here

After your turn, the clockwise player takes his turn.  The game ends when one player has 15 victory points.  The full rules are here.

Review
This is a solid, fun game.  It's easy to learn (the rulebook is so short!) but hard to master, and the replayability is high.  It may seem to start slowly, but it accelerates rapidly, and a game can be over before you know it.  It reminds me of a simplified combination of Dominion and Ticket to Ride (thanks to a friend for that insight; he's spot on).  This one is recommended.

Rating: A

The Confessions of Our Faith

As a member of a reformed Presbyterian church, I agree in large part with documents called the Westminster Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism, and The Shorter Catechism.  These documents are summaries of (but subordinate to) the Bible.  Today's book review, The Confessions of Our Faith, presents these three documents with 1500 Scriptural proof texts for the statements therein, as well as a short historical introduction.  But let's take a step back and learn the background of these documents.

Background
In 1643, the Puritan English parliament (amidst Civil War with the crown) "organized an assembly of ministers (or "divines") to create standards for a Church of England that would be reformed in worship, government, and doctrine."  Five years later, they would complete their task and produce "five great documents of theological orthodoxy and ecclesiastical stability for the church in England, Ireland, and Scotland."  These were:

• The Directory for Public Worship
• The Form of Church Government
• The Westminster Confession of Faith
• In 33 chapters, this summarizes "what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man."
• The Larger Catechism
• A summary of doctrine presented in question and answer format.  It is "more exact and comprehensive" than the Shorter Catechism.
• The Shorter Catechism
• A summary of doctrine presented in question and answer format.  It is "more easy and short" than the Larger Catechism.

Are creeds valuable?
Some people disagree with confessions or creeds of any kind.  I understand the sentiment but disagree: as Scripture is not systematically presented, it can be hard (or impossible) to concisely answer important questions about what we believe.  Therefore, I think producing a confession or creed based on Scripture is a good idea.  It can be dangerous, of course- brevity can produce erroneous or dangerous generalizations, and the authors can always get it wrong on a given topic.  Nevertheless, a creed can be helpful to convey the essence concisely, and is useful for both Christians and nonbelievers.  That's why these documents were produced in the first place- they are "a summary of the central truths of the faith, a summary that we can hold in our hands and retain in its essence in our minds . . ."  Done well and properly based in Scripture, "they provide a wonderful framework for the understanding and articulation of the message of the Bible."  Again, these do not (and should not) replace the Bible, but they are a handy reference to summarize what the Bible says about a number of key topics.

Review
I must say, I'm impressed.  This is an excellent resource covering the basics of reformed Christianity.  It's evident that each statement was carefully crafted; each word drips with meaning.  Sentences can be long and meaty, so it can take time to work your way through a given thought.  Nevertheless, anyone interested in learning the basics of reformed faith would do well to read these.  Of course, there are many Christians who may disagree with various statements, and as I said at the beginning, these texts are subordinate to Scripture- but they are worth your time.  If you're interested, these three documents are available online.  If you read only one, go with The Shorter Catechism.

• The Westminster Confession of Faith
• The Larger Catechism
• The Shorter Catechism

Rating: A

Pardon the Renovation

image from here

Good morning,

Please pardon the website renovation.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be updating tags and links to streamline the user experience.  No content will be removed during this time; it may be harder to find, however.  The search bar (upper left) is your friend!

Sincerely,

Management

The Oregon Trail Card Game

As an '80s kid, one of my earliest PC memories was the video game The Oregon Trail.  In this game, prevalent in elementary schools of the era, you led a wagon group, bought supplies, and headed west.  Your party's goal was to take the famous trail from Missouri to Oregon.  Along the way, many pitfalls could ensnare you- disease, famine, mechanical trouble . . . you name it.  It was hard to win (most or all of your party generally died, sometimes in amusing ways) but fun to play.  Recently, they released a card game of the same name.  It makes every attempt to capture the spirit of the original- from 8-bit graphics to the varied (and still amusing) modes of death.  Let's see how it plays.

Overview
In The Oregon Trail Card Game, your goal is to get from Missouri to Oregon.  You and 1-5 other players start by drawing 5 trail cards and a number of supply cards (the number of these depends on how many are playing).  You then take turns laying trail cards, ensuring that the green trail aligns with the previously laid track (the below illustration gives you the idea).  Certain trail cards can do things like:

• Make you ford a river (roll a die; if even, proceed.  If odd, discard a supply card).
• Make you draw a calamity card and do as instructed on it.  Generally these are bad- things like giving a party member dysentery, suffering a wagon breakdown, having a thief steal supplies, or making one of the group enter politics (just kidding on that last one).

If you can ford the rivers and overcome the calamities, there's a chance you can re-stock (at a fort or town) and continue your journey.  Can at least one of the party make it all the way (symbolized by completing 50 trail cards)?  If so, you all win.  But chances are better that you'll all die.

the game contents

Simplified Gameplay
Each turn, a player must:
- Play a trail OR supply card if they can.

• Trail cards may specify you draw a calamity card or roll a die to attempt fording a river, as discussed above.
• Supply cards are generally played in response to a calamity, which will specify which type of supply is necessary (if any) to overcome and continue.  You can play a supply card to help another party member.

- If a player cannot play a supply card AND has no suitable trail cards (meaning they don't have a card that aligns with the current trail), they must draw a trail card instead.

examples of calamities

- After playing or drawing a card, the player's turn ends, and play proceeds clockwise (I think . . . it doesn't really matter which direction) until everyone has reached Oregon (by playing 50 trail cards) or died.


Review
This game had potential but is poorly done.  The rules are confusing and the randomized trail deck means that it's possible to encounter no towns or forts early, making it nearly impossible to win.  In fact, I wonder if it's possible to win at all.  I played two games; both were over within minutes, with the same morbid result.  It was good for a quick laugh and recalling a fond memory of my youth . . . but this won't see further play at my house unless I can make some house rules to increase the odds of victory.

UPDATE
I played again with the following 'house rules':

1. Players can reveal their supply and trail cards to each other at any time
2. When at a town or fort, each player can draw supply cards (not just the player who played the town or fort)
3. When fording a river, the player who played the trail card rolls the die.  On even, play continues.  On odd, the player discards a supply card and play continues (meaning successive players don't have to keep rolling until an even is rolled)

These house rules made the game more palatable.  It's still not great- mostly good for a chuckle before you move on to more interesting fare- but the odds of winning (for a 2-player game, anyway) go up substantially (though still a longshot).

Rating: C

Taliesin (Stephen Lawhead)

Having mildly enjoyed his trilogy on Robin Hood (Hood, Scarlet, and Tuck), I was interested to see how Stephen Lawhead would tell the story of King Arthur.  Taliesin is book one of the Pendragon Cycle, his six-book spin on the legend.  Here, Charis (a princess from Atlantis) meets Taliesin (a British druid of interesting origin) and their eventual union produces "Myrddin"- or Merlin, as we know him.

Despite some promise, I couldn't get through this.  The overall plot seemed okay, and Lawhead also makes some attempt to be historical, which I like.  There were some interesting elements- incorporating Atlantis into the legend, for example- but these things didn't compensate for the shortfalls: the writing wasn't great, the character development rushed, and it's just not compelling.  After reading 14%, I put it down.  If you're an Arthur nut, go for this.  If not, move on.

Rating: B-

Hotel Valhalla (Rick Riordan)

Rick Riordan is an accomplished author of several book series, often based on differnt mythologies (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse).  His most famous hero is Percy Jackson, but his most recent works feature Magnus Chase and Norse mythology.  Hotel Valhalla is a companion book to this series.

In Hotel Valhalla, we're given a guide to the Norse mythological universe.  We learn about the Yggdrasil and the nine worlds it holds, the main gods and goddesses (like Odin, Thor and Loki), races (like giants and elves), creatures of interest, some history, and other things relevant to the universe.  It's written in a fun style- as a guidebook placed in each room of Hotel Valhalla, to acquaint the guests with things they might see or experience in the region.

I've never read Riordan's other stuff, but the subtitle ('guide to the norse worlds') caught my eye, so I picked up the audiobook.  It was short (just 2 discs or 176 pages), but I loved it.  Riordan writes well: his account is humorous, concise, informative, and compelling.  There are probably more complete guides to Norse mythology out there, but this is very well done and makes me want to read more of his books.  The only caveat: he mentions characters that appear in his works, so I'm sure there were references I didn't catch or understand.  But even then I was able to enjoy it, and you will be, too.

Rating: A

The Once and Future King (T.H. White)

The Once and Future King is the story of King Arthur as wonderfully told by T.H. White.  Originally produced in four parts, this collects all in one volume, and I discuss each separately before reflecting on the entire work.

Book 1: The Sword and the Stone
Life is not bad for 'the Wart,' a boy living with Sir Ector and his son, Kay, in the Castle of Forest Sauvage, but things definitely get more interesting when Merlyn arrives to be his tutor.  Merlyn is a wizard living backwards in time, and he educates Wart by turning him into various animals to help him learn life lessons through a different lens.  Through this and other means, Wart learns perspective, empathy, community, compassion, stewardship, and other qualities that will prove necessary for his destiny.

Over the years, Wart will also have adventures with people like King Pellinore (ever chasing the elusive Questing Beast) and the Saxon Robin Wood (or is it Hood?).  But the most unexpected is saved for last: King Uther Pendragon has died, and a tournament held in his honor has Wart and company visiting London.  When Kay forgets his sword, Wart grows desperate and obtains a sword from an anvil in a Churchyard.  What Wart doesn't know is this feat- which no other can manage- signifies that he is the son of King Uther and therefore, king.  So begins the reign of King Arthur.

Book 2: The Queen of Air and Darkness
This is the book of growth- both Arthur's as king and the Orkney faction (King Lot's wife and sons) as opponents.  Throughout young Arthur's reign, the Gaelic kings have been against him and his Gallic rule (Arthur is a Norman).  This is due to an unfortunate (and somewhat complicated) family tree involving enchantment and deception (see below).  The bottom line: Morgause will use magic against the boy King . . . which will eventually bring about his his downfall.

This book also highlights Arthur's coming of age in understanding how a good king should rule.  He wants to "harness Might so it works for Right" and so turn bad into good.  Yes, for Arthur "Might is only to be used for Right."  "I don't think things ought to be done because you are able to do them.  I think they should be done because you ought to do them."  He creates the Order of the Round Table to channel might into use for right.  Will he succeed?

Book 3: The Ill-Made Knight
This book focuses on Lancelot, the "ill-made knight," and specifically his (adulterous) relationship with Queen Guenever.  Spending "half his life torturing himself by trying to discover what was right so as to conquer his inclination towards what was wrong," Lancelot embarks on quests "to save his honour, not to establish it."  He's trying to escape from Guenever and the temptation she presents.

Lancelot is complicated.  "He loved Arthur and he loved Guenever and he hated himself . . . there was shame and self-loathing."  Eventually, he is deceived into sinning with another woman, and that triggers his downfall.  "He was a lie now, in God's eyes as he saw them, so he felt that he might as well be a lie in earnest."  So begins his relationship with the Queen.

Elsewhere, Arthur's Round Table has turned into sportsmanship.  His attempts to harness might for right worked for a time . . . but now things are coming undone.  The knights are essentially making mischief, and now Arthur comes to realize that using might for anything (good or bad) may have been a mistake- perhaps doing away with might altogether is called for, so Arthur thinks about developing law.  As he contemplates these things, he sends the knights out on one last quest, for the Holy Grail- a quest that will cost many their lives.

Book 4: The Candle in the Wind
The age of Arthur is in twilight.  Mordred plots the downfall of his father by using Lancelot and Guenever's sin coupled with Arthur's desires for a just society.  As Arthur realizes time is short, he contemplates this life, his goals in it, and the nature of conflict.  He assumed men were decent . . . was he wrong?

Review

The Once and Future King is a wonderful book, full of laughter, sorrow, and wisdom.  The first book is the most light-hearted- indeed, I thought it a 'serious parody' of sorts.  Things get progressively more somber in tone as the tragedy of Arthur appears on the horizon- but whether you're laughing or crying, there is value here.  The third book in particular is gold: Lancelot is a tortured soul, and seeing him come to the end of himself and reliance on works is humbling.  Other observations:
- the pace was uneven at times: there are spots that seemed rushed or drawn out
- White assumes his readers are familiar with Malory's Arthurian tale
- Historically, White places Arthur in the 12th century, over 600 years after Arthur would have lived, and contemporary with Robin Hood (who would have lived much later than Arthur).

Rating: A+

Debate in the Digital Age

image from here

The (unexpected) election of Donald Trump has come with an explosion of (quite expected) post-election emotion.  Whether outraged or overjoyed, many have used social media to express themselves or start debates . . . and it seldom ends well.  I had a traumatic experience in this vein a few months ago; let me share what I learned.

The Situation
Four months ago, I returned from a special event to find in my inbox an email that irritated me.  It was from a long-time friend who took issue with something I had done.  He had been finding fault with lots of things (and people) over the prior months, and this email was the last straw; I had had enough.  In a way that (I thought) was loving, I told him that we needed to talk, but expressed my frustration with his behavior.  He agreed to meet, and I should have met immediately . . . but I didn't.  Instead, I spent a long time crafting a response over email, and sent that after much thought.  Thus began a war.

We exchanged emails over the weeks to come, and it wasn't pretty.  We both poured a lot of time (days) into each response, so there were no rash words.  [In fact, that's what I like about email: it provides a chance to reflect and amend initial reactions rather than respond in the heat of the moment.]  Nevertheless, it was clear we weren't understanding each other, and the problem kept compounding.  The stress of the situation was taking its toll on me: I began to lose both sleep and weight.  Why didn't he understand my position?  I wasn't being mean . . . why didn't he see that?  Finally, I could bear it no longer: I acknowledged my error in conducting a discussion over email.  We met in person shortly thereafter, and though the meeting didn't exactly end in agreement or reconciliation, it was tremendously helpful.  One of my big lessons from this experience?  The words weren't wrong- the delivery mechanism was.

The Trouble of Text
In today's age, we increasingly communicate using nonverbal means- social media, email, or texting (see here for an example on teen usage).  That presents a problem, as it deprives us of the full communication experience.  An oft-discussed study conducted decades ago (see here) concluded that there are three aspects to communication:

• Words (what you say)
• Tone (how you say it)
• Body Language

The author of that study claimed our words conveyed only 7% of the meaning, our tone 38%, and the body language 55%.  Though some disagree with the ratios (see counterpoint here) or argue that this applies only to very specific conditions (see here), the point is that communication involves much more than what you say.  I learned that firsthand in debating my friend over email.

Since emails don't convey tone or body language, he was not receiving the message I intended.  And I was not receiving his- in fact, I was horrified by some of his words.  Since I imputed a hostile tone to text I viewed as harsh, it compounded my anxiety and made things much worse.  When we met in person, we were both cordial . . . and though we disagreed, we were able to have a successful discussion.  Face-to-face worked when email did not.

Recommendation
It's important in this divisive time to dialogue.  A lot.  The past week has shocked much of America, and people need to discuss and digest.  But for me, a lesson I've now had seared into my mind is to avoid such discussions online, be it in forums, facebook, or email.  It's like handicapping both parties, and the outcome isn't likely to be helpful.  For the reasons I mentioned, plus the relative anonymity of the Internet and the behavior it emboldens, it's just not a good idea.  So organize a meeting, call a town hall, or schedule something . . . but do it in-person, and 'let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' (Colossians 4:6)

Arthur & the Gospel

N.C. Wyeth's illustration of King Arthur

Below is a rough transcription of a talk I gave today about King Arthur and why he matters.  The presentation was limited to 5 minutes and 5 powerpoint slides; it was a fun challenge.


Introduction

King Arthur is important to understand because he's had a significant influence in western culture for over a thousand years- so let's learn more about him.


History

Was there ever a historical Arthur?  A real person?  We don't know.  The historical record is scarce, and so we're forced to deal in the realm of probability.  It seems likely that an Arthur was active between 480 and 540 AD in southwest Britain (in the region of Cornwall and Wales), and that he was a warlord fighting off incoming waves of Anglo-Saxons who were taking over the island in the decades following the collapse of the western Roman Empire.  That's about all we know.  Nevertheless, there are many sites in the region that happily (and profitably) associate themselves with Arthur.  The two most common are Tintagel Castle and Glastonbury Abbey, but there are many others, and in 1290, King Edward I was so enamored with Arthur that he had a round table made for use at his castle in Winchester- and a tudor-era replica of that hangs on the wall of the ruin to this day.  This begs the question: why would a man about whom so little is known historically be so influential culturally?  That answer lies in literature.

Literature

We first hear of Arthur in the chronicles.  Nennius mentions him around 800 AD, but we get our first real detail from Geoffrey of Monmouth 300 years later.  Now, chronicles were histories of sorts, but the writers of the day didn't hesitate to incorporate legend, hearsay, and even personal whim into their accounts.  So we can't use them as a basis for a historical Arthur; nevertheless, they formed the foundation.

After the chronicles, Arthur transitions to romance with Chrétien de Troye's Four Arthurian Romances.  This is where Arthur's popularity skyrockets, and he would remain at the top for centuries.  Authors of subsequent ages would write new tales using de Troye's universe and characters, and in 1485 Thomas Malory collected the most popular tales, added his own flavor, and produced Le Morte d'Arthur, the death of Arthur, which remains the most popular and definitive account written.  Chances are good that if you know any Arthur tales, you know Malory's version (or a close derivative of it).  Authors continue to write stories to this day, but the three most important in the formation of the legend are those mentioned.

Religion

So what does this have to do with religion?  Well, "stories reflect the values and concerns of the age in which they were written."*  Arthurian stories were penned in an overtly Christian society and deal with an ideal kingdom (and ruler).  When we consider these things, we realize that Arthur stories are a window into Medieval man's mind on how they thought the gospel should be applied in their daily lives.  We see the pursuit of virtue and the reality of failure- it's all there.  But what's fascinating, when we take a step back, is when we realize that their interpretation of the gospel differs markedly from our own.  They emphasize different things or omit things altogether that we hold dear today.  This, in turn, begs the question: is it right that man's interpretation of the gospel changes from age to age?  Why does it happen?  Do we have it all correct today . . . or is there value in ancient perspectives?  I don't have the answers, but the questions bear asking.

Reading Recommendations

If you're interested in Arthurian studies, there's one concise place to turn: the Oxford Guide to Arthurian literature and legend.  If you want story, I recommend Rosemary Sutcliff's Arthur Trilogy.  It's well-written, appropriate for all ages, and follows Malory quite closely.  From there you can branch out to deviations from the classic version- things like T.H. White's excellent Once and Future King, to Bernard Cornwell's historical fantasy trilogy, to Kevin Crossley-Holland's historical fiction works.  Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the tales of Arthur, King of the Britons.

* from the Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend

Doctor Strange

Stubborn, arrogant, and ambitious (yet renowned) neurosurgeon Stephen Strange has his world turned upside-down when a car accident leaves his hands in a condition unsuitable for his profession.  Desperate after traditional medicine fails, he heads to the far east for answers. Led to the Ancient One, master of the mystic arts, he learns just how little he knows . . . and his training not only gives him great power but exposes him to multiple planes of reality.  He discovers a terrible threat to Earth, and must decide: should his powers be used for personal benefit or for the good of all?

This movie presents several messages to contemplate (see next paragraph).  The visuals are stunning, the acting is (mostly) good, and the plot is decent, if rushed or confusing in places.  The humor and dialogue are okay (but seemed forced or cheesy at times).  In summary, it's part good, part complicated . . . and part strange.

There are a few themes in this movie that bear discussing:
- The first is selfishness.  Strange claims to be motivated in medicine to 'help others,' but his teacher recognizes his heart: he's in it only to help himself.  He's motivated by his performance; his identity is in his trade.  The Ancient One's greatest lesson to him: "It's not about you."
- Another is the nature of this life.  Is the universe simply material and (therefore) indifferent?  What gives life meaning?  People long for the eternal and recognize that the world is not what it ought to be.  We also see only in part . . . there's so much out there we don't know or even recognize.
- Another is power and control.  "Power is for a purpose," claims a protagonist at one point- and that purpose is not to benefit self, but serve others.  In addition, we have a delusion of control . . . but to be truly free, we must surrender control and silence our ego.  "We never lose our demons . . .we only learn to live above them."

There are some great thoughts in the above, and though mysticism is present, I see the gospel, too.  Check this one out.

Rating: A-

Election Time

image from here

This post is for my children.

Kids, today mommy and daddy vote for our next President.  In America, we (effectively) have a two-party system, meaning one of the two main candidates will almost certainly win.  This election's choices, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, are largely despised and distrusted, respectively.  Thus, many people feel this is a 'lesser of two evils' election, whereby you choose the candidate you dislike less, rather than one you like.  A wave of breathtaking rationalizations have resulted from this mindset, and the hardest part (for us) is watching it all unfold.  But let's take this back to the basics and see what we can determine.

What do we need a leader to do?
Here I quote heavily from Storied Leadership and my review of it.  We know what a leader is to do based on what the Bible says about us and the world.  The Christian Gospel can be summarized as 'Creation, Fall, Redemption;'  in a nutshell, "perfection distorted and restored."  This story is the foundation from which leadership happens.  Specifically, from the Creation mandate (Genesis 1:28) and Jesus' teaching (Matthew 20:25-28), leaders are to be loving lords.  We rule over creation, but with a servant mentality.

The loving lord is the one who protects the limits and draws out the possibilities.  She is able to consider the potential of her subject and nurture it toward maturity.  The loving lord leads the created order into the way it is meant to be . . . loving lordship seeks to bring out the fullness of something for the common good and for the benefit of the thing itself.

Said another way, "We are called to lead the nascent creation from potentiality into actuality."  To
"Guard and till.  Preserve and cultivate."  But it's not just about this.  Because of the Fall, "All has been distorted."  Thus, "Our role as image bearers is also the work of reconciliation."  That can mean we're called to fix in addition to creating.  So, we are called to be "cultivators and restorers."

Ultimately, we "define leadership as a collaborative effort that influences positive purposeful changes."  The goal of leaders is to make "the world more like the Kingdom as God intended it to be."  Things will never be perfect, but we should be neither cynics (who ignore the restorative work of God) nor naïve optimists (who ignore the Fall).  So leaders do what they can.


Thoughts for voting as a Christian

Are any candidates today in line with what we need a leader to do?  The dilemma is that no candidate (or party) fully aligns with the Gospel.  People generally vote based on both platform (of the party) and character (of the candidate).  Both platforms and character are in question here:
- Each party's platforms contains some beliefs that align with what is right, and some that oppose it.
- The character of each main candidate is in question.
How should we then vote?  I won't give you an answer, but will provide some thoughts.

Abhor what is evil
The "lesser of two evils" mindset is flawed.  We should never choose evil, nor be overcome by it, but overcome evil with good (see Romans 12:9-21).  If you think a candidate is evil, don't vote for him or her.  Period.

Be consistent
When deciding, hold candidates to the same standard and do not show partiality for any reason (see Romans 2:6-11 or James 2:1-9).  Too often, people excuse the words and actions of their own party members and condemn 'outsiders.'  Don't fall into this trap.

Be realistic
There are no perfect candidates because there are no perfect people- everyone sins (see Romans 3:10-11), and our leaders are no different.  But there are good and bad rulers (see Proverbs 29:2).  Thinking through what was presented above, think about which candidate(s) are the most likely to nurture, cultivate, and reconcile the nation.

Beware false prophets
Some are easily led astray by words.  Remember that people (including even political candidates) are recognized by their fruits- not by their words.  Some who claim to align themselves with the Gospel may be far from it (see Matthew 7:15-23).

These thoughts may lead you to a third party candidate- one which will almost certainly lose.  But so what?  Our hope is in the Lord, not the President (see Psalm 130:7).  We shouldn't compromise our beliefs or go against our conscience (see Acts 24:16).

I'll end with this.  Regardless of today's outcome, we should . . .

1. Submit to (and pray for) the government
• Unless we are prohibited from doing right or compelled to do wrong, we should submit to earthly authority and pray for them, hoping for a peaceful and quiet life (see 1 Peter 2:13-17 and 1 Timothy 1-2).
2. Remember that the Lord is in control
• God is sovereign; nothing can happen outside of His control.  Christ is preeminent (see Colossians 1:15-17); our God does what He pleases (see Psalm 115:2-3).  Even kings obey (see Proverbs 21:1).
• I think we sometimes put too much faith in the state.  Ever since Constantine, Church and state have been intertwined to varying degrees, and some (like Susan Wise Bauer in The History of the Medieval World*) argue that this has caused problems for both.  I see it here in America: some think that victory for a certain candidate will spell doom for us.  I think we have perhaps unreasonable expectations about the role of the state.  

*see chapter 1 of that book

Robber Knights

Today's game review is for the 2005 release, Robber Knights.  For 2-4 players, it can be played in 45 minutes.

Overview
In Robber Knights, your goal is to gain control over the villages, towns, and castles of the land.  Each player starts with 24 landscape tiles and 30 knight tokens which he or she must use to maximum advantage as turns progress.

Landscape tiles
There are two basic kinds of landscapes:
- Those without buildings: lake, mountains, plain
- Those with buildings: plain, forest
A building can be a village, castle, or town.

Knight tokens
Knight tokens deploy only from castle tiles and sweep across the countryside to stake their claims on the land.  At the end of the game, victory points are granted for each building your knights occupy (1 per castle, 2 per village, 3 per town).  But others can gain control of your spaces if you let them . . . so use your knights wisely!


Simplified Gameplay
Each player has 4 landscape tiles in his or her hand to start (their remaining tiles are shuffled as prescribed in the rules and placed in a pile).  Each player places 2 tiles face down and adjacent to the other players' tiles to form the rectangular starting layout (the other 2 are kept in each player's hand).  All starting tiles are turned face up, the oldest player starts, and the game begins.

On his or her turn, a player:

• adds 1 tile to the layout (adjacent to existing tiles and within certain limits as prescribed in the rules)
• if it is a castle tile, he/she can place up to 5 knights on it and immediately move them (see below for movement rules)
• draws 1 tile from his/her pile

A player may perform the above steps 1-3 times on his or her turn; play then progresses clockwise.

Movement rules
When knights are deployed on a castle tile, they immediately move away from the castle in a straight line in one direction (no diagonals, skipping tiles, or changing direction is permitted).  As they move, a minimum number of knights must be left behind on each tile, according to the type of landscape:

• plain tile: 1 knight
• forest tile: 2 knights
• mountain tile: 3 knights
• lake tile: impassable

Knights can only enter a tile if sufficient knights remain to be left on it (so if you have 1 knight left, you can't enter a forest or mountain).  There can never be more than 4 knights left on any one tile (if moving to a tile would break this rule, the tile cannot be entered).  If you enter a tile which already has knights on it (but less than the total permitted), you can place your own knight(s) on top of the existing ones to gain control of the tile.  Only the topmost knight has control at the end of the game.

a game in progress; image from here

another game; image from here

When all players are out of tiles, each player tallies his/her victory points based on which tiles his/her knights control (see Overview section for point system).  The player with the most points wins!

Review
This game is okay.  I've played it only once, and it has potential, but seems like more of a simple puzzle than a strategic game.  The rules are poorly written, and online support is nonexistent compared to similar games.  There may be better out there.

Rating: B-

The Castle (Franz Kafka)

K is a surveyor, called to the castle to perform his trade.  Arriving at the surrounding village, he's bewildered by what unfolds.  He runs into obstacle after obstacle as he attempts to reach the person who summoned him for the work.  People are unhelpful (and unconcerned), paths are confusing, and his pleas through multiple outlets go unanswered.  Will he ever get to the castle?  Or will he

This one is weird, folks.  Really weird.  SPOILER: K never gets to the castle, the novel ends with an unfinished sentence (see what I did above?), and we never learn the point.  This so bewildered me that I put it down after reading 10%.  Some say it's about theology and man being unable to approach the Almighty; some say the web of bureaucracy; others say it's simply a stunning illustration of the loneliness we all feel.  I'm not sure, and I see some value in these veins.  But perhaps a short story would have been better.  A summary, themes, and review are available if you want to pursue this.  But I recommend you don't.

Rating: C-