While wading through coverage for the announcement about the possible discovery of the Higgs particle, I decided to do a little background research. I hopped over to wikipedia and read this description of the Higgs mechanism:

In particle physics, the Higgs mechanism is the process in which gauge bosons in a gauge theory can acquire non-vanishing masses through absorption of Nambu-Goldstone bosons arising in spontaneous symmetry breaking.

Oh yes. Gauge bosons and Nambu-Goldstone bosons. Of course. Got it. I then started to read about QCD (Quantum Chromodynamics), and a number of other theories that are really quite meaningless to me. As I went through this exercise, an old idea was reinforced:

Nothing is as simple as it looks.

There are many days in my classroom when I struggle, because my students make assertions about Christian theology that are very simple. (NB: There is a difference between “simple” and “incorrect.”) Because I have spent a fair amount of time thinking about and researching that particular issue, I often see a greater level of complexity.

To me, this is the beauty of theology. Though we slap the -ology suffix on it and call it a field of knowledge, we cannot deny the element of mystery. As we delve deeper and deeper into it, we might be met with answers, but we always find more questions.

For a few hours I had a post up called “Donald Miller is an Idiot” a response to his recent blog post entitled “Should the Church Be Led by Teachers and Scholars?” After some thoughtful reconsideration, I’ve decided that the post was too strongly worded. I take issue with Miller’s understanding of what a “scholar” and a “teacher” is. Quite frankly, I just don’t think that he could be more incorrect in his analysis of the church in this post.

But, I want to get to a broader point. There seems to be a dichotomy that is being promulgated by many: Christian Thought vs. Christian Experience. This dichotomy is absolutely false.

The reality is that Christian Thought does not preclude Christian Experience; nor does Christian Experience trump Christian Through. Rather, the two work hand-in-hand. At the beginning of Book 4 of Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis does an excellent job of explaining the usefulness of theology. This is how he chooses to introduces a series of chapters on the Trinity. He admits that it is always better to experience God rather than just read about him, just as it is always better to be at the beach than to look at a picture of one. However, sometimes we need to be reminded of what the beach is, and that’s why it’s good to have a painting or two.

In my experience, I have seen Christians climb to the mountaintop and fall deep into the valley. When we are in the valley, we tend to despair, and we even come to a point where we deny what we previously knew to be true. If we fail to understand and learn who God is and who we are in relation to him, then the climb up out of the valley becomes nearly impossible because there is nothing to stop us from denying him altogether.

There is a great need for scholars in Christian churches. There is a great need for teachers in Christian churches. There is a great need for teaching and learning and discussion in Christian churches.

Finally, I’d like to challenge Donald Miller a bit. What does he hope to do when he writes books and speaks at conferences? Is he not teaching? A picture from his website (seen below) looks conspicuously like the sort of thing he condemns in his blog post. A word to all those teachers out there: James 3.1.

Donald Miller seems to be teaching...

On March 19th my son, Gus Howard Hebert, was born. Thanks for all of your well-wishes and congratulations. (Above is a photo of the little booger.)

My wife, Natalie, and I have been adjusting to our new family life. For almost nine years we have lived happily married and on our own. A year ago we acquired our dog, Maeby, and now we have a full-fledged family with a brand new little baby. In the last year we’ve gone from freewheeling to responsibility-laden.

These new events have led me to think more carefully about my role as husband. Natalie and I try to live by Jesus’ two commands found in Matthew 22.37–40:

1. Love God.
2. Love others.

We always talk about how we consider our spouse to be our “first other”; when it comes to loving others, the first person on my list should be Natalie. Even with the dog and the baby, I don’t think this has changed. Natalie is still my primary responsibility. If I’m loving God and loving her, then my love for little Gus (and Maeby!) will take care of itself; our love will spill over and nourish him.

I don’t know what marriage with children really looks like. But I do know that this is my primary duty:

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” (Eph. 5.25)

Outside of a few tweets and delicious bookmarks, I’ve been pretty absent for a couple of months. Let me give you the lowdown on that; here’s what I’ve been up to:

(1) Travel. I have over a month’s worth of time on the road in New York, Colorado, and Africa. I’m back now.

(2) Theological Reflection. I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking deeply and reading widely about some issues that have bothered me. I imagine that in the coming months you’ll see some posts that explore some of these issues. Here’s a teaser: sola scriptura, hermeneutics from a Christian perspective (e.g., denying the religionsgeschichtlicheschule), Karl Barth, Augustine, mysticism, biblical literalism and idolatry, etc.

(3) Prayer. A lot is going on for my wife and I right now and we are thinking about what God has in store for us next. Part of that pertains to this blog — what direction do I want the Fig to go?

(4) Planning. I’m teaching two new classes this Fall, and I don’t feel like I’m ready for them at all.

OK. Consider yourself updated!

During a report titled “Aid Begins to Work Its Way Into Haiti” last Thursday, January 14th, NPR’s Jason Beaubien lost composure while describing a little girl that he was watching as she awaited medical attention. Here’s the excerpt from the official transcript of Beaubien’s conversation with Melissa Block of All Things Considered:

BLOCK: NPR’s Jason Beaubien joins us from Port-au-Prince. Jason, describe where you are right now, please, and what you’re seeing.

JASON BEAUBIEN: Right now I’m outside the Villa Creole Hotel, which is in the Petionville neighborhood – an elite neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. And it’s really quite amazing, people have brought their injured children out front here because they know that there are medical – Western medical doctors staying inside. So, people have come here to try to get attention for – mainly for their children. There’s a girl – I’m sorry. There’s a girl right in front of me at the moment. She’s covered in bandages. She’s laying on just some – what are they – they’re from the deck chairs that would be by the pool. She’s naked except for what looks like a tablecloth on top of her. And she keeps lifting her head and her lips are shaking.

(Soundbite of crowd)

BEAUBIEN: Sorry, Melissa.

BLOCK: That’s okay.

BEAUBIEN: It’s heartbreaking what’s happening here. And there are people just in the streets everywhere. When you drive through, there are tent cities that have been sort of set up just in little lots. People are clearly just living wherever they can.

BLOCK: Jason, the girl you just described, is she getting any medical attention there?

BEAUBIEN: She clearly has gotten some medical attention because there are fresh bandages on her. And there are other people who are getting medical attention. But the numbers are just so huge that there are people who are waiting for attention. There’s clearly the expectation that there are people who are still trapped in some of these buildings.

BLOCK: Does the girl have any family there with her, do you know?

BEAUBIEN: I assume that she has family here, but it’s really quite striking. She’s lying out in what would just normally be the driveway and there’s no one around her.

The following day on All Things Considered, the hosts read mail from listeners commenting on Beaubien’s report. Some wrote in to say how unprofessional Beaubien was. A reporter should never lose composure, but should remain objective and not get involved in the story. By losing composure, Beaubien had become an embarrassment to the field of journalism.

I suppose the people that wrote this are Vulcans or something. The censure reserved for Beaubien by these emotionless people surprised me. Go to the link above and listen to Beaubien as he describes the little girl’s quivering lip. How can you listen to that and then get upset with Beaubien’s inability to hold it together?

My reaction to his report was quite different than this Vulcan reaction. It came in two waves:

1. A Recognition of the Human Situation. Up to this point, the tragedy in Haiti had been little more than words to me. I have not really looked at images of the devastation, nor have I seen video. Instead, I’ve just heard radio reports. This was the first time that I really felt something, the first time that I was really touched. While Beaubien’s broken voice dripped with pathos, I began to understand exactly what was going on here. This was not Geraldo at the Superdome ripping children from the arms of their mothers in what looked like a horribly transparent attempt to gain viewers and publicity. No, this was an objective, professional reporter putting a human face on a situation for a national radio audience.
2. I Grew Angry. Here I am, driving home from work and listening to Beaubien’s report from the comfort of my vehicle. There’s nothing for me to do but cook dinner, read a little bit, and then head to bed. The only way that I can aid this situation might be to send money as I don’t possess any skills that would make me useful there. I’m no doctor, I’m no lawyer. Now I’m listening to Beaubien breaking up as he tells me about a girl that is sitting right in front of him. A girl in need of family, love, medicine, attention. I’m selfishly soaking it up and sympathizing for the child. What I want Beaubien to do is put down the microphone and take her to a doctor or just hold her so that that lip stops quivering. “Jason, put the mic down!” I yell at the radio, but Melissa Block keeps asking him question. Why? Because he’s a reporter and that’s what he’s supposed to do.

Don’t tell me Beaubien is not a professional.

So, where do we go from here? Estimated death tolls are now reaching into six figures, meaning that a large percentage of the Haitian capital’s inhabitants have perished, and that this disaster could go down as the second worst in history just behind the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. What can I do other than listen to reporters and pray? I’m helpless and powerless and that annoys me.

This afternoon I was sharing a late lunch with a couple of friends, including fellow blogger Edward Carson. Carson is an active blogger, posting several times a week on various topics that interest him: history, politics, religion, teaching, etc. Today he said something interesting that I hadn’t really considered before. Allow me to paraphrase:

“I used to journal. My study at home is filled with notebooks. One day I started putting those thoughts up on a blog. It’s nice. I just get my thoughts out there…”

This attitude runs counter to how I have traditionally treated my blog. Honestly, dear reader, I agonize over most posts on this blog. I proofread things multiple times because I want there to be a certain undeniable level of polish and professionalism. I go to great lengths to create footnotes and to research and document many of the things that I write about.

But why?

I’m not saying that this post signals some kind of sea change, and that I’ll be posting whatever drivel runs through my whenever it runs through my head. No, that’s not my style.¹ Instead, I’m thinking that I may allow a bit more of me to shine through these posts, rather than the carefully masked Stephen that hides behind well-documented research.

If I can’t go out on a limb on my own blog, then where can I go out on a limb?

Footnotes

1. By the way, I do not mean to imply that Carson’s posts are drivel. If you check out the comments, you’ll see that they are often thought-provoking for me.

The Professor is the blog of Edward Carson, my friend and colleague at Houston Christian High School (HCHS).

Carson teaches AP European History, AP US History, and World History at HCHS. His blog deals with history, politics, teaching, and current events. Carson’s always got a take, and comments are lively. So check him out!

I graduated from the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts (UT CoLA) in May 2004. As an alumnus, I am occasionally contacted by the college in the hope that I will give them some funds. Unfortunately, they are usually unsuccessful.

Last night, as I was driving home, I received a call from a young man who is currently a sophomore at UT. He was hoping to accomplish two things: (a) he wanted to update my contact information, and (b) ask me for some money.

Here is a transcript of a portion of our conversation:

CALLER: It says here that you graduated from the University of Texas in 2004. Is that correct?

HEBERT: Yes it is.

CALLER: And your degree was in Religious Studies.

HEBERT: Yes. I was a double major in Religious Studies and Classical Civilization.

CALLER: Very cool.

HEBERT: I think so.

CALLER: And…are you currently using your degree?

HEBERT: Yes I am.

CALLER: Really?! HOW?!?!?

At this point, I broke down laughing. This young gentleman was so incredulous that someone in this economy was actually able to use a degree in Religious Studies!

I don’t blame him…

As for the financial gift —well, maybe in a better economy. You know I love you, CoLA!

I posted a bunch of stuff via Twitter and Delicious this week. Here are some of my favorites.

• The new Biblioblog Top 50 came out. Apparently being #150 makes me a runner-up!
• Jake Belder at café de soirée posted about the eschatology of American evangelicalism: “American Evangelicalism’s Over-realized Eschatology.” I tend to agree with Jake on several points here.
• I was blown away by this (totally unscientific) speed comparison between Logos and Accordance.
• A hot topic around the net right now is the evilness quotient of social networking. Tim Stevens writes “Everybody Agrees…Twitter and Facebook are Bad.” (Spoiler: it’s a defense of social networking.)
• Adam Walker Cleaveland has started laying out a series of posts on his personal beliefs: The Credo Blog Series. Adam’s always got an interesting take on things, and I especially like that he’ll be comparing his current thoughts on various topics with thoughts that he had many years ago.
• James McGrath pokes a bit of fun at the “Obama is the antichrist” stuff that’s going around: “Barack Obama the Antichrist? Shedding Some Lightning on the Subject.” McGrath also had an interesting post about James and Paul and the idea of early skeptics: “Early Converted Skeptics?”
• Jonathan Brink has an interesting, quick post about the emergent church: “The Emergent Paradox.”
• John Hobbins takes a crack at explaining the contents of the Hebrew Bible in 1,000 words or less: “The Primary History.”
• Between the Times posts a rather thorough look at the issue of infant/child salvation: “Why We Believe Children Who Die Go to Heaven.” This is a serious look at an old problem — so good ol’-fashioned apologizin’!
• Inside Catholic has a nice page that everyone should visit: “Chesterton and Lewis for Beginners.”
• Jared Wilson has a funny list of “25 Evangelical Myths.”
• Charles Lee has begun posting about some sea changes or paradigm shifts that he is seeing in the church. Part one focuses on the Spirit. “The Church on the Move (Part 1)”
• John Piper considers (along with C.S. Lewis) the idea of the husband’s “headship”…interesting read: “Weighty Words on the Meaning of a Husband’s Headship.”

Special Video Section

I saw some interesting videos this week, so I thought I’d share.

• First up: the new trailer for Where the Wild Things Are. If you’re not excited about this movie, you may have no soul.
• It’s all about Okie Noodling — Oklahoma men catching flatheads (huge ones!) with their bare hands. Unbelievable. (YouTube has disabled embedding of this video.)
• Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt do a rather strange video for She & Him’s “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
• Conan O’Brien. Wax figures of Tom Cruise and the Fonz. Giant cannons. Yes. Seriously, I just love this, and I love Conan. One question: where’s Max Weinberg’s drum roll?

I posted a bunch of stuff via Twitter and Delicious this week. Here are some of my favorites.

• Tyler Braun‘s series on “Sovereignty” is full of great guest posts yet again this week. I strongly encourage you to check them out: Kurt Brandemihl (@godsidekurt) and Justin Wise (@JustinWise) brought some really interesting thoughts.
• Additionally, Tyler Braun found some interesting similarities between the Tour de France and ministry. It’s all about teamwork, kids!
• Jonathan Brink (@jonathanbrink) offered some really interesting thoughts on “The Problem of Ordination.” Brink engages with N.T. Wright’s thoughts on the recent decision by Episcopalians to ordain homosexuals. Jonathan also posted a video called “The Good News According to Rob Bell.” I’m not a huge Rob Bell fan (even to the point where I find his speaking rhythm/cadence annoying!), but setting that — and some issues with his understanding of history — aside, I found this video to be full of some interesting insights. Eleven minutes is a bit long, but you can handle it!
• Tony Jones discusses “shibboleths” and the fondness that Evangelicals hold for them in “Just Another Means of Division.” He shows that Evangelicals have jumped from the abortion debate to the gay marriage debate. Another interesting note is his insistence that Evanglicals, though clearly comprising a huge political bloc in the US, prefer to view themselves as an oppressed minority.
• Kem Meyer told us that cutting clutter and noise was the way to go for most churches: “Pigs flew and I went on Christian TV…”
• Think that folks tweeting during church is no bueno? Carol Howard Merritt offers a different point of view: “Twibal Church.”
• Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit) alerted us to the awesome goings on at Rolling Hills Baptist Church: “Where’s the Steeple?” I also posted on this here.
• PCUSA’s Special Committee on Civil Union and Christian Marriage is asking for your thoughts and opinions on marriage. Drew Tatusko (@dtatusko) offered his letter to the committee for all to see: “on covenanted same gender relationships.”
• John Piper discusses 1 Thessalonians 5:8–10 and how it provided him with solace while he was dealing with some serious medical issues: “Biopsy Blows and the Helmet of Hope.” That’s pragmatic Christianity!
• Pat McCullough created a page devoted to helping undergrads figure out the grad school scene: “Wanna be a Bible scholar…?” A lot of good advice from McCullough there.
• Along with Brandon Wason, I will celebrate the anniversary of Hans Dieter Betz’s commentary on Galatians.
• Josh Hale, after reading a recent article on Mashable talking about Twitter’s new homepage, writes about the new Twitter attitude (twattitude?) and how it is appropriate for evangelism: “Twitter and Mission Fields.”
• César Baldelomar writes about being “corrected” by a Catholic community for asserting that Adam and Eve were not historical figures: “Taking the Bible Seriously, but not Always Literally.”