Best Memes of the Year: Part 1

There is no guarantee I will continue to do this...but about a year ago I began collecting memes....

Memes, for me, are a constant source of enjoyment. They are this age's most efficient (and compact) form of satire and socio-cultural critique. They can also simply be incredibly silly fun. 

Meme's are like a multi-layered single-panel comic. Take one of the pillars of meme culture, the Condescending Willy Wonka, as an example:

Sermon: Rhythms in the Liturgy Part 1—Word & Deed

Alternate Title: What to do when the repetition of the liturgy bores you or starts driving you crazy.

This is the second sermon in a series of three. The first sermon can be found here:
The Rhythm is Gonna Get You—Rhythms in the Liturgy: Word & Table

In the first few days after starting seminary I distinctly remember running into the above work of art while needing to go downstairs to visit some staff member for one of those mundane tasks you are required to fulfill in the registration process. I chatted with the librarian, accomplished my task, and then lingered outside his office just looking at the work. It was titled The Sermon. Next to it were hung other works by the same artist, those entitled Daniel Among the Lions and The Prodigal Son, but this particular work grabbed me, demanding my attention. 

SERMON: The Rhythm is Gonna Get You—Sundays: Word & Table

Last week, (through Fr. Gregg) we spoke of primary rhythm of life:

resting and working

working from out of rest

Sabbathing and laboring

abiding and going out

being pruned back and growing in fruitfulness

Back and forth the rhythm goes...like a pendulum...

PCR Podcast Ep36: Fitting The White Album Onto 1 LP & 2016 Year In Review

My friend Trey Mowder and I spend this episode trying to narrow down The Beatles' White Album onto a single disc (which means we have to cut out songs, as if such a thing were possible!). For reference, our full song lists and some explanations on how we made our choices can be found here: Fitting the White Album onto one record. On top of that, I also give my year end best of lists (music, TV, films, podcasts) and some highlights for PostConsumer Reports from 2016 (You can read my full end of year list here). You can listen to our previous Beatles episode here: A Commentary on the Documentary 8 Days a Week.


Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Related Beatles Articles:
Lessons Learned From the Beatles
Post Impressions #1: The Beatles Blackbird

Past Podcast Episodes

Episode 15: Mike Foster Tolkien Scholar and Author

Episode 32: An Interview With Mitch McVicker

Episode 16: Dialogues With Brandon: How Big Is Your Soul?

PostConsumer Reports Year in Review: 2016

Featuring podcasting, blogging, music, TV, & film, and a look back at the year for PostConsumer Reports.

So, it's the end of 2016. And everybody hates you 2016. You're not invited to anymore parties. No one feels safe around you. It's time to seek serious help. The only people remotely happy with 2016 are those who think Donald Trump should be our president, but I assume even they are more than saddened by all the great artists who died as well as apprehensive about the many troubling issues facing our nation and world (assuming they are paying attention).

Sermon: Take and eat, Jesus Christ, the Living Word

"The Sermon" by R.O. HodgellA sermon about words featuring a work by my favorite artist, which is also about words. 

Note: a number of Churches celebrate "Bible Sunday" every year as part of the Church Calendar. This year that Sunday falls on October 23. Thinking it was "Bible Sunday" this sermon was preached in error on October 16.

I want you to imagine something with me that is both horrifying and glorious.

Imagine not taking Communion anymore. Consider a time when we do not celebrate the Eucharist, that time of our week when the Church is at its most thankful. We partake of and remember the body and the blood of our Savior, his life poured out for us, giving life to the world.

PCR Podcast Episode 20: An Introduction to Classical Education

Every year at my school I give a talk introducing the concepts of Classical Education. Last year (2015) I recorded it and I offer it here now, both as something people would generally be interested in, but also a resource to the parents of my school. I plan to do the talk a little differently this year, so let this stand as a record of the old talk. My school, by the way, is Aletheia Christian School in Peoria Illinois (www.peoriaclassical.org). You can reach us at info@peoriaclassical.org or 309-635-9809.

Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Past Podcast Episodes on Classical Education:
Episode 17: Douglas Wilson (pastor, educator, one of the founders of the Classical Education movement
Episode 18: Nathan Carr (Headmaster, Priest, & Preschooler at Heart)

My Favorite Quotes From the ACCS Conference About Classical Education

A few weeks ago I attended the Association of Classical and Christian Schools national conference "Repairing the Ruins."

Here are my favorite quotes from the conference—the thoughts that challenged me, inspired me, and got me to think about what I do as an educator differently or on a deeper level. Also included are quotes from 2 of the teachers in my school who attended the conference with me.

Association of Classical Christian Schools 2016 Conference Day 2

My second day at the ACCS conference was eventful. I was able to land an interview with Douglas Wilson. The reason I was able to land the interview? Well, he's a gracious person and was willing to give me a small chunk of his morning. And I also semi-stalked him through the hotel convention center and made sure I was able to shake his hand and talk with him. Expect the interview to be released on the podcast early next week. We had a good talk about his writing and work ethic, about being a "polemical" writer, and about why he's not Anglican (even if he is "high church" and "mid-to-high liturgy".

Wilson is a bit of a celebrity in our circles and can be a divisive figure (because he holds strong opinions and he lets people know about them). Quick bio: he's basically the main founder of Classical Education in America, he's the pastor of Christ Church in Moscow Idaho, and he's written enough books to use as bricks to build one of those tiny houses.

[UPDATE: you can now stream my interview with Wilson here]



To be honest, this second day (and last for us) was a bit of a blur for myself and Aletheia's teachers. Our brains are all a bit mushy at this point. The addresses and workshops were not hitting me as hard as yesterday. However, and if you are an Aletheia parent here is what you'll want to read, these are my takeaways from the conference:

Association of Classical Christian Schools 2016 Conference Day 1

As I write, myself and 3 teachers from the school I headmaster (Aletheia, www.peoriaclassical.org) are in Atlanta, Georgia at the Association of Classical Christian Schools' annual national conference, whose website is here: http://www.accsconference.org/

I brought with me Abbie Corey (Kindergarten), Gabi Michlik (2nd grade & art), and Heather Olsson (6th grade & music/choir).

This is the kind of magical place where you can meet and have a robust discussion with highly influential people in the Classical Education world and with the authors of various books. For example I was purchasing The Administrator's Handbook For Christian Schools when a gentlemen came up and asked me if I was a school administrator. I said "Yes I am," and the bookstore clerk running my credit card said "Oh, that's Dr. Stephenson—he wrote the book." After I bought my books I went over and had a nice 3 minute talk with him. 

It's blurry, but this is The Getty's performing.

But there are other famous people here as well. 

Vacation Recap and Why Snorkeling Sends Me Into a Panic Attack

Last week my wife and I got back from a much needed vacation. We have been married 10 years now and so we took it upon ourselves to get away from the kids, from all the pressures of life for a bit, and just relax...

Actually, my wife took it upon ourselves. She arranged for the whole trip and got a great deal on Groupon. We went to the Bahamas. I do not have any real desire to go to tropical places. There really is not really any for me. However, a place to relax is a place to relax.

The only relevant part of my trip for this blog is the reading I got done there.

Introducing Classical Education

Photo Courtesy of Casey M Photography http://www.caseymphoto.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/CaseyMphoto/

This week my school is putting on an open house. This is something private schools do every year for families who might be interested in enrolling their children. 

I will be speaking at the open house, sharing my thoughts on Classical Christian Education. While my talk will not be this long, here is everything I would say to someone who asks "What is Classical Education?" This is as concise of a general overview that I can give. 

What do we want for our kids?

It’s simple really. I’m sure we could all agree on a general list.

I'm Giving Up Blogging For Lent

It is the season of Lent 2015.

Among other things, I am giving up blogging.

I will be working on a few creative projects during this season, but quietly so.

If you need something to read, read these:
A Pessimistic Lenten Reflection (part 1): Living in Denial
A Pessimistic Lenten Reflection (part 2): Giving the Gift

You should "give something up" too. But more than that, you should turn toward God and the people in your life. Turn away from sin and seek God and God's will in the lives of others.

Happy Lent. See you after Holy Week.

There is much more to come.

You can also listen to some Lenten themed music here:

A Pessimistic Lenten Reflection (part 2): Giving The Gift

The Temptation In The Wilderness by Briton Riviere

In the Church calendar the season of Lent extends 40 day from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection. Lent is a season of drawing back and simplifying, of penitence and repentance, of learning to walk the way of Jesus, the road that leads to the cross, of learning to give up what we cannot keep in order to gain what we cannot lose.

People often "give something up for Lent", but really Lent is about getting rid of the things that detract and distract us from God. So the call goes much deeper than merely not doing some petty thing we know does not do us any lasting good. Instead, the call is to consider what in our life causes us not to see and hear God. So we "giving something up" not to punish ourselves—though in the short term we may be doing that—but to take on a posture where can begin to draw near to God.

As a way of helping others get to that place, I now offer part 2 of a Pessimistic Lenten Reflection:

Giving the Gift...

The Uncomfortable Ethnic Envy of White Amnesiacs

So, I am sitting here watching an interview with Topol, the iconic and eternal star of Fiddler on the Roof and I realize I am incredibly jealous of this man.

The 15 Stages of Super Bowl Grief

These stages begin in childhood and carry on, each stage representing a successive year of the Super Bowl, progressing onward into adulthood:

1. Super Bowl? Hmm....

2. Super Bowl!

3. Suuperrrr Bowlllll!!!

4. Yeah, ok. Super Bowl.

5. Eh, Super Bowl. But commercials?!

6. Commercials!!

7. Eh, just the commercials...

8. Ugh...commercials. And nacho cheese dip!

9. Only the half time show. ONLY.

10. No more Super Bowl! Down with Super Bowl!

11. What? You don't still watch the Super Bowl do you?!

12. Someone else: "Wait. You're not watching the Super Bowl?" NO!!

13. Someone else: "Not even for the commercials?" NOOO!!!

14. ----- ------ ------ ----- ------ ------- ----- ...... (in other words, silent, bitter, pride filled resentment)

15. Huh? What? Super Bowl? ....Oh yeah, Super Bowl....No, just Netflix....Ah....Netflix!

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Related Articles:
Realization: My Kids Will Never Become Professional Athletes
Aching For the Promised Land (England, that is)—reflections on tennis and Wimbledon

Saying Goodbye To Our Beloved Mrs. V...

I don’t usually share things of such a personal nature on this blog but his past week was the last week a good friend of mine taught at my school, Aletheia Christian School. Amy Van Ausdall is moving to Florida to be with her husband and I wanted to offer a place to commemorate her and all she’s done for the school, so that as many people could read it as possible. 

Making Myself into a Meme

Here is the source material. Use it as you see fit.

Meme's are fun, yeah?

These little pictorial treasures we discover that make an appropriately funny sentence we attach to them even funnier, often allotting them a deeper meaning as well.

3 Great Challenges Facing Classical Education as a Movement

A couple of weeks ago, as I have been documenting on this blog, I went to Rockbridge Academy's annual teacher training. It was great. 
So. Much. To think about. 
So. Much. To do.

But the event stirred up a few thoughts in me, 3 especially that I want to relate here. 

Teacher Training: Questions and Reflections

Last week I found myself at the Rockbridge Academy annual teacher training in Annapolis (actually Millersville), Maryland. You can read my notes from each day here: Introduction, Day 1,

Day 2, Day 3, and Planning the First Weeks of School.

The training was excellent; an absolute glut of good info.

Whenever I go to an event like this where I receive lots of input I inevitably find myself spending a lot of time reacting to that input, asking questions and developing my own ideas, both critical and complimentary.