{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Christopher Chelpka", "icon": "https://micro.blog/christopherchelpka/avatar.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/", "feed_url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/03/18/typography-links-learn.html", "content_html": "
typography links
\nI think the answer to this question is found in another question:
\nDo you want people to take you literally?
\nIt depends, right? Generally, you mean what you say, and you want people to believe you.
\n• If you say you are going to the store, that means you are going to the store.
\n• If you say you want a puppy, that means you want a puppy.
But we know that sometimes people take us too literally, which means they think we are saying something we are not. Like when you say, “just a minute”, and then someone starts counting down from 60. So annoying! Unless, of course, they are joking. Then you are the annoying one for taking them too literally.
\nThe key here is intentions. We want to be heard in the way we intend to be heard. The same is true for God. When God is telling us history in the Bible, we should take it as history. When God is telling us a parable, we should take it as a parable.
\nHow do you know which is which? The same way other people know what you mean: by listening. By paying attention to both what is said and the way it is said, we can learn how to read the Bible.
\nFiguring out what God intends might not always be easy, but it will get easier the more we get to know him and the better we get at listening.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-17T00:03:27-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/03/17/should-we-take.html" }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/03/13/i-loved-tyler.html", "content_html": "I loved Tyler Cowen’s interview with Masaaki Suzuki. Now I’m curious about enka, the music of Tori Takemitsu, and thanks to Mr. Cowen’s links, Music, Modernity, and God.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-13T10:41:19-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/03/13/i-loved-tyler.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/03/01/infinite-craft-at.html", "content_html": "Infinite Craft at neal.fun is fun. My son showed it to me last night. He even made some never-seen-before creations. I tried to do that too, but couldn’t do it. However, I was pretty pleased with myself for creating Darth Sauron.
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-01T09:44:31-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/03/01/infinite-craft-at.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/03/01/remembering-peter-schickele.html", "title": "Remembering Peter Schickele and P. D. Q. Bach", "content_html": "Peter Schickele died this last January. I never knew him, but I learned a lot from him. Through his funny albums and radio show, perhaps the central lesson was a reminder of that there is real joy of not taking yourself too seriously while also honoring and enjoying classical music and other fine things in life. There are plans to re-release his radio show as a podcast. I hope that happens.
\nIf you want to get to know him, there were a several memorials shared in January. Here’s one example: Fresh Air shared a remembrance along with an interview he did with Terry Gross in 1985. It’s a great introduction to Schickele, his life, and his larger-than-death character, P. D. Q. Bach.
\nOr you can just jump in like I did in the 80s and 90s by listening, laughing, and being a little confused. Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve rediscovered over the last couple months.
\nEnjoy!
\n", "date_published": "2024-03-01T00:20:04-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/03/01/remembering-peter-schickele.html" }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/26/last-week-chatgpt.html", "content_html": "Last week, ChatGPT went off the rails for a minute, but still…
\n\n\nthe fact that the most popular AI tool in the world and arguably the primary reason we’re currently in the middle of an AI boom can suddenly go off the rails without warning is a great reminder that we can’t trust these tools blindly.
\n
Read the full story.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-26T07:16:00-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/02/26/last-week-chatgpt.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/20/red-light-green.html", "content_html": "Red Light Green Light, Sunset
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-02-20T22:14:58-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/02/20/red-light-green.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/20/when-analyzing-millennials.html", "content_html": "I learned a new chess rule! You can’t pass through a check when castling. ♟️
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-19T23:39:25-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/02/19/i-learned-a.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/19/is-there-an.html", "content_html": "Is there an official recording of yesterday’s NBA All-Star game that I can watch? 🏀
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-19T16:03:56-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/02/19/is-there-an.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/16/learning-to-predict.html", "content_html": "Wavelength has an Android app available now. They are polishing the app and asking for feedback. I hope they can get things working smoothly soon. Having access to both Apple and Android users makes Wavelength much more useful.
\n", "date_published": "2024-02-09T07:23:30-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/02/09/wavelength-has-an.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/02/05/notes-about-cte.html", "title": "🌵 Notes about CTE Programs in Arizona", "content_html": "A few quick notes on public career and technical education (CTE) programs in Arizona.
\n🚂 This is entry 3
of the blogtrain CTE.
Tips on how to pick a career and technical education (CTE) program while in high school and when to get started.
\n🚂 This is entry 2
of the blogtrain CTE.
Because CTE is underrated, many people don’t know about it or understand it well. That was true of my wife and I when our firstborn entered high school. And because we have five kids and didn’t want to forget everything by the time the next kid was ready, I have been documenting our learning as we go. Occasionally, people ask us for help, so I’m sharing what we’ve learned about getting started with CTE, and I hope it helps.1
\nMost programs take 1-2 years to complete. This means:
\nWe have used the following approach to help our kids pick a program. Admittedly, this is a maximalist approach, but from this guide, you can see that’s the kind of guy I am. You may not need to do this much. Just try to keep it fun—mostly that means not rushing, nor taking too long to decide.—and, of course, kids will want/need varying levels of guidance. Be a good listener.
\nHere’s what we have done:
\nThis CTE guide is my own, but it has been graciously reviewed by a two CTE administrators in two different Arizona counties. I appreciate their input. That said, things change; so your best bet is always to contact your local CTE district for up-to-date information. Click the reply button to send me corrections or other feedback. ↩︎
\n“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). ↩︎
\nOne of the most underrated options for high schoolers is career and technical education (CTE).
\n🚂 This is entry 1
of the blogtrain CTE.
High school CTE programs get kids ready to enter specific careers after graduation. And there are many to choose from. For example, in Pima County, Arizona, where we live, our son is training to become a firefighter. Others are getting ready for nursing, VR game design, HVAC repair, and so much more. More than that, in some states, career and technical education is offered for free to high schoolers.
\nHere some reasons why we are taking advantage of CTE with our kids:
\nHow high schoolers use their education is up to them. But CTE programs provide enormous value and should not be ignored. In a future post, I’ll give some advice on how to get started.
", "date_published": "2024-02-01T12:33:06-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/31/a-high-school.html", "tags": ["CTE"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/29/selfieportrait-this-was.html", "content_html": "Selfie-portrait! 🤓🎨 This was a fun change of pace this evening. I liked painting the blue so much I decided to put the cactus in the border instead of the background.
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-01-29T22:48:11-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/29/selfieportrait-this-was.html", "tags": ["Photos","microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/15/124450.html", "content_html": "\n", "date_published": "2024-01-15T12:44:50-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/15/124450.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/13/promises-made-in.html", "title": "Promises Made in Time: Overview of Westminster Confession of Faith 7", "content_html": "🚂 This is entry 4
of the blogtrain The Covenants of God.
The story of how God fulfills the Covenant of Redemption is found in Chapter 7 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. It’s an excellent summary. I’ll quote each section and make a few comments.
\nFor another overview of the covenants, check out “Understanding Biblical Covenants Is As Easy As 1, 2, 3” by Kevin DeYoung.
\nThe story of begins with God’s promising life “to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience” (WCF 7.2). This is a covenant of works, although we ought to recognize the " voluntary condescension on God’s part" (WCF 7.1).
\n\n\nThe distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. (WCF 7.1)
\n
\n\nThe first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. (WCF 7.2)
\n
But Adam failed in his obedience.
\n\n\nMan, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. (WCF 7.3)
\n
Because of his disobedience, the reward was not attained by the first covenant and was made unattainable by his failure. However, God made a second covenant where the principle of reward was grace instead of works.
\nThe second covenant is is called a covenant of grace with reference to mankind because the promised reward of life is based not on our obedience but on God’s grace given to us through Christ.
\nWe must receive the reward of life through Christ is because he is the “second” or “last” Adam.
\n\n\nWith whom was the covenant of grace made? The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed. (LC 31)
\n
Jesus makes grace possible for us through his obedience to God. Unlike Adam, who disobeyed and earned death for his posterity, Jesus obeyed and earned life for his posterity. “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). Through his suffering, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Gal 3:13); “by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11).
\nImportant! —Notice how “life and salvation by Jesus Christ” in 7.3 belongs to the “fruition of [God] as their blessedness and reward” in 7.1. This is important for understanding the nature of our life and salvation, especially when we keep in mind the Covenant of Redemption.
\n\n\nThis covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed. (WCF 7.4)
\n
The first claim here is that “the covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament.” We’re going to leave aside for now and deal with it in another blog post.
\nBut I do want to highlight though is how section 4 points us to a second reason why we need Christ. Not only is he the second Adam who earns for us the reward of life through his obedience, he is also the offspring of Abraham and the heir of the promise who bequeaths to us an inheritance in his death. Remember what Galatians says:
\n\n\n“Now the promises were made to Abraham and his offspring. It does not say “And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring” who is Christ. (Gal 3:16)
\n
Paul says the offspring (i.e. Christ) receives an inheritance, but it does not come by the law: “for if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Gal 3:18). Happily,
\n\n\n“the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe…. for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3: 22, 26, 29).
\n
Thus, Christ is both the promised one and the heir of the promises. When we put our faith in him, as Abraham did, we become heirs as well.
\nAbraham was saved because instead of relying on his works, his faith was in the promise of God, which was counted to him as righteousness. And in God’s wisdom, the promised offspring would also be a second Adam.
\nGod’s gracious promises would be revealed and fulfilled overtime, like the blooming of a flower. The flower is the same from bud to bloom but looks different at different moments in time, similar is the covenant of grace.
\nSection 5 explains the covenant of grace in the Old Testament first, particularly post-Moses.
\n\n\nThis covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel: under the law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come; which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the old testament. (WCF 7.5)
\n
Finally, we read about the covenant of grace in the New Testament, particularly in the post-ascension, post-Pentecost era before Jesus returns.
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-01-13T22:24:21-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/13/promises-made-in.html", "tags": ["The Covenants of God"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/13/fish-and-ships.html", "content_html": "Under the gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper: which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the new testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations. (WCF 7.6)
\n
\n\nAmong liberals, there’s just way higher levels of anxiety. The only level of religious attendance where that abates is those liberals who attend religious services every week. Conservatives are just less mentally anxious, and that goes even lower when it comes to those who attend monthly or more.
\n
Ryan Burge writes about this and other interesting stats in “Political Ideology, Religious Attendance And Mental Illness.”
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-13T00:16:17-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/13/among-liberals-theres.html", "tags": ["microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/10/a-mexican-gray.html", "content_html": "\nA Mexican Gray Wolf looking comfy
\n", "date_published": "2024-01-10T22:31:14-07:00", "url": "https://www.christopherchelpka.com/2024/01/10/a-mexican-gray.html", "tags": ["Photos","microblog"] }, { "id": "http://christopherchelpka.micro.blog/2024/01/09/this-internet-train.html", "content_html": "