My buddy Jeff points out This Article on “certainty” by reformed professor Dr. John Frame. Frame is a “presuppositionalist” — according to his Wikipedia entry, he’s one of the foremost interpreters of Cornelius Van Til. There are certain aspects of presuppositionalism that I find very appealing. However, I think I’m more of an evidentialist, or at least something of a Thomist when it comes to natural law. (For the distinction between presuppositionalism and evidentialism, see this adequate but thin Wiki. Anyway, the Frame article raised some interesting questions on one of my favorite subjects — epistemology and Christian faith — and here are my thoughts.
Month: May 2006
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What Makes America Great
Today, I realized that the backyard barbeque is one of the things that makes America great. It was sunny, in the mid-70’s, and all the neighborhood was out to play. Around six or so, everyone fired up their grills and the block was filled with the fragrant smoke of a dozen burgers. I lit up the outdoor fire pit and dug out some marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, and everyone gravitated back to our yard. We chatted, we scarfed smores, the kids ran around with the dog — and we experienced real community. This is what freedom is all about.
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Update on EEG
Finally, we’re all home! Everything went well and it looks like the new meds should help alot. Continue to keep us and my son in your prayers.
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Kids Reality Shows
Sitting here in the hospital room with my son, I have to endure endless hours of kid-TV. There are two cardinal values underlying all of these shows: (1) things work out when we all work together; and (2) you can achieve your dreams if you only believe. These values in moderate doses and in relation to other values have some merit. However, as presented in these shows, they’re treacly-sweet. What I’d like to see is a reality-based kids show. Such a show would teach things like (1) not everyone is worthy of your trust; some people are downright rotten and should be avoided; and (2) you won’t achieve all your dreams; you have limits; get over it and learn to make the most of what you have. Maybe then we’d have less disillusioned teenagers.
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The Star Spanglish Banner
I’m truly baffled by the conservative reaction to a version of the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. We should delight in the fact that people for whom Spanish is a first language, or a cultural language, want to identify their culture with America. Goodness sakes, it’s a hymn, not a magical incantation. Everyone of good will should be welcomed here. That’s what made us great.
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Further EEG Update
The doctor decided to keep my son in the hospital for another night and day. I’m sleeping over tonight. Well, sleeping isn’t quite the right word — you have to leave all the lights on so the video will work. Why they don’t use an infared lense is beyond me. Anyway, my son is sleeping peacefully away, but I’m sure I won’t get much sleep. But all of this is a good thing — his EEG spikes are down to almost nothing now, and the doc thinks that by tomorrow, they’ll be at zero! So, the doc is keeping my son hooked up to the EEG for another day to see how that plays out. This is truly great, as we believe controlling the EEG spikes is the first step in making progress on my son’s speech and language development. In any event, thanks again to everyone for continued prayer, as this marathon hospital event has so far been far, far better than we had feared.
And now, I shall curl up on my chair, throw a sweatshirt over my eyes, and try to get some sleep!
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Another Hospital Update
Thanks so much to all who have been praying! I’m at the hospital now — they have wireless access! My son is doing quite well. It’s pretty pathetic to see him with all those electrodes stuck on his head. He’s wearing one of those little knit caps they put on newborns, but it has a long sock-like appendage with a bunch of wires trailing out of it. There’s a video cam on the wall, and the video image synchs with real-time EEG output on a monitor. Every time the brain waves spike unusually, the system beeps and places a marker for later review. What a surreal experience.
We’re amazed that our little guy is tolerating all those wires as well as the forced confinement to a hospital room. Thankfully, my father-in-law, whom my son adores, has been hanging around the room as well. Thank you for continuing to pray.
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Update on Video EEG
Some encouraging news… The device they are using today for the video EEG beeps whenever my son’s brain activity goes haywire. The epileptologist has been monitoring the beeping (it happens, for example, when he’s semi-awake and watching TV). The doctor thinks that with some adjustments to the meds, my son’s EEG will be normal by the time he leaves the hospital on Wednesday. That would be such an amazing blessing! It’s incredible that tweaking dosages on meds over the course of a few days could have that effect. We’ll see….
Today my youngest son is in the hospital on a 72-hour stint hooked up to electrodes for a “video EEG.” This isn’t a painful procedure, but it’s stressful for him and us. Please keep us all in your prayers.