The Black and White

I recently started taking black and white film photography classes.  Since it deals with architecture, composition and light, I thought I would post a few of my favotite photos from my first roll.  Enjoy!

[Re]oriented Design – tylerthayer.com – © 2009

 

The End of Academia

Yesterday was the beginning of my final year as an undergrad student. It started oddly, for the first time ever I bought a commuter parking pass, failed to find a parking space, and missed my first class of the semester. The last two days have been filled with mixed feelings about my academic career. Frankly, I entered the architecture building ready to leave it. Even after my professor gave an excellent 5th year pep talk, I was enthused for the projects that lay in front of me, but yearned for the end that will mark a new beginning. It’s been fun, and it has been one great ride to this mile-marker. But it’s never really over, is it?

Today I was weaving down the  sidewalk under a canopy of trees and overheard a conversation taking place six feet behind me.  Two younger philosophy students, I assume, were in a rigorous discussion about some academic theory or cultural philosophy. I used to be that way, I used to discuss, debate, argue, and, most importantly, write and think about these very things.  As I listened to their conversation it dawned on me that academia, for me, is slowly coming to an end. I am slowly becoming a just doer.

In no way have I rejected and fully left the world of academia. (Does any professional ever quit learning?) No, really the focus of my life has just simply shifted. Two years ago I was up to my ears in philosophy, theology, discussion, and writing.  Now, only occasionally I write and critically discuss the things I used to. (Really, this is a shame. For we should constantly write, constantly think about both the thought of and the unthought.) But the fact is that my passion has shifted towards just doing. I want to go out into the world and do.

Yet, what kind of doer would I be if I was not first an academic? And where would all the doers be if there were no full time academics?  Truly, academia will only end the day the world meets, for the second time, it’s maker face to face. Until then, we thrive on thought and the transfer of thought. Not only in traditional secular academics, but also in the realms of theology.  Though it seems my academia side is phasing out and I am eagerly awaiting the future among the present, I realize that academia is crucial to society. In fact it’s necessary for the continuation of society both socially and technologically. I deeply respect those who form the framework of academia, and I pray that as I become more of a doer, that I am always rooted in thought and contemplation.

[Re]oriented Design – tylerthayer.com – © 2009

 

Clifford Stoll

This is a great short lecture.

 

Inhabitation | [Re]oriented Parks

[Re]oriented Design – tylerthayer.com – © 2009

 

Job Hunting

Apparently finding a job is much more difficult than I remember.  No one really wants to hire seasonal people. Except for Publix, but they require you to take this hour long application and questionnaire at a kiosk. So I did that, wasn’t too bad, but how can they understand who you are from a simple questionnaire? One of the questions went like this: “How would a previous supervisor rate your self discipline?”  A) Superior  B) Above average C)Average D)Poor.  First, who in their right mind would pick “poor?” Second, I would have to say that my self discipline is quite good, especially in the realm of work, but do I go as far as to pick “superior?”  If I do, am I being arrogant in saying that I have no room for improvement? But if I pick “above average” does that say I have low self-esteem or does it just kill my job opportunity right then and there because I didn’t pick “superior?”

This is my predicament.  What ever happened to the old fashion interviews where one could speak naturally and reason through questions? What’s the likelihood that every customer altercation is going to be the exact same, thus warranting the same reaction? Not likely….but I digress.

I have found that asking for a job is much like cold-turkey evangelism or the invite team for VFC. At first your flesh makes up every excuse not to walk in and ask if they’re hiring, but after doing it 5-10 times it becomes the norm and rejection isn’t so disturbing. It is very difficult to find a job, and I believe I have taken it for granted that for the last three years I had one waiting for me when I got home. God is kind, let’s not forget that. Let’s also not forget that God is sovereign, so somewhere out there in this big bleak world there’s a job with my name on it. Then again, maybe not, but none the less God establishes the steps of man. I can rest assured through Christ.

That’s my interesting revelation for the day.

 

Piranesi on Architectural Beauty

“I believe that in building, beauty consists of giving to the entire work a form which is truly proper and attractive, and in distributing the parts in a clean and tasteful manner, so that there is a lawful agreement among them, and so that a certain natural beauty and ornateness is produced, which holds the gaze of whoever looks at it. But I think that regarding this kind of work, one must consider above all its nature and its purpose, for the reason that since the beauty of boys is different from that of men, so in buildings requiring gravity and dignity the ornaments must be used sparingly, inasmuch as this very gravity  and dignity serves as their adornment. In ‘charming buildings’ of a less serious nature ['fabbriche delizoise'], however, if a free hand is used in the decoration, no one is likely to object….”

-Piranesi

 

A Generation Gone Soft on Prayer

I just posted an article on ManSpeak about prayer entitled System Analysis [Pt.2] | Where’s the Prayer?  I’ve talked about prayer before on B2C, but this time it is more directed at men. After hearing a sermon by my senior pastor, Bill Kittrell, about earnest prayer, I came to realize my lack of gusto in my prayer life. Was I praying so hard as to cause a sweat? Or was I merely praying the simple repeat phrases that mark so many peoples’ prayers?

I highly encourage you to listen to Bill’s message on earnest prayer, it was challenging. More men in our culture need to pray more often, or else how are we to lead a family if we can’t even pray? How are we to expect God to save our families, and fill us with the spirit, and move the gospel if we will not pray? How are we to converse with our Father in heaven if we do not pray? We need a generation of young prayer warriors who are unashamed to pray the Christocentric prayer, and to pray it often and hard.

Prayer is one of our first steps in knowing God. And it is a step that must be continually taken lest we fall to the wayside.

 

Summer’s Coming with a New Name

So everything about my summer is still up in the air. One thing I do know, though, is that I am excited to start bloggin again on [Re] (my personal blog that I used to call “Elements of a Human Architect”), Bound2Christ, and Manspeak (that is if the guys in VFC keep me on board.)

After much thought and a new desire to start writing again, I have given the blog a new name. I renamed this blog for several reasons:

(1) People couldn’t get the old name. Too many questions.
(2) I think the new name speaks more to what this blog is about. More than about me, per say, this blog is about exploring the extents and abilities of architecture and design in general.  In addition to just merely the design aspects, it is about understanding its finite role on earth and subduing design, making it a bond-servant unto Christ. It’s about re-orienting design so that it holds a Christocentric focus; rendering the servant architect.
(3)I wanted a snazier name…I think this gets it.

So I’m excited. Maybe I will get a cool logo. Maybe not. Who knows? Until I start again in a few days…peace and grace.

 

Nextin’ it…

I’m going to Next. You should too…

 

The New Calvinism

TIME has published a “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” list for the year 2009. The interesting thing is that among businesses, jobs, and reworking the infrastructure of our country, “The New Calvinism” ranks third in what’s changing our world.

What makes the ideas found in New Calvinism so powerful? Why is it different?  Essentially, Reformed theology is spreading because the focus is the gospel, the power of God to save. We want to see God save people, thsu New Calvinism is missional in nature.  Where in the past, Christians withdrew from the world, New Calvinism is invading it. Yet, New Calvinism holds fast to scripture, the most important thing we have on this earth. The message is simple, the doctrine steady, the focus is love through Christ.

It is interesting that this has become a sort of fad in our culture.  So much so that a secular magazine would declare it the 3rd most influential idea in our world. Here are some really interesting articles to read:

3. The New Calvinism – 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now

Time Magazine Names New Calvinism 3rd Most Powerful Idea

More Thoughts on Time Magazine and New Calvinism