Bună Ziua! (Romanian for 'Hello!')

Welcome to Spirit & Steam - a place for learning about faith and function!

To begin explaining what this blog is about (or to justify its existence and your readership), it is important to note that, as I was developing the foundational concepts for this site, I discovered that it served two main purposes - one to the author; another to the reader. These purposes are rooted in our identities (or assumed identity, as it may be) and serve well as an introduction.

The purpose of the blog as it concerns me, the author:

For me, this blog serves as a place to release some intellectual steam. I have a degree in engineering physics and a wealth of knowledge/understanding/interest of other fields, particularly in areas of philosophy, theology, and psychology. However, I am acting in my current field of calling - that is, teaching public high school science and working in youth ministry. Obviously, I am presently working in environments where I cannot freely discuss a variety of topics at my full level of thinking. So - to relieve some pressure and prevent mental atrophy - I have created Spirit & Steam as a place where I can discuss a wide range of topics at a depth of understanding; all with a focus of mutual growth for author and reader.

The purpose of the blog as it concerns you, the reader:

For you, this blog is a playground of spiritual, intellectual, and practical topics to explore, discuss, and build upon. The idea here, too, is variety. Variety in opinion/theory, ideas, topics, perspectives, methods, and resources; all with a focus of mutual growth for author and reader. This is a place where discussion is encouraged. Note that discussion involves listening (in this case reading) as well. I strongly urge readers to remember that often disagreements occur due to misunderstandings: make certain you know what the other person means. ASK QUESTIONS! Questions are amazing tools for mutual understanding. Use this as a place for personal growth through experience and discussion.

I do not claim expertise in any area as I find claimed or assumed expertise is often shown to be nothing more than the opinion of one with strength stemming from other areas (intellectual bullies). Again, this is a blog for mutual growth and beneficial discussion.

This blog will raise questions and alternatives to common assumptions. My alias, Captain Stormfield, was chosen due to Mark Twain's classic work An Extract from Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven, in which Elias Stormfield learns a bit about the irrational and often non-scriptural expectations people have of Heaven.

Let it be known that not all of the things I post here can necessarily be considered my beliefs but are to be seen as ideas to bounce around. I will undoubtedly post on topics challenging the firmly held beliefs of many (including my own) for the sake of personal growth and understanding. I want to develop my own thinking and help others to develop their thinking as well.

Don't (or, maybe, do) take this blog personally. Let it enrich your life, your faith, and your mind as I know it will mine.

Given my personal background and interests, a variety of topics and styles will appear here. I'm a believer of Christ (note the 'of' which implies more than just 'in', which we will find out more of what that means to me as time progresses), so a lot of focus will be around faith (the 'Spirit' of Spirit & Steam). Still under that heading: I'm more specifically a scientist, so a lot of focus will be around practical and investigatory matters (the 'Steam'). I'm also a teacher and youth worker and I hope to one day be a dad, so there will be some focus of development and children. I'm a fan of the genre known as 'Steampunk' (further reason for the site design and title), a gamer, a lover of a wide variety of music, a creative writing enthusiast, a film buff, and so on. With that said, expect various oddities in analogy, post format, and topic.

Please take the time to follow or subscribe to this blog on the right menu bar to receive updates. Also, please check out the other blogs I've linked to. Especially check out my friend Kyle's theology/philosophy blog - blogGnosis - as he inspired/shamed me into finally doing my own blog.

I will say "la revedere" with this:

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth." - II Timothy 2:15 (NRSV)