Yesterday I wrote about how narratives do engage us through identification and disassociation. We can’t avoid that reality – it drives the popularity of movies, of bedtime stories, of Sunday School stories, of family fireside reminiscences, etc. But biblical narrative always offers something more. Our challenge as preachers is to be sure to always go there. What if the passage is easy to understand and ready to be preached. You’ve built a message based on the natural connection with a central character, or a minor character, or the original recipients. Your time is filled, the message will preach, that bird will fly. You aren’t done. You’re not ready. Biblical narratives either overtly or implicitly urge us to engage with the central characer in the canon – with God himself. Was it really David’s courage, or was it something about his faith in God and his instruction? Was it really about Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi, or was there something going on in terms of her loyalty to a God who had so far not seemed very “effective”? Was it really about Joseph’s moral convictions, or was there something deeper going on in respect to his living by faith in a God who was with him when every circumstance screamed that he’d been long forgotten by such a God
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Beyond Identification
Because the internet enables such things, and because we know — from histrionic opponents of gay marriage if from no other source — that whatever is permitted will eventually become ordinary, and then expected, and then legally mandatory, I went to rate beer dot com to find my favorite beer, Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout , and see how it compares with the other stouts of the known universe. I am pleased to see it is number six — pleased because it means there are evidently five very fine stouts in front of it, and pleased because six is very, very high on a long list
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Following Something Into the Dark
Eli’s final music meme post sent me browsing the youtubes for Sonic Youth videos, which are plentiful there. I love the way this song, “Nevermind,” builds in intensity without going too chaotic, at least by Sonic Youth standards: Also, if by some chance you’ve never seen footage of Kim Gordan applying cosmetics to members of Nirvana over French subtitles, this is your chance
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What Was It Anyway?
Luke 9: 28b-36 Dn 7:9-10,13-14 / Ps 97 / 1Pt 1:16-19 As he was praying, His countenance changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. (Luke 9:29) Lord God, we believe that all of us Must undergo a transformation, Endure the hardships, climb the heights, just Like Jesus’ own transfiguration. One day, Jesus took Peter, John
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The Transfiguration of Jesus
CHANDIGARH: The Gatka Federation of India (Regd.) (GFI) and Punjab Gatka Association (Regd.) (PGA) have urged the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to take strict action in the ouster of seven year-old Sikh child Manpreet Singh of Tarn Taran from reality show India’s Got Talent on Colors TV and debarring him from demonstrating Gatka, an Indian martial art.
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Punjab Gatka Associaiton seeks apology from Colors TV for hurting Sikh sentiments
Jalandhar, Aug 4 (PTI) Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said he was not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to the Commonwealth Games to be held in the national capital in October. There has been an exchange of inputs between intelligence agencies of Punjab and the Centre on terrorists’ activities, but “I am not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to the Commonwealth Games,” Sukhbir told reporters here after a private function. with thanks : source : IBNLIVE : link in headline above for detailed news
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Not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to CWG: Sukhbir
The exit of a seven-year-old participant from the India’s Got Talent reality show after judge Sajid Khan commmented that the martial arts dance form he performed was too violent has angererd Sikh groups in Punjab.
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Reality show judge angers Sikh groups in Punjab
One of the secrets of the success of narrative writing and storytelling (whether that is historical narrative, fiction, fantasy, film or whatever) is the power of identification. When you read, hear or see a story, you naturally find yourself either identifying with or disassociating from characters in the story. If you are left cold, it is usually a sign that the story isn’t being told well, or you are in some sort of disconnected state. So, if this is a central function of narratives, then it is a factor to consider in preaching biblical narratives. Some might try to make a hard and fast rule here, but again I would urge wisdom and consideration of the options. Identifying with the Central Character
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The Identification Situation
Oh, fellow Americans, you crack me up : When presented with the statement “human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals,” just 45 percent of respondents indicated “true.” Compare this figure with the affirmative percentages in Japan (78), Europe (70), China (69) and South Korea (64).
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It Takes Practice
James Kwak is talking sense about Medicare: [P]roposals to solve the long-term budget deficit problem by cutting Medicare benefits are not solutions: they simply shift the problem from the government to individuals–which means they shift the problem from us as taxpayers to us as old people or us as family members of old people. If, for example, we increase the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67, the government saves money, but only because people who are 65 and 66 lose money–or, alternatively, all of us lose money because their employers now have to pay more for health care
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Tide Goes In, Tide Goes Out