Christmas CD (DVD and VHS) of the Day
If you have ever watched the St. Olaf Christmas Festival on PBS, you will know that it is one of the premier college festivals of its type. The level of performances by all the choirs and the orchestra are nothing short of superb. For high quality "classical" choral music with a lot of faith, this is one to have! [Disclosure: My daughter is a graduate of St. Olaf, but no, she doesn't sing on this CD.]
Get Doug Started...
Doug Pagitt hasn't blogged much recently, but when he does, it is well worth reading. He has two really good posts. The more recent talks about the emergent church and a special on ABC. The earlier post gives his outline for a new book.
You've Got That Right
Thanks to Rudy Carrasco at Urban Onramps for the link to a Relevant Magazine article.
THE YOUTH ARE NOT THE FUTURE: They are the present, argues Jeremy Del Rio in Relevant Magazine:
A popular notion has captivated many of our churches and their leaders, [the idea that] young people are the future.... Few rhetorical catch phrases have been more destructive to the development of our generation than this popular myth.
That is one of the great heresies that we use to excuse our ministry with youth today as having anything to do with how we run the church. I have been in youth ministry for 30+ years and know that the young people have a great deal to offer. Thanks to Rudy, Jeremy, and Relevant Magazine for the link and insights.
LOTR
NOW, I am getting excited. Our daughter called and we set a time for the three of us to see The Return of the King. We're going on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21. That's less than 10 days now. Whoa!
Disempowering Language
D J Chuang has an interesting post on how we actually "dis-empower" what we are saying.
maybe it's the context that my life moves in, but it irks me often enough to notice announcements, or calls for volunteers or signups, where the phrase, "if you're interested", is added to the wording.. it's such deflating, weakening language.. takes any lift out of the sails.. you don't hear NetFlix or Starbucks or Coca-Cola or Brand X making their announcements with the little introductory "if you're interested".. you hear: buy! you want this! space is limited! hurry! act now! Just do it! It's an active voice! If someone doesn't want to do something, or isn't interested, they can make their own decision.
Disempowering is also what we do when we excuse, overuse or abuse words. You know the phrases:"I have this on my heart...."
"I just need to share this with you..."
"God has laid this on my heart..."
You get the idea. We shoot ourselves in the foot in so many ways that we don't even know that we're doing it. In so doing we do lose the power that Jesus wants us to have. Yet we do it so naturally. No wonder we have such difficulty reaching into the community.
Guess that's it for tonight. That's how my mind isn't working tonight- no rhyme or reason. Maybe it's the -4 (F) that the temp is supposed to be tonight, or the end of the week, or the second night after a full moon. See ya later.
