Although I did not completely read the archives, I think I may be the oldest contributor to the blog so far and let me tell you it has taken all my intellectual abilities to figure out just how to do it-so here goes.
Here are some of my thoughts about Winterfest.
Almost before I had time to get my brain on task Chris or Jeff (now I can't remember which) gave the example of the kid who began to talk about dihydromonoxide, or as he later revealed, water. His point was that we make something people needed so badly (Jesus and Christianity) seem scary. Do we really do that?
On the trip I was reading "The Last Juror" by John Grisham. In it he makes two references to the Church of Christ. In one he talks about our aversion for instrumental music and in the other our other "claim to fame"- that we are the only ones going to heaven. Now I know that John Grisham is not the judge of the world but it was kindof shocking to see in black and white what we mostly just here from folks we are in a religious debate with. (no, I haven't been in one of these debates in years but still remember how difficult they are). Can we ever live down these stupid stereotypes? Should we be discouraged by them or just accept them and move on? Can they be changed or are they just too ingrained in people's minds?
Other things I am thinking about from Winterfest: Real s, The Starfish Project ( did you see their jewelry booth out front. They sell products made by women who were ually abused and trafficked in Asia- my daugher could have ended up as one of them) and how awesome our kids and youth minister were, the beautiful snow we had as a parting gift and how I shouldn't skip going some years. I always feel empowered and renewed . This year I felt humbled by the very touching things said about my family. Thank you, Drew.
Well, I'm pretty sure this is the most rambling blog posted so far, but before I end I also want to encourage Trevor to keep on blogging the bible study. They are soooo revealing.
leellen
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2 comments:
Thank you Leellen,
I like what you said about our stereotypes. I am sometimes embarrassed to be a Church of Christer when I hear of these stereotypes, but that makes it all the more important that we continue to wear the name. If for nothing else, so that we will continually test ourselves to see if our attitudes are working to repair our image or if we are contributing to the stereotypes. If we always put loving God and loving others as our primary motives, then we won't have to live with those stereotypes for long.
LeEllen,
You are definitely not a rambler, somehow the things that you say usually do hit home with me. I don't know how you do it but you do. I look at you and Jimmy, and still feel like a kid, and say,"That's who I want to be like when I get big someday." I feel the same way about the church of christ sterotype; I got alot of that in school growing up, but it seems as time progresses, we are moving away from that sterotype, by doing pretty much what last weekend was all about, loving others, not just those in our immediate home church.
Brian
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