the cradle of christian faith

The truth of Christianity is not like the universal truths of reason.  The cradle of Christian faith is a story rather than a system.  Though the Bible includes many literary genres, what holds it together is a narrative unity: the story of what God is doing in the world through Israel, through Jesus Christ, through the church.

–Kevin Vanhoozer, “Pilgrim’s Digress:Christian Thinking on and about the Post/Modern Way” from Christianity and the Postmodern Turn

just one of wright’s many great intros in recent days:

SECOND NAZARENE
  There is also the miracle of the daughter of Jairus.
FIRST NAZARENE
  Yea, that is sure. No man can gainsay it.
HERODIAS
  Those men are mad. They have looked too long on the moon. Command them to be silent.
HEROD
  What is this miracle of the daughter of Jairus?
FIRST NAZARENE
  The daughter of Jairus was dead. This Man raised her from the dead.
HEROD
  How! He raises people from the dead?
FIRST NAZARENE
  Yea, sire; He raiseth the dead.
HEROD
  I do not wish Him to do that. I forbid Him to do that. I suffer no man to raise the dead. This Man must be found and told that I forbid Him to raise the dead. Where is this Man at present?
SECOND NAZARENE
  He is in every place, my lord, but it is hard to find Him.

–Oscar Wilde, Solome, as sited in NT Wright’s Surprised by Hope

bo diddley on songwriting

But Diddley said that while rhythm was important, the secret to good songwriting lay in something else.

“A story with some funny lyrics, or some serious lyrics, or some love-type lyrics,” Diddley said. “But you gotta think in terms of what people’s lives is based on.”

–NPR, All Things Considered

 

mia?

I’ve been away from the blog-o-sphere for a couple of days.  Internet trouble on Monday, and heavy eyelids last nite … (I was snoozing by 9 p.m.)!  Alas, I’ve returned to the land of the living (& typing) to drop a quick update.

Even in my absence on-line, God’s been showing Himself strong & fully present with me.  (Something I’ve been needing desperately as of late, amidst my own small season of disorientation.)

After some tearful, earnest prayers last weekend, I felt that God reached out to me today through Letitia Washington (the woman we’re building our Habitat home for this year).  Letitia called out of the blue and left a message saying she had no agenda; just hadn’t talked to me for awhile and felt she should call.  I — in a rare moment of reaching out beyond expectations — decided to call back.

It was an awesome conversation.  Turns out, Letitia and I have some important things common these days (as we both navigate through the acquisition of a new home).  The best moment was when Letitia said to herself (or so she thought), “you know, God will never leave you or forsake you.”  This, after my pestering-prayer of the weekend had been “God, are you with me here?” (emphasis on each syllable, please).

It’s amazing how God’s Word — enlivened by God’s Spirit … enfleshed by God’s people — does, in fact, change the day.  I’m still reeling.  (And still quite disoriented, I suppose — but that’s for another post.)

Sometimes — more days than not, it seems — I just can’t believe God is interacting with me in such real and invasive ways.  You’d think I’d get used to it after 20+ years.  I find the converse is true; I am more surprised each day by the nearness of Christ.  Amen.  (May it be.)

i was introduced to the story of sophie scholl

 

Tonite … during a discussion with those from Beggar’s Table.  Jon Bowles - facilitator of the conversation - described the seamless faith on display in this film (entitled Sophie Scholl: The Final Days).  I’m excited about adding it to my cue …

storm over everest

I’ve been fascinated by the ‘96  Everest disaster ever since Jon Krakauer’s book first came out.  David Breashear’s story of the same  (aired for the first time on PBS earlier this week) was just as captivating for me.  I’m not sure if I’m a sucker for survival stories … or some kind of vicarious thrill-seeker.  Maybe it’s that embracing the limits of our humanity (willingly or no) seems an appropriate (and all too scarce) theme to suggest - much less celebrate.

Books and movies like this help me remember who I am.

some “why” in wild

Happiness, wholeness, transcendence … intimacy, wisdom, & love.  These are just a few of the themes held together (sometimes in tension) as the biography of Christopher McCandless unfolds in Sean Penn’s 2007 movie, Into the Wild.  The DVD finally made its debut into my Blockbuster cue.  After reading Krakauer’s book (by the same title) several years ago, I was expecting to be disappointed. 

Not the case.  Beautiful scenery coupled with important glimpses of humanity proved to be a compelling combo.  Though the film flirted, at times, with simplistic or stereotypical narrative (less so than the novel), it managed–still–to pose deep and central considerations for any of us “transcendent folk” who call this world our home.

Worth its spot in the Q.

 

jt’s first half-marathon

Check.

Aside from some unusual race-day road-kill (and, come to think of it, some unusual race-day authorities) along the route, my first “official” 13-mile run was about everything I might have expected.  (Come to think of it, if I’d actually considered the route from Gardner to Olathe, I might’ve been prepped for a few dead-animals along the way.)

In any case, running with my buddy, Jen (far-left-grown-up … kind-of), was a super fun way to kick-off this dreary (spring?!) weekend.  Of course, our faithful cheerleaders braving the cold (Spring and Haley, to my right) made crossing the finish-line all the more worthwhile!

Half-down.  Full-coming soon …?

it’s hard to plan a day this good

But … we did.  (And … it was.)

Birthday 3-2: 1 of the best, I must say.

We started with a brand new “pre-birthday” observance … made possible by my rock-star/brother-in-law, who took-on the role of single-parent for over 24 hours to give us what just may be the best gift conceivable: uninterrupted, exclusive sis-time.  Add to the extravagance: pajamas (by 6 p.m.) + homemade BLT’s (by 9 p.m.) + hours of conversation (converging by 10 p.m.) + sleep, sleep, and more sleep (wake-up at 8 a.m.?!).  It seemed the birthday had been duly-acknowledged before it even began!

Turns out, things were just warming up.  Think brunch-out (what says indulgence like ciabatta-pecan french toast, mugs of coffee, & college roommates lingering over conversation until mid-day?!).  Add to the mix make-up tips from a pro, birthday money exchanging hands, and dinner out with close friends.  (What more could a girl want?!)

 At one point during dinner – when the conversation was getting really good — I thought to myself: we couldn’t have planned for a birthday this good.  Then I remembered: we did.

But only one Grace-Giver made good on such plans.  I must say: it’s such fun to be celebrating — yet another year — of this, His company and care.  Such mind-blowing-beautiful-spaces amidst this messy life; how much more must be around the corner?

Celebrating (and planning) every chance we get …

he is risen

Indeed.