I'm really not a fan of derivative, imitative cultural artifacts. Like, I honestly believe the world would be better off without them, on a level approaching, say . . . toxic, non-biodegradable plastics, or lawyers. And I'm especially un-fond of when this is done by the church, as it's A) lazy and intellectually bankrupt, and should be something the church as an institution and Christians as individuals are above; B) it provides fodder for those looking to take shots at the church; and C) "Christian" versions of secular products does nothing but reinforce the idea of a Christian ghetto.
That's why this is a spectacular piece of excrement, and a bad idea to boot.
Try, just try to defend it. I'm quite confident that even among my Bible college graduate friends, there's not a one of you that thinks this is a good idea.
I'm trying to make an effort to be substantial in all my interactions on the internet, I've fallen back on a lazy habit of mine. If I can't say it at least semi-eloquently, I won't bother saying it. In trying to think that I would be articulate in the stories I told, I failed to tell any of them. Sorry.
So. . . there's the one about the zoo. . . and the cute thing that Thalia said and. . .
I'm often given to wondering about the veracity of many anecdotes, though. Maybe not the ones that friends tell - after all, my kid is so damn cute that I can readily imagine many of the better-than-scripted moments that many of you detail on your blogs. But there's a lot of stuff that I can't help but hear and respond with "that's just too convenient to be true". I'm trying to think of another place where this happens, but the only one I can think of is. . . sermons.
Has anyone ever heard a sermon that had a story that fit the message just a tad too perfectly? It's a story conveniently light on verifiable detail, light on historical context, and decidedly free of references1. Over the years, I've heard more than a few that are just far too miraculous to be something I'd never heard of elsewhere. In this age of the internet and nigh-unto instant searchability, I've run across a number of rumors & falsehoods of varying intensity, and it's easy to confirm. Perhaps it is the empirical influence taking over, but I often have a problem with this element of fairy tale telling on top of something that already has a mytho-poetic aspect to it.
While I really don't like is hearing is political speech moving it's way into sermonizing. . . but I think I'll wait a bit to get into that.
*****
There seems to be a lot going on in everyone's lives. . . I hate how the internet provides the illusion of connectivity, while still leaving us far apart.
*****
There's things I think I might say about myself, but I don't know if I want to right now. . . probably because I'm very tired.
1 - It's one of those very small things that tends to make me feel very uncomfortable about a church, and the lack of this is an important reason why I like the church we go to now.
I'm sure there are those folks out there who are inclined to believe this detestably manipulative bullshit campaign ad, which - in case you can'ttell - not quite so subtly purports that Barack Obama is the anti-Christ (there's a few prophecy obsessed maniacs who are inclined to at least somewhat agree).
But they're all wrong.
Dora the Explorer is the AntiChrist. She has already unleashed an unholy tribulation in our house, and while I'm inclined to be grateful to the person who gave us several Dora Dvds, I can't help but feel they secretly are spreading an anti-Gospel of oversimplified Spanglish directions. I have a vague fear that Thalia will soon submit to the mark of the beast, which is a tattoobarcodeRFID chip backpack bearing 666 the image of Dora.
Beware, dear friends, for this great evil among us. Hide your children.
Among the many millions & millions of reasons why I love my child:
This was the scene friday evening:
Shortly afterwards, I was switching CDs, and the radio came on to Fresh Air, which was just about to air an interview with Neil Patrick Harris - Dr 'orrible himself. Thalia just heard the word once, then immediately implored "Daddy, wanna watch1 Dr Horrible, I wanna watch him!" We listened to the whole interview, interspersed with songs from Dr Horrible and from NPH's performance on broadway in "Sweeney Todd", and she was laughing & smiling the whole time2.
Today, we went to a coffee shop near our place that has 2 hours of jazz every Sunday afternoon, and Thalia alternated between rapt attention of the performers3 and dancing to the rhythms.
I've taught her well. Now she just needs to pick up an instrument.
1 - She still doesn't quite get the distinction between "watch" & "listen" - they're interchangeable terms when it comes to absorbing media.
2 - Ok, maybe not the whole time - during the interview portions, she would ask where the song was, or what the people were doing. "They're talking", I'd say, "Can you be patient?" She'd respond in the affirmative, wait a few minutes, then ask again.
3 - "Is that lady singing?" she'd ask, with a reverence befitting the worlds best opera singers.
