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If This Is Not A Place. . .
If this is not a place where tears are understood, Then where shall I go to cry? And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings, Then where shall I go to fly? I don't need another place for trying to impress you With just how good and virtuous I am. I don't need another place for always being on top of things; Everybody knows that it's a sham. I don't need another place for always wearing smiles, Even when it's not the way I feel. I don't need another place to mouth the same old platitudes; Everybody knows that it's not real. So if this is not a place where my questions can be asked, Then where shall I go to seek? And if this is not a place where my heart cry can be heard, Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak? So if this is not a place where tears are understood, Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly? -- Ken Medema

"Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun."
ReplyDeleteI'm preaching on "The one book you must read before you die (and how to)" this Sunday, so thanks for this illustration on Bible illiteracy Mark.
I find it ironic that in an age where there is a deluge of Bible translations and formats available we are experiencing (at the same time) a plethora of Biblical anorexics.
Perhaps if we made a catchy song of the 10 commandments???? That's the ONLY reason I know what's on a Big Mac - - - I don't like them. Blech!!
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in Marion, our children did a musical called Angels Aware and in it is a catchy little song of the 10 Commandments called the Perfect 10. Also, when our children were little there was an ABC special called The Original Top Ten.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad commentary on our culture
Mark,
ReplyDeleteI've been reflecting on this a bit and I have to admit that I don't think we should be surprised at all. Two reasons stand out in my mind. (1) We live in a post-Christian culture (Greg Boyd wrote an interesting book on this called "The Myth of a Christian Nation") that simply doesn't know about Christianity, let alone have any biblical literacy.
(2)Global branding (a la McD, Coke, Microsoft, Nike, etc)is more powerful and supported by more dollars than we can possibly imagine (for more, read Walsh & Keesmaat's "Colossians Remix: Subverting the Empire" - profound stuff).
Havind said that, in some ways it is an exciting time we're in - one more akin to the ancient world faced by Peter, Paul, & Company. So the question in my mind is, how do we reappropriate the Big Mac to illustrate the Kingdom of God?
DT