Stephen King wrote an article for Entertainment Weekly back in 2004 called "Lines to Live By." And I have to agree. He said, "I have a theory that Americans fall into two groups: those who are passionate about movies and those who aren't. Those who are live in families that develop a whole stock of great lines, a kind of inner slanguage that helps to trace a family's growth just as accurately (and sometimes just as poignantly) as old videotapes or Kodaks in a scrapbook."
As we sat at dinner the other night, just the girls and I, I looked out the window and said, "Squirrel!" Catlyn IMMEDIATELY said, "I hate squirrels." And if you have seen UP, you understand. My precious daughter doesn't really hate squirrels, she was just quoting the movie. And from there, we immediately start with other quotes. My favorite? "It's funny because the squirrel gets dead." :) Then we move on to other movies. If you go up to Catlyn and say, "Gummy bears, gummy bears, gummy bears!" She will, without skipping a beat, say, "Not now, Steve." She will probably even roll her eyes and sound exasperated. :) (That is from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) Another favorite from that movie is, "You did it, Chicken Brent!!" :) They will do the "super bark" from Bolt. They will quote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the Johnny Depp version, of course). We have been thoroughly enjoying watching movies with them, then repeating our favorite lines over and over...and over and over. :)
Perhaps they get this from their mom and dad who can have whole conversations using Simpsons quotes or Venture Brothers quotes. :) Whatever the case, we have become a family who will quote movies. I can't wait to hear the next round of quotes.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Okay, Lord
Okay, Lord. I guess that's all I can say right now. I suppose I could get frustrated, swear, and hide in my closet. What good would that do me? This past week...a favorite teacher of mine died, a classmate from high school died, my mother was diagnosed with early signs of Parkinson's, and the house we're renting was put up for sale. Really? A little part of me is in the closet, on the floor in tears, swearing at the top of my lungs. (For those of you who have had it worse, I apologize for my pettiness, and I'm praying hard for you) The other part of me is smiling and saying, "Okay, Lord, bring it on. What would you like me to learn?" Have I forgotten how to trust in Him? I don't think so, but there's something going on here. God doesn't "coincidentally" bring things into our lives. He has everything planned. To the second. So, I can fight, and kick and scream like a 2-year-old. Or I can behave like the 35-year-old Christian I am (a Christian for 35 years), and relax. Becoming a Christian at 4 years old does not guarantee a smooth and easy life. Relatively, it has been a breeze. And I will praise the Lord for that. I will welcome everything with joy and the knowledge it is happening for a reason. God will use all things for my good. Even if I completely screw up. That was a bit of a shock to me when I actually read that passage carefully. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV) ALL THINGS. Everything. He will help us grow and learn and become more like Him when we seek His will. I could throw everything away and become bitter. But when I look around...when I see my beautiful, perfect Hannah who had hydrocephalus before being healed, when I see my Catlyn who I thought should have been a boy but has been the perfect little girl I needed, when I look at the gorgeous trees and mountains around me, gaze at the beautiful full moon, gawk at the infinite universe that some scientists still think HAS to contain other intelligent life, I just can't doubt my AWESOME God. I KNOW He will work things out for us. I KNOW He has a plan for us. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-12) So I will. I will call upon Him. I will give Him today, tonight, tomorrow, and the future. And...I'm not going to stress. 'Cause He's got it. :) No point in me worrying when He will point me in the right direction when I listen. So, I'll listen. I will give every day to Him and know He will provide what is best. And sometimes the "best" is hard. Sometimes we need to be refined. Not a pleasant process...but the end result? PERFECTION in heaven. That's good enough for me. Okay, Lord. :)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Prodigal Son
For the past few months, Pastor Rick has been preaching on hospitality and has used Luke 15:11-32--the story of the prodigal son--for a major part of it. Before this series I probably could have told you every detail about that parable. I could have told you I sometimes relate more to the elder son than the younger, and I would have told you that's not a good thing. I knew the story. I knew the reason Jesus told it. But I hadn't stopped to think about everything behind it. There are times when you really need to remember what society was like when Jesus was telling this story. The elder son was not just grumpy, he was downright disobedient and rude. Eep. The father was not just forgiving, he was completely selfless.
Back then, and even now, asking for your inheritance would be highly insulting. It would be basically saying, "I'm eager for you to die, get on with it." The Pharisees listening to the story would have been shocked to hear the father actually giving the sons their inheritance. A Jewish patriarch NEVER would have granted this request. The father would have been looked down upon as well.
The father RAN to the son when he returned. Back then, men did NOT run. It was highly improper and would have been humiliating. Why did he do it? Was he just so excited he couldn't bother with societal rules? Or did he decide to do something so humiliating people would be talking about HIM instead of this son who should be shunned? Or did he run to get to the son before the community could publicly declare him unwelcome, which they definitely would have done?
The father gave him his robe, saying he was forgiven and welcomed back into the family. The father gave him a ring--like giving him the family credit card--saying he was trusted. The father gave him shoes, setting him apart from the slaves. The father called for the fattened calf, saying he was inviting everyone in the community, not just family. A family celebration would have made do with chickens or something less extravagant than a calf.
Instead of being an object of ridicule, the son became an object of sympathy. The message to the prodigal? "If you are lost, TURN and go Home."
Now the elder son...apparently while the father was planning this party, the older brother was working in the fields and didn't even receive an invitation, or maybe was too busy to stop when a servant came to tell him? When he returns to the house and hears the music and dancing, he is angry and refuses to go in. His first insult to his father. In that society, the elder son would have been the one welcoming people as they came so the father could mingle. Then, when his father comes out to plead with him (another insult--making his father leave the party), the first words out of his mouth were, "Look!" Never would you address someone without a title first. Even those who hated Jesus addressed him as "Teacher." The son says he has been "slaving" for the father. But, technically, he was working his own fields since the father had given HIM his inheritance as well. (Another insult, since decency would have demanded he refuse his inheritance when the father was splitting it up.) He also lies. He says he has "never disobeyed your orders." But he just refused to go into the party. "This older boy who looks so good on paper was just as lost as the younger."
The older brother wasn't necessarily upset his brother was back--he was upset his father had welcomed him. And even more upset that he was giving him a party! But the party wasn't for the son, it was for the father. If you look back at the parables Jesus linked to this one--about the sheep and the coin--you see parties being thrown. Not for the sheep or for the coin, but for the shepherd and the woman because they were happy the lost thing had been recovered. The father threw a party because he wanted to rejoice. So, the younger son, who completely messed up, is at the party. And the older son, who followed the rules, is stuck outside.
We need to decide if we are going to stay outside and grumble or go in and party. Incidentally, where is the father at the end? He is outside with the older son, still pleading with him. We have a God Who seeks the lost.
Back then, and even now, asking for your inheritance would be highly insulting. It would be basically saying, "I'm eager for you to die, get on with it." The Pharisees listening to the story would have been shocked to hear the father actually giving the sons their inheritance. A Jewish patriarch NEVER would have granted this request. The father would have been looked down upon as well.
The father RAN to the son when he returned. Back then, men did NOT run. It was highly improper and would have been humiliating. Why did he do it? Was he just so excited he couldn't bother with societal rules? Or did he decide to do something so humiliating people would be talking about HIM instead of this son who should be shunned? Or did he run to get to the son before the community could publicly declare him unwelcome, which they definitely would have done?
The father gave him his robe, saying he was forgiven and welcomed back into the family. The father gave him a ring--like giving him the family credit card--saying he was trusted. The father gave him shoes, setting him apart from the slaves. The father called for the fattened calf, saying he was inviting everyone in the community, not just family. A family celebration would have made do with chickens or something less extravagant than a calf.
Instead of being an object of ridicule, the son became an object of sympathy. The message to the prodigal? "If you are lost, TURN and go Home."
Now the elder son...apparently while the father was planning this party, the older brother was working in the fields and didn't even receive an invitation, or maybe was too busy to stop when a servant came to tell him? When he returns to the house and hears the music and dancing, he is angry and refuses to go in. His first insult to his father. In that society, the elder son would have been the one welcoming people as they came so the father could mingle. Then, when his father comes out to plead with him (another insult--making his father leave the party), the first words out of his mouth were, "Look!" Never would you address someone without a title first. Even those who hated Jesus addressed him as "Teacher." The son says he has been "slaving" for the father. But, technically, he was working his own fields since the father had given HIM his inheritance as well. (Another insult, since decency would have demanded he refuse his inheritance when the father was splitting it up.) He also lies. He says he has "never disobeyed your orders." But he just refused to go into the party. "This older boy who looks so good on paper was just as lost as the younger."
The older brother wasn't necessarily upset his brother was back--he was upset his father had welcomed him. And even more upset that he was giving him a party! But the party wasn't for the son, it was for the father. If you look back at the parables Jesus linked to this one--about the sheep and the coin--you see parties being thrown. Not for the sheep or for the coin, but for the shepherd and the woman because they were happy the lost thing had been recovered. The father threw a party because he wanted to rejoice. So, the younger son, who completely messed up, is at the party. And the older son, who followed the rules, is stuck outside.
We need to decide if we are going to stay outside and grumble or go in and party. Incidentally, where is the father at the end? He is outside with the older son, still pleading with him. We have a God Who seeks the lost.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)