Sermon for January 7th, 2018 - Revision history

Iraneal at 02:42, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T02:42:24Z

Iraneal at 02:27, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T02:27:01Z

Iraneal at 02:12, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T02:12:44Z

Iraneal at 01:49, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T01:49:04Z

Iraneal at 00:56, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T00:56:47Z

Iraneal at 00:21, 7 January 2018

2018-01-07T00:21:54Z

Iraneal at 23:05, 6 January 2018

2018-01-06T23:05:18Z

Iraneal at 19:13, 6 January 2018

2018-01-06T19:13:02Z

Iraneal at 19:06, 6 January 2018

2018-01-06T19:06:22Z

Iraneal at 18:26, 6 January 2018

2018-01-06T18:26:26Z

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 I think the point here is an intentional blurring of the lines between what is real and what is imagined, what actually IS and what might be.  Sometimes, if we're willing to see with our heart instead of our eyes... our reality can change.  Augie's school principal, Mr Tushman, puts it this way:
-[https://youtube.com/watch?v=GuKvnPOGI6g Film Clip #? Mr. Tushman]
+[https://youtube.com/watch?v=GuKvnPOGI6g Film Clip #2 Mr. Tushman]
 Augie can't change the way he looks (reality); so maybe we can change the way we see (imagination).  In that light, listen again to the Apostle Paul: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 Perhaps the greatest and most explicit theme in the film (and the tagline on most of the movie posters) comes early on from Augie's English teacher, Mr. Brown.  Of course it's the English teacher--God's most special representatives on earth!  Here's the clip:
-[https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #? - Choose Kind]
+[https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #3 - Choose Kind]
 Choose Kindness.  It's the standard by which every action in this film is judged, and the goal that all of the characters are ultimately working toward.

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 If we, as 21st century people of faith, want to understand and engage with the world around us, if we want to understand ourselves and the neighbors we are called to love, then we must look to the stories of our day--the good ones, the bad ones, the great ones--not blindly and uncritically, but also not simply to judge or condemn.  We look to our stories, our films to see, to recognize, and ultimately to share those places where God's story, where God's enduring themes of faith, hope and love shine through the silver screen.
-With that, let us turn to our first story:
+With that, let us turn to our first story, "Wonder."
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=paXQcEOUqAs Film Clip #1 - Trailer]
-====Three Minute Film Synopsis
+====Three Minute Film Synopsis====
 Wonder is the story of August Pullman (Augie), a young boy who suffers from Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disease that manifests in severe facial deformities, among other things.  The film is based on a best-selling novel by the same name, and spans Augie's first year of Middle School.
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 One more example of this: The very first, opening shot of the film is of Augie, in an imagined Astronaut costume, floating in space, with a backdrop of painted, cartoonish-looking stars.  The shot cuts to the "real" scene--Augie jumping on his bed with an astronaut helmet on, and the stars are painted decorations on the wall behind him.  But then in the very last scene of the movie we see Augie again floating in space, again in an astronaut costume...and this time, the stars are real.
-I think the point here is an intentional blurring of the lines between what is real and what is imagined, what is hoped for.  Sometimes, if we're willing to see with our heart instead of our eyes... our reality can change.  Augie's school principal, Mr Tushman, puts it this way:
+I think the point here is an intentional blurring of the lines between what is real and what is imagined, what actually IS and what might be.  Sometimes, if we're willing to see with our heart instead of our eyes... our reality can change.  Augie's school principal, Mr Tushman, puts it this way:
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=GuKvnPOGI6g Film Clip #? Mr. Tushman]
 Augie can't change the way he looks (reality); so maybe we can change the way we see (imagination).  In that light, listen again to the Apostle Paul: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."
 ====Choose Kindness====
@@ Line 64: / Line 66: @@
 It's also what the author of Colossians urges in today's scripture passage when he tells his readers to "get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language" and to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."
-Of course, I need to point out that this verse, along with the 451 other places in the Bible where the word "kindness" appears do not mean that Christianity has a monopoly on kindness.  It is a central tenet of our faith, but also of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and ever other major world religion.  Which is amazing, when you consider how hard it is for us to agree on anything that has anything to do with religious belief.  Perhaps choosing kindness would be a great place to start.
+Of course, I need to point out that this verse, along with the 451 other places in the Bible where the word "kindness" appears do not mean that Christianity has a monopoly on kindness.  It is a central tenet of our faith, but also of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and every other major world religion.  Which is amazing, when you consider how hard it is for us to agree on anything that has anything to do with religious belief.  Perhaps choosing kindness would be a great place to start.
-How do we do that?  I think we have to hear and remember the first part of Mr. Brown's precept:  "When given the choice between being right or kind..."  No religion has a monopoly on kindness, but most religions (including ours) passionately believe they have a monopoly on being right.  For that matter, so do most atheists I know.
+But how do we do that?  I think we have to hear and remember the first part of Mr. Brown's precept:  "When given the choice between being right or kind..."  No religion has a monopoly on kindness, but most religions (including ours) passionately believe they have a monopoly on being right.  For that matter, so do most atheists I know.
 There's a name for that:  Orthodoxy.  It's a Greek word that literally translates as "right thinking" or "right belief," and for most of the past millennium, it has been the golden standard that every denomination, every religious movement has claimed.  We're orthodox.  We're right.  You are not.
-But we are now 18 years into a new millennium, and perhaps it's time for a new standard, and new goal.
+But we are now 18 years into a new millennium, and perhaps it's time for a new standard, and new goal to strive for.
-There's a Greek word for that, too:  Orthopraxy.  It means "right practice," or "right action."  Choosing kindness over rightness is choosing action over belief.  It doesn't mean that we disregard all of our beliefs...it just means they become secondary to our actions, to being kind.
+I'd like to propose one.  There's a Greek word for it, too:  Orthopraxy.  It means "right practice," or "right action."  Choosing kindness over rightness is choosing action over belief.  It doesn't mean that we disregard all of our beliefs...it just means they become secondary to our actions, to being kind.
-I think if we, as people of faith, get this order of things right, if we hold on to our beliefs...but even more tightly to our practice of kindness, then (like Augie Pullman), we will grow, and we will pull all humanity upward along with us so that everyone triumphs together.  That would be real wonder, wouldn't it?
+I think if we, as people of faith, get this order of things right, if we hold on to our beliefs...but even more tightly to our practice of kindness, then (like Augie Pullman), we will grow together, and we will pull all humanity upward along with us so that everyone triumphs together.  That would be real wonder, wouldn't it?

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ====Choose Kindness====
-Perhaps the greatest and most explicit theme in the film (and the tagline on most of the movie posters) comes early on from Augie's English teacher.  Of course it's the English teacher--God's most special representatives on earth!  Here's the clip:
+Perhaps the greatest and most explicit theme in the film (and the tagline on most of the movie posters) comes early on from Augie's English teacher, Mr. Brown.  Of course it's the English teacher--God's most special representatives on earth!  Here's the clip:
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #? - Choose Kind]
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 It's also what the author of Colossians urges in today's scripture passage when he tells his readers to "get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language" and to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."
-Of course, I need to point out that this verse, along with the 451 other places in the Bible where the word "kindness" appears do not mean that Christianity has a monopoly on kindness.  It is a central tenet of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and ever other major world religion.  Which is amazing, when you consider how hard it is for us to agree on anything that has anything to do with religious belief.  Perhaps choosing kindness would be a great place to start.
+Of course, I need to point out that this verse, along with the 451 other places in the Bible where the word "kindness" appears do not mean that Christianity has a monopoly on kindness.  It is a central tenet of our faith, but also of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and ever other major world religion.  Which is amazing, when you consider how hard it is for us to agree on anything that has anything to do with religious belief.  Perhaps choosing kindness would be a great place to start.
-How do we do that?  We have to remember the first part of the precept:  When given the
+How do we do that?  I think we have to hear and remember the first part of Mr. Brown's precept:  "When given the choice between being right or kind..."  No religion has a monopoly on kindness, but most religions (including ours) passionately believe they have a monopoly on being right.  For that matter, so do most atheists I know.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:49, 7 January 2018
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	[https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #? - Choose Kind]		[https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #? - Choose Kind]
		+
		+	Choose Kindness. It's the standard by which every action in this film is judged, and the goal that all of the characters are ultimately working toward.
		+
		+	It's also what the author of Colossians urges in today's scripture passage when he tells his readers to "get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language" and to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."
		+
		+	Of course, I need to point out that this verse, along with the 451 other places in the Bible where the word "kindness" appears do not mean that Christianity has a monopoly on kindness. It is a central tenet of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and ever other major world religion. Which is amazing, when you consider how hard it is for us to agree on anything that has anything to do with religious belief. Perhaps choosing kindness would be a great place to start.
		+
		+	How do we do that? We have to remember the first part of the precept: When given the

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 The relationship between Augie and his best friend Jack Wills is reminiscent of the friendship between David and Jonathan.
-As David grows into a young man, he is rejected by King Saul and made an outcast, but eventually his heart and his character draw more and more people to his side, so that when he triumphantly enters Jerusalem, everyone triumphs with him.  That, of course, is also the plot of Wonder.
+As David grows into a young man, he is rejected by King Saul and lives for a time in isolation as an outcast, but eventually his heart and his character draw more and more people to his side, so that when he finally enters Jerusalem in triumph, he has pulled along most of his fellow Israelites, and David's triumphs become their triumphs.  That, of course, is also the plot of Wonder.
 ====Through a Glass, Darkly====
-Fantasy/Reality
+In 1 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul writes that "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known." It's a great verse, because it implies that what we call "reality"--this world, here and now--may not be the true reality, but just a dim reflection of what is ultimately possible.
 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known."
 ====Choose Kindness====
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=kjBAh04GV_s Film Clip #? - Choose Kind]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 Today begins a seven-week series on Faith and Film--specifically we'll consider eight films that came out in the past year, spanning a wide variety of genres and styles, and we'll consider the places where those films intersect with questions of faith, spirituality, and our own Christian story.
-This is also the sixth year in a row we've done this, and while some of you are very familiar with the reasons why we do this series every year, some of you may not be, so it bears repeating.
+Unfortunately, it's become popular in some churches to denounce "Hollywood" as a godless, immoral seducer of young minds, but I think that's giving Hollywood too much credit.  Writers, directors, producers, actors--like storytellers of every age--are most inclined to tell the stories that people most want to see and hear.
-Films are the great storytelling vehicle of our era.  I believe that hundreds of years from now, we will be remembered for our films in the same way that we remember the Victorians for their novels, the Elizabethans for their Drama, and the Ancient Greeks for their epic poetry. That doesn't mean that all films are good (there were plenty of lousy Elizabethan plays and terrible Victorian novels, too!).  But good, bad, or great, every story that we as a culture tell and flock to see in droves, also tells us a story about ourselves.
+So while a great story can make us think or inspire us to change, more often our stories are simply a reflection of what we value, what moves us and stirs us, what hopes, fears, dreams we cling to, and what's on our collective minds in any given moment.
-It's become popular in some churches to denounce "Hollywood" as a godless, immoral seducer of young minds, but I think that's giving Hollywood too much credit.  Writers, directors, producers, actors--like storytellers of every age--are most inclined to tell the stories that people most want to see and hear.
+In the 20th century, the famous Reformed theologian Karl Barth said that we should preach the gospel with the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other.  Likewise, Jesus himself preached using parables, stories that drew from the familiar elements, customs, and events of his own culture.
-Sometimes a great story can make us think or inspire us to change, but more often, our stories are simply a reflection of what we value, what moves us and stirs us, what hopes, fears, dreams we cling to, and what's on our collective minds in any given moment.
+If we, as 21st century people of faith, want to understand and engage with the world around us, if we want to understand ourselves and the neighbors we are called to love, then we must look to the stories of our day--the good ones, the bad ones, the great ones--not blindly and uncritically, but also not simply to judge or condemn.  We look to our stories, our films to see, to recognize, and ultimately to share those places where God's story, where God's enduring themes of faith, hope and love shine through the silver screen.
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=paXQcEOUqAs Film Clip #1 - Trailer]
 ====And a Little Child Shall Lead Them====
-Augie - August (to increase) - pullman
+Names are important, and often have significant meaning.  This is certainly true in the Bible, and in most great stories as well.  In this film, our protagonist is August Pullman.  August is a Roman or Latin name that means to grow, to increase (think of the related word, to "augment).  I suspect that his last name, Pullman, is exactly what it sounds like.  Pull man.  As Augie grows through his experiences, he pulls along his fellow man, so that everyone triumphs together.
-David (david and jonathan), Jesus
+The relationship between Augie and his best friend Jack Wills is reminiscent of the friendship between David and Jonathan.
 ====Through a Glass, Darkly====

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
-As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive
+As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
 ==Faith & Film VI: Wonder==
 ====Three Minute Film Summary====
 [https://youtube.com/watch?v=paXQcEOUqAs Film Clip #1 - Trailer]
 ====And a Child Shall Lead Them====
-King David
 ====Through a Glass, Darkly====
 Fantasy/Reality
 ====Choose Kindness====