tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post5283521847908880514..comments2024-03-27T03:25:08.267-07:00Comments on Life in the Shoe: Another Annual RantDorcashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-42233784124258581502009-08-30T10:26:10.043-07:002009-08-30T10:26:10.043-07:00I too find it difficult to sort through everything...I too find it difficult to sort through everything available today to find wholesome, inspiring, and spiritually stretching books and music for my family. Some of the artists on Christian radio sound so sultry that it's impossible to believe they are singing praise to an awesome and amazing God instead of their romantic interest. Sometimes I think artists go into the Christian genre because its easier to break into. <br /> There are some, though, that bless and uplift my spirit, remind me of my higher goal instead of letting me wallow in tedious details of daily life, and that soften and bruise my stubborn and prideful heart. <br /> I have a feeling that if the catalogs only sold the "good stuff" they would soon only advertise the good stuff. Somebody is buying that "garbage" or it wouldn't be getting the paper space and ink. Too many Christians are buying the junk, and maybe too few are buying the good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-26223344687257221072009-08-01T08:08:55.064-07:002009-08-01T08:08:55.064-07:00Interesting stuff...
VOP has been told that we try...Interesting stuff...<br />VOP has been told that we try to hard to be good. Doesn't make sense to me...Glen Zehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213414392406841460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-47761451078767032342009-07-29T20:42:22.057-07:002009-07-29T20:42:22.057-07:00The last comment spiked my interest- interestingly...The last comment spiked my interest- interestingly enough "Raze" was dismantled a few years ago after one of the members was convicted of improper relations with a minor. <br /><br /> Reminded me of the hugely popular group "Plus 1" a so-called Christian boy band of yesteryear. Same shallow lyrics, multiple body piercings, tattoos, you name it. The group apparently broke up after only producing 2 CD's, and now some of the members are part of a mainstream hardcore rock band, who happen to claim no part of Christianity.<br /><br /> However, I think we are mistaken to classify all mainstream Christian music as shallow and insincere. While certainly many, or perhaps most are in it for the money, I find musicians like Fernando Ortega to be completely inspiring. <br /><br /> I do find it interesting that artists such as Ortega, Chris Rice, and Michael Card are completely at home singing the "same old hymns" our grandparents grew up singing. They recognize, or at least appear to recognize, that worship goes just a bit deeper than simply appealing to one's emotions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-67008712866850528912009-07-28T21:09:17.262-07:002009-07-28T21:09:17.262-07:00This echoes a rant I've given often. Although ...This echoes a rant I've given often. Although the dark worldview reflected in a lot of "heavier" music isn't necessarily healthy as a major part of the diet, I see it as much more "true" than the mindless positivism I see reflected in a lot of the "Christian" drivel produced today. My favorite example, from the last Wow CD I purchased a few years back, is a song by Raze. An excerpt: "Follow your dreams / and you will see / anything you want you can achieve! Time to begin / fly like the wind / tearing down these walls you will be free." Shane Claiborne has an excellent term for such stuff: "chicken poop for the soul."<br /><br />I'm glad to read good Christian writing when I find it, and to listen to good Christian music when I find it. I believe a lot of each exists. But, I think we need many, many more consumers like Matt, people who will resoundingly reject...um..."garbage" even if its producer tries to hide mediocrity behind a "Christian" label, and will find good content wherever it exists.<br /><br />Christianity shouldn't be a consumer-goods demographic. Christianity is about loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and our neighbors as ourselves. In that sort of passionate pursuit, there is absolutely no place for producing garbage. There's no place for consuming garbage. Doing either is, ultimately, proclaiming a worthless god. Though I'm hardly a perfect ambassador, I do get peeved at the prevalence of such gross misrepresentations of God.<br /><br />Anyway...it's late, and there's far more to say than time in which to say it, and my wife's waiting for me. <br /><br />Excellence--good, wherever it is found. Mediocrity--bad, wherever it is found. Alignment with God--good, wherever it is found.EldestSonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-57505230209192838242009-07-28T14:52:47.031-07:002009-07-28T14:52:47.031-07:00I rant with you, and more frequently than once a y...I rant with you, and more frequently than once a year. I am angry at the fluff that is 'Christian'. I believe in the power of story and good literature, and why don't Christians tap into that power?<br />I rarely read novels, and then even more rarely 'Christian' ones. My reason is maybe arrogant, but I resent spending the time/money on a book that doesn't stretch me in some way. I don't know a Christian novel that surprises you with its conflict and resolution. Read the first chapter, and you know what's going to happen. I resent that. <br />And then I remember that before I criticize something, I should be prepared to offer a better alternative, and I'm not doing that. Maybe when I'm 60 I can write fiction. For now, I'll enjoy 'The Secret Life of Bees' and Rummer Godden.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-89692741434340034152009-07-27T08:30:11.716-07:002009-07-27T08:30:11.716-07:00I wonder what anyone one of the people who died fo...I wonder what anyone one of the people who died for their faith, in SCHINDLERS LIST,would have to say about this post?T. Bontragernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-57129219981034475912009-07-26T16:58:54.489-07:002009-07-26T16:58:54.489-07:00One of the last of those all-the-rage-Amish books ...One of the last of those all-the-rage-Amish books I saw had a girl on the cover wearing a giant covering...and definitely lots of makeup. <br /><br />Very authentic. Ha. ha. ha.Laurahttp://www.xanga.com/lollyjanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-84128178728559392042009-07-24T16:54:05.220-07:002009-07-24T16:54:05.220-07:00http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/t/sthydynl.htmhttp://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/t/sthydynl.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-54808664793406862922009-07-24T16:53:11.138-07:002009-07-24T16:53:11.138-07:00Lots of anonymous people :) I think I'll jo...Lots of anonymous people :) I think I'll join them, just this once. I agree with your post Dorcas. I just hear this song being sung by the Altar of Praise Chorale and couldn't help think, why aren't songs of this calibre written by today's "top Christian music artists"... maybe because we are satisfied to buy Coolwhip instead of demanding a five course meal? <br /><br />Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest me.<br />Nor should I aught withhold, dear Lord, from Thee.<br />In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfill its vow,<br />Some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee.<br /><br />O’er the blest mercy seat, pleading for me,<br />My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee.<br />Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare,<br />Some song to raise, or prayer, something for Thee.<br /><br />Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee.<br />That each departing day henceforth may see<br />Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,<br />Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee.<br /><br />All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,<br />In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee!<br />And when Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be<br />Through all eternity, something for Thee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-58552471378654815202009-07-24T05:27:51.611-07:002009-07-24T05:27:51.611-07:00From my experience as an Anabaptist/Mennonite we h...From my experience as an Anabaptist/Mennonite we have long majored on our words being the ultimate judge of our hearts.<br /><br />Maybe those who say things like "words don't matter" are really reacting to that rather than deeply believing it. I'm not defending that, but saying that either end of the spectrum is wrong. There is also the verse - 1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (KJV)<br /><br />A lot of us have scars from the outlook of just doing/saying things correctly and out of that often come reaction. <br />Now it seems like there is reaction to that reaction. <br />Living out of reaction (I seem to be stuck on that word) is seldom redemptive. <br /><br />This seems to have strayed rather far from the original subject matter, sorry Mrs. Smucker. <br /><br />And now I think I shall see what remaining anonymous feels like :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-1994147239340301742009-07-23T23:43:06.867-07:002009-07-23T23:43:06.867-07:00I agree with Anonymous. However, as I watch what h...I agree with Anonymous. However, as I watch what happens when Mennonites (and Anabaptists in general) attempt to engage the culture, I understand why there is fear... But the problem is not with engaging the culture... the problem is that so many Anabaptists do not think Christianly, have a solidly Biblical worldview and so often do not base their thinking on Scripture alone. <br /><br />Something that is absolutely horrifying to me, is that Mennonites/Anabaptists gravitate toward theologically liberal thinkers like Peter Kreeft, or Henry Nouwen, and/or shallow psychological manipulation (i.e. Eldredge, Larry Crabb and the like). Seriously, how many Mennonites/Anabaptists have read The God Who is There, He is There and He is Not Silent, How Should We Then Live? (Francis Schaeffer), Psychobabble (Richard Ganz), The Death of Truth (Dennis McCallum) The Reformers and Their Stepchildren (Leonard Verduin). <br /><br />I had a Mennonite Minister (!!!) tell me point blank that "words don't matter," -that it is what is in the heart that counts, not the words that are spoken, and basically that there is no absolute truth, that reality is relative, etc. <br /> <br />But in the Bible I read, <br />"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks... But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:34b, 36-37) <br /><br />Why such a disconnect? Reading "Christian" psychological trash, to put it bluntly, instead of basing worldview and thinking on Bible principles...<br /><br />I'm an Anabaptist young woman, but most of the time, I feel like a fish out of water with my peers because they rave about trash like "Captivating," "Fascinating Womanhood," etc. <br /><br />Anyway, I shall get down off my soap box. And with the last statement there, I have just decided that I shall remain anonymous :-).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-221243954822392132009-07-23T20:03:40.797-07:002009-07-23T20:03:40.797-07:00Well...what to say? At the risk of generalization,...Well...what to say? At the risk of generalization, we as Mennonites decry the current state of the arts, but we're scared of engaging the culture. Until we get out there to be salt and light, it's still going to be flavorless and dark.<br /><br />Freaky, yeah, but maybe the Christian walk wasn't meant to be as "safe" as we've made it.<br /><br />I'm not saying this to be divisive or cynical. Just wishing there were others who shared this vision--and that we wouldn't have to automatically be labeled "weird". :-)<br /><br />Not that I intend to allow man's labels to keep me from God's call.<br /><br />Enjoyed your musings.<br /><br />-Anonymous CowardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-66293479881929266482009-07-23T16:18:23.194-07:002009-07-23T16:18:23.194-07:00Just wondering if you've read Jan Karon's ...Just wondering if you've read Jan Karon's books; The Mitford Series. Many people consider these Christian Fiction although they are not the "caliber" you talk about in your post. They are excellent, awesome character description, intriguing plot and story line with a hint of mystery and not a lot of "fluff" like the books you described!! I own each one of her books. (I own yours too, except I haven't gotten the last one yet.) :O)Karenhttp://www.xanga.com/Farm_Grandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-51340160308231373062009-07-23T07:08:37.148-07:002009-07-23T07:08:37.148-07:00Voice of Praise at your breakfast table? They must...Voice of Praise at your breakfast table? They must have been in Oregon or something.Mark Rothhttp://www.eaf.net/mvp/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-18587274011149106512009-07-23T05:59:25.326-07:002009-07-23T05:59:25.326-07:00Many years ago, at a writers' conference, I he...Many years ago, at a writers' conference, I heard Christian author Walt Wangerin say that many secular novels were wonderfully written but their final message was (often) desolation. On the other hand, he noted many Christian books with their hopeful message were poorly written. He urged writers to aim for excellence.DramaMamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07845451863929078093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-24298304970138724112009-07-23T04:14:31.942-07:002009-07-23T04:14:31.942-07:00Love the Cool Whip analogy. So very true.
At the ...Love the Cool Whip analogy. So very true. <br />At the library the other day I was wondering why there is so much fluff in the children's dept, Christian and non-Christian. Where are our A.A. Milne's and Laura Ingalls Wilders? The occasional Newberry Award winner is pretty good but I wondered if anyone is creating classics for children these days? We like Patricia Pollack and Bill Peet, any other suggestions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-36153985119835149182009-07-22T23:31:34.792-07:002009-07-22T23:31:34.792-07:00I haven't read the book Schindler's List, ...I haven't read the book Schindler's List, but I watched the movie... and that's one of the most moving movies I've seen in a while. Will have to read the book.Beth P.noreply@blogger.com