Devotions: Lauren Huff, cohort rep, CD89.

Here's the song Tim wrote and sang:

Live Cam Jerusalem - Western Wall

Rob Bell: Drops Like Stars Trailer from Creo Productions on Vimeo.

Remember this?

Here's the backstory by the writer..

Hugh Gallagher's College App Essay:
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This week, we wateched 25 min of the first hour of "Drops Like Stars" by Rob Bell... finish on Moodle...will continue next week.

So far, he's covered:

The Art of Disruption
The Art of Honesty
see the rest of this art here

VIDEO VENTURE: "Drops Like Stars" part 1

Include a comment about insulators.

--What did he say about text and context?

--What is the first art of suffering? . What (specifically) might you remember a year from now from this section, and why? Do your best to give a personal story or example that came to mind of how you have seen this art in your own life.

--What is the second art? . What specifically) might you remember a year from now from this section, and why? Do your best to give a personal story or example that came to mind of how you have seen this art in your own life

--This was a very inductive or EPIC film. Instead of traditional (RRWI) order, he told stories and illustrations of each art/point BEFORE he told you what the art/point was. Note he won't even reveal the meaning behind the film's title until the very end; in fact they are the last three words of the film. He also was very E (Experiential) in that he used props and audience interaction (much more in the second half). How do you respond to this kind of presentation? Mention your results (whether you were RRWI and EPIC) , It's possible RRWIs may be frustrated with this style of presentation, and EPICs might enjoy it. Discuss. True for you?

---Before watching the 2nd half of this,of the film, guess now what the other 4 arts of suffering might be. No worries if you don't guess correctly--your answers might be better than his! Here's some clues (first letters). They are all one word each; and it might help to think of them as (sometimes) sequential. Clues below (they are all one word, and first letter given). Post (or write down your guesses)

) Short summary, outline and response to the section of "Drops Like Stars" that we watched in class.. 2-3 paragraphs. Give at least one illustration for each 'art' covered tonight.. Mention the "obvious" chiasm you heard. Hint: he uses it to summarize the message of Paul (same guy who wrote Philemon),

b))Here below is an interview (2 shorts clips) with Rob Bell about the book and his life (optional) , and an excerpt (2 short clips) of his show on Oprah Network Add a comment about how the Oprah clips add to your understanding of the speaker and the topic of suffering

From Oprah:

Peter Popoff. Followup to your TV assignment:

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PSALMS

PSALMS are the Jewish prayer-book that the early Christians used. What's wonderful, refreshing, honest...and sometimes disturbing (to us in the West) is that they cover the whole breadth of life and emotion. They are all technically songs and prayers.. But note how some weave in and out from a person speaking to God, God speaking to a person, a person speaking to himself. Somehow, Hebraically, holistically, it all counts as prayer.

...And as "song" Note in your Bible that several psalms have inscriptions which give the name of the tune they are to be prayed/sung to. Some seem hilarious, counterintuitive, and contradictory, but again not to a Hebrew mindset and worldview, with room for honesty, fuzzy sets and paradox:

Psalms (click) with the line "Destroy my enemies", "break their teeth!!" ... To be sung to the tune of "Do Not Destroy" !! (Psalm 58:6)
Psalm 22, a depressing ditty about someone in the throes of rejection despair and death. To be sung to the tune of "Doe in the Morning" ??
Psalm 137:9 "Blessed is the one who
seize yours infants and violently dashes
them against the rocks"

Remember the Bono quote:

Click here for the audio (or watch here on Youtube) of this delightful statement by Bono:

"God is interested in truth, and only in truth. And that's why God is more interested in Rock & Roll music than Gospel... Many gospel musicians can't write about what's going on in their life, because it's not allowed . they can't write about their doubt....If you can't write about what's really going on in the world and your life, because it's all happy-clappy... Is God interested in that? I mean, 'Please, don't patronize Me! I want to go the Nine-Inch-Nails gig, they're talking the truth!
-Bono

From a 2003 discussion with New York Times, more audio here

"The Jewish disciples all worshipped Jesus, and some of those worshippers doubted." (matthew 28:17)

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In-class Instruction:

If Paul was in prison, and Onesimus came to him, where do you think he was?

Rome is 1,200 miles away , and would be a grueling journey on foot and by sea ( 1,200 miles on land, plus daring sea voyages which would themselves take 5-6 days)

Ephesus is about 100 miles away, a common walk in ancient world (3-4 days) .

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There are several ways to categorize the psalms.

The first is the way the Bible itself does: Psalms is broken down into 5 "books" Hmm, 5...does that sound familiar? Name another book with 5 sections and suggest an answer for "Whats up with the number 5?"

Note the 5 sections are not comprised of different kinds/genres of psalms..but the styles and kinds are "randomnly"

represented throught the book..

kind of like life..

Here is one way to categorize the styles and genres:

lament

imprecatory

praise

thanksgiving

petition

Walter Brueggemann suggests another helpful way to categorize the Psalms.

Orientation:

o Creation - in which we consider the world and our place in it

o Torah - in which we consider the importance of God's revealed will

o Wisdom - in which we consider the importance of living well

o Narrative - in which we consider our past and its influence on our present

o Psalms of Trust - in which we express our trust in God's care and goodness

q Disorientation:

o Lament - in which we/I express anger, frustration, confusion about God's (seeming?) absence

§ Communal

§ Individual

o Penitential - in which we/I express regret and sorrow over wrongs we have done

§ Communal

§ Individual

q Reorientation/New Oreientation

o Thanksgiving - in which we thank God for what God has done for us/me

§ Communal

§ Individual

o Hymns of Praise - in which we praise God for who God is

o Zion Psalms- in which we praise God for our home

o Royal Psalms - in which we consider the role of political leadership

o Covenant Renewal - in which we renew our relationship with God

-Bruggeman, source Click here.

note how astonishinglyHONEST the prayer/worship book of the Jews (and Christians) is!

We'll spend some time on the "three worlds" of Psalm 22, which Jesus quotes honestly on the cross:

Here (click title below) 's a sermon on Psalm 22, which is another amazing psalm to use in a worship setting...How often have you heard "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?" Or "God, where were YOU when I needed you!!"

(see

Sixpence and God both sneak a smoke

and

"Is there such a thing as Christian music?")

in a church song?

Yet how familiar is the very next psalm: 23.

Life is both Psalm 22 and 23...sometimes on the same day, in the same prayer.

If we think both/and...we think Hebrew.