tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.comments2015-12-26T03:32:34.658-08:00The Stories in Which We Find Ourselves<a href="http://melvinbray.com"><b>Melvin Bray</b></a>, coordinating storytellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11499300990901184888noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-32166075909766659762011-12-24T08:51:52.009-08:002011-12-24T08:51:52.009-08:00dana, that's exactly how i hope a reimagining ...dana, that's exactly how i hope a reimagining of our stories will work on us. our stories of faith shouldn't just be about those naughty folks over there, but they should indict us who hold them dear, no matter how on the side of right we fancy ourselves being.<br /><br />thanks so much for your comment, old friend!<br /><br />much love,<br />melvin<a href="http://melvinbray.com"><b>Melvin Bray</b></a>, coordinating storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499300990901184888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-72524787388472316802011-12-24T07:50:41.002-08:002011-12-24T07:50:41.002-08:00So... I've spent the last several minutes read...So... I've spent the last several minutes reading the installments of Noah's story...<br />And... I confess, found myself on the 'wrong side' of the story... Where people have lost sight of their own humanity and the dignity of their fellow humans.<br />I agree that if Noah's family were who Elohim meant them to be (I.e., people who think and feel as Elohim does), they, too, would be weeping at the 'unnecessary' loss of life. So many provisions had been made for them (as for me/us), yet 'life' and pride prevented them from recognizing the grace that was being offered, and taking the necessary steps to take proper advantage of it.<br />How is it that I can see their fault so clearly, and recognize the similarities in my own existence, and yet still find myself sometimes unwilling to do or be different?Dana A Winston: The Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017999389547449664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-12131534934058345062011-09-29T19:02:23.434-07:002011-09-29T19:02:23.434-07:00"yo' mama" jokes are a favorite past..."yo' mama" jokes are a favorite pastime for kids growing up in American inner-cities (at least that was the case in the '80s!). my friends and i use to stay up half the night trying to come up with the best. <br /><br />i still haven't settled on exactly which "yo, noah" adaptations will become permanent fixtures in episode 2 of the noah saga. as i've searched, some of my favorites have been:<br />-"yo, noah's so old his SSN is 1!"<br />-"yo, noah's so old i was afraid if i told him to act his age he'd drop dead!" (brutal)<br />-"yo, noah's so broke he can't even pay attention!" (classic)<br /><br />add a comment with your best "yo, noah" joke, and it may make it in the story!<a href="http://melvinbray.com"><b>Melvin Bray</b></a>, coordinating storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499300990901184888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-55483075867855712082010-06-27T14:23:31.528-07:002010-06-27T14:23:31.528-07:00THANKS, jesse!THANKS, jesse!<a href="http://melvinbray.com"><b>Melvin Bray</b></a>, coordinating storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499300990901184888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-11791353359988129872010-06-27T08:23:50.918-07:002010-06-27T08:23:50.918-07:00The first story is by Nancy Jarosi. She's a ve...The first story is by Nancy Jarosi. She's a very talented writer, and we are glad she's a member of our little Central Ohio Emergent Cohort!Jessehttp://emergentcentralohio.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-27822323978303413332010-05-15T15:12:41.900-07:002010-05-15T15:12:41.900-07:00What? You got my hopes up - and then the links ju...What? You got my hopes up - and then the links just open an error page. I s'pose that could be a profound comment on an approach to discipline, but I was hoping for something a little more detailed... :)Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04591808128541140038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-61004392971678268162006-09-16T23:41:00.000-07:002006-09-16T23:41:00.000-07:00i am going through a whole deconstruction of what ...i am going through a whole deconstruction of what i have been taught about the Bible. i am reading a great book by Marcus Borg, "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time", and it has been enlightening and freeing. i have almost walked away from Christianity several times and this book is helping me see the Bible in a fresh way and in a new light. Glad to see your blog and looking forward to reading more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-89731220907391293222006-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:002006-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:00Melvin,
I whole heartedly agree with so much you ...Melvin,<br /><br />I whole heartedly agree with so much you said, and do. I think studying psychology helped me in many areas. I am a much different parent than my parents were. I think where it would have been easy to repeat unproductive, and unhealthy cycles, I have been able to move to a different place.<br /><br />As for the stories, I am searching for the age appropriate balance. For instance, I don't plan to discuss the deaths of all people except Noah, any time soon with my children. I would much rather emphasize how Noah and his family were taken care of through the flood, because he had found favor with God. Maybe emphasize the honorable traits God would like to see within us. My daughter is very sensitive to death etc. right now. I know in time these discussions will come, but especially at younger ages, I think heavy topics should be left up to the parents and how they want to handle them.<br /><br />Too many times in churches I see really graphic ideas, or we think that kids "need" to get every detail of the story. I wouldn't want my kids to see many of these stories played out in movies. Honestly, at my kids ages I have been focusing on Jesus, the kingdom, fruits of the Spirit etc.<br /><br />I was raised where spanking ("spare the rod") was top in our home. What I have realized as a parent and as I grow, is that so much of that was not done appropriately, and it didn't evoke the proper behavior etc. If anything it bred more anger, resentment, frustration, and temper problems. I know that this isn't the case all of the time, but for me, I have gotten away from it. I honestly haven't spanked either of my kids in quite awhile. I found that the times I would spank, it was more for my benefit (ie. control, venting anger etc.) than it really was for them. My kids are young, and we really have tried to reinforce positives, and discipline with other consequences. Now that my daughter has started school, we have found that she is really responsive to disappointing us more than anything, especially disappointing daddy.<br /><br />With that in mind, maybe that is more what I am grasping. That the "fear" of God should be less vengeful in our storytelling with more emphasis put the idea that when poor choices are made there can be very real consequences. As you said, tell the stories from the point of Grace or that God's work is to reconcile the world. Obviously, those thoughts are intense for young ones, which is why I focus at this point on what I do. Thanks so much for the dialog. I will definitely post a link on Emerging Women.<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />MicheleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-1157481765327940642006-09-05T11:42:00.000-07:002006-09-05T11:42:00.000-07:00Melvin,I'm glad you have this blog up and running....Melvin,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you have this blog up and running. Your creativity is inspiring! This kind of stuff would be great to bring to the ATL cohort in a more deliberate capacity. Let's talk. Peace,<BR/><BR/>JakeJakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235423730916095407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-1157407482859082162006-09-04T15:04:00.000-07:002006-09-04T15:04:00.000-07:00I'm with you, Michele!I'm with you, Michele!<a href="http://melvinbray.com"><b>Melvin Bray</b></a>, coordinating storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11499300990901184888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33646337.post-1157313514952849162006-09-03T12:58:00.000-07:002006-09-03T12:58:00.000-07:00One thing that I did not take from the Creation st...One thing that I did not take from the Creation story as a child, was a sense of responsibility and love for/of creation. The message I received was more personal as if it was created just for me and "my" use.<BR/>The other thing I was taught was the 7th day rest and holiness was to get me in church and make sure I didn't "do" other things. I now get a sense of rest being about enjoying creation, taking time to ponder, sense and seek God, commune with others. Especially in this busy world it is very easy to get lost in the rush.<BR/>I would like to see beauty and love, the wonder, the peace and tranquility, and the responsibility become part of the creation story.Michele Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624537900384039231noreply@blogger.com