the story of interpretation

... is very similar to perception.

For example...

"The difference between a mountain & a molehill is your perspective." - Al Neuharth
"Beauty is altogether in the eye of the beholder" - Lew Wallace
"If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is ugliness" - Unknown

No matter what story you are telling, you are telling it from a point of view. I have my own experiences, assumptions, presuppositions, and purpose for telling the story. And at the very same time someone is having to interpret it from there point of view with their own experiences, assumptions, presuppositions, and purpose for listening.

In the Scripture it is very obvious that the gospel stories (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) were written from different experiences, approaches, and minor differences in purpose.

For example Luke is a gentile and gives a full account as a gentile in the 1st century that another gentile could easily follow. When someone like you and me read it from a 21-century Western America, we read it differently than he wrote it (and I'm not taking in the account the Greek to English Translation which is another difference). Just as someone from 21-century Africa would read it with different emphasis then I would because of there life and circumstances. This book taught me a lot about this subject.

When telling a story; know your audience, know how they interpret. Create a shared experience as you are telling the story. Because it makes for a common stepping off point for the story (and purpose) that you are trying to communicate.

After all we are all human - mind, body, and soul! Tell a story!

the story behind the picture...

We've all heard the expression that 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. Which is true. But what I don't want to overlook is the story behind the picture. Or you could say the story that the picture captured.

This photo is one of my favorites. At this time in our relationship we were dating. This particular day we were playing croquet at my grandpa's house with some family members. I'm not even sure what the occasion was, a birthday or something.



The story behind this particular picture is obvious. It's a young man, completely and emphatically, in love with a young woman. He completely desires to absorb her in every way. Her smell, her touch, her love.

I love you Sondra! More today than I did then.

Get into the STORY

I am blessed to get to go to Story this year. Oct 28, Ben Arment, put together a one of a kind experience that you are not going to want to miss!

This week I'm going to use the 'Story' theme for my blog posts. These have been in my draft posts for so long and it's time to let them out.

Selah Saturday | Left and Right

One day Sondra asked Selah, if she knew which hand was her right and which was her left and she knew it. We have no idea who taught her. I asked her daycare, her grandparents and no one knew. Crazy what little eyes see and learn.

Funny Friday | Baby Talk

Reggie McNeal

Tomorrow I will be sitting down with Reggie McNeal as he takes a Church Planting Network (KSP) through a discussion of how our churches can be missional. What questions would you ask him?


Above is Reggie doing his thing. I can't wait until tomorrow.

Music Monday | Mess of Me

New Switchfoot! About time!

Selah Saturday | Super Selah

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's...

The Tangible Kingdom | Book Review

Have you ever thought a book was written for you? Or even weirder, written by you?

The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community was that for me. In many ways Hugh and Matt have put some of my thoughts and life experience down on paper, and at the same time they have taken it much further. This is the first book that really depicts what the missional mind set is (and should be) for the church.

Just in case you want to get into the book before buying it, check out our eBook “remix.” It’s a creative sampling of some of the thoughts you’ll find in The Tangible Kingdom. Download it here.

I am looking forward to getting the Primer and going through that as well.

Addiction

This Sunday I will be teaching on freeing yourself from addiction at New Hope Ashland. My new addiction is the show So You Think You Can Dance. Last season choreographer Mia Michaels created this dance piece called 'addiction'.

The visuals of the dance says way more than I can say on how addiction controls someone. It infects them. It controls them. It holds them down when they want to be free. It holds them up just enough to keep them going. But in the end it owns you. Break free!

Music Monday | Free Falling

Free Falling has always been a song that has rented space in my head. I've heard many versions of it, but this is my favorite. It's by Ben Rector.

Ben Rector - Free from TK McKamy on Vimeo.

Selah's 1st Visit to the Ocean

On vacation to Myrtle Beach it was Selah first time in the ocean. At first she was scared of it, but by the end of the vacation she loved it. We showed her how to wash the sand of her hands and feet in the waves. It reminded me of how I (and most people) approach God. At first we're in awe, terrified of him. And after a while we see his purpose for us and we go out and ask him to wash us clean.

Like in Ezekiel 36:25-26 [MSG]...

I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed.

When God gives you a new heart he gives you a spirit to follow his ways....

²⁷ I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.

May you receive the Grace that he has made abundantly available in and through Jesus. And may you wash your hands like a little child who is in awe with God’s Grace.

Selah Saturday | Counts

the Jesus Storybook Bible

One of my favorite books to read with my family before bed time is the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Illustrated by Jago. Last night was one of those nights. I love that ever story points to Jesus (as the bible does) and God's great rescue plan. Each story excites me of how God has been and will be acting throughout history to rescue this world from itself.

This morning when I woke up I saw that they are going to release a deluxe edition with an audio CD!  It makes me want to buy it so I can have this British bloke (David Suchet) read the book to me!

In all seriousness you should pick up this book if you have kids or you like children's books.  But don't take my word for it.  Go to the website for free samples, audio and pdf files from the book.

Music Monday | Regina Spektor

We to often make God out to be a cosmic slot machine. We pull the lever enough we get something out of him. But we need to learn to lean on him for strength to get through the struggles, instead of always want him to get us out of them.

Sabbath Creativity

I taught on Rhythm a few months ago. This video clearly communicates the importance of Sabbath.

Enjoy Labor Day and begin to adopt rest as a intricate part of life and worship.

Selah Saturday | Sing-a-long

I'm not sure if she says... Tinkle, tickle or twinkle little star, but she's very cute.

Funny Friday | Massive Gummy Bear

Da bear, da bear, da bear, da bear!

Endless Ocean Creativity

As I walked the beach on vacation I saw thousands of shells. Some shaped nicely and had nice colors, others had nice shape but varied in colors. There were millions of shards of broken shells all over the beach. Overtime the ocean turns those shards of sea shells into sand. This sand eventually ends up on the shore and produces a beautiful beach. And the sand that is produced from the shells is different in texture and shade of color.

And the waves that made the sand was in a constant state of flux. Different sizes, strength, and even frequency always kept you on your toes when swimming. Some waves were off the charts. Others that you thought would be big were small, some that you thought were small ended up being big. At night the tideline was different than in the morning. I know it has something to do with the moon.

There are so many variations in the ocean that seem quite chaotic in nature, but they all have a purpose.



So how is it that God's creation, the ocean, is more creative (and productive) than we are? Even in the chaos that is the ocean, so much beauty, depth and color is produced and revealed. Purpose unleashed.

If God can use an ocean to create beauty out of chaos, purpose out of shards of sea shells, can't he use us? In what areas of my life can I (and you) allow God to creatively use our brokenness to make something beautiful?

Reflections on Vacation

On August 1st-8th I spent sometime with my family at Myrtle Beach. Three eventful things happened to me...

1st - this was Selah's first time to the beach. She was afraid of it at first, by the end of vacation she was asking me every morning to go to the 'Ocean, Ocean daddy!'

2nd - I lost my wedding ring on the beach. I was throwing a football on the beach and then noticed a little later that I was missing it. I was (and sort of still am) depressed about losing it, but Sondra reassured me that it's not about the ring it's about our relationship.

3rd - I got stung by a jellyfish. So did Sondra, Mark (her father), and Joel (her brother). It hurt, I don't recommend it.

While I was there I learned a lot from the ocean. I will share my reflections throughout the week.