Moving Out

After a long attempt to apply Kubrick's K2 template to Blogger with no success, I have decided to move to WordPress.

katrinawillis.wordpress.com

Please change your links! Thanks!

Burger King Kids Club

Unity or Conformity?

When did it become the popular thing for Christians to seek community with people all across the board? Don’t get me wrong: I think it is very important for people to strive to connect with people cross-culturally. (Even down to the culture specificities of neighbors living on the same street-)

Is it true that followers of Christ find comfort in having their “baseball card” collection of people in their circle of acquaintance that are different from them? Does one find some sort of satisfaction and some major victory when we connect with them?

I love those commissioned, multicultural, “Burger King Kids Club” murals that have to display the exact percent of the correct demographic for the city.

Five white kids- three boys and two girls.
Three Hispanic kids: two boys and a girl.
One African-American female and one African-American male.
One short, middle-aged American-Indian male.
One tall German mother with glasses, blonde hair and a newborn, no whip.

Before you know it, you’ve got to incorporate the people in wheelchairs and the cancer patients, or it’s a TOTAL FAILURE. Heaven forbid the designers forget the promotional kid holding the french fries or Sifu, the karate master.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones... For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
-Jesus the Christ, Matthew 18:10

Pneumatology: Dream On

When Mark and I were in Indianapolis over Christmas, his mom showed us these short concept clips (10 minutes each), produced by a small nonprofit called Nooma.

The name NOOMA is an English phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma, which is commonly translated to “spirit” or “breath”. Pneumatology refers to the study of spiritual beings, particularly the interactions between humans and God.

I like these fresh expressions and fluid seed presentations, and I am looking forward to more releases. I also like their readily available resources. On the site, one can download (for free), discussion booklets, with some very insightful and well-thought-out questions. There is no doubt in my mind about the current positive impact (and the potential comprehensive influence) these films continue to have on North America.

www.nooma.com

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On a fairly related note, my dream job would incorporate something very similar to what the Nooma folks are after. I’m interested in good-looking (aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, "artistic") nonprofit work specifically relating to people in a real authentic way.

Inhale... Exhale... Inhale...

That's It. I'm calling the hotline.

I don't usually call people names. But my husband is one PARANOID NUT CASE tonight. He is playing in this game called Assassins. I don't know all of the rules, but I do know that he's been carrying around a small, palm-sized water pistol and a variety of other water weapons on his person. And he's walking quickly and more observant than ever before. He's really jumpy. I could probably play some pretty hilarious jokes on him right now, but that would probably throw him into a spin of insecurity. And that would be downright cruel. Funny, but cruel.

Anyway- I'm looking forward to the moment where someone attacks him with the water hose. Any takers?

A Greater Capacity for Joy

Following up from my earlier post about Norris, she spoke in the evening after the lunch event. She asked questions like, "Why do we substitute diamonds for Jesus?" in direct response to Zales' marketing efforts: "A Diamond is Forever."

She repeated these comments citing a variety of marketing campaigns, such as the Miracle Bra. Can we hear about a real miracle for once?

So as I was watching the weather on TV before work the next morning, the weather man made a Visa plug. The latest, apparently, is: "Life is Visa."

HELLO?!

God, please squish our hearts in your hand a little more and let some joy spring out!

This press release speaks eloquently to Norris' Monday evening speaking appointment.

Kathleen Norris Press Release

Another one bites the dust

On this Ash Wednesday of 2006, a gentle reminder spoke, “from dust we were created, and to dust we shall return.”   The mystery of Christ emerges on days like today… and yesterday.  We realize how finite we are and how infinite God continues to be. 

We thank him for his peace and we strive to love him more as he loves us.  “And God breathed into the dust…” Jesus was born in a dusty barn space.  Everyone was looking for a king, riding on a stallion.  The king was the unexpected: a dusty baby.

Communally, during this season of lent, many practice fasting.  This discipline, often absent from the average “Christian” allows Jesus to define himself in us.

“I love Jesus; it’s Christians I can’t stand.” - Neil Cole, Organic Church

Ultimately, transformation is the product of the Gospel.  This is not boastful, but it is with the Mind of Christ (Phil. 2) that we are able to truly commune with God for others.  From dust we were created, and to dust we shall return.