Common Stories, Common Vocabulary

This week my niece Shelby discovered my mother’s Nativity scene. These same plastic figurines in muted pastels, ensconced in a wooden cattle stall, have been a fixture in our family for almost three decades. Shelby took to the figurines quickly and began the narrative play of a toddler. Wobble-flying the angel toward Mary she said in a sing-song voice: “Hi there, I am your fairy godmother here to take you to the prince!” That’s funny to be sure. The part that’s disturbing is that many church-goers are as biblically under-informed as Shelby, who is just beginning to hear and learn the stories.

The consequence of the growing trend toward biblical illiteracy is that we as believers find ourselves unable to communicate with each other about the things of faith. The biblical stories are the basis for the common vocabulary of the church. Educating our children about the stories of the Bible not only prepares them for a full life of faith conversation, but it’s a great way for us as parents to increase the balance in our own story-banks.

Many find that getting started is the hardest part when it comes to reading the Bible with their children. Here are some strategies for dealing with two common fears:

1) “I can’t seem to re-tell the story in my own words”—That’s okay, because there are numerous resources out there to help. Begin by selecting a book of children’s Bible stories that you are comfortable reading aloud. Give yourself time to get used to reading these prepared stories. Then try retelling in your own words a story with which you are most familiar. With practice, you should begin to find that telling the story becomes easier.

2) “My kids are going to ask me questions I can’t answer”—Kids appreciate honesty and come hard-wired with lie detectors to know when you’re making things up. A truthful, “I’m still trying to figure that one out too,” goes a long way with kids and assures them that it is okay to ask questions. A sage piece of advice from children’s author Madeline L’Engle is “Don’t answer questions children haven’t asked.” Trust the stories to speak for themselves without a lot of added explanation and let children come to the questions in their own time.

Two exceptionally helpful resources to have on hand are an Atlas of the Bible (allows children to see that Bible places are “real” places) and a basic Bible Dictionary (defines terms like “Sheol” and gives brief bios for people like Abimelech).

Let yourself become a little childlike as you read the biblical stories and know that God’s own Spirit guides the understanding of scripture. Maybe this Christmas before the gifts are grabbed pause to read the story of Jesus’ birth out loud with your family. Family traditions must always have a first time, so grab your new-found Bible story book because there’s no time like the present!

On my desk:

Moore, Eva. Read and Learn Bible (American Bible Society). New York: Scholastic, 2005.

VanNess, Patricia W. Transforming Bible Study with Children: A Guide for Learning Together. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

The Genealogy of Jesus

I have always found biblical accounts of family trees to be a sure-fire antidote for sleeplessness. They drone on, verse after verse, with “this man begat this son, and that son begat this son and he bore another son.” But there’s a genealogy in our Bible that bears further examination because of how it is different from the others you may have read.

At the beginning of the book of Matthew (the first of the four books called Gospels, and the first book of the New Testament) we find the list of Jesus’ ancestors. Mixed in with the same old “so-and-so was the father of so-and-so” are the names of five women:
Tamar (Genesis 38),
Rahab (Joshua 2),
Ruth (the book of Ruth),
“the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba; 2 Sam. 11 & 12),
and Mary the mother of Jesus.

That women show up is uncommon but not unheard of; there’s a genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:4 in which four women are named. What makes this one significant is that the women who are named found themselves in very difficult situations and—with exception of Mary—are all Gentile women.

Now ‘Gentiles’ simply meant ‘the nations’ and was the name given to those peoples who did not belong to God’s chosen people—the Israelites. Even though—and precisely because—these other nations had all the advantages of wealth, power and military prowess, God chose a people with no power to be his chosen people.

God’s promise to Abraham: “I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:17-18

God revealed his will and word to the Israelites and held a special relationship with them so that they might bless the nations. But over time, God’s chosen people tried to gain power on their own and become like the other nations, neglecting their special relationship with God and forgetting that they were to be a blessing to the Gentiles.

But the account of Jesus’ ancestors makes an exciting and bold statement that God’s plan includes the Gentiles—and has since the beginning! Matthew, the writer of the book ,is helping the people to understand that the plan of God has been brought about through history in unanticipated, “irregular” and even scandalous ways. Jesus, as we learn from the Gospel stories, came to fulfill both the hopes of God’s people and Gentiles.

Apples and Oranges: Literary and Visual Violence

Sufficient research has been conducted to show that the viewing of film, television and video game violence poses a considerable risk to the cognitive and social development of children and youth.

Research also shows that separate areas of the brain operate when imagining violence while reading about it versus being provided a stimulus of visual violence. Imagination and realistic* experiences are processed differently. So I, a pacifist pastor, am going to play Devil’s Advocate and say that there is moral-formational value in accounts of conflict and even violence in literature for young people.

Human beings are narrative creatures. We ourselves are shaped, and we shape the world around us, by story. And in the life of any given human, it is not simply one story, but a composite of stories that makes that person who they are. This composite most definitely includes fiction—stories which are not literally true but can function as a vehicle of truth. It is on fiction that I want to dwell here.


Good fiction serves as a proving ground for the moral formation of young people. Because of the limitations of our physical bodies, geography and time, no one of us can experience in one lifetime the sum total of events and circumstances which could prepare us for every ethical or moral choice. But a steady diet of good fiction can take us around the world, through the universe and back and allow us to vicariously entertain alternative solutions and possible moral choices through the viewpoint of story characters. Questions like ‘What would I do?’, ‘Could I do that?’, ‘Is that right?’, ‘What would happen?’ form of sort moral-ethical calisthenics program.

Significant in this workout is narrative conflict within which, I suggest, violence serves a necessary training function—surprisingly not toward violence, but against violence. Notice that I keep using the word ‘good’ in relation to fiction. There is a lot of bad fiction out there—both poorly written and lacking in instructional value. Good fiction, in terms of the treatment of violence within the narrative, should adhere to the following criteria in order to be of formational value:

1) Characters should have depth and complexity. No real person is simply bad or simply good, but instead contains both the capacity for great good and great evil. This includes holding out the possibility of redemption for characters who do evil.

2) Consequences of violence need to be portrayed. “Cartoony” violence—where an anvil dropped on the head incurs only momentary dizziness—doesn’t pass muster. Real consequences are physical and emotional injury, shattered lives and even death.

3) Violence for violence’s sake should be marginalized and critiqued within the story. Furthermore, alternatives to retaliatory violence—bargaining, truces, mercy, reconciliation and the like—should be presented with equal consideration.

I have to be honest and say that no story comes to mind which I have read that completely abides by these criteria; most incorporate one or two. With this in mind the important take-away nugget is that parents need to be involved in their child’s reading life. This means both reading what your child is reading and taking the initiative in helping your child process what they are reading in light of faith values.

* I consider visual violence to be more akin to a realistic experience. Video games in particular are increasingly designed from a first-person perspective—as if through one’s own eyes.

On my desk:
Guroian, Vigen. Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child’s Moral Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

On the web:
Plugged in Media Reviews
Science Daily: PG-13 Films Not Safe For Kids, Researchers Say
Science Daily: Was Orton Right? New Study Examines How The Brain Works In Reading;Offers Key To Better Understanding Dyslexia
Science Daily: Media Violence Linked To Concentration, Self-control
Science Daily: This Is Your Brain On Violent Media
Science Daily: Why An Exciting Book Is Just As Thrilling As A Hair-raising Movie

Movie Review: Fireproof

I’ll confess that I’m a movie snob. Unless a film has been lauded at a festival, awarded Oscars or has achieved cult status, I’m likely to pass it by. So when my wife Deb suggested that we take in a movie starring Kirk Cameron—former childhood television star and male lead for the cinematic and theological bombs that were the Left Behind movies—I gulped. But we have a deal: whoever picked the movie the last time agrees to see the movie choice of the other spouse the next time. So with silent protest I went with Deb to see Fireproof.

At this point, I’ll eat crow, and recommend this movie to every married couple I know. Yes, it’s low-budget. Yes, the dialogue is over-the-top and the delivery, at times, wooden. Yes, some of the characterization is stereotypical. But this film has much to offer in terms of content.

The film centers around the marital struggle of Caleb and Catherine Holt. Caleb is a fire department captain and Catherine is a hospital public relations staffer, both of whom, after years of marriage, are ready to call it quits. Though they live in the same house, they don’t live the same life. They each have their own schedules, their own agendas, their own food, and their own checkbooks. Caleb is absorbed by and righteously indignant about his work as a “life-saver” and lets himself be overtaken by pornography addiction. Catherine has a burgeoning career with growing connections and influence and she catches the eye of hospital doctor for whom she makes little attempt to hide her attraction.

Caleb calls his father to let him know that Catherine has hired a divorce lawyer and his father decides to intercede. He passes on to Caleb a 40-day “love dare” which he asks Caleb to complete before he calls it quits. Caleb decides he has nothing to lose and so he begins to work through 40 daily tasks beginning with Day 1 which instructs him to say nothing negative to his wife. Day 2: Do something unexpected as an act of kindness. 3: Buy something that tells her you're thinking of her. 4: Call to check if she needs anything. 16: Pray for her. 17: Listen to her. 18: Study her again. And it continues on the same trajectory through the movie.

There is an evangelical plea in the film, and the salvation message presented is that of forgiveness, hope and redemption. In addition to the positive message about marriage, there is a strong, well-handled presentation and rebuke of internet pornography addiction.

I urge every couple in our congregation to go see this movie. The 40-day “love dare” gave me a lot of food for thought. It made me realize, even as a young married person, how much I take for granted about my wife and our relationship. Left to my choice we'd have seen Beverly Hills Chihuahua. So if you see the movie and like it, thank my wife for the recommendation, it was her pick.

Open Commenting Enabled

You may now post your comments about my blog entries, even if you do not have a Google account. Below each entry you'll find the comment section. Click the "# comments" link to leave a message. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.

Pastor Matt

Open Commenting Enabled

You may now post your comments about my blog entries, even if you do not have a Google account. Below each entry you'll find the comment section. Click the "# comments" link to leave a message. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.

Pastor Matt

Bible Background: Epistles

Several of the books in the New Testament are epistles (a Greek word, epistole, meaning 'letter') of teaching, counsel and encouragement written by the Apostle Paul to specific churches located around the Mediterranean Sea. Paul, once an enemy of the followers of Jesus, became Christianity's first prominent pastoral theologian after seeing a vision of the resurrected Jesus who asked him, "Why do you persecute me?"

The Mediterranean
(right-click image to open larger image in separate window or tab)

Letter to the Romans (Rome): From a cluster of settlements in the mid-eight century BC situated around seven hills in Italy, came a city-state, then a republic, and then an empire. The city of Rome was the hub of the empire's consolidation of the entire Mediterranean region and thus a melting pot of religion and culture. Paul wrote this letter around AD 56 before he had visited the Christians at Rome face-to-face.

(right-click image to open larger image in separate window or tab)

Letter to the Philippians (Philippi): The city of Philippi rested on a fertile plain in the province of Macedonia along a Roman military and commercial highway. Gold was mined from the mountains outside the city. Paul either wrote this letter from Ephesus in AD 54 or from prison in Rome AD 61-63.

1 & 2 Letters to the Thessalonians (Thessalonica): An important Roman city in its region, Thessalonica was a trade center situated along a road connecting Rome to its eastern colonies as far as Byzantium. Both letters were likely written by Paul in AD 51.

1 & 2 Letters to the Corinthians (Corinth): Corinth was a city well-situated for ocean trade. It surpassed Athens as a hub of exchange between Romans, Greeks, Jews, Syrians and Egyptians. It was well known for the value it placed on the accumulation of wealth and was known widely as a city of immorality and frivolousness. The city's Temple to Aphrodite promoted sexual behavior that was opposed by Christians. Paul wrote the first letter to this church around AD 55 and the second around AD 56.

(right-click image to open larger image in separate window or tab)

Letter to the Ephesians (Ephesus): The city of Ephesus was a seaport situated at the intersection of two major overland routes, thriving commercially, and religiously as well due to the Temple of Artemis which housed a statue carved from a meteorite. Likely written by Paul, from prison in Rome, to a cluster of churches around AD 62.

Letter to the Colossians (Colossae): Colossae was a city in the valley of the Lycus river, a branch of the Meander, in southwest Asia Minor. Paul did not directly found this church or know the Christians there, but they were influenced by his teachings. He wrote this from prison in Rome around AD 61.

Letter to the Galatians (Province of Galatia): Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia (in what is now modern Turkey) which was settled by Gaulic or Celtic (from central and western Europe) migrants in the third-century BC. The letter was written by Paul to a group of churches, some of which he had visited, and the date of this letter is less clear--written anywhere between AD 48-55.

(right-click image to open larger image in separate window or tab)

Taking Back Childhood: Filters and Evaluation-Free Affirmation

In this last installment of entries on Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s book Taking Back Childhood, I want to highlight two concepts from the latter half of the book. The first is helping to nurture within your child “filters” through which they can, on their own, critically assess media. The second is learning how to give descriptive, rather than evaluative, feedback so that children do not become solely dependent on external affirmation of their self-worth.

Learning to Filter: Marketers and advertisers exert considerable energy manipulating children in an attempt to get parents to purchase products. A parent takes their child shoe shopping and no amount of rational arguments about the relative worth of one shoe over another will be successful if the less-preferred shois decorated with bold, colorful television cartoon characters. The same battle occurs over cereal, school supplies, ketchup, clothing, bandages, underwear, bedsheets, eyeglasses and canned goods. You can begin to see how pervasive this marketing strategy really is. Using open-ended questions, a parent can help their child begin to understand how advertising works. Consider this sample dialogue from the book:

Miles: Mom, you know Berry gets Doritos and corn chips in his lunch.
Lori: Those taste good, don’t they? Sometimes it’s okay to have them, but snacks like apples and oranges are better for you.
Miles: And they’re Star Wars Doritos!
Lori: That’s funny. Star Wars is a movie and Doritos is food. Why would they mix them together? One is a movie and one is food.
Miles: I know why, Mom. Because they want you to buy the Doritos.
Lori: But Doritos aren’t healthy. They’re okay once in while, but they’re junk food. Why do you think they put Star Wars on food that isn’t good for you?
Miles (suddenly thoughtful and quiet): I don’t know.

Descriptive, not evaluative: This was an eye-opener for me. Carlsson-Paige suggests that when we respond to children in evaluative ways that we train them to base their self-worth on external affirmation. Consider this example: a child presents a drawing to Daddy and Daddy says, not knowing what the blob on the page is supposed to be, “That’s really pretty. I like it!” That comment is evaluative and the perception of the child is that the worth of the drawing is based on Daddy’s opinion. Look now at the possibilities opened up by descriptive comments:

Child: Look Daddy, I made you a drawing!
Father: Oh, you made a green circle with a purple line coming out of it.
Child: Yeah, it’s a boat and that’s the paddle, just like when we went fishing!
Father: Neat, you drew a boat for me because you enjoyed going fishing?
Child: Yeah!

It seems like genuine two-way communication is enabled by both of these notions. I’ll confess that I’ve tried to be conscious of how I speak in these ways to our two-year-old daughter and it’s tough! I slip up and want to say things like, “Oh you look so pretty in that dress,” or “I think you did a good job.” I do, though, think that these ideas merit some continued attempts on my part.

The New Testament writer Paul, in his letter to the church at Phillipi, speaks of our hearts and minds being guarded in Christ and concludes with a list of qualifications regarding the things about which we should think:

Philippians 4:7-9 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

By helping train young children to think critically and to view their self-worth through the eyes of God (instead of fickle humanity), we begin to see a ground work develop upon which mature spirituality and discernment can be built.

Ways to Pray: Praying with Clay

Clay being formed by the hands of a potter is an image that shows up frequently in the Bible when the writers want to talk about the relationship between God and people. As a lump of clay is molded and shaped for a specific purpose, so are we as individuals shaped by our relationship with God and with the body of Christian believers that makes up the Church.

Isaiah 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Here are two approaches for praying with clay (store-bought or homemade) which you can use and you may come up with your own ideas later on:

1) Use the clay to create a symbol which represents your prayer request or perhaps your reflection on a scripture verse or an image of God. Ask God's Spirit to work with your hands to help you understand.

2) Experience something of what it might be like to be God-the-Potter by shaping the clay into a representation of yourself-as-God-sees-you. Ask God's Spirit to help you understand your God-given gifts and attributes.

• Pay attention to what makes the clay special. Does the clay move easily sometimes and resist at other times?
• After spending time making your "mini-me," reflect on how God might be molding your life--do you yield easily to God's shaping or do you resist?
  
• What has this exercise taught you about God's love for you?

Did you know that you can learn to know when it is God that is shaping you and not peer pressure or pop culture? Pay attention to both inside-signs (like emotions, stirrings, dreams and thoughts, etc.) and outside-signs (affirmation or caution from fellow Christians, a clue from the Bible, something you hear in worship, etc.). My experience is that when both inside and outside clues line-up that God is in the midst of your searching. But I'll be honest and tell you that you won't always have clarity and certainty beyond the simple fact that you are loved by God and that God desires good to ultimately come from your life.

New Feature: Ways to Pray

Somewhere along the way, Christians became convinced that the ONLY way to pray was with heads bowed, eyes closed, hands folded and speaking English from the King James Version of the Bible in sombre tones.

By simply reading the Bible itself you can discover all sorts of prayer types and numerous ways to pray presented there. From thanksgiving to lament, from praise to confessing, with hands raised, on your knees, in a closet, in worship, with song, with groaning and tears--the take home message is that God desires our prayers in any mood and in many ways.

It is in this spirit that I'm happy to include a new feature, "Ways to Pray," which will appear occasionally. A previous post on coloring-as-prayer began to address this topic. The Ways to Pray feature will always have the words "Ways to pray" as part of the heading.

Taking Back Childhood: Power Sharing

The basic understanding of power in our North American society is either you have it or you don't. This plays out in parenting when we either exert power over our children or give our power away to them, neither of which helps them to develop as healthy, whole individuals. If force is used to get children to comply, societal models of coercion are reinforced. If kids are simply allowed to run the show, we are not teaching them alternatives: "skills of dialogue, cooperation, negotiation, and joint problem solving."

In reality, power exists on a continuum between having all the power and giving it all away. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, in Taking Back Childhood, asks parents to stop and think about whether there might be a way to share power with children in any given situation. Knowing that a child's reaction to a situation and, equally, a parent's reaction to a situation have little to do with the actual situation but with emotions, addressing these emotions can help resolve the situation in a peaceful, nurturing way. A child may feel insecure or afraid, hesitant or perhaps angry; what approach could take their need seriously? A parent may feel overwhelmed or embarrassed, challenged or helpless; what can we as parents do to deescalate our internal states?

David, a thirty-six-year-old father, had assumed most of the responsibility for caring for his three-year-old son Mark after the recent birth of their second son Lucas. Lucas had colic so Sadie, David's wife, had been tending to Lucas almost constantly. David prepared for Mark his favorite breakfast, bagel with cream cheese. But this morning Mark started fussing: the bagel was too hot, the cream cheese wasn't right. David tried to reason with him saying, "The bagel doesn't feel hot to me." But Mark cried harder, "It IS hot!" David persuaded Mark to feel the temperature of the bagel together with their hands. But Mark kept on crying, and with tears streaming down his face said "I don't want a baby brother." David hugged him close and Mark cried harder, "I want Mommy." David held him lovingly and simply said, "Yes, Mark, it is really hard to have a baby brother." After a while, Mark relaxed, and tears lessening, said "I feel better."

Carlsson-Paige points out that David had two opportunities to exert power over Mark: 1) he could have said, "The bagel is NOT hot--now eat it."; or 2) he could have criticized Mark and made him feel bad about his feelings toward baby brother. Instead, by keeping his own parental anxiety in check and by taking Mark's feelings seriously he allowed Mark to open up about what was really bothering him.

I attempted to use a power sharing framework with my two-year-old daughter in one instance last week. My wife was washing some dishes and our daughter was standing on a chair watching Mama work. She asked Mama if she could play with some bubbles. My wife placed a blob of dish suds on the counter. The time eventually came to be finished with suds and to begin bedtime routines. I told my daughter that it was time to get down and she began to fuss. I paused, and asked myself how I might share power with her. I asked her, "Would you like to take some bubbles with you in your hand?" She said, "yes," and I placed a bit of suds on her fingers. She promptly got down with a smile and went to grab her pajamas. The suds evaporated along with the tension.

The basic notion expressed in this power-sharing concept is that negotiation and joint problem solving are okay. They don't diminish parental authority. They don't create "terror children," but in fact encourage children in learning how to self-regulate. The virtues of cooperation, honesty, and mutuality--engendered in children by using this discipline concept--go a long way toward helping them, as adults, to take seriously the reconciliatory, peacemaking teachings of Jesus Christ.

Challenge by choice

This week I volunteered as a facilitator on the high ropes course at Menno Haven Camp and Retreat Center, one of the two Mennonite camps that our congregation supports. The course element for which I served as a belayer was the Leap of Faith. The basic task of the Leap is to climb, wearing a harness with ropes, as far as you are able up telephone pole and perhaps, after mounting the plastic disc at the top, leap off and ring a bell on rope.

Participants must agree to abide by the Full Value Contract. The contract addresses safety, teamwork, communication and growth, but the foundation of the contract is the concept of Challenge by Choice. Each person is given the freedom to assess their comfort level and choose whether or not to participate, but are encouraged to go as far as they are comfortable and then one step beyond.

One young man who was in our group let me know of a disability he has which limits his coordination and control over his legs. He confessed that he didn't think he could participate. I reminded him of the goal of getting one step beyond comfort. The young man waited till last and finally approached the ladder. Each step up was physically excruciating. It was apparent when he reached his comfort level. I reminded him of the goal and, encouraged by his peers, he went two painful steps beyond comfortable. To see his joy and to see how his peers rallied around him was wonderful.

Have there been times recently that you have reached your comfort zone and then just stopped because to go further might be awkward or come at some cost to you? I know I have. In fact, just yesterday I was on a guided nature hike and the young man from the university who was leading the hike was surprised, in light of my plant and ecology knowledge, to find out that I was a pastor. I told him that there is a growing interest in ecology and stewardship in our congregation and that's when I hit my comfort zone. I was on the verge of inviting him to church, but froze; afraid of rejection. I went away thinking, "I should have."

The good news is that when we are "confronted by comfort" and are anxious or fearful about taking that one-step-beyond we are empowered to call on the aid of Jesus Christ. The New Testament writer Paul had some good insight about comfort zones, realizing that not only can we do hard things when Christ gives us strength (Philippians 4:12-13), but that through our weaknesses the strength of Christ is plainly shown to others (2 Corinthians 12:9).

And good times were had by all...

Every now again there's something about indulging the impulse to pit your wits against a computer game. There are some poor choices out there that do not align with Anabaptist-Christian values--games which promote violence, theft and aggression--but I'm happy to commend a good choice. The folks at Big Idea Productions, makers of Veggie Tales and other films for families, have created bigideafun.com. Various games starring your favorite characters from Big Idea can be played right in your internet browser (you may be prompted to download the Shockwave plug-in). The site features no outside advertising or objectionable material so it's something your parents can feel better about you playing--they may want to play, too! So, after your homework is done, challenge a parent to beat your high score on my favorite game Doom Funnel Chasers! Ever shoot a duct tape ball at a black hole? No? Well, you can now!

Taking Back Childhood: Media-Linked Toys

In the introduction to this three-part blog-series on the book Taking Back Childhood, I noted that television and movies have become strongly linked to children’s toy product lines. Initially, the linkage would have been limited more to the portrayal of cartoon characters like the Care Bears or the Smurfs.

(As an aside, don’t think for an instant that the resurgence of toy product lines from the 1980’s in today’s store aisles is simply a happenstance. We, the children who originally played with those toys, now have children of our own—adults are certainly preyed upon by toy marketing as well.)

Today, though, stores are stocked with action figures and other merchandise linked to movies which have ratings for age groups older than the target audience in the toy aisles. Take for instance the recent Batman film The Dark Knight. Squeaking by into a PG-13 rating, the movie is filled chaotic personal violence, psychological horror and disturbing acts of terrorism. But you will note in the picture featured here of Dark Knight action figures, that the packaging says “4+”.

A general problem with media-linked toys is that they “script” children’s play. Open-ended, unscripted play nurtures children by allowing them to shape “raw materials” like blocks and clothing into props which support stories which they themselves create. Media-linked toys are created with a primary purpose of acting out the narrative found in the cartoon or movie. In the case of The Dark Knight, that “script” is one that promotes weapons violence, vengeance and deception as the ultimate tools for countering the ultimate evil.

As Christian parents in the Anabaptist tradition, peacemaking is a virtue which we should seek to instill in our children. Open-ended play helps children to potentially develop a myriad of creative, non-violent response options when play conflict arises; whether between the children themselves or between characters in their stories. The scripted, and especially violently scripted, media-linked toys hamper children’s interpersonal skills and cement in them a narrow and simplistic view of the world—one which does not likely include reconciliation with enemies.

Ugly is the New Beautiful

A very specific, very narrow definition of beauty has been incorporated into toy lines for some time now. From Barbie to Bratz, girls and boys both come to learn harmful societal values about body image and self-worth which stick with them into teenage years and beyond. But I am happy to announce that ugly is the new beautiful! Uglydolls, a line of stuffed toys, is a runaway success with an unlikely story.

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, both having an interest in toy design, met in a class at the New School for Design in New York City in 1997. Horvath was attracted to Sun-Min, but no sooner than Kim began to return his affection her visa expired and she had to return to Korea. Horvath was crushed, but clung to his two dreams of designing toys and reuniting with Sun-Min. David took his drawings to a major toy company, but was rejected and told that his characters would not translate into the toy medium.

Discouraged, Horvath wrote a letter to his beloved Sun-Min which included a drawing of an ugly little orange creature named Wage. Sun-Min put her design skills to work sewing a plush version of Wage as a Christmas present for Horvath--an ugly doll created with love. Upon seeing the toy, the owner of the Giant Robot toy store where Horvath worked ordered 20 dolls which sold out immediately. Kim and Horvath eventually married and their Uglydolls took off and have received numerous toy design awards. The persistent success of these toys is due in part to the emotional chord struck in the many who seek a new definition of beauty.

Christians attest to a standard of beauty which is not simply based on physical beauty, but which is grounded in a beauty that originates with God. True beauty is discerned only in the light of God's beauty. When we cling to a very narrow image of "beautiful"--like that which many toys are happy to define for us--we become numb to the true beauty of the people and things around us which lift our hearts to see the beauty of the Creator. The Old Testament writer Isaiah described a vision of the ugly, beautiful Christ who was to come:

Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?... There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look...But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us... (Isaiah 53:1-5 The Message)

So the next time you wonder whether or not something is beautiful--think ugly! It may just serve to remind you that beauty rests in the eye of the Creator.

Sources: Media excerpts from Uglydolls About Us page

We Interrupt This Blogcast...

An unusual offering made its way to the shelves of local comic book shops. IDW Publishing, known for its comic book translations of television and video game properties, has released comic book biographies of both major party presidential candidates. Presidential Material: Barack Obama and Presidential Material: John McCain can be purchased separately or as a back-to-back flip comic.

The comic masthead attests to biographical presentations "based on true events or the prior reporting of true events" and while they do claim accuracy they acknowledge artistic expression. That being said, upon a first reading it seems that they do a reasonable job of showing the merits of each candidate without glossing over less-than-pleasing bits of their personal histories.

I'll not go into a theological debate in this forum about voting or not voting, but I will say that even abstention from voting ought to be informed abstention. These comics would be an enjoyable way to introduce teen children to the candidates if televised debates have yet to grab their attention. Perhaps you'll learn something new as well.

These comics can be purchased locally from Jim at ACME comics, Uptown Normal, IL.

For several perspectives on Anabaptist-Christians and voting, including Goshen College history professor John D. Roth's "Polls Apart: Why Believers Might Conscientiously Abstain From Voting" (pdf download), visit Goshen College: Faith and Politics.

Coming Soon to the Church Library

Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World
By: Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D.
Hudson Street Press, 2008, 304 pp
ISBN 9781594630439

The deregulation of children’s television programming during my childhood has culminated in what I consider no less than a crisis for those of us who today are parents to young children. With its genesis in the early, seemingly innocent pairings of cartoons and toys—like G.I. Joe, Transformers, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite and others—the media-merchandise machine assaults our children on all fronts. From TV to toys to clothing to snack crackers and shampoo, marketers prey on the susceptibility of children to make a profit. These products hawked to our children at every turn promote violence and highly “scripted” play. These result in stifled creative-thinking and the emergence of significantly disruptive and alarming behavior in the home and classroom.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a professor of early childhood education and conflict resolution, offers practical help for “21st-century parents” in her book Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World. The premise of the book is that to counter the effects of the media-merchandise machine parents and educators need to assure that three critical elements are present in the life of children: creative play, a feeling of security, and meaningful relationships with both adults and other children.

Carlsson-Paige’s single concise chapter on child development theory is worth four other whole books. Her keen insights about the behavior and needs of each developmental age-grouping provide practical nuggets that parents can grasp a hold of and use daily. Ideas from Taking Back Childhood will provide the basis for the next three blog entries. Additionally, this valuable book has been added to our church library.

Recommended Reading: Roxaboxen

Every so often I am overcome with a deep sense of mourning for the loss of the magic of childhood. The mind and heart of a child see the places and spaces of the bleak adult lifescape in transformative ways. A rusted out car on blocks becomes a rocket ship or an oceanliner. Pots and pans become helmets and drums. A shed with busted out windows becomes a fortress. Cardboard boxes become fantastic machines or lemonade stands.

Alice McLerran's Roxaboxen, a children's picture book which I stumbled across, is as much a story about the magic of childhood as it is a primer for adults on how to reclaim it.

"Marian called it Roxaboxen. (She always knew the name of everything.) There across the road, it looked like any rocky hill--nothing but sand and rocks, some old wooden boxes, cactus and greasewood and thorny ocotillo--but it was a special place."

The story revolves around Marian, the child leader of the imaginative community of Roxaboxen. Marian rallies her sisters and the neighborhood children and sets about creating streets and houses outlined with white stones and furnished with old wooden boxes and an economy supported by round black pebbles. Marian was the mayor, "of course; that's just the way she was. Nobody minded." Laws were created to regulate "traffic". If you had a round thing to use for a steering wheel you had a car, but speeding would land you in jail amidst uncomfortable cacti. There were no speed limits for horses. Boys-against-girls skirmishes ensued. The dead were buried: one lizard, honored yearly with cactus blooms. Though the seasons changed and the years passed, "Roxaboxen was always waiting. Roxaboxen was always there."

"Not one of them ever forgot. Years later, Marian's children listened to stories of that place and fell asleep dreaming dreams of Roxaboxen. Gray-haired Charles picked up a black pebble on the beach and stood holding it, remembering Roxaboxen."

Now the magic of the story truly came alive for me in the afterword, wherein you learn that Marian was the author's mother and that Roxaboxen can be found: "On a hill on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Eight Street, in Yuma, Arizona..." With help from a manuscript written by her mother during her childhood, the memories of relatives and maps and letters from former Roxaboxenites McLerran recreates for the reader the world of Roxaboxen "as if she'd played there herself."

Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew, often used metaphors for describing the Kingdom of Heaven; like a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a pearl found by a merchant, and so on. It occurred to me while reading Roxaboxen that an apt metaphor may be: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like an ordinary rocky hill with sand, rocks, and boxes but viewed through the eyes of a child." The childlikeness that Jesus calls for in other Gospel passages is a way of seeing the world as God sees it; not bleak and ordinary, but extraordinary and full of wonder.

Your children already know the lessons found in Roxaboxen, so buy this book for yourself as a parent. As I said before, it is a perfect primer for adults on how to reclaim magic of childhood.

Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV): "People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Take a Child Outside Week 9/24-30/08

Take a Child Outside Week is an initiative of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in cooperation with partner organizations across the U.S. and Canada. The aim of the week is "to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world" so as to encourage "better understanding and appreciation of the environment...and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration." You can find a variety of activities here.

As Christians we confess that the earth is the Lord's and read in scripture of how creation, alongside humanity, gives praise to the Creator. Becoming acquainted with the world around them, your children can begin a lifelong habit of nurturing the earth--God's marvelous gift to us. The work that we do now to care for creation is a testimony to the hope-to-come that is the full redemption of creation by God. A significant part of that work should be care for our own bodies. Healthy habits like outdoor exercise can serve as a prayerful expression of thanks to God.

Micropayments: You Can Virtually Buy Anything

An allowance can go a long way these days. You can virtually buy anything: new clothes and accessories, new hair styles, new pets, new body parts and looks—no, seriously you can virtually buy anything. For pennies on the dollar young people participating in virtual 3D socializing websites, like IMVU, can personalize an avatar* buy purchasing items using virtual credits paid for with actual money—by credit card, PayPal, or with gift cards bought at department stores.

The idea of “micropayments” has been floating around for some time, and likely gained traction with the successful move made by Apple to sell single song downloads for $.99 rather than forcing people to purchase whole albums. In a market flooded by illegal, bootleg copies of computer and video game system software, some manufacturers are turning to micropayments as a way to generate revenue.

For instance, registration with IMVU is free and new users are given 500 free start-up credits to begin customizing their avatar. Purchase of further credit is 1000 credits for $1. IMVU reports that “the core of IMVU users are young adults, 18-24. However, many users are older. In fact, 7% are over 35. The minimum age is 13 years old.” While giving assurances that the experience for teens differs from that of adults in that teen users are only exposed to age-appropriate content, parents should always maintain an awareness of their children’s activity online.

With some coaching and guidance, the use of micropayment transactions could serve as a lesson in wise stewardship for young people.

Luke 16:10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.

Further reading: "Old Web idea of micropayments finally finds a home" By Barbara Ortutay