December 11, 2006 Prolonged Adolescence and Pet Peeves... I cringe when I hear someone tell an old chestnut of an illustration as if they thought it up or personalize it in a way that makes them seem like the originator of it. That's deceitful, like preaching someone else's sermon...
I have an article somewhere in my files that addresses the late 20th century propensity of young adult males to seek to prolong their adolescence into their 40's. It rang as true, and I'll try to find it. Putting away of childish things is something that becomes more of a challenge in an affluent, youth centered, ease-comfort-pleasure driven society. I am heartened to see what I hope is a real change- lots of examples out there that this may be changing for the better. The Corporation This is an area, I think, where the a younger generation of believers has gotten some things right by attempting a reclaimation of the mutuality of unity in Christ. There are many passages that speak to the corporate Body that twentieth century believers have claimed for themselves individually with no conception of the shared aspects of the faith. Developmentally, this has incredible ramifications. We develop in community, in communion, in a chorus of faith. Growing up in the boondocks with my books had serious negative impact on my development as a human being, I believe. By God's grace I have seen substantial healing of these deficits, but not without a lot of dying to my flesh. We build spiritual muscles in the challenges of living the Body life. But we all know that. The Nativity Story
I considered the acting and casting to be the strength of the movie. The attention to accuracy in the details of the sets set an atmosphere of authenticity that in and of itself caused a tension in this viewer, as the attention to accuracy in WHAT HAPPENED in the only historical accounts we have in Scripture were left unheeded. We saw instead a focus on naturalistic interpretation
of miraculous events. The Magi come to the stable in Bethlehem, not two years later as in the scriptural account. There were no heavenly hosts proclaiming Glory to God in the Highest, just an understated appearance by a single angelic being who would not have inspired fear. And Jesus was not swaddled in the film. The film just had little passion and was a yawn in those place it should have been reasonable to expect it. Where was Rachel weeping for her children at the slaughter of the innocents? The soundtrack was completely unmemorable except for the somewhat out of place Christmas carols. On the other hand the ethnic viability of the casting was wonderful. Ciaran Hinds, the main departure from this approach (he's Irish) was nonetheless the best film Herod in memory. The angst and humiliation of Oscar Isaac's Joseph made for the only real drama in the film. All in all I suspect this will become a staple on the Hallmark channel for years to come. Not what I expected.
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From the personal weblog of Anthony Foster @http://anthonyfoster.com/blog/