Again so enjoyable. Now I get why I've occasionally heard the woodpeckers on hard surfaces other than wood. I have been troubled as I recently heard of "Bible Study" groups on Christian Nationalism. They claim their views are taken from Scripture. I'm speechless, and troubled by this.
Writing, while starting day 5 of a power outage, which i am including for sympathy, yes, but also to explain typos . . . I’m writing with light from a window. :)
I’ve loved books since I learned to read so I am always interested in, and saddened by, explanations of low reading rates. I can see how the standardized testing could contribute. My daughter (who just graduated from high school last weekend) hated the reading tests, even though she did well on them. She did not like reading short passages and trying to determine what the test maker had decided was the meaning of something. When she was in 5th grade I read an article by a poet who was talking about these tests and saying how surprised she was to learn the meaning of one of her poems, according to the test writers.
I do also wonder about the impact of electronic reading devices. I have read books on my phone and iPad for years because of how easy it is to have so many books with me. But I have wondered many times if my daughter thought i was just looking at something on my iPad when I was actually reading a book. I don’t know, but I would think kids are influenced to read by seeing others read and if you’re reading on your phone they won’t necessarily know that. I think I was impacted as a kid seeing my Mom so often reading her bible. It sounds hypocritical, but there have been times I have made sure I was reading a paper copy of the Bible instead of the study bible app on my iPad in hopes of communicating the importance of it to my daughter.
Scattered thoughts, but it’s what immediately came to mind as I read Meanderings this morning.
Thank you, Scot, for making “meandering” an activity of great value, rather than an inability to stay focused! As pastors and preachers, we usually find ourselves “meandering” through at least a few books at any given time! Why? Because writing and reading are companion gifts from God that open us to The Spirit. John Gresham helped me through seminary by giving me something else good to read, which helped increase my attention span while doing seminary reading. I believe that 60+ years of reading has been very very good for me! Thank you for feeding THAT hunger!
The Kristin Kobes Du Mez substack reminded me of this quote by John Dickson in Tim Albert’s book.
With Christians soon to be a minority in the United States, the question shouldn’t be how best to fight back and reclaim their lost status. Rather, Dickson said, the question should be how Christians might “lose well”—carrying themselves in ways that reflect the hope and confidence and great love found in the gospel.
At present, Dickson said, the American Church is suffering from “bully syndrome.” Too many Christians are swaggering around and picking on marginalized people and generally acting like jerks because they’re angry and apprehensive. “Every teacher will tell you, the bully on the playground is usually the most insecure boy. It’s a compensation mechanism.”
Again so enjoyable. Now I get why I've occasionally heard the woodpeckers on hard surfaces other than wood. I have been troubled as I recently heard of "Bible Study" groups on Christian Nationalism. They claim their views are taken from Scripture. I'm speechless, and troubled by this.
Writing, while starting day 5 of a power outage, which i am including for sympathy, yes, but also to explain typos . . . I’m writing with light from a window. :)
I’ve loved books since I learned to read so I am always interested in, and saddened by, explanations of low reading rates. I can see how the standardized testing could contribute. My daughter (who just graduated from high school last weekend) hated the reading tests, even though she did well on them. She did not like reading short passages and trying to determine what the test maker had decided was the meaning of something. When she was in 5th grade I read an article by a poet who was talking about these tests and saying how surprised she was to learn the meaning of one of her poems, according to the test writers.
I do also wonder about the impact of electronic reading devices. I have read books on my phone and iPad for years because of how easy it is to have so many books with me. But I have wondered many times if my daughter thought i was just looking at something on my iPad when I was actually reading a book. I don’t know, but I would think kids are influenced to read by seeing others read and if you’re reading on your phone they won’t necessarily know that. I think I was impacted as a kid seeing my Mom so often reading her bible. It sounds hypocritical, but there have been times I have made sure I was reading a paper copy of the Bible instead of the study bible app on my iPad in hopes of communicating the importance of it to my daughter.
Scattered thoughts, but it’s what immediately came to mind as I read Meanderings this morning.
I appreciate your Saturday meanderings.
Thank you, Scot, for making “meandering” an activity of great value, rather than an inability to stay focused! As pastors and preachers, we usually find ourselves “meandering” through at least a few books at any given time! Why? Because writing and reading are companion gifts from God that open us to The Spirit. John Gresham helped me through seminary by giving me something else good to read, which helped increase my attention span while doing seminary reading. I believe that 60+ years of reading has been very very good for me! Thank you for feeding THAT hunger!
The Kristin Kobes Du Mez substack reminded me of this quote by John Dickson in Tim Albert’s book.
With Christians soon to be a minority in the United States, the question shouldn’t be how best to fight back and reclaim their lost status. Rather, Dickson said, the question should be how Christians might “lose well”—carrying themselves in ways that reflect the hope and confidence and great love found in the gospel.
At present, Dickson said, the American Church is suffering from “bully syndrome.” Too many Christians are swaggering around and picking on marginalized people and generally acting like jerks because they’re angry and apprehensive. “Every teacher will tell you, the bully on the playground is usually the most insecure boy. It’s a compensation mechanism.”
Can you edit your comment a bit? Thanks.
Ok 👍