Comments on: The Blue Parakeet & Narrative vs. System http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/the-blue-parakeet-narrative-vs-system/ until then... Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:07:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Nick http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/the-blue-parakeet-narrative-vs-system/#comment-198 Nick Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:42:10 +0000 http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/?p=434#comment-198 Great! Can I borrow your copy? Great! Can I borrow your copy?

]]> By: J. Farley http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/the-blue-parakeet-narrative-vs-system/#comment-197 J. Farley Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:40:52 +0000 http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/?p=434#comment-197 Thank you. My fading modern paranoia is worried about filling out my pastor's report on how many were saved and sanctified this past year. I resonate with the narrative approach, "as we get sucked up into the story we are more likely to be changed by it." I'm with you on that but selling systematic salvation and assurance is more concrete than entering a story. Seriously, beyond the report I want to see life change by joining a group of people in the story and wonder how to invite others in. Thank you.
My fading modern paranoia is worried about filling out my pastor’s report on how many were saved and sanctified this past year.
I resonate with the narrative approach, “as we get sucked up into the story we are more likely to be changed by it.”
I’m with you on that but selling systematic salvation and assurance is more concrete than entering a story.
Seriously, beyond the report I want to see life change by joining a group of people in the story and wonder how to invite others in.

]]> By: R. Eric Sawyer http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/the-blue-parakeet-narrative-vs-system/#comment-196 R. Eric Sawyer Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:22:58 +0000 http://mattrundio.wordpress.com/?p=434#comment-196 After being a Christian for something close to 30 years, I got involved in a project at my church that bears on your idea: It was called "Cover to Cover" and is based around a community reading the Bible straight through in 90 days. Not to get bogged down in the details of the program (only on request!) but the experience of reading the whole Bible as one story, the way I would read a novel, was quite eye-opening. I am use to doing "systematic" reading, and looking at a passage to wring all the juice possible from it; context, referals, setting, parallels, original language, symbols, etc. I still think that is a very good way to read, and in different lengths -from isolated thoughts to whole "books." But it is not the whole story. My analogy relates to the "puzzle" motif, but for me, a jigsaw puzzle. I am use to analizing a particular piece, seeing some white, and a corner of blue. These relate to other blue that I've understood to be sky, and I am beginning to see that the white is a boat's sail. There is much to be learned doing it this way. But sometimes it is helpful to "turn over the box-lid" and see the puzzle as one picture, all at once. I've been able to see with much more confidence the meta-narrative of creation, the aver-arching story the Bible has to tell. The other kind of study then fills in the details, and helps me understand the specific parts of the story. Trying to use one way only now seems like trying to row with one oar: possible, but a very difficult way to make much progress! Great post - thank you! After being a Christian for something close to 30 years, I got involved in a project at my church that bears on your idea: It was called “Cover to Cover” and is based around a community reading the Bible straight through in 90 days. Not to get bogged down in the details of the program (only on request!) but the experience of reading the whole Bible as one story, the way I would read a novel, was quite eye-opening.

I am use to doing “systematic” reading, and looking at a passage to wring all the juice possible from it; context, referals, setting, parallels, original language, symbols, etc. I still think that is a very good way to read, and in different lengths -from isolated thoughts to whole “books.” But it is not the whole story.

My analogy relates to the “puzzle” motif, but for me, a jigsaw puzzle. I am use to analizing a particular piece, seeing some white, and a corner of blue. These relate to other blue that I’ve understood to be sky, and I am beginning to see that the white is a boat’s sail. There is much to be learned doing it this way. But sometimes it is helpful to “turn over the box-lid” and see the puzzle as one picture, all at once.

I’ve been able to see with much more confidence the meta-narrative of creation, the aver-arching story the Bible has to tell. The other kind of study then fills in the details, and helps me understand the specific parts of the story.

Trying to use one way only now seems like trying to row with one oar: possible, but a very difficult way to make much progress!

Great post – thank you!

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