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Book update:
I’m not enjoying SoulTalk by Larry Crabb. I don’t greatly disagree with the principles of what he is saying but find myself reacting to the style of writing. A texture v. flavor kind of thing.
I have been challenged immensly by Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals, by William Webb. I’ve noted some incosistencies in my own thought process were I thought I was quite consistent. Delusion v. denial.
I’ve been asked to lead the discussion for a book club Thursday night. They have been reading Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller. I started reading the book again Monday night and read through the first 100 pages. I read another 50 pages last night and want so much to hear the music.
Those of you who have read Blue what points should I highlight (besides Penguin Sex) for the book club?
No comment.
Just saying “hi.”
As the famous French novelist, playwright, Francoise Sagan, once said, “Jazz is an intensified feeling of nonchalance.”
Actually, I (as if you needed me to confess this) haven’t read the book but I thought this was a nice quote about jazz.
I am very curious as to where Cecil found that quote! I KNOW he didn’t just happen to know some French jazz lover / novelist / playwright’s name and even spelled it correctly!
I’ve loaned my copy out, but a couple of things stood out as I think back on it. One is that the problem begins with me. Two, the event at that college when they built a confessional booth and asked forgiveness for not being better examples for Christ. So many in our brotherhood need to ask (and be granted) that forgiveness, including myself. Three, just his overall willingness to reach out to a culture that I’d rather ignore.
This doesn’t help you, but if I’m looking forward to hearing about the discussion.
Greg – To quote the great American writer, poet, and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, “To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.”
Or to quote Rodney Dangerfield, “I never get any respect.”
Cecil: To quote no one in particular: “Get back to work!”
“By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn’t want your daughter to associate with.‚Äù – Duke Ellington
“Jazz is not dead Рit just smells funny” РFrank Zappa
We interrupt this quotefest to bring you a comment.
Or we would if Greg hadn’t stolen it already. Seriously, I was going to say the exact same thing. Those are the two things about the book that stood out the most to me. If I was re-reading it I’m sure I’d bring up a lot of things that my addled brain has forgotten.
Seriously, the point made in Penguin Sex is one of the best ones. Beggar’s Kingdom and how we can’t accept/discuss grace because of our pride is also good. Greg pointed out the confessional booth, but paragraph before the booth is where he introduces the difference between Christianity and Christian Spirituality.
The overarching themes that stand out to me are the demand at rediscovery and the release of control. He doesn’t bash denominations or tradition, but demonstrates how refreshing personal discovery of Biblical truths can be. The aversion to control is clearly seen in the confession booth and the discussion with the radio talk show host at the beginning of the same chapter.
My copy is loaned out too. And everybody used all the good jazz quotes.
One of the dangers I saw in the book is the blur between truth as revealed in salvation history and arrived at truth by personal revelation. One is timeless, the other is boundryless (not just in a positive way).