Childlike ≠ Childish

I've been thinking lately, about Flannel Graph Jesus…

Because, honestly, why would we expect young men and women to stay engaged in a childish conservation about faith and spiritual formation? 

We see a difference between "childlike" faith and "childish" faith, don’t we?

Are you involved with a group of people who are interested in spiritual formation? I wonder what stories, observations, questions, or lessons you might unearth after watching Flannel Graph Jesus together....

You can view the post-ironic millennial’s mild rant about Flannel Graph Jesus here: https://buff.ly/2Frq0x2

You know... | Just like it says in the Bible

William Barclay said the legal experts: “…laid upon men the thousand and one burdens of the ceremonial law; but they did not keep them themselves, because they were experts in evasion.” They wrote up rules for just about everything.

The limit of a Sabbath day's journey was about half a mile from a person’s home. But if you tied a rope across the end of your street, the experts said the end of the street became your residence and you could go half a mile beyond that. And if on Friday afternoon you left enough food for two meals somewhere — anywhere — that point technically became your residence and you could go half a mile beyond that! You know, just like it says in the Bible.

One of the works forbidden on the Sabbath was tying knots in ropes and cords. But a woman was permitted to tie the knot in her girdle. So, by the transitive law of girdles, if you needed to draw a bucket of water from the well on the Sabbath, you could tie a girdle to the bucket, and then tie a rope to the girdle, and you were golden! You know, just like in the Bible.

The Sabbath code said: "...he who carries anything, whether it be in his right hand, or in his left hand, or in his bosom, or on his shoulder is guilty; but he who carries anything on the back of his hand, with his foot, or with his mouth, or with his elbow, or with his ear, or with his hair, or with his money bag turned upside down, or between his money bag and his shirt, or in the fold of his shirt or in his shoe, or in his sandal is guiltless, because he does not carry it in the usual way of carrying it out."

Healing sick people, however, was forbidden — no exceptions. You know, just like in the Bible.

[For another take on Just Like it Says in the Bible, hear these words coming from the mouth of the Post-Ironic Millennial]

[h/t William Barclay, THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES REVISED EDITION: THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1975) Luke 11:45-54]

[Image: William Blake, Moses Receiving the Law [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons]

The Post-Ironic Millennial Speaks | Updated

This is Brian Boyle. Brian plays The Post-Ironic Millennial. His job, as The Post-Ironic Millennial, is provoking thoughtful reflection and dialogue in small groups of youth workers, parents and teenagers who wrestle with ongoing spiritual formation. He's pretty good at what he does.

Now you can get three digital shorts from The Post-Ironic Millennial for just $2.79 US. 

Watch Flannel Graph Jesus below and, if you find it thought-provoking, follow the onscreen link to get three discussion starters—Flannel Graph Jesus, Just Like it Says in the Bible and Remember—for just $2.79 — or rent it for $2.29. 

If you're social (and I know you are): You can own these three videos for your own use AND you can gift them as free rentals to three friends of your choosing at no additional charge. If you find a better deal than that (assuming stealing the movies outright is not to your liking), I think you'd better grab it.

Q: Where's the Study Guide?
A: Use these movies in your small group with The Last Study Guide You'll Ever Need.

testing, testing | a new video delivery system

To test a new delivery system for digital videos from the tiny company called me, I'm offering three digital shorts from The Post-Ironic Millennial for one redonkulously low price. Just follow the onscreen link in the video below to get all three movies for as little as $2.79. (What! That's crazy!) You heard me right: For as little as $2.79, you can grab all three of these oddball discussion pieces. 

But wait, there's more! (No!) Yes! In addition to having these huggable keepsakes for your very own, you can gift them as free rentals to three friends of your choosing at no additional charge to you or any other party, living or dead. Now that's what I call major motion picture magic.

"But, hold up: Where's the Study Guide?" you ask... Not to worry — you can use these movies in your small group with The Last Study Guide You'll Ever Need. Or, heck! They're HiDef — project 'em on a giant screen if you like! These copies are yours to do with as you please for as little as $2.79.

The Post-Ironic Millennial Speaks | No. 04 The Dog's Dilemma

The Big Idea | The Dog's Dilemma is about taking yes for and answer. It's about releasing the thing I have to accept the thing I want more. It's about believing that thing won't be snatched away before I can take hold of it.

Biblical Roots | Hebrews11:1-12:3; John 1:9-13

SUPER-8 HD Video Download | $3.99 US 

The Post-Ironic Millennial Speaks | No. 38 Flannel Graph Jesus

The Big Idea | If the Jesus we talk about is less amazing than, say, Katniss Everdeen or Harry Potter, it may be worth asking: A) are we really talking about the Jesus of the Bible and B) is it any wonder that a lot of kids bail out?

Biblical Roots | Luke 2:41-52; Luke 4:14-37; Mark 1:21-27; Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 5:1-7:27; Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 8:1-27: Mark 5:1-20; Mark 5:21-43; Matthew 8:28-9:33; Mark 6:30-52; Luke 9:18-45; John 7:1-24; Luke 11:14-36; Mark 10:17-34; Mark 11:15-18; Mark 11:27-12:17; Matthew 22:15-45; Acts 3:1-4:22

HD Video Download | $3.99 US 

The Post-Ironic Millennial Speaks | No. 05 Remember

The Big Idea | God connects with us where we are, not where we're supposed to be—that's mercy, that's grace, that's gospel.

Biblical Roots | 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 

HD Video Download | $3.99 US 

The Post-Ironic Millennial Speaks | No. 14 Just like it says in the Bible

The Big Idea | Holding other people responsible for standards we fail to keep ourselves is not leadership, it's pretense, hypocrisy, maybe even abuse of power.

Biblical Roots | Luke 11:29-53

HD Video Download | $3.99 US