Nathan James Norman
  • Blog
  • Writer
  • Pastor
  • Bookshelf
  • Links
  • Contact

Nathan James Norman

Husband. Father. Pastor.
Storyteller. Reader. Comic Fan.
Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Baptist Church of Tarrytown

Text Jesus

2/6/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
I'm a good enough theologian to know that Jesus does not have a cell phone . . . or at least he doesn't give his number out.

I know I don't have it.

I ran across this VBS curriculum in a magazine recently, and I really don't know what to make of it.

If you were a kid coming to this VBS in the summer, what would you think was going to happen during this week?

If I went to this VBS as a kid I would be thingking, "I'm going to be able to text a message to Jesus this week!"  But then, that thought would be followed up by, "But cell phones are expensive and only Zack Morris can afford to have one!" Followed by, "And what's a text?" (Because I grew up in the 90s  you see . . .)

So what's going to happen at this VBS? Is a staff member supposed to get a burner phone ("hey, Jesus has the same area code as me!"), hide in the back and pretend to answer the kiddo's questions via text?

I'm pretty confident that I could make a convincing texting Jesus . . . for a little while. But then, weeks after VBS is over and the kids are still texting, they would start getting texts back from "jesus" with answers like:

  • idk?
  • who cares?
  • leave me alone, I'm sleeping
  • that's a dumb question
  • I have no clue what ur talking about

And this, of course, would lead to terrible theology and disappointed kids.

But, upon further examination of the VBS curriculum below, it is very clear that the week is focusing on texting about Jesus. That's not what a quick glance at the advertisement would lead a kid to believe, though. (Or a busy pastor).

So, take a peak at the curriculum below, and let me know what terrible things you'd wind up texting if you were pretending to be a "texting jesus".

Note: The Orchard Church will not be using this curriculum.
3 Comments
E.T.
5/26/2013 08:25:23 am

This information is very helpful. Thanks for your help with the clarification of what this V.B.S. theme means.

Reply
Nathan Norman link
5/27/2013 06:28:51 am

Thank you! Glad I could help. I'm sure it's a good VBS program, and in retrospect I was probably a bit too facetious in my attempt at humor. But the title doesn't really get the program where it wants to go.

Reply
Sarah Montague
5/29/2013 05:47:34 am

I saw it thought it was catchy am using it (I am the Sunday School Superintendent"} I like your comments , I will ensure that we let them know that texting is a medafore and prayer is a true text and a way to reach Jesus. So I guess at the end of the week they will know that even in this world of Modern technonoly Jesus is still on the throne and in our hearts, so we text our friends and text and pleases Jesus via reading our bible, studying his word and worshiping. ??

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Art
    Axiom
    Beowulf
    Christmas
    Comics
    Drabble
    Flash Fiction
    Foster Care
    Good Friday
    Humor
    Infertility
    Interviews
    Memes
    Music
    Politics
    Practical
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Reviews
    Speculative
    Theology
    Tragedy
    Trinity Watch
    Untold Podcast
    Video
    Writing

    Blog Roll

    Breakpoint
    Christian Humanist
    Christian Geek Central
    Critical Press Media
    David N. Alderman
    Doug Geivett

    Good Book Blog
    Living With Cogan
    Open Biola
    Project Rooftop
    Reasonable Faith
    Running Slowly w/ Kids
    Spirit Blade Underground
    Strangers and Aliens
    The Table Podcast
    This Old Farmhouse

    Archives

    November 2023
    August 2023
    February 2023
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012