Comments on: The Monster Who Was Sorry http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/ The Institute for the Theology of Culture, an official program of Multnomah Biblical Seminary Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:20:19 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: justin http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-14587 justin Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:25:43 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-14587 i am definitely behind, as far as the calendar year goes, but i just couldn't resist giving you props for sharing this poem/psalm. the language definitely resonates with me - as i have even defined my website and online-presence in light of this "messines". anyways, this was a great find. thanks! i am definitely behind, as far as the calendar year goes, but i just couldn’t resist giving you props for sharing this poem/psalm. the language definitely resonates with me – as i have even defined my website and online-presence in light of this “messines”.

anyways, this was a great find. thanks!

]]> By: Christopher Laird http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-13517 Christopher Laird Tue, 18 May 2010 15:42:52 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-13517 I will look that up for you - see if I can find it and get back to you. I will look that up for you – see if I can find it and get back to you.

]]> By: Betty http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-13492 Betty Mon, 17 May 2010 19:52:37 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-13492 Where can I find the words to the poem "The Monster Who Was Sorry" Where can I find the words to the poem “The Monster Who Was Sorry”

]]> By: Eddie http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-11099 Eddie Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:01:18 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-11099 i agree the you guys also on the fact that grace is not exclusive i agree the you guys also on the fact that grace is not exclusive

]]> By: Eddie http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-11098 Eddie Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:59:00 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-11098 i guess as we mature we lose that sense of wonder that come from kids, that honesty that comes from not being jaded.On a difference subject have you seen the movie where the wilde things are and how the main character max found accpetance and love from a gang of monster while feeling left out of his real family. Often times we feel that way with God and seek acceptance from the most unlikely of places.i have have not read the peom you reference but enjoy the chat, i agree with your reference to luther and how as western american "blessed" christian we need to repent of the idea that christianity is the same as our understanding of consumerism. As a newcomer to angelicism and the Episcopal Church i find a comfort and connection to the divine through the liturgy and the celebation of lent. It is a time to reflection and self examination. Sorry love to blog but very busy with school i guess as we mature we lose that sense of wonder that come from kids, that honesty that comes from not being jaded.On a difference subject have you seen the movie where the wilde things are and how the main character max found accpetance and love from a gang of monster while feeling left out of his real family. Often times we feel that way with God and seek acceptance from the most unlikely of places.i have have not read the peom you reference but enjoy the chat, i agree with your reference to luther and how as western american “blessed” christian we need to repent of the idea that christianity is the same as our understanding of consumerism. As a newcomer to angelicism and the Episcopal Church i find a comfort and connection to the divine through the liturgy and the celebation of lent. It is a time to reflection and self examination. Sorry love to blog but very busy with school

]]> By: Christopher Laird http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-10985 Christopher Laird Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:47:45 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-10985 Kelsi, Yeah, little kids haven't yet perfected the art of pretentiousness. I know what you mean by wanting to "laugh and cry" when reading this. I recently saw a movie, "Where the Wild Things Are." The main character was essentially the same boy who wrote the "monster poem." About half way through the film, I started choking back tears. Yeah, emotional scenes get to me, but this was truly "wild" - if I was by myself I could have bawled out loud for an hour. The portrayal of such honesty about how we really feel . . . it really is powerful. Kelsi,

Yeah, little kids haven’t yet perfected the art of pretentiousness. I know what you mean by wanting to “laugh and cry” when reading this. I recently saw a movie, “Where the Wild Things Are.” The main character was essentially the same boy who wrote the “monster poem.” About half way through the film, I started choking back tears. Yeah, emotional scenes get to me, but this was truly “wild” – if I was by myself I could have bawled out loud for an hour. The portrayal of such honesty about how we really feel . . . it really is powerful.

]]> By: Christopher Laird http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-10984 Christopher Laird Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:39:29 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-10984 Luke, Yeah, I agree with you - it is ironic, especially given the statement of Luther (the first of his 95 thesis). "When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said 'Repent', He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." It is really hard to repent of things like consumerism, moralism, pragmatism, individualism, etc., when so many people look at you like you're crazy for challenging such "sacred" ideology. Luke,

Yeah, I agree with you – it is ironic, especially given the statement of Luther (the first of his 95 thesis). “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent’, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” It is really hard to repent of things like consumerism, moralism, pragmatism, individualism, etc., when so many people look at you like you’re crazy for challenging such “sacred” ideology.

]]> By: Kelsi Johns http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-10964 Kelsi Johns Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:25:11 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-10964 I absolutely love the boy's ending and profound insight on our human condition (little kids get it so much better than we do): ‘Then I sit in my messy house and say to myself, ‘I shouldn’t have done all that.” That is awesome. It made me laugh and want to cry at the same time. Cry because of the sheer relief and commonality I share with this little boy. Laugh because it's all so silly. We are so irrational, emotional, reactionary, regretful people. If we were to always give into our emotions like he so honestly describes, this world would be all the messier. The thing that is brilliant though, is that he is revealing and admitting what is truly in his heart. Throw his sister down the stairs!? Someone should lock that boy up! He's a danger to society! Right? Right?? Wait...if only we were all honest about our darkness and then, as a result, repentant about what's really going on inside of our hearts. You are absolutely right, Chris--it is only when we can admit this grossness, this messiness, that we can then allow God to clean us up. If we only admit the easy things, then we are only repenting of the easy things, and that is grossly undermining the power of the cross and the depths of where Christ really wants to go in our lives! I thank God that he wants us to reveal our ugliness and not just try to cover it up. Thank God he wants honestly-- not deception-- from us and among us. I absolutely love the boy’s ending and profound insight on our human condition (little kids get it so much better than we do): ‘Then I sit in my messy house and say to myself, ‘I shouldn’t have done all that.”
That is awesome. It made me laugh and want to cry at the same time. Cry because of the sheer relief and commonality I share with this little boy. Laugh because it’s all so silly. We are so irrational, emotional, reactionary, regretful people. If we were to always give into our emotions like he so honestly describes, this world would be all the messier.

The thing that is brilliant though, is that he is revealing and admitting what is truly in his heart. Throw his sister down the stairs!? Someone should lock that boy up! He’s a danger to society! Right? Right?? Wait…if only we were all honest about our darkness and then, as a result, repentant about what’s really going on inside of our hearts. You are absolutely right, Chris–it is only when we can admit this grossness, this messiness, that we can then allow God to clean us up.
If we only admit the easy things, then we are only repenting of the easy things, and that is grossly undermining the power of the cross and the depths of where Christ really wants to go in our lives! I thank God that he wants us to reveal our ugliness and not just try to cover it up. Thank God he wants honestly– not deception– from us and among us.

]]> By: Luke http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/02/the-monster-who-was-sorry/#comment-10903 Luke Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:32:46 +0000 http://new-wineskins.org/?p=2020#comment-10903 It does crack me up when evangelicals speak of repentance, fasting, or Lent as if they are a denial of God's grace. Granted some people use them in a way that might, but when used right they reveal the messy crooks and crannies of our souls and show us how much we need God's grace every day, and day to day. Repentance shouldn't create self-righteous smugness, it should humble us as people utterly dependent on God's grace. We're all "monsters." We're all dragons painfully having the scales pulled off one at a time. It does crack me up when evangelicals speak of repentance, fasting, or Lent as if they are a denial of God’s grace. Granted some people use them in a way that might, but when used right they reveal the messy crooks and crannies of our souls and show us how much we need God’s grace every day, and day to day. Repentance shouldn’t create self-righteous smugness, it should humble us as people utterly dependent on God’s grace. We’re all “monsters.” We’re all dragons painfully having the scales pulled off one at a time.

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