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Pixar: A Study in StoryTelling vs. Terminator: A Study in Special Effects
On Worship, Story Development, and Special Effects. This evening we took our family to see UP, Pixar's latest, and some say greatest, film so far. Pixar has enjoyed so much success not because of great animation but great stories. The stories tap into such profound plots and do so in such multivalent, multi-leveled ways. Last week I saw Terminator: Salvation. Despite it's storied beginning, the Terminator series laid an egg with this one. The impossible to follow story literally duct-tapes itself together with beyond spectacular special effects.
I find that to be the case with worship. We often rely more on special effects than on story development. Think about it-- lights, cameras, fog, newest songs, fast moving imagery on 17 screens, 18 effects pedals at the lead guitar's toe tips, and did i mention lights?? In fact, today's worship leader increasingly describes his or her task as "leading people through a seamless experiential encounter with the presence of God." Hmmmm.
How about this past Sunday? Did your worship service give any attention to developing the story of Pentecost-- the birthday of the Church-- the universal celebration of the sending of the Holy Spirit? Or was it just another week of lights, screens and sentimental songs?
I noted a feature in the movie credits today I'd never seen before. Pretty quickly after the credits began scrolling I saw the title of "Story Development Supervisor," followed by a host of titles and names underneath. Soon after came "Story Development Manager" with another team of laborers. Still yet came "Story Development Coordinator," and another team. Not only did these positions and work teams come prior to all the animators and special effects teams, they they seemed to outnumber them as well. Could this be Pixar's secret? Attention to Story Development?
What if we started approaching the worship life of the church in this fashion? Story Development. What if the worship leader became a kind of chief story development officer? How might that work? What could it look like?
Labels: story
posted by John David Walt | at 5/31/2009 10:50:00 PM | 12 comments
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Academy of Flight. Graduation Poem What if
instead of mortar boards
the Graduates flew?
Black robes stretching out
like bat suits;
Utility belts of Truth
holding it all together.
"Not Possible!" you say.
That's Hogwartz Hogwash!"
"Gravity Rules!"
But what if
Heaven's Gravity is greater
overcoming the Earthen bound
lifting the humble from the dust
making humans fly
in the aeronautical tradition
of the Graduate
of Golgotha.
Several years ago I began a practice of writing a poem during the often lengthy graduation services I sit through twice per year. It helps me be reflective in what can be a quite redundant ceremony.
posted by John David Walt | at 5/24/2009 11:27:00 AM
| 5 comments
Friday, May 22, 2009
God Flies: Part 2. Absurd: wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate....
What difference does "The Ascension" make. I keep thinking about it. Noone ever really talks about it? My hunch is that it will not be mentioned at your Church this Sunday and yet you probably heard a lot about the resurrection 40 days ago on Easter Sunday. Why not?
Does it go too far for us? Human beings "flying"??? It's absurder. We will readily talk about Jesus being born of a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit. (absurd) We will wax eloquent about unbelievable miracles like walking on water. (absurd) We have no problem staking our very life and faith on Jesus actually rising from the dead, as in "rigor mortis." (absurd) We will readily talk about him walking through walls and suddenly appearing out of nowhere. (absurd) So why don't we talk about him flying up to Heaven? Is it beyond absurd? as in "absurder!"
I would suspect, in the eyes of a child, this would be the most amazing thing of all-- a person lifting-off and flying! I mean, what kid doesn't want to fly?
I would suspect, in the eyes of a child, this would be the most amazing thing of all-- a person lifting-off and flying! I mean, what kid doesn't want to fly?
But us adults-- we don't make much of it do we? It's absolutely absurd!
Most popular tourist site in Washington DC? US Capitol?? no. National Air & Space Museum. yes. Why-- Human beings are more enthralled, amazed and taken away by the idea of flying, than any other phenomenon.
Could it be that the force of "gravity" exceeds the force of "faith?" It's true isn't it, "What goes up. . . . . . . must come down." But what if it's just the opposite? "What comes down. . . . . . . must go up."
I call it the gravity of Heaven. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Heaven's gravity is the supernatural force pulling humility up into true humanity. There are a million implications. One of them: one day we will have the capacity to fly. It's Absurd!
Think about that a bit and give me your thoughts.
Note: this isn't headed toward 19th century Rapture theology-- I promise. ;-)
posted by John David Walt | at 5/22/2009 09:27:00 PM
| 6 comments
Could it be that the force of "gravity" exceeds the force of "faith?" It's true isn't it, "What goes up. . . . . . . must come down." But what if it's just the opposite? "What comes down. . . . . . . must go up."
I call it the gravity of Heaven. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Heaven's gravity is the supernatural force pulling humility up into true humanity. There are a million implications. One of them: one day we will have the capacity to fly. It's Absurd!
Think about that a bit and give me your thoughts.
Note: this isn't headed toward 19th century Rapture theology-- I promise. ;-)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
God Flies! part 1
With Ascension Day coming tomorrow (Thursday 5.21) I've been thinking a lot about the Ascension. Here's my question: What difference does it make? In my own experience people don't talk too much about it. Yet I've heard theologian types claim it is the most central reality in the life of Christ. So why does it matter? There are other ways Jesus could have gotten to the right hand of God. He could have simply said "Beam me up," or something like that. He could have disappeared in the night when noone was looking. So why does this little account in Acts 1:1-11 matter? This must have huge implications for the practice of Christian worship.
I've got so many thoughts about it, but before going into those, I'd like to hear what you think. I promise not to critique responses.
Labels: story
posted by John David Walt | at 5/20/2009 01:19:00 PM | 7 comments
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Worship, Theology and Art
Jeremy Begbie is a fantastic teacher in the area of worship, thelogy and the arts. Here is a 15 minute demonstration of his craft worth your time. He's coming to spend some time with us at the seminary this fall.
I will be interviewing Dr. Begbie in November as part of his visit. As you listen to this presentation, write points of conversation and inquiries you would have for him. (comment field) This will help me prepare.
Labels: theology
posted by John David Walt | at 5/13/2009 09:24:00 AM | 1 comments
Saturday, May 09, 2009
The Many Faces of Worship: Streets Edition
BTW, this is not a Church Service.
Labels: many faces of worship
posted by John David Walt | at 5/09/2009 10:15:00 PM | 3 comments
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Time Flies: Worship as collision of past and future in the present
In our worship design and leadership we must work to strike a balance--- no, not a balance--- but a chord. Yes, we must work to strike a chord between the past and the future; between remembrance and anticipation. (The Bible words would be "anamnesis" and "prolepsis," but that's not important for now). What is important is the way memory and anticipation work in Christian worship.
In worship-- which is to say the gathered Body of Christ presencing in the communion of the Son and the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit-- our Spirit empowered remembering mysteriously ushers the past into the present moment. At the same time, our Spirit empowered anticipation mysteriously ushers the future into the present moment.
Worship is a collision of the past and the future in the present, making for a reality bursting with revelation; a panoramic unfolding of the view of God's mercy.
The secret to this is Jesus himself, who in his death redeems the past, bringing all of fallen creation into the present and who in his resurrection pierces the veil of the future, pulling the essence of eternity backwards into the present.
Time Flies!
The Kingdom comes in this collision. It happens in the abiding place of the Cross. The collision shows us in sketch what the consummation will bring in full living high definition color.
How do you respond to this almost inconceivable statement?
posted by John David Walt | at 5/07/2009 09:28:00 PM
| 6 comments
Today...