Redemptive Stories

The New StorySpot

2005-12-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

StorySpot.com has been upgraded, and although there's still some work left to do on it, there are a LOT of cool new features.

This site is a good teaching tool for anyone who wants to learn how to naturally share how Christ has made a difference in their lives. It also presents the whole concept of God’s history with man from a story perspective.

Here's the link: www.StorySpot.com

Here's a screen-shot of the site and few of the new features:

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~ Enhanced writing process, featuring Claire — the animated StorySpot assistant.

~ Authors can select 5 different basic storylines when writing their story and examine Bible examples for their stories.

~ We’ve also added spell checking, a friend-review feature, and even a “Christian-ese” checker.

Finding a Plot in Our Lives

2005-05-16T11:43:00.000-04:00

“After air, food, and water, the thing we most need is that our lives mean something.

That life is meaningless, arbitrary, and random is espoused in many places, believed in few, and accepted with equanimity in none. The desperate eloquence of many who insist that such is the nature of life is itself a testimony to our passionate desire for meaning.

. . .Story is a vessel for carrying meaning.”

~ Daniel Taylor in Tell Me a Story (Bog Walk Press, 2001)

This is an excellent book. I highly recommend it.
Amazon has several reader reviews you can check out: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0970651104/qid=1116255671/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0608575-7243834?v=glance&s=books

More Small Town Story

2005-05-10T13:37:00.000-04:00

Continued from Previous Posts . . .

One series of stories my mom wrote followed the life of a local girl named Anita. Anita was about ten years old and had been diagnosed with bone cancer. Each week, my mother's column presented another angle to Anita’s story. First, she described Anita as a normal 4th grader – which she was. She loved playing with her friends, listening to music and had a blast making clay sculptures in art class. But after she learned of the cancer, Anita’s life changed dramatically. My mother’s columns shifted to details surrounding the trips to the hospital and the torturous chemotherapy. She wrote about Anita’s reaction to her illness and how her family responded to care for her.

Finally the doctors had no choice but to remove Anita’s leg to keep the cancer from spreading. It was a heart wrenching process for Anita to adapt to life on crutches and then with a prosthetic leg. Even though her young age helped her rebound more quickly than an adult, she could never again interact in the same way with her friends. Walking to class, carrying her books, even the routine of going through the lunch line at the school cafeteria became on ordeal. Her world changed radically. There was scarcely a person in the town who wasn’t touched in some way by watching and helping Anita and her family cope with a new world.

So, through the telling of her story, everyone in the town knew Anita as more than just another girl who lived down the street. And, because she was the girl who lived down the street, practically everyone in town had great empathy. Everyone knew Anita’s story and everyone believed in Anita. Her story rallied the whole town together. Neighbors and church members took extraordinary measures to make the long trips to the hospital as bearable as possible. Meals were prepared, transportation provided, encouraging words were spoken and extra hours were spent by Anita’s classmates and teachers to help her catch up on schoolwork. In some measure, the brutality of the suffering was lessened.

So, through the telling of Anita’s story, redemption occurred.

My Mom's Small Town News Stories

2005-05-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

continued from yesterday . . .

Sometimes after an interview with a local townsman, she would find that there was much more she wanted to know – many more questions to ask, more details to connect. And, once my mother began to uncover a story, she just couldn’t stop! In fact, on several occasions, her “featured story” ended up as our dinner guest on Sundays after church. Now our whole family could finally “see” what she had been talking about all week! As we talked around the dinner table, my mom would conduct an informal interview – asking questions and listening to our guest tell his story. Sometimes it would be near 3 O’clock before we rose from the table – often at the insistence of our guest. The story had to end when our seats could endure no longer. For a 14 year old boy (me), sitting for 3 hours while our family conversed over the life of some schoolteacher, business entrepreneur or a fourth generation cotton farmer who owned a third of the county could not have been more boring.

The local chamber of commerce often described and promoted our town as “A special place with special people.” But I often thought, “what’s really so special about them?” My mom taught me: it isn’t their achievements, heritage, or even their social refinement ( or lack thereof?). They were special because they each had a story. I didn’t see myself as fortunate at the time, but I was extremely fortunate to be drawn in to some of these stories.

More later. Next time I'll share one of my mom's "featured stories" . . .

What’s the Big Deal?

2005-05-05T10:59:00.000-04:00

Is it really fair to say that my story – and everyone’s story - has any GREAT amount of significance? If you had asked me this question about 20 years ago, I would have clearly said “NO.” Even by the age of 14, I had heard more than my fair share of personal stories.

Until she retired a few years ago, my mother was a journalist for a local small town newspaper. In fact, it was our town’s only newspaper. And, basically, she was the only full time journalist. So in essence, for over 20 years, she wrote the newspaper! Whatever was news to her was THE news.

Now perhaps I make it sound a little like she invented the news. That was not the case. Definitely she is an excellent, reputable writer. And I think most people in the town would agree that her writings were not frivolous nor tainted with gossip. Yet, in this remote town, there just ain’t that much news to write about! People grow cotton or corn and raise livestock. The minutes at the city council meeting often describe meaty decisions such as what color to paint the town’s water tower or whether or not the sanitation service should move from a weekly to bi-weekly trash collection schedule. The police department investigates its fair share of crimes, but it’s not too unusual for the most exciting police work of the week to include rescuing a cat from a storm drain.

So, if there was scant news to scoop on, what DID my mother write about? . . . People! Normal everyday BORING people who lived in our boring town. A couple of times a month, she would pick a common stock citizen and write a full feature, front page feature story on that person’s significance in the town. My mother would say that she was simply discovering a local story and relaying it to the public.

More on this next time. . .

Everybody Has a Story

2005-04-14T14:46:00.000-04:00

I recently came across this link.

Does anyone know if CBS still runs this news segment? I haven't seen it. Regardless, I think it makes a good point:

Ordinary people have stories worth sharing! As the title of the show says, Everyone Has a Story.

I'm not so sure I would have agreed with the above claims until just a few years ago (I'll blog more about that soon).

Anyway, here's the scoop I found on the TV segment for CBS News:

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Everybody Has a Story – CBS TV Show

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/hartman/main500155.shtml

(CBS) Every two weeks someone throws a dart at a map of America. CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman goes wherever it sticks, flips through the local phone book, and picks a name at random. He then does a story on someone at that house (assuming they’re willing, of course).

It doesn’t matter who they are or what they have to say. This is strictly first come, first served. No one is eliminated for any reason and every story gets on the air. The result – unique and wildly unpredictable television.

After meeting a family and convincing them that he really isn’t selling anything, Steve and his cameraman Les Rose usually spend about 2 days with their subjects. Much of the first day is spent trying to figure out the person’s “story”. The second day is mostly shooting and interviewing. Before leaving, the subject of the story throws the dart (backwards and over the shoulder to prevent aiming) sending them on their next adventure.

Since starting this project in 1998, Steve has profiled nearly 100 people from Maine to Miami -- from the Oregon coast to the Arizona desert. His youngest subject was a 5-year-old boy from Tennessee who likes to float balloons to his grandma in heaven. His oldest was an 87-year-old woman from Louisiana who still does her son’s laundry.
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Amistad "Lesson" Unpacked

2005-04-06T10:25:00.000-04:00

“Now, what you don’t know and, as far as I can tell, haven’t bothered in the least to discover is WHO they are,” said President Adams.

( . . . Continued from previous posts )

Amistad, a 1997 Steven Spielberg production, is one of my favorites. In this scene with John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) and Theodore Joadson (Morgan Freeman), Adams gives Joadson an important “lesson” which contained a kernel of legal advice yet was mostly a wise commentary on the nature of human character. It is a lesson worth studying.

Sage advice often brings a reverent response and Joadson hangs on every word the brilliant Adams gives him. Known as “Old Man Eloquent” by his colleagues in the House of Representatives, Adams skillfully presents what years of courtroom experience and international diplomacy had taught him.

What exactly is the point of his lesson to Joadson? What is his advice? Truly, the lesson is profound and speaks truthfully of life inside and outside the courtroom.

Adams tells us: Like nothing else, an individual’s story powerfully describes his or her personal worth and significance. When a story is given a personal face, it becomes powerful.

Note how Adams helps Joadson discover this truth in the movie: Joadson himself had a story – an amazing story of escape, survival and beyond. Yet, in the course of being wrapped up in his profession, he often forgot his own personal story for the larger scope of abolishing slavery. Understanding his own story was so applicable to helping the courts understand the plight of the Africans, yet this point eluded him. Adams helped him see that his story was incredibly much more than the summation of his credentials.

Adams asked Joadson if he would dare to sum up his life as simply “a Georgian?” He pushed Joadson to consider how he would describe his life. To communicate the significance of his life, would he simply list his credentials – perhaps his family genealogy, his academic achievements or maybe his job title or job description? “NO! What is your STORY?” Adams asked.

Significance of Personal Stories - Part 3

2005-04-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

(Continued from part 1 and part 2)

Adams’ responses to his pleas for advice seemed veiled in meaning, yet now Joadson saw that this was the President’s method of teaching. He wanted Joadson to discover it on his own. “Yes. What is their story?” Joadson thought. “I’m sure I can imagine some of it. . . . Theirs must be a story of suffering and horror. . . Yet I don’t want to push their story away – I want to know it! . . . Their story informs my personal story like no other . . . My story is their story! . . . Ah, if only the court could imagine and see just a fraction of their true story . . .”

From that point on, Joadson knew what he needed to do. He needed to tell their story! He needed to prove to the court much more than a country of origin for the Amistad slaves. He needed to prove the Amistad slaves were individual human beings – each with a unique story. “A person’s official credentials can only gain entry into a country, but a story will gain entry into the heart of individuals and a nation,” Joadson said to himself.

Joadson’s mind raced with ideas and he made several – too many – mental notes as to how he would inform the Amistad legal counsel about the advice gleaned from Adams. Finally, Joadson shut off the tidal wave of his thoughts, realizing he should voice a response to the lesson he had just received.

“I understand your point, sir. You speak the truth. I do not know their story. . . . But I will learn it. And know it by heart. . . . Their story is indeed the key. Yes, yes, their story proves their human character,” Joadson nodded as he unlocked his thoughts before the President. “Their story validates their dignity.”

“I’m much obliged for your time, sir. And, it has been an honor . . . I’m indeed grateful for your advice, Mr. President,” Joadson said.

Joadson left on the train the next morning, confident of the new direction for the case. He smiled the most contented smile he had produced in a long time.

Significance of Personal Stories – Part 2

2005-04-01T10:19:00.000-05:00

This is my own reconstruction of a particular scene from Amistad, which has remained fresh in my mind as an illustration of significance:

1839 - Quincy, Massachusetts

( Continued from Part 1 )

. . . Joadson had come to visit Mr. Adams at home to seek advice on a legal case. On trial were twenty-some-odd African slaves found shipwrecked on the Long Island coast, some six months after putting to sea as cargo aboard a Spanish vessel named La Amistad. During the voyage, the slaves broke their chains and murdered all the crew except two. The trial sought to settle the fate of the slaves, claimed by the Spaniards to be of Cuban origin – and therefore rightfully belonging to them (in 1839 slaves could be legally sold in Cuba). Joadson, and others, sought to prove to the court that these were in fact African natives captured illegally. To prove so would release the slaves and send a powerful statement to American black market slave traders that continued shipment of Africans would not be tolerated. So far, the court seemed to be more concerned with placating the agitations of the Spaniards and others who screamed injustice at the thought of releasing murderers. Even if the defense’s evidence proved the plaintiffs to be African, the prosecution presented the case as a picture of the currently divided American sentiment towards slavery in 1839: partially condoned by majority, condemned by a conservative yet marginalized minority.

. . . Finally, the answer came. “NO! Mr. Joadson, you’re an ex-slave who has devoted his life to the abolitionist movement with many trials and hardships along the way I imagine. Now, THAT is your story, isn’t it?” Mr. Joadson nodded as he began to understand the lesson.

“You have proved WHAT the slaves are, Mr. Joadson, . . . they’re Africans! Congratulations! But what you don’t know and haven’t bothered in the least to discover is WHO they are. . . . Right?”

A smile crept onto Joadson’s face much like a spider approaches the delicate edge of her web. At last, he began to see the key. “Ahh. He was listening!” Joadson thought to himself as excitement kindled inside his chest.

Moments earlier, he had started to wonder if he was wasting his time, explaining the case to the old man mumbling and pacing in front of the fireplace. Although Joadson knew well from public record that Adams agreed with some abolitionist philosophy, the President had seemed as slow as molasses to attach any personal interest to the case.

Even after directly posing the question, “Mr. President, if it was you handling the case, what would you do?” Adams’ response seemed veiled: He plodded over to his armchair, lit his pipe as he sat down, and tersely replied, “I’ve learned through many years of trial and error that, in the courtroom, whoever tells the best story . . . wins! In very unlawyer-like fashion, I offer you that scrap of wisdom free of charge!”

(To be continued)

Significance of Personal Stories – Part 1

2005-03-30T08:10:00.000-05:00

This is my own reconstruction of a particular scene from Amistad, which has remained fresh in my mind as an illustration of significance:

“I’ve learned through many years of trial and error that, in the courtroom, whoever tells the best story . . . wins!” said President Adams.

A SCENE FROM THE MOVIE “AMISTAD” (1997 Steven Spielberg)

1839 - Quincy, Massachusetts

“Mr. Joadson, you are from where, originally?” asked the aged statesman.

Joadson looked slightly bewildered. “From Georgia, sir,” Joadson replied.

Adams countered, “Does that pretty much sum up what you are? A Georgian? Is that your story?”

Adams posed the rhetorical questions for Mr. Joadson’s reflection, gently prompting his thoughts towards the answer. As an expert pedagogue, Adams let Joadson pause for a moment to discover the answer on his own, yet the correct answer needed to be unpacked in an organized fashion and explained in proper context. The pause of silence cleared the stage for the unpacking . . .

Sitting hunched over in his favorite armchair in front of the fireplace, Adams didn’t initially project the aura which his past achievements boasted of. They were all veiled in shadows now, just as the corner of the room in which he reclined now was draped in the grey shadows of the setting sun. Mr. John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was now well into his seventies. His thinning hair was white. His face and hands were shriveling, creased with lines and shades of many years hard work in his garden and in the library. These were not merely hands of menial labor. Surely his hands had also greeted many dignitaries at the White House. But now, in his twighlight years, over a decade after his term as President had ended, John Quincy Adams maintained an amazing sharpness of mind and a wit of tongue which astounded the best statesmen of the day. Astounding, yes, but also hidden underneath the cloak of wrinkles and aged infirmities. He often paced back and forth in front of his fireplace, looking uncertain in his steps. Sometimes he mumbled things to himself which were unintelligible. This was John Quincy Adams? President Adams? His eyes, now dimmed from their sharp sparkle they once held, squinted to perceive the facial expressions of his guest.

Mr. Theodore Joadson, in contrast to the venerable President Adams, stood six feet tall and towered with almost regal appearance. The crisp white tones on the brim of his top hat, which he politely held with both hands, set off his dark black skin like a light snowfall accents shingles on a rooftop. Born a slave on a Georgia plantation, Joadson had lived most of his adult life on a constant and upstream journey. He escaped from his taskmasters at the age of thirteen, fleeing to the northern states, scrapping for mere existence yet kept alive by a passion for reading and education. After many years of being self taught, the door of opportunity for formal education cracked open and Joadson strode right in, slowly gaining acceptance both as an educated black man and avid spokesman for the abolitionist movement. His was an amazing story, yet perhaps due to his humble and soft spoken nature, few people really knew his story. . .

(To be continued)

My Story? Significant?

2005-03-29T09:48:00.000-05:00

Everyone on the planet has a personal story. Whether it be a story of love, strife, triumph, defeat, delight or pain, or a seemingly mundane story of day in and day out, stories emerge through every life lived.

“Sure,” you may agree, “but so what?” Why should we stop and explore anyone’s personal story – even our own?

It all boils down to a question of significance.

As I said in my introduction, personal stories are powerful because they mean something. They teach us something about who we are. And by discovering the roles we play in the bigger picture – the great meta-narrative of life – we see our purpose in life.

Here’s a few key questions to dig into next:

What is my story, really?

Is my story really significant?

If it is significant, how so?

Next time I’d like to blog about one of my favorite movies and how a scene from it helped me answer these questions.

What’s this Blog About?

2005-03-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

A series of short articles, stories, and commentary exploring redemptive stories on the web.

What is a Redemptive Story?

2005-03-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

My broad definition: Any story with a general theme of redemption.

Why am I blogging?

2005-03-22T11:44:00.000-05:00

Short answer: To share what I am learning about communicating personal redemptive stories on the web. More? (See Introduction)

About Me

2005-03-22T10:53:00.000-05:00

I am not a skilled writer. Nor am I experienced in blogging. See more disclaimers.

I’ve spent the last 12 years in full time college ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. I’m a Georgia Tech grad and a Georgia native. I have one wonderful wife and three small and very active children.

My experience with redemptive stories began at an early age – being exposed to dozens of human interest stories via my mother – who is a newspaper journalist.

During the summer of 2000, I interviewed and chronicled the stories of about two hundred college students during a content-enrichment project for EveryStudent.com. In 2003, I helped create StorySpot.com – a place online where people can share how God has changed their life.

See more about me at http://www.HandsHeadlines.com

A Few Disclaimers

2005-03-22T10:20:00.000-05:00

I’m NOT a skilled writer. Nor experienced in blogging.
The title “Redemptive Stories” simply means that this blog will generally be about redemptive stories on the web. It doesn’t imply that the content of this blog will contain only redemptive stories.
I define Redemptive Story very broadly. I’m not trying to set apart a new genre.
My goal is to explore personal redemptive stories on the web. Since there are no exclusive or strictly defined criteria for such stories, I hope to provide sufficient examples along the way to describe this type of story.
These are just my ideas. My opinions. Since this is an open forum, all of these ideas are open for comments.
I’m happy to learn more from the experience of others.
Did I mention that I am not a skilled writer?

INTRODUCTION

2005-03-22T10:02:00.000-05:00

The allure of stories.

( fyi, that's not me in the picture. just thought it was a good illustration. )

“Daddy, could you pleeeeease tell me a story?!” asks Avery, our oldest daughter. She asks this quite often, and I usually oblige. Not only does she love children’s books, but she’s also thrilled when I simply “make up” a fairy tale, adventure or ongoing saga with Avery and her siblings as the central characters. Recently Avery even has started drafting her own stories – using color crayons and having her parents take dictation to capture the narration that accompanies each picture. Check out Avery’s first published “book” – Adventure on Blackberry Mountain.

We all can relate to my daughter’s obsession with story time. Who doesn’t enjoy being drawn in to a classic book or movie? Why do we find ourselves lost in a good story? Because stories are powerful. Nothing connects to our heart quite like a story.

What's the greatest story ever told? It's The Story of God pursuing and loving an undeserving lot. It's a marvelous story of redemption.

Ultimately, redemptive stories shed light on God’s Story worked out in the lives of people throughout history. My ultimate goal through this blog – as we examine personal redemptive stories on the web – is to catch a glimpse of His Grand Story and take a few steps back and contemplate the Author. Deeper admiration and satisfaction with Him is the ultimate “happy-ever-after” ending of all stories of all time.

Here’s a brief overview of the general topics I hope to address here:
1. Understanding Redemption in Our Personal Stories
2. Describing The Story through our Stories
3. Resources on the Web for Communicating Redemptive Stories

Well, here goes. . .