Monday, January 12, 2009

The importance of context

"...I got rid of the body. I kept the neck, but I had to trash the body..."

This was what I was saying to my wife in a matter-of-fact voice just as the window opened in the Starbucks drive through. I turned to see an earnest, wide-eyed young man with a startled expression on his face, reaching out to me with a Grande Americano (plus half-and-half) in each hand.

I received the beverages, smiling broadly as I handed him the payment.

I am certain he wondered what I was talking about.

11 comments:

Jennwith2ns said...

That is SO awesome. ;)

jeff said...

Would you let me use this in a sermon? This Sunday I am talking about Psalm 91, which Satan botches in the temptation of Christ. I'm talking about the point that a text without a context is a pretext. Your story would work wonderfully to illustrate it.

Barry Pike said...

It would be an honor to be used in one of your sermons.

Anonymous said...

Greatness!

The first time I went to Africa on a video shoot, I was told not to talk about what we were going to go "shoot." I also had a hard time not referring to the "shotgun" microphone with the "dead cat" windscreen.

Congratulations on delivering the sermon fodder!

Barry Pike said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barry Pike said...

Oops...I accidently messed up badly and had to delete my own comment. How retarded is that?

That is funny, BG. It's a lot easier to say "shotgun mic" than it is to say "hypersensitive line + gradient directional condenser mic."

I think it's super cool that Jeff is one of those rare preachers who doesn't make up his own true stories for sermon illustrations. Or take them from Reader's Digest. :)

jeff said...

While I have for many years used my own made up true stories, I've run low man. My life just aint that exciting. It's been a while since I've startled any restaurant workers with talk of getting rid of bodies.

The word verification below is "fenis." Hmm, I think I feel a sermon illustration coming on.

NP said...

ha - this was so funny and we got a good snicker as we pulled away from the SB's

jeff said...

I made ya famous-er

http://www.rhinelanderbible.org/serm11809.html

Barry Pike said...

Heh. Thanks, Jeff. Thanks for making me a part of your sermon, which was really good. I listened to it this morning.

jeff said...

No, no. Thank you!