Comments on: closest book meme

By: The 123 book meme » JakeBouma.com

The 123 book meme » JakeBouma.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:47:30 +0000

[...] Scott from Transformatum has tagged me in the popular “123″ or “closest book” meme, which has been around for a really long time (I remember seeing it on Marko’s blog in ’06), even though it’s been spreading like wildfire as of late. Anyway, here’s how it works. [...]

By: Tree

Tree — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:18:52 +0000

I started this over at the YS Forums (God Rest their Soul…) and it’s good to see that it’s still going around. One thing that changed, however, is the page number. It was originally page 23, probably for the very fact that some books are fairly short. Heck, if I was at home, I’d bet dollars to donuts I’d grab a book with merely ten pages. (Huzzah for toddlers!) So here’s mine:

“While he did this, I retained my seat by the fire, for I was still chilly. When the design was complete, he handed it to me without rising. As I received, a low growl was heard, succeeded by a scratching at the door. Jupiter opened it, and a large Newfoundland, belonging to Legrand, rushed in, leaped upon my shoulders, and loaded me with caresses; for I had shown him much attention during previous visits.”

From a 1907 edition of “Selections from Poe”, which was sitting immediately to my left on my desk at work.

Also, the original meme only had the poster writing one sentence…. much easier to do quickly, much better for taking things out of context, but perhaps less interesting? Regardless, great to see it passed around again!

By: Andy Kaehr

Andy Kaehr — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:57:41 +0000

Well, I’m new at this whole blogging thing, but I definitely enjoy your insights, Marko. The baptismal cannon-ball made me roll on the floor; that’s the kind of stuff that helps youth workers survive. Great convention this year in Cincy; I came with my whole team from my church in collaboration with Bethel College. Also wanted to say that I appreciated your honesty in the opening statements of the last general session. Keep up the fantastic work, and I will be at least celebrating Christmas in-directly with you in sunny southern California. Blessings!

By: tanya

tanya — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:22:35 +0000

so i tried this experiment – and the book i have sitting next to me doesn’t even have 123 pages. it’s ‘life of the beloved’ by henri m. nouwen. guess that says something.

By: marko

marko — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:09:57 +0000

wow, kevin. pretty strong and angry words, bro.

i do have many things to do in life, as you may guess, other than respond to blog comments — though i enjoy doing that also.

ah, yes, i think the stuff you mention (that there will likely be a sharp decrease in traditional church attendance) will have a HUGE impact on many issues — i’ve blogged about this before. and it was the issue i brought up in my post about the christianity today piece on the future of youth ministry. i think churches will not be able to afford paid youth workers in the future (at least not as many churches will), and that will really force our collective hand to re-think some things. i’m not sure i’d call it the next reformation yet – but i do think the implications will be huge. and many of them will be good!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:12:12 +0000

thanks for responding. I guess butt-scan security is a more important topic.

By: marko

marko — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:21:40 +0000

katie — scot’s book is out. it came out nov 1.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:50:59 +0000

MARKO!!!! When is the book coming out!!!! Just from that paragraph, I’m hooked. And I don’t read nearly as much as I should. This sounds like one great book. AND!!! A good book to discuss over coffee. When’s it supposed to be available?

By: Kevin Bratcher

Kevin Bratcher — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:30:16 +0000

You’ve gotta subscribe… it’s free on itunes and it has interviews of people like louie giglio, rob bell, donald miller, and chris seay. I highly recommend it! Anyway, Barna gives a startling statistic of where the church will be in 20 years. Right now 65% of the population experience and express their faith in and through the local church. He estimates that in 20 years that will be cut in half. Only about 30%-35% will be going to the local church to meet that need. About 30%-35% will now be going to alternative forms of church(house churches, cyberchurches, etc…) another 1/3 will be through the media, arts, and cultural mechanisms. If this is true, then a whole reshaping and restructuring of “church” has to take place. I wonder what this implies for youth ministry? Professional pastors and youth pastors? The trend he is seeing is that people are leaving the “church” to BE the Church. Seems like a new reformation and enlightenment. What do you think?

By: marko

marko — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:08:13 +0000

kevin — no, i don’t subscribe; so i have no response, since i have no idea what you’re referring to!

bethany — thanks for asking. we re-shuffled the schedule, since we didn’t have a sunday night concert come together. so we did general session 7 last night, and then had a short communion service at the end of the morning today to wrap up the event. things went well last night.