An Introduction to Crowd-Sourced Exegesis.

Linguistics and Commentaries

One of the perks of being a Seminary-type person is that you get to know a lot of really good preachers. Some of them even have blogs! Like my friends Bethany and Stephen, both of whom are excellent writers and preachers.

I'm also a preacher (defined here as "one who preaches" even though I'm not ordained). And over the last couple of years I've done a series called "Crowd-Sourced Exegesis." Where I ask the internet with help writing my sermons. I've had moderate success with it, but have found that the people who do contribute to the discussion are wonderful and have brilliant insights.

Although I no longer have a regular preaching gig, I still think that the discussions we have are beneficial to me, and to those who participate. So internet, you and I are going to do a video-commentary series together.

Each Tuesday, I'm going to post a video of myself reading a scripture passage, following the Revised Common Lectionary. It will usually be the Gospel Passage, but may change from time to time. I'll read it out loud, give a few thoughts to start the discussion, and then turn y'all loose in the comment section.

In order to give time for good discussion to happen, I'm going to stay a week ahead of the lectionary. That way preachers who are fervently searching for ideas in the days before they preach will get to see a fully-fleshed out discussion.

It'll be like a homiletical Idea Channel!

Changes

Hey folks, time to update your bookmarks. I've changed both the title and address of my blog. The "Russel(l) eats poo" moniker has served me well, but as I approach the realm of ordered ministry, I decided to frame the blog more theologically, to reflect what is increasingly becoming my reality. The new title, as you can see, is "One Short Sleep Past" and the new web address is http://wewakeeternally.blogspot.com/

The REP name was a reference to my Freshman dorm room, which had been "decorated" with a permanent marker by a previous occupant. Of the things that could have been added to a door in a Freshman Dorm, "Russel eats poo" was on the tame side. It became a kind of a battle cry for me and my roommate. However, a couple of folks have indicated that the name might be a barrier to those who might otherwise enjoy my contributions.

This is not a sanitation, but a reframing. I still enjoy slightly off-color humor and that will still pop up on this site from time to time. The new title and website are taken from John Donne's Holy Sonnet X, which I've added below.

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,
For, those whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and souls delivery.
Thou are slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppie, or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke, why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

This is a short post, but I'm preaching this weekend on Jeremiah 31:31-37, so a new sermon is forthcoming.