Connections made
I was curious about the word length of the different epistles of Paul:
- Philemon: 501 words
- Titus: 1,064 words
- 1 Timothy: 2,551 words
- Romans: 10,295 words
I always shoot for blog posts that are about 700 words. Seems like I remember hearing that most newspaper columnists go for that number. In blogging it’s better to write a Philemon than a Titus. Beyond that folks are clickin’ out before you finish.
These numbers also made me wonder if a theoblogger is the modern equivalent of a Biblical writer. And if so, how many of us have already out-written Paul? The New Testament? The Whole Enchilada? If somebody could give me word counts for those (my numbers came from NIV) we could make some interesting connections.
Connections lost
When I got home from the airport I started looking through some old emails that I traded with my favorite Greek goddess about the Didache 1. She called me “cheeky” by the way. About a year ago, the Didache (Say “DID A KEY” requests aforementioned deity) was all the rage. Christianity Today did an article on it and blog posts were flying like a lumber yard hit by a tornado.
Fide-O, Michael Bird and Rick Brannan at ricoblog wrote about it… that’s only three. Somebody help me out here. Well, I remember there being a lot of buzz.
The Didache gives us intriguing insights into what the early church was like and somehow resonates with what people these days are hoping church might become.
If you’d like to read it for yourself try Early Christian Writings or Reluctant Messenger which has a really funky translation that sounds like a cross between Kahlil Gibran and King Lear.
Here’s a tiny sample:
“My child, flee from every evil thing, and from everything like it. Do not become angry, for anger is the way to murder. Neither should you be jealous, nor one who creates strife, nor emotional. For murders are born out of all of these.”
Why, you ask, am I bringing this up? Well, cruising at 23,000 feet I pondered a serendipitous connection between 1 Timothy, Didache, Dallas Willard, Jesus Creed, Ted Gossard, the Cyber-Psalms and the 10 Commandments. But now that I’m off the plane and home I can’t remember what it was. Maybe you can make the connection?
Finally, speaking of being emotional: Guys, don’t ever, I mean ever, watch A River Runs Through It when you’re 10,000 miles from home and haven’t seen your Dad in six months.
1 Didache: The Didache or Teachings of the 12 Apostles is a first-century Christian document that is kind of like a primitive minister’s manual and catechism mixed. I think it didn’t make it into the Bible because the writer’s Greek was even worse than Mark’s.
2 I’m really into footnotes these days. They give a post a certain je ne sais quoi.
3 This post: 501 words like Philemon.
I do ok until you throw in the little comment about dad at the end. You know, its been almost a year since you took off in the big green Suburban and now we only have contact here. I just saw your pack frame in the shop and thought of our overnighter to Jefferson Park. The boat is still in the garage, although it is ready to go in the water I don’t have any great desire to see if it floats. Keep up the great pictures of family and Moz. as it really makes you seem close.
Do you know that August 13th, is Lefthanders Day? Why don’t you give us your thoughts on spending 39 years in a right handed world? Having a quiver full of lefties probably helps. All my siblings were lefties and I don’t recall any feelings of superiority on my part or theirs.
Next week we officially start the search for a new Sheppard at Albany First. Don’t really care for the connotation of First. Do you think we should persue a new name?
Sorry about the tear-jerking. What made it worse is that after the movie I checked my email and Boyd was telling me that he got to have a nice chat with you! Not fair!
Read my lefty post on Lingamish. I wrote it especially for you.