Becoming Christ

The question, what would Jesus do, is not a choice of action; instead, it is a step towards being. Choices do need to be made. Actions completed and lives lived. And the difference here is subtle, and maybe a semantic tangent, but the shift from thinking I am a person trying to act like Christ, to I am a new creation in Christ trying to embody Christ is significant. Not just in how a person orients themselves to their new identity in Christ, but also in how a Christian interacts with the world around them.

                Christianity does not need to be explained in fancy slogans, complicated ideologies, or even with doctrinal statements; instead, Christianity can be explained by Christ. Such an identity allows the Christian to hide themselves in Christ. The conversation shifts from what the Christian thinks, believes, does, etc., to the identity of Christ and invites a conversation about who Christ is. The identity of the Christian is, then, not obfuscated by political presumptions, sociological statements, or a controversially branded identification as the conversation shifts from being about the Christian to being about Christ. The Christian can then allow Christ to speak for himself. While one might want to sideline the discussion with questions about how to get to know Christ, historical reliability, philosophical questions, and other roadblocks, the goal would be not to indulge these rabbit trails and instead focus on Christ and let each person draw their own conclusions.  

                The Christian life does involve a degree of duty and responsibility, but in the end the Christian does not need to explain themselves; instead, they can point to Christ. For as the oft used book title states, Christianity is Christ.

The Grand Tour, A Review: What Happens When Your Pets Must Share Their Toys.

            What does a spaniel, a hamster, and an orangutan have in common? Well, nothing really except, at times, each animal has been used to describe one of the characters on Amazon’s recreation of the BBC’s Top Gear, The Grand Tour. For the most part, this has not bothered animal right activist. And, though, at times, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and or James May might resist such associations, these cuddly connections help define and endear them to their fans. Clarkson turns into a relatable baboon instead of an obnoxious loudmouth. Hammond becomes a cute pet to keep in a cage, and James, well, James just pees all over everything but still deserves a treat. And while it might be hard to teach an old dog or, for that matter, a hamster or orangutan new tricks, The Grand Tour appears to have learned a few and might even be worth watching and “on that bombshell”, to quote Clarkson, I begin my review.

            The first season started off bold and brash. A new location each week, a couple dead celebrities, a unique home track, and even an American so the audience could see the cars go fast (ha ha). And there might have been a few kinks or niggles to work out, but The Grand Tour appeared to be taking off right where Top Gear, at least a Top Gear that included Clarkson, Hammond, and May, had ended so unceremoniously.

            Then came season two. And while the show still had life it felt as though somebody had taken the show’s spirit. The show became reactionary bending to a degree to the audience’s will and maybe even struggling to find a place for itself within Amazon’s will. The natural artistic instincts of the three seemed to be set aside in parts.

            Season three, then, has been about the rediscovery of their natural artistic instincts. The show has developed a better sense of a global place, a global tour. Regaining the loss of setting from season one. The new driver from season two, Abbie Eaton, has started to develop as a character in the show. Even Mike Skinner from season one makes a fun appearance. And while one might complain that most of the shows seemed very similar to older shows the three had done, a person should also remember that the tv show Seinfeld made it nine seasons basically repeating the same joke. A good story can be retold and retold without need to apologize. And here, in the mutual hate of friendship, The Grand Tour, has captured an old voice for new listeners, I think.

            And while the setting provided by the BBC, unadulterated by advertising, is going to be hard to overcome in the mass commercialism of Amazon, the show is just starting to feel, I guess, for lack of a better term, authentic, and authenticity, scripted or not, has always been what made the show these three put on any good. Maybe, in a way, Clarkson, Hammond, and May have each begun to embody their “spirit” animals and I am excited to seen what comes next.

About The Rusty Sage Brush

 

 

What:

The Rusty Sage Brush is not a straightforward blog about eating cheese. There will be some whining, a few naps will be taken, and old cars will be parked under shade trees, but we will try to not cut it. Some of the posts will be honest, direct, passionate pleas. Others will be contemplative, creative, meaningless musings. A few will attempt to be instructive and/or informative and some will be nothing more than pretty pictures—a metaphorical dancing in the rain. And, at times, downright lies will be provided for napping and disappearing from the world in. The difference will be yours to decide. Just be careful of the sagebrush. It is a little rusty.

The topics will range from top ten and to do lists, the close analysis of ancient texts, philosophical musings, spiritual contemplation, road trip documentation, old cars (specifically Volvos), dry humour, tall tales, and even a poem or comic strip every now and then and, cheese.

Who:

Currently, the voices are limited and do not have any critical, creative, or useful writing skills, but as this is being published on the internet the writers do feel a little overqualified. There will be words and at times, even, sentences. For the most part nobody wants to take responsibility for them. The people behind the blog used to put together a print publication which is no longer in print. Here there is a desire to start again. Also, all pictures and posts are original--except where quotations and other obvious exemptions exist--to the authors of this blog and therefore all rights/permissions belong to them.

When:

The goal is to in time develop a regular almost newspaper like schedule, but at first, for the most part, the postings will be random and based mainly on the availability of a good quality cheese. As the authors become sure of the process and what they desire to accomplish, the schedule will also become more certain.

Why:

The world tends to take itself too seriously. The Rusty Sage Brush wants to be the metaphorical little boy stamping in a mud puddle, introducing play into the overly self-important world humans tend to try to create.

There is a sense in which the name implies this. Maybe some sage words will be posted but the sense of artificiality felt in the organic plant composed of rusty, carbon, steal will function more so as weeds in the attempt to cultivate complete thoughts.

I hope you enjoy.

The Rusty Sage Brush 

Contact: about@rustysagebrush.org