Tag: meaning

Commentary by the Josh Benner Blog

Saturday Night Live sketch uses humor to tackle issues of meaning

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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A recent Saturday Night Live sketch featured SNL alum Adam Sandler as the host of a fake tour company. The premise of the parody commercial is explaining what his Italian tour company can (and cannot) do for customers.

If a person is unhappy in America, they will be the same unhappy person in Italy. “You’re still gonna be you on vacation,” Sandler’s character points out. Sandler continues, “there’s a lot a vacation can do – help you unwind, see some different looking squirrels – but it cannot fix deeper issues: like how you behave in group settings or your general baseline mood. That’s a job for incremental lifestyle changes sustained over time.”

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Commentary by the Josh Benner Blog

The Church: being part of something bigger than yourself

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An astounding 16 million soldiers, sailors and Marines served America in the Second World War.
And while most of our focus on World War II is on the military and combat, within the United States, there was an effort to support the war unlike anything our nation had seen or has seen since.
With millions going overseas, Americans at home took up new jobs.
Coming out of the Great Depression, unemployment dried up, reaching an all time low in 1944.
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Commentary by the Josh Benner Blog

To live is Christ

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A beloved verse from Paul’s letters to the Philippians comes from the 21st verse of chapter 1: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
It’s truly profound.
Living life on this side of heaven with everything revolving around Christ. Living for him, worshipping him, walking with him, been filled by His Spirit. Every single day.
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Commentary by the Josh Benner Blog

Jesus and the one necessary thing

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38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

-Luke 10:38-42
The text tells us that Martha was distracted.
Think about it from Martha’s perspective. Martha is just trying to be a good host!
Jesus is at her house!
Wouldn’t you want to be a good host too?!
Wouldn’t you want to impress him too?!
Wouldn’t you want him to think well of you too?!
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