Two Sunday's ago in the middle of my sermon I found myself pointing to our on-stage manger while stating that Jesus 'prismatically encapsulates' Almighty God to the world. It just popped out in all its oddity. I proceeded to repeat this phrase several times.
On Tuesday mornings, we have printouts of comments written on the previous Sunday's worship bulletins waiting at my staff meeting. Here was the first one, from Mark and Denise Tornberg:
"Mike, we'd like to know what it means to prismatically encapsulate?"
I was glad to know someone listened that closely. Here is my reply to my friends the Tornbergs:
"First, your comment was the biggest hit in months at our Director Staff meeting today. Thank you for entertaining and motivating Marcy, Kyle and Mitch.
Second, to answer your question, 'prismatically encapsulate' is a brilliant post-modern linguistic syllogism for the orthodox Christian doctrine of 'incarnation.' Or the completely made up words of a raving lunatic emerging church pastor."
Further note, someone searched the internet and could not find that phrase previously coined anywhere. Maybe I should apply for a trademark?
As you wrap up work/life/shopping/menuplanning and prepare for Christmas, may Jesus be the prism through which you experience fresh love, acceptance, approval, strength, and dreams from your Heavenly Father.
WOW - I missed that great word combo...not sure how!
pris·mat·ic (prz-mtk) also pris·mat·i·cal (--kl)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, resembling, or being a prism.
2. Formed by refraction of light through a prism. Used of a spectrum of light.
3. Brilliantly colored; iridescent.
I would select No. 3
en·cap·su·late (n-kps-lt)
v. en·cap·su·lat·ed, en·cap·su·lat·ing, en·cap·su·lates
v.tr.
1. To encase in or as if in a capsule.
2. To express in a brief summary; epitomize: headlines that encapsulate the news.
v.intr.
To become encapsulated.
I would select No. 2
Jesus brilliantly and iridescently epitomized the Almighty God to the world...
Wonderful wordsmithing Dr. Mike!!
Posted by: Jaye | December 22, 2008 at 06:07 PM
When I heard the term "prismatically," I thought of how a prism separates what we normally see as white light into its colorful, constituent parts. In the same way, Jesus refracts the radiance of God (normally blinding and consuming) into the hued aspects of His nature that we can begin to perceive and enjoy.
Posted by: T.J. Haycox | December 23, 2008 at 01:08 PM
I have to say that this has lit my imagination about the incarnation of Christ. I hope you don't mind but I blogged about this at my site --> http://www.roesgarden.com/2008/12/edot-related/prismatically-encapsulate/
Keep going with these ways of wrapping old ideas.
Posted by: Courtney Roes | December 27, 2008 at 06:41 AM