Category: Youth Ministry


Memories of Sesame Street

I grew up watching Sesame Street and the Electric Company.  My earliest TV viewing memory is Romper Room.  I have a RSS news feed (Google Reader) that filters news from a variety of sources into a neat window.  When I skip a day there can be 1000+ items to review.  Typically, I do a quick scan for those things I have not heard on cable news or already read on a news site (NYTimes, Time, LATimes, or European News outlets).  This headline caught my attention: The Nine Best Sesame Street Guest Appearances. So, thanks to Digg, I had the chance to watch some performance that I had long forgotten.  You never know who is going to show up at Sesame Street.  It remains the best teaching media for kids (and most adults) today.  If you have a few moments follow the link and watch one or all of these short appearances.  In this age of fear and anxiety, we could all use a trip to Sesame Street for a lesson or two.

Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Come and play
Everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That’s where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

It’s a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To Happy people like you–
Happy people like
What a beautiful

Sunny Day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street…
How to get to Sesame Street
How to get to…

Banned Books

Banned books?  I have the same reaction to this as I do to the many that are upset over a community center in New York City that will have a room in it for Muslims to pray.  This is America isn’t it?

People that know me know that I do not often pick up a book to read.  I do read a lot of material, but the choice of read a book or watch TV is not really a choice for me.  With that said this is Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read.  I am sure that everyone would have two or three titles that you believe could be burned, but that is not the issue here.  Given the whitewashing that the Texas School Board is doing to text books for public schools it is more important than ever to have access to ideas, stories, and conversation about culture for all ages.  So, if you like to read visit your public library and pick up one of the titles this week.  If you don’t like to read go pick up a book anyway.  I am.  Your imagination is better than Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, or your favorite sitcom.

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