ideas, ideas.

I’ve been laying in bed for a while now, mind racing.  If you’ve ever seen “Laugh your way to a better marriage,” clips you’ll recognize the metaphor I’m about to put into play: I can’t possibly tie my thoughts together coherently for this blog post, since everything is connected in one way or another.  One thought I had was “what if I could go write down everything I’m thinking and categorize it into blocks?” Like, an 8.5×11 sheet of paper for each category of life.  “Housekeeping” would be one, “Work” and then I confused myself.  Would “Relationships” be a category? Or “Friendships”? How would one of my friends feel to walk into my office and see their name on a sheet of paper?  The idea I was pondering, and came to my computer to think through was that of service- what can I be doing to actively care for the people who live around me?  I kind of want to host a block party.  More on that later.  I also think I should exercise or do something active, regularly.  Do all my thoughts fit into categories? What about the overlap?

So, screw the categories thing.  I spent too much time reading about (and implementing) Google’s priority inbox and lifehacker advice on to-do lists tonight.

Here’s my thought.  Ash Wednesday is tomorrow.  I’ve already committed to observing Lent, corporately with my church family as we journey through the theme “How does Death lead to Life?” alongside some other churches globally.  I’ve had some interesting conversations about Lenten habits,  I’m remembering how much I grew spiritually while observing Lent in college- giving up sugar, implementing times of solitude and silence, my first Seder meal, and that magical midnight Easter service…

In conjunction with the challenge from Steve on Sunday (“Serve somewhere this week.”), Tyler’s suggestion that we could go play and sing at my Great Aunt’s nursing home, and the beginning of Lent, I wonder is it possible and beneficial to give 1-2 hours a week doing an act of kindness towards a senior citizen? I can think of a few options- bring flowers to Mary, invite Alvin and Mary over again (it’s been a year since that sweet dinner), go over and show photos to Alvin, visit Aunt Leora at her place, think of something intentional to bring to her or talk to her about when having dinner at my parent’s, go visit Granddad in his part of the house, stay with Grandmother so that Mom and Granddad can have a day off, take Granddad to breakfast… I have a lot of senior citizens in my life right now.  They are so time-consuming.  Lord, give me patience even as I think about these things.  It’s not something that I can just “stop by” for 15 minutes and do.  I definitely have enough ideas to cover 6 weeks, once a week events.  And enough people to spread it out to!

My other idea was a block party.  We know a good handful of neighbors, and it could be a simple enough thing.  Print out invitations, buy plastic cups and have cold water in our water cooler, bring Krispy Kreme, get a huge kickball (or a regular sized kickball), pick a date and time, and go knock on doors to invite folks who live on the street.  Boom. Block party.  I do things like this all the time on campus, it’s not that hard.  Pick an activity and a food or drink and that’s the name of your awesome event (e.g. Kickball & Kool Aid… 4 Square & Capri Sun… volleyball & watermelon).  This will be “kickball & krispy kreme block party”  It even sounds epic.

So, I’m excited!  I love ideas and dreaming up things to do.  The question is now, should and will I do them?

Things I learned in College

I saw this blog post by ze frank and thought of the 2682 freshmen who just finished their first week and a half of classes at Old Dominion….words of wisdom include “One cannot survive on ramen noodles alone” and “when preparing for an exam, two liters of Mountain Dew is not a good substitute for 8 hours of sleep”

http://www.zefrank.com/college/index.html

What did you learn in college?  What advice would you give freshmen?

controversy

I have noticed a trend in my conversations of the past few days that disturbs me.  I will bring up a subject and ask a question, initially out of my own ignorance, and the conversation ends up with a bitter tone or outright argument in the following minutes.  I have thought through some options.  Perhaps I’m bringing up topics that are sensitive in nature, like discussing homosexuality and Christianity.  But today it was about non-stick vs. regular pots and pans…  So maybe it’s the way I ask questions that elicit a defensive response- is my posture towards others aggressive?  Or am I hearing the initial answer and making too quick of judgments/ drawing conclusions too quickly, which stunts the discussion?  Whatever it is, I feel like I’ve been offending people a lot recently.  Today especially.  I am trying to ask myself “am I truly listening?” and “am I open to learn something here?”  The conversations seem like they belong to someone who is argumentative, self-absorbed and unteachable.  That can’t possibly be me, right?

Just trying to draw some conclusions from the evidence my life is presenting me.

more political inquiries

Talk with a Christian Democrat or 2 recently… one who said “I think we each ought to vote how God lays it on our heart to vote”– He is ultimately in control/ responsible for the way a nation goes.  FREEDOM.  Vote as you see fit.  The other conversation was marked by a deep unity in the Spirit, which was further accentuated by our differing political views.  REFRESHING.  Be in relationship with people who are different than you.

And, as requested, my counter-letter to the previous post “Dear Liberal Christians”:

My letter to the Conservative Christian,

Thank you for your commitment to speak for those who have no voice.  Keep valuing the sanctity of life! The compassion of Jesus is extended to the orphans and certainly to the unwanted children of this world.  I believe in the great injustice bound up in every abortion and the impossibility of justifying murder of any kind.But let’s think a little broader as we align with a political party:

We argue that Republicans own the “moral vote”, but neither party fully embodies policies that address the immorality and unethical behaviors rampant in our country (it’s either the murder of unborn babies or greed or unfair treatment of the poor– all moral issues)

And do not let your vote count for your cares.  Until you are willing to care for the life of an unwanted child, or to counsel a mother through the pain of labor and child-rearing, your vote against abortion will not count in God’s eyes but your life will.  Do you believe that God will reward you for the good acts of the people you voted into power?

Also remember that your vote for a Republican candidate is going to protect the wealth of the wealthy, which is not in line with the distribution of wealth that God demanded of His nation in the past. When I look at the nation of Israel’s politics, the things that Jesus wanted to make sure happened among people groups, and the way the early church was structured, I do not see our conservative economics.  Shouldn’t the “year of Jubilee” idea of canceling debts still be lived out?  And of all the wealth you have, how much of it was given to you?  How close is your economic standing to that of your parent and family’s?  Do you really think that all the poor people “just need to work harder”?  What are you willing to give up for the sake of others?

Sincerely,

Undecided Voter

Money Can’t Buy Happiness… is Happiness even the best goal?

What were God’s promises to the people of Israel?  (We often hear of “I will give you_____, and a land flowing with milk and honey, remember Me and “it will go well” with your children.”  Is God’s promise really centered around prosperity?  Certainly the prosperity gospel is preached by quoting the Bible.)  But certainly, and perhaps more often (?) (I hope. Is there a way to analyze this?) it was I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE. I want to say that God is more concerned about this relationship than He is about the quality of your life.

If so (as I hope), then, let’s consider poverty and ending poverty.

The National Geographic article about the Tarahumara (Raramuri) people- indigenous people of the Sierra Madre of Northern Mexico: (Intro: “The Tarahumara of Mexico evaded Spanish conquerors in the sixteenth century.  But can they survive the onslaught of modernity?”)

“Poverty is not noble, one Creel hotel owner said heatedly, even when it lives in splendid canyons and dresses in beautiful skirts.  To which the priests reply:  Jobs cleaning hotel rooms, with pretty paintings of Tarahumara on the lobby walls, are no advancement at all.  “Don’t pretend these are projects to help the Tarahumara,” de Velasco said crisply, “They’re to attract tourists and increase private profits.  A “Tarahumara village” is an absurdity- a lie, really.  A gondola over the canyon would be a desecration.  And this is an area without water; one new hotel will use more in a day than what a Tarahumara family consumes in one year.  With what the government is preparing to invest for hotels, they could bring potable water to all the Tarahumara, which would be more useful to them than creating a fake village where they can sell things.”

page 94 National Geographic, November 2008

The Geographic, and contributing writer Cynthia Gorney obviously lean towards the romantization of  the indigenous people’s ancient beliefs, traditions, and customary ways of life.  From my view, surely there is great value in holding tradition, in honoring the ways of life our ancestors followed.  The article was honest, Gorney expressed her opinion minimally, while citing the negative influences of “modernity” (junk food-> obesity, high blood pressure) and the negative aspects of living without modern conveniences (malnourishment, inconvenience, lack of education).  The family she stayed with wished to receive electricity and appliances into their home.  The quote from the hotel proponent is in some ways strikingly true.   Poverty is not noble even when it lives in splendid landscapes and wears beautiful skirts. What do we gain by bringing civilization to indigenous cultures?  What do we lose when we lose ancient traditions?  Certainly there are books on this; with the zealousness of Christian mission has Western Civilization, technology and culture have been “brought”- often forced- and this has not gone unnoticed.

Spiritual implications abound, and my favorite book about world missions growing up was Bruchko, the story of Bruce Olson, who brought Jesus to a “stone-age Indian tribe” without the “civilization” agenda.  After accepting Jesus as their Way, many things changed in their society.  These changes did not come without tension and heartache, but after spiritual change came societal, medical and technological change.

So we can say if the end of poverty is not the core issue, but God being their God and they being His People, then… what do we do with poverty?  What do we do with evangelism and world mission?

It’s maybe even linked with the problem I see (and Shane and Larry Crabb see) in churches today:  we focus on societal and moral and physical change (looking at how the gospel speaks to those things) instead of focusing on spiritual change.  Yet if we focused on spiritual renewal, the result would be a holistic renewal, an entire life changed.

I could go on to talk about the political CHANGE everyone is buzzing about.  Political/ governmental change might (will?) happen, and that’s great.  But the problems of the world are not going to change until we incite a spiritual change.   Which happens, how?  See “the Master Plan of Evangelism.”

Blogs to come from this?  More on politics, political change, the role of the Church.  More on Larry Crabb.  More on discipleship and the 5 people you need in your life.

Politics part 1

In the past year I heard both presidential candidates as they visited Charleston.  One came to the college campus, one to the Jewish synagogue.  One was a rally, a substance-less hype that left us all feeling like we like this guy! He wants to pay for college!  (oh wait, not my college… DirectLoans still has an iron fist around me)  The other was a dry speech about issues I didn’t understand, experience nor care about (social security) followed by a lot of questions posed about foreign policy.

I want to understand the domestic policy issues that are bound to face me at some point.  Some things I will soon understand as I am in my first month of living as an independent adult, facing my student debt, fending for myself on a small salary.  I can’t just depend on the nice ideas posed to me at a college rally or respond to the facebook blasts of my friends.  I need to understand.

The media confuse me.  I hate feeling like I’m being talked down to feeling lied to, seeing errors and discrepancies in “news” sources.  I bristle at the tone that commentators take, I cannot stand political advertisements.   I’ve been reading the news a little more this past week, getting different points of view and perspectives and opinions, also a few facts.

This is what I want to “get” out of policy discussions:

1. What will it mean to me?  How will it play out in my life/ day to day {ex: how much of my paycheck will be deducted in federal taxes?}

2. What will it mean to the poor?

3.  What will it mean to the rich?

4.  What will it mean to the rest of the world?  I notice that we, the younger crowd, tend to focus on foreign policy and empathy– see the ONE campaign’s following.  This is important, but I have only recently realized that it is not more important than the domestic issues at hand.

I don’t think I understand yet. I’m uncomfortable in political conversation.  I don’t have a strong conviction, I don’t like these candidates, I don’t know what they really stand for.  Last week I started reading the news, and am planning on reading a lot and thinking and processing.  I would also like to pray about it, knowing that I live with a God who gives direction.  I would like to fast for it, knowing that the outcome of this election will have dramatic implications on the quality of life and the pursuit of justice in America for the next 10 years.

How will the Kingdom of God be served?  Will it be our country’s leaders that build it, or set up systems so the many of the Church can build it?  Will policies set by our government “seek justice, love mercy”*– speaking for the lives of the unborn?  Protecting the innocent?  Caring for the lawbreaker?  Clothing the naked and feeding the hungry?**  Is that what the government should be doing?  Or is it someone else?  Does the “someone else” function within a structure or institution?  Is it the Church?

*He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8

**Then the King will say … I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ -Matthew 25:31-46

this was titled “life questions”

So, here are some things that come up for me as my friends are in line to start careers.  

 

I think almost anyone in any profession or career will come up against the pull of this world, whether it be military power or monetary gains, or even the feel-goodest of helping out (teaching… the great push “make a difference” in kids lives)… the desire for more power, more money, more good feelings.  

and Jesus DOES ask us to lay that down, to resist that pull, in fact to give in to HIS PULL on our lives.  Which is our hearts to him.  Life in the Spirit.  So what about not quitting that job/career/environment but bringing redemption into it? Restoration?  What does that look like– how does that actually play out, and what mindset would motivate a life of restoration in the workplace?

During my time in Madison with InterVarsity I noticed a free ”Starting Businesses for the Lord” brochure, and was really impacted by Ana Li’s talk about Upward Mobilization (and Asian-Americans pursuing this American dream) being NOT what Jesus is calling for.  Also one of the “world changers” (IV alum) we talked about was the owner of a successful construction company who has set a salary “ceiling” for himself.  So how does he do what he does?  How does he follow the Lord in his business life?  Maybe InterVarsity has some insight in this as they proclaim “whole life stewardship” as a core value.  

(a google search of this phrase gives a quick answer… there are a lot of people who want to make this work! Is Google really all i needed to get the answers to these deep and troubling questions?!  Almost.)

I’ve got IV’s “Whole Life Stewardship” homepage here with links to bible studies about faith in the workplace, a Marketplace bibliography for further reading, and a “reflections” page that looks like a good resource for intentional conversations about Jesus+Everyday life, and Quotes by category like Power and Wealth and Poverty 

“Have you learned to listen to the two kingdoms and then discern the difference between the culture and Christ? One has an all consuming source – the difficulties of family, work, community and government. The other makes its appeal through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as it slowly and unevenly grows in His followers. But the two are similar in that they both engage and demonstrate cruelty, destruction, sin and war. The difference comes with the response to this dilemma. One appeals to your survival and self interests while the other suggests you become a servant of others, including your enemies. One thrives on a “Thank God, It’s Friday” mentality focused on your perceived right to pleasure. The other declares “Thank God, It’s Monday” because, in Christ, we enter the torrents of life and work to serve others as we have been served by Christ himself. He loved us – we can love others in His name?“

By: Pete Hammond
Source: Pete Hammond, lecture, 4/90 – Columbus, GA 

“The success of a consumer culture depends on people loving money more than life.“

By: John Leax
Source: Cryptic sayings from John Leax, associate dean at Houghton college from an article in the Houghton Milieu, August, 1993, pages 7-10

 

::::: So now, what about choosing a life of poverty?  What would it take to get on the street, into the community, etc?  Do I even know what that entails?  What would the sacrifice be?  What about the gains?  I guess I should stick with my original thought here and say “if this is the lifestyle choice that Jesus is leading you into as you walk in His Spirit…”  

more on that, and some other book references/reviews later

 

::::::  In order to do this new /counter(american)cultural thing, I (and you) need a strong support base, community.  I know people who live in such a way that RELATIONSHIPS usurp the rat race in politics and business.  The national prayer breakfast has something to do with it.  

Get real with good questions for them.  Get involved in relationships in the fellowship and see where that takes you.  People may be on the same path as you are.  

YOU may be important in someone else’s journey along the Way.  Being in a ministering relationship may bring you life, may bring you along the Way.