It seems pretty clear to me that God calls those with power to take intentional steps to be responsible with that power - often, relinquishing it to accomplish justice.

Why is it so shocking to so many straight, white, Christian men that they are the people of power in America and Godly equity demands that they take intentional steps toward justice - which will most definitely call them step aside to lift up the other.

Maybe this is why I don’t typically “fit” in women’s ministries and bible studies and MOPS groups

In this issue of get born (getbornmag.com) Kathy and my “true confessions” blog posts are going to be included to start a running segment in the magazine and on the blog. I think maybe I should have included this one:

Often, when it’s warm outside, my toddler is napping and my 6 year old is in school, I change into a slinky tank top, sit on the balcony with my macbook and smoke a clove cigarette…or 2.

LOL

Today, on this, another Earth Day, I have mixed feelings. I feel that this is just another “hallmark holiday” so to speak - a way for businesses to make money, a day giving consumers another excuse (as if we needed one) to spend money and yet another reason for people to get pissy and judgmental toward each other.

But, just like with labels, I have a love-hate relationship going on. I think it’s good to draw attention to the Earth and her needs. It’s important as Christians to be reminded of our call to stewardship and to be held accountable when we are not being responsible, and if done properly, it can be something to draw distinctly different people together for a positive purpose.

I have enjoyed this time with my daughter. She is at an IB World school and her unit has been care of the Earth’s resources. I love the simple, uncluttered (pun intended) perspective of children when you talk to them about sustainability, creation care, ecology, habitat, etc. Her view as a 6 year old is what I wish Earth Day would be about. We are people, we can and should respect all life, all creation. As people we have the ability to fix our mistakes, to clean up what we have messed up, to care for what we have neglected and to restore what we have abused. It’s obvious to her that it’s not a big thing to sacrifice some of our own desires, time, stuff for the benefit of our fellow created beings.

She has been singing made up songs about how beautiful the earth is, how the wind blows and how we are cared for by the Earth. To her, it’s oh so very simple.

So, with reluctance and a bit of cynicism, I say, Happy Earth Day - celebrate it wisely - like a 6 year old.

Tags: earthday

Subversive Blogger def.: Subversive bloggers are unsatisfied with the status quo, whether in church, politics, economics or any other power-laden institution, and they are searching for (and blogging about) what is new (or a “return to”) - even though it may be labeled as sacrilege, dangerous, or subversive.

Thanks to Jeremy for the vote of confidence. Like Jeremy, I’m been in a blogging slump - uninspired, in his words “a dry ink well”. I haven’t felt very subversive or inspiring, I feel like a broken record and incredibly apathetic about all things that used to drive me with passion. I will receive this little nomination as a spark to carry on.

In like fashion, I nominate the following (if you have already been nominated, just take it as a double honor)
Kathy Escobar
Rose Madrid-Swetman
Grace
Julie Clawson
Jamie Arpin-Ricci

The rules of participation are pretty straightforward:
1. If you are tagged, write a post with links to five subversive blogs.
2. Link back to JakeBouma.com so people can easily find the origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the “Subversive Blogger Award” somewhere on your blog (images below) with a link to the post that you wrote.

novus•lumen | living in the tension of an emerging faith in Jesus and postmodern America » Subversive Blogger

If the blog goes down today, that’s why

This weekend was a mixed bag. But it reminded me of things that make me feel alive.

• Connecting with new like-minded people
• Having amazing conversations with said people
• Observing my children at their absolute best - compassionate, empathic, respectful, bold
• Observing my children at their absolute worst - selfish, demanding, disrespectful -  and then hearing a spontaneous humble, teary apology before going to sleep
• Apologizing to my child for being at my absolute worst when she was at her absolute worst
• the “I love you’s” that follow true apologies
• The great outdoors and observing my kids enjoying the great outdoors
• Eclectic people
• Earth Day
• Bright colorful organic locally grown food
• Girlfriends who “get” me….and love me anyway
• Margaritas
• Grandparents
• Walking in the spring sunshine
• Snuggles from my toddler
• Kisses from my husband
• My laid back and infinitely fun faith community

May your week be filed with life-giving experiences  

I have really been enjoying preaching at Revolution for this past year. I’ve also enjoyed listening to others preach. We emphasize participation - not just preach and then talk but encouraging feedback throughout the whole “teaching time”. The other nice thing is that our teachings are short - more of what I would call a homily which I don’t think is technically correct but I always think of a sermon as longer and a homily as shorter. There is something really significant about learning to teach a short message, I have found it a valuable experience.

Another thing I’ve been enjoying at Revolution is the liturgical component. For one thing, we pray TOGETHER, something scorned when I was growing up. Of course, that’s kind of funny because in any good pentecostal church you have someone saying “repeat after me”… and then everyone says it whether they want to or not. 

And we always have lots of scripture present. Something I didn’t experience much in most of my charismatic evangelical experiences. The sermons were usually the only time scripture was read and then it was usually 1 or 2 verses used as a form of proof text to back up what the pastor wanted to say. I really value the liturgical tradition of doing all the lectionary readings every week. I know for many who grew up in that tradition it didn’t have much value but I think at the least, the words are going into your ears whether you like it or not hehe. And in a small group like ours it’s a little harder to tune out.

I do miss the music. We have a couple folks in our group who don’t like singing in church so for them Revolution is perfect but many of us find great meaning in singing as worship and instrumentation as worship and for us it’s a feeling of loss. Some go to other churches worship services to get that experience.

Tags: preaching, sermons, Revolution

I think every…

post modern should have to talk to a modern about … well… anything at all really

anti institutionalist should have to talk to someone from an institution about church structure

…wanna guess what I did this weekend?

…. yeah, I talked to my modern traditionalist isolationist institutionalist 54/55 yr old parents of a different denomination about missional emerging post modernism. It was great. And humbling and incredibly revealing about how little so much of this minutiae ultimately matters. If only certain high profile evangelicals could be as engaging and gracious as my parents. (man, who knew those words would ever escape my mouth? lol)

[ Swinging from the Vine powered by Wordpress | Skinned Bare by Matthew Trevino. ]