Mak writes a great post on the topic:
Which then led me to think about the concept of “modesty” in general. And as I pondered all of these things, I finally figured out why I can’t stand the typical conservative Christian teachings about women’s appearance that go on all over the world in youth groups and Bible studies and women’s ministries every week…the whole point of these “lessons” teaches girls/women that our bodies do not in any way belong to us.
White hipsters often use their interest in Black culture to claim moral high ground, while giving nothing back.” -Hip: The History, John Leland [via]
Here you go… Watch them, I promise you like it…
I’m an advocate for people moving out of suburbia for a number of reasons, but I can respect people’s decisions to stay there. Will Samson is one of those people I’ve come to see as a conscience suburbunite. He recently posted a letter from someone else about 10 Ways to Live Intentionally in the Suburbs and I think they are worth checking out:
1) Live with others from your church community
Whether you share your home with another person or family, or whether you have several families that have homes in close proximity or both, sharing life together is perhaps the most powerful (i.e., going against the grain of suburban culture) way to be the body of Christ in suburbia. If you can’t live together, at least find a way to share resources (power tools, lawn mowers, children’s clothes/toys, etc).
2) Work Less!
One of the major powers that enslaves suburbia is the idolization of the career. There are many ways to pay the bills that do not involve a 9-5 job, and even within a 9-5 job, there are ways to work less (turning down promotions, taking unpaid leave, etc.) Working less will free you to serve your church community, your family, your neighbors, etc. It will also spur creativity: finding a solution for working less, finding a way to “make ends meet” financially, etc.
3) Throw out the television
Another (and perhaps larger power) that enslaves suburbia is consumerism. You’ll be amazed at how your desire for things ebbs as you take the TV out of the picture. If you can’t bring yourself to kill the television, at least take steps to lessen its influence (get rid of cable, only use it for movies, put it on a cart that can be wheeled in and out of a closet, etc.) Throwing out the television will also stimulate your creativity.
If you didn’t know, I’m writing this book. Just a fun little project, a fiction piece, an attempt to articulate in a creative form my feelings on how it looks like to live out the faith, following the Gospel.
I’m realizing following the Gospel is dangerous. I’m also realizing that following the Gospel is so obvious. There are some things Jesus says that are confusing and quite stuck in the cultural context, however most of what he said is pretty plain. In the book I’ve set up the characters in a society that has no connection to our current society and it’s understanding of the Bible, Jesus, Christianity or organized religion in general.
As I write, I find myself having two very clear feelings:
1. My first reaction is to explain why I think the words of Jesus should be followed in the way that I suggest in my story. The thing is that I’m reacting to our current religion, where we say we follow Jesus, but aren’t really following a lot of what he says. Fortunately, I’m writing my own fiction book, so I don’t have to defend myself.
2. My second reaction is that reading Jesus’ words lately seems even more starkly obvious in what type of actions they require of us, particularly as it relates to stuff. How in the world do we miss this?
(It’s late, I have a feeling this didn’t make much sense. If not sorry.)
Some nice ways to Recycle Your Socks
there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
a time for babies to lose their lives
a time for hunger and genocide
this too shall be made right–This Too Shall Be Made Right, Derek Webb, the Ringing Bell
“(There is a) basic philosophical problem when you begin turning over
administration of prisons to people who have an interest in keeping
people locked up” notes Jenni Gainsborough of the ACLU’s National
Prison Project. -in America’s Private Gulag [via]
