It’s not like I’m wealthy or anything

I don’t know how accurate this site is, but it sure as heck makes a great point.  Ever think "I’m really not that wealthy?" Ever get angry at those REALLY wealthy people who spend their resources on themselves and don’t give enough to the poor?  So, just to see where you end up on the scale between poor and rich take this test and read on…

***DON’T PROCEED UNTIL YOU’VE TAKEN THE TEST***

Ok, so you are rich.  Deal with it.  I’m trying to deal with it.  You can only tell yourself "it is different here in America" for so long.  Eventually, you realize that the wealthy have always felt that they are some exception to the challenges of Christ.  Wealthy compare themselves with the wealthy.  Sure some people are richer than you.  But you are wealthy.  And with great wealth comes great responsibility.  The idea of just giving 10% is rediculous.  To those given much, much
is required.  God doesn’t want a "cut." He wants it all and asks you to
live faithfully and with a sense of simple contentment.  Even in America.  ESPECIALLY in America.  So what are you going to do about it? Don’t ignore the question just because you don’t know the answer.  Struggle with the question.  I hope it plagues us until we start dealing. Here’s the thing: Most people can live simply in this country for pretty cheap.  I know some that live quite well off of 15K a year.  Use your wealth to serve others. 

The selected friends have been deleted.

I just experienced another reason why online communities lack the depth required to be authentic community.  I was "thinning" out my blogroll, deleting a couple blog links that don’t really fit anymore.  When I deleted these links, these words came up: The selected friends have been deleted.

In real life, it takes alot to delete one’s friends. Online, it just takes a push of a button.  The painful process of no longer being friends is a huge part of authenticity.  And that is why that my real friendships, even though they might not always be as fun or as pleasant, will always be authentic, and those friendships that I’ve started and cultivated online can never really be authentic until I experience actual presence with those friends. 

Confession

During my daily blog roundup, I came into contact with this
blog called PostSecret where people can share deep secrets.  People
long to confess their deepest sins or shames or fears.  We all long to
stand completely naked, body and soul, in front of someone and have
them accept us.  I sometimes wish I were Catholic, because they have a
built in system of exposing one’s self (Confession).  We know that the
early church probably confessed to one another (if we believe that they
listened to James’ exhortation, that is).  Maybe we have so many dang
self-help books because we are afraid to let others in enough to help
us.  Maybe we go to therapists because they help us figure ourselves
out, not because of our desire to confess to another human being.  But
even if we approach a therapist like another human being, we know that
they don’t have to confess anything to us.  They are professionals.
They have to hear and accept us.  There is no real risk of
judgement…and so it isn’t really confession. 

PostSecret is the epitome of the longing for release and forgiveness
in a fractured world.  How do we, the Church, create communities where
people can stand naked, find forgiveness, and be accepted?

Sex and Spirituality

[shameless plug ahead]

Twin Citizens, come on out to our next Pub Gathering!

Our topic for our July 6th Pub Gathering is "Sex and Spirituality."
This topic may seem like an oxymoron for some, given some traditional
Christian approaches to sexuality.  For many, sex is shameful and not
to be talked about–something dark and dangerous that should remain
hidden.  And of course, it has very little to do with one’s spiritual
health.  On the other side of the spectrum are those who see sexual
expression as something so central and satisfying that it should be
experienced whenever it is possible to do so (while minimizing health
risks, of course).  Sensuality dominates their spirituality.  Most of
us fall somewhere in the middle. 

Christian approaches to this issue have varied greatly.
Nevertheless, since Christianity affirms an embodied spirituality (the
idea that the body is a mere husk that we will eventually discard is
nowhere to be found in any place in Scripture), we simply cannot ignore
something so central to our embodied way of living. 

Join us at the Town Hall Brewery in Minneapolis (1430 Washington Ave S) as we struggle through what it means to be sexual AND spiritual.  People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

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