It's true. The hours we spend searching for hometown friends, uploading videos, and tagging friends, kills the Body. My next project lends itself to researching trends among college students. So far so good. I've compiled information on the top ten trends (I think), and I've started processing in my mind how some of these known facts about college students are actually killing the physical body, as well as the other Body, the Church Body that is.
We have entered an era where almost every Westernized individual is always CONNECTED. We are known not for our physical network of friends, but rather how many mutual friends we have on facebook. We stalk, talk, and balk on profiles. "We've never met, but I've seen you on facebook." or "That's ok, I don't need your number, I'll find you on facebook."
Social Networking through the web can be a wonderful thing, but when it hinders our ability to connect with the real world, what can be said of it then?
I am not advocating for or agaisnt, or putting my marker on either side of the spectrum, but I am bringing to light (eventually) how being so connected actually disconnects us.
I will admit that as I write this blog, the next tab over says: "Welcome to Facebook!"
Continue to think about thinking,
Emily
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Why don't women write more?
I just finished reading "Soul Survivor" by Phillip Yancey. Interesting story. He talks mostly about a fallen world, and people who try to weasel their way out of the reality of that fallen world by attending a church service. They put on their heels and suit coats, comb their hair, and blow the dust of the family Bible that sits on the edge of a chewed up corner table. They hear a message that tickles their ears and makes them appreciate the fact that "they," once sinners, have escaped the near fatal death of the world. And when they return home, they praise God that they aren't as bad as the folks they hear about on talk radio, or secular news reports. These are the people that Yancey speaks of in his book. The misfits of the Body. But on the outside these misfits seem to fit together perfectly. Like a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle on your Grandma's table. What some of these misfits do not realize is that their slight bent towards cynicism and utter outrage of all the "worldliness" that occurs today, is driving the message of Jesus out the back door. (it smells like burnt rubber) If I took a survey, I am almost positive that more than half would agree that they too have experienced this type of behavior within the Body.
This is precisely Yancey's point. Today's churches have done more damage than good. Those who teach, and who realize this, are having to de-churchify the gospel message. Yancey was raised in an era of segregation. And not only was it segregation, it was Southern segregation. His home church preached a message of love for God, but hatred for those of a different skin color. And while they sang: red, yellow, black, and white they are precious in his sight; just try and let one of those who were red, yellow, or black, slip into a church service. It's infuriating to think about it now some 50 years later, but the roots are still there. And I think that's why Phillip Yancey wrote "Soul Survivor." To help the soul of the one who realized that Church and Faith were different than what had been taught. He tells the story of how 13 unlikely mentors helped his faith survive the Church. 12 men and 1 woman. All who had some horrible flaw, but all had incredible wisdom regarding faith and truth. 12 men and 1 woman. And it's that one woman that has been bothering me since I finished the book.
Annie Dillard was her name. From the stories in the book, I imagine her to be a simple woman who would have survived the era of the 60's far better than most hippies. She smokes one too many cigarettes, french I presume, and has a voice so low that, well I've never heard it, but it's raspy I'm sure. I kind of picture her as a Janis Joplin imitator, who sits in a centered blocked wall office with no windows. Lighting cigarette after cigarette, waiting for her next big idea to flow onto paper. Phillip Yancey talks about her in a way that is as moving as a ballerina hitting center stage for the first time. It was this one woman (and 12 men) that helped shape his faith. And it's still the one woman part that keeps reeling through my mind. Why don't women write more about their faith? And not the faith they wrap neatly to sell. And not the faith that pertains to raising spiritual children, being the Proverbs 31 woman today, or how to lead as a woman. No, it's none of that. (Which by the way is important) It's a woman who is willing to write in a way that uncovers a depth to faith. A woman, whose writing will be passed from the hands of my child to their child. Writing so powerful that Phillip Yancey will write a book entitled, 13 women mentors/writers who helped my faith survive the church.
So I am on a mission to find "truth/faith" writing by women that is sustainable for a lifetime.
Any suggestions?
This is precisely Yancey's point. Today's churches have done more damage than good. Those who teach, and who realize this, are having to de-churchify the gospel message. Yancey was raised in an era of segregation. And not only was it segregation, it was Southern segregation. His home church preached a message of love for God, but hatred for those of a different skin color. And while they sang: red, yellow, black, and white they are precious in his sight; just try and let one of those who were red, yellow, or black, slip into a church service. It's infuriating to think about it now some 50 years later, but the roots are still there. And I think that's why Phillip Yancey wrote "Soul Survivor." To help the soul of the one who realized that Church and Faith were different than what had been taught. He tells the story of how 13 unlikely mentors helped his faith survive the Church. 12 men and 1 woman. All who had some horrible flaw, but all had incredible wisdom regarding faith and truth. 12 men and 1 woman. And it's that one woman that has been bothering me since I finished the book.
Annie Dillard was her name. From the stories in the book, I imagine her to be a simple woman who would have survived the era of the 60's far better than most hippies. She smokes one too many cigarettes, french I presume, and has a voice so low that, well I've never heard it, but it's raspy I'm sure. I kind of picture her as a Janis Joplin imitator, who sits in a centered blocked wall office with no windows. Lighting cigarette after cigarette, waiting for her next big idea to flow onto paper. Phillip Yancey talks about her in a way that is as moving as a ballerina hitting center stage for the first time. It was this one woman (and 12 men) that helped shape his faith. And it's still the one woman part that keeps reeling through my mind. Why don't women write more about their faith? And not the faith they wrap neatly to sell. And not the faith that pertains to raising spiritual children, being the Proverbs 31 woman today, or how to lead as a woman. No, it's none of that. (Which by the way is important) It's a woman who is willing to write in a way that uncovers a depth to faith. A woman, whose writing will be passed from the hands of my child to their child. Writing so powerful that Phillip Yancey will write a book entitled, 13 women mentors/writers who helped my faith survive the church.
So I am on a mission to find "truth/faith" writing by women that is sustainable for a lifetime.
Any suggestions?
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