Tag Archives: faith

let’s banish fear

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I’ve been pondering, of late, why people get so entirely riled up when their beliefs are challenged.  I, of course, include myself in this as well, lest it seem I’m pointing fingers.

I think it can be a natural reaction…at least initially… but it’s where we go from that first point that I think we really need to take a look at.  I’ve seen, both online and in real life, some folks get really bent out of whack over people having differing stances than their own, and the accusations begin to fly…

“Well, *I* believe the Bible to be Truth” 

(As if the other does not…)

“I feel the need to defend the Word of God”

(Because God can’t do that for himself?)

“When you compromise on that point…next you will be compromising the entire Gospel.” 

(Really???)

It seems the longer-held the belief is, the more fired up we get when someone suggests that there *might* be a different way to look at it.

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the weight of words (a.k.a. ‘practice what you preach’)

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The problem with public forums is that they are so…public.

I know this is a profound thought for the day, but it’s one that I have been thinking about a lot recently, both in preparation for a discussion I’m preparing to lead on “Using Social Media Effectively“, as well as just on a personal level.  Things that are said and done in public, be in online or in person…you pretty much just brought everyone in the world in on.  You open yourself up for not only the “Amens!” and the “Good jobs!”…but also for the criticism, for the ridicule, and for the debate.

You just took accountability to a whole new level.

As they say…“S*** just got real”  (for the more sensitive of readers among us).  ;)

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femfest…what I learned

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Yesterday was supposed to be the final day of FemFest, but as usual, I’m a little late to the party.  Oh well…I can live with it.  One thing I’m learning…slowly but surely…is that if I’m going to make this blogging-thing work, I have to control it, and it cannot control me.  The world will not implode without my measly little post being published…I get that…believe me, I *so* get that.

So, better late than never, here it is…

feminisms-fest-badgeToday’s conversation starter is this:

What surprised you this week? What did you take away from the discussion? What blog posts did you find particularly helpful? What questions do you still have?

One thing that surprised me is that there are so many tentative feminists like myself.  So many who are completely sold out to the the idea of equality, as set forth and promoted by Jesus and the Bible, and yet still feel the need to ‘clarify’.  (Yes, I realize some disagree with that very basic premise, that Jesus and the Bible set forth equality.  That’s okay.  I absolutely believe it to be true and will write here from the standpoint of it as a given.)  I was encouraged that plenty of others, like myself, still cringe and pull away from the militancy of extremists…be they feminist extremists or christian extremists.

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Jesus…a feminist??

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These are the questions being posed today, for the second day of the Feminisms Fest synchroblog…

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What is at stake in this discussion? Why is feminism important to you? Are you thinking about your children or your sisters or the people that have come before you? Or, why do you not like the term? What are you concerned we’re not focusing on or we’re losing sight of when we talk about feminism? Why do you feel passionately about this topic?

“Why is feminism important to you?”

Feminism, in and of itself, is not important to me.  We can call it whatever we want.  People are important to me.  If a word trips you up, then toss it and focus on the concept.  PEOPLE are important.  Feminism is a tool to correct an injustice.  Women have been treated wrongly, and suffered injustice.  Incorrect thinking, misunderstanding and plain old sin have too long held back all the goodness that God intended life to have, coming through the contributions of male and female.  Feminism is merely a tool to bring about a change…a correction toward  God’s original intent…absolute equality as male and female, together reflecting the Image of the Creator. 

So when we ask what is at stake…I would say…in a word (okay, two words)- redemption and restoration.  It’s bigger than my feelings, goals or ambitions.  It’s more than wanting to see the next generation of girls thriving in their gifts and talents (though that is certainly part of it).  I believe it’s about God’s heart…God’s design.

It’s about returning to Plan A.

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feminisms fest, day 1

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No new post for today…too much ‘real life’ crowding my brain at the moment.

However, I did throw my post about feminism from a few weeks ago into a conversational link-up about the topic over at the blog “Love Is What You Do”.  It’s part of the “Feminisms Fest” series this week being hosted by J.R. Goudeau, Danielle Vermeer, and Preston Yancey.

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I definitely recommend heading over and checking out what folks from all sorts of perspectives are saying about this vital and timely topic.

Here’s the framework for the series:

Prompts and links:

  • {Day 1} Feminism and Me: On Tuesday, February 26, link up at J.R. Goudeau’s blog, loveiswhatyoudo.com, and write about these questions: What is your experience with feminism? What’s a story or a memory or a person that you associate with that word? Why does it have negative or positive connotations for you? How do you define the term, either academically or personally? What writers have you read whose definitions you want to bring out? Or, if you don’t have a definition, what are some big questions you have?
  • {Day 2} Why It Matters: On Wednesday, February 27, link up at Danielle Vermeer’s blog, fromtwotoone.com, and write about these questions: What is at stake in this discussion? Why is feminism important to you? Are you thinking about your children or your sisters or the people that have come before you? Or, why do you not like the term? What are you concerned we’re not focusing on or we’re losing sight of when we talk about feminism? Why do you feel passionately about this topic?
  • {Day 3} What You Learned: On Thursday, February 28, link up at Preston Yancey’s blog, seeprestonblog.om, and write about these questions: What surprised you this week? What did you take away from the discussion? What blog posts did you find particularly helpful? What questions do you still have?

You can also get in on the action at Twitter, using the hashtag #femfest.

I’m really looking forward to hearing other voices and joining in this discussion.  Let me know in the comments what you think of the series, or if you yourself have linked up!!