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For You, Netizen

For You, Netizen

Last updated on: March 3, 2013 at 12:05 am by Grace Sandra

For You, Netizen 2013-03-03T00:05:10-04:00 Grace Sandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

netizen |ˈnetəzən|

noun

a user of the Internet, esp. a habitual or avid one.

The one that explains why Feminism matters. And even though “I came out” last week as a non-identifying Feminist I respect and agree with this postion.

Feminism matters because there is still so much work to do. Feminism matters because I want to leave the world better off than I found it. Feminism matters because social change is a long-term, high-intensity, slow-moving revolution. Feminism matters because patriarchy is still considered the ideal in many Christian churches despite it being a consequence, not a command of the fall. Feminism matters because it’s an unfinished movement.

As a Christian, I understand that the movement to dismantle all oppressive power structures and restore justice and equality will always be an unfinished movement until His Kingdom come. But that doesn’t stop me from praying Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, and that doesn’t stop me from loving mercy, acting justly, and walking humbly with my God…as a feminist.

By Danielle Vermeer, Why Wouldn’t Feminism Matter? at From Two to One

~

The one that convicts & reminds about what is most important…

While sitting outside Richard’s hospital room, I reflected on the value of a single life. And I thought about the pastors in cities like Chicago, where more than 500 people died by gunfire last year; and Los Angeles, where gang violence has ravaged countless neighborhoods; and the Bronx and Brooklyn, where poverty, hopelessness, and desperation collide with shots fired every single day. And I thought about pastors and parents in the suburbs who now live in what might happen in malls, movie theaters, schools, and parks. And I thought of our biblical call to walk in compassion and compassion’s call to walk with “the other.” And I thought of what it might look like if pastors in the suburbs joined hands with pastors in the cities and together they called Congress to act — to be bold and courageous — because people made in the image of God are counting on you.

By Lisa Sharon Harper, Gun Violence: How Valuable is a Life? at Sojourners.

The one that pretty much amazed me. That reminded me how -unhelpfully- important “looks” are. A model gives a TEDx talk about why she doesn’t deserve her success merely for being pretty. Wow.

Usually TED only invites the most accomplished and famous people in the world to give talks. I hoped telling a simple story — where my only qualification was life experience (not a degree, award, successful business or book) — could encourage those of us who make media to elevate other personal narratives: the stories of someone like Trayvon Martin, the undocumented worker, the candidate without money for press.

Instead my talk reinforced the observations I highlighted in it: that beauty and femininity and race have made me the candy of mass media, the “once you pop you just can’t stop” of news.

In particular it is the barrage of media requests I’ve had that confirm that how I look and what I do for a living attracts enormous undeserved attention…

…But the most important part of my job is to show up with a 23-inch waist, looking young, feminine and white.

By Cameron Russell, I Won the Genetic Lottery for CNN

The one that reminded me how important it is to 1) keep Rhys from growing up into a bully 2) do the best I can to protect any kid who I know is being bullied & 3) teach my boys how to respond to bullies.

But to ignore the very real issue of childhood bullying is both dangerous and lacking in what marks us as Christians—our love. Perhaps we have largely ignored the issue of bullying because it highlights a fact that most of us in the church do not want to confront: that there are large sections of our society that are being told, day after day, that they are not valuable. And we are letting it happen.

Words matter. To the ones being bullied, the church has a chance to step up and say: “I’m sorry for the words you have heard. We are here to tell you about the One who made you, who loves you and has a place for you in his kingdom”. The church, more than Dan Savage or Lady Gaga, should be at the forefront of the anti-bullying message. Do we not believe the Good News? Do we not believe that “It Gets Better?” Do we not see a place in the church for all the “beautiful monsters” of our world? If we don’t believe that, then our silence makes sense.

By: D.L. Mayfield, Because of Christ It Gets Better at Christ & Pop Culture

The one that encouraged me to make a plan & not be overwhelmed as I try to work on my blog, my memoir, an e-book, a Bible study guide and guest contributions for 3 sites…while juggling my full-time job, home, marriage & babies. (I did just admit yesterday that I didn’t like ordinary).

If you’re like me, you have trouble breaking down massive projects into manageable pieces and executing each piece well. And when I can’t break things down easily, I tend to freeze. This creates obvious problems. But I learned something from Dr. Henry Cloud recently that helped tremendously.

Henry was working (or not working) on his doctoral dissertation and, like me, found himself frozen by the magnitude of the project. And so rather than diving in, he went and played golf. And he played a lot of golf. But as the deadline drew closer, and his stress levels increased, Henry got worried. And so he began to pray.

By: Don Miller, How I Learned Not To Be Overwhelmed at Storyline.

The one that makes my heart hurt for sexual abuse victims and reminds me of God’s restorative power in my life…

And this whole time, no one spoke of what happens when these things are taken. No one told me how to handle my body if I didn’t feel as if it were mine to own. No one whispered how breaking the bondage of abuse would hurt like hell and the mess would spill over into my marriage bed. No one told me that it was okay, that I wasn’t less than, that there was goodness and bravery in figuring out the dust of belief left over from His fire burning through the lies.

So here I am, speaking it to those who were forgotten.

If sex makes you feel as if you’re drowning –

if you feel an anger radiate from within you for no reason –

if it’s almost impossible to stay present and aware during sex –

if you feel dirty and conflicted and less than because of someone else’s mistakes –

you are not alone.

I’m through with others trying to tell my story. I’m so tired of those who approach the table with a flippancy and an air of superiority thinking the answers are plain as day and fit everyone like a glove. I’m here to tell you this just isn’t true and if it weren’t for the incredible patience, understanding and gentleness of my husband – our marriage wouldn’t have made it.

By: Elora, Where there’s Always Another Story at Elora Nicole.

Favorite Blog comment:

(from the post: Am I the Angry Black Woman Again?)

“I’m an Indian (brown woman), who grew up in the Middle East (dem Arabs), and married a Zambian (black man).

And yet…

Here are some words I’m scared to use:

a. “blacks” – Are you sure the plural isn’t derogatory? Gracie, you’d tell me right? You’re black.

b. “whites” – Hehe. The only “whites” I refers to are egg whites. There is something about that darn plural that scares me. I’m not sure it’s PC.

c. “feminist” – I used to throw around the word feminist while bopping my head to Destiny’s Child in my clueless teens. Heck! Back then I didn’t know there were second wave feminists and fourth wave feminists and what exactly each group stands for.

I do know that the word “feminist” often needs to be qualified by, “When I say feminist I mean…” Everyone seems to have a different definition of the word. So often in an effort to keep a conversation on track, I find it helpful to continue the dialogue if I talk about the issues of injustice, domestic violence and human trafficking, without using the term “feminist.” Because *injustice* is what I *really* care about. Maybe that makes me big wimpy sell out?

______

Truth, when I read the post:

– I mouthed the words O.M.G. in my tiny living room

– I thought, “Shiz just got real.”

– I thought, I’m not sure I’m brave, bold or intelligent enough to be a DS writer.

– I felt like a sheltered brown girl who needs to READ MORE.

– I daydreamed about someday standing on my soapbox about something equally passionate about.

– I was heartbroken after reading some of the intimate details of your journey. What a cray-cray life you’ve lived Ms. Biskie. I’m so sorry to had to carry so much of that on your tiny shoulders for so long.

– I cheered you on for openly admitting the ways in which you were unkind or biased. #bigwoman

– I marveled at how only love can break down walls. All walls.

– Lastly, I was humbled, overwhelmed, misty-eyed, by how “Amazing Grace” saves every last one of us.

Sorry for my silence.

I had a vulnerability hangover just reading your post.

I wanted cheesecake, Cheetos and a cigarette to numb the pain I was feeling.

For the blacks.

For the whites.

For you.

For me.

Love you,

Teen”

Favorite Family Pic of the Week

Here is Dave building & rebuilding the snow castle he & the boys started but which he is far more obsessed concerned about then the children…

So. What have you been reading this week? What did I miss?

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March 1, 2013

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