2017 In Review

Another year is coming to a close only for another one to begin. We celebrate this time each year to reflect on our past and prepare for our future. This is the time of making goals that you hope will last and know many will stop after a few months...if that. As I prepare for the coming year I want to reflect on this year in order to prepare for the next. Below are some of my favorite moments of 2017 which I have decided to call "The Domestic Year".

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1. We bought a house: 2017 was the year we bought a fixer upper! We did not begin 2017 with plans to purchase a house or even to move, but when we found our new place we knew it was the one for us. We have done a lot of work on the house already--my wife has done most of the work as she is a better handyman than I am--but there's still more work to do. It's been a great learning experience.

2. We adopted a puppy: This year we welcomed a new addition to our family: Petra Lucille. We adopted my wife's dream dog this year as a puppy. She's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and she is as spunky as can be! This year has been a joy watching her grow with our other dog and cat and seeing how they interact together. It's also been a learning experience as we engaged in the act of potty training. It's still a work in progress, but our girl is getting there!

3. We researched: As many of our family and friends know we have a heart for adoption. Not only do we know many friends and family members who have adopted, but we, too, want to adopt one day. This year has been a year of hardcore researching to figure out which is the best route for us: private infant, foster care, international, agency, or county. It's been an interesting journey, but it is one we need to take together. We have wanted to adopt since before we were married, but this year was when we really buckled down on our researching. We are still in the process, but we are getting close to figuring out what is our best route for our forever family.

4. Our extended family grew: This year our extended families have grown in multiple ways. My brother-in-law got married and so I gained a new sister. My younger sister also is pregnant and within the next week or so I will be an uncle! 

5. I read: Naturally, as I love to read, I read many books this year. Not as many as I have in previous years, but a good bit despite all the changes that happened this year. I have continued reading The Expanse series, I read some standalone books, I read a lot of Wendell Berry's writings, and I read Redwood--the fifth book in the series The Familiar. I still enjoy reading Sci-Fi, but this year my reading focus shifted to food and gardening. Though I did not read as many books as last year I feel as if I have appreciated the books I read this year more.

6. We Coordinated a Community Garden: This year we didn't just utilize the community garden, but we became the coordinators of it. We learned the difficulties that can come with coordinating a free community garden, but we also learned the blessings that grow with it too. We got to know other gardeners and gardens while embracing the spirit of planting your own food. This year I think we began to appreciate gardening for more than just a way to save money on food--although that is a great aspect of it--but as a way of life!

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This year has been a great year overall and though we have had ups and downs throughout it I can't help, but look back and see all the ways that my family has been there and made it an even better year. I am excited for the next year and all the adventures to come. When I began this post I considered ending it with my goals for 2018, but I realized that sometimes when I make goals they can limit my imagination. Instead of listing S.M.A.R.T. goals for 2018, I'm going to list an overall goal that will encompass all I want to accomplish this year:

Focus on my family. 

Grace & Peace,

Tanner

Love

Hope.

Peace.

Love.

Week three of the Advent season is all about love. What a fitting theme for such a time as this. There are so many issues and catastrophes around us today, but we can never have enough love. We can never be reminded of love enough. We need more love in this world and in our lives.

And yet I feel as if that word gets tossed around so flippantly. People us it as a means for control. People put stipulations on it. People make it conditional. They lose it's meaning.

But the Love of YHWH is unconditional and it never fails.

When we're caught in the web of the most often asked question: how do we love properly without condoning certain practices? My response is: if you have to ask then are you actually loving? 

Yes we can't condone every action out there. Yes there are dehumanizing things that individuals do. Is love condoning something? Or is love simply loving them regardless? Loving them as a human, as an individual, for who they are not who they could become.

When I think of love I think of the Old Testament reading for this week which comes from Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
To bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And release to the prisoners, 
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, 
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn;
To provide for those who mourn in Zion--
To give them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 
The planting of the Lord,
To display his glory.

They shall build up the ancient ruins,
They shall raise up the former devastations;
They shall repair the ruined cities, 
The devastations of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, 
Foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;

But you shall be called priests of the Lord,
You shall be named ministers of our God;
You shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, 
And in their riches you shall glory.

Because their shame was double,
And dishonor was proclaimed as their lot,
Therefore they shall possess a double portion;
Everlasting Joy shall be theirs.
For I the Lord love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
And their offspring among the peoples;
All who see them shall acknowledge that 
They are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My whole being shall exult in my God;
For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all nations.

(Isaiah 61:1-11, NRSV, Italicize and Bold added for emphasis).

Peace

Peace.

This week in the Advent season is the Peace Candle and so many things come to mind when I think of the word "peace."

What is peace?

I think of those who fight in the name of what they call "peace." I think of Jesus' words on the Sermon on the Mount about turning the other cheek, carrying a coat farther, and loving your enemies. I think of the phrase "a peace that passes understanding" which is often prayed for. I think of the hectic chaos of the holiday season and how many are desperately seeking peace. I think of refugees fleeing persecution looking for a place of peace. I think of how in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells His disciples to look for People of Peace. There are so many connotations that arise when I think of the word peace.

This morning, though, I reflect on a story I was told not too long ago. Just two weekends ago I had the privilege of visiting for the second time the Behalt Cyclorama in the Amish and Mennonite Heritage center in Berlin, OH. The purpose of this piece of artwork is to tell the history of the Amish, Mennonite, and the Hutterite peoples, also known as the Anabaptists. Both times that I visited this museum, I was struck with wonder at one of the stories they shared. That story is one that I think is so poignant for us to read during this week where we focus on the word "Peace" and that story is shown below:

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In 1569 Dirk Willems was captured and imprisoned for being an Anabaptist. He was able to escape, however, and as he was fleeing a palace guard saw him and began to pursue him. Dirk was able to safely run across a section of thin ice, but as his pursuer chased him the ice broke and the guard fell through. Dirk heard the cries of the guard and turned back to rescue him. Upon his rescue the guard seized Dirk Willems and brought him back to a more secure prison until he was burned to death. Despite the consequences Dirk Willems knew that Jesus had called him to love his enemies and he could not leave this guard there to die even if it meant risking his own life.

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How have we responded to the call for peace? The call to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? 

Grace & Peace.

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Resources:

https://www.goshen.edu/mqr/dirk-willems/

https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/dirk-willem-burned-after-rescuing-pursuer-11630015.html 

What's in a name?

What's in a name? The question that the great Romeo Montague asks in Shakespeare's tragic tale.

A lot is in a name.

Names have power. Names give meaning. Names turn the generalized into specifics.

There's a reason why we give names to babies. There's a reason why in some Christian traditions when a child is baptized they are also christened and given a "Christian Name." Names give us an intimacy that generalizations cannot.

It is easy to hate a group or a stereotype. It is easy to look at a large general group and come up with opinions against them. With groups it is very easy to create an us verses them barrier. It is easy to build walls.

But names change that. In the words of my beloved partner, Brianna Cooper-Risser,"When we place names on the generalization it may not change our opinion, but it at least makes us feel uncomfortable." it shows us that "life is complicated". How many times have you heard a story where someone shares their disdain for a group of people and then they meet someone who happens to fall into that category and it completely changes their mind on the matter? You know what I am talking about. I don't even need to give a specific example for memories to come flooding to your mind.

When we give something a name it changes things. The same goes to barriers in our life. When we name what is holding us back we can come up with a solution much easier. Giving a name to our problems is the first step in overcoming them.

So, do names matter? Absolutely. Names are what differentiates me from just another heterosexual white male. Names are what remind us that each person has a unique story that has brought them to where they are today. And sometimes, some people, need a new name to remind them that their story does not always need to stay the same. Our names are part of what makes us human.

So the next time you make a general statement about a group of people first ask yourself: Do I know anyone in that group? How well do I know them? What is their name? And what is their story?

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Resources:

1. http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/8/15/names 

2. https://robbell.podbean.com/e/we-are-the-committee/ 

Hope

For the past couple months I have been striving to blog once a week. I spend a good deal of time on the internet and I figured I could dedicate some of that time to something I thoroughly enjoy doing: writing. So often one can get consumed with scrolling through social media and retweeting/posting/sharing everything they seem to agree with. I have noticed a disconnect between how often people post online and how present they are in the lives of people they are with. This is often evident in a family get together during the holidays. After the festivities are over you can look around and see family members gathered around TVs, I Pads, and other devices. I am no exception. Social media is an addicting past-time. So starting on Sunday, December 3rd, 2017, the beginning of Advent, I will fast from social media. I have begun this process already--I have started fasting from social media when I am at home. My goal is to become more present with those around me and less dependent on the internet. I will chronicle my thoughts in a weekly post. Some posts may be about my social-media-free time or it may just be a reflection on the Advent season. My goal is to become more present in my community and to allow those actions to permeate into the rest of my life after this season.

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Hope.

The first candle of Advent is for Hope. It is so fitting that we would end "Ordinary Time" in the Christian Liturgical calendar with a reminder of Christ's call for us from Matthew 25. Now as we begin this new stage of the calendar we are reminded of the Hope that is to come. Of the hope for the coming kingdom. In today's day and age with all the trials, tribulations, and catastrophes, it's always nice to be reminded of the hope we can have in Christ.

This coming Sunday's Gospel reading comes from Mark 13:24-37 which can at first glance seem to be a heavy passage. One can read this and become fearful of what is to come. I, however, would like to point out that sometimes it's the big picture that we should look at not the minute details. The big picture in this passage is that we should be ready; awake and ready. We know that Christ will return to make everything right again and we are called to be ready. That is the hope we are given in the Advent season. There is a hope that it is true that Christ will renew all things and with that hope we can be ready.

So how can we be ready? How can we be awake? What is it that we must do?

Work to help renew the world. Yes, Christ will come to rebuild and renew the whole universe, but until then He has charged us to work towards the Kingdom. We were reminded of this charge just this past Sunday on Christ the King Sunday. We are moving towards this week of Hope with the knowledge of how we can be awake. How we can be ready. Renewing the world is more than just helping people, it also has to do with the actual world. YHWH commanded us to care for the world we are put in. The world is not going to be destroyed, but it is going to be renewed. We were made from the earth and so we must care for it. In the words of N.T. Wright, "Jesus is coming so plant a tree." But in all honestly, that's exactly what we must do. Care for ourselves, others, and the world and together we can help usher in the Kingdom as we hope for the day when all will be restored. 

Grace & Peace.

Resources:

https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/environment/jesus-is-coming-plant-a-tree 

biblegateway.com 

5 Ways to Save Money during the Holiday Season

Within the past few months my wife, Brianna, and I have had recent college graduates reach out to us on advice on budgeting and finances since we were able to pay off our college debt in under two years. We strive to give our best explanations on how to best pay off loans and still live an enjoyable life, while keeping in mind all of the specifics and complexities that may come with each individual situation. This has led me to decide that this week's blog, during the week of Thanksgiving, would be on how to save money during the Holiday season. There are many "tricks of the trade" out there that claim they are the most efficient way to save money, but today I would like to propose a simple list of 5 practical ways to not break the bank during the holidays.

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1. Make and Keep a Budget:

The number one way to save money is to start by knowing where your money is going. This can be done by creating a budget. A budget is, simply put, a record of where all your financial resources are going. One does not need to make a certain amount of money to budget, but they simply need to keep track of their expenses. Once you have your budget the key is sticking to it. Oftentimes during the Holidays we can be tempted to splurge a little, but if you are struggling to stretch your dollars on a regular basis then I would advise against splurging. Ask yourself do you really need that item or do you just want it?

2. Make a Shopping List and stick to it:

Another great way to save money is to create a shopping list with all of your needs first and then your wants if you have left over money. When you are creating your list you want to determine what your needs are, like milk, verses what your wants are, like coffee. It is even more vital to stick to your list in the holiday season; just because something is on sale and seems to be a 'great sale' does not mean that it is something you should purchase. If it's not in the budget then the sale may not be that 'great', especially if it causes you to go over budget.

3. Shop at ALDI:

This is just my little plug-in for ALDI. I am a huge fan of ALDI both for their incredible prices and for their quality. It is not every day that you come across both. My point here is that when you are grocery shopping you want to stick to affordable stores that you are familiar with. Try to avoid stores that will have more distracting items that could try to lure out your wallet. Focus on what you need to purchase. ALDI is a great store for that!

4. Avoid Black Friday shopping like the plague:

This tip is HUGE during this time of year. You will be plagued with ads, coupons, and reminders about Black Friday sales, which now begin way before Friday! This is the time when you really need to differentiate between your needs and your wants. If there is something you need that is on sale for a good price then remember to budget for that at the beginning of the month. More often than not though, many of the "great sales" during Black Friday are items that you would not have otherwise bought. Why clutter up your home with more stuff that you don't need? Especially if you are already struggling with stretching your dollars? Black Friday may seem like a fun experience--especially for people watchers--but my advice is to avoid it. IF you do need to buy something that day, why don't you order it online to avoid impulse buys at the store?

5. Be Creative with your gifts:

Finally be creative with your gifts. Yes, this is the season of giving. People love giving and receiving gifts and why should you be limited because your income is fixed? You want to give your loved ones gifts just like everyone else does. This Holiday season consider how you  give gifts. Instead of just buying another trinket for someone to add to their closet, maybe consider giving them an experience. What resources do you already have that you can use to give someone a great gift. What could you make for someone? Where could you take someone? We were created with the ability to create so use that to give gifts to people.

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I hope these 5 tips help you this holiday season! I know some of these may seem "extreme" to some people and there are always exceptions to rules, but before you go and proclaim that you are the exception it is good to ask yourself if that's really true. Or are you trying to justify spending more money?

Let us focus on saving this holiday season so that we can make sure we have what we need before what we want. 

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Resources:

https://www.aldi.us/

https://celebrateyourplate.org/

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/12/3/stretching-holiday-food-budget-during-busy-holiday-season 

My Top 5 Books of 2017

Anyone who knows me knows that I adore reading. If you walk into my house you'll see piles of half-read books and bookshelves filled to the brim with even more books. Each year I spend time determining which books I should keep and which ones are ready to move on to another grateful reader. This year I felt that I was at a point where I should not acquire many more books until I read the ones that I currently have. It's a hard process, but I have found that by borrowing books I am still able to read books I have wanted to read while not cluttering up my living areas. I know that by borrowing books I am still choosing to read novels that aren't the ones I am currently reading, but that's how my mind works. Borrowing helps to prevent me from filling my shelves with more books. A few years back when I took the Strength Finders quiz I discovered that one of my top 5 strengths is Input. Those with the Input strength are really good at collecting knowledge and things. I collect books and the knowledge that I gain from them. I am a slow reader, but I strive to read 25-50 books a year. For some that may seem like a lot and for others that may seem like it is not many, but for me it is the perfect amount. It is the bed that feels just right.

Not only do I enjoy reading books, but I also partake in the act of reviewing books I like. I have gotten to a point in life where I only read books that I am 85% certain I will enjoy. This has led me to hardly ever give a book a bad review, which isn't a bad way to live. We have enough negativity in this world so let's focus on things that are positive: like good books. For my post this week I decided to share my top 5 books/series of 2017 utilizing my reviews from my Goodreads account. I hope y'all enjoy!

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1. The Familiar Volume 5: Redwood by Mark Z Danielewski. 

Best volume yet. Each volume in the Familiar builds off of the previous one and continues to get better and Redwood is no exception. It far exceeded my expectations and gave me just as many new questions as answers like all the best fictions do. I felt satisfied with many of the answers and anxious to find more answers in the upcoming season. It was the perfect season finale. If you haven't read the Familiar series then you've got to...this Finale makes it all worth it, but you've got to start with Volume 1: One Rainy Day In May. There was not one boring section in the entire volume. It was the most clear in how all the characters were connected and I'm excited to see how this connectedness develops in the future! 10 out 10 MUST read. Also the pages smell like Redwood which is a nice addition to the art of the novel. If you were a fan of the show LOST you will likely love The Familiar.

2. Where'd you go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. 

Great satire on our culture and society! Funny, true, and thought provoking look at what could happen when creativity is stifled by culture and greed. People need the freedom to be creative and innovative! Definitely recommend! 3. What is the Bible? How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories can transform the way you think and feel about everything. By Rob Bell.  Rob Bell does it again! I think this has become one of my favorites--although Love Wins is still up there--of his books! This book is an EXCELLENT look at the Bible and I would recommend this to anyone and everyone: Those who love the Bible, have questions about it, don't like or love it, etc. This is a fun read that re-inspires you to understand and read the Hebrew & Christian Scriptures. I felt that this book perfectly summed up 99% of what I learned and grew to believe during my undergrad at MVNU. It affirmed my beliefs and gave me more thoughts to chew on and think through! I had tried to keep up with his original Tumblr posts, but it was nice to have this all in a book format. I listened to this book and it was a great book to listen to. I felt like I was listening to a giant RobCast. I definitely recommend! 4. The Expanse: Cibola Burn (and all the other Expanse novels) by James S.A. Corey Best book yet. This series keeps getting better. I loved the story line of the colonists verses RCE. It very much shows how humanity acts. Loved learning more about the creators of the Protomolecule and loved that it has left me with more questions. Overall I feel this Sci-Fi series is a great look at the human condition and how we, as a people, respond to crisis and catastrophe regardless of what planet it is located on. The whole series is a great read. I'm currently reading the most recent book, #6 Babylon's Ashes. 5. Everything Wendell Berry. This year I have really started reading the works of Wendell Berry. I have read through Blessed are the Peacemakers, Country of Marriage: Poems, The Art of the Commonplace, and I am currently reading The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture. I am drawn to his desire for us to go back to the land, focus on where our food comes from, and the idea that how we take care of the land matters. I have been devouring all things Wendell Berry because his work is ingenious and some might even say prophetic! As a coordinator of a Community garden and as one who is passionate about healthy and affordable food Wendell Berry's work resonates with me.  ********* Happy Reading everyone! Grace & Peace

FOMO: A Confession

F.O.M.O.

A term commonly used to describe the Fear Of Missing Out. Throughout the past few years I have heard this term and phrase thrown around haphazardly and yet I think there is more truth to it then many let on to. Yes, there will always be people who say they have F.O.M.O. and may mildly have that, but at the end of the day it is just something they say and does not truly affect their lives.

I, however, believe that there are people who do legitimately have F.O.M.O. and have found that I am one of them. I also believe I have a slight tendency to be O.C.D. and I am not sure if these are connected or not. I am sure someone who is much more knowledgeable on the topic of mental health could help me with this diagnosis. I have thus far used my slight O.C.D. as a strength and channeled it into my work ethic, calendars, and organization of my personal life. I have often joked that I am O.C.D. enough that I could be an excellent life planner for someone. I am not intending to be offensive or insensitive to anyone who may have a more extreme case of O.C.D., but I am simply trying to express what I have experienced.

This F.O.M.O. can be paralyzing if you allow it to control you. Throughout my undergrad experience I reacted to this fear through over committing to everything that sounded like it would be "up my alley." It took four years and then some to realize that every yes to something is a no to someone or something else. I knew this intellectually and yet I just kept wanting to say yes to everything. Not only did I want to say yes to everything, but I also had the strange belief that if I was passionate about something or heard about something that I loved, then I would need to work for them one day. I had taken the idea of "doing what you love" to the next level and translated it to "try and do EVERYTHING you love" while simultaneously neglecting the idea of hobbies and extra-curricular activities outside of your career.

Even now while I am in a job that I absolutely love and is stable I often hear about exciting new ventures and just want to drop everything and look into those options. I believe this thought process is how I now struggle with F.O.M.O. I am finding that even though I am completely satisfied and content with where I am at, I fear that I'll miss out on something else if it sounds "up my alley." I also struggle with the thoughts "Am I doing enough?" "Am I helping people enough?" "Does what I do matter?"  I am again struggling with those feelings of "what if" that plagued my undergrad experience.

So my post today does not end with a solution, but rather some questions:
How does one overcome F.O.M.O.? How does one become content and realize that, yes there will be other opportunities out there and yes it is okay to turn those down because you are in a good place right now? 

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Resources on F.O.M.O.

Times Magazine: http://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4358140/overcome-fomo/

Psychology behind FOMO: http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2015/09/30/fomo_what_s_the_psychology_behind_the_fear_of_missing_out.html

Another resource: https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/10/12/fear-of-missing-out/

Energy Out

As many of my friends and confidants know I love to blog. I do not always take the time to sit down and write out blogs even when I have great ideas for them. Throughout the past couple years I have found that the art of blogging has been a great way to refresh my mind and in an effort to blog more I am going to try to write a weekly blog post on topics that you, my friends, suggest to me via social media. My goal is to write one blog post a week. I will be sharing my opinion on the topic suggested so if there was ever something you wanted to know about me then this would be a time to find out. 

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Being Physically Active without Running
As a nutrition educator I often teach people about the importance of physical activity. Following the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans I teach that children should partake in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day and the average adult should participate in at least 30 minutes. These numbers are the bare minimum and one can always do more. In fact to maintain a healthy weight you want to make sure that you balance your energy in--eating and drinking-- with your energy out--physical activity.

Often times in my adult classes when I ask about physical activity I hear groans and excuses that typically add up to the phrases: I don't like to do it, I am lazy and unmotivated, I can't afford a gym membership, I don't like to run. All of these are barriers that we allow to control our lives, but if we are to live healthy lives then we need to break down the walls that prevent us from physical activity. One of those barriers is the idea that running is a great way to stay physically healthy and many people, myself included, do not like to run. A good friend of mine suggested I share some ways to get physical activity without having to run. Without further ado here's my top 5 suggestions:

1. Find physical activities you actually enjoy doing. Let's face it some exercises are more enjoyable than others. We don't need to torture ourselves to make sure we are being healthy and fit. Consider bike riding, kayaking, going on "fast walks", yoga, etc. 
2. Utilize exercise machines. If you don't want to get into running you could always use exercise equipment whether that's at a friends house, ones that you buy yourself, or at a local gym. You could use a stationary bike, take a spinning class, walk on an incline, go at a slower pace on a treadmill so you can push yourself, but control your speed, try using the rowing machine or stair climbing machine.
3. Go Swimming.Yup, it's true! Swimming is a great workout and one great way to stay fit. Not everyone has access to a year-round pool or body of water, but this is a great way to exercise at least in the summer. If you have access year round that's even better! This allows you to work on your cardio, but you don't have to support your own body weight since the water is keeping you up!
4. Find ways to turn your everyday activities into more active ones. Find ways to incorporate exercising while doing chores you already have to do. Do squats while putting the laundry in the washer/dryer, do arm lifts with canned foods before you put them away in the pantry, jog with your shopping cart as you go through the grocery store, do arm circles while watching your favorite TV show (it's also a great way to get the kids and others away from you!), and my personal favorite: do exercises during the commercial breaks of your TV shows.
5. Have a good motivator. I know this isn't an alternative to running, but it's a very important tip for exercising. We all need motivators. What motivates you is going to be different than what motivates me, but we all need to have a goal/motivation to help us when the workout gets tough! One great motivator to have is the knowledge that living a healthy lifestyle will help you to live a longer more satisfying life because of the energy you will receive from being active. As someone who used to hardly ever be active and is now on a daily basis, I can attest to the improved energy that I have acquired from getting my energy out more often. 

Hope you enjoyed these 5 suggestions and that you have gained something beneficial from them! If you have a topic you'd like me to post on next week please comment either below or on my Facebook.

Grace & Peace my friends

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Sources:
 http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/alternatives-to-running.html
https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/ 

From Conflict to Communion: The 500th Year

As many of my friends and confidants know I love to blog. I do not always take the time to sit down and write out blogs even when I have great ideas for them. Throughout the past couple years I have found that the art of blogging has been a great way to refresh my mind and in an effort to blog more I am going to try to write a weekly blog post on topics that you, my friends, suggest to me via social media. My goal is to write one blog post a week. I will be sharing my opinion on the topic suggested so if there was ever something you wanted to know about me then this would be a time to find out. 

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My first blog in this "You Suggest It" series was suggested by one of my best friends. He is currently attending seminary to become an Ordained Lutheran Minister and suggested that I write a non-Lutheran perspective on the "500th year." As it turns out this year, 2017, is the 500th year since the famous Reformation that began with Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses or the "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences." Along with many other reformations led by John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and other early Protestant Reformers in 16th-century Europe this was what led to a schism from the Roman Catholic Church. Luther's theses was meant to be a list of propositions up for debate which argued against the selling of indulgences to absolve sin and that faith alone, not deeds, leads to Salvation. (Christian Heritage II class at MVNU & http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses). Luther's theses was meant to be a announcement for an academic discussion which should be led with humility.Regardless of intent this move along with many others led to the rise of Protestantism and naturally much bloodshed from both sides of Christendom for years to come. 

One can argue whether or not we should have focused solely on Faith alone or if Works have something to do with it too. There are many passages of Scripture that could back up both. The first that comes to mind is in James 2 which tells us that both "Faith without Deeds is dead" and compare that with Romans 3, "

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Today though, I am not here to discuss which one is more accurate. Today I want to focus on this celebration. 500 years of celebration.

I do not think it is wrong to celebrate the beginning of your group, your denomination, your tribe. Humans tend to want to compartmentalize ourselves and put ourselves in groups. It helps us feel organized. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but how we respond within those tribes...now that can be an issue. As soon as it becomes an "Us vs. Them" then we have an issue. In the words of the band Gungor, it's not us or them it's "Us For Them." We, as a people, as followers of Christ, whether that be Jew, Gentile, Slave, Free, Male, Female, Catholic, Lutheran, Nazarene, Nondenominational, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Christian Church, Assemblies of God, and on and on we list; we are ALL one. We are told in Scripture that those labels do not matter and we are all one in Christ Jesus. 

So if you want to celebrate the beginning of your group that's fantastic! But, first let's make sure we are not rejecting, oppressing, or marginalizing those who are "other" to our group. Once we understand our intentions I think it is perfectly fine to celebrate the 500 years since the Reformation. I am not someone who thinks that this should be boycotted and not celebrated because some people have used this schism to create war, violence, and oppression. Yes, that was wrong. Yes, that was injustice. But no, that was not all that came out of this Reformation. Some of my dearest friends and family members belong to the Lutheran tradition and when I visit with my best friend I jokingly tell him that I am Lutheran for that week. It's not about rejecting everything from it, it's about learning and truly knowing our history, understanding the good, bad, and ugly, and celebrating the good. 

This, in fact, happened this year amidst the 500th year celebrations. There was a joint prayer service of reconciliation among Lutherans and Catholics in Chicago. When asked about the event the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, remarked that "For 500 years Lutherans and Catholics have been divided into two camps, each believing that the other was not only wrong but alien, yet we know that people are yearning for reconciliation. The Lutheran-Roman Catholic joint prayer service, one of the fruits of 50 years of dialogue between our two churches, was a beautiful celebration of what we hold in common. We could see each other again as brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that our increasing unity is a witness to our culture."

So let's celebrate that we've made it this far in this dysfunctional world and that we can work together each bringing something good to the Table to help bring Renewal to THIS earth, THIS solar system, THIS galaxy, THIS universe, and beyond. 

Grace & Peace my friends.

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For informative resources to celebrate the 500th year: 

https://www.elca.org/Resources/500-Years 

Beautiful tale of reconciliation amidst the 500th year celebrations: https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7876 

Other Resources: 

https://www.elca500.org/

Relational Discipleship: A Review

Recently I have been embracing my call of hospitality in many different ways and I've been discovering new ways to do so via food and the table. Since starting my job of teaching nutrition almost a year ago I have developed a huge love for local, fresh food. This has only naturally given me a profound appreciation of my garden plots and the act of producing my own food. It has connected what and how I eat to hospitality. Back in my undergrad I felt an explicit call to hospitality in my home, but had no idea that it would come to fruition in such a way as it has. In the midst of devouring essays by Wendell Berry and other gardeners, I had the privilege of reading to review Brian Craig Drurey's book "Relational Discipleship: Moving back home with God." I loved this quick and easy read and don't let the fact that it's an easy read tempt you to believe it's irrelevant. It's incredibly relevant in today's postmodern world. Here are my thoughts:
"Incredible read! Very good resource for discipleship. As someone who very much believes in what is called Relational Theology, I found Relational Discipleship to be an excellent companion through life. As someone who used to work for a church and now attends a house church I found Drurey's work very applicable and needed in such a time as this when churches all over the globe need to drastically re-evaluate their models! I especially enjoyed his metaphors and illustrations to demonstrate the process of returning home with God. There is such a need for hospitality in not only our discipleship practices, but also in our lives. We, American Christians, have seemed to have lost our call to hospitality, to open up our tables to the stranger, foreigner, and orphan. Food is something that can unite us all despite differences and Drurey's book reinvites back into a mode of hospitality. I could go on and on about his use of metaphors and his description of the woods, porch, door, and house of God, but to truly appreciate this book like I have you need to read it. You need to open the door to it's pages and taste and see how good and needed it is in our current climate."

Praise can lead to Laziness

"You'd make a great wife!"

This is a comment I've heard several times in my life. I've heard women tell my father this when he was cooking food in the kitchen. I've been told this when I was helping set up tables at a church function--at the church that I worked for. This phrase has been said as if to insinuate that because we were good at cooking or setting the table it meant we acted like a woman. Whether the one making the "joke" realizes it or not this phrase perpetuates the idea of traditional gender roles. I often get at least annoyed--at worst livid--when I hear similar jokes like this. As if I, a man, cannot be good at cooking, cleaning, setting the table, etc. without it being considered weird.

Consider the below conversation between adults Z & A.

• Z: Man, I am so exhausted! It's nice to have this break because there's always so much to do!
• A: Oh I know! There's hardly ever a break when I'm home. It's do the laundry, wash the dishes, make dinner, change the babies diaper, and on and on! I can never catch a break!
• Z: I know! And on top of all of this my spouse just sits on the couch and watches TV!
• A: Mine too! It's ridiculous! You'd think they could at least help me a little bit.
• Z: Mine did the other day! It was so nice! I was a bit overwhelmed and the food was starting to burn so they quickly ran over and finished cooking our dinner!
• A: That's so great! You are one lucky person! You married someone so thoughtful and great! I wonder what  it's like to  have someone who helps out like that sometimes. It'd be so great! What a sacrifice they made!
• Z: I am pretty lucky! 

What are your first thoughts about Z & A? Could you tell that they were both men? Often times we hear conversations similar to this between women, but if we would hear this conversation between men we might be surprised or even shocked. We might think its an anomaly. Why is that? Why do we have all these expectations of how women and men act? Why do we even have gender roles? I'm not even talking about gender roles we give "stay-at-home-moms"--although that is another topic we could discuss; especially with the trend towards some "stay-at-home-dads" that are arising...but that's for another day--I'm talking about the roles we give to working women. To homes where both the husband and the wife work, but we expect the wife to be the "Manager of the House." Why is that? Does the wife make more dishes than the husband? Does the wife dirty more laundry? Why does the responsibility fall on her?

Some thoughts for men:

1. Dudes cut the laziness! When you got married you joined a partnership. An equal partnership. You dirty dishes, you dirty laundry, and you even dirty your house! It's not your wife's job or obligation to clean up after you--nor should it be! Slavery was outlawed and considered evil YEARS ago! When I first got married--my wife & I both work full-time--I found myself easily getting caught up into the societal expectations to let my wife do most of the work. Then one day when she finally--thankfully--pointed this out to me I began to change my ways. I was preaching on and on about feminism and why women and men are equal, but not living the out in my life. So, I get it, society makes it easy to fall into that rhythm. But just  because society does something doesn't mean it's right or how things should be. So stop giving all this work to your wife--who also has a life and work to focus on too!
2. Stop misusing the Bible to justify your laziness! Don't sit here and tell me that the Bible promotes gender roles and says women are the household managers! First of all, the Bible talks about MUTUAL submission between husband and wife, not just "wives submit to your husbands", but "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."Also there are countless examples throughout Scripture of women being prophets--Miriam--, Apostles, and even preachers! After all Mary Magdalene was the first Evangelist. She's considered the Apostle to the Apostles! There are countless examples of women in ministry all throughout the Scriptures! If you want more information on this check out: https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/mutual-submission-resources-marriage-books-egalitarian, https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/mutuality-household-codes, and http://juniaproject.com/

Some thoughts for women: 

1. Stop praising your husbands for doing what they should have already been doing! One thing that irks me more than anything is when a guy does one household chore and their wife makes a huge deal about it! When was the last time your husband thanked and praised you for doing chores? It's part of living life with someone else: You both do your fair share of household chores! It might suck, after all not many people like doing chores (which is why they're called CHORES!), but it's something we both ought to do! When you praise your husbands its like you are saying, "You don't need to do this, it's not your responsibility, but thank you for helping out!" When what you should be saying is, "YES! I'm not alone! We're a team again! We can work together!" I mean when was the last time you got praised for cleaning or cooking? That  is something that IS in Scripture. Proverbs 31--which is often used as a legalistic list of things  for women to do--was actually a song that men would sing to praise their wives. To talk about how great they are! To share how they are women of valor--Eschet Chayil! More on this  here: https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/3-things-you-might-not-know-about-proverbs-31

To summarize:

We don't and shouldn't praise laziness. We shouldn't promote laziness. Laziness is not what we were created or intended for. So husbands and wives: work together. Take turns cooking, cleaning, etc. You are a team. The household--with or without kids--is BOTH of your responsibility. You are a team who are called to mutually submit to one another. After all, "“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (Ezer Kenego) as his partner" (Gen. 2:18, italicized and parenthesis added). ("Evidence indicates that the word 'ezer originally had two roots, each beginning with different guttural sounds. One meant "power" and the other "strength."https://godswordtowomen.org/ezerkenegdo.htm). So be partners. Work together. Stop praising things that should be a regular part of life!

Beauty and the Beast

Wow. Incredible. Golden.

These were the thoughts racing through my mind as I slowly exited the movie theater. I could not believe how well-done the new live-action Beauty and the Beast was. I was so blown away that I did not want to leave the theater. At one point one of the workers at the theater asked me if I was waiting for a "scene at the end of the credits" and I simply said, "nah, I know there isn't with Beauty and the Beast but I just enjoyed it so much I can't leave yet. I need to attempt to take it all in." That certainly got a strange look.

Having grown up a Disney and Beauty and the Beast fan I had high expectations for this movie. When I was in high school I took a Child Development class where I was first introduced to the original French folktale. I have seen the movie multiple times all throughout my childhood and seen different play adaptations. I was excited and ready to see how this adaptation would do. What would they change and which route would they follow? The more research you do about this original tale the more you can see how far they progressed in their retelling as this is truly a "tale as old as time."

One of the original goals of the folklore was to help young girls cope with the idea of arranged marriages. Such an interesting fact considering the new adaptation starred Emma Watson who is famous for starting a UN organization called HeforShe which is all about the empowerment of women. It is Emma Watson's role as Belle that truly transforms this movie into a beautiful feminist film, despite taking place in a context before the rise of the feminist movement. Emma shows the audience how much of a great feminist model Belle is for young girls.

Spoilers below:

This model is shown all throughout the film, but one of the most direct examples is near the beginning of the film. We learn that in this adaptation, unlike the original cartoon, Belle is the inventor. She invents a washing machine so that she can spend more time reading and teaching others how to read and less time doing what would have been considered "women's work." The movie does an excellent job portraying how little the village she lived in had. The grand library she visits in the original Disney cartoon was now portrayed to be a small church with a tiny shelf of maybe 7 books. So Belle creates this washing machine and then is seen teaching a young girl to read. Of course this wonderful scene is short-lived because as soon as the villagers notice what is going on they stop her, destroy her machine, and make comments about how they don't need "another girl learning to read." As if the only purpose for that girl is to marry and have children, not that marriage and raising a family are bad pursuits, but she should be allowed more than that provincial life. She should be given equal opportunity with the boys of the village. 

There are so many incredible themes throughout the film. There is the theme of hospitality and showing love to others. This is the main lesson that the Prince needs to learn. This is a reminder to all of us, especially in this current political climate, that we are called to be hospitable. To welcome in the stranger, the poor, the widow, the destitute. I was even reminded of the verse in Hebrews which says, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2, NIV). If the Beast would have known this from the start then everything could have been avoided. But it is a lesson for us. Let us not be like the Prince and turn those away who are in need, but let us help all out of love. This is our calling.

Beauty and the Beast was spectacular! The music was great with both old and new songs. The acting was phenomenal. But most of all the themes were what made it more than just a nice, fun remake, but a great message for all!

The Priesthood of ALL believers

"I graduated with a degree in Youth Ministry." "Oh that's wonderful! What church do you work at?" "I don't. I teach Nutrition and the importance of being Physically Active to local elementary schools and nonprofit agencies." "Oh..." The conversation ends abruptly.

All too often this has been the conversations I partake in when I meet individuals connected to churches. When people learn I went to a Christian Liberal Arts and have an occupation that does not seem to line up with my degree they give me skeptical looks or want to let me know that "it's okay..." or "one day you'll get that job you studied for."

 Unfortunately what people do not see or understand is that I chose this route. I chose this job. I had a job at a traditional church in youth ministry and then even in Family Ministry and I decided it wasn't the path for me. I felt like God had other plans. There is nothing wrong with Family Ministry, Youth Ministry, or Children's Ministry in a traditional church. There are many individuals out there who are incredibly gifted in those areas and should not consider other occupations--many of my mentors could be some of those people.

I, however, in this point in my life, am not one of those people. I have a heart for holistically helping others. I firmly believe that Jesus cares about our whole selves and not just our spiritual selves. The idea that God would only care about our spiritual selves is very dualistic and that is not how I believe we should live. I am not saying that ministers in traditional churches are all dualistic or that they cannot serve others holistically, but what I am saying is that I felt led to minister outside of the church walls--completely. In my occupation.

I accepted this job because I wanted to meet individuals where they are at and not try to convince them to enter a church building. I accepted this job because I believe in eating, acting, and living in a healthy manner and if I can help teach others that I want to. I took this job because I believe that the government should provide benefits to those who need it and if we need to provide education in order to make sure that those benefits are being used wisely and in a health-conscious manner then I want to help provide that education.

So often when we think of ministry we think of "professional ministry." We think of paying people to do ministry while the rest of us do our "regular jobs." I would propose that everyone is called to do ministry. Everyone is called to be a Priest in their community. We all have different skills and abilities; we all have different ways to impact others around us. We all have something to bring to the Table. Let us stop relying solely on "Professional Ministry" or "Professional Pastors"--though they are very great--and remember the Priesthood of all believers and go out in our communities to make a difference with those we come in contact with.