As a Bible study group, we are doing Generous Justice by Tim Keller. The first chapter makes the argument that justice is actively generous. It’s not just “not hurting my neighbor” –it’s actively providing for my neighbors needs. Therefore, we can be held accountable not just for the bad things we do, but for theContinue reading “White South Africa: Is our ‘normal’ unjust?”
Author Archives: Steph E
What do you say when it’s Friday all around?
Sometimes I wonder what to say and what to be silent about. I don’t often tell the sad stories. Not because there is not sadness, but because a sad story is a real story, about a real person. And I don’t want to make light of someone’s suffering by sharing it to make a sensation. IContinue reading “What do you say when it’s Friday all around?”
Death
Death is the last weapon of the tyrant, and the point of the resurrection, despite much misunderstanding, is that death has been defeated. Resurrection is not the re-description of death; it is its overthrow and, with that, the overthrow of those whose power depends on it. -NT Wright, Surprised by Hope.
ISHIBOBO Holiday Club
“What are some hopes and goals you’re setting for yourself as you go into this week?” Sizwe asked all the volunteers from Hilton and Pietermaritzburg gathered for Holiday Club Training this past Monday. As I’m now a “one-day-a-weeker” at the moment with iThemba, David and I were thrilled with the chance to get to helpContinue reading “ISHIBOBO Holiday Club”
The Kingdom of God is Like…
So, I read about this activity on Kathy Escobar’s blog, in her post “The Kingdom of God is Like…” You should go check it out. Jesus often talks about what the Kingdom of God is like. He’s trying to explain things using everyday, ordinary examples (yeast working through dough, finding a coin, gardening, buried treasure). AndContinue reading “The Kingdom of God is Like…”
Brownies of Destruction- how sociology ruins EVERYTHING.
Have I ever mentioned that I am a very black and white thinker? This can be very depressing, because it means I follow things all the way to the end of their logical conclusion (which is usually depressing). Which explains my current depression about the state of humanity and the entire world lately. Basically, it’sContinue reading “Brownies of Destruction- how sociology ruins EVERYTHING.”
Intellectual Injustice
Last week I was looking for a book for my research. It’s written by a South African author, published in South Africa, and is going to be one of my key texts, so I thought I’d buy it. WRONG. It cost R600 ($60). When I googled the same book in the USA on amazon, itContinue reading “Intellectual Injustice”
A Poem: Maestro
This is a poem. Because it’s broken up into funny lines, I can call it a poem. I didn’t try hard enough for it to be an actual poem. Maybe one day when I have time I will make it a real poem. But it is based on a common occurrence at the main intersection ofContinue reading “A Poem: Maestro”
“To Never Lose Hope”
Recently my co-worker Sizwe went around and visited the different iThemba Life Groups to find out how things were going. Life Groups are the home groups of about 20 – 40 kids who come each week to play games, sing songs, learn about Jesus and discuss life. They support each other in making wise choices,Continue reading ““To Never Lose Hope””
#IfIWasWhite: Things I learned
The area that my masters in sociology falls under is “whiteness studies”. Basically, it means studying white people, and the construct of whiteness, and understanding white privilege, and looking at ways to “de-center” the story of whiteness. In most places, “white” is the norm by which everything else is measured (which I kind of understandContinue reading “#IfIWasWhite: Things I learned”
Stephanie Ebert 