What we see in Acts and the writings of Paul is that our material possessions are a barometer of our hearts: “What we do or do not do with our material possessions is an indicator of the Spirit’s presence of absence”. There is not a confiscation of private property. There is also not a commandContinue reading “Common Good”
Category Archives: Social Justice
Neither Poverty nor Riches (book Summary)
In part one, I gave a picture of how stuff is distributed in our world. I wanted to do that because after reading this book, the biggest take away is as people who follow Jesus we should be very concerned about economic inequality. In the book (aptly titled Neither Poverty Nor Riches, by Craig Blomberg )Continue reading “Neither Poverty nor Riches (book Summary)”
Some facts about the stuff in the world
I’m going to be sharing what I’ve learned about God’s view of stuff from this book I’ve been reading, but first I want to lay some ground work so we’re all talking about the same thing. Before we start talking about God’s view of stuff, it is helpful to get some facts about all theContinue reading “Some facts about the stuff in the world”
Reading Fiction as a form of Freedom Fighting
Author Julia Alvarez, who escaped the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic and came to America when she was ten years old, has said: “I would go as far as to say that by reading books, entering other realities, and then taking those adventures back into our own lives, we are freedom fighters. One of theContinue reading “Reading Fiction as a form of Freedom Fighting”
Just Mercy
David arrive home cheerily on Friday night to find the house dark, no supper cooking, and me sitting in a chair crying, clutching my phone. “What’s going on?” he asked, suddenly worried. It looked like I had just received news that someone had died. Someone did die. That’s why I was crying. I’m part ofContinue reading “Just Mercy”
Scariness and Suffering pt 2
The previous post talked about introducing your kids to scary topics, and helping them build resilience. This post will talk more about building compassion in the face of suffering and injustice. While I grew up with a lot of childhood fear—and I think, did a pretty good job of battling against it—I’ve always had aContinue reading “Scariness and Suffering pt 2”
Stuff Wars (pt2): Six lies I believe about my stuff
Recently this humorous advertisement for a clothing store popped up in my newsfeed. It’s referencing the very “tidying up” method I talked about in my last stuff post. Ironically, it’s talking all about getting rid of things, spring cleaning and minimizing– while advertising a clothing brand. We’re so weird in America. We can sell moreContinue reading “Stuff Wars (pt2): Six lies I believe about my stuff”
That Saved a Wretch Like Me
We’re heading into the bloodiness of Holy Week in just a little while. Good Friday looms at the end of Lent, this horrible black, silent day where we actually contemplate the slow suffocation of a Palestinian Jew on a cross. Uh, depressing. I’d much rather skip it and get to the chocolate Easter eggs onContinue reading “That Saved a Wretch Like Me”
An Uprooting
But we can’t receive that grace if we don’t think we need it. For reconciliation and restoration to occur, we have to acknowledge there’s a problem… The question is not, “What is Jesus telling black people in this moment?” The question is, “What is Jesus telling me in this moment? Me, a white person?”
Nation Building: Our country, not “this country”
I’ve been out of the loop on the #Zumamustfall campaigns that spread across South Africa at the end of last year calling for the removal of our corrupt president (protestors are pointing to things like Nkandla, the mansion Zuma built with tax payer money- protest chant is simply “Pay back the money!”) I’ve been out ofContinue reading “Nation Building: Our country, not “this country””
Stephanie Ebert 