If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, then you know that we Christians like to chow down. The apostles liked to eat, too. Heck, they hosted a dinner party for 5,000 where the actual head count came to over 10,000. I know, crazytown right? We have a few euphemisms for eating, words like fellowship, koinonia, doing life together. Some are even brazen enough to simply label it breaking bread together. Even our most sacred remembrance of the Savior {communion} involves the act of eating. To prove He was fully resurrected, Jesus Himself ate a piece of fish-apparently He knew Peter would relate.

One way the early church met the needs of one another was by making sure that no one went without food, shelter, or clothing. And, while most people in my life have these things in abundance, they remain real, physical needs to live out life here on earth.

A few years ago, I joined in freezer meal swap parties with some friends of mine. I loved the way this allowed us to serve one another while also serving our own families. The way it works is that we each make 8 meals. Then, we show up and trade 7 our meals and go home with 8 completely different meals. The work is done, and we get to revel in NOT cooking for at least 8 meals. Holla!!!

As a Supermomma to three rambunctious boys, cooking has become a luxury. I used to love trying new recipes and hosting dinner parties at least once a week. But, I haven’t quite figured out how to make that work in my current life season. However, these boys still need to eat. And, I still have to cook, or figure out a way to feed my family on something healthier than frozen pizza.

So, the pop parable? There’s like all kinds of directions I could go with this one. For me, I feel like this is sharing a workload with my sisters in Christ. Because we invest so much less time in cooking freezer meals as opposed to traditional meals, it leaves us more time to do other things-like serve our families, volunteer in the community, or simply take a night off. My friend Kellie mentioned in the news story that one of the benefits of the freezer meals is the ability to share a meal at the drop of a hat. I’ve been so abundantly blessed by friends who have provided meals when I was really sick, after the birth of a baby, or even simply because I had a rough day. It’s meeting the needs of another person while expecting nothing in return.

I think Philippians 2:4 is an excellent summary of this way of serving one another:

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

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Wanna catch me and my girlies on the news? You can watch the whole thing go down right here:

If you’re interested in making freezer meals work for yourself, check out my friend Angela’s blog The Coupon Project where you can all the details.

I’ve facilitated a women’s book club known as Bibliotherapy for over 5 years now. That’s like 35 in dog years! I’m pleasantly surprised that we’ve been able to maintain our monthly commitment through births, divorces, transitions, moves, and most importantly, some horrible reads. I just finished up our pick for January, Kryistyn Kusek Lewis’ How Lucky You Are.

The Amazon summary reads:

an engaging and moving novel about three women struggling to keep their longstanding friendship alive. Waverly, who’s always been the group’s anchor, runs a cozy bakery but worries each month about her mounting debt. Kate is married to a man who’s on track to be the next governor of Virginia, but the larger questions brewing in their future are unsettling her. Stay-at-home mom Amy has a perfect life on paper, but as the horrific secret she’s keeping from her friends threatens to reveal itself, she panics. As life’s pressures build all around them, Waverly knows she has some big decisions to make. In doing so, she will discover that the lines between loyalty and betrayal can become blurred, happy endings aren’t always clear-cut, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain the life you deserve.

I haven’t figured out if I liked it or did not like it. Part of my disappointment is that I was expecting chick lit, literary junk food on my night stand. But, what I got was Brussels sprouts. Alas, there is no emotional porn to be found amidst these pages. Nope, this here novella includes real life drama that hits home. If I wanted that, I would’ve just read one of those World War II memoirs.

None the less, Lewis’ work of fiction begs some important questions about our non-fiction lives. Why do we find it so easy to keep secrets from even our closest of confidants? Why do we shirk away from revealing our deepest pains? Why, when a friend reveals something heavy, do I wince and nod as if it’s unfathomable, despite the fact that I share the same sorrow? {Don’t tell me you’ve never done that.}

If I place the model of the early church on top of my 21st century American life in da burbs, I realize that it’s not about meeting the physical and financial needs of others. There is a time for that, but it doesn’t happen as often in my circle as it did back then, when they were being forced out of homes and families for confessing the name of Christ.

The needs of those around me are much more emotionally and spiritually based. These are the things that I gloss over by making small talk about kids’ activities or a home improvement project. I dismiss the fact that my friend doesn’t seem like her normal self for weeks now. I don’t ask why she keeps rescheduling our coffee dates. I don’t pursue her when she doesn’t show up to regular commitments for weeks on end. Then, I’m utterly astounded when she reveals that her husband has moved out.

Waverly is completely taken aback by the secrets of her friends. She is caught off guard, not even suspecting them in the least. The struggles of my friends should not come as a surprise to me. These things should be shared well before the big crisis strikes. Lewis’ characters are missing out on the blessing of true community. I’m writing all about what that looks like in the context of marriage over at Bohemian Bowmans today. Here’s a snippet of my post:

We need others to point out patterns, to affirm what we’re doing well, and to ask us the hard, awkward questions that reveal the true state of a union-especially when we’re not willing to admit it ourselves...read more here.

Have you heard the most recent Maroon 5 song, “Daylight”? It’s a song about hanging on for one more night before finally admitting a relationship is over. What I have with Pop Parables has long been over, but now we’re finally laying it to rest and moving forward. Before we have our final kiss, we’re gonna revel in the good things about us in a few more posts.

Since July, my bloggy mojo has been resuscitated by my creative pursuits at Bringing Crafty Back. I’ve been making things like this:

and, this is what I’m most proud of:

I’ve also been dabbling in poetry:

 {click the images above to be magically transported to these posts}

While being creative has fulfilled me in a way than Pop Parables never did, I have missed wrestling with my faith through the written word. I have also found myself craving the sharpening of my friends in the blogosphere. So, I’m developing a brand new bloggy project that will be a spin off of Pop Parables. It will be a broader and more varied approach to life and faith. I really hope you’ll join me there come 2013. For now, you can continue to follow me here on Pop Parables or on my Pop Parables Facebook Page, as I’ll be sure to provide all the details there first.

Next week, I’ll have some brand new Pop Parables to share with you. Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?

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What have you been up to lately?  Leave me a link to your best post that I’ve missed!

Photo courtesy of Joel Montes at Creative Commons

I started blogging at Pop Parables primarily out of self-preservation.

My third born son was 6 months old, and a sense of urgency had befallen me. I had to rescue my ever dwindling brain, the best of which was slipping away with each diaper change.

Somehow, I got the idea to start a blog.  I knew as much about blogging as I knew about living in the Arctic.  My knowledge was so severely lacking that I didn’t even have a Twitter account.  {GASP}

During my first year of blogging, I came to realize something about myself that God had not specifically revealed to me before:

I AM A WRITER.

Post after post, the desire to write intensified.  I attempted to quiet those thoughts.  I tried to tell myself that I wasn’t qualified to write anything worth reading.  I recounted the ways in which I was not particularly skilled in the art of writing.  I reminded myself that none of my ancestors are writers.

Heck, I only took a singular composition class in high school because it was required.  In university, I took NO writing or English classes at all because I actually tested out of them. In grad school, I wrote constantly since that’s pretty much the only way you can prove your worth in academia.

In all those years of school, I failed to realize there might actually be a joy and satisfaction in the writing process.  For me, writing had simply become a vehicle to move along my degree path, a task I had to complete in order to get what I wanted out of life.

Yet, the longer I blogged and the more writers I connected with, the more I realized that

I AM A WRITER.

He has created within me a desire and an ability to express my thoughts, ideas, experiences, and opinions about life, faith, and culture through the written word.

I know that I want to continue to write, but I’m not even quite sure what my writing voice sounds like.  I’m learning how to express the real me, the real Keri, in word.  It’s not because I think so highly of myself {it’s actually quite the opposite}.  But, rather because I fully believe that God has created every single person with a unique destiny.  And, that destiny is intimately intertwined within their spirit and who He has created them to be: strengths, weaknessess, good, bad and ugly.  God has an undeniable plan for my life.  Becoming my fullest self is what allows me to give the most to those around me.  He has the same thing for you, too, in case you’re wondering.

So, I’m going to be searching out my writing voice by, well, writing.  I’m in the process of developing a personal blog to create a space to write about whatever helps me to become a better writer.  If people read it, engage with it, and interact, that would make me crazy happy and also help me to become better at the craft.

I’m also trying to work out the SAHM dilemma.  How do I carve out time to write while all of my waking {and many of my sleeping} hours are spent with 3 little humans who suck the brains out of me?  It’s tough.  For me, it just means a slower path from good to great.  Which also means I have to put forth a very concerted effort with the limited time that I do have.

This is my declaration that I am a writer. I didn’t think I should insult you with trying to create a pop parable out of it.  I figure the community that gathers here has a great enough mutual respect to allow me a post to share my heart.  And, realistically, this all will affect the future of Pop Parables.  I just don’t know how…yet.

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What things have you discovered about yourself later in life?

Is there a truth about yourself that you need to embrace?

If you have a family, how does that affect your time to devote to writing?

I’m sharing this declaration as a part of Jeff Goins “15 Habits of Great Writers“.  If you’d like to read other declarations or make one yourself, join in on the fun here.

We all have irrational thoughts from time to time.  One such thought of mine is, “Lemme me just look at this blog for a quick sec.”  A “quick sec” inevitably turns into an extended foray into a particular blog nice.  Most recently, I’ve been stewarding many of the cracks in my day to the black hole of home design blogs.  Some of my favs include Young House Love, Design Sponge, Simple Design, and Apartment Therapy.

Last week, Apartment Therapy ran a post entitled The Ultimate in Upcylcing: Homes in Converted Churches.  {A quick glance through the comments reveals that many readers did not like how the term “upcylcing” was applied in this context, perhaps repurposed would have been a better choice.}  Be sure to click over to the post to see some amazing images of converted church spaces.

There is a new trend in the design world whereby buildings formerly used as houses of worship are being transformed into single family dwellings.  They suit the modern home owner, who covets open spaces, a sense of grandeur, and an homage to the vintage, repuprosed, eco-friendly lifestyle.

Images via Desire to Inspire

 I was particularly fond of this one in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Images via Homedit

This trend could easily be turned into a variety of pop parables.   But, the one I chose is something I’ve been chewing on for quite some time.

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A church as a home?  For many believers, church IS home.

In fact, we even refer to our churches as “homes”.

I’ve often found myself asing a new acquaintance, Do you have a home church?

Home.

The  very word conjures up feelings of warmth.

It’s inviting, like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from Grandma’s kitchen.  A place you want to curl up and get cozy, maybe share a cup of coffee with a friend.

The idea of a church as a home is a very nice notion.

But, is this what church is supposed to be?

Most church buildings today are multi functioning.  Some churches even have a sanctuary that doubles as a gymnasium or auditorium.  A church is no longer simply a place of worship, but a gathering place for a variety of purposes.

The downside of this is that one could easily find themselves at church every night of the week,  completely wound up in “ministry commitments”, taking classes or just hanging out with others from the congregation, being a “homebody”.

Those things sound nice to me, very comfy and homey.   I get to hang out with people who pretty much see eye to eye with me on the things I value most.  I’m surrounded by those whose  lives very closely resemble mine.  I don’t have to get “uncomfortable”.

But, again, is this what church is supposed to be?

The purpose of this post is not to fully explore the exact purpose of “the church”.  There are various theological and doctrinal ramifications to that discussion that I’m not fully educated or even inclined to discuss.  However, the purpose of the church that I keep coming back to is very simply summed up by Jesus Himself in the Great Commission.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of this age. {Matthew 28:18-20}

Doesn’t sound like you can stay “home” and do that now does it?

Doesn’t sound like spending 4-5 nights a week at church now does it?

Doesn’t sound like putting on your favorite sweats and getting cozy on the couch now does it?

The picture that I get of the church in context of the Great Commission is what is known in the military as a Forward Operating Site {FOS}

An FOS is defined as a scalable, ‘warm’ facility that can support sustained operations, but with only a small permanent presence of support or contractor personnel.

This is different from a Main Operating Base {MOB} that is much like a self-sustaining, small city, offering most of the comforts of home, community, and convenience.

The FOS is meant to support the larger mission and the operation of the armed forces.  It’s a place of sending out and going forth.

If the church operated as an FOS, it wouldn’t be a home.

We would only return to be better equipped to sustain the mission of the Great Commission.

And, we wouldn’t spend the majority of our time at church, because we would be out in the field making disciples and fulfilling the mission.

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Would you want to live in a home that was once a church?  Which room would you choose for your bedroom?

Do you think of your church as “home”?

What are some good things about considering a church a “home”?

When I saw a preview for the chick flick The Vow, I immediately dismissed it.  The premise seems so contrived and unbelievable.  Besides, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler already acted this out in 50 First Dates  {with a fab sountrack might I add}.  Would you spend upwards of $10 to see this movie?

I don’t normally fancy chick flicks, unless I’m pregnant.  I’m most certainly NOT pregnant at this point in time.  But, I did change my mind about this chick flick after reading an article in USA Today, about the book upon which the movie is based.  The last sentence reads: Unlike the film, the book emphasizes the couple’s deep Christian faith. 

Oooooh, pop parable!

I knew I had to read it.  More importantly, I knew my book club, Bibliotherapy, had to read this as we rounded out our year of reading  “Books turned Movies”.  We also had to read it because Channing Tatum is on the cover.  And, also because of this awesome meme I found on Pinterest:

#1 Reason to read The Vow

Hmmm…what was I saying?  Oh, the book.  Yes, here’s a brief synopsis:

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.  When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.  And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”

I downloaded the book around 11:30 PM on Thursday and only stopped reading it after 1 am because my Little Bubba kept waking up.  {Kids these days!}

While The Vow isn’t a literary masterpiece, the story is compelling.  It’s invited me to consider how I’ve lived up to my own marital vows and examine how I would react in such an extreme situation.  I’ve asked myself, “Have I been this loyal to my vows even in the everday situations?”  Kim and Krickett show what it means to live out a covenant, no matter how many reasons you have to walk away.

I highly recommend the book, and I’ll def Redbox the film in a couple of months.  BTW, if you’re looking for a good read, check out our Bibliotherapy Pinterest board for some ideas.

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Are you in a book club?

What are you reading right now?

Two weeks ago, I began Project: Simplify in my own home.  Jim wrote an intriguing comment on that post in which he shared his own experience of the simplification process.  I asked him to share more in a guest post, because, bottom line, I really like Jim.  Every time I read one of his comments on Pop Parables or any other blog, I gain wisdom and insight on the topic.  I hope you’ll gain some perspective on your own life after reading about Jim’s experience.

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Read the title again – it is not The Simple Life starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie but The Simpler Life starring me and my family.

It all started a little over three years ago. I was called into the Senior Pastor’s office for my normal Friday meeting with him. We had not been doing it very regularly but he made a point the day before to make sure I would be in there for this one. I go into his office and notice that he looks stressed. He asks me a few surface questions and then hits me with “You have six months to find another job”. I was stunned and really heard very little of what he said after that point. By all accounts, I had done all that was asked and more in my position at the church.

I had been at this church that was in an affluent suburb of a big northeastern city for nearly 8 years. To make matters worse we bought our first home just 11 month before. It was not a huge house but at nice 1600 square foot home in a development. We had a couple of nice vehicles and a good amount of stuff. Let me be brutally honest – we were “keeping up with Jones” with all the stuff we were compiling but did not realize that we were losing ourselves spiritually in the mix of stuff and losing God.

We were now going to have to live the simpler life. I thought that meant just getting rid of some of the stuff but it actually turned out to be a whole lot more.

In my calling as a pastor I spoke about God a lot but in reality He was forgotten because I was so busy doing stuff for Him. God was forgotten in the pursuit of stuff. It was not all bad stuff but it was cluttering up life and I was losing God in it all. Spiritual stuff began to clutter up my life to the point that God was forgotten.

When I was put in the position that my job was going away – I realized how much I complicated and cluttered my life up with physical stuff and spiritual stuff that was not needed at all. I clearly saw that God was just a part of my life and not the center of it – something I had preached and taught against. I did not see it at the time but hindsight made it clear. God needs to touch every aspect of our lives and when He does I believe He will help keep it clear of the clutter. When He is just a slice of life and not the center life gets cluttered with stuff that does not need to be there. A solid relationship with Christ clears the clutter and helps you to see stuff for what it is – just stuff.

After only five months of being told I had six months to find a job God provided a position as a senior pastor in a small church in southeastern Virginia. It is rural and there are only 400 people live in the village. Life moves as a slower pace here – at least it does for me and my family. We are not always running here or there – there really is nowhere to go. I do not have endless meetings. I refuse to allow the desire to keep up with anybody creep in again because I see how destructive it has been. I just want to stay connected with God, my wife, my kids, my family, and church. I do not want to worry about what stuff I have or what stuff I do not have.

The simpler life was not a choice I made willingly but one that I am glad now was forced on me and my family. I do not believe you have to be forced in to the simpler life but it is a choice you can make right where you are today. Survey your life and make sure life is not so cluttered with stuff that God is being lost in the mix.

Make God the center of your life. And, the result will be a much simpler life.

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Do you have a simpler life and if so how did you get it?

Who is Jim Foreman?  He is a lover of God, husband of a godly woman, father of 2 great kids, a friend, a pastor, and many other things. He enjoys sports, reading, and life in general.  You can read his blog On The Brink Of Something Large .

Hubs and I had a super fun night with friends on Friday going to see The Hunger Games.  It wasn’t just for leisure either.  We were a part of history, and added our $20 to the $155 million historical opening.

Having read the books TWICE, you could say I was as excited as a little boy at his first t-ball game.

When I woke up on Friday, I realized that all of my excitement had come to screeching halt and turned to sadness. It was the same kind of sadness that overtakes me on Christmas morning, knowing that the moments are fleeting and soon all the magic will end. I love the anticipation, the questioning, the hoping, the wonderment and the surprise of Christmas. Once all the presents have been opened and the meal devoured, there is grey melancholy that settles in my heart.

I knew this same melancholy would arrive once the credits rolled. So, before the movie started, I decided I wasn’t going to search for any pop parables. I was going to enjoy every minute of the show. I had a few pop parables up my sleeve already, and given the mass popularity of The Hunger Games, I knew that all that could be said would be said by other people who are smarter, funnier, or deeper thinkers than myself.

What I offer you today, my friends, is something I doubt you’ll find on any other blog or write up about The Hunger Games.

Rather than adding to the noise, I’m creating a totally different conversation.

The last Young Adult Fiction phenomenon brought you Who Wore It Best: Edward v. Moses. We studied the sparkly luminescence of the face that was the result of Edward’s vampire roots and Moses’ reflection of God. {Moses won by 1 vote!}

In this edition of Who Wore it Best, we see Katniss and the Early Believers duke it out.

Who Wore it Best: Tongues of Fire

Photo Courtesy of Jo Naylor

Before casting your vote in my live poll, please consider each contestant’s origination of tongues of fire. Since I can’t provide actual images of either manifestation, you’ll have to use your own imagination based upon the narration below.

Cinna {played by Lenny Kravitz}, Katniss’ stylist, dresses her in a gown that breathes fire when she twirls on stage in front of the people of the Capitol. Katniss has no idea how she can be “The Girl on Fire” who isn’t actually on fire or burnt to a crisp like the bacon I forgot about while folding laundry. The fire of her dress is a representation of her life, which becomes a symbol of rebellion, a spark that breeds a fire.

In the book, Collins describe the scene in the words of Katniss:

The creature standing before me in the full-length mirror has come from another world. Where skin shimmers and eyes flash and apparently they make their clothes from jewels. Because, my dress, oh, my dress is entirely covered in reflective precious gems, red and yellow and white with bits of blue that accent the tips of the flame design. The slightest movement gives the impression that I am engulfed in tongues of fire. I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.

 In Acts 2, we are told that the early believers gathered together in a house on the Day of Pentecost. It was at this time, that they all became filled with the Holy Spirit. The text reads that they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

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In both situations, the witnesses were dumbfounded by the tongues of fire. The people of the Capitol ooh and ahh over Katniss’ magical dress. The Jews were bewildered, and accused the early believers of drunkenness. Peter quickly rebukes that lie, saying, People, people. Can’t you read the sun dial?! I know it’s 5 o clock somewhere, but it’s only 9 am here. The only explanation for this is that God is da hoooouse! {emphasis and interpretation mine.}  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also a spark that breeds fire, the beginning of the church as we know it.

Now that you’re edumacated, be a part of history! Cast your vote now!

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Have you read The Hunger Games or seen the movie?

What pop parables have you seen in this story?

H/T to Angela from The Coupon Project for helping me out with this one.  Read her Hunger Games inspired post here.

I really appreciate the diverse and well thought out responses you all gave to In Your Words: KONY 2012, Jessica Simpson, iPad 2, and Kim Kardashian.

Now, it’s my turn.

Slacktivism

Proponents of the #KONY2012 cause have been labeled slacktivists, meaning they’ve latched on to a cause that requires minimal {if any} change, action or discomfort on their part. What it simply provides is a warm and fuzzy feeling that I’ve joined the fight against injustice, even though I’ve done nothing more than click a button.

I support the cause of raising awareness over the plight of innocent children in Uganda.

But, my greatest concern is that this entire #KONY2012 phenomenon ends at awareness.

As Loren shared, it just allows you to think that you’re helping the cause when you’re not. You feel nice that you put a bumper sticker on your car, but nothing changes. I think that’s the biggest danger that I can see.

Is the act of posting of a link to Facebook or Twitter truly a response to the commandment to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? {Micah 6:8}

Behavior Modifiction

I asked Jesus into my life at the age of 4. I couldn’t tell you what I was wearing, but I could take you to the exact place at which I said the “Sinner’s Prayer”.

For many years, I bought into the lie that the conversion experience had done the deed. Like sharing the #KONY2012 video, I thought I had done my part and that was the end of that.

I didn’t recognize that following Christ and dying to self is a daily decision. It’s an hourly decision. It’s a moment by moment decision when you get right down to it.

I’ve been walking with Jesus for 28 years now.

How often do I sit in church, hear a message, be reminded of my depravity, get enthused to go out and change the world, only to come back a week later having made no changes what.so.ever?

Some will say that I’m reducing my faith to behavior modification and that is not what I’m suggesting.

What I am suggesting is a faith that embraces deeds as an outgrowth of the imparting change continually brought upon my heart by the Holy Spirit.

So often my flesh wins the battle over my spirit.  I resist opening myself up to this sort of change.

In fact, since starting Pop Parables I’ve become grossly aware of the ways in which I talk the talk of Christianity and don’t walk the walk.

Sure, I’ve got the biggies down. I don’t murder, steal or even speed.  I go to church every weekend.  I love the people who love me.  I read my Bible. I blog about faith.  I’m a “good” person, who is kind to others, supports charities, and chats with little old ladies in the checkout line.  I constantly seek out God’s truth.

But, what do I actually DO with all of that Truth?

When I’m in a difficult relationship, do I hold tight to the things of God? Or do I just follow my feelings and talk crap about that person when they’re not around?

When I see someone being mistreated or disrespected in my presence, do I speak up or do I steer clear of ruffling feathers?

When I’ve offended someone, do I reconcile the relationship before going to the altar?

More often than not, I answer no to these questions {and more}.

More often that not, my response is to avoid, deflect or disengage when things get rough. I push it under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen.

It’s a definitively slacktivist faith.

How did I get to this point of cynicism, laziness and pride?

Celebration of Discipline

This past weekend I took the train to visit my BFF in Portland. It was a glorious weekend! We spent Saturday afternoon trolling around Powell’s bookstore, which is so ginormous you need a map to navigate your way around it.

I picked up this book that I’ve been wanting and needing to read since I heard a talk on it a couple of years ago at the Christian Musician Summit.

I got it used! YAY!

Some reviews argue that the spiritual disciplines hinge on working my way to righteousness.

I appreciate how Foster refutes that judgement:

We do not need to be hung on the horns of the dilemma of either human works or idleness. God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us.

I know that reading this book won’t be the magic pill that shoots me to a mature faith.

The spiritual disciplines include meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.

I am hopeful that reading about the disciplines will help me to gain an understanding in the basics of the Christian faith that I haven’t put much thought or effort into thus far.  And, more than understanding, I’m hopeful that it will push me toward an activist faith that I so desire, to become a doer of the Word.

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. {James 1:25}

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What about you?  What areas of your faith tend toward slacktivism?

Do you agree or disagree with my assessment that #KONY2012 hints at slacktivism?

There are so many pop parables floating around the interwebz right now.  I could simply navigate anywhere in my Facebook news feed with my eyes closed and stumble across something postworthy.  But, most likely that I’d stumble across a link to KONY 2012.

But, before we get to that, let me just alert you to the other post ideas I’ve taken note of recently.

Miley Cyrus ”Forget Jesus” Tweet Causes Backlash

Miley tweeted an image of theoretical physicit Lawrence Krauss who says, You are all stardust. You couldn’t be here if stars hadn’t exploded, because the elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, all the things that matter for evolution) weren’t created at the beginning of time. They were created in stars. So forget Jesus. Stars died so you can live. Parents of tweens everywhere are really not too happy about this one.

Pregnant Jessica Simpson Gets Nude for Elle

In an homage to Demi Moore, Jessica Simpson poses with her baby girl bump on the cover of Elle magazine.

iPad 3 releasing in 8 days!!!

People more likely to take money advice from Donald Trump or Kim Kardashian than from the Bible {fo realz}

And, the biggest one?  KONY 2012.

If you haven’t been absolutely blasted with links to this video, you might be a hermit.

Here are a few celebrity tweets about it:

From P Diddy {or whatever he’s calling himself these days}:

Oprah reminds us this isn’t a new cause:

And, Bieber tell us to wipe the grin off our faces:

In case you’ve missed the 30 minute video, watch it here:

There has been some recent criticism over the outcry to the cause, with some raising doubts  as to whether social media is an appropriate forum for advocacy and fund-raising.

I wanted to invite you, the readers of Pop Parables, to share your response to this video that will soon see its picture next to the term viral video in the Urban Dictionary.

As with past editions of “In Your Words”, I’ll respond with “In My Words” later.

::

Have you watched the video?

What is your initial response?

How do you perceive the response of the general public over KONY 2012?

Got any thoughts on any of the other possible pop parables I listed?