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The Black List

December 1, 2010 in consumption, giving, imagination, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

If we must make purchases for ourselves and others this holiday season, may we consider a practical and more meaningful approach. Here are my Top 6 Gift Ideas for Guys this holiday season. It is called, “The Black List.” Hopefully, the items are marked with a certain degree of imagination, practicality, and general thoughtfulness – beyond consumption for the sake of consumption and onto considering needs, aesthetic, cultural connectivity, and relational development.

1. Apple TVApple TV

Let’s face it. We’re a post-HD flat panel, post-cable culture. Our lives are lived are on film and screen. It’s important to engage the most widely used electronic and informational device that informs (for good or bad) our culture. No longer do you need to pay for a cable or satellite package. Through Apple TV you can simply watch films and shows that you desire at the time that fits your schedule. No more commercials that promote unnecessary consumption and over indulgence. No more scheduling your life around a television series that you find particularly compelling, informative, artistic, or useful.

Spiderpodium2. Breffo Spiderpodium

In a world of rapidly changing technology, we are constantly purchasing different accessories to fit updated phones, cameras, music players, and tablet computers. The cost becomes nearly unmanageable. The Spiderpodium is only $20 and can operate as a GPS mount in your vehicle, a music player fastener when working out while your child rides in your jogger stroller, or a tripod for your camera. Only a lack of creativity can limit the capacity of the Spiderpodium in fitting any small electronic device.

Moleskine3. Moleskine Notebook

MOLESKINE is the legendary notebook that has held the inspirations and ideas of everyone from Van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway to famed author, Bruce Chatwin. Artists, authors, and geniuses of all variety have long appreciated the simplicity and superior functionality of these notebooks. Originally these books were produced by small French bookbinders who supplied the Parisian stationery shops frequented by the international avant-garde. However, In 1986, the last manufacturer of Moleskine, a family operation in Tours, closed and Moleskines were gone – but not forgotten. As a result of their previous popularity and demand, they did return. In 1998, a small Milanese publisher brought these books back for writers, artists, travelers and all free-thinkers around the globe.^ I use multiple moleskines for multiple purposes – mostly reflection and creativity. ^ From moleskines.com

Mag-Lite4. Mag-Lite ST3D016 LED Flashlight

Who doesn’t need a little light from time to time? The Mag-Lite is the most practical of all gifts. It is great for amily camping excursions, emergency blackouts, and road trips. It uses LED lighting and lasts much, much longer than continuing to buy and re-buy cheap plastic flashlights that are not dependable.

Coffee5. Black Coffee

Let’s just say it’s a way of appreciating what God put here on this earth for us. Just be sure to purchase Rainforest Alliance Certified and Fair Trade Certified coffee beans as an act of recognizing the value of our earth and those around the globe who are working tirelessly in their local economic systems.

Canon6. Canon Digital SLR Camera

You’ll never regret investing in a good camera. I look back to pictures from a 2MP camera I had when digital cameras were new on the shelves and I wish the grainy pixels could be recaptured. One of the most important parts of life is making memories. Make them. Capture them. Celebrate them.

Or is all this just an example of how we justify our purchasing and consumption?

A Benediction for Black Friday

November 26, 2010 in advent, consumption, imagination, jesus, kingdom, love, missional with 1 Comment

It’s coming. The day marked for the celebration of the birth of Jesus is nearing. Comments are frequently made about the origination of the holiday being pagan. I would argue that which was pagan and made religious has largely become pagan again. The “celebration” that we now call Christmas has become the commercial exploitation of God’s incarnation. Is there another way of celebrating?

It’s here. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, millions of people are sacrificing a full night of sleep and either stay up all night or awake very early to drive their vehicles to shopping malls and retail stores across the country. Long lines, crammed traffic grids, and hateful behaviors are no deterrent from the cost savings for the mass purchasing of items that may or may not be needed.

Black Friday is an interesting social phenomenon. Why do consumers think they are saving money? Do consumers consider what money actually is? Are the majority of purchases on Black Friday for items that would be purchased even if “sales” didn’t exist? Is the purchasing of items encouraging unfair trade or even slavery in other countries? May we all begin to consider the fullness of what it means to consume, buy, worship, purchase, and enslave while imagining what alternative behavior may be more life sustaining as we celebrate the coming of God into human reality.

I have three ideas/propositions wrapped up in one benediction for how we might go about Black Friday:

May we be most concerned about our relationships with others. May we purchase only what we or others need. May we embrace our imaginative capacities.

Trendy Christianity

November 11, 2010 in Church, consumption, Ecclesia, food, kingdom, Theology, worship with 5 Comments

While sharing a meal with some friends in the Dining Commons of MVNU, the conversation centered around the type and quality of food that we put in our bodies. Someone was eating hummus, which led us to begin trying to list the Top 10 Most Trendy Foods. With the help of Nate Okuley, John Ballenger, Scott Lomasney, Ryan Schmitz, and Lyndsey Oldham, I landed with a list as follows:

1. Sushi. Suddenly, everyone likes raw fish wrapped in seaweed. For those that don’t really like sushi but still want to be trendy there is the standby California Roll.

2. Dunkin Donuts. This one is for the trendy people that don’t want to be trendy because Starbucks Coffee is too trendy for their need to be different and edgy. Starbucks is better. So is Cup O’ Joe. So is Nevin Street.

3. Guacamole. It’s very green and very tasty. I have yet to have this avacado concoction quite like that in Juarez, Mexico, handmade by Hermana Elodia, la pastora de La Iglesia Del Nazareno Juarez.

4. Yogurt. There used to be TCBY. Now there’s Yagööt.

5. Fish Tacos. Apparently it’s an acquired taste and/or is popular with the folks in the southern California area. I’ll take my taco with no fish unless I’m really trying to be trendy. I’ll eat my salmon grilled on a cedar plank with Ben Winkler.

6. Hummus. The word is transliterated (like the word “baptize” from the Greek “baptizo”) from Arabic. It’s really not fancy. Just smashed chickpeas with some pepper, oil, garlic, and/or salt.

7. Burritos. Even though Chipotle is starting to become or already is mainstream it still counts as trendy along with Noodles and Co.

8. Sweet Potatoes. Often found in a fry version complete with fresh-ground sea salt, this orange delicacy is prepared in many forms and has found itself overshadowing the Idaho original.

9. Hibiscus. Green tea and pomegranate tea (or pomegranate anything) have been around long enough. It’s time for them to move over for hibiscus.

10. Local, organic vegetables. Let’s be honest, anything organic could have made the list, right? Organic is taking over.

The local, organic, and fair trade consumption trends are proving that “trendy” is not always bad (take note Dunkin’ Donut coffee lovers). But when does “trendy” turn bad? Are there trends in Christianity that are counterproductive to the Kingdom of God? Could one unhealthy trend possibility be the “megachurch movement,” where congregants desire to attend the sexiest, stylish production that is primarily a place for personal consumption and conscience appeasement? What about the “house church” model? Is it just a trendy phenomena for those who despise the megachurch model and want their own homogenous self-owned gathering or is there worth and substance behind it? At what point are our practices of Christianity just cultural adaptations and pleas for some type of desired relevance? Do we do the trendy Christianity thing because its trendy or because it really represents the Kingdom of God?

Giving Up? Unique Ideas and Approach for Lent

February 17, 2010 in consumption, creation, discipline, food, green, jesus, Theology, worship with 16 Comments

Ash Wednesday. It marks the first day of the lenten season as a means to help the post-modern, post-enlightenment, post-colonial human engage the mourning, suffering, celebration, and hope embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.

“What are you taking on this lenten season?” – a question I began to ask after reading a Twitter post by my friend Matt Frye. He posted, “What 40 day change are you making in your life for this lent season? I’m taking on 40 days of journaling. Something that I need desperately.”

What are you taking on?

Lent has historically and culturally been defined by a person electing to sacrifice or give up some item or substance or external material or non-material product or influence. I value that aspect of Lent but understand it’s limitedness. The act of giving up something may be considered disciplined and necessary to produce a sense of shared suffering and solidarity; however, the completeness of sacrifice is understanding that which fills the places that are empty due to sacrifice.

Matt stated that he is taking on the act of journaling for 40 days. For some, the time spent writing and reflecting could be something that fills a perceived void created by giving up television watching or a Facebook addiction. I have been considering giving up the consumption of meat for the next 40 days. By default, my body would need to be filled by nutritious foods high in protein such as lentils. Rather than sacrificing the consumption of meat I may need to consider taking on a vegetarian diet and committing to growing life giving plants – as an act of discipline and as an act of worship – taking care of this body as a unique approach to environmental sustainability.

What are you taking on? Share your ideas in the comment section below.

Peace be with you.

Last Chance to Give this Season.

December 18, 2009 in adoption, advent, consumption, culture, freedom with 1 Comment

Hurry! Make all your purchases today! … uh.. err… yesterday. Yesterday was FREE shipping day! I missed it. Dang! If only I would have gotten free shipping on all the things I need to buy then I could have bought THAT… MUCH… MORE!

Isn’t it sad that we think like this? I am not suggesting that we frivolously go spending our money without a single care about the responsible use of the green and plastic in our pockets and handbags. If a purchase is necessary for an item that is needed (redundancy intended for emphasis) then I always look for the best price or attempt to have the best timing for a purchase to get “a better deal.” If I buy something just because it’s a good deal am I being responsible at all? And how often does that happen this time of year for so many of us?

That’s the whole point of Black Friday.

“If we can just sucker these suckers into the store because of a few good deals on something they think they need, then we can throw a few more average ‘deals’ out there where they have to see it and they won’t be able to resist.”

And how much do we add stress and dysfunction to our lives thinking, “This is my last chance to get something for this person!” or “I have to hurry and think of something to buy… and I just don’t know what to get!”

What if we spent as much time thinking of creative ways to serve others? To invest our time in relationship? To create? To love? Love in a manner that does not involve our addictions to consumption.

One idea: Give life. Give the financial ability for loving families to adopt children. If interested, please Click the ADOPTION DONATION link HERE or the button in the far right hand column. Your entire gift will be designated to our adoption fund.

Also, if making purchases now or anytime, you can purchase through Amazon.com. By linking to Amazon from subversiveREFORMATION.com, we will earn up to 15% of all purchases (current rate is 6% increased from 4% with future increase based on volume). Click the STORE tab and continue or click links to the right.

What’s Your New Tradition?

December 16, 2009 in advent, consumption, giving, global, love, worship with 0 Comments

It comes down to this: What story are you going to embrace? The story of the popular culture? Or THE story? What’s your new tradition for Christmas? How will you celebrate the coming of God to earth in the person of Jesus? He offered salvation and freedom. How about you? Will you share the same message or remain a slave to deadening consumption and commercialism?

http://www.youtube.com/v/LkTyPzRzuwc&hl=en_US&fs=1&

What story are you going to embrace? The story of the popular culture? Or THE story? What’s your new tradition?

Put the “X” back in “Christ”mas.

December 15, 2009 in advent, compassion, conforming, consumption, culture, giving, jesus, love with 21 Comments

“Put the ‘Christ’ back in Christmas.” This is just one of many Facebook Groups that frustrates, agitates, and irritates me. If you are a part of a similar Group or Fan Page then I highly encourage you to “un-Group” or “un-Fan” (which seems fitting since “unfriend” is the 2009 Word of the Year). The real problem is not that the word “Christ” is substituted with an “X.” On the contrary, it is our modern, western, and commercial/consumptive adaptations of Christmas that need rethought and reformed. The ancient symbol “X” was used to represent the Christ. “X” is the letter “Chi” (pronounced Kie) which begins the Greek spelling of “christos” or what we now call “Christ.” The “X” in “X-Mas” is simply an abbreviated form of the same idea but involves an ancient representation of the person of Jesus. What if we reclaimed an “ancient” celebration of the birth of Jesus? What if we were less concerned with wrapping paper, stuffing stockings, shopping trips and what to buy? What if we ushered in a new/old way of celebrating Christmas that reflects more genuinely the person of Jesus? What would that look like?

Why Buy on Black Friday? Music is Free.

November 26, 2009 in art, consumption, culture, music with 1 Comment

We all consume. Humanity would cease to exist without consumption. The question is: Do we consume responsibly? Art and music are rich and good for the human heart and mind. We listen. We connect. We consume and it is good. But why overspend for music when you can get it for free? Follow the link to the right to check out some FREE music from Amazon.com.

Black Friday 2009: Paying Homage to Consumption?

November 19, 2009 in advent, compassion, conforming, consumption, culture, deconstruction, giving, jesus, minimalism, worship with 5 Comments

It’s coming. The day marked for the celebration of the birth of Jesus is nearing. Comments are frequently made about the origination of the holiday being pagan. I would argue that which was pagan and made religious has largely become pagan again. The “celebration” that we now call Christmas has become the commercial exploitation of God coming into the brokenness of humanity.

It’s coming. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, millions of people will sacrifice a full night of sleep and either stay up all night or awake very early to drive their vehicles to shopping malls and retail stores across the country. Long lines, crammed traffic grids, and hateful behaviors are no deterents from the “cost savings” for the mass purchasing of items that may or may not be needed. We’ll discuss the idea of a “need” soon (for those of you coming to the Narrative Gathering on Monday nights be thinking about what a need is). Black Friday is an interesting social phenomenon. Why do consumers think they are “saving” money? Do consumers consider what money actually is? Are the majority of purchases on Black Friday for items that would be purchased even if “sales” didn’t exist? Is the purchasing of items encouraging unfair trade or even slavery in other countries? Pick a question or add a question and we’ll kick it around. Of course, my hope is that we all begin to consider the fullness of what it means to consume, buy, worship, purchase, and enslave while imagining what alternative behavior may be more life sustaining as we celebrate the coming of God into human reality.

Green Check.

October 27, 2009 in consumption, creation, green, oil, recycle, Theology with 1 Comment

I don’t carry cash. Really, I don’t carry cash. It is rare to catch me with a $10 or $20 on me. Sarah and I do all of our banking and bill paying online while our purchasing of goods occurs on a debit card that earns WorldPerks/FlexPoints flyer miles with every monetary note we spend. Additionally, we don’t receive paper statements nor do we have to drive to a bank regularly so we cut down on paper usage and travel emissions from delivery. Recently, however, we’ve been writing a lot of checks to all the college ladies that watch Kyla for us. We are running out of checks and had to order more. I suggest ordering through The Check Gallery. The price beats most if not all especially if you are a first-time customer. They also claim to be “your green choice for checks.” The Check Gallery “prints checks on recycled paper using vegetable-based ink. [They] absorb the extra costs associated with using earth-friendly materials so our customers don’t pay more.”

What “environmentally friendly” organizations/suppliers/companies/products do you recommend?

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