The September Christianity Today featured an article titled “The New Monasticism” that described the growth of communal Christian communities growing among the urban poor. Unfortunately, the magazine is not making this article available online. I am thrilled to hear of Christians rejecting materialsim and taking dramatic steps to minister to the poor and weak. One group in Philadelphia called the “Simple Way” protested against anti-homelessness laws that put untenable regulations on this group of suffering (whether by their own choices or not, they suffer and we are called to reach out. No one deserves the Gospel). When demonstrators were thrown in jail, one of the church leaders, Shane Claiborne, wore a T-shirt to court which read ‘Jesus was homeless.” The judge pardoned them and asked for a T-shirt.

The article is fascinating and describes several of these communities which move in and live among the poor, into the worst neighborhoods, reaching out to one person at a time. Many of these “New Monastics” live organic, vegetarian/vegan, environmentally pro-active lifestyles, for which I applaud them. The article did discuss the danger that such movements can cultivate guilt-motivation, self-righteousness and judgement on those who do not choose to make such sacrifices, and I pray that God protects these communities from such pitfalls. The article offered 12 distinctives that characterize these new communities, including; “submission to the larger church, living with the poor and outcast, living near community members, hospitality, nurturing a common community life and a shared economy, peacemaking, reconcilliation, care for creation, celibacy or monogamous marriage, formation of new members and contemplation.” Again, I am thrilled to see any growth in the American church’s sincere and active concern for the poor. The Gospel call to sacrificially outreach to the world’s most hurting is unmisakable, recognizing that we too were rescued while yet sinners, poor and helpless. Praise the Lord for these people with a passionate heart to reach the lost.

However, the main point I wanted to record concerns the Family Planning posts I wrote a few months ago. I know that there are a few different theologies behind the title “Full Quiver”, but I write concerning those who would say that “Be fruitful and multiply” is still a command all Christians are to obey today. If this is a command to Chirstians, then are these ‘New Monastics’ who choose celebacy to reach the poor in sin!? I believe that these people who have choosen not to pursue family in order to sacrifice their lives for Christ and His call to reach the poor glorify God and His heart of grace and compassion greatly. I also belive that those, such as myself, who have choosen to raise families also glorify God. Both are holy callings. I applaud these new communities and pray that God prospers and expands their work, safeguarding them from the dangers history reveals can befall those who choose radical self-sacrifice. As a side note, I do not think that these two “callings” must be exclusive. I am quite sure that whole families can move in among and minister to the poor and that those who are single or without children ought to be drawn into and ministered to by families.

I am watching the news for the first time in 48 house - I can definately be too sheltered sometimes . . . I just saw footage of people pilaging stores and entire familes stranded on rooftops or sitting in the blazing heat along the highway. I pray that the church responds to this crisis in a way that glorifies God, illustrates the Gospel and meets the needs of people, both physically and internally.

I wish that I could go volunteer to help. I honestly struggle with sometimes feeling like my children keep me from helping others, a ridiculous and wrong perspective. I know that the Lord has, in a sense, “tied my hands” to teach me humility and faith. I too easily rely on my own strength.

An update on my sister, for those of you who have prayed for her. My parents picked her up off the street Saturday on the condition that she stay sober and actively pursue treatment. They gave her another chance. It is the most difficult thing to know when to draw a boundary and when to extend grace with your children, even for me with children at age one and three. The Ezzo’s and like parenting methodologies would say to always maintain the boundary, yet this is not how the Lord Jesus dealt with us. He has been gracious to me beyond measure. I know many sins have not recieved the punishment or correction they deserved. I believe we can only parent through much prayer. I believe that God designed life as such that a formulae would alude us. We can certianly discern wisdom and true principles, yet ultimately we must trust, have faith, pray and learn to hear the Lord’s voice. He wants to draw us to Himself more than to a set of laws or practical principles.

Back to the update - my sis has made it until today when she had an intake appointment with a treatment center. She begins outpatient meetings tomorrow morning, three times a week, until an inpatient spot becomes available (could be 2-10 weeks!). But praise the Lord! We have had 3 days of baby steps foreward.

We finally receieved our copy of the July/August Modern Reformation The entire issue centers around the “Emergent Church”, but the article which sparked this post is called “The Emerging Church” and is available to read online.

The article’s author, D.A. Carson, writes “I have not yet seen from McLaren, or anyone else in the Emergent Church movement, a critique of any substantive element of postmodern thought.” It is this seemingly shortsighted aspect of the emergent movement which concerns me. Can the entire paradigm and philosophy of thought of a several hundred year era truly be without any merit? Carson attributes to Mclaren the idea that “If absolutism [the spirit of modernism] is the cancer, it needs reletavism as the chemotherapy. Even though this chemotherapy is dangerous in itself, it is the necessary solution.” Although the metaphor appears to give this statement convincing merit, it is inapptly applied and represents nothing more than Hegelian dialectic philosophy, a philosophy which much more resembles Hinduism, all things progressing and encompased by the one, than Christianity. I will offer a different metaphor; the diseases of the human mind may change throughout the ages, yet the remedy remains the same: Gospel.

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I copied this article on cultured foods from aboverubies.org. Fascinating information, though I have yet to put any of it into practice. My first attempt will probably be sauerkraut on big fat kielbasas. Hubby would like that. (I am sure I spelled something wrong here - sorry!)

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These were wonderful! They satisfied my husband’s love for Tex-Mex without having to use store bought chips or tortillas (which haven’t been added to my home-made repitoire yet). I doubled the recipe for my family of 4 and had a little left over.

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained.
1/2 cup shredded jack cheese
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
2 tbls. finely chopped green onions
1 tbls. finely chopped cilantro
1/4 teas. cumin
1 egg white
1 1/2 teas. ex-virgin olive oil

Place beans in a medium bowl and partly mash. Add cheese and next five ingredients. Stir well until combined. Form into 4 thick oval patties.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add patties and cook 3 min. on each side, or until browned and heated through.

Place on whole wheat pitas with “Great Guac”.

Cookies are definaitely a splurge, but they are a small joy in life, one that I am going to keep but make as healthy as I can.

3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teas. baking soda
1 teas. salt
1 cup regular rolled oats

Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 min. or until just light brown. Don’t over-bake!

UPDATE - I have stopped using honey in baked goods. It is too expensive, browns the baked item too quickly (i.e. burns my muffins!) and kill the enzymes when you bake it anyway, so it doesn’t seem all that healthier unless eaten raw. And raw cookie dough is good . . . so maybe we will keep the honey if we intend only to eat the dough!!