I’m not sure this link will work. I’m no blog brainiac… but I’m submitting this to get comments. Maybe you may need to type in the link. I know FOX has lots of propaganda and agenda just like other news sources… but I thought this was interesting. I’m not claiming anything one way or another on this piece, but it certainly is food food thought.
Sojourners is a great example of a Christian group that is addressing the systemic injustices in our public policy. Perhaps those of us who feel led can contact sojourners and express our desire to see the issue of wages and education be more emphasized. But what about systemic problems in the culture of poverty? How can the church, local and universal address these less tangible factors in the poverty cycle within communities and families?
I have a couple of ideas:
1. We could fashion networks of excellent mentoring programs, including training, support and affirmation for mentors. I think this would also be a fabulous opportunity for healthy ecumenism — the goal not being conversion to our beliefs, but making tangible the good news to the poor described in Luke 4 — that the oppressed may be free! By collaborating with over people of faith and even secular people with their hearts in the right places, we could set a goal of A Mentor for Every Child in Need.
Research shows that kids who have a relationship with someone who cares about them significantly and believe in them are much better at overcoming adversity than children who don’t. I read this somewhere, maybe someone with a better memory can think of the source. Doesn’t this make sense? Why bother trying if no one expects great things of you? Why bother trying if you don’t believe anyone cares?
2. We could preach on the theme of “To whom much is given, much is required,” encouraging business people to invest both their time and their money in creating internships and other “ways in” for talented, disadvantaged kids.
3. We could make this a theme of bible studies and and small groups, and stress the importance of hearing and putting into practice the lessons of Jesus.
What other ideas do you all have sisters? And what can we do together to get the word out in our churches?
From the site:
The federal minimum wage is stuck at $5.15 an hour and since the last increase, it’s purchasing power has actually decreased 20 percent, leaving hundreds of thousands of families scrambling just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.
(sic)
(Hopefully this isn’t too political of a topic for EW- my intention isn’t to demonize (or beatify) any political party. I find this topic interesting and thought I’d bring it up here as I hash out my beliefs.)
This issue has much more to do with how the U.S. is treating those in society who are often the most vulnerable to exploitation (not to mention the stresses of a life in poverty): single parents, recent immigrants, teenagers and senior citizens, people who have mental or physical disabilities.
This topic is very personal to me. I spent a good portion of my childhood hovering at or below the poverty line. At one point my dad juggled two minimum-wage jobs (while also pastoring a new church) in order to support his family. It’s a rough life even in the best of situations.
This kind of morality can’t be legislated, of course – simply having a higher minimum wage isn’t going to soften any hearts. I voted for an increase to the minimum wage when I sent in my absentee ballot last week, but I wasn’t thinking of God, religion or morality when I did so. I was thinking of all of the people I know back in Ohio who could really benefit from this.
So, how do we as Christians respond to this sort of thing?
I’d be especially curious to hear the opinion of those who do not agree that the minimum wage should be raised. If this is what you think, how do you think those who earn a living on minimum wage would be better helped?
My apologies for my recent “leave of absence”. With the wedding, honeymoon, and Stephen moving in, I didn’t have a whole lot of time for blogging. This has actually been the first week we have gotten back into routine.
Nice! I like the new look here, and other changes. I am pretty out-of-the loop (and am actually heading out-of-town for the weekend), but will do my best to get caught up. Anything significant or particularly interesting going on?
I hope this post finds everyone well. Thanks for not revoking my membership here at Emerging Women. 
Blessings to you all,
Tiffanie
Hello all. I hope you are having a great Friday. Here’s our weekly round-up. These are the posts from emerging women this past week that I thought should be highlighted. Remember – if you find a post you think should be included in our weekly round-up please let me know! Enjoy and add to the conversations.
Caroline over at Remembering the Alabaster Jar has some thoughts about the Red campaign
Check out a really interesting look at Rediscovering a Holistic Femininity over at Eternal Echoes
Jemila has an invitation to all to Have a vent and share a blessing over at QuirkyGrace
And I posted some thoughts about racism in the burbs over at onehandclapping
And if you haven’t heard yet about the recent Evangelicals for Darfur I highly suggest you check it out. It’s a campaign to plead President Bush to actually get involved in helping stop the genocide (and rape and torture…) in Darfur.
A strong woman looks different from here and there, depending on where you stand, what you know, where you traveled to get to “here,” and how far you are from “there,” where your sister steps forward on her path.
Is she strong because she’s deeply scared to let herself be weak?
Or because at last she’s learned to stand up, Lord, and speak?
Is she strong because she knows fore sure that her Redeemer lives?
Or because she’s still so fucking angry ’bout women slipping through the sieve?
A humble woman who shines her light, is she humble still? Is she Christ’s shining bride or a plain annoying female pill?
Should a woman hide beneath a bucket her radiance beyond compare? Or take the risk that men might drop their buckets, turn to her and stare?
A proud woman shouts,”God made me beautiful;” Does she sing out God’s Awesome praise?
Or is she on some psycho, self-indulgent craze?
Each Woman has a calling, no one can tell but she
Each woman has a story, places she’s been no one knows but she
Each woman has her struggles that only God can see
Some it’s pride, some it’s outright rage, or craving affirmation as her gauge. Some trapped in thinking she is less, or finding herself alone to clean up a big mess. Some cry at night in strangers beds, some get stuck living life in their own heads. Some of us cope by ranting and raving, others by acting eternally tame. But all of us have ways of hiding up our shame. Yes, all of us have ways of hiding our shame.
Some of us seem too quick to leap
Some too scared to leap at all
Some of us get all self-righteous when we speak
Some of us become too shutdown to speak a blessed word
Some of us get too hardened, like angry porcelain in the foyer, or a metal hammer meant for chopping wood.
Some stay too long as victims when we could be a victorious sisterhood.
Some of us need the wisdom of a serpent friend
Some a gentle blessing froma dove softly gliding on air’s bend
Whatever our path, our pain or our calling, whatever our failures, our stumbling, our falling, there’s one thing we share that’s beyond compare.
It’s the hardest to give, the bravest to dare, and I dare us to give it, to show that we care.
The one thing all of us need, yes, is love
From the least to the greatest, one circle together,
What all of us need is love.
Yes, sister, what all of us need is love.
Each of us is God’s beloved, cherished, beautiful woman. Remember this! Believe it! We are priveleged to be one another’s sisters, and as sisters, we will inevitably step on toes, even fight or say unkind things, intentionally or just by accident. What is important is where we end up. Let that place be love.
Please respond in whatever way you feel led.
I have an article on TheOoze. I hope you all can read it and express your comments. Here’s the direct link: theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=1521
