Politics Irritate Me

Apparently President Obama has cancelled the National Day of Prayer. Christians everywhere are up in arms over this oppression. Allow me to throw in my two cents: I'm glad he cancelled it.

In the past few years, the National Day of Prayer has been reduced to symbolic deism. Official events (i.e. the National Day of Prayer Breakfast) have not been conducted in the name of Jesus Christ, in fact, prayers offered on the National Day of Prayer are not directed to Jesus at all. For fear of rejecting another faith or giving offense, prayers are offered up to an ambiguous, unnamed heavenly deity. Since that is the case, I support the cancellation of an event that is no longer about the Christian God.

My second reason for supporting this move by President Obama is that America is not a Christian nation, and anyone who still believes this nonsense is fooling themselves. Nothing about the way we operate as a nation (whether our economic system, our foreign policy, or the nuclear weapons we maintain) is characteristic of Christian love. Since that is the case, I am happy to further the distance between our nation and the triune God. The more separated church and state become, the better our Christian witness (as the Church, not as a nation) can be. I want my faith to reflect my God, not my nation. I want my life to be a testament to the grace of God, apart from the actions and policies of the country I live in.

Don't misunderstand me: it is right to pray for our nation, for our leaders, for our national authority. It is also appropriate to plead to God for forgiveness for the ways this nation has taken advantage of our position and power in the world. Despite the cancellation of the National Day of Prayer, I do encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for this nation. Pray to the one true God, pray for President Obama, pray for blessing and forgiveness, but don't pray your prayers in the name of the state. Pray because you are a Christian and you believe that God is sovereign over all nations. Pray that Obama's administration would allow the Church to act like the Church apart from the state's power and authority.

My patriotism is subservient to my relationship with Jesus Christ. Always.

EDIT: President Obama has not cancelled the event, simply scaled back the government's participation in it. My feelings on the topic stand unchanged.

Paradigm Shift

For the last 2 days, I've been writing a final paper for an elective course called Media, Religion & Society. My topic is broad and unmanageable, I'm running out of time, and the research is far more captivating than the actual writing. In short, the paper is a disaster.

What's more, Shane Claiborne is wrecking me.

I picked up The Irresistible Revolution because I thought I could profile Claiborne's simple living community called The Simple Way as a corollary to the megachurch phenomenon so popular these days. And I don't even want to write this paper anymore, I just want to read the book! There is something so profoundly worshipful about their approach to community. Their bottom line is "small things with great love." What a standard to live up to.

I am also struck by the fact that they are successful apart from income. In fact, they live frugally (in the Franciscan sense - for real). And I'm being hit hard with this concept: Christians aren't called to be rich. They are not. It is not biblical. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor. And this, right after I have purchased a very nice car, secured health insurance, both things I "need," but not really.

I'm not overcome by guilt, I'm not going to rush out and join a simple living community. I'm not going to give away all my clothes, but I'm going to stop purchasing them. I have ENOUGH.

What I am going to do is to search for the hold that Brand Jesus (not the resurrected Son of God, but the symbol of the religion I have purchased through my American consumerism) has on my life, and eradicate its traces. If you want to know more about Brand Jesus, buy the book of the same title by Tyler Wigg Stevenson. It will not make you comfortable. Like Irresistible Revolution, it will comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. It will open your eyes and you will probably have to wrestle with its contents, like I did. But your response will probably not be to write a 20 page paper on it. Your response will be more introspective and have more to do with self-discipline. Yours is the better option, trust me.

I'm not old enough for this

In the last 8 hours, I have arranged the purchase of my first car, secured a car loan to finance that purchase (after getting rejected by the first bank), obtained 3 car insurance quotes, settled on 1 (Progressive, hands down), and selected a health insurance policy. I also learned about collision and comprehensive coverage vs. liability only, and have fallen in love with my banker for approving a high deductible (cutting down costs, folks). And that was just today.

Even though my parents have been inextricably involved in this whole process and are veritable saints for their help, I still don't feel old enough for all this.

Surprised by Provision

Call me outrageously optimistic. Call me a glutton for punishment. Call me crazy, call me insane, but whatever you call me, call me employed!!!

I'm happy to announce that I have arranged full-time (albeit temporary) work here in the Chicago area! I'll be working as a live-in nanny in Elburn--25 miles west of Wheaton--from the end of May through Labor Day. It's not a traditional nanny job, but I'm very excited about it...

It's infant triplets! :)

The family is a young couple (talk about down-to-earth, enjoyable people!) and while I haven't met the babies yet, I really can't wait to work for them. And I won't be the sole care provider, since Mom is staying home, too.

There are some bittersweet moments in this whole deal, because I was planning on moving home for one last summer, but a job is a job and in this economy, I am very grateful for that. I will still be traveling back and forth to Minneapolis on the weekends especially in June for graduations and weddings. The positives are that I get to stay in Chicago with the ability to interview for permanent employment. I'm also close to my friends in the city and close enough to still be involved at Life Church!

I'm claiming Romans 8:28 for this time in my life: He works everything together for the good of those who love Him. Rejoice with me in His provision!

Making Decisions

A college graduate requires 2 things: a job and a place to live. I will be a graduate in t-minus 38 days, and I currently have neither a job nor a place to live.

Four weeks ago, I wanted to be an editorial assistant living in Lincoln Park.
Three weeks ago, I just wanted to be anything full-time living in Lincoln Park.
Two weeks ago, I wanted to be an admissions counselor in the suburbs.
Last week, I wanted to sublet in Wheaton for the summer to buy myself more time.
Yesterday, I decided to move home for the summer, so at least I can have 1 of the 2.

The goal is still to move back to Chicago in August so I can be around when Jake starts college at Wheaton in the fall. I just need more time to figure things out (and to save money).
I'm excited to have a "home base" for all the weddings and graduations and summer events, and to be in some place familiar. I'm also excited to have more time with my family and best friends, and to see my little man growing up (can't believe he's talking already!).
I'm disappointed that I'll be missing out on a summer with the college roommates and having to delay the "fresh start" I want so badly. I'm ready to put down roots somewhere, as Amanda says, to establish myself as a young professional on my own, and I really want that place to be Chicago. I'm just not capable of doing that immediately after graduation.

So get ready, Minneapolis. I'm coming home on May 17th.
And stay sharp, Chicago. I'll be back.