Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and key leader of the German Confessing Church, which opposed and encouraged resistance to Adolph Hitler's Nazi policies. Bonhoeffer was born in Germany in 1906, educated in Tubingen and Berlin, then did post-graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He returned to Germany in 1931 and was soon a respected theologian and author.

Bonhoeffer spearheaded the Barmen Declaration, a statement by Confessing Church members that they would not cooperate with Nazi policies. He led an illegal seminary for pastors who wanted to be part of the Confessing Church, but Hitler shut that down in 1937. American friends asked him to return to Union Seminary in 1939 as a visiting professor but soon after his arrival in New York, the theologian minister decided he needed to be in his country involved in active resistance. He joined a group of soldiers in the German Military Intelligence who wanted to overthrow Hitler and was arrested in 1943 when the plot was discovered.

Bonhoeffer was sent to a series of concentration camps and on April 9, 1944 he was hanged with five others in the resistance group, including his brother and two brothers-in-law. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was thirty-nine years old.

 Central to Bonhoeffer's theology is Christ, in whom God and the world are reconciled. Bonhoeffer's God is a suffering God, whose manifestation is found in this-worldliness. Bonhoeffer believed that the Incarnation of God in flesh made it unacceptable to speak of God and the world "in terms of two spheres". Bonhoeffer stressed personal and collective piety and revived the idea of imitation of Christ. He argued that Christians should not retreat from the world but act within it. He believed that two elements were constitutive of faith: the implementation of justice and the acceptance of divine suffering. Bonhoeffer insisted that the church, like the Christians, "had to share in the sufferings of God at the hands of a godless world" if it were to be a true church of Christ.

If you have not read any of his works, I would suggest starting with The Cost of Discipleship.
 

Most popular...

surnames that is. Interesting...mine is not shown!

Rich Kids...

I truly wish I could say I am surprised, but I'm not. I am thankful that none of my Youth group participate in this...

"First came Paris Hilton. Then the documentary about heirs of the One Percent, "Born Rich," and MTV's series "My Super Sweet 16." Now comes the dot-com version of silver-spoon voyeurism: "The Rich Kids of Instagram."

The blog on Tumblr features photos set in gilded frames of rich kids and wanna-bes in various states of excess, undress and indulgence, and ever since its launch last month, "The Rich Kids of Instagram" has touched off a firestorm of debate over rich kids and social media.

One shot shows three teens swimming at a lake - and pouring Dom Perignon into one other's mouths. Another shows a guy sticking a giant foam finger out of his Ferrari, while in another kids slide down a giant inflatable slide attached to the side of their mega-yacht.

The site also marks the debut of a whole new genre: "receipt porn." Some posts consist of a photograph of a 100,000-euro meal receipt from St. Tropez or a $42,000 bar bill..."

The rest is here...

PC

In today's ever growing culture of politically correct language, this cartoon is not as funny as it might have been...

because it's so true. We are fast approaching the point where we will not be allowed to use descriptive words about anyone for fear of offending them.

Read each of these words slowly,
white,
middle-age,
female,
Christian,
conservative
Southern

Some of you now have an image of me in your mind. But because we struggle with accepting the words for what they truly mean, rather than the connotations that are associated with each one, society says I should be upset to be described this way. And that's a shame, because I don't mind a single one of them.

Sports vs. Church

 
 The state’s largest Catholic Diocese is implementing a policy to create a separation between church and sports. Bishop Richard Pates of the Des Moines Diocese has approved a policy at the request of the priest council that would prohibit any Catholic school from holding activities not related to religious services or religious education on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. (Read Here)

Over the last several years, this has become an issue in our little town also. When my children were young and playing sports, these things coexisted. The local officials saw to it that Wednesdays and Sundays were held "sacred", if you will. But as the years have passed, I see less and less cooperation.

I know there are merits to playing organized sports and have followed many of them for most of my adult life, but the pressure put on today's young athletes is unfair. If the coach mandates that you must attend practice or you will not play, what is the child supposed to do? And if the child is involved, what are the parents to do? It would be easy for me to say, "Make a choice to have them in church!" But that too would be unfair.Me and mine do not have to pay a price.

I know that 99.99999% of the young people playing today will not do so as adults...but the children don't know that. Their parents should, but most hold out hope that their child is exceptional. And if you pressure the parent, most faithful Christians will admit they struggle with the issue. But then again, what are they to do? They are at the mercy of the system.

If I were going to speak out to one group about this, it would be the coaches and administrators of the different sports and leagues. They could make it a priority to allow that one and a half days per week there would be no practice or games. The time off might even help the youngsters catch up on their rest! I'm sure some would tell me to mind my own business...that they're in it to win. That it's imperative that the team practice all they can...but at what cost? 

More than once I've had a young person tell me they would not be able to attend a Youth Event or trip, because they'd have to miss practice or a game. And punishment would ensue. Not physical punishment, but sitting the bench. And so they stay at home. Will this make them "bad" Christians? No. Will it make them better athletes? Probably not. But what it does teach is that our society puts our relationship with God second, or third or tenth.

That's really a shame, when it doesn't have to be that way at all.

Just Friends

This has been the topic of conversation in my home on more than one occasion. My answers mirror the girls, my husbands mirror the boys. But I still think I'm right!

Marriage

Good news...for the first time in decades, people who marry are staying married longer...
According to the Washington Post:
Three in four couples who married after 1990 celebrated a 10-year anniversary, according to census statistics reported Wednesday. That was a rise of three percentage points compared with couples who married in the early 1980s, when the nation’s divorce rate was at its highest.

They believe the reason is that people are postponing marriage until they're older...
Again, according to the Washington Post:

The proportion of adults who are married has plunged to record lows as more people decide to live together now and wed later, reflecting decades of evolving attitudes about the role of marriage in society.

Just 51 percent of all adults who are 18 and older are married, placing them on the brink of becoming a minority, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census statistics to be released Wednesday. That represents a steep drop from 57 percent who were married in 2000.

I know that everything trends one way or the other but I'm not sure what this says for the state of marriage today. Although I don't believe anyone should ever "rush" into marriage, does living together really guarantee a long marriage?

Cell Phones

The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project examines Americans’ cellphone habits, and specifically provides information about adults ages 18-29 and their reliance on mobile devices. Among the findings in this survey is how Millennials (describes the demographic cohort following Generation X. There are no precise dates for when the Millennial generation starts and ends, and commentators have used birth dates ranging somewhere from the mid-1970s to the mid 1990s, with some sources including as late as the early 2000's)regard cellphones as a security blanket; many have trouble completing a task if their phone is not nearby. Additionally, more than a quarter of Millennials use phones to avoid human interaction. They are known to be a social generation, but having grown up surrounded by technology, they may use devices to escape from real-life social situations…at least sometimes. Twenty-somethings even pretend to talk on the phone or text when they don’t want to communicate with those who are physically nearby. They view phones as a reliable source of entertainment, but even the most connected consumers need a break, and turn their phones off — for a short period of time — to get an escape. Cost: Free. More information from Pew Research

Dating Rules...

If you were a teenager in the 1950's, chances are you were given some of the following rules for dating:

Dating Etiquette for Girls
* Only floozies ask guys out.
* When someone asks you out, it’s polite to give an immediate answer.
* Never break a date without providing a valid reason.
* There’s no such thing as fashionably late; be ready when your date arrives.
* It’s only proper to introduce your date to your parents.
* Don’t apply makeup in public (please see first point).
* At a restaurant, it’s ladylike to tell a date what you want for dinner
so he can order for you.
* Don’t humiliate guys by trying to pay for a date.

Dating Etiquette for Guys

* Dates aren’t like cramming for exams; don’t wait until the last minute to ask
a girl out.
* It’s poor form to honk the car horn to announce your arrival; call for her at
the door.
* Ask her parents when they want her home — and make sure your watch works.
* It’s only polite to help her don her coat.
* Real gentlemen open car doors for girls — or any door, for that matter.
* It’s chivalrous to walk between her and the curb.
* Bring enough money along.
* No kissing on the first date.
* On prom night, don’t leave the corsage in the fridge.

In 2011, online dating has become the rule, rather than the exception. The following are up to date rules for online dating:

1. Post a recent photo of yourself that's flattering and actually looks like you.
2. Be unique and specific in your profile.
3. Avoid negative language in your profile.
4. Only respond to people who interest you.
5. Avoid Googling a potential match.
6. Keep your emails brief. A general rule of thumb: two paragraphs is ideal.
7. If there's interest, meet in person quickly.
8. Protect your privacy.
9. Meet in public and tell at least one person where you'll be and what time you expect to be home.
10. Plan a first date that can be short, sweet, and low-key, like lunch or a coffee date.
11. Keep your options open!
12. Don’t date someone just for "practice."
13. Don’t take the rejection personally.
14. Take a break if you’re feeling jaded.
15. Try different sites.

My, oh my, times certainly do change...doesn't mean that one way was better than the other...I'm sure many young women would be stifled by the rules their parents and grandparents followed. Just like the parents and grandparents would be "lost" when it comes to dating in today's world. To each his own!

Language

Interesting article on the origins of speech...

Every language in the world - from English to Mandarin - evolved from a prehistoric 'mother tongue' first spoken in Africa tens of thousands of years ago, a new study reveals.

After analyzing more than 500 languages, Dr Quentin Atkinson found compelling evidence that they can be traced back to a long-forgotten dialect spoken by our Stone Age ancestors.

The findings don't just pinpoint the origin of language to Africa - they also show that speech evolved at least 100,000 years ago, far earlier than previously thought.

43 years ago today....

Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated for his beliefs and leadership. He was 39 years old.

During his all too brief lifetime, sources say he travelled over 6 million miles and spoke to crowds and congregations over 2,500 times. He worked to fight injustice and discrimination wherever it occurred. He conferred with then President J.F. Kennedy and campaigned for President L. B. Johnson. He was arrested almost 20 times and was physically assaulted at least four times.

At 35 years old, he became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. As one might expect, he donated the prize money of over $54,000.00 to the furtherance of civil rights for all peoples.

In the years since his passing, many have dreamed of what he might have accomplished had he lived. I think we should celebrate what he did...giving voice to those who are oppressed while teaching us to love one another.

Mental Illness

I grew up in a family that included persons with mental illnesses. Of course my opinion was a little warped as a child because in those days the only treatment for Manic Depression was Shock Therapy. I haven't researched the treatment thoroughly but I do know it didn't help.

It was drilled into our heads that this was something to keep to ourselves. It was spoken about in hushed tones...don't let the neighbors find out. If they did, we would be shunned. Isn't it a shame that the things most needed by those suffering (love, acceptance and support) were the things denied? Anyone with mental illness was made to feel as if they were second class at best...unreliable, untrustworthy and tainted at the worst.

I would love to say that today, because of research, treatments and enlightenment, things have changed...but have they? How do you view mental illness? Does it make you uncomfortable? Why? It's not like it's contagious...and even though you cannot see the symptoms (as you would with a broken leg or after a surgery), they are very real.

Please view the videos below...Comic Relief in the UK is working to provide funds to help those in need...and they do a good job of speaking out...It is time to change!

You reap what you sow...

"Sons have traditionally been preferred over daughters in many parts of China, India and South Korea due to social, cultural and financial motivations. Sex-selective abortion is outlawed but can be difficult to enforce."

I have always taken issue with limiting the number of children a couple is allowed to have and thereby forcing them into choices that should not have to be made. This phenomena is giving rise to a whole new set of concerns in Asia. 94% of the unmarried people in China between the ages of 28 - 49 are male. 94%!!! How can they ever hope to marry and have a family of their own? One can understand the hopelessness in which they live...

Read the rest of the article here.

Nice Girls

We are not a large Youth Group...and in many ways, I love that. Each person knows the other and is connected...we have relationships! I have been blessed to lead the group for several years...

I haven't particularly followed the "Mean Girls" phenomenon...perhaps, given that I work with youth, I should have. I have witnessed them face to face...at ballgames, a large youth events, etc. but never in my group. I have "Nice Girls"...those who speak to the 7th grade boys even when the girls are in high school and are with their friends. They encourage one another. We were recently planning to take a trip in which a "new" girl would be a part. Because she doesn't attend the public school, the girls didn't really know her. She's also 4 years younger. As it happened, she wasn't able to go with us. I announced to the group that we would be one short on the trip and received the following reaction, "Did we do something that made her nervous about going?"...I answered "No, she's just not ready." They responded with "That's a shame, we were really looking forward to getting to know her." I could have cried!

Looks as if I am not the only one having experiences with "Nice Girls"...John Moe wrote an article for the NY Times...

Down North Smith we rode, past the hospital, up Grand. The girls talked in overlapping bursts and lots of sentence fragments, a little too loudly, but everything was friendly and positive. These weren’t mean girls. These were nice girls. As we passed over the freeway, I capitalized the Nice Girls in my mind to give them a title, to make them a team in the hope they would stay together. I needed them around when Kate got older. Maybe she could join them! Maybe they could get jackets made!

Read the whole article here.

Superbowl Ad!

I posted last Friday that Fox had decided NOT to allow a commercial referencing John 3:16..but am glad to say they relented and showed it right before the beginning of the 4th quarter.

The ad did not include any type of preaching but offers viewers a simple explanation of the verse’s meaning, starting from why the world isn’t quite right to Jesus Christ giving his life for everyone and him being the only hope.

Way to go Fox!

Superbowl Ad

Sunday evening a majority of the households in America will be tuned in to the Superbowl. This years contest is between Green Bay and Pittsburgh and it's the very last game of this NFL season...for those die hard fans, it will be 6 months or more before they see a game!

While many watch for the game itself, there are others who simply watch for the half time show...and of course, there is a blitz of new commercials to be aired. While Fox has every right to pick and choose which organizations get to pay the astronomical sums of money to show their commercials I admit I am confused.

What would be the problem with airing the following:



One of the most well known verses from the Bible. 30 seconds...and the verse is not even spoken. Is it really a problem? Fox has stated it will not air it because the commercial contains "religious doctrine". In light of the content of all the other commercials (i.e. beer commercials seen by alcoholics, etc.) Does their refusal bother you one way or the other?

If we love our children...

The exploitation of children, ANY exploitation of children in reprehensible. It offends the senses of most and yet, we allow it to seep into our culture bit by bit with nothing more than a raised eyebrow. The January/February issue of French Vogue has crossed a boundary that should never have been approached.

The models are slender, overly made up and photographed in provocative poses. What's new about that you ask? Nothing, except that these models range in age from 6 - 7 years old. I will not post the pictures on my blog. If you want to see them in order to put my post in perspective, you can see them here.

I can't even begin to fathom the reasons a parent would allow this to happen to their child...I'm afraid the thought renders me speechless. But, then again, I am one of THOSE people who have issues with young girls out and about in short shorts with phrases printed on their backsides. What are those who are supposed to be the guardians of their childhoods thinking?

Exploitation robs, not the perpetrator but the child. It robs them of innocence, of a sense of protection and safety, of trust. All the while inflicting on them a sense of guilt, of fault, of failure. It can and does shape their lives and may even destroy it. Exploitation teaches them to live with an internal pain so deep and so hurtful that it may never be exorcised.

Those things which destroy a child, destroys humanity itself. If we love our children we must do all we can to protect them...this is just the first step.