postmodernpilgrim

"The affluent are literally possessed by their possessions. Money and the things it can buy stalks the rich countries like a demon. Mammon offers comforts and pleasures to delight the flesh but demands the soul in return. The attachment of Americans to their standard of living has become an addiction. We can't stop shopping, eating, consuming.... A successful life leads not to love, wisdom and maturity; progress and success in our society is instead based on adding more to one's pile of possessions. Our natural course is toward a better job, bigger house and richer lifestyle.... Material goods have become substitutes for faith. It's not that people literally place their cars on the altar; rather, it is the function of these goods in a consumer society. They function as idols, even though most affluent U.S. Christians, like rich Christians throughout history, would deny it." -Jim Wallis from The Call to Conversion

"If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the Last Supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, and Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, Follow me and be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully---the life you save may be your own---and Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law and order, and Jesus says, Love. The world says, Get, and Jesus says, Give. In terms of the world's sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks we can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion." -Frederick Buechner from Listening to Your Life

Brian McLaren shares some really interesting views on recovery at inward/outward...check out the complete article by clicking here .

I have received a number of advertisements and postings from organizations or companies that encourage some form of consumption to commemorate Earth Day. I am refraining from posting these or advocating for consumption today. I believe that as we celebrate Earth Day today, we should instead be asking ourselves, "How we can make EVERY day Earth Day? What are some of the small and big ways we can simplify our lives, refrain from indiscriminate (or discriminate for that matter) consumption, and help conserve and allow the earth to renew the resources we share with our global community?" Not just b/c it would be the politically correct thing to do but b/c Christ calls us to care for the least of these, calls us to live life and live it abundantly. Just a thought...

"Jesus does not declare money worries unimportant. He does not call us to live only on the spiritual plane. He does not criticize the materialism of the person who has nothing. He does not say that we are wrong to be worried, because we ought to live in a carefree manner. He does not suggest evasion, and he does not judge us. He frees us, which is another thing altogether." -Jacques Ellul, from Money and Power