Disqus - Latest Comments for henryjz

Re: Creating a Religion-Free Way to Measure Your Spirituality

henryjz — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:36:47 -0000

I think I like the checklist better... Less convicting. ;)

Re: Standing Tall [at my desk]

henryjz — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:02:38 -0000

Wouldn't that be nice :)

Re: Standing Tall [at my desk]

henryjz — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:11:42 -0000

My wife has a "standing desk" at her work. They have an ergonomics team, though, to put that together for her :) Don't you wish you had one?

Re: App of the week: Keynote Remote

henryjz — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:58:25 -0000

ooo, i'll have to remember that... your are one clever person

Re: App of the week: Keynote Remote

henryjz — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:57:55 -0000

I used it for a workshop in January and loved having the freedom to move around the room with my notes and be able to control the presentation as well

Re: The Biblical Manhood/Womanhood Movements Meet Andy Crouch’s Five Questions

henryjz — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:31:42 -0000

Thanks Larry. Gotta put my sociology training to use ;)

I love these five questions from Andy Crouch. Great way to put some legs on cultural analysis.

Re: The Biblical Manhood/Womanhood Movements Meet Andy Crouch’s Five Questions

henryjz — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:39:47 -0000

Oh my... where to begin!?!

Q1
The Biblical Manhood/Womanhood movements assume a functionalist understanding of sociology and culture. It assumes that there is a universal "right way" and a "wrong way" for culture to work. If something isn't quite working in culture, it's because a certain aspect of society isn't performing it's role correctly. Inequalities of economics, social standing, race, gender, etc. have to exist because everyone has their "set role" to play in order for society to work. The obvious problem with this viewpoint is that it always works in favor of those who are in authority. These movements also assume that there is some sort of hegemonic historical ("traditional") archetype for family and gender roles (which there isn't... Historian Stephanie Coontz has done quite a bit of research into this...)

Q2
This view assumes that there should be an in-born desire for men and women to fulfill the roles as prescribed by those in these movements. Any desires otherwise are deviant and not "natural." Gender roles are coded into our DNA, therefore any deviation from these prescribed gender roles must be policed and regulated in order for "natural order" to be restored. It also assumes that there should be no contradictions in understandings of what the Bible says... not just regarding the roles of men and women but of everything including views on grace, salvation, baptism, etc. (i.e., there should be only one denomination). These movements also think that we should get back to more "traditional" roles for men and women (depending on how far back in history you want to go, "traditional" will look different in different time periods and cultures).

Q3
These movements make it possible for men to have Divine justification to assert dominance over women. It makes it possible for those men who are in authority to claim a monopoly on the "true" understanding and interpretation of the Bible. It makes it possible for the view that one gender is inferior simply because one gender has a Y chromosome and the other does not. These movements pave the way for institutionalized stratification of society based on genetics... think of the caste system.

Q4
Since these movements claim the supreme and definitive understanding of scripture, they make it impossible/difficult for there to be civil discourse about gender roles. These movements make it difficult for men to not become misogynistic narcissists (I admit this is harsh, but that is what this kind of discourse can ultimately lead to.) These movements make it difficult for women to be seen as more than unpaid domestic laborers.

Q5
These movements create a socio-genetically stratified culture based primarily on sex as the determining factor in what one is and isn't allowed to do. In response, Christian culture becomes polarized even further. Broader culture see these movements as dangerous towards women and children.

Re: The greatest danger bloggers face.

henryjz — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:46:28 -0000

Great reminder! It's so easy for our identities to get wrapped up in our blogging and what we "do." I've had to step back from blogging because of life demands, and I'm realizing that was a good thing. I've had to rediscover who I really am and focus on what matters: my life as a husband and a father. Everything else is icing... and too much icing can make you sick :)

Re: What Do Authors Listen to When they Write?

henryjz — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:51:49 -0000

I go back and forth from punk music to classical music when I write. Hmmm, reflecting on what you wrote in this post that may explain quite a lot :)

Re: Why Evangelicals Struggle to Bring the Funny to Their Art (Part Two): Calvinism

henryjz — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:41:24 -0000

So does that mean Arminius and Wesley were funnier than Calvin?

Re: 97-Year-Olds are Not Exempt | Sticky Faith

henryjz — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:37:07 -0000

Thanks for sharing this story... now I need to go get this dang dust out of my eyes...

Re: Blue Like Jazz Trailer

henryjz — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:23:46 -0000

I'm excited!

Re: Making Space for the Creativity of Others

henryjz — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:49:09 -0000

Brilliant. Thanks for this post.

Re: Life | Even MORE Orange!

henryjz — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:10:03 -0000

Congrats! Will be praying for all the transitions.

Re: Sunday Will Happen

henryjz — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 -0000

You are so right! We so quickly forget that the Holy Spirit is the one in charge... not us :) I can't help but think that God orchestrates those crazy moments with a smile on his face and then pats us on the head after it's all said and done and says, "See... it's OK. I've got it."

Re: We Love Bloggers!

henryjz — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:26:25 -0000

My blog is actually at http://elementalcm.com and not henryjz.wordpress.com

Unfortunately, though, I won't be making it to Orange this year :( We had some last minute financial obligations come up. I'll definitely be watching everyone else's blogs in this list, though!

Re: Review | Ryan Frank’s 9 Things

henryjz — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:35:06 -0000

Great review, Dan!

As for the biggest lesson I've learned in children's ministry: You can't do it alone.

Re: Love Wins: Chapter Eight, “The End Is Here” and Concluding Thoughts

henryjz — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:12:01 -0000

"If we could figure out how to stop talking past each other, Love just might win." AMEN!

Re: Before We Damn Rob Bell to Hell…

henryjz — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:01:42 -0000

Here! Here!

Re: The Church is Like a Burning Bush

henryjz — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:38:34 -0000

Wow! I never saw this passage this way. Thanks for the insight!

Re: The Good Samaritan (Or Who is the Heretic Now?)

henryjz — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:34:36 -0000

Love this post! Thanks for continuing to challenge my views of grace and how to effectively communicate with grace.

Re: Google Voice, Call Me Anytime

henryjz — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:27:00 -0000

I've got a Google Voice number, but I haven't had a chance to figure out how to use it best yet. Maybe I should do that :)

Re: “Dad, why don’t they call you Pastor anymore?”

henryjz — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:23:01 -0000

It's kinda weird isn't it... not being on the staff of a church you attend? I'm still adjusting, too. :)

Re: Response to “What Our Sons See”

henryjz — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:08:28 -0000

Great thoughts Brian!

Re: What’s Your Story?

henryjz — Mon, 10 May 2010 14:13:51 -0000

This book was my favourite of Don Miller's. It played a HUGE role in helping us to finalize our decision to make our impending move from Thunder Bay, ON to the San Francisco Bay Area in a month. It also gave us the vocabulary we needed to discuss our move with our kids. I love putting spiritual growth in terms of editing our life story.