February 2013 Synchroblog: Cross Gender Friendships

 

 

Many still buy into the idea that men and women can’t be friends and married people can never have a close and authentic relationship with a member of the opposite sex.

Sexualization, fear, shame and power issues often stop men and women from loving each other as friends; and the divide is frequently perpetuated in the Christian community by keeping men in men’s groups and women in women’s groups.

However, there is a growing consensus that cross gender friendships are not only possible, but important, valuable and beneficial in helping us to overcome sexism in our communities, eliminate harmful stereotypes and promote understanding between men and women that can lead to greater justice and equality.

This month we invite you to blog about cross gender friendships.

Here are some questions to get your creative juices flowing:

Can cross-gender friendships diffuse power in gender relations? Must all friendships fit into heterosexual scripts with a romantic trajectory? Can men and women partner together in friendship to overcome patriarchy and sexism? Can deep friendships between men and women overcome objectification and inequality found in many heterosexual romantic relationships?

As always, post your link here by Tuesday, February 12. The link list will get posted on Wednesday, February 13.  After the link list is posted we ask that everyone add the list of links to the end of their post as this allows readers to move from one post to the next easily and it increases traffic for everyone’s blog.

We ask that all participants please add this short paragraph to the beginning of your synchroblog post:

This post is part of the February Synchroblog “Cross Gender Friendships”.  I will list the links to all the contributions at the end of this post as soon as they are available.

Serving Others in 2013 Synchroblog Linklist

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the January 2013 Synchroblog on the topic of how we will serve others in the coming year.

Here is a list of those who contributed. Make sure you read them all, and if you contributed in this month’s synchroblog, add the following list to your own blog. See you next month!

• Glenn Hager – Finding the Joy in Loving Others
• Chris Jefferies – A Light on a Path
• Carol Kuniholm – Learning Compassion
• Liz Dyer – Little Things
• Jeremy Myers – Serving Others in 2013
• Kathy Escobar – Three Things about one Word: Serving

January 2013 Synchroblog – Serving Others in the New Year

New Year’s Resolutions are usually somewhat self-serving. But is there a way you can serve others in 2013? Are there homeless people in your community? Maybe you could bring some food to them on a regular basis this year. Are there single mothers? How about coming alongside them to babysit their kids while they go shopping, or maybe you could change the oil in their ca or mow their lawn. Do you know any alcoholics or addicts? What can you do to show them love and care this year? Are there elderly shut-ins in your neighborhood? How about running errands for them or going over to their place to play cards, read to them, or just talk?

For the January 2013 synchroblog, we invite you to share some of the tangible needs in your neighborhood or community you will seek to meet this year. Be concrete. Where, when, how, and to whom will you be the hands and feet of Jesus? As you think and write about this, it will not only encourage you to follow Jesus into the world this year, but will also provide the rest of us with some suggestions for how we can serve others in our own communities.

As always, post your link here or on the Facebook page by Tuesday, January 8. The Link list will get posted on Wednesday, January 9.

January 2013 Synchroblog – Serving Others in 2013

This is an advance notice for the January 2013 Synchroblog. We will try to remind you again in the first week of January.

Around the New Year, many people like to make resolutions, or plans for what they want to accomplish in the coming year. Frequently, these plans include things like losing weight, reading through the Bible, getting control of your finances, spending more time with your kids, or something of that sort.

There is nothing wrong with making such plans, but this year we want to challenge you to add “others” to your plans. We want to invite you to think about how you will serve others in 2013.

New Year’s Resolutions are usually somewhat self-serving. But is there a way you can serve others in 2013? Are there homeless people in your community? Maybe you could bring some food to them on a regular basis this year. Are there single mothers? How about coming alongside them to babysit their kids while they go shopping, or maybe you could change the oil in their ca or mow their lawn. Do you know any alcoholics or addicts? What can you do to show them love and care this year? Are there elderly shut-ins in your neighborhood? How about running errands for them or going over to their place to play cards, read to them, or just talk?

For the January 2013 synchroblog, we invite you to share some of the tangible needs in your neighborhood or community you will seek to meet this year. Be concrete. Where, when, how, and to whom will you be the hands and feet of Jesus? As you think and write about this, it will not only encourage you to follow Jesus into the world this year, but will also provide the rest of us with some suggestions for how we can serve others in our own communities.

As always, the synchroblog will take place during the second week of the month, on Tuesday, January 8. We will post a reminder here during the first week of January.

We look forward to what you write!

Advent 2012 Link List – Tell Me A Story

Below you’ll find the link list for this month … but first, a reminder about our stories:

We find a lot of comfort in the story of Christmas, as we should. Advent is that time each year when we slowly make our way through the journey of that wonderful birth so long ago. Very often we, as the larger community of Christ, consider this season from the perspective of expectant waiting. But Advent is about much, much more … it’s about the harbingers of Jesus’ ministry on earth … hope, and love, and joy, and peace. What are your stories of hope, love, joy and peace? How do you remember them and pass them on to your family or your neighbors? Can you see the shadows of Jesus in them? Since it’s Christmas, won’t you please tell us all a story about Advent in your everyday life. Share your story on your blog this month. Post your links in the comment section by 6pm on Tuesday December 11th and a link list will be published on Wednesday December 12^th.

A special thanks to Sonnie for answering the Synchroblog survey and inspiring the December synchroblog theme by reminding us that the best posts include people’s stories.

Our contributors for this month are:

Carol Kuniholm writing at Words Half Heard

Jeremy Myers tells us about Santa Clausette

Liz Dyer celebrates Dreams Do Come True

Leah Sophia digs in with Planting Hope

Glen Hager reveals a story of Christmas Surgery

Kathy Escobar wrestles with holiday expectations

Wendy McCaig  ponders storytelling in  Once Upon A Time

December Synchroblog 2012: Tell Me A Story

December: Tell Me A Story

We find a lot of comfort in the story of Christmas, as we should. Advent is that time each year when we slowly make our way through the journey of that wonderful birth so long ago. Very often we, as the larger community of Christ, consider this season from the perspective of expectant waiting. But Advent is about much, much more … it’s about the harbingers of Jesus’ ministry on earth … hope, and love, and joy, and peace. What are your stories of hope, love, joy and peace? How do you remember them and pass them on to your family or your neighbors? Can you see the shadows of Jesus in them? Since it’s Christmas, won’t you please tell us all a story about Advent in your everyday life. Share your story on your blog this month. Post your links in the comment section by 6pm on Tuesday December 11th and a link list will be published on Wednesday December 12^th.

A special thanks to Sonnie for answering the Synchroblog survey and inspiring the December synchroblog theme by reminding us that the best posts include people’s stories.

Link List – November 2012 Synchroblog // The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude

Hey Synchrobloggers,

Here is the first round Link List so far for the November Synchroblog on the Spiritual Practice of Gratitude.   We will update it tomorrow morning with any additional links that come in and appreciate you adding it to the end of your posts.  Thanks for participating!

• Jeremy Myers – 5 Things to be Unthankful For
• Glenn Hager – Gr-atitude
• Carol Kuniholm – Grateful 
• Amy Martin – Gratitude in a Culture of Economy 
• Leah at Desert Spirit Fire - Living Thanks 
• Kathy Escobar - turning our ingrown eyeballs up & out
• Jack Kooyman – Gratitude as Action 
• Christine Sine – Where is God When Disaster Hits?
• Liz Dyer - Practicing Gratitude