October – Down We Go

Independence. Success. Upward Mobility. Security. Comfort. In subtle and direct ways, many of us have been sent a message by the world (and sometimes by the faith systems we have been part of) that life is about moving up–away from pain and suffering and toward comfort, stability, and put-togetherness. This kind of living is much different than the kind of life Jesus calls us to in the gospels. Jesus consistently modeled going down into the low and messy places of people’s experiences–intersecting with the lepers, the lonely, the outcasts, the marginalized. He calls us to a life of humility, love, and interdependence.

This month’s synchroblog will explore the idea of downward mobility and other themes in Kathy Escobar’s book, Down We Go, however it is not required reading and this is not a book review synchroblog.  Where do you see Jesus calling you downward?  What does it mean to you? How is your faith being stretched and challenged on the journey down? What is hard about a downwardly mobile life? What’s satisfying?  Do you find yourself bitter sometimes?  Are there paradoxes to be explored?

If you would like to join in the conversation, please plan to submit your name, name of blog, title of post and link in the comment section of the this (October) announcement on the Synchroblog blog by 6 p.m. EST 10/11/2011 if you would like to be included in this synchroblog. The list of participants will be compiled and posted on 10/12/2011.

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September 2011 Synchroblog Link List – The Devil Made Me Do It!

Here’s the list of links.  All those participating should add the list to the end of your post.  Thanks for participating and reading!

Next month will be called “Downward Mobility” and will focus on the idea of following Jesus into the low and messy places of people’s experiences.  (If you need a reference check out Down We Go by Kathy Escobar.  You could even write a review of Down We Go for this synchroblog)  There will be a more detailed description out in a few days.

THE LIST:

Jeremy Myers at Till He Comes – The Devil Made Me Go To Church

K.W. Leslie at More Christ – Devilish Misinformation

Marta Layton at Fidesquarens – The Christian Jihad

Sonnie Swenston-Forbes at A Piece Of My Mind – The Devil Made Me Do It

Bill Sahlman at Creative Reflections – The [one who will go unnamed] Made Me Do It 

Kathy Escobar at kathy escobar – the stranger (who’s a little too familiar) & the shepherd

Liz Dyer at Grace Rules – Have You Inhaled Demon Spirits?

Leah Chang at desert spirit’s fire – devils, demons, et al