Discipleship Experiment – Status as of 11/3/10

This is my weekly update on how these things are going for us, based on goals set forth here.

Additions:

1. Sabbath: Techno-Sabbath was in effect Saturday. No TV. Phones were still used, though. That may take some time to wean off.
2. Getting to know neighbors and investing in/taking leadership in hyper-local community development (Neighborness): Halloween was a perfect excuse for this. We purposely trick-or-treated with the kids on the 30th in Granbury, and so I didn’t feel bad when I stayed home on Halloween to be the candy-dispenser. We moved our porch-swing to the front yard (it was out back), and made myself one of the only people giving candy away on my street this year. And I stayed outside instead of in. Good job, me.
3. giving money to church (tithing): Budgeted this in for the month. I will check back after Sunday to either confess or pat myself on the back.
4. making and sticking to a family budget (as a discipline to spend resources well): Budget is in effect. Very difficult. We waited until our two big checks were in the bank, and arranged our bills so they come out at the same time. Then, we took out cash for groceries and cash for entertainment/free spending. That $ went quick. But we are sticking to the plan, chums.
5. intentionally simplifying my lifestyle: My Iphone fell in a puddle. So… until it started working again, this was in effect. I am thinking that this goal is unmeasurable. Perhaps we will eliminate this one, because it is covered essentially with other goals.
6. shop green/fair trade/thrift stores exclusively (unless necessary for some reason): This has been largely succesful. We went shopping at the farmers market this saturday. We learned that we need to go earlier to get better selections and better quality. Went to Aldi for the rest, took our own bags. The local brands are satisfactory and then some.
7. more music (my family is all super gifted musically, and I feel that i am wasting those gifts by not providing outlets): Feeling bad about this, but other than singing with our kids, and smaller stuff, we haven’t really done what we have set out to do. I’m trying to remember not to judge myself for not doing all of this stuff at once.
8. Purposeful family spiritual life: The Lord’s prayer is in effect every meal now. Autumn has been attending Good News Club at school, with mixed results. Perhaps that is a topic for a future blog. Other than reading the Hobbit to Autumn before bed, no more purpose than before with her.
9. Social action (getting into community and helping meet needs of others): The last two weeks, we have had divine encounters with two young women who have real hearts for social action and investing in the lives of the less fortunate. It stirred in us an increased desire to reach beyond ourselves. How this plays out is still up in the air. Not interested in a “drive-by” feeding, in which we serve one day just to feel goo about ourselves. Really would like to find a place to form relationships.
10. spending holidays with a purpose (using holidays to be counter cultural and reorient ourselves to God’s story, rather than mindlessly feeding the dominant script): As with last week, I am trying to think of something theatrical and fun to immerse ourselves in the story of Israel/Christ for this Christmas. I would love to hear ideas! Halloween, while it wasn’t a traditionally Christian holiday, was spent missionally.
11. invite and entertain more people/practice more hospitality: Two young women that Christina met came over for dinner and we were blessed by their hearts for God. I was able to be nice and encouraging the entire night. Yay me.
12. be more open with people/give of myself more openly: I used my feeling words a lot this week. Yay me.
13. Work with a spiritual director on a regular basis: this slipped to the background for the moment.

things to take away:

1. Cable TV: This one is being reformed. The cost is not worth it, since we would keep internet anyway. We are watching less TV though.
2. language: Good for the moment.
3. Stop purchasing food or other stuff that I know supports the oppression of others: Almost to the point now, where I can’t trace my purchases to oppression or over the top environmental impact. Admittedly, this is just a surface level assesment.
4. limit the dependence I have on tech: failed. I am going to continue to work on this, but I am back to where I was three weeks ago.
5. Raising my voice with the kids: I had an experience this week that really made me redouble my efforts here. I wil share later this week. Doing better, but not great.

Optimistic Chad

Chad really really hopes things are going to turn out ok. He loves his wife - with the passion of 1000 exploding suns, and is a diligent, but surely mediocre father to his brilliant and subversive children. He likes Chinese food.

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