The 30-Hour famine fast began a few minutes ago. After some quality time this A.M. with my gal and Matilde the chinchilla, I went on a quick 14-mile run from my place, traveling down through the Arroyo Seco and up into the Monterey Hills neighborhood of L.A before making my way back. I have made quick trips to Noah’s Bagels and Jamba Juice to refuel, but from noon today until 6:00PM tomorrow, nothing more. I’ll be off to church in a few hours, to help check in the kids (we think we might have over 35 show up tonight), count the money, and prepare for a sleepless night with hungry and rambunctious teens. Whether or not they will have raised enough to shave my head remains to be seen; I’ll report.
I got some nice props last night from Rudy Carrasco; he linked to my post below on my feminist cred, and he wrote:
Hugo is one of the more fascinating characters you will come across. As the self-described only Evangelical male in America to teach Gay and Lesbian studies, he is absolutely and literally in a class of his own.
Very cool. Thanks, Rudy!
As I gather with the kids this weekend, I will be praying for Haiti. Almost no one seems to want to “blog Haiti” this week! Here we all are, Christians devoted to social justice and non-violence, and we are all far more riled up about a movie than we are about this horrific and tragic situation unfolding right here in our hemisphere. Is it because the problem seems too intractable? Is it because there is no opportunity to issue thundering and self-righteous orations? Writing about Haiti just isn’t as sexy as writing about marriage or the Passion. I am as guilty as everybody else. I have no answers. But I do have prayers.
Also, I am praying for the grocery workers of the UFCW as they vote this weekend on whether to accept the latest offer from the supermarket chains. I am definitely looking forward to being able to shop once again at my neighborhood Vons. I am tired of the high prices I’ve been paying at Gelson’s, the unionized (but pricey) grocery store that is just down the street. By the way, I am trying to decide if I want to buy “Union Jeans“, sold on the UFCW website. I like the idea of wearing only union-made American stuff. On the other hand, I love good clothes. I spend far too much on dressing myself (lately, I have been buying a lot of stuff from Lucky Brand), and most of what I buy is not union-made. I think I have some room for growth there.
Time to focus on the famine!
How wonderful to have an evangelical man in women’s studies, and what interesting stories you must have. I’ve worked in queer theory and gender studies, but all within anthropology (and I teach at a Christian college now). And what a reader - I added a bunch of your amazon listmania picks to my wish list and will read them as space for reading emerges. I’ll keep reading your blog, but, as I said on Christy’s, won’t post too often so I don’t look like a stalker.
It’s funny, Jenell, I’ve read a couple of your pieces at CT Online, long before I discovered your blog. How about we become the founding memb ers of North American Evangelical Gender Studies Association (NAEGSA)? Cheers!
Dare I mention that my focus in seminary was developing a contextual theology for men in light of feminism and liberation theology? I’ve read Carol Gilligan. Does this qualify me for an honorary membership? (Oh, that’s right. I’m a Methodist so I’m not supposed to be called evangelical!) :-)
Write for Haiti for us Hugo. I confess that my knowledge on the situation is limited. Amazing how an uprising some 90 to 100 miles from our shores that threatens the stability of the reason should only merit a “political solution”, huh?
You can join, Jay, but keep in mind that the Methodist thing will mean your membership is tenuous.
Actually Jenell, since I am recovering fundamentalist and former employee of the Souther Baptist Sunday School Board (now known as Lifeway), I think the credentials may be a little deeper than I let on. Should I also share my journey through the charismanic world for a while. Lord, what a long, strange trip this has been.
Hugo, I’ve actually wanted to post about Haiti, but with the research paper I didn’t feel I had enough time to devote to doing it well, not to mention the talent. Plus, with my interest in Uganda, I’ll probably write about it before Haiti. I hope the fast goes well and I second Jay in saying you should blog on Haiti for us.