#ICSEX: [@theideacamp blogging series]

Authentic conversation about sex is one of the most needed elements in a healthy church today. The fact that people feel like they can’t talk about certain struggles or issues only perpetuates the problem into bigger issues.

I’m thankful that Charles Lee has given me the opportunity lead a blogging series on subjects related to sex and sexuality. The posts that people are contributing to this series are disturbing, heartbreaking, inspiring, and challenging. The full series can be caught on The Idea Camp blog, but I’m posting quite a bit here on bibledude.net as well.

These posts are the ones that I’ve been responsible for sharing…

General

• the truth about sex [an event with @theideacamp]
• let’s blog about sex [#ICSEX]

Pornography, Week of July 11th

It’s a big business, probably because of it’s addictive nature. It can damage relationships in so many ways, and many would consider it a form of cheating (infidelity). This discussion will focus on the physical, emotion, and spiritual damage that can result from a porn addiction, and how healing and restoration can be ministered to those stuck in it.

• 10 things i learned from joey and chandler about porn [#ICSEX]
• @theideacamp porn week wrap-up [#ICSEX] (links to other project contributors)
• Related post: book review: wired for intimacy

Sexual Abuse, Week of July 25th

It usually leaves invisible scars that never go away. And it can be root of other issues not only sexually, but relationally. This discussion will focus on not only the damage that is caused by sex abuse, but with special consideration of how to help those hurt by it with immediate and long-term healing.

• behind the numbers of sexual abuse [#ICSEX]
• @theideacamp sex abuse week wrap-up [#ICSEX]
• Related post: book review: no stones [women redeemed from sexual addiction]

Gender, Week of August 8th

What does it mean to be a man? Or a woman? Society today would give a large variety of definitions and events that it takes to ‘become a man/woman’. This discussion will focus on defining gender identity and roles, but can also cover factors that may prompt confusion about what it means to be a certain gender.

• a hermeneutic on gender and ministry [#ICSEX]
• @theideacamp gender week wrap-up [#ICSEX]

Sexual Orientation, Week of August 22nd

Same-sex attraction is likely one of the most controversial issues that the church deals with today. Is it okay to be gay/lesbian and be a Christian? More importantly how should the church respond to people who live with same-sex attraction? This discussion will focus on reconciliation… with the Word AND with people. This is a good opportunity to build a bridge to those who have been alienated by the church for a very long time.

• how to cure homosexuality? [#ICSEX]
• @theideacamp sexual orientation week wrap-up [#ICSEX]

Slavery, Week of September 5th

This is the ‘social justice’ side of the sex discussion. Many are sold into sex slavery every day all around the world. But what can/should the church be doing about it? Do we have a responsibility to protect those who are affected by this? This conversation will focus on building awareness for this tragic issue, but also further practical solutions that people can take to bring an end to it.

• here comes the [mail-order] bride trafficking [#ICSEX] (coming 9/9)
• @theideacamp slavery week wrap-up [#ICSEX] (coming 9/11)

Family, Week of September 19th

This is where it all starts. All of the discussions up until now end up pointing back to the family in some way. What should a loving relationship in a marriage look like? Where does sex fit in? What’s healthy? What about the kids? When/how do they learn about sex? This conversation will not only focus on what a healthy marriage looks like, but what healthy discussion about sex in a family sounds like.

• family week post TBD [#ICSEX] coming 9/23)
• @theideacamp family week wrap-up [#ICSEX] (coming 9/25)

group blogging project: present perfect

What does it mean to be in the presence of God? Is it something that we can experience today? If so, what does it look like? How do we get there?

Theologian, pastor, and author Greg Boyd helps us to explore these kinds of question in his recent book, Present Perfect: Finding god in the Now. What do we mean by ‘explore’? Check out the back cover of the book…

We long to be transformed. Yet our minds are filled with endless trivia and self-centered chatter. To-do lists. Worries about the past. Speculation about the future. We forget to live in the present moment … and to invite God to be with us there.

After reading classic contemplative authors Brother Lawrence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, and Frank Laubach, theologian and pastor Gregory Boyd longed to experience the presence of God for himself. For two decades, he’s attempted to implement the ‘practice of the presence of God’ in his own life … sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. What he’s learned as a fellow pilgrim on his spiritual journey can help you find true spiritual transformation as you begin to practice the discipline of inviting God into every moment.

I don’t know about you, but I could use some of that transformation! So I’m excited to take on this next group blogging project!

Over the next few weeks one person from this project will lead us through each chapter of the book sharing their thoughts, perspectives, and feelings. And we’ve got an exciting lineup of people who’ll be helping us work through the book together!

The schedule along with who will be sharing is as follows:

• introduction – Dan King, @bibledude (bibledude.net)

1. mere christianity – Bryant Neal (Camak Baptist Church)
2. finding home – Victoria Bierman Jenkins, @VBJenkins (Let the Son Shine)
3. chasing the sun – Crystal Rowe, @SoulMunchies (Soul Munchies)
4. single-mindedness – Josh Gillies, @WhiteFrozen (The Outpost)
5. living in love – Kyle Reed, @kylelreed (In Transition)
6. being present – Jesse Giglio, @jessegiglio (love is social)
7. the father is always working – Jennifer Dukes Lee, @dukeslee (Getting Down With Jesus)

• bonus post: he is here by amena brown
• author’s closing thoughts – Gregory A. Boyd, @greg_boyd (Christus Victor Ministries)
• project wordle

So stay tuned for some great discussion, and please feel free to jump into the comments and share your thoughts! In the meantime, here are a few things that you can do right now…

• Buy the book. It will be a much better experience for you if you follow along in your own copy of the book.
• Subscribe to updates. Get the latest posts in this series in your email inbox or favorite feed reader. This is the best way to keep up with everything!
• Tweet it up! Follow @bibledude and retweet updates from this event. If you want to share your own tweets, make sure that you use the #presentperfect hashtag.

o me of little faith [the vlog project]

Have you ever doubted God?

I know. That’s a loaded question, right? I know that I can say that I’ve struggled from time to time with my doubts. And if you’re completely honest about it, then you probably have at some point in your walk with Christ too. Most of us have our doubts, but few of us are willing to actually talk about them.

Why is that?

Do we feel like that if we doubt God that we’re somehow walking away from our salvation in Him? Or maybe we feel like we’re supposed to be strong and suck it up and put on this show like we have it all together.

I sometimes wonder if guys like Abraham, the father of faith, ever doubted. I imagine that when he got the instruction to go sacrifice his son Issac that he must’ve doubted God, even if just for a moment. Wouldn’t you?

I wonder if it’s not as important that we doubt God (because we most likely will), but what we do with that doubt. Doubt can be an important part of having faith. Do you agree?

The book

Writer/speaker Jason Boyett recently released a book about this topic called O me of little faith: True Confessions of a Spiritual Weakling. In this book Boyett shares the stories about his doubts, and explores things like how we doubt, why we doubt, and what to do about it.

The project

Are you interested in getting a free autographed copy of this book? I’m giving away a copy, but you’ll have to work for this one! You can enter this drawing the following ways…

1. Submit a video about your own struggles with the following criteria (5 entries)
   - No more than 3 minutes in length
   - Share about how/why you struggled with doubt
   - Share how that experience has been important to your faith
   - Add your video link (YouTube, blog, etc.) to this post using the Mr. Linky widget below (before June 11th)
2. Comment on this post (1 entry)
3. Tweet this post (must include @bibledude and #littlefaith, 1 entry per tweet)

The videos

group blogging project: the mystery of the cross

This is one study that I cannot wait to get into! The symbol of the cross has represented strength, hope and encouragement to Christians for two thousand years, so a closer look at the images of the cross throughout history is sure to be an exciting one!

Written by an art history teacher at a major university, The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life looks like it will provide us with a study that will surely refresh…

At the center of Christianity sits the cross of Christ. From the beginning, Christ’s followers celebrated the cross as a symbol of their faith. It was honored in church worship, carved into rough tombstones, pressed onto loaves of bread and set out as a sign of sanctuary. The cross represented what Christ believed, who they hoped for and how they approached life.

In this thoughtful book Judith Couchman takes up forty images of the cross from early Christianity. We discover their meaning and learn a little about the early church. More than that, she helps us focus on the significance of the cross and the Savior’s sacrifice.

These artful readings will enrich your understanding of Christian tradition, draw you into Christ’s presence and deepen your appreciation for the mystery of the cross.

Are you ready to be drawn more into Christ’s presence? Yeah, me too…

Over the next few weeks one person from this project will lead us through each part of the book sharing their thoughts, perspectives, and feelings. And we’ve got an exciting lineup of people who will be helping us work through the book together!

The schedule along with who will be sharing is as follows:

• introduction – Dan King, @bibledude (bibledude.net)

1. ancient echoes of Christ: the cross in pre-christian times – Nancy Rosback, @PoemsPrayers (Poems and Prayers)
2. the pain and the glory: the cross and the suffering Savior – Sean Wrench, @forsakengen (Forsaken Generation)
3. early signs of faith: the cross and the first believers – Laura Boggess, @lauraboggess (The Wellspring)
4. the great conversion: the cross and early religious freedom – Bethany Hostetler
5. daily signs of salvation: the cross in ancient everyday life – Heather Wolcott, @hljourney (HL’s Journey)
6. ways to worship: the cross in early church life – Crystal Rowe, @SoulMunchies (Soul Munchies)
7. enduring mysteries: the cross and its eternal power – Bryant Neal

• closing thoughts – Judith Couchman, @judithcouchman (Notes from Judith)

So stay tuned for some great discussion, and please feel free to jump into the comments and share your thoughts! In the meantime, here are a few things that you can do right now…

• Buy the book. It will be a much better experience for you if you follow along in your own copy of the book.
• Subscribe to updates. Get the latest posts in this series in your email inbox or favorite feed reader. This is the best way to keep up with everything!
• Tweet it up! Follow @bibledude and retweet updates from this event. If you want to share your own tweets, make sure that you use the #thecross hashtag.

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