peer pressure

A while back, Lindsay told me about this book she was reading. The name of it is 7, by Jen Hatmaker. Jen is a [funny, Jesus-loving, make-you-rethink-what-it-looks-like-to-be-a-Christian] Christian author and speaker who embarked on a social experiment of sorts, and documented it in her book. 7 is "an experimental mutiny against excess," in which she, her family, and some of her friends took seven areas in which most Americans have serious excess and spent one month focusing on each area. Areas: food, clothes, spending, possessions, media, waste, and stress. The challenge? For a month (with each area focused on for one month, then moving on to the next area/month), only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, spend money in seven places, eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe "seven sacred pauses." 

Sounded...interesting, and a little weird. I didn't give it much thought, until Lindsay brought it up again and said she thought we should do a modified version of it. My initial reaction was, "I don't want to do that, but have fun!" To be honest, none of it sounded like any fun, and I didn't want to give up any of my conveniences to participate. 

After reading an email Lindsay wrote explaining how we could modify it so that it isn't so extreme, I was a little more interested. Then, I borrowed the book and was on board. The book is great and I definitely recommend it. The basic goal of her whole 7 month experiment, is

        "Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk and more of You and Your Kingdom. I        will reduce, so He can increase." -Jen Hatmaker

In our modified version, we are only doing a week focusing on each area, rather than an entire month. First up...food...more to come!