I was asking for advice on house buying. Not because I'm ready to buy a house (mentally I am, situationally, I'm not), but because I want to know if I'm doing the right things to prepare for buying a house wisely.
I have an interesting little plan going on (that will have to be approved by Future Husband, currently Anonymous though there is a candidate). I'm currently paying off all my credit cards (2 more payments to go! WOOHOO!!!).
Well, my dear boss (who I have written about before due to his frustrating view of marriage) told me that if I plan on buying a house with someone else, to make sure I split everything, record who paid for what, etc...
I stopped him mid-sentence and told him I plan on being married to the person...He didn't miss a beat. "Do it anyway. You never know what will happen."
This brought the following question to mind. Yeah, it might happen. But I'm promising to love this person til death do us part...and he the same with me. So, in spite of making that promise, I should be planning for a divorce? How many people approach marriage like that? And expect their marriage to work when they begin their marriage with this kind of trust? Don't sound like it makes for a very good start.
Lol...I feel a need to make some clarifications here.
I am not the kinda girl who plans on marrying a sugar daddy and bolting. In fact, all my financial plans involve my income being the primary nest egg that we build our initial life together...using strictly my own income to build up the savings account, pay off cumulative debt, and use as a downpayment in buying a house. That's a lot of risk to pour into a marriage.
Here's the thing, though. Marriage is two becoming one. Why would you marry someone you don't trust? And why would you treat someone you trust with distrust? It doesn't seem like the appropriate attitude to approach marriage with.
I'll stick with Will Smith's view of marriage...Divorce is NOT an option...EVER. Oh wait...that was God's view, wasn't it...
Huh.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
A Voice to be Heard
I would like to write.
I would like to write about what Biblical Womanhood is. I would like to write about their role as Eder Knegdo.
However, I am lacking in sympathy for a certain unsympathetic group of men and fail to be able to write in a gracious manner.
I should stop reading their blogs. Although they increase my urgency to write towards women about things women should be hearing, their incredible pessimism and outlashing makes me want to stay silent.
Here's the deal. Titus 2:3-5 says this:
I have a strong desire to be involved in women's ministries. My inability to connect with the leadership or mentors within a church has (hopefully temporarily) confined me to the blog. So, for now, this is where I'll be.
I'm not perfect. I'm still young. But very few women have stepped up to teach me how to be a loving wife and mother except my own mother. So, as I learn, I will teach. As I teach, I will learn.
And hopefully, I can make a difference in the lives of those who read. But most of all, I hope that the words I speak are words from God. To bring glory to him is the chief aim.
So...I will write when I recover the compassion that has been lost while reading uncompassionate blogs.
I would like to write about what Biblical Womanhood is. I would like to write about their role as Eder Knegdo.
However, I am lacking in sympathy for a certain unsympathetic group of men and fail to be able to write in a gracious manner.
I should stop reading their blogs. Although they increase my urgency to write towards women about things women should be hearing, their incredible pessimism and outlashing makes me want to stay silent.
Here's the deal. Titus 2:3-5 says this:
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
I have a strong desire to be involved in women's ministries. My inability to connect with the leadership or mentors within a church has (hopefully temporarily) confined me to the blog. So, for now, this is where I'll be.
I'm not perfect. I'm still young. But very few women have stepped up to teach me how to be a loving wife and mother except my own mother. So, as I learn, I will teach. As I teach, I will learn.
And hopefully, I can make a difference in the lives of those who read. But most of all, I hope that the words I speak are words from God. To bring glory to him is the chief aim.
So...I will write when I recover the compassion that has been lost while reading uncompassionate blogs.
National Baked Bean Month
Yes...
You read that right. July is National Baked Bean Month.
And in the spirit of Global Warming, I'd like to tell you how the world would be a better place without Baked Beans.
Every day, the average person passes 1 - 3 pints of gas a day. Yummm...
Baked Beans happen to be very good producers of intestinal gas :)
And apparently gasses are responsible for the breaking down of the O-Zone Layer.
So, this July, I propose we get rid of Baked Beans. And while we're at it, all milk products, cauliflower, broccoli, wheat, barley, and all other foods that cause bacteria produced intestinal gas.
(Actually, did you know that not everyone produces Methane, which is the gas that is primarily associated with the breaking down of the O-zone layer?)
You read that right. July is National Baked Bean Month.
And in the spirit of Global Warming, I'd like to tell you how the world would be a better place without Baked Beans.
Every day, the average person passes 1 - 3 pints of gas a day. Yummm...
Baked Beans happen to be very good producers of intestinal gas :)
And apparently gasses are responsible for the breaking down of the O-Zone Layer.
So, this July, I propose we get rid of Baked Beans. And while we're at it, all milk products, cauliflower, broccoli, wheat, barley, and all other foods that cause bacteria produced intestinal gas.
(Actually, did you know that not everyone produces Methane, which is the gas that is primarily associated with the breaking down of the O-zone layer?)
Monday, July 07, 2008
Balance
I find that word to be overused when it comes to discussing Men and Women's issues/rights.
I'm tired of women who have nothing good to say about men who refuse to trust them and rely on them. I'm sick and tired of the attitude that women need to be able to provide for themselves because men can't be trusted. I'm tired of hearing how women can do it all and that we have every right in the workplace as the men...and that we can run the business, country, world better than the men have.
I'm tired of men who have nothing good to say about women who refuse to trust them. I'm sick and tired of the attitude that there is not one good woman who can have good intentions and still make mistakes - horrible mistakes - that go against her character. I'm tired of hearing how women are the cause of all that is wrong in today's society and that feminism has ruined the home, the church, America, and the world.
I wish they'd all just get a grip and start looking at what THEY are doing wrong. Both of them.
I'm tired of women who have nothing good to say about men who refuse to trust them and rely on them. I'm sick and tired of the attitude that women need to be able to provide for themselves because men can't be trusted. I'm tired of hearing how women can do it all and that we have every right in the workplace as the men...and that we can run the business, country, world better than the men have.
I'm tired of men who have nothing good to say about women who refuse to trust them. I'm sick and tired of the attitude that there is not one good woman who can have good intentions and still make mistakes - horrible mistakes - that go against her character. I'm tired of hearing how women are the cause of all that is wrong in today's society and that feminism has ruined the home, the church, America, and the world.
I wish they'd all just get a grip and start looking at what THEY are doing wrong. Both of them.
Unproductive
I find myself in a bit of a quandary...
I got a new PC today at work and they forgot to install the most critical piece of software for my everyday work life.
Imagine this:
A Software Engineer with no compiler.
So alas, I may end up blogging today :)
I got a new PC today at work and they forgot to install the most critical piece of software for my everyday work life.
Imagine this:
A Software Engineer with no compiler.
So alas, I may end up blogging today :)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Sub-Intelligence
Someone on Boundless made a comment about how there's this theory that the population is getting less intelligent because the more intelligent women are having less children.
Hmmmm...
I'm not the most intelligent woman in the world, but with straight A's in Math and Computer Science, as well as being well read in classical literature, a background in latin, philosophy, and history, I'd say I can compete for intelligence...
So if I want 5-10 kids, where does that place me in the theory mentioned above?
Its interesting, but in all reality, who are the ones educating most children? The most intelligent mothers are self-educating their families, and for the most part that's a minority. It would seem that the more intelligent women that are working and having less children have kids being raised in the public school system...
Which, apparently, can't teach math...
Hmmmm...
I'm not the most intelligent woman in the world, but with straight A's in Math and Computer Science, as well as being well read in classical literature, a background in latin, philosophy, and history, I'd say I can compete for intelligence...
So if I want 5-10 kids, where does that place me in the theory mentioned above?
Its interesting, but in all reality, who are the ones educating most children? The most intelligent mothers are self-educating their families, and for the most part that's a minority. It would seem that the more intelligent women that are working and having less children have kids being raised in the public school system...
Which, apparently, can't teach math...
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Initialize This
I'm starting to wonder if "initiating" is taking a leading role or not.
Far be it from me to want to lead a relationship, but sometimes it seems that being the initiator isn't usurping the man's leadership role or stepping out of place as the submitter.
I don't know. In a way, I probably initiated the relationship with my current boyfriend by inviting him over for pie at 9:00 at night after he got back into town after a long week of travel...
HE kissed ME first, and he pursued me for several months...was I responding or initiating?
And even if I did maintain my role as responder, are there examples of a woman initiating without usurping or manipulating? Instead, a respectful surrender and trusting vulnerability when she lets him know how she feels...
Far be it from me to want to lead a relationship, but sometimes it seems that being the initiator isn't usurping the man's leadership role or stepping out of place as the submitter.
I don't know. In a way, I probably initiated the relationship with my current boyfriend by inviting him over for pie at 9:00 at night after he got back into town after a long week of travel...
HE kissed ME first, and he pursued me for several months...was I responding or initiating?
And even if I did maintain my role as responder, are there examples of a woman initiating without usurping or manipulating? Instead, a respectful surrender and trusting vulnerability when she lets him know how she feels...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Pure Frustration
Anyone who knows me knows I have an odd fascination with history that doesn't typically jive with my college majors or my chosen profession. So, if I delve into history to better understand the trends of human nature and gain more insight into where we are today, forgive me when you find it annoying.
I'm sincerely of the opinion we can learn from the study of history in ways that will help the future.
So...where am I going with this?
History of man...and woman.
There was once a time when men held all the power. Women were held in high esteem, however. Germanic tribes raised their women up as priestesses (never the HIGH priest), revering them as having a special connection with the spiritual world and more in tune with mother nature - primarily because of their ability to reproduce. Women were cared for because from them came the future - in the form of mewling babies that grew into strong and strapping men to carry on the way of life.
Somewhere along the way, though, misogynistic attitudes started permeating the male populace. Either that, or they were always there and with better communication came better awareness. Women were beaten, raped, emotionally abused...and had no way of combatting it.
Then rose a generation of women who said "NO!" this can not be how women are treated! So they fought, and they fought hard, for the right to protect themselves and their children from such abuse.
And then they took it a step too far. From the annals of Euripedes arises a generation of Medeas, who believe that men have gone too long in their power and that their abuses deserve such severe punishment as having their children murdered. God forgive them, at least they were merciful and did it PRIOR to birth.
Among other atrocities, the new movement of feminists has taught young women that they don't need men, that they are better off without them, recounting thousands of reasons of why women are better than men - from being faster in maturing all the way to who has the more beautiful body...and everything in between. We were taught to be educated (because you can't trust a man to always be there to provide for you). We were taught to forego children (because its a parasite feeding off you for 9 months of your life with no gaurantee that the father will protect and provide, leaving you to care for it til its 18th birthday). We were taught to establish a career first, putting boss before husband (at least the boss PAYS for services rendered).
But WAIT! This tale isn't over yet...far from over...
Men began buying into these lies, as well...foresaking marriage and giving into the results of the sexual revolution! After all, feminism introduced a revolutionary concept - sex without marriage OR the fear of babies!
Now, a generation of young women are growing up to discover that all they have been taught was...*gasp*...a LIE! Maybe not completely...there's still some nuggets of truth in that mess that we can take out, polish, and hold close. However, desires for companionship and children are far outweighing the pre-cautions and warnings that flash DANGER DANGER DANGER: MAN CAN NOT BE TRUSTED.
And with these new women come the matriarchs that gainsay the belief that marriage is unnecessary. Nay, they DEMAND that marriage is necessary for ALL. Unless your old and a man, and then your singleness is all your fault and you don't deserve the pleasure of young, supple, fertile flesh.
You, especially those that share the opinions expounded here, may think this story is now told and over.
But alas, you have introduced a whole new animal. From one pendulum swing to the next, history has let gravity take its toll, forcing it from one side to the next...perhaps getting closer and closer to an equilibrium that will only be experienced when my Savior comes back and rescues us from this torturous monster of time.
Swing...now, men believe that there is very little hope in finding a godly woman. Maybe not that harsh, but that they are far too hard to find...and that the risks in finding them are so great that its hardly worth it. After all, even in the church, the women you find are only there for social discourse and all are probably looking for a relationship with a godly man. Definitly not only there to worship and learn about the God they serve.
Now, all women are so tainted by the education of feminism or mandators of marriage, that there's likely not one good pick among them.
Never mind that the girl sitting across the room has a genuine heart for God, loves to pour out her love for others (that is a reflection of God's love for her) in social and nurturing ways, desires to be a wife that Proverbs would extol and illustrates the type of submission that Paul hinted at in Ephesians. Never mind that she is single, longs for marriage, and is amidst men that desire the same. And yet her heart is never discovered. She is overlooked. Perhaps you can tell me why?
It seems that men have indeed shirked their duties as leaders, no longer providing protection to the women who are willing to submit to such leadership.
It seems to me that women who want to force men into those responsibilites are not helping by failing to teach women how to be submissive, loving (not bitter), and caring (not manipulative) wives ala Titus 2:3-5.
It seems to me that genuine and innocent hearts (both male AND female) are getting the short end of the stick, here.
I'm sincerely of the opinion we can learn from the study of history in ways that will help the future.
So...where am I going with this?
History of man...and woman.
There was once a time when men held all the power. Women were held in high esteem, however. Germanic tribes raised their women up as priestesses (never the HIGH priest), revering them as having a special connection with the spiritual world and more in tune with mother nature - primarily because of their ability to reproduce. Women were cared for because from them came the future - in the form of mewling babies that grew into strong and strapping men to carry on the way of life.
Somewhere along the way, though, misogynistic attitudes started permeating the male populace. Either that, or they were always there and with better communication came better awareness. Women were beaten, raped, emotionally abused...and had no way of combatting it.
Then rose a generation of women who said "NO!" this can not be how women are treated! So they fought, and they fought hard, for the right to protect themselves and their children from such abuse.
And then they took it a step too far. From the annals of Euripedes arises a generation of Medeas, who believe that men have gone too long in their power and that their abuses deserve such severe punishment as having their children murdered. God forgive them, at least they were merciful and did it PRIOR to birth.
Among other atrocities, the new movement of feminists has taught young women that they don't need men, that they are better off without them, recounting thousands of reasons of why women are better than men - from being faster in maturing all the way to who has the more beautiful body...and everything in between. We were taught to be educated (because you can't trust a man to always be there to provide for you). We were taught to forego children (because its a parasite feeding off you for 9 months of your life with no gaurantee that the father will protect and provide, leaving you to care for it til its 18th birthday). We were taught to establish a career first, putting boss before husband (at least the boss PAYS for services rendered).
But WAIT! This tale isn't over yet...far from over...
Men began buying into these lies, as well...foresaking marriage and giving into the results of the sexual revolution! After all, feminism introduced a revolutionary concept - sex without marriage OR the fear of babies!
Now, a generation of young women are growing up to discover that all they have been taught was...*gasp*...a LIE! Maybe not completely...there's still some nuggets of truth in that mess that we can take out, polish, and hold close. However, desires for companionship and children are far outweighing the pre-cautions and warnings that flash DANGER DANGER DANGER: MAN CAN NOT BE TRUSTED.
And with these new women come the matriarchs that gainsay the belief that marriage is unnecessary. Nay, they DEMAND that marriage is necessary for ALL. Unless your old and a man, and then your singleness is all your fault and you don't deserve the pleasure of young, supple, fertile flesh.
You, especially those that share the opinions expounded here, may think this story is now told and over.
But alas, you have introduced a whole new animal. From one pendulum swing to the next, history has let gravity take its toll, forcing it from one side to the next...perhaps getting closer and closer to an equilibrium that will only be experienced when my Savior comes back and rescues us from this torturous monster of time.
Swing...now, men believe that there is very little hope in finding a godly woman. Maybe not that harsh, but that they are far too hard to find...and that the risks in finding them are so great that its hardly worth it. After all, even in the church, the women you find are only there for social discourse and all are probably looking for a relationship with a godly man. Definitly not only there to worship and learn about the God they serve.
Now, all women are so tainted by the education of feminism or mandators of marriage, that there's likely not one good pick among them.
Never mind that the girl sitting across the room has a genuine heart for God, loves to pour out her love for others (that is a reflection of God's love for her) in social and nurturing ways, desires to be a wife that Proverbs would extol and illustrates the type of submission that Paul hinted at in Ephesians. Never mind that she is single, longs for marriage, and is amidst men that desire the same. And yet her heart is never discovered. She is overlooked. Perhaps you can tell me why?
It seems that men have indeed shirked their duties as leaders, no longer providing protection to the women who are willing to submit to such leadership.
It seems to me that women who want to force men into those responsibilites are not helping by failing to teach women how to be submissive, loving (not bitter), and caring (not manipulative) wives ala Titus 2:3-5.
It seems to me that genuine and innocent hearts (both male AND female) are getting the short end of the stick, here.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Covering
One of my favorite illustrations in the Bible is the covering of the woman's head. Its an example of how God provides a covering for sin.
There's a verse that says that the husband is a covering for his wife.
I wonder what this means...
More to come a little later :) Now, back to work :)
There's a verse that says that the husband is a covering for his wife.
I wonder what this means...
More to come a little later :) Now, back to work :)
Monday, June 02, 2008
Basic Essentials
What are the basic essentials of faith?
I know that the following are definitly essential:
But could the following two be considered essentials of faith?
Matthew 22:36-40
If so, than wouldn't it be essential to be obedient to scripture? Not essential for Salvation, but essential for Faith? James 2:14
I know that the following are definitly essential:
- All are sinners. Romans 3:23
- God loves us and gave His Only Son to die for us so that if we believe in him, we may have eternal life. John 3:16
But could the following two be considered essentials of faith?
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul
- Love your neighbor as yourself
Matthew 22:36-40
If so, than wouldn't it be essential to be obedient to scripture? Not essential for Salvation, but essential for Faith? James 2:14
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Economic Decline...
Does it parallel the rise of dual-income families? The decline in family structure (more singles, less marriage...)? Does the disintegration of traditional family on all fronts parallel the economic decline?
I'm not an economist, so I have no jurisdiction here. But, if you have an opinion, I'd love to hear it :)
Some articles to peruse on the subject (I will be adding to it as time permits):
Increased Financial Risk in Family Development
I'm not an economist, so I have no jurisdiction here. But, if you have an opinion, I'd love to hear it :)
Some articles to peruse on the subject (I will be adding to it as time permits):
Increased Financial Risk in Family Development
Rescue Me - Lesson Number 1
I was traipsing around the world of blogs the other day, trying to find out what Google would throw at me if I typed in "female submission". That was interesting...I came accross some very...curious...readings. I discovered that the world has done a fine job polarizing the topic of feminine submission. However, this particular blog is neither here nor there, so on to the subject at hand.
While perusing the stuff, I came across a blog by one of my readers :) She had some sermon notes posted that included some stuff that is common coming from the Elderidges. Pretty much, that women like to be rescued and men like to rescue. Some of the people who posted comments claimed that few of the women in scripture (if any) needed rescuing. I thought about it...I thought about it some more...
So my first subject is Rahab.
Her story can be found in Joshua. In a nutshell, she was a prostitute who lived in a home on the wall of Jericho. Joshua sent spies to scout out the area, and she hid them on her roof. She was a remarkable woman. When the spies left, she asked if she could go with them. They promised that if she left a red cord tied outside her window, they would rescue her when they destroyed Jericho.
And...guess what? They did =p And she married (there's some reason to think she married one of the spies) and is one of 5 women listed in the geneaology of Christ :)
Example #1 that strong, remarkable women can be rescued =) And a biblical example, none-the-less :)
While perusing the stuff, I came across a blog by one of my readers :) She had some sermon notes posted that included some stuff that is common coming from the Elderidges. Pretty much, that women like to be rescued and men like to rescue. Some of the people who posted comments claimed that few of the women in scripture (if any) needed rescuing. I thought about it...I thought about it some more...
So my first subject is Rahab.
Her story can be found in Joshua. In a nutshell, she was a prostitute who lived in a home on the wall of Jericho. Joshua sent spies to scout out the area, and she hid them on her roof. She was a remarkable woman. When the spies left, she asked if she could go with them. They promised that if she left a red cord tied outside her window, they would rescue her when they destroyed Jericho.
And...guess what? They did =p And she married (there's some reason to think she married one of the spies) and is one of 5 women listed in the geneaology of Christ :)
Example #1 that strong, remarkable women can be rescued =) And a biblical example, none-the-less :)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Living Single and Double Income Households
I have to start with this - I'm so stressed out right now, that I'm not certain how coherent this post will be, but I've been thinking about it for the last 2 weeks and today, I had to ask myself WHY is marriage happening so much later and WHY do couples insist on both working?
When I was in college, every vacation I would work 45-50 hours at a movie theatre. I worked there for 3 years, and my boss used to call me a workaholic. If you asked my boss now, he'd say I'm lazy and have a lot of potential that I don't use - simply because I refuse to work more than 40 hours a week.
This phenomenon in differences between my work ethic has recently begun to get to me...what has changed that I am no longer willing to work that many hours? My boss even yells at my young team (all of us under 30), claiming we should all be able to work more hours because we're so young. And then it dawned on me. In college, I had a mother who went shopping, cooked me dinner, cleaned the bathroom, did the dishes, vaccuumed the house...I had little brothers that helped take out the garbage, feed the dogs and cats, and help with other chores. Of course I had time to work 50 hours at work.
Now, I'm responsible for the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the garbage removal, paying the bills, and balancing the check book. PLUS working 40+ hours a week. But not only that, when you are trying to live a healthy life style, you have an additional hour a day to devote to that. Its like...where does the time go? I'm so stressed out that I'm ready to ram my head through a wall.
So...what could make this life a bit less stressful? I could definitly handle having my mom move in...but I think my dad would miss her only a little bit. It makes sense that having someone in my home devoted to managing the household while there's someone there taking care of providing the money to manage the household would actually work. And yet my generation is getting married later and later... Aren't they as stressed out as me? Or is it just me?
And then...double income homes...there has to be even more stress there...I mean, 2 people's messes and 2 people to do them...still the same amount of time taking care of bills, chores, and other responsibilites. PLUS working their own hours AND trying to make time to build a healthy relationship.
It just naturally makes sense that one of those 2 would make it their full time responsibility to care for the household and provide a relaxing and stress free environment for the both of them to spend time bonding and relaxing at the end of the day.
And I have a much better understanding of the following verse because of all of this:
"Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."
~Proverbs 31:23
When her husband is able to take the time that would've been spent doing his doing his laundry, cleaning his home, feeding himself, he can now spend that time gaining respect and being more lucrative at work without sacrificing the time spent with his own family.
I know it sounds so sexist, but the tradtional roles make so much sense =p
When I was in college, every vacation I would work 45-50 hours at a movie theatre. I worked there for 3 years, and my boss used to call me a workaholic. If you asked my boss now, he'd say I'm lazy and have a lot of potential that I don't use - simply because I refuse to work more than 40 hours a week.
This phenomenon in differences between my work ethic has recently begun to get to me...what has changed that I am no longer willing to work that many hours? My boss even yells at my young team (all of us under 30), claiming we should all be able to work more hours because we're so young. And then it dawned on me. In college, I had a mother who went shopping, cooked me dinner, cleaned the bathroom, did the dishes, vaccuumed the house...I had little brothers that helped take out the garbage, feed the dogs and cats, and help with other chores. Of course I had time to work 50 hours at work.
Now, I'm responsible for the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the garbage removal, paying the bills, and balancing the check book. PLUS working 40+ hours a week. But not only that, when you are trying to live a healthy life style, you have an additional hour a day to devote to that. Its like...where does the time go? I'm so stressed out that I'm ready to ram my head through a wall.
So...what could make this life a bit less stressful? I could definitly handle having my mom move in...but I think my dad would miss her only a little bit. It makes sense that having someone in my home devoted to managing the household while there's someone there taking care of providing the money to manage the household would actually work. And yet my generation is getting married later and later... Aren't they as stressed out as me? Or is it just me?
And then...double income homes...there has to be even more stress there...I mean, 2 people's messes and 2 people to do them...still the same amount of time taking care of bills, chores, and other responsibilites. PLUS working their own hours AND trying to make time to build a healthy relationship.
It just naturally makes sense that one of those 2 would make it their full time responsibility to care for the household and provide a relaxing and stress free environment for the both of them to spend time bonding and relaxing at the end of the day.
And I have a much better understanding of the following verse because of all of this:
"Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."
~Proverbs 31:23
When her husband is able to take the time that would've been spent doing his doing his laundry, cleaning his home, feeding himself, he can now spend that time gaining respect and being more lucrative at work without sacrificing the time spent with his own family.
I know it sounds so sexist, but the tradtional roles make so much sense =p
Friday, May 16, 2008
Go ye therefore...
And make disciples of the world.
So says Jesus at the end of Matthew 28, before he ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God.
But what does that mean?
Does that have caveats to it? Does it mean leave your country and make disciples of the world? Does it mean go into your backyard and make disciples of the world? Does it mean neighborhoods, schools, cities?
Does it mean all of those?
Is teaching bible stories to 5 year olds in Grace Church Ocala FL's nursery just as viable as building an orphanage in Honduras?
Is teaching your 16 year old son in your living room the difference between God and Allah just as viable as teaching a 16 year old Arab in the Middle East the difference between God and Allah?
Is raising your daughter to be a compassionate witness of Christ's love just as viable as teaching an Indian temple prostitute about Christ's love?
I just listened to the Boundless Show's 17th Episode, and Rosenberg's attitude towards home missions is kind of appalling for someone who has always felt called to home missions.
What do you think?
So says Jesus at the end of Matthew 28, before he ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God.
But what does that mean?
Does that have caveats to it? Does it mean leave your country and make disciples of the world? Does it mean go into your backyard and make disciples of the world? Does it mean neighborhoods, schools, cities?
Does it mean all of those?
Is teaching bible stories to 5 year olds in Grace Church Ocala FL's nursery just as viable as building an orphanage in Honduras?
Is teaching your 16 year old son in your living room the difference between God and Allah just as viable as teaching a 16 year old Arab in the Middle East the difference between God and Allah?
Is raising your daughter to be a compassionate witness of Christ's love just as viable as teaching an Indian temple prostitute about Christ's love?
I just listened to the Boundless Show's 17th Episode, and Rosenberg's attitude towards home missions is kind of appalling for someone who has always felt called to home missions.
What do you think?
Friday, April 04, 2008
Life is Good
So. Who really believes that?
I found myself bopping my head to Stellar Kart's "Life is Good" song.
The chorus comes on:
Life is good
Eternal life is better
That in combination with my Uncle's Easter sermon:
We are living the resurrected life NOW.
And I realized that I've been complaining about how much life sucks. A lot. As my uncle would put it, I've been living a "Good Friday life". Christ died for me and calls me to die to myself with him. However, Christ resurrected and I am resurrected in him. So why am I living like this?
Its true. Life is good. Eternal life is better.
I found myself bopping my head to Stellar Kart's "Life is Good" song.
The chorus comes on:
Life is good
Eternal life is better
That in combination with my Uncle's Easter sermon:
We are living the resurrected life NOW.
And I realized that I've been complaining about how much life sucks. A lot. As my uncle would put it, I've been living a "Good Friday life". Christ died for me and calls me to die to myself with him. However, Christ resurrected and I am resurrected in him. So why am I living like this?
Its true. Life is good. Eternal life is better.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I am not skilled to understand
This is normally the kind of post for my other blog, but I figured I'd share...
I downloaded this song a while ago, but I just synced my ipod to get it just yesterday morning...the day I started my Job study. The song?
My Savior, My God
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know that at his right hand
Stands one who is my Savior
I take him at his word and live
Christ died for me, this I read
And in my heart, I find the need
Of him to be my Savior
That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Needless to say, I love that song...and its so true...I'm NOT skilled to understand just how incredibly marvelous and big and powerful he is. I have no knowledge of his plans, no idea what he has in store, and absolutely no fathomable idea of how much he truly loves me.
There is no amount of reason or logic to argue my way into his thinking.
There is only one way to go...and that is this:
Trust that he is just and loving and good and perfect.
As long as things are in his hands, nothing can go wrong, right? Even though it feels like everything crumbles around us every day, we can rest assured that he is in control and he has a plan.
I downloaded this song a while ago, but I just synced my ipod to get it just yesterday morning...the day I started my Job study. The song?
My Savior, My God
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know that at his right hand
Stands one who is my Savior
I take him at his word and live
Christ died for me, this I read
And in my heart, I find the need
Of him to be my Savior
That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Needless to say, I love that song...and its so true...I'm NOT skilled to understand just how incredibly marvelous and big and powerful he is. I have no knowledge of his plans, no idea what he has in store, and absolutely no fathomable idea of how much he truly loves me.
There is no amount of reason or logic to argue my way into his thinking.
There is only one way to go...and that is this:
Trust that he is just and loving and good and perfect.
As long as things are in his hands, nothing can go wrong, right? Even though it feels like everything crumbles around us every day, we can rest assured that he is in control and he has a plan.
Job
I'm currently doing a study on Job right now and am writing my daily chapter studies up on my other blog.
When I am complete, I will condense it, take the major points, and perhaps write about it here. The other blog is a bit more personal and not as critically minded as this one, so travel there at your own risk.
When I am complete, I will condense it, take the major points, and perhaps write about it here. The other blog is a bit more personal and not as critically minded as this one, so travel there at your own risk.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Awe and Wonder
Have you ever sung those songs that talk about how great and awesome it is that we can see Jesus face to face? Or how about when you praise him whether good things are happening or not? And what about the ones where we lay all our burdens at his feet?
I love those songs. I really do. Its built up a relationship with God that seems healthy. I rely on him for everything, I get to see Jesus face to face someday, he gives me stuff, and relieves my suffering...So much me me me. I thought these songs were good...but I think that to much of a good thing leads to a bad thing...even in praise and worship.
I've found that the words in most of our worship either brings God down to our level or puts us on the same level as him. Yes, I praise you in the storm...see? I'm praising you right now while my world is crashing down on me. That makes me worthy of being with you, right? Ummm...no. And maybe its just me that this music has led me to this point...but I don't think so. I've heard the argument before from people wanting to stick with just hymns and the "good 'ol stuff", so there may be something to this. There's nothing wrong with this music, but there needs to be a balance.
What seems to be missing is a sense of awe and a feeling of "little-ness" in our worship music. As I heard someone argue once, what about what God has done for us? Yeah, all that music has references to it, but it mostly revolves around that's why we praise him. I want to be reminded on occassion that I'm really not that important. If I don't praise God, then the rocks on the ground will. Yes, my praise blesses his heart if it comes from my heart, but he is God and he can find satisfaction in anything else. He doesn't pursue me because he needs me - simply because he wants me. I want to be reminded of that. I want to sing about that. I want to sing about how big and awesome and fearful he can be. I don't want to sing about how my praise is the greatest gift to God. Yeah, its the greatest gift I can give, but its not that big a deal in light of what he's done for me.
I've been cultivating a casual friendship with God, which has its place. But I've sacrificed the awe and respect that God deserves as GOD in trade for a relationship where I feel on equal footing with him.
I love those songs. I really do. Its built up a relationship with God that seems healthy. I rely on him for everything, I get to see Jesus face to face someday, he gives me stuff, and relieves my suffering...So much me me me. I thought these songs were good...but I think that to much of a good thing leads to a bad thing...even in praise and worship.
I've found that the words in most of our worship either brings God down to our level or puts us on the same level as him. Yes, I praise you in the storm...see? I'm praising you right now while my world is crashing down on me. That makes me worthy of being with you, right? Ummm...no. And maybe its just me that this music has led me to this point...but I don't think so. I've heard the argument before from people wanting to stick with just hymns and the "good 'ol stuff", so there may be something to this. There's nothing wrong with this music, but there needs to be a balance.
What seems to be missing is a sense of awe and a feeling of "little-ness" in our worship music. As I heard someone argue once, what about what God has done for us? Yeah, all that music has references to it, but it mostly revolves around that's why we praise him. I want to be reminded on occassion that I'm really not that important. If I don't praise God, then the rocks on the ground will. Yes, my praise blesses his heart if it comes from my heart, but he is God and he can find satisfaction in anything else. He doesn't pursue me because he needs me - simply because he wants me. I want to be reminded of that. I want to sing about that. I want to sing about how big and awesome and fearful he can be. I don't want to sing about how my praise is the greatest gift to God. Yeah, its the greatest gift I can give, but its not that big a deal in light of what he's done for me.
I've been cultivating a casual friendship with God, which has its place. But I've sacrificed the awe and respect that God deserves as GOD in trade for a relationship where I feel on equal footing with him.
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