Resolutions Schmooselutes



Happy New Year

Psalm 8


To the chief musician, on the harp. A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth; You have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, You have ordained strength, because of the ones distressing You, to cause the enemy and the avenger to cease.
When I look upon Your heavens, the work of Your fingers: the moon and the stars which You have fixed;
what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him?
For You have made him lack a little from God; and have crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all under his feet:
all flocks and oxen, and also the animals of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, all that pass through the sea.
O Jehovah, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!


Amazing Math Trick

Here's a math trick just for fun.
(You might need a calculator.)


1. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOTthe area code)
2. Multiply by 80
3. Add 1
4. Multiply by 250
5. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
7. Subtract 250
8. Divide number by 2
Recognize the number?

(Taken from God Gave Us Laughter at Studylight.org)

Tag -- The adnauseum game


I hate tagging. I dislike it for a number of reasons but the main one is that there are so many MORE interesting things to talk about besides 7 things or 5 things etc about me! I won't tag anyone else and this is positively the absolute LAST time I'm playing this game. If I ever get tagged again, I will post this post and hope that it gets sucked into a time warp. (This is not my cat and those are not my cigarettes; I quit smoking over 5 years ago, Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! AMEN.)

7 things to do before I die:
1. Learn Hebrew and Greek
2. Enjoy a grandchild
3. Pay all my debts
4. Publish a novel.
5. Have another 15 minutes of fame. (I'll have to blog about the first 15 minutes)
6. Learn everything about worship
7. Travel in Scotland

7 things I can’t do:
1. Sleep without snoring at some point during the night.
2. Decorate like Martha Stewart
3. Make the perfect fudge
4. Be patient all the time.
5. Stay away from Studylight.org for more than a week
6. Keep from looking at an email when it first hits my inbox. (I had to exit mailbox when taking tests.)
7. Garden

7 things that attract me to blogging:
1. Writing
2. Writing my opinion
3. Writing about my beloved Jesus
4. Writing and teaching my beloved Bible
5. Commenters who agree with me.
6. The bloggers I have met and become friends with
7. The fact that people from all over the world read my blog and that is just fascinating to me! I don't have to have a book published or be famous for someone else to come here and comment, that is just fascinating to me. My blog is a ministry and that is fascinating to me. It is fun! It reaches 24/7 and God gifted me talent and a deep desire to reach out to others. Fascinating.

7 things I say most often:
1. Hoo-ray
2. Anyhoot
4. I’m sorry
5. Please forgive me
6. Hello, kitty kitty, my Scooter, my little man -- hey it works for the cat.
7. Hello, this is Gina.

8 books I love:
1. The Bible
2. Count of Monte Cristo
3. The Trixie Belden series
4. All Georgette Heyer books (I had everyone but lost them when hubby didn't pay the storage bill. If anyone knows where I can acquire as many as possible, please let me know. I used to read every one of them once a year.)
5. Original Star Trek series
6. The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold Fruchtenbaum and Purpose Driven Life
7. The Dictionary
8. Authors: Beth Moore, Francine Rivers, Max Lacado, Ron Meur, Bob Larson,

7 movies I watch over and over:
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park
3. Romeo and Juliet
4. Much Ado About Nothing
5. American Dreamer
6. Fiddler on the Root
7. Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday and any other Cary Grant movie.

Little baby feet


Little, sweet baby feet. Mary will soon cover them with her hand, warming them against the night chill. She has treasured in her heart all the words spoken about her first born Son.

Things like, "The angel was so glorious, shouting out praises to God on High and the Good News! The Messiah is born! Our long awaited Savior, the Lord, is born!"

And word went out publically, through the bright streets of Bethelehem. The star shining down on the child. The little feet, toes curled against the chill, wiggled in His mother's hand.

Eight day old, tiny feet with pink toes that curl in pain as the centuries-old right of covenant is performed on the Messiah. Simon lifts his old eyes, tears spilling from their corners to the Lord God Almighty. Praising Him for this precious gift. Anna speaks to all who will listen about the Christ child, this most amazing gift from God.

The feet grew large enough for little sandals as they toddled, one in front of the other. Tiny hands holding on to a big Daddy finger. His first steps, those little feet on their own, dust swirling around them, making the little nose sneeze. A delighted chuckle from Daddy, and a bright grin from Mommy. Loving, watchful eyes guarded those little feet from the fire, the holes, the rocks.

One day a mighty procession fills the streets of Bethelehem. Camels dressed in finery, servants dashing from house to house questions in their expressions, the star's bright light setteled over one house. Magi, wise men from the far East nod and smile. They get off their beasts and carefully search the packs until fine gifts are found. Gold, frankencense and Myrrh. Reverently they enter His presence. They bow and worship Him, kissing His little feet.

The days go by and His feet grow larger, tucked underneath Him as He sits in His Father's House. The voices of many echo around. He speaks with great authority and the voices quiet. "Did you not know that I must be in My Father's House about My Father's business?"

The days go by and His feet grow larger. The heat bears down and the slap of leather against hard ground is muted by many voices. Dust billows up and covers those following behind Him. Disciples they are called. A word that loosely means dust gatherers as they follow Him. Men and women thirsting for the living water that falls from His lips; hungering for the Bread of Life.

The days go by and storms cease, roiling billows calm, deaf hear, blind see, sick are healed, lepers are cleansed, demons are routed, stories are told, His feet get tired and His bones grow weary from the press of the opressed. His own received Him not but those that did receive Him were given Life because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Doorway to Heaven. The feet carried Him through desert and over mountain, through streams and over the sea.

One afternoon the feet are resting against cool tile. A woman enters the room. She settles at the feet. Her tears wash the dust from them. Her hair dries them. She kisses His feet in deep worship for she has been forgiven much. She washed His feet as the nobleman did not. Reverent worship by anointing them with ointment.

One day the feet stumble down the street, drenched in His blood. The feet are in agony as they trudge toward Golgotha. The nails are hammered through them into the cross. Splinters pierce the skin. Blood drips from them into the dust. The feet strain to hold Him up for one last breath and then He gives up His spirit.

Tenderly the feet are washed one last time, a hundred pounds of spices and clean cloths are wrapped around the body and He is laid to rest in a freshly hewn tomb. The stone covers the entrance and darkness engulfs the One. Days pass. Suddenly, the earth quakes.

Those dear feet touch earth once more, transformed. The same, but different, glorified, radiant feet and body. These dear feet walk down a road and the King tells from Genesis to Zechariah those things that foretold His coming, His dying, His arising in victory over sin and death. On the mountain, the last thing the disciples see are the soles of those feet rising to Heaven.

Oh happy day, the day I can sit at those feet that are even now on the pavement of sapphire as clear as the heavens... To kiss them in worship and adoration... To sit at them and learn from He who has all knowledge and has all power and secured victory for me and gave me life eternal with him. Oh happy day, O glorious feat.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROSKUNEO -- The Greek word for worship, English translations of the Bible render it as "worship." Proskune is a compound word meaning "to kiss toward" and represents a form of worship that shows reverence and submission to someone or something by bowing to the ground and kissing his feet, the hem of his clothing, or the ground.

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Frogs in a Pit


A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they would never get out.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did you continue jumping.

Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story holds two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

(copied from an ancient email)

Landon Snow & The Auctor's Riddle


I'm a little late with this review. Randy, I'm sorry! Putting that aside...

Let me tell you that RK Mortenson has published a super book for 8-12 year olds. I read it, and was enthralled. It is thought provoking and educational without being teachy, you know?

I loved it! If you have any kids on your list, this would be a great Christmas present.

I asked Randy a question:

Gina: What did you learn about yourself and about God as you wrote this book. How has that affected you today?

Randy: Interesting questions...

I was struggling with the writing/publishing dream for a decade, meaning I was trying to get something published, but to no avail. At more than one point I prayed that God would take away the incredible desire I had to be published if it wasn't meant to be. If anything, the desire increased. So I learned along the way that I had a lot to learn! I learned patience and perseverance in a rather tangible way. I learned to accept rejection(s) and seek to grow from it. One verse that I held on to is Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." For as important as writing is to me, without God it is not satisfying or fulfilling.

The whole process of writing and learning and praying and dreaming and striving and studying and waiting and yearning revealed to me just how ambitious I really was. It's hard to describe this drive that almost feels like a need, to read and write, along with the hunger for getting published. I continue to learn from it and continue to grow as a writer and as a person. Because it's so strong, it drives me to my knees in search of God's guidance, wisdom, strength, peace, and humility. I am thankful for that.

In the end, of course, God's Word sums it up: "Of making many books there is no end..." Ecclesiastes 12:12, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." These words put things into perspective. As important as my book may be to me, well, I recognize that in the great scheme of things there are much more important things--God, eternity,family, other people--to consider. Only God's Word is eternal; my feeble words, for as much energy and time I put into them, will simply pass away.

I hope that answers the questions. :-) Thanks for the thought- and heart-provokers.

Blessings,
Randy

Just click on Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle and you can purchase this beautiful book.


A note about email...

A friend who used to forward with all addresses showing and who used to have mine along with everyone else's emails emblazzoned across the top of his emails sent this to me without any email addresses across the top! Finally, he "got" it LOL. The fact is, I trust him and I trust the folks on his email list... but, how about those who they email to? and the ones after that? So, I decided to post this very concise piece of advice concerning email.


FOR EVERYONE WHO SENDS E-MAILS, PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY!!!!! I HOPE THIS HELPS

Read the text below...Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% do NOT. Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it? Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor individual to get a virus, and his (her) computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel! How do you stop it?

Well, there are two easy steps:1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message. That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the "Forward" button first, then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message.If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all. 2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: columns for adding e-mail address. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) column for listing the e-mail addresses.

This is the way that people you send to only see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your BCC: option, click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: in this manner, your message will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients" in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it. So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses! Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to everyone we know. ( but strip my address off first).This is something that SHOULD be forwarded. Hope you find the above info useful and helpful!
whatever you do, please remove my return address before you forward this email!

You can also have a blank email list that sends you a copy. Put a name in your email list (I use All Y'all) then give it your own email address. This will send you a copy if you put it in the To: box at the top. It is a little more personal than "To Undisclosed Recipients"

Is that One for the Chipper?

I'm feeling just better enough to be a bit crabby. The fact that Christmas was good enough as Christmas for our founding fathers and that without Jesus there wouldn't have even been a reason to come to the Americas makes what is happening now worse than a shame.

Our laws are based on Biblical principles. Our ethics are based on Christian ethical standards. Our country was based on a Christian foundation. Yet, we still have a small percentage of people that want to rule our world by insisting on a "Holiday Tree" instead of a Christmas Tree.

Give me a break.

We have a malestorm brewing and it seems to be the Christians are not in the center of the arena helpless before the lions. Falwell on one side is "going to suebanyone who spreads what they see as misinformation about Christmas celebrations in public spaces." What kinds of Christian attitude is that? On the other side we have the pagans who are offended by any mention of Christ or Christmas. They reject Jesus but can't find anything to worship that comes even close to our Lord. Then we have Gov. Arnold who last year "blessed" holiday trees, but this "year lit what he called a Christmas Tree", so stated the news article. The newspaper couldn't call it a Christmas Tree outright. Are we standing firm or are we being blown away in the wind?

Over 50 million websites use the term Christmas Tree and only about 1.6 million use the term Holiday Tree. Is it a trend that just isn't taking hold? I sure hope so. Anyone over the age of 20 has heard, and called it a Christmas Tree for over 20 years so that's a habit that will be hard to break. If it takes 30 days to break a habit then that means it just might take 30 years to break the Christmas habit. We can only hope and pray.

It is Christmas Season; it is Christmas break, Christmas holidays, Christmas vacation, Christmas present, Christmas decorations, Christmas wreath, Christmas cards. Christmas is about Christ! Without Christ there is no Hope, or Faith and certainly, no Love. It is plain as a pikestaff, the Federal Government lets Federal employees off for the Christmas holiday so if the Federal Gov't recognizes Christmas, how can we do anything else? Christmas Holiday. Now that is a term I really like, especially since holiday is a shortened term for Holy Day so Christmas Holy Day is perfectly GREAT for me! How about you?

Catch the nose

... it's running! I sit here perfectly miserable. Oh, I'm estatically happy that I'll graduate with honors and that I have a great job which I have been wanting for so long. But...

My body has these electric aches that whenever a piece of lint scrapes against my skin it feels like a little person is going happy with a sledge hammer. My head feels like Tweety Bird just spit out a huge piece of bubble gum in it and Snoopy is doing the Happy Dance on top of it. Even though the room is 75 degrees, I'm freezing, but it's too hot to back up to the fireplace. Would someone get the 500 pound fat lady off my chest and make her go sing someplace else like a galaxy far, far away. Tissue hurts my nose and my throat is so scratchy we could use it to sand down the house.

And our choir's cantata is Sunday night! Oh me!

This, ladies and gents, is what you get when you brag that you are healthy as a horse. It is what you get when you go Christmas shopping in cold nasty weather right before you are supposed to sing to bring glory to God. Oh my.

Let me tell you about the Christmas shopping. This is really the first year since my divorce that I've really had the Christmas spirit and wanted to go shopping. Mom and I prayed as we drove to town (94 miles away) that God would bring us to the exact thing we should give to each person and that we would have fun. Usually I'm waiting for Mom to finish or she (rarely) has to wait for me. We met up in front of the milk--quite by accident-- and decided to get some coffee. We rested and chatted then parted ways to finish up our shopping. Then we met again at the check outs...she walked right into an empty stall and I traveled a tad farther and walked right into an empty stall [shock]. Then we headed home. All our shopping was done in one day. I'm in awe how God works to smooth paths and how He helps in the little things if we only ask. It is so astounding, I've almost forgotten my head, throat, stomach ache. One day we won't have to worry about germs, amen?

Since He does such astounding work in the little things, I'm quite positive I'll be just fine come Sunday night so that I can glorify Him. That's what it's all about, anyway.

Comes a Horseman

Bob Liparulo emailed me back to let me know that there is a group guide that goes with his book. It is located on the publisher's website, WestBow. You can click the title or the publisher's name to find it. I thought that was really cool!

Claire said her group was reading this book. I think it is a great book to discuss.

Comes a Horseman


  • "Not for the faint of heart, this is quality writing that deserves a lofty niche within the action/suspense genre. It is well-researched and meticulously detailed, and the characters are fascinating and 'real,' the dialogue clever and altogether human, the plot compelling. What I'm trying to say is, I love it!"Frank Peretti, author of Monster and This Present Darkness

I agree with Frank. Comes a Horseman is adult, thriller fiction and, frankly, it is about time we had some in the Christian realm.

Robert Liparulo is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly. He has sold or optioned three screenplays.

So, "success" is a great word to describe him. The link above will take you to Robert's website and this one will take you to Chapter 1.

I was riveted. The first word pulled me into a dark world that gave me delicious shivers. You can buy the book here. Don't miss this most excellent Christian dip into Thriller territory! Happy reading...

Mixed emotions


I have a purple line. I am verified. It is official and I have a certificate :) That is more exciting than an A.

I truly have mixed emotions about this contest. I put over 50,000 words together and finished a draft of a book about women in church leadership. I am passionate about it and it is very controversial. But...

I have so much work to do to get it to a point where I can write a proposal that I'm not sure it is a good thing or a bad thing to write a book so fast.

I have 2 papers to write to finish my undergrad work for my degree. I don't know that I will be back here as often as I'd like (which had been almost every day). I will try.

My baby girl


My baby girl, all of four years old, looked up at me with a tear-streaked face and whispered, “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

How can you look at a sweet face and get mad? When I took time to look at my girls’ faces, I never could get mad at them.

We had a sunken den which was one of the most dangerous because most people tripped going from the kitchen into the den, no matter how many times we’d warn people the step was there. And there Amanda was, sprawled out on the step with her little knee skinned and a cut on her hand from the ceramic bowl my Mom had made me for my birthday. It was one in a set of four and the last ceramics she’d made. (There is still a rooster in the store room ready to be painted for the past 24 years.) Manda knew how important that bowl was to me because we’d had a discussion about her using it for her chili that night. She so much wanted to put away her plastic baby dishes and be a big girl, eating from bowls just like the rest of us.

Now, as I looked at that precious face, my heart just melted. She was trying not to cry about the cut on her hand because, to her, the more important thing was she’d broken Mommy’s bowl.

I scooped her up and hugged her tightly, wiping her tears and kissing her little hand. Tears stream down my cheeks right now just thinking about it. How trusting God is to put a tiny life under my authority. I could have yelled and screamed putting the bowl above my daughter in importance. Praise God, I did not. Of course, there were times when I did yell and scream. This time, though, I am so thankful that I let her know she was much more important than any old bowl.

If I can be this way with my daughter, how much more God is to His children. How much He desires to scoop us up and let us know how very important we are to Him. How precious we are to Him. So much so, that He paid a huge price for us. With my daughter in my arms, I cannot possibly contemplate giving her up to die for anyone else. Yet, God did…Love so amazing and so divine that it is not understood by humans without His help.

This is what I am thankful for.

I could name hundreds of things that God has given me, but there is nothing so precious as the gift of His Son.

Father, I lift up my thanksgiving to You, with lifted hands and open heart, I pour myself out as a living sacrifice. I pray that You will give a beautiful holy day to all Your children. In Jesus name, Amen.

Isn't He?




Isn’t He beautiful? Beautiful, isn’t He? Prince of Peace, Son of God, isn’t He?



Isn’t He wonderful? Wonderful, isn’t He? Counselor, Almighty God, isn’t He?
Isn't He? Isn't He? Isn't He?
I do not know who wrote these words or I would give credit. Also, I would give credi to the artists, but alas, I do not know them either.

Let's dance

Here's the question...

Do you believe God is bigger than any problem?

I know beyond any doubt that God can be trusted. He has been true and faithful my whole life even when I decided to turn my back on Him. What God says He will do, He will do. Fully 1/4 of the Bible is prophecy and every one of the prophecies have come true so far even to the exact timing. I am quite sure the rest of them will come true in God's good timing.

Paul explains to us that those that wandered in the desert for 40 years all ate of the Spiritual food (manna) and all drank of the Spiritual drink (sweet water from bitter). 1 Cor 10. But these people kept on complaining, kept on trying Him, kept on murmurming, they fornicated and the crown of their sins was that they disbelieved God. Yet... God was with them through it all. He could have so easily breathed Holy fire on them and burned them up. But, He didn't.

Nothing is greater or bigger than God. All things fall in line with Scripture and God most certainly is Who He says He is and will do exactly what He says He will do. When He says He will never leave or forsake us, He means it. I am living proof.

Our God is an awesome God.

The key to realize is that our battles begin and end in the Mind. Our thinking is a powerful tool that can, if we allow him to, be used by Satan. We must ask God to take complete authority over our hearts and our minds. We must redecorate our minds with Jesus and that will take the shackles of bondage off of us so, as that song goes, we can dance!

God is the only safe, consuming passion we have. Our Enemy is seizing technology and is trying to make evil from what God intended for good. The only way to be released from evil is to take down that tacky decor in our mind and replace it with Jesus. The drugs of constant TV and games and internet JUNK must be replaced with things that are holy and things that are pure and things that are godly. Meditate on these things and watch how the addictions of the world have no more power. It is astounding!

So put on that Helmet of Salvation and remove Satan's influence by trusting God...Believe God. Wear the Sword of the Spirit so that the evil thoughts won't find a foot hold. Wear the shoes of the Gospel of Peace and dance with Him. And the Belt of Truth will keep us from tripping over our skirts when we dance. He wants to dance with us. Can you see His hand outstreched? Can you hear His sweet voice asking you to dance? We'll never be a wallflowers, because our Beloved always has His protective arm around us. Turn up the music and let's dance!

Another thing about women...update

Please understand, I started this project at 10 AM this morning. Taking time out for prayer about it around 11:30 AM and then writing the post below which took a few minutes... The bathroom faucets are now in place and there is no dripping water.

Do you hear the Hallelujah Chorus in the background?

Neighbor did not come over to finish it, but My Daughter saved the day. She contorted and scrunched and twisted and used me to hand her things. And it is done. And we are proud.

And now a moment of prayful thanksgiving to God for providing such a wonderful daughter -- who did not lose her cool, amen. Thank You, Lord.

Another thing about women...

You know how sometimes we bite off more than we can chew? We see a project and we just know -- I can DO that. Then we get into it and find out we can't. Women are resourceful and when in an independent mode will tackle just about any job that needs doing, regardless of the size or type...especially, if it has directions.

Men think, "Who needs directions? I can mess this up pefectly all by myself." (The same thought applies to driving; just insert "get lost" in place of "mess". I can say this because both times I was married, it was to men just like this.

Resourceful women will read the map, get out and ask directions, read instructions and do the job. Dependent women will ask, nag and wait for someone else to do the job. I can say this because I was a dependent woman for the first 30 years of my life. My sister was the one to be out with Dad learning all those handiman things. Me... I learned all the cooking and sewing inside things.

Mom's bathroom faucet went kaput.

My sister is not here.

Picture, if you will, a box full of the New Things (faucet, handles, washers, screws, etc.) and the old things stacked up on the side of the sink. That is how I left it just a few moments ago.

I've just been sitting on Mom's bathroom floor taking all the hardware out of the sink because it went kaput. As I was unscrewing all the thingys from the things, I had to ask for God's strength because the thingys were too tight on the things. Well. He not only gave me extra strength, but He helped me to know which way to unscrew. (I have tugged and pulled on a thang the wrong way only making it tighter. Sigh... mechanic, I am not.) Then I get to the point where I can now start assembling the New Things into the holes. Except, this new assemblage came without some parts.

Now, I am one that can follow directions, especially with God's help. But, when it comes to knowing how big something is and without knowing what it is, in order to go buy it at the hardware store, I am at a loss. I do not have a clue what to ask for. The Directions say, "attach to water tubes (not supplied)."

:-o :-x :-? :-(

What kind of water tubes? The New Things we bought do not look at all like the old things that came out of the sink. The old tubes are not flexible. The old tubes are too long and are so tightly in place, carroded (sp?) that they look (and feel) fused in place. I am going to have to ask the neighbor who drives across my yard to come and help, I think. Super Neighbor to the rescue. I love neighbors... even if they do drive across my lawn.

My neighbor will not laugh and jeer at me for having gotten so far and gotten stuck. He loved my Dad and told us the last time we had any problems to please call him. It was a plumbing problem then, too.

Let me give you an idea what a beautiful neighbor he is. This man hates cats. He warned me about a Siamese cat that had just taken to wandering the neighborhood right after we moved in. He wanted to be sure I knew about it and to beware because it wasn't a friendly cat. The cat he was talking about was our cat, Scooter. When Dad was so sick in the hospital, he came over and told us that he'd watch the house for us while we were at the hospital. He said, "I'll do anything you need done!" That was great!

We got to the hospital but forgot to put out food for Scooter. He probably had enough food for a couple of days, but we just forgot about him. Then Cooney called to ask about Dad and again said, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

It must have been the Devil whispering to me, I said, "Would you go feed Scooter?"

"Scooter? Who's that?"

"Our cat."

He not only fed our cat but when Scooter got outside, he chased after him to put him back in the house. I can't help it. That picture is so funny. The little kitty cat feet running just out of reach, then stopping to see what Cooney would do, then running just out of reach. It's a hoot.

The Scream


Do you ever feel like there is something welling up and the only way to get any relief is to Scream?

Today... no, this week... has been like that for me. I bit off that huge bite called NaNoWriMo this month. Add to that, midterms, other tests, papers and not to mention Sunday School lessons, Studylight.org studies, The Partriarchs, Faith in Fiction comments, other people's blogs that are truly intriguing and I don't want to miss a single post and I feel like this person who cannot hold back a scream.

I spent the first part of this week getting all my work done so I could spend today and tomorrow writing. I got caught up on all the posts (I think) and found out some prayer needs which are very serious. My daughter just broke up with her boyfriend and she is very needy just now. Not to mention the emails (which I dearly love). Plus I'm just about caught up on studies but I haven't done two days of studies on The Patriarchs, and I only spent about three hours writing. NOT at all what I had planned.

However....

Now, this is the whole point of this, I came face to face with a calamity in my writing. My short story was based on a true story. My daughter asked about it so I told her the story. "Mom that is heart wrenching. There's a guy at Lifetime that loves doing true stories with heart wrenching twists. This is right up his alley. Write a treatment and I'll see if I can get it to him."

[shocked look]

So here I am writing furiously... doing some copy/paste and getting all the facts together for my NaNoWriMo book on Women in Leadership--A look at what the Bible has to say. (Those of you who followed my little mini-series on Women In Leadership got a little taste of it.) So, I'm fully concentrating on that project and here is this other project which I have had rolling around in the back of my mind for a couple of months and had originally planned to write for NaNo being tantalizingly waved under my nose like a carrot on a stick.

Quandary.

How do I know that my current work in progress (WIP) is actually what God is wanting me to do? Me neither. So I prayed. "God, I just need you to knock me on the head, point me in the direction You'd have me go and do not let me miss it. Please. I only want to please You, God."
This is serious because I've got just over 28,000 words on paper for a 50,000 word draft project. That is a long way down a wrong path which I was positive was the right one.

Then I get an email from a friend about the subject. I get another email from another friend about the same subject. I get another email from another friend. All this within the space of a few minutes of my prayer. I loved what Jules said, 'Dance with the one that brought cha.' How could I possibly ignore such profound wisdom? I agree, I could not. It is great to know that I have another project waiting for me to shape into a Tom-terrific story. It seems that God is lining them up for me.

The greatest thing is that He will keep me on the right path. His Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Just as a deer pants for water, my soul pants for Him and the beautiful part is, He knows that I only want to please Him so it is much easier for me to hear that still small voice when it comes to direction finding decisions. Even if this did not make a lot of sense to you... I have a wonderful sense of peace now, and that makes a lot of sense to me.

P.S. (keening wail) Why didn't someone tell me that one of my all time favorite paintings was stolen in 2004 and has not been recovered yet. It was recovered on May 7th... just 3 months after being stolen in 1994 but this time, no Scream.

Do you have your Rock?


Ages ago, actually last century, I ran across a story about a man and a huge rock. I have no idea who wrote it but God called it to my mind this week. I searched for it but have no idea where it might be, so I'll try to remember it as best I can.

A man had his home in the woods far from civilization. He liked it that way and relished the clear air and exercise he got walking as well as the marvelous peace he had from the bustling city just down the mountain.

One morning he walked outside and saw a huge rock sitting right in the middle of the path he took to work. He put his hands on his hips wondering how it got there and how he was going to get rid of it. The Angel of the Lord appeared beside him and said, "O, Man, God has sent me to tell you that it is His great desire that you push against this rock."

The man was astonished, but he loved the LORD and wanted to please Him, so every morning he pushed and pushed against the rock. He would break for lunch and refresh himself with water, but his main concern was pushing the rock. Day after day, he pushed and pushed, to no avail.

Satan came to visit him one bright afternoon. He settled on top of the rock and watched the man push and push. He heaved a huge sigh, then spoke, "O, Man, I have watched you push and push against this rock, and it goes no where. You have been at this for days and days and nothing has happened. Why don't you quit? Why don't you just give up and walk around the rock? Go back to your routine and forget about this blasted rock. You are getting no where fast."

The Man stepped back from the rock, wiped his brow, then looked up at Satan. "Sir, you have a point. Why am I pushing with no results? I'm wasting my time here pushing against this thing every day when I could be doing something productive. You are right!" With that, he stomped back into his home and slammed the door. While waiting for the water to boil so he could brew a cup of tea, he stared out his window at the rock. There it sat, right in the middle of the path, blocking his view of the mountain side. A useless hunk of stone that God had dropped in his path.

He drank his tea, brooding about the rock.

The Angel of the LORD settled into the chair across from him. "O, Man, why do you sit in here brooding and not pushing the rock? Did God tell you to quit pushing? He gave me no such message, so I know that isn't true."

The man put down his cup and glared at The Angel of the LORD. "I have pushed and pushed against that rock with nothing to show for it. I have not been able to budge it an inch, much less to move it from the pathway. It blocks my view and it is useless."

"Did God tell you to move the rock or to push the rock?"

"To push! But, what was the use of that? It went no where."

"You obeyed, the LORD God Almighty, Man. You pushed for days on end and that was precisely what the LORD told you to do. There is righteousness in that. Look at your legs. The muscles are taut and huge. Your back is strong and straight. Your arms are twice the size they were months ago. You have a finely muscled body that is in shape for your next task. God did not tell you to move the stone. He did not tell you to go around the stone, but to push it. If you had not obeyed, you would not be ready for your next work. Sometimes, God will tell you to do things that make no sense in the short distance between your nose and the rock. But, in the big picture you will see that it makes perfect sense and all things have a purpose according to God's good purposes for all those who love Him."

This week I have understood a lot about God and His lessons...
Beth Moore pointed out in a Friday night session:
Sometimes it is much easier to just soak in the worship experience than to dig into God's word.
Sometimes it is much easier to let God fight our battles than to work with Him to build a warrior.
Sometimes it is much easier to allow fear to hold sway than to boldly go where God would have us.
Sometimes it is much easier to just let God carry us than to let Him teach us to walk with Him.

I must remember that God has many works for me to do and He will never let me go unprepared. It would actually be a lot simpler for me if I would let go and let God, instead of having this white-knuckle grip on the things of the past. I thought I had learned that lesson. Sigh... Paul said that he pressed forward, not looking back because those things can't be changed. We can't change the past, but we can change the future by learning our lessons well, by taking the tests once, rather than taking them over and over. We will continue to take those tests until we've truly learned the lessons God has for us to learn. We may as well get our books and go to school with the mindset of learning; putting bandages on the scraped knees with God's kisses making them better. I just know that God really doesn't care how many times we fail, as long as we keep getting up and coming to school. He knows we'll eventually learn... one day.

Amazing what you find when you clean up

This is from my pastor friend, Alan Smith. I found it in my archives while transfering files to my new laptop computer.

The following are ads from a real-life newspaper (so I've been told) which appeared four days in a row - the last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day's mistake.

MONDAY: For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 P.M.. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.

TUESDAY: Notice: We regret having erred in R.D. Jones' ad yesterday. It should have read "One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 P.M."

WEDNESDAY: Notice: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: "For sale -- R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone
948-0707 after 7 P.M. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him."

THURSDAY: Notice: I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit!

It's so frustrating when we're misunderstood. It's even more frustrating when people purposefully twist what we're trying to say. The early Christians struggled with this very problem. When they talked about the connection of the Lord's Supper with the body and
blood of Christ, they were called cannibals. When they talked about their "love feasts", others accused them of having orgies. That doesn't seem fair, but Jesus said to expect it.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
(Matthew 5:10-12).

7 habits of highly effective godly women

I know I was going to talk about Martha and Mary yesterday, but I've been so swamped with school and writing and taking Mom to the doctor (her eyes). But I ran across this wonderful tidbit from Cindy Townsend who is Louisiana's Women's Missions Director at Louisiana Baptist Connvention. I took these notes back on February 8, 2003.

1. Trims away selfishness...Col 3:5,9,10 put to death earthly desires. Take 40 days and trim away the fat of selfishness and put in its place God's Word.
(Lord help Yourself to the Kitchen of my Life... toss the rubbish and let's dine on gourmet meals.)

2. Marinate me in You and Your Word so that I amm not recognized but only You are recognized.

3. Sprinkle every relationnship with Your love. Help me to be devoted to others as You are.

4. Sift through my desires to hold to the things of this world loosely. Lord, just help Yourself to my stuff.

5. Stir my heart to follow You in obedience and also to have faith and trust in You in abundance.
(What comes is joy in the journey. He will make straight my path.)

6. Season my words with wisdom. Ephesians 4:29-30. May only that which is pleasing to You come out of my mouth.
(This is about the 15th time I've heard this lately, ya think God is trying to tell me something?)

7. Serve You, Lord, with glory, for You alone are worthy. My story for Your glory.

Ministry takes place where divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.

What about Anna?


If we read carefully Luke chapter 2, woman by the name of Anna is a prophetess. She continued to speak/declare (the word laleo) to those who were searching for the Messiah. Laleo means to declare one's mind and disclose thoughts.

God considered Anna the perfect person to teach about His Son in the Temple. Yes, I know. The actual word for Teacher isn't there. However, consider what that word didasko actually means.

1. a to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them. b intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment; making moral observations. It also means to d. explain or expound a thing.

So when Anna continued to speak of Jesus to those who were searching for the Messiah...she was teaching. And she was teaching in the Temple supposedly a "man's domain" considering the Women's Court. However, women actually sacrificed their own offerings to the Lord. Also, this is where she lived for 84 years before Jesus was born. She was not a Levite woman, who were provided for by the sacrifices and offerings. She was of the tribe of Asher. She did devote her entire life to worship, fasting and praying.

What does this tell us? This tells us that God uses willing, devoted vessels for His good purposes. It matters not whether the vessel is man or woman. Both a man and a woman prophesied over Jesus. We don't have to go any further than this one example because it presents a supposed contradiction, does it not?

This leaves us with a seeming inconsistency in Scripture, if we point to 1 Timothy 2:12 as a blanket rule concerning women teachers. Let's see...Anna was willingly devoted to the Lord God. She was submissive to Him and spoke because of the Holy Spirit within her, otherwise, she would not have been a prophetess. (That's what that word means, btw, a female that speaks the word of God.)

Then we look at Titus 2:4 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- . Then we turn to 1 Cor 14. vs 31 says "you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged." He doesn't say "only you men can prophesy". Paul instructs them in vs 34 that the women are to keep silent. The whole chapter is about order in worship...and vs 33 is the famous verse that God is not the author of chaos. The context around this verse is about prophecy! But in vs 19 Paul says he'd rather speak 5 words with his own understanding than 10,000 words in a tongue. This church was having a "free-for-all" chaotic worship service which was not reverential nor godly in nature. Paul admonishes that women should be silent in church and then the next verse 35 says "If she wants to learn something, let her ask her husband." Doesn't that imply questions are being asked? Not women preaching, but desiring to learn?

Then we have the 1 Timothy 2 passage has a phrase that hasn't been addressed here. Paul commands, "Let a woman learn in silence." And back over in 1 Cor 14:31 he talks about all learning. That includes men, too. Men don't just fall out of the womb knowing everything there is to know (although some men sure act that way). Mommas have to teach their sons.

The fact that Paul allowed Pricilla to teach... The fact that he admonished older women to "teach good things"... The fact of Anna teaching in the Temple about Jesus the Messiah... clearly indicates that women should learn as much as they can and when called by God or given the motivational Spiritual gift to teach should willingly do God's bidding to teach. We do not all have the same gifts in the same measure.

I do not see any examples of women pastors. I do not see any examples of women in authority or domineering over men within a church in Scripture. In the ideal, it is men and women working side by side. I do see an example of a domineering woman--Jezabel and we all know what happened to her and should take a lesson and learn something from that.

Biblically, there is substance to women teachers and even teaching in Sunday School. Because of this, and because the Bible does not contradict itself, then there must be a reconciliation. The Holy Spirit does give the gift of teaching to women and gives the Spiritual gift of ministry of teaching to women and the motivational gift of organization/administration. Look at Beth Moore, for crying out loud. But women pastors? No.

The very first set of seven Servers were all men. The Apostles said they could not take time to serve tables (which means to do exactly as it says but also to count money). So they were lending all their time to study and teaching/preaching, Acts 6:2ff. Why men and no women? This was Jerusalem, not Corinth or Ephesus or Rome. The women here knew much of Scripture because they were taught in synagogue and at home. I must point back to Proverbs 31. Our Spiritual place is supporting our husbands and our children. That is how God designed us. That, in no way, means that God won’t use women in Spiritual leadership roles. He gives ample evidence of it in Scripture. He gives ample evidence of it today. This is a seeming paradox until we recognize the diversity of snowflakes. No two are exactly the same and neither are any two humans, regardless of gender. God relates to each of us in the exact manner needed to reach us and if that mean using a toad frog, He will do it. (No, I am not comparing women to toads... well, maybe I am comparing, but I mean no disrespect.)

How many women out there who have children actually have time to devote to a whole church full of people to the extent expected of pastors? If there are three children or more in a family that is equivalent to two full time jobs. It is not fair to her family nor to the church for a mother to be a pastor. Again Proverbs 31. But she absolutely can devote the time needed for family and studying to teach. I see a pastor as a servant of God dedicated to shepherding His flock; his time is not all his own or his family's. I see teaching encompassing preaching as well as Sunday School and Discipleship training and mentoring, in short Discipling. But, we must consider ramifications of one-on-one. Here is a crucial point: we should never put ourselves in a postion that could appear evil. You know exactly what I mean by this. One-on-one situations between men and women are risky undertakings and that's all I'll say on that for the moment.

The very first verse that puts women in their "place" is when she is created from Adam's rib. And then verse 16 of chapter 3 in Genesis. "You shall be eager for your husband and he shall rule over you." Why is it so many people forget this verse? Plain and simple. The husband is the ruler over the wife, period--God said it, not me. That was in Adam's day. As the years rolled by ... centuries later, God directed Paul to add three words to that verse. "...in the Lord." Because we women are first Christians and then wives. We belong first to Jesus as our betrothed husband and then to our physical husbands so our obedience should first be to the Lord and then to our husbands. Does anyone have a problem with this logic?

We must not assume the 1 Timothy 2:12 is a blanket rule or a stone wall against women teaching men or having any Spiritual leadership role. Because of Anna and so many others. A friend of mine, Joanne Flynn said:

Philip's four daughters were active prophetesses in the early church. I would love for someone to tell me how a woman prophesies without breaking her silence, and how it would be profitable if a man is not to learn from it (there is no biblical pattern for a prophet to women and another to men, I double-dog dare you to find it!) Please see Acts 21 for this reference. The prophesying of women in the church was not only happening in Acts, it was predicted by Peter (Acts 2) and prophesied by Joel. If this is evil, why isn't it depicted as such?
Another friend commented about Martha and Mary. It is an extremely good contrast. Tomorrow we’ll talk about them.

Let's Talk About Deborah


I keep bringing her up so let's gather around the fire and talk about her. (No gossip, good stuff only.)

God chose her as a judge. God gave Deborah authority. Not just general authority, but Spiritual authority. Her being a Judge was not Israel's doing nor was it the act of any human to raise her up as a judge. God did it and the reason we know it was God's doing is because there was peace in the land for 40 years while she was judge. Why? Because she led the people in the right ways of God...God's righteousness and not to the left or to the right but in the straight path of the Lord.

  • Jdg 2:18 And when Jehovah raised up judges to them, then Jehovah was with the judge, and rescued them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For Jehovah took pity because of their groaning before their oppressors, and those that crushed them.
  • Jdg 2:19 And at the death of the judge, it happened that they would turn and act more corruptly than their fathers, to go after other gods, to serve them, and to bow themselves to them. And they did not fall away from their own doings, and from their stubborn way.

Spiritual authority.

I strongly suspect Deborah was no young chicken. Abraham was 75 and Moses was 80 before God called them into service. I'm practically sure as can be without having Scriptural back up that Deborah was most likely past childbearing years. This is important because of Proverbs 31. Since God ordained a heirarchy, I do not believe that God would take a mother from her children to
שׁפט
shâphat
shaw-fat'.

That is the Hebrew word for Judge. Interestingly, it means to pronounce sentence, avenge, govern, passively to litigate. The Bible also calls her a prophetess, which generally means an female prophet, inspired woman, poetess or wife of a prophet. So God chose her to judge Israel. God spoke to her and she called Barak to hear the words of God to take 10,000 men and kick the army of Jabin out of Israel. He said he'd go if she did and if she didn't he wouldn't. She said, "All right, but you'll have no glory from this day's work."

How can any man say for certain that God does not want women in leadership roles within the church? God chose a woman from all the men available in Israel. She was obviously the best and most attuned to God's voice at that time. It was such a God-thing because she was not a warrior or a swordsman. In her weakness was God's strength. God does not change.

I submit that God's desire was for women to have leadership roles all along. It was man that changed God's lead. It isn't God Who has changed. It is humankind that has changed. God chooses the best and most attuned to His voice for His work and since God is no respecter of persons, how can any man say for sure one way or another what God's purpose is in what He does? God says He will have compassion upon whom He will have compassion and that means it is not for us to say yea or nay to God's will, correct?

Some questions for thought...

Why did Jesus choose the woman at the well in Samaria? He could have spoken to any number of men of that village. He chose a woman.

Why did Jesus choose to reveal Himself to a woman first in the garden? He could have appeared directly in front of John or Peter who were the first to come rushing after Mary told them that Jesus rose from the dead.

Mary sat at Jesus' feet and drank in His teaching. That wasn't even unusual for a Jewish woman to follow a Rabbi. What did Jesus expect her to do with all that teaching??? Sit in her house and do nothing? Hatch nothing?

Dark Star

(Taking a little break from the series to promote a book. I hope we prove for Christian Fiction what we proved with the Passion.)

Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends.

Does this sound familiar? It could be taken from any celebrity magazine. Why is it we always try to stuff that God-sized hole with eveything but God? Creston Mapes explores this question with a truly wonderfully crafted character. He is evil personified on the outside but on the inside he's just a scared kid. How many times do we parents, teachers, adults look on the outside and figure that's exactly what's going on inside, too. If you have teenagers and you read the first chapter of this book, you won't be able to resist ordering it to see what happens.

I asked Creston what gave him the inspiration for this story he wrote right back with his answer:

Creston: I was reading J.D. Salinger's novel, Catcher In The Rye, around the time I began writing Dark Star. Without really thinking about it, that book showed me the potential power of a first-person novel. Also, I was a huge rock fan growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. Went to many, many concerts-both big groups and unknowns. Read all the rock magazines. Later in life, when I became a Christian, I wondered what would happen if one of these mega-stars found Christ.

It's the great "what if" question. I love going down those paths. I also asked him what kind of advice he had for any up and coming unpublished writers.

Creston: Try not to become too discouraged by the rejections. Keep in mind, it is one editor, one person, that is rejecting your work, not even necessarily that entire publisher. I received a ton of rejections before landing a three-book deal with Multnomah. Many times I questioned God, "I thought I was supposed to be doing this, Lord!" But, if He's put it on your heart, you won't be able to stop trying until God brings a publisher. I read a lot about the craft of writing fiction. Take notes. Read those notes while you're writing. That helps me!

Thanks, Creston! You didn't know it but that was an answer to a prayer of mine. Praise God Who answers our needs and the desires of our hearts.

Now go read all about Creston's first novel Dark Star and see if I'm not right.

The Truth about Women in Leadership 3

Many, many people hold up one verse as the ultimate of prohibition of women teaching men in the church. That verse is 1 Timothy 2:12.


1Ti 2:12 And I do not allow a woman to teach nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. That is the literal translation from e-Sword.

I am not attempting to retranslate the Bible, nor am I saying that the men translators from eons ago got it all wrong. What I am saying is that there is a tendency toward assumptions that perhaps have a bit of prejudice in them rather that objectivity.

I would like to suggest that this prejudice perhaps tinted the translations of Paul's teaching to Timothy. The reason I say this is because the whole of Scripture has evidence of women Spiritual leaders (Deborah and Lydia and Junia et al) plus today there are numerous women who are the only Spiritual leader their children ever see in the home. Please understand there are so many beautiful men Spiritual leaders and this is not a detraction toward them. It is more a focus on the legitimacy of God's use of women in leadership roles.

With this in mind...


The word translated "man" is Aner and means: 1. with reference to sex: male, husband, betrothed or future husband; 2. with reference to age: distinguish adult man from young boy; 3. used generically of a group of both male and female.

Now, why is it that this word that is used generically of a group of both male and female is used in this particular verse? Why wasn't Paul more specific? Why didn't he use the word husband? Oh, actually Paul did use the word aner which is the word husband. And Paul used the word gune which is the word wife in verse 12. And he followed up with a reference to Adam and Eve the very first married couple.

So let's look at the entire verse, okay?

But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. didaskein (5721) de gunaiki ouk epitrepw, (5719) oude auqentein (5721) androv, all' einai (5750) en hsuxia.

didaskein = to teach, to instruct
de = but, moreover
gunaiki = gune = wife, betrothed, woman of any age whether widow or virgin.
ouk = no, not Epitrepo = 1. to turn to, transfer, commit, instruct; 2. to permit, allow, give leave Oude = but not, neither, nor, not even
Authenteo = one who with his own hands kills another or himself; one who acts on his own authority; autocratic; an absolute master; to govern, exercise dominion over one
Aner = with reference to sex: of a male, of a husband, of a betrothed or future husband; with reference to age, and to distinguish an adult man from a boy any male; used generically of a group of both men and women
Alla = but nevertheless, notwithstanding an objection an exception a restriction nay, rather, yea, moreover forms a transition to the cardinal matter
Einai = to be, to exist, to happen, to be present
En = in, by, with etc.
Hesuchia = stillness; quietness; description of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, and does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others silence

So, with all those words translated from the original Greek with all their meanings. This verse says to me: (de) But (epitrepo) give leave or allow (ou) not (gune) the wife to (didasko) teach or instruct (oude) nor to (authenteo) to take control or dominate the (aner) husband (alla) but rather (hesuchia) being quiet and staying at home minding her own business and not officiously meddling in affairs of others.

For me, it is evident that Paul is teaching both men and women how to conduct themselves. In verse 8, Paul is telling them to pray always, lifting up their hands, without anger or dissention. In verse 9, the women are to adorn themselves with proper clothing and verse 10, they are to pursue good works (as opposed to gossiping etc. I would assume). Verse 11 is crucial to the context. She is to receive instruction from her husband with submissiveness and to (verse 12) not be autocratic or domineering in teaching and instruction for this will kill, but to learn from her husband in quietness, being at home about her own business of raising and providing for her family.


In other words, it is not the wife who should teach her husband, but the husband who should teach his wife in an ideal world. God commanded Adam to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge and through Adam, Eve learned the command for the command was given before Eve was created.
Should a woman teach if asked to teach a class? Yes. As long as her husband is not in the class.

This is a back door instruction to the men so that they should study deeper to stay ahead of their wife.

What I see in these verses is far superior to just an instruction to women to be quiet in church.
The ultimate responsibility is the husband’s.

Therefore, when one studies Paul's statement "I do not allow a woman to teach or have authenteo (dominion, domineer, authority) over a man AND when Scripture holds many examples of women having church in their homes (Nympha, Junia & Pricilla), or Lydia by the river, Deborah a judge, Anna in the Temple, Paul's fellow workers Euodia and Syntche at Philipi, and all the women that sat at Jesus feet gathering His dust as He walked through Gallilee and Judea soaking up His teaching numbered among the original 120 Believers who were called apostles ---- One must broaden the scope to understand since there are no contradictions in the Bible Paul must have a broader meaning than "no women teachers". Just as "morning and evening" means a single 24 hour period... Paul's teaching to Timothy cannot mean no woman may teach a man or preach. All of Scripture does not uphold that interpretation! Instead, the Greek words used mean "wife" and "husband" in almost the same breath Paul speaks of the very first married couple Adam and Eve. Paul is talking about authority/order of a husband and wife. Not any woman having authenteo over any man and vice versa. There are too many examples -- but even one example would be enough to make a Bible student take a step back from the deliberate statement 'No women teachers of men'.

Let's take a look at a seldom noticed example of a woman having a gentle authority over a man in the book of John chapter 2: Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples were guests also. 3 When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus' mother told him, "They're just about out of wine." 4 Jesus said, "Is that any of our business, Mother--yours or mine? This isn't my time. Don't push me." 5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it."

Did Mary yank the reigns out of Jesus' hands? No. Did Mary tell Jesus what to do over His objection? Most certainly. Did Mary sin in doing this? No. She was His mother and therefore had a great amount of authority over Him. Up to the point when the crippled man was let down through the roof and Mary along with Jesus brothers asked to see Him and He took the authority from her at that point when He said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" and He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!" Matthew 12

I realize no one is disputing the authority a mother has over her child... but Jesus was 30 years old at this time. However, Mary also exerted authority over someone else's servants! She told them what to do and they did it. The fact is, there are God-ordained instances where a woman does have authority over a man such as the authority a wife has over her husbands body. His body is hers and no other woman's. The authority a woman has over her boy children--no matter their age. "Honor thy father and thy mother."

And the duty is also directed toward the parents "Parents do not provoke your children to anger." Women had authority over men slaves and Paul taught repeatedly that slaves were to submit to their master's in Christian love.

When a woman (or a man) teaches/preaches, is she exerting authenteo over anyone?

Absolutely Not.

The Teacher is imparting wisdom. Does a Pastor exert authenteo over the church? He had better not. That word implies dictatorship rather than leadership. A Shepherd leads with gentleness and wisdom and protection. What sheep listen to orders or even are in the proper mood to obey when the shepherd is a tyrant without regard to feelings of others, who takes away another's ministry/job for himself and portrays the opposite of Christian love--which is exactly what that word authenteo means?

If you go to the Lifeway.com website and do a search on Spiritual Gifts, you will find a PDF file about it. In that, there is teaching concerning the ministry gift of Pastor/Shepherd. It states that women have a natural inclination toward this ministering gift. Women "do it" better than men because we have the mother instinct. Pastoring is not a motivational Spiritual gift. Those motivational gifts are listed in Romans 12: a. prophet/perceiver b. exhortation/encouraging c. teaching/edifying d. service/ministry e. giver f. administration/organizing g. mercy/compassion

Ephesians 4:11-16 lists the gifts which are specifically for the perfecting of the saints for the works of the ministry and for the edifying of the body which are: a. apostles b. prophets c. evangelist d. pastor e. teacher.

1 Corinthians 12:7-12 we find the manifestation of the Spirit gifts. These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit specifically for the Glory of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are: a. Wisdom through the Spirit b. Knowledge through the Spirit c. Faith through the Spirit d. Healing through the Spirit e. Miracles through the Spirit f. Prophecy through the Spirit g. Discernment of spirits through the Spirit h. Various tongues i. Interpretation of tongues.

Where in any of these lists of gifts which are God Given is the Overseer or Elder? In fact, after Paul's first mission trip from Antioch, Luke reports that Paul appointed the Elders and Overseers. In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas as missionaries to do the work that He had called them to do. So my question is this -- How many men in the pulpit and leading churches are God-called and how many are man appointed?

The Truth about Women in Leadership 2

I may be preaching to the choir but this is something I just must get out of my system... There are so many precious men who love the Lord and are so sensitive to His voice. There are others who are not so sensitive. In the same way, there are women exhibiting the same attributes. We are each individuals making up the Family of God and each of us is given our Spiritual Gifts according to the Holy Spirit's discretion.

A brand new Christian just does not have the maturity to teach Bible lessons. God provides more mature Christians to mentor and teach those newbies. God will use the willing heart to further His purposes. All hearts are the same color regardless of gender or race. Not all hearts are filled with the same stuff, though. Some are filled with God's Spirit and others are still encased in stone, uncircumcised.

I cannot dance ballet, in order to do that I'd have to study for years. I will tell truly, I have taught for years in different age groups and to be perfectly blunt--unless I studied what I was to teach, I taught nothing. Many times, I have taught a whole hour and not remembered what I said...but without exception, those times have been when I studied to teach. I have studied the Bible for 40 uh- hmm years and I have learned a valuable lesson...I must always study to show myself approved and to be a good instrument for the Holy Spirit. But even Paul stressed the necessity for the Spiritually Mature to teach. In Acts 14, Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each congregation. And another lesson that I have learned is that I have much, much more to learn.

A person who is knowledgeable and capable of teaching the Bible and biblical principles in the middle of a bunch of newbie Christians... It stands to reason that this person is a missionary.

I want to share two examples...

Born in Virginia on December 12, 1840, Charlotte Digges Moon grew into a cultured and educated woman. During a sermon in 1873 at her church in Cartersville, Georgia, she heard her call to China to share the gospel. On July 7, 1873, the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention appointed her a missionary to China and in autumn of that year, she set sail for Tengchow. Lottie spent most of her missionary years in Tengchow and P’ingtu where she taught at mission schools and ministered to women. She eventually adopted Chinese dress and learned the Chinese language. Having immersed herself in Chinese culture, Lottie earned respect among many Chinese people and her missions work won many to Christ. At the urging of Annie Armstrong, the SBC annual Christmas Offering for foreign missions was named Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.


Throughout the 1880s and 90s Utah Methodism's force of women missionaries varied between 10 and 15. Most of them assisted a male minister, but in smaller towns the ladies often worked by themselves, even holding Sunday services and delivering sermons. Most were single and thus able to devote their entire energies to one- to two-year missions. A few married while in the Utah mission field. And many developed trusting relationships with the Mormons among whom they worked. A Miss Baker, while teaching in Moroni, was asked on two separate occasions to give a talk at a Mormon funeral. Although most of these missionaries went quietly about their work, a few were outspoken warriors for national Methodism's campaign against polygamy. Missionary Angie Newman wrote and lectured with some success against the appointment of a Mormon army chaplain and the seating of two Mormon polygamists in Congress. She was also the guiding force behind the Salt Lake Industrial Home for polygamous wives.

Now look at this passage from Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Did Jesus mean make disciples of just the men? Did He mean just the Jews? When Paul used that Greek word translated "nations"... Ethnos he meant the Gentile Christians. But here, I take Jesus to mean all the human race.

So who was He talking to? The eleven disciples, of course. So when those guys died, did the Commission die, too? Of course not.

There is a cross reference in the NASB: Mark 16:11 "When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it."

Gee. Was this because it was a woman that shared the Good News? Of course not. Belief is a personal choice and does not stem from gender.

What about other commands to preach and teach? Matt 10:27
"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops."

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord

To name a couple... The fact is, we all have a responsibility which is given to us the instant we become Christians. Paul names them in 1 Corinthians 12 and we find in Romans 12 the motivating gifts we are given to do the job we are given responsibility for. The fact is, not all of us have the same responsibility or the same gift. This is what makes us a whole body and not a bunch of ears or eyes or hands or spare hearts lying around.

Were these commands just to men? Some people think so and even preach it to be so. It would seem Paul says so blatantly: Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Did he mean to leave out the women? No, obviously not because of Titus 3 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--" But wait! What is that word translated “man” in the above verse? It is the Greek word anthropos meaning "of the human race whether male or female. Also meaning different from plants, animals, from God, from angels. In three words – anybody, everybody human.

Frankly speaking, when a person obeys the Lord and shares the Gospel with those around him, he is in the will of God, nothing else matters! When a person is in the will of God, He blesses their work, regardless of gender, race or stature.

So, if there is only one person who is Spiritually Mature to teach Biblical Principles and lead a Bible study (which btw is the same as preaching sometimes), that one person must obey God’s command through Jesus and teach!

The authority for the missionaries is the church. Why is it okay for women to be missionaries and teach men, but not okay for them to teach men in church? If it is against God’s will for there to be women teachers in the church, why does God bless the efforts of millions of women who teach in the church?

…unless, of course, Paul really was talking about a specific problem within the church at Ephesus.

The way I read that Great Commission is this: The Goal is when we meet someone to make sure that someone is never the same again because he or she has met Jesus. If everyone would keep that goal in mind instead of worrying about what color a person is or what gender the person is…the entire world would be changed one person at a time.

I do not think a woman should be president nor do I think a woman should be a Pastor. The reason for this is physiological--menopause. I don't care how many hormones a woman downs, she cannot control her emotions 24/7, regardless of what Martha Stewart says. On the same coin, men have been known to lose self-control, too. But, there is a hierarchy set by God and that is 1. Christ; 2. Husband; 3. Wife; 4. Children. Even though there is a hierarchy set by God, I believe there is too much Scriptural evidence that illustrates God's willingness to set women in leadership roles.

The first one is Deborah (Judges 4). It takes a special woman to do well in the Spiritual leadership of a nation. Deborah did it. Does that mean all women can? No. Nor, can just any man do it. But, God does the calling, not humans. When God calls, it is our responsibility to answer that call with a pure and willing heart in obedience to our Lord Almighty.

The Truth about Women in Leadership


I started this study in my post back in The Perfect Wife in Proverbs 31. A little expounding on this subject will follow. It has been my experience that most men have a huge problem with women in leadership roles in the church. It is not Biblical that women should not hold teacher postions or have leadership roles. I'll take this week and discuss it.


Scripture does not contradict itself. Therefore, we must do as Paul commended the Bereans and measure Scripture against Scripture for pure understanding, anyone who says he completely understands all of Scripture does not know what he is talking about. It is too deep.

So we must pick up a few pieces of the puzzle here and there and put them in place to see if they fit. If they do, voila! If they do not, then we must do some more hunting and digging to find more pieces.

Let me point to a few things that we should include in this discussion that could shed some light on Paul's teachings.

Timothy was in Ephesus. He was left there by Paul to deal with certain problems in that church such as false doctrine (1 Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5), disorder in worship (2:1-15), the need for qualified leaders (3:1-14) and materialism (7:6-19). This letter was written to the Pastor of a church of Gentiles. These people had not grown up learning Scripture. They did not have the opportunity to sit at Jesus feet as Mary did. And Mary did follow Jesus on His ministry journeys as did Joanna, Susanna and many other women. Luke 8. They traveled with Him. (Noted by the idiom "she sat as His feet". Dwight Pryor taught in his seminar "Jesus was a Jew" that this idiom means a "disciple of". And the term following doesn't mean opening the morning paper to "follow" how the Saints are doing in football. It meant literally "gathering His dust". As Jesus walked down the road, His feet would kick up dust. Thus, as His disciples walked behind Him, they gathered the dust kicked up by his feet—therefore, following Him. At one time, over 500 people were following Him. That was a lot of dust.

I ask you: Is that any different than today? Jewish women experienced a lot of freedom that the neighboring countries did not give their women. Already many examples of that have been presented. Lydia is another example Acts 16. Did Paul march up to Lydia and tell her she could not teach anymore? Now here is an interesting point: There weren't 10 Jewish men, heads of households that were interested enough to form a synagogue so the women met to read the OT and pray and discuss what they read. What does that really say? It says the men were not doing what God had commissioned them to do...be the Spiritual Leaders. So the women did it.

In some areas of the U.S. there are a lot more women in church than men. It is a sad state of affairs. My church has about 70% elderly.

And if women were doing what God called them publicly to do and that is teach their children in the Lord as the mother of King Lemuel of Massa did (Prov 31)...then there would be plenty of good theologically solid Christian men doing what God called them to do.

I would think that being called a "fellow worker" by Paul in Rom 16:3 would be excellent commendation. Except she was called by her nick name Prisca. Neither she nor Aquilla were reprimanded for pulling aside this great teacher "mighty in Scriptures", who had been instructed in the Lord and teaching him The Way. The fact that what Aquilla and Priscilla did was mentioned is an implied commendation.

However, that isn't the point of this passage. The point is Truth Teaching as opposed to Incomplete Teaching and/or False Teaching, is the point isn't it? Just because a person is a man does not make him in authority over a woman. That is false teaching. It is the husband's role to cover his wife. I was submissive to my father. And submissive to my husband all the way through all the infidelities.

God does not call us to be submissive to just any man, only to a husband. I will not be submissive to just any Jack I meet. That is not only ridiculous but stupid. Do not ever teach your daughter to be submissive to any man just because he is a man and he is in the church. Authority comes from the permissive will of the Lord God Almighty Romans 13:1 and the ability to handle authority comes as a Spiritual Gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:28 Respect, on the other hand is earned by the person in authority. While I can respect a person because he is a person or because of his position, I quickly lose respect for that person when I hear false teaching coming from his mouth.

Shofar


When I lived in Baton Rouge, I had a delicious opportunity to go to a Messianic Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashannah (Feast of Trumpets). If you ever get a chance to celebrate this you are in for such a wonderful experience.

I had never before heard the Shofar blow. The lights were dim and there was a hush as everyone found their seats. I looked at my friend with a, "Well, now what?" expression. There was a trembling excitement from the unknown and the known. The known because I was wondering if it would be like the Passach we had at our church and how thrilling that was to find out how every single bit of the Passover pointed to Jesus. The unknown because we were worshiping with a group of Messianic Jews that I had never met before. What a blessing.

The first blast sent chills up my arms and legs and made my feet lift up off the floor. Three short blasts and I was ready to see God. Every gathering of God's people came to mind. Mount Sinai and Moses and most especially the march around Jericho. It was like I was there and lived it in the space of the Shofar blasts.
The Shofar lifted me up. I had to literally hold on to my seat so I wouldn't just jump up in the air. It is the single most thrilling sound I have ever heard and that includes my babies' first cries.
When Jesus comes to get us, I believe that it will be on His shout and that only we Christians will hear the trumpet blow for The Gathering to Himself. Even now I can feel the thrill of God. How I love Him! How I can hardly wait to hear His shout.

If you would like to hear this magnificent sound click Shofar go down the page a bit and you'll see "Shofar Wave". You will be blessed.

Important Recall


IMPORTANT RECALL The maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component, or heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality," or more commonly known as S-I-N, as it is primarily symphonized by loss of moral judgment.

Some other symptoms are: (a) Loss of direction (b) Foul vocal emissions (c) Amnesia of origin (d) Lack of peace and joy (e) Selfish, or violent, behavior (f) Depression or confusion in the mental component

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable or at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service, free of charge, to correct this S-I-N defect, at numerous locations throughout the world.

The number to call for the recall station in your area is: J-E-S-U-S WARNING: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction voids manufacturer's warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" BELIEVE IT!

(Thank you to whoever wrote this eons ago!)

Doing What I Can't


I really needed what I was reading this morning in my notes. I have been trying to do everything by myself because God gave me those abilities. Those things that I can do in an most excellent way such as reading and doing my school work. Writing my school papers. Studying my Sunday School lesson so I can teach on Sunday. But... when things get piled up so high that I can't see over them, can't see around them, can't see under them and I just can't go through them, suddenly I realize I need God's help.

Well... Beth Moore had some words of encouragement for me today and remember, I wrote this down last April 12, 2005. Just writing it down does not mean that we will retain if forever...

I am not stuck with permanent flaws. I have the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). I must use this fruit and exercise in this fruit. We are called to exclamation mark living! I must strive toward His working His works in me. I can't do a great work in myself. I do not have the strength. But He does and He promised to do this, so there is no struggle with His energy in me. God reveals this through His Spirit just as He bestows gifts through His Spirit. What makes me think that fulfilling what God has called me to do won't cost me anything?

Just as God provided all that was needed to build the Tabernacle, He provides all that is needed to act beyond my capabilities. Selah.


2Co 1:8 For, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant as to our affliction having happened to us in Asia, that we were excessively burdened beyond our power, so as for us even to despair of living. 9 But we ourselves have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust on ourselves, but on God, the One raising the dead
With power like that, who can defeat us? With power like that, how can we fail? Father, help us to wake up with You on our minds and to always ask You to manage our time and to help us use Your energy in us. Amen