His Purpose Prevails

After hearing about the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage for all states, many things went through my mind. Some political. Some moral. All contributed, however, to a sinking feeling in my stomach. There are many things we could discuss in light of that.  Yes, I believe that gay sexual acts are wrong. Yes, I believe marriage is a sacred agreement between a man and a woman before God. No, I don’t believe that the Federal Government has the right to overturn state laws. Yes, I believe non-profit businesses should have the right to be selective about to whom they sell their goods and services.  Does that make me any better than people who choose to believe otherwise? No.  This isn’t about politics, this isn’t about religion. This isn’t even about gay marriage. This is about the condition of the human heart. So this is what I choose to discuss: How we as Christians, saved by grace and the blood of Christ, should respond to this “proud” 1 legal

Now, hold on a second. I know what you're going to say. Proverbs 31 talks about being industrious, trustworthy, and financially responsible. Don't get me wrong; I'm not here to proclaim the nonexistent spiritual benefits of idleness, dishonesty, and the irresponsible use of money. I'm here to point out one crucial fact that I missed all of my childhood years as I read and reread this passage. As Christian women, we are told over and over that Proverbs 31 is the ideal. Study it, we are told. Try to emulate it. THIS is who you are...or at least who you should be. Get this, though: The Proverbs 31 woman is married .  When Proverbs was written, a married woman was a secure woman. A woman with children had also secured her future. A widow or unmarried woman in many places couldn't own, buy or sell property. She was at the mercy of the community to care for her daily needs, and the community wasn't always very kind. It is not that way today. Yet m

Our visit to Dallas was like stepping into a time machine. I was suddenly close to family and friends that I hadn’t seen up close in months. Much like I sometimes do on a trip to the zoo, I pressed close to the proverbial glass, peering in awe at my loved ones, thinking Wow. Is this thing real? Amidst the familiar faces, strange new things flitted.  A ministry on the rise, blossoming from its beginnings in a college town. Two very distinct friends becoming one. A game with dice and stories as an attempt to bring a family out from behind screens. The reuniting of a friendship that began far from home, and the rekindling and fading of others. A little brother with a tasseled hat; the reminder that he isn’t quite so little anymore. The union of my old life and new. And somehow, this new life is neither of them. Among the new, some things were missing. Their absence was noted, sometimes with wistfulness, but the time of mourning is over. From the shadow of loss come