Apparently Blog Posts Do Not Write Themselves..

…which is unfortunate since all I seem to be able to do is stare at the blinking cursor. I’ve just about meme’d y’all into oblivion so I thought it might be time for some real live mediocrity.

And since we are the subject of un-excitement (spell check wants un-excitement to be encystment. I have no idea what that means but it doesn’t sound exciting either!), the kids are in Big Testing this week at school. Apparently when it’s time for the Big Testing parents are supposed to provide nutritious breakfasts as opposed to the breakfasts we normally feed our children. Cookie Crisps and a Coke don’t count? What?!

Being the Wanna Be Good Mom that I am, I actually prepared food this morning that exceeded room temperature. After all that work, I’m expecting 99th percentile. And if the awesome grub didn’t do the trick, the brother-to-brother mentoring ought to work. This morning Boy Three asked Boy Two what a preposition was – you know, in case in turned up on his test.

With a knowing smile, Boy Two said, “That is SO easy. It’s a word that is found between some other words in a sentence.”

The child is a prodigy. Webster and Roget would be so proud.

And speaking of dictionaries and the like, I’m reminded to tell you my book finally has an official name! Y’all. It was harder titling the thing than it was writing it. Married to the Ministry was always tentative but after going through the titling process (did y’all know there is a whole titling process?), the publishers and I have finally agreed on…

*drumroll*

“You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes…And Other Great Advice from an Unlikely Preacher’s Wife.”

If you hate it, please keep it to yourself. I’ll be devastated. Okay, not really but it’d be great to hear your nice thoughts! I’m really, really getting pumped now because we can move on to cover design since the title is decided. I promise I will cry like stupid baby when I see this thing with a picture on front. I also assure you as soon as I have the design and I’m given liberty to share it, you’ll be the first to see! We may even make a little contest out of choosing a cover if I can get my awesome editor to arrange for a choice or three. I’m horrible at decision-making. Just ask anyone who has ever shopped or eaten with me more than once.

Alright, I know this is short but it’s time for the kids’ devo and early bedtime. I may just hit it a bit early myself.

I’ll need to be fully rested if I am to cook a warm, nutritious breakfast again in the morning.

This being-a-good-mom stuff is exhausting.

March 31, 2009 | Filed Under Parenting or Lack Thereof, Randomness | 33 Comments 

Spectacular Sins Chapter Eight

Well, girls. After a bit of a delayed journey, we have finally come to the last chapter of Spectacular Sins.

I can’t even begin to express how slowly digesting this book together with you has bolstered my faith in our sovereign and trustworthy God. To use Piper’s terms, the weighty doctrine presented in this smallish volume has been steel to my spine and silk to my soul. May God give us wisdom to discern where on the spectrum of hard and soft, of cunning and innocence, of strength and vulnerability we should situate ourselves in every single circumstance we face.

Today’s chapter deals with the murder of Jesus – the most spectacular sin of all. I’ve decided in ending our discussion to note a few of my favorite quotes and let you remark on those.

I’m sad to see this end, but it’s unavoidable so let’s get to it!

1. Quote: “My prayer is that as these great historical vistas of God’s sovereignty over sin take their place in your mind they would have a profoundly practical effect in making you strong in the face of breath-stopping sorrows and making you bold for Christ in the face of dangerous opposition – Christ-exalting strength in calamity and Christ-exalting courage in conflict.” (p. 98)

Question: What practical ways have the truths of this book strengthened your own faith? Can you describe any situations which have brought SS to mind as you’ve dealt with them?

2. “Satan does not take innocent people captive. There are no innocent people. Satan has power where sinful passions hold sway. Judas was a lover of money, and he covered it with a phony, external relationship with Jesus. And then he sold him for thirty pieces of silver. How many of his ilk are still around today! Don’t be one. And don’t be duped by one.” (p.100)

Question: Can you pinpoint a time in your life when you’ve fallen prey to a Judas – or worse – when you’ve been a Judas yourself?

3. “His [Jesus'] face was set like flint to die, and Satan concluded that there was no stopping him. Therefore, he resolved that if he couldn’t stop it, he would at least make it as ugly and painful and as heartbreaking as possible. Not just death, but death by betrayal. Death by abandonment. Death by denial. Death by torture. If he could not stop it, he would drag others into it and do as much damage as he could. It was a spectacular sequence of sins that brought Jesus to the cross.”

Question: Understanding first of all that I am in no way saying anyone could ever suffer the agony Jesus suffered, can you describe either a personal experience or one of which you are aware that could qualify as an ugly death? I’m asking this question symbolically though I realize some of you may have been touched by this literally. If the death was symbolic, have you yet seen the resurrection? If the death was literal, what strength do you gather from knowing a resurrection is coming?

(I hope that question makes sense. My Boy Two often says, “Can I buy a vowel?” when I ask ambiguous questions during our nightly devotions. Yes, my poor kids have to suffer me, too.)

4. ..”if God were not the main Actor in the death of Christ then the death of Christ could not save us from our sins, and we would perish in hell forever. The reason the death of Christ is the heart of the gospel – the heart of the good news – is that God was doing it. Romans 5:8: “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If you separate God’s activity from the death of Jesus, you lose the gospel.”

Question: Describe any fresh insights you’ve gained on God’s involvement in Jesus’ death.

5. “The most spectacular sins are not signs of ultimate absurdity. Satan is the ultimately irrational being. And much of what he is allowed to do will have the mark of senselessness on it.” (p. 107 – Closing Prayer)

Question: This statement makes me think of Heath Ledger’s Joker in the last Batman movie. A mind set on madness. And not because he is delusional enough to believe he can ultimately win, but because as he unravels, he wants to take as many with him as possible.

How can viewing Satan from this perspective open our eyes to whose side we are on when we grumble against God? Have you ever blamed the wrong person for your misery?

I would like to leave you with a portion of Piper’s closing prayer for us, the readers. Because I can’t say it any more beautifully, I’ll hope he won’t mind if I adopt to pray it for you as well. Blessings on each of you who participated and thank you for seeing this Book Club through to completion! Also, many thanks to Missy without whose partnership I wouldn’t have dared attempted such a thing. I love you, friend!

“Grant to our minds and hearts
new and deeper capacities to see and savor
the glories of Jesus Christ.
With every new glimpse of his glory in your word,
let there awaken new affections in our hearts.
Ignite our souls to treasure Christ in a way that
destroys our sinful lusts
and delights the deepest recesses of our being
and displays his truth and beauty
to a world that does not know
that this is what it needs more than anything.

And from this all-satisfying treasuring of Christ
may there flow a liberation from selfishness,
and a triumph over bitterness and anger,
and a freedom from worry and fear,
and victory over depression and discouragement,
and the severing of ever root of sensual lust,

All this freedom, Lord, we see for the sake of love.

March 30, 2009 | Filed Under Spectacular Sin | 7 Comments 

Today’s Woman Beside The Man Laurie Adams!


I’m so excited to introduce you to Laurie from Women Taking a Stand! I want to make special note of the question she poses in #8 because it is directed towards lay people. I’ll let her tell you the rest of her story. Thanks for playing, Laurie!

1. Please share your Real Name and Blog Name:

Laurie Adams @ WOMEN TAKING A STAND

2. In what area/areas of ministry do you serve alongside your husband? How long have you been in ministry?

We serve as Associate Pastors. Our area of ministry is centered around Christian Education, Visitation, Ministry Outreach, Senior Adult Ministry. We have been in full time ministry for 7 years and prior to that served as interim pastors filling in churches in our district for a year.

In addition to our Pastoral Ministry. I assist my husband when he conducts Christian Education Leaders Training all over the states for the national office of the Assemblies of God. In addition , we serve as the Christian Education Reps for our section in our state.

3. What is your favorite part of being a ministry wife?

Investing in others. Encouraging – especially women. Finding treasure within someone who doesn’t quite see it yet and help them to discover giftings they did not know they have.

4. Describe your personal giftedness. How do you exercise that within the church?

Encouragement, hospitality, Prayer, teaching

I lead a ladies bible study,
I write a weekly church prayer blog,
I invest in ladies of the church by sending out cards of encouragement every week and having lunch with at least one lady a week.
I am a behind the scene person and make a lot of the “small” details happen so my husband doesn’t have to worry about it. I am quite ocd about details.

5. If you have children, what’s the most embarrassing PK thing they’ve ever done? If you do not have children, have you committed a blunder yourself that you can laugh about now?

When filling in at a church, my daughter who was about four years old was in a stage of telling big tales … I mean BIG whoppers. While my husband and I took our place in the sanctuary ready to preach, my daughter went off to children’s church. Following the service, a lady greeted us with laughter and relayed the story of how she inquired of our daughter if she had any brothers or sisters. Our daughter told her that she had a sister but she had died. The lady said “Oh I am so sorry” “how old was she?” “16″ My daughter replied. The lady then asked my daughter what her sister died of, and our daughters response? – “She smoked too much”

Funny thing is – that church never asked us back again to preach!

{Lisa here…I’m rolling over this one! Poor, sister. Those cigarettes are bad news. lol}

6. What is the single most important piece of advice you would like to offer other ministry wives?

Family first over ministry.
Ministry is fun!
Don’t ask anything of anybody that you are not willing to do yourself.
Have a servants heart.
Just love the people … God will do the rest.

7. Do you have a question about ministry life you’d like answered by those who reading this spotlight?

If you could name one thing that you need from your Pastors wife…what would it be?

8. Where can we visit you on the web? (blog url)

http://womentakingastand.blogspot.com/
http://wmfirstassemblyofgodprays.blogspot.com/

March 26, 2009 | Filed Under Woman Beside the Man | 10 Comments 

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