" Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered,"
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hebrews 12:1,2
Living by faith is not the life of a dreamer or an idealist. . . .
It is the pursuit of the realist.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Realist
Prayer for work
Our good God, Father and Savior, since You have pleased to command us to work to meet our needs, by Your grace may You so bless our labor that Your benediction may extend to us: without it we cannot continue to live. And may Your favor serve us as a witness of Your goodness and presence, that by it we may recognize the fatherly care You have for us. Moreover, O Lord, please grant us aid by Your Holy Spirit, so that we may faithfully work in our place and vocation, without any fraud or deception; may we pay attention to following Your ordinance rather than satisfying our own lust for gain. And if it please You to prosper our labor, may You also give us the heart to support those who are in need according to the ability You have given us - but always without our wishing to set ourselves above those who have not received such generosity from You. And where You choose to give us greater poverty and lack than our flesh would like, You, O Lord, grant us the grace to acknowledge that You always feed us by Your goodness, so that we may not be tempted to defy You. But may we wait with patience for You to fill us not only with Your temporal graces but also with spiritual ones, so that we may always have greater reason and occasion to thank you and to repose entirely on your goodness alone. Hear us, most merciful Father, by Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Question from my womanhood blog
- Comments based on what I wrote about 1 Corinthians 14:35
- Reader said...
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hey- i got to your blog thru a___. quick question- what about a theological discussion around the table, at a meal or gathering? do you think that it is biblically wrong for a woman to engage with a man other than her husband about theology -whether her husband is present or not? is it wrong for me to ask you this question thru blogging? should i have asked my husband first? thanks-
- June 20, 2008 9:38 AM
- Miykael said...
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That’s a good question. When I wrote these things on women, I wanted to get at the raw meaning of what the scripture is saying. Not necessarily figure out all the practical aspects of it, but to just find out, “what is it saying?”, because I know that God is wiser than I am, and I can trust Him at his word, and that it is a good thing to obey Him. I also wanted to know because; I didn’t want to ask something of women that God was not asking. I will be honest with you I am still wrestling with this specific verse, trying to get at the core of what it is saying and what it means practically for us. I tend to approach scripture like Jacob when he wrestled with God. I wrestle with it and chew on it till God shows me what it means. This verse is such a sensitive topic, so I don’t want to come to a quick conclusion. But what I have written on 1 Corinthians 14 is what has come out of my wrestling with the verse so far. The scriptures are pretty clear that a woman ought to express “theology” or “who God is” in all that she does, whether actions or words. Anyone who would interpret 1 Corinthians 14 as saying that women should be weak or not express who God is has not really studied the scripture on this issue. And no I do not think that she has to ask her husband every time she expresses who God is in her life. I think we have to be careful of bringing our cultural perspective, or any cultural perspective, into our understanding of the verses on women. Also we must be careful not to have an “either . . . or” mentality. As with many things the things of the Kingdom of God do not fit into these things. Women our both to be strong in their expression of theology both in their words and in their actions with men and they are also supposed to support the leadership of men, especially that of their husbands. I don’t think these are exclusive things.
Since Paul uses scripture as his reasoning for saying this (specifically to women) and later says it’s the Lord’s command, we cannot just ignore these verses. We must obey it. I do think it will take some learning on how to live these verses out practically, one to get our own assumptions on what this looks like out of the way, and two to learn to live out what the Kingdom of God has for us. My hope is to get people to start believing in the scripture and then once they do ask how we are to obey it.
Here is what I have come up with so far on the practical side of these verses, although I have not settled on a conclusion. The church is meant to be lead not only by pastors, elders, and deacons, but as families come into the church the father is to represent his family within the church and provide godly leadership. These verses reflect that: fathers rising up and taking responsibility to see that their homes are the Lord’s, teaching their family about the ways of the Lord. So I think this is the overall lesson of these verses: Women, what can you do to establish the godly leadership of your husband in your home. This is the over arching principle in whatever situation you find you self in, whether in the church meeting or out of it (1 Corinthians 11).
Specifically, this verse refers to meeting as a church (whether small group meeting or a Sunday service). I don’t think this means that a women cannot talk about God openly in her daily actions. In fact, I think that is the essence of womanhood, to express God in all she does whether by words or actions. So as long as she is supporting her husband’s leadership and is not in an authoritative or teaching position over men, I would not put any restrictions on her outside the church, as long as it is done with a gentle and quiet spirit (don’t put cultural connotations on this). I think an example of this is Aquila and Priscilla with Apollos. This was a one on one interaction with Apollos, and although I am sure they probably mostly talked with him together, I also wouldn’t be surprised if there were times for example Priscilla was working around the house and praising God and talking with Apollo on how great God is and about theology. We also know that Paul and Jesus talked with women. I think that theology should be part of a regular discussion among Christians (Col 3:16). What better thing to talk about then the glories of God as a part of normal discussion. I don’t think these verses are restricting that by any means.
I do think, though, within church or small group meetings there should be strong leadership from the men. And that this restriction focuses on that. I believe that these verses are putting the responsibility on direction, teaching, authority, and judgment on the men, because when that happens the church is stronger. It is not saying that women must be totally silence, because we see that in 1 Corinthians 11, Acts 1-2, and so on, but when it comes to the things above they are to be silent. I will be honest with you; I am still wrestling at this point. I also have the questions of “What is this supposed to look like?” And when I say these things, I also have a strong reaction like most people (because I come to it with my cultural expectations of what that looks like), but I am not interested in what I have say about it or what feel, but instead I want to submit to the word of God; “was it from [me] that the word of God came?” I do have more ideas about this verse, which are interesting and hopefully will be helpful, but I am still chewing on it waiting on the Lord to give me the answer, but I think what it comes down to is that we have to surrender to God in this and say, “I know you have something good here, your Word is God breathed and is for our good. God show us what you mean here and how we can practically live it out.” And He is good, and I think we will find in His word so much more than we expected or dreamed.
July 2007 - Response to ladies questions
1. If you could say one thing to encourage the ladies in LG, what would you say?
I have sisters and I want them to know that they are beautiful. Ladies, I want you to know that you are beautiful. You are captivating.
2. If you could say one thing to challenge the ladies in LG, what would you say?
The scripture is the Voice of God, it is so good. . . .Embrace godly and scriptural womanhood. . . . Ladies, don’t be caught in the trappings and oppression of our culture, to which we are no longer a part. Feed on God’s faithfulness, it challenges women to be so much more than our culture and to have more influence in the church, ministry, and the world, then they often do because the churches have bought into the culture. What God has for you is so good. Learn from Him, He is gentle and humble of heart.
3. How can the ladies in LG serve and honor you as men better? (be honest – they’re not going to know who wrote what)
I have often heard women (and men) make fun of the verses regarding women being in silence. These verses state within themselves that they are based on the authority of the command of Christ, the scripture, the apostleship of Paul, the design of God in creating women at Creation before sin entered the world, and the fact that they are scripture themselves. Based on this authority, they should not be taken lightly or laughed at. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Elsewhere it says, “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, Says the LORD. But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word”. What ever your opinion is on these verses, they are scripture and they are based on strong authority, don’t take them lightly. If you really want to know what these verses mean, come as a child and believe your Father, trust Him. He is good and you might be surprised by what you find. Ladies, I say this because God’s vision for womanhood is bigger than mine or yours or anyone else’s. . . . Now, how does this relate to honoring men? Well, that is what makes it great. God has a lot of wonderful things to show you, if you are willing to learn and obey. Living out what God has for you is the best way you can honor us.
4. Why is it important to you as a man that the ladies seek God everyday?
Women are vital to the church and my own walk with the Lord. I need them to be close to the Lord. I need their godly influence in my life.
5. Why is it important to you that they walk in purity?
I want a wife who will walk with me in purity and passion. Purity is not something that ends when you get married. I am also a romantic and I want to be able to share that part of my life with only one woman. Also impurity brings shame and brings areas where you don’t feel you can be vulnerable and “naked”. I want to be able to be “naked and unashamed” with my wife.
Just a side comment, I know enough women to know that even though you may not struggle with lust in the same way men do, women do struggle and have bought into cultural perspectives that are not scriptural. Please fight to walk in purity not just in action, but in how you view and relate to men. When I said that I want a wife who is pure, I don’t just mean physically, but that she has a godly mindset in how she treats other men.
Another thing, please be modest. It is very awkward to talk with a woman, when if you look at and focus on her face, more is showing in your field of vision, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. I hate that. I want to feel like I can talk to a woman without seeing more than I want to and dishonoring her.
I think it is similar to what I said at first, the men in the church need women who will walk in purity with them.
6. If you had to pick some character qualities you wish the ladies in LG exemplified more of, what would they be?
The characteristic that I would like to see in the women of our life group is a desire for biblical womanhood. I would like to see them develop a deep hunger for God’s heart for femininity and to grow in maturity. I would like to see them challenge each other to be women after God’s own heart.
7. How would you as a man define womanhood or femininity (what is “lady-like” to you)?
I could list a lot of traits that I find beautiful in woman and lady-like, but my views and what I like are my own and although I think they express femininity well, the scripture alone can define femininity. To define femininity, I would encourage you to forget any cultural perspective you or anyone else might have and look at the scriptures, all of them; (I have several pages of them), and meditate on them. Know how femininity is defined in the culture of the Kingdom of God.
We all know Proverbs 31; it is a good place to start. I know some will try to idealize it, which is really ridiculous when you understand it. It is a very realistic view into the heart and practical lifestyle of a godly woman and has so many insights for us, today. A key scripture elsewhere says that a woman builds her home. Another scripture is 1 Peter 3, “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” And there is more . . . daughters of the King, study God’s heart for you. Let His words wash over you.
8. At any given LG, what practically can the ladies do to bless you more? (engage in worship, dance with flags, etc…)
Believe in us as men and treat us like men. Trust us. Please, allow us to lead. Ladies, we desire to be a covering for you and we desire to honor you as men. Believe that we can honor and protect you. We so much desire to be this, give us opportunities.
One little thing you can do to help us is after life group don’t walk to you cars alone; allow us to walk you to your car. (I am not getting on to you for this, this is our responsibility, I am just showing you a way you can practically show us that you value us). Most of the time I don’t notice when women walk out (I’ll work on this), so if no man is there to walk you out, let us know that you are leaving and need someone to walk you out. That would be a huge help. If we are talking to someone interrupt us, its ok.
The key to a man’s heart is respect. As we, men, want to find ways to let you know that you are loved, find ways like this that tell us that you do believe in and respect us as men and that you appreciate our covering over you.
9. What is your biggest pet-peeve about the ladies right now?
This is not what bothers me the most (that would probably be not valuing God’s word), but it fits more in the pet-peeve category probably than anything else. Many of you have stated that you desire men to lead, but often when women wait for men to lead out, it is at the most only a few minutes and often only seconds. There are many times where I was about to step out to lead, but then was not able to because of this (and I am not the only one this has happened to). So I hear women asking for men to lead out, but then declining to be patient and wait for them to lead. Do you really believe in the men in life group? Are there women who are willing to wait for months in silence and prayer, not leading out, and praying and waiting for men to lead, because they believe in the men and in their ability to lead, and trust that the Lord will raise them up? I would like to see such women in the church, women who are strong, women who believe in the men, and are willing support the men of the church in a very real way, not just with words. The scripture says that this strength will change an ungodly man’s heart. . . . It will change ours.
Please hear me in this. I know you do want men to lead and I do believe you do want to be women who support the men in the church. I know you strongly desire to build up the men in life group. You wrote us and challenged us to lead. And I thank you so much for that. And it encouraged me. I think we are just both learning how to live this out, how to live out manhood and womanhood in the church, and that’s ok, as long as we are walking toward God in this. Be willing to listen to God’s word in learning how to encourage us as men, all of it.
One of the things you can do to bless us practically is just refuse to lead. . . . Wait for the men to lead out in life group, no matter how long it takes. Ladies, allow us to learn to lead.
I know this can be hard. I know we as men need to step it up and we often fail you. We don’t always lead as we should. I know I don’t. Let us learn. Let us even fail at times. We will mess up and be faulty, but we will learn. Be patient. You don’t have to take up the slack, you can trust God. Don’t step out and lead, wait for us to do so in life group, even if it takes a long time. I think often that many of us have such a fear that God cannot speak to His church and so we step out ahead of God and hinder God’s work. Good things may still happen (God is so gracious to us), but we miss out on God’s best. God is a patient God and He is capable. And He will do things according to His word, not in spite of it.
Also know that as men, we often want to lead, but feel so unworthy to lead or to speak or even to pray. Many of us are also deeply hurt. Allow God to work on our hearts and wait; don’t lead. There are men who desire to be men, you can trust us. Prayer is an amazing thing, pray for us.
10. Feel free to send a message to the ladies in LG…write anything you’d like them to hear:
God has uniquely designed you as women. We as men are amazed by the gifts that God has given you. And we admire the strengths that you uniquely have as women. Women are amazing! You are beautiful. You are captivating. We want to walk along side you and build you up in the Lord and honor you as men.