Tried With Fire

I've been listening to I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't) by Brene Brown. She is known for her research in the dynamics of shame, and this book is specifically for women and shame. I don't know whether Brown is a Christian or not. She doesn't bring God explicitly into her writings at all. However, her work is very helpful because it names what many of us experience and also raises issues that may hinder us as individual Christians and/or communities. In the section on shame triggers, Brown writes of identity as being a primary trigger but from two aspects. The first is desired identity. I want or need to be this. I want people to see me as that. If not, I have not measured up to whatever this desired identity is, which brings shame. However the second aspect is where she grabbed my attention - unwanted identity . This is the case where we are given an identity that is not truly ours by others. Growing up as an Asian American in an era where there was inaccur...

When my pastor was preaching on Revelation 9, he mentioned that a popular Christian author interpreted the locusts in this passage as modern-day helicopters. Hmmmm. He then went on to say that if this indeed was correct, how would it have been possible for the historical church to accurately interpret this passage prior to the invention of the helicopter? Bingo! Why would the Apostle John write a portion of Scripture to local churches in Asia minor that would be next to impossible for the original recipients to understand correctly let alone the rest of the church prior to the 20th century? It makes no sense at all, but this is what happens when we ignore the historical context and read our current situation into the text. Unlike the song, we are not the world. Then what about this? In Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey has documented that the 1950's concept of womanhood has its roots in the Victorian era . This was a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution when men began to ...

Fact: The temperature dropped 20 degrees from Thursday to Friday, so we turned the heat on this week-end. Fact: I was feeling the beginnings of a cold Saturday afternoon. Here's a home remedy for colds that is not for the faint-hearted: swallow one small crushed clove of garlic 3x a day until the symptoms disappear or you can't bear the garlic fumes any longer. Don't take it on an empty stomach and drink plenty of liquid to wash it down. I've read that garlic has natural antibiotic and antiviral properties. More likely one's breath scares the germs away. Fact: I have 3 baby blankets and burp cloths to make this week. It's easier to find cute fabric for girls than boys. Fact: Thanks to all who were praying for me for the workshop on The Organized Heart .  God was good to use the time to encourage us in practical, grace-motivated living.  I was blessed that the sisters were willing to meet at 8:00 AM on a rainy and chilly Saturday morning. I'm also thank...

I am thankful for the Titus 2 women's ministry at our church.  The Biblical view of womanhood is so different from what the world says.  I fear as time goes on, the contrast will become even greater.  I have  vague childhood memories of life before the women's lib movement, but younger women have no other reference point than modern feminism.  We are constantly bombarded from movies, television, and the internet to the point you become numb.  Even the grocery store isn't a safe place anymore.  There should be magazine-free checkout lines, because it's embarrassing to see what is shamelessly displayed on the covers as the perfect woman. Last Saturday, the pastor's wife led a study on purity - not just staying free from fornication or adultery, but purity of mind and thought as renewed by Scripture.  We discussed several issues that hit close to home such as how we view our appearance, why we want to be accepted, and what is driving that.  Is...