Welcome to Marriage Monday

Our Holiday Spending Plan

Ride-the-Ducks is the most amusing, entertaining activity we’ve done in a long time! For his birthday, e-Dad wanted to ride on one of those re-purposed WWII amphibious vehicles that travels on both land and water. We boarded the crowded open van, and bounced around Seattle and Lake Union accompanied by the non-stop commentary of one very clever sea captain.

The captain instructed us to raise our arms and pretend to crank on a slot machine shouting “Cha-Ching!” every time we drove by a green Starbucks awning—which are plentiful in our fair city. (We even drove by the original coffee shop in Pike Place Market.) Quacktastic!

Starbucks has experienced phenomenal success around the globe under the direction of Howard Schultz. A few years ago, when he stepped down, the company began to flounder. Schultz returned to take the helm of Starbucks, and now the company is solvent and growing again. Management matters, a lot.

Cha-Ching!

Like running a coffee roasting company, managing our personal finances requires knowledge, skill, and discipline. Many Christians study the sound instruction offered by Crown Financial Ministries or Dave Ramsey.

I’ve learned to be as frugal when it comes to spending and investing our hard-earned cash. For us, Christmas is a time to give a few gifts, but mostly to share warm hospitality. Budget preparation beforehand is our key to a pleasurable holiday—and avoiding "sticker shock" in January.

Our projected holiday spending plan is listed below. (Your budget will be different, based on your age, family income, plans, and priorities.) This year, a significant portion of our holiday dollars will go into toward travelling to visit our daughter and son-in-law. Since we always buy discounted airline tickets online at the last minute, our travel options are still open.

If necessary, e-Dad and I can trim this down by not sending Christmas cards or getting a tree, and by choosing not to give gifts to each other. Obviously, we can save a bundle if we decide to stay home. I’ve already saved nearly all of our gift allowance from the sale of unwanted “stuff”on Craigslist.

$100____ Daughter & SIL (Apron + Cash)

$100____ Son (Cash)

$50_____ e-Mom (1/2 Apron + Mini-Bundt Pan)
$50_____ e-Dad (Electronics)

$30_____ MIL & Family (Fruit Basket)

$25_____ FIL (Books)

$20_____ Niece (Gift Card)
$20_____ Nephew (Gift Card)
$20_____ Sister (Gift Card)
$20_____ BFF (Cosmetics)

$435____ Subtotal Gifts

$30_____ 25 Christmas Cards & Postage
$20_____ Gift Wrap & Bows

$75_____ Tree & Lights (Boy Scouts)
$1000___ Travel 1
$100____ Travel 2
$200____ Entertainment
$100____ Food

$1960___ Total

"In the day of prosperity, be joyful. But in the day of adversity, consider: God has made one as well as the other." (Ecc. 7:14)

Today is Marriage Monday. Join Us!

If you would like to link a post for Marriage Monday today, take a minute to read the overview of our topic, “Financial Contentment in Marriage” Choose one of the four titles listed and then tell us what you've learned about managing money. Remember, you're the expert!

You’re welcome to add your link any time up until eleven PM on Wednesday. Please include a text link back to Chrysalis, or you can use one of these graphic buttons if you prefer.

Let's plan to meet here again for Marriage Monday on December 6, 2010. Next month's group topic is, "Joy for Two at Christmas." Four title choices will be posted in approximately three weeks.

If you're new at Chrysalis today, please accept my invitation to join our Marriage Monday community. I'm e-Mom your hostess. Welcome! You might want to read an introduction to this meme and find out how to join the Marriage Monday Blog List.

Thanks for contributing your wise thoughts to Marriage Monday today, sweet sister!

Photos: Google Images

Photo Linky

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Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?

Tis the Season… to be Spooky

Email is a wonderful thing! The regular mailings I receive from GotQuestions.org are always very timely and enlightening. The following Halloween message arrived in my inbox last week, and I wanted to pass it on to you. Blessings, e-Mom ღ

(Reformatted in point form for easy scanning.)

• While the Bible does not explicitly state whether a Christian can be possessed by a demon, related biblical truths make it abundantly clear that Christians cannot be demon possessed.

• There is a distinct difference between being possessed by a demon and being oppressed or influenced by a demon.

• Demon possession involves a demon having direct/complete control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person (Matthew 17:14-18; Luke 4:33-35; 8:27-33).

• Demon oppression or influence involves a demon or demons attacking a person spiritually and/or encouraging him/her into sinful behavior.

• Notice that in all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, there are no instructions to cast a demon out of a believer (Ephesians 6:10-18).

• Believers are told to resist the devil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), not to cast him out.

• Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Surely the Holy Spirit would not allow a demon to possess the same person He is indwelling.

• It is unthinkable that God would allow one of His children, whom He purchased with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19) and made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), to be possessed and controlled by a demon.

• Yes, as believers, we wage war with Satan and his demons, but not from within ourselves.

• The apostle John declares, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Who is the One in us? The Holy Spirit. Who is the one in the world? Satan and his demons. Therefore, the believer has overcome the world of demons, and the case for demon possession of a believer cannot be made scripturally.
Discover more here…

Related

1. Pumpkins Three Ways
2. Honoring Christ During Halloween

Photos: Top. jessamyn (Flickr) Bottom. Google Images



Up Next—Marriage Monday

Your thoughts and reflections?

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Marriage Monday is Coming!

From Gold-Digger to Helpmate

Jokes about women who marry for money abound, but marriage counselors know that women do marry for a certain amount of financial security… and it is no joke. Sociologists at the University of Virginia found that,

American wives, even wives who hold more feminist views about working women and the division of household tasks, are typically happier when their husband earns 68% or more of the household income. Husbands who are successful breadwinners probably give their wives the opportunity to make choices about work and family—e.g., working part-time, staying home, or pursuing a meaningful but not particularly remunerative job—that allow them to best respond to their own needs, and the needs of their children.

When we study Genesis 3:8-22 and note the differing curses God put Adam and Eve under after the Fall, it’s easy to see why this research reflects truth. The Scriptures clearly show that God intended for males to find fulfillment in work, and females to find satisfaction in family relationships.

No Finance? No Romance.

Adam’s curse created serious financial difficulties. But fortunately, God had given him a wife with a built-in job-description: helpmate (Gen 2:18).
As relational creatures, we women want our husbands to be our soul mate, but our men truly need our support and assistance first. All the romantic goodies that we crave so much are likely to follow when our husbands feel there are sufficient funds in the coffers.

So do we thank him for his efforts and encourage our husband in his work… or do we gripe and complain? Recently, one writer’s words really
hit home to me:

Making a living is not easy in our competitive world. The husband often faces frustrations, discouragements, and setbacks. Some people take advantage of him, cheat him, and deceive him. Others criticize or censure him. He needs someone to encourage him, to appreciate him, to believe in him, to respect him—and that is why God gave him a wife! He will be able to bear a great deal more hardship in the workaday world if he knows that has a wife at home who admires him, trusts him, and stands by him, whatever happens. If he gets the same sort of treatment at home that he gets in the working world, he will be tempted to try some form of escape which will lead to unhappiness for all concerned. But the thought of a smile coupled with a little admiration and encouragement will draw him home like a magnet.

According to e-Dad, when the going gets tough for him in our business, the most meaningful thing I can say is, “How can I help?” Romantic dinners out, lengthy conversations, and “play” always drop down our priority list when unpaid bills are pressing.

We've worked out a schedule where I help e-Dad in the office with mailings at least one day a week. I also help him run errands, brainstorm new ideas, and set sales goals. What do you do to lend your husband a hand with his job?

Seeking Your Submission

With the recession still affecting so many among us, and the expenses of the holidays just ahead, let’s take a few minutes out of our day on Monday Nov. 1 2010 to encourage one another on the vital topic, “Financial Contentment in Marriage.” Agreed?

Financial Contentment in Marriage

We all know that the topic of money can be a negatively charged issue between married couples. The following four title options give you the opportunity to put a positive spin on things. Choose one title, and let the Spirit lead you where He wants you to go.

Thanks for taking the time to share your wisdom and advice with us, dear sister!

1. Our Holiday Spending Plan
2. Why the Recession has Strengthened our Marriage
3. Money Management Tips from the Bible
4. How We Recovered from a Big $$$ Mistake

Are You New To Marriage Monday?

If you’re new to Chrysalis and Marriage Monday, you are welcome here! Please jump in and join us on Monday. Choose one of the titles above, write your heart out, and then come back and link up. Your entry doesn’t need to be fancy or clever, and you can make it as long (or short) as long as you like.

After you leave your permalink, take some time to visit a few of the other contributors. Introduce yourself in the comments; I guarantee you’ll meet some very high-quality blogging women if you do.

For a general introduction to Marriage Monday, click here. If you would like to be added to our Blog List, please click here.

Photos: My Patterned Mind (Flickr)



Have you chosen your title for Monday?

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Gender: What's the Danvers Statement?

A Lifegiving Credo for Men & Women

Do you have a personal mission statement? Maybe you hold a passage of Scripture close as the guiding beacon of your life. As an “older” Christian woman,
I like to meditate on Titus 2: 3-5.

Similar to a mission statement, a creed or statement of belief is often written by a group of Christians to outline a clear set of authoritative principles about what that group considers to be fundamental truth. Like the Nicene or Apostles Creed, a creed is often intended to refute heresy that has crept into the church.

Q & A with Wayne Grudem

The Danvers Statement was penned by the founders of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood about twenty years ago. Listen to author and theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem as he discusses the impact of this statement as a response to evangelical feminism.

Q. Can you reflect on the significance of and impact of the Danvers Statement in the evangelical church? Is it serving its purpose?

A. Wayne Grudem: I think the Danvers Statement has been used by God to define a clear, balanced, biblical perspective on men's and women's roles. It has been widely accepted by organizations and denominations that hold to a "complementarian" position on men and women in marriage and the church… It has served as a "standard" by which people could evaluate their faithfulness to the biblical teaching on this matter. It avoided giving in to a liberal watering down of the Bible's teaching on the left, or to a harsh, overly-conservative, male-chauvinist kind of addition to the commands of Scripture on the right.

If CBMW had not published the Danvers Statement in 1988, there would be not one "complementarian position" in the evangelical world, but hundreds, resulting in much confusion, and enabling evangelical feminists to criticize the most offensive expressions rather than having to deal with a responsible, biblically balanced statement that affirms the equal value of both men and women and their differences in roles according to Scripture.

The Danvers Statement

Rationale

We have been moved in our purpose by the following contemporary developments which we observe with deep concern:

1. The widespread uncertainty and confusion in our culture regarding the complementary differences between masculinity and femininity;

2. The tragic effects of this confusion in unraveling the fabric of marriage woven by God out of the beautiful and diverse strands of manhood and womanhood;

3. The increasing promotion given to feminist egalitarianism with accompanying distortions or neglect of the glad harmony portrayed in Scripture between the loving, humble leadership of redeemed husbands and the intelligent, willing support of that leadership by redeemed wives;

4. The widespread ambivalence regarding the values of motherhood, vocational homemaking, and the many ministries historically performed by women;

5. - 10. Continue reading…

Affirmations

Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God's image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).

2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).

3. Adam's headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).

4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).

• In the home, the husband's loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife's intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.

• In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.

5. - 10. Continue reading…

Related

If you’re looking for more good quotes—both short and long—visit Barbara’s Monday meme,
The Week in Words at Stray Thoughts.

Photos: MissKells & thewrongglass (Flickr)




Coming Soon—Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?

Under “Affirmations” what are your thoughts on point #4?

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Kay Arthur in the Spotlight

"I had a mink, and I had money and I was miserable."
—Kay Arthur

A (Make-Believe) Interview

Kay Arthur is known as one of the leading Bible teachers around the world, ministering to the hearts and minds of millions. She has written more than 100 books and Bible studies, particularly on the subject of embracing life’s disappointments.

Four of Kay Arthur’s books have received the prestigious Gold Medallion, including A Marriage Without Regrets; the International Inductive Study Bible; and Lord, I Need Grace to Make It Today.

Following is a fictional interview based on the real facts of Kay Arthur’s life and ministry.

Q. When and where were you born?

A. I was born in the United States in 1933. (Laughs.) You can do the math!

Q. Tell me a little bit about your childhood.

A. I grew up a home that honored God. My family moved frequently, and in each new community we would first look for a church home, and then we’d find a house to live in.

Q. What kind of education did you receive?

A. As a young woman, I graduated from nursing school. I also studied modeling. In 2007, I received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Q. Did you marry and when?

A. After graduation, I married Frank Thomas Goetz, Jr. (Tom). We divorced after a six-year marriage during which time he battled with manic-depression. Tragically, he later committed suicide.

I was once warned, "sin will take you father than you ever intended to go, it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay, and it will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay." Unfortunately, over the next few years,
I sought comfort with several other men including a two-year relationship with a married man.

After a dramatic conversion experience when "I went down on my knees a harlot, and I got up a saint," I met Jack Arthur at Tennessee Temple University where I was studying the Bible. We’ve been married nearly 36 years.

Q. Do you have any children?

A. Jack and I have three grown sons and nine grandchildren.

Q. How did your ministry develop?

Together, Jack and I founded Precept Ministries International in 1970 (Chattanooga Tennessee). It began as a small Bible study for teens. Now there are Precept inductive Bible study groups in all 50 states, with materials in nearly 150 countries and nearly 70 languages.

We also host radio and television broadcasts which reach a potential viewing audience of more that 94 million households worldwide.

Q. When did you sense the Lord had a special purpose for your life?

A. "Before I was a believer, I would read the Bible and find it boring. When I became a child of God at age 29, I opened the Bible and it became a brand new book. I knew what was filling me was exactly what others were looking for as well… My passion and burden is to help other people to get into the Word of God in the most effective way possible."

Q. How have you fulfilled that calling?

A. I discovered that the inductive Bible study method took me right into the Word of God, apart from the interpretations of the text by someone else. It’s a process that involves three steps: observation, interpretation, and application.

"Everything we do in our ministry is geared toward one thing: Not to have you think like we think, or to believe what we believe, but to show you how you can know the truth for yourself."

Q. What kind of legacy would you like to leave?

A. "Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether I speak here or there, or accomplish this or that. What matters is if everything’s all right between me and God. Am I becoming a holy woman? Am I reflecting Him...?

When you develop an intimacy with God that comes through knowing His Word, then you are able to approach Him with clean hands and a pure heart… Only then can you truly experience the sweetness of His presence and His joy. There’s nothing greater!"

All direct quotes are from the interview, "Beauty From Ashes" by Laurie Beyer and published by Just Between Us: For Women With a Heart For Ministry. See also, Gifted For Leadership's article, "Kay Arthur."

Note: This is a popular Chrysalis repost.

Related

• How to Have an Inductive Bible Study

• 5 Bible Study "Rock Stars" in the Spotlight

Photos: Random House, Barnes & Noble, Precept Ministries (Flickr)



Up Next—Gender Issues: What's the Danvers Statement?

Are you familiar with Kay Arthur's books?
Your favorite is___________.

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Relationships: How to Lead a Bible Study

Growing Your Small Group

Don’t panic! You don't need to have the final answer to every single question. Nor do you want to presume that your careful preparation exempts you from any further lessons the Holy Spirit may want to teach from the passage.

Your job is simply to raise the questions, supply needed background information, and moderate the discussion. You want to be humble, open, and appreciative of all that the group members contribute in observation, interpretation, and application.

Group Dynamics

Frequently the same set of specific questions may provoke on one occasion a vigorous and profitable discussion, but at another time or with a different group the interaction never seems to “catch fire.”

Reasons for this difference include the caliber of questions; the sensitivity of the leader to the group; the relationships among group members; the relationships among the group members to the leader; the physical circumstances (sitting in a circle or in rigid rows); and the openness of individual group members to learn and participate.

The traffic patterns of a group are often initially a question-by-the-leader followed by group-member-answer in the early stages of a study. Certainly by the time the application is underway several group members should be speaking to the entire group or to each other without any contributions by the leader for several minutes.

Discussion Checklist

__Begin promptly and on time.
__Take five minutes for small talk and to let the group get acquainted.
__Learn people’s first names and use them often.
__Promote eye contact by sitting in a circle.
__Open with prayer. Ask and expect the Holy Spirit to teach the group.
__Have the group members read the passage aloud by paragraph.
__Add human interest by asking someone to retell the story in their own words.
__Ask each person to make one positive observation about the passage.
__Pace the study by discreetly keeping an eye on the time.
__Attempt to cover the assigned material.
__Move on to the next question as soon as understanding has been reached.
__Emphasize points for practical application and further study.
__Close with group prayer and on time.

Creative Leadership Tips

Make the group do the work.

Allow times of silence; people are thinking.

Rephrase the question if the group seems “blocked.”

Each person will best remember what he had the chance to express.

Encourage discussion which proceeds without your help.

Summarize and review periodically, pinpointing the main ideas.

Ask for questions.

Emphasize group unity by asking one of the group members to summarize the lesson before closing.

T or F? Dealing with Difficulties

1. Capitalize on controversy. Guide through it, rather than stifle it.
2. Use other passages of Scripture to help arrive at a resolution.
3. Avoid vigorous debate and fruitless controversy.
4. Agree to disagree if necessary.
5. Respect group members as individuals.
6. Accept what people think, not what they should think.
7. Never bluntly tell a group member that her answer is wrong.
8. Tactful questions about a member’s answer can help her clarify her thinking.
9. Gently restrain too-talkative members; address a question to another member by name.
10. Insist on modern phrasing rather than “Biblese.”
(Answers: All True)

Excerpts from Leading Bible Discussions by James F. Nyquist. InterVarsity Press.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Photos: cking & Katie Marie (Flickr)

Related: Join Angela for Women in the Word Wednesdays at Good Morning Girls.org and the team at Seeds of Faith (Wednesdays) for fellowship and encouragement.



Up Next—A Mock Interview with Kay Arthur

What else have you found to be effective in small group discussions?

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25 Things the Bible has to Say About Marriage

Which Ancient Traditions are Still Relevant Today?

1. The institution of marriage dates from the time of man’s original creation
(Gen 2:18-25).

2. The Law of Moses discouraged polygamy, restricted divorce, and aimed to enforce moral purity of life.

3. In Old Testament times, the choice of the bride depended not on the bridegroom himself, but on his relatives or on a friend selected by the bridegroom for this purpose.

4. The consent of the maiden was sometimes asked (Gen 24:58) but this appears to have been subordinate to the previous consent of the father and the adult brothers (Gen 24:51; 34:11).

5. The selection of the bride was followed by the espousal. This was a formal proceeding undertaken by a friend or legal representative on the part of the bridegroom, and by the parents on the part of the bride. It was confirmed by oaths, and accompanied with presents to the bride.

6. The act of betrothal was celebrated by a feast, and it was customary for the bridegroom to place a ring on the bride’s finger. The ring was regarded among the Hebrews as a symbol of fidelity (Gen 41:42) and of adoption into a family
(Lk 15:25).

7. Between the betrothal and the marriage an interval of time elapsed, varying from a few days in the patriarchal age (Gen 24:55) to a full year for virgins and a month for widows in later times.

8. During this period the bride-elect lived with her friends. All communication between herself and her future husband was carried on through a friend selected for that purpose, termed the "friend of the bridegroom" (Jn 3:29).

9. An engaged woman was now virtually regarded as the wife of her future husband; hence faithlessness on her part was punishable with death
(Deut 22:23; Deut 22:24). However, the husband had the option of "putting her away" (Deut 24:1; Matt 1:19).

10. The essence of the marriage ceremony consisted in the transference of the bride from her father’s house to that of the bridegroom or his father.

11. The bridegroom prepared himself for the occasion by putting on a festive costume, and especially by placing on his head a handsome nuptial turban
(Ps 45:8; Song of Songs 4:10; Song of Songs 4:11).

12. The bride was veiled. Her robes were white (Rev 19:8 ), and sometimes embroidered with gold thread (Ps 45:13; Ps 45:14 ) and covered with perfumes
(Ps 45:8 ). She was further decked out with jewels (Is 49:18; 61:10; Rev 21:2).

13. When the fixed hour arrived—generally late in the evening—the bridegroom set forth from his house, accompanied by his groomsmen (Judges 14:11) "children of the bride-chamber" (Matt 9:15), preceded by a band of musicians or singers
(Gen 31:27; Jer 7:34; 16:9), and accompanied by persons bearing torches
(Jer 25:10; Matt 25:7; Rev 18:23). The groom took the bride with the friends to his own house.

14. At the house a feast was prepared, to which all the friends and neighbors were invited (Gen 29:22; Matt 22:1-10; Lk 14:8; Jn 2:2). The wedding festivities continued for seven or even fourteen days (Judges 14:12; Job 8:19).

15. The guests were provided with fitting robes by the host (Matt 22:11) and the feast was enlivened with riddles (Judges 14:12) and other amusements.

16. The last act in the ceremony was the conducting of the bride to the bridal chamber (Judges 15:1; Joel 2:16) where a canopy was prepared. (Ps 19:5 ; Joel 2:16). The bride was still completely veiled, so that the deception practiced on Jacob was not difficult (Gen 29:23).

17. A newly married man was exempt from military service for a year,
or from any public business which might draw him away from his home (Gen 24:5). A similar privilege was granted to a man who was betrothed (Gen 20:7).

18. The duties of the wife in the Hebrew household were multifaceted. The general superintendence of the domestic tasks included the manufacture of clothing, serving meals and cooking, from which even women of rank were not exempt (Gen 18:8; 2 Sam 13:5). If she were a model of activity and skill, she produced a surplus of fine linen shirts and girdles, which she sold to increase her husband’s wealth (Prov 31:14; Prov 31:24).

19. The legal rights of the wife are noted in Exodus 21:10. It was the husband’s responsibility to provide her with food, raiment, and her conjugal right in the marriage bed.

20. In the New Testament, our Lord and his apostles re-established the integrity and sanctity of the marriage bond (Matt 19:4; Matt 19:5).

21. Jesus restricted divorce to the case of fornication, and the prohibition of remarriage for all persons divorced on improper grounds (Matt 5:32; 19:9; Rom 7:3; 1 Cor 7:10; 1 Cor 7:11).

22. The New Testament calls for moral purity generally (Heb 13:4) and formally condemns fornication (Acts 15:20).

23. The mutual relations of husband and wife are a subject of frequent exhortation (Eph 5:22; Eph 5:33; Col 3:18; Col 3:19; Tit 2:4; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).

24. In the Old Testament, the allegorical and typical allusions to marriage are intended to exhibit the spiritual relationship between God and his people Israel (Is 54:5; Jer 3:14; Hos 2:19).

25. In the New Testament, the image of the bridegroom is transferred from Yahweh to Christ (Matt 9:15; Jn 3:29), and that of the bride to the Church
(2 Cor 11:2; Rev 19:7; Rev 21:2; Rev 21:9).

This post is a paraphrase of the information on marriage provided by Smith’s Bible Dictionary found online at Bible Study Tools.

Related: "Ancient Jewish Wedding Customs. Engagement: Pledging Faithfulness"

Photo: Jewish Wedding, NYC by kshapero (Flickr)



Up Next— How to Lead a Bible Study

Which points strike you as new, or especially meaningful?

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Humor: Driving Miss Daisy, NOT!

The Pope Joke

A friend of mine works for a limousine service. His boss told him the Pope was coming to town, and my friend was asked to serve as his chauffer.

So my friend went all out to clean up his limo to make it look really nice. First he washed the limousine by hand, and then he waxed and buffed it. He also washed all of the windows, and polished the chrome. Finally, he detailed the interior so the limo looked almost new. He even replaced the headlights.

When my friend arrived at the airport at appointed time, the Pope was really impressed. "This limousine looks really nice!" the Pope said. "I spent all day cleaning it for you," said my friend.

Suddenly, with a twinkle in his eye, the Pontiff turned to my friend and grinned. "You know," he said, "I've ridden in limousines like this all over the world, but I've never had the chance to drive one. You don't suppose I might have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this beautiful vehicle do you?"

My friend hesitated for just a minute. Then he decided it would be alright. Nodding to the Pope, he quickly slid over to the passenger's side of the car, and the Pontiff got in.

Well, they were cruising down the freeway when suddenly the Pope saw the flashing blue lights of a police car right behind them. The Pope pulled the limo over, and a police officer approached the vehicle. Preparing to issue a citation for failing to signal when making a lane change, the police officer looked at the driver, and then he squinted hard. "Ah, just a minute," he said, and he rushed back to his patrol car.

"Sarge," the officer yelled into his radio. "I think I just pulled over a VIP!" "So, what makes you so sure?" the sergeant replied. "Is he the mayor?" "No, I think he's more important than that," said the officer. "O.K. is he the governor?" "No, I think he's more important than that," the officer said again. "Well then, is he the President?" "No, I think he's more important than that," the officer replied once more.

"Well who is he then? Is he God?" yelled the sergeant. "I don't know," said the policeman, "All I know is that be must be REALLY important, because the Pope's his chauffeur!"

Note: In the spirit of good fun and Christian denominational sisterhood, this joke is intended to amuse and entertain, not offend.

Related: Join Kim at Homesteader's Heart for Friday Funnies and more great laughs.

Photos: niveKwoods & davidsonscott15 (Flickr)



Up Next—25 Things the Bible Has to Say About Marriage

Gotcha!

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A Month of Prayers for Your Pastor's Wife

Your Intercessory Prayer Challenge

Did you know that October is National Clergy Appreciation month?
There are many ways we express appreciation to those in spiritual leadership over us. Most people focus on the needs of their pastor, but one of the greatest gifts any believer can give to their pastor is to pray for his wife and family.

We’re all gifted to serve the body of Christ in different ways. Yet, as the “chatty” gender, women often feel especially drawn to prayer. If you feel called to intercede for others’ needs, consider this post a challenge to grow your ministry!

Revive Our Hearts has produced a terrific PDF document called “31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor’s Wife.” You can print it out, fold it in half, and stuff it in your Bible. Starting today, plan spend a few minutes remembering the special woman God has called to serve as helpmate to your pastor.

Prayer Prompts for The First Five Days

Day 1
Pray that your pastor’s wife will love God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. Pray that God’s Spirit will work in her heart in power, and that she will value and follow biblical priorities. (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 6:33)

Day 2
Pray that she will cultivate strong character and uncompromising integrity. Pray that her testimony will be genuine, and that she will guard her heart. (1 Tim. 1:5; 3:7; Prov. 4:23)

Day 3
Pray for her personal walk with God—that her soul and spirit will be nourished
and strengthened in her times with Him. Pray that she will spend more time in the Word of God than in reading Christian books and articles. (2 Tim. 2:15-16; Ps. 119:7)

Day 4
Pray that your pastor’s wife will counsel and teach with discernment through the wise use of Scripture and faith in God’s power. (Ps. 119:99; James 1:5-6)

Day 5
Ask God to protect her marriage and keep it strong as a model of the Church’s submission to Christ. Pray that she will respect and practice godly submission to her husband’s leadership, and that her husband will love and cherish her. (Eph. 5:23-33)

You’ll find prompts Day 6 - Day 31 Listed here (PDF).

Related

• Caring for Ministry Wives
• Let’s Pray Now Not Later
• Prayer in Marriage

Photo: TheGiftedPhotographer (Flickr)



Up Next—Weekend Humor: The Pope Joke

What other ways do you like to show appreciation for your spiritual leaders?

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Ouch, My Nest is Empty. What's Next?

Embracing Our Roles as Helpmate & Mentor

Do you remember that dizzying first decade after high school?

For me, a series of life changes arrived in fairly rapid succession: four years of college: dating, engagement and marriage; moving to the United States; beginning a Design career; youth and church ministry; and then staying home with my first baby.

By age 28, the die for my life’s work was cast. I was going to be a stay-at-home Mom and that was it! Thrilled to be filling my nest with chicks, I couldn’t see much beyond a happy life educating and caring for our kids. And so the years passed. e-Dad and I added many fulfilling activities to our schedule, but supporting and raising our family was always preeminent.
(Read Complete Bio)

Weddings: A Rite of Passage for Moms Too

Perhaps you can imagine the shock we felt when our daughter walked down the aisle beside her wonderful new husband on the lush Hawaiian island of Oahu. Although it was a joy-filled occasion, this was new, way brand new, and it didn’t sit quite right. Like the “old gray mare,” I felt like I had been put out to pasture.

After the ceremony, e-Dad and I cruised along moonlight-washed Waikiki Beach stunned and speechless. We had accomplished our goal of rearing our daughter to maturity.
So now what?

Re-shaping Our Identity

It has taken me two years to adjust to the finality of our empty nest.
(Our son went off to college prior to our daughter’s wedding.) Despite many interests and hobbies, there has been a growth in my identity that is inevitable for every Mom, and for which I was completely unprepared.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss's thoroughly biblical teaching has spoken the loudest to me during this major season of change. If you’re empty nest is immanent, and you’re wondering what the next years will hold, listen to Nancy’s solid advice.

Our Top Two Priorities

“Nancy: There are two things you can know about your identity as a woman in that empty-nest season. This may not be as practical as what you came to get today, but it’s as biblical as anything you’ll get.

Number one: God made you, if you are a married woman, to be a helper to your husband. That is your identity before your identity as Mother. Hopefully in the years that you were mothering you were keeping that identity that you are first a wife and second a mother.

If your whole life was mothering, then you’re likely to be in trouble. I’ve watched this happen with women because then when the children are gone, what do you have to live for?

God never intended for your children to be the number one thing that you live for. They’re really, really important, and there’s huge investment during those mothering years. I’m not trying to minimize that. But I’m saying all those years, that wasn’t your number one identity, or it shouldn’t have been.

So your identity, if you are still married, if your husband is still living, is still that God made you to be a helper to him. You may be able to do that in ways now in the empty nest season that are different than what you could do when you had children in the home. So don’t lose sight of that identity.

Then the other thing… Before you start thinking about other careers, other passions, other involvements—and God may give you lots of those or various ones—but the one thing you can know biblically is that you are called to be investing in younger women.

That is not an option. It’s not like some women are in the mentoring program in the church and some do other things. You don’t have to be in a mentoring program in the church, but you’ve got to be investing in the lives of younger women somehow.

That can look a lot of different ways and there are a lot of different aspects of influence that you can have in their lives, based on the message that God has put into your life. But ladies, the future of the gospel going to the next generation, the future of motherhood, the future of wives, the future of family depends, humanly speaking, on you being faithful to be passing that baton and not just saying, “What is my next thing?”

If I don’t do anything else, this is a season for me to be teaching younger women:

• how to love their husbands
• how to love their children
• how to be self-controlled
• how to be pure
• how to be keepers at home
• how to be kind and submissive to their own husbands. (See Titus 2:3-5)

The Bible even gives you the curriculum. It tells you what you’re supposed to be teaching… These younger women need—many of them have not been parented. They don’t know how. They don’t have the basic skills and tools and resources. So many of their pasts are so dysfunctional. They’re dealing with issues of guilt and failure and immorality.

We can just wring our hands and look at the statistics and be in despair and say, ‘Oh, this younger generation, they are so messed up,’ which there’s a lot of truth to that. But we’re supposed to do something about it.

Some of you, when your children are gone, have resources in terms of time and wisdom to invest in that. Okay, I just took the pulpit. Somebody say ‘amen’ and I’ll stop.”

Related

1. This excerpt has been quoted from Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ daily Revive Our Hearts radio program. The topic was The Grace to Grow Up in her series, “Life Beyond the Empty Nest: An Interview with Barbara Rainey & Susan Yates.”

2. If you’re looking for more great quotes—both short and long—visit Barbara’s Monday meme, The Week in Words at Stray Thoughts.

Up Next—Praying for Your Pastor's Wife

What advice would you offer to empty-nest Moms?

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Arts & Culture: Does Art Matter?

Importance of the Arts in Education

Laurel Gasque is a cultural historian and author of Art and the Christian Mind. She lived in England while her husband Ward was studying theology. During that time, she seized the opportunity to read and absorb plenty of great art. This led to Laurel’s discovery of the grand calling of her life: a passion for arts in education. I had the opportunity to meet Laurel Gasque and to take a Koinos class from her at our church.

“Since the 18th century,” she laments, “standard education has emphasized cognition and the intellect, while giving little attention to the feelings and the will.”

Two famous students at the St. Thomas School in Leipzig Germany are representative of a watershed that occurred in education during that period. Following her interview with Laurel Gasque Loren Steinhauer writes,
“On one hand, Johann Sebastian Bach believed that Bible texts could be understood on many different levels. This freed him to explore them using the creative medium of music.

On the other hand, Johann August Ernesti pursued a reductive view of the Bible: one must find the single basic meaning. All the excitement was in the analysis itself, and once that finished, it was finished. This left no valid place for imaginative exploration of the Bible by the arts. Thus to Ernesti, music in church belonged far out on the margins. His reductionist approach won out in the academy, and so it stands today.

What do people gain from a strong art education? ‘They are more flexible; they can think outside
the box.’

Modern higher education gereally follows this reductionist approach. Today, artistic ways of knowing are not really considered academic. According to Laurel, ‘The arts became the orphan of the academy and the church.’

So where should education go? ‘It should address how we feel and act not just what we know. The arts do this: they help develop empathic qualities, our feelings for each other,’ she says. A narrow focus on knowledge and science overlooks this. What do people gain from a strong art education? ‘They are more flexible; they can think outside the box.’ In short, they are better in any joy requiring creativity.

But what does this have to do with faith and Christianity? And what about people who aren’t Christians? Here Laurel quotes philosopher Jacques Maritain: ‘The arts are the John the Baptist of the heart, preparing the affections for Christ.’

‘What,’ she asks, ‘are the silent witnesses to the faith that still impress and intrigue unbelievers? Art in its many forms.’ Think of the cathedrals, mosaics, icons, the novels of the great Russian Christian authors. These silent witnesses survived in the hostile environment of communism. The same witnesses live on in the arid secular atmosphere of our own culture.’”

This excerpt has been quoted from “Art: Where Bible and Imagination Meet” by Loren Steinhauer.

Related

• Arts & Culture: Why We Need the Arts
• Praying in Color.com
• Carnival of Homeschooling

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. (Exodus 31:1-5)

Photos: Google Images



Coming Up—Family Life: Ouch, My Nest is Empty. What's Next?

What do you think? Are the arts important?

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Bible Study: Firstfruits of the Lord

Jesus is Alive! And We Will Live Too!

Autumn is harvest season for most of us, but harvesting in the land of Israel occurred throughout the year. Israel’s seven major crops included barley, wheat, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Of those sown in the winter months, barely was the first grain to ripen in the early spring. Harvesters began gathering wheat in early summer, and the fruit harvest took place in the fall.

The three major pilgrimage feasts—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles were agricultural festivals designed by God so his people could give thanks, make special sacrifices, and celebrate their seasonal harvests. There are a total of seven feasts outlined in Leviticus; four in the spring and three in the autumn. Each one is ripe with prophetic meaning, foretelling the story of God’s glorious plan for redemption through his Son, Jesus Christ.

First Things & Last Things

Thanks to mega best-sellers such as the Left Behind series, most of us are familiar with the study of last things
(or eschatology) foretold through the fall cycle of Jewish festivals. The Feasts of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles reveal some of the details concerning God’s plan for a great end-time harvest of resurrected believers. Events foretold by these feasts include the Second Coming of Christ, the Rapture of the Church, and the Millennium.

Less understood is the meaning of first things spoken of through the spring cycle of Levitical feasts. Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost all pointed to the First Coming of Christ—events that for us, are now in the past. Christ’s crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and Spirit baptism initiated God’s plan for his final resurrection harvest at the end of the age.

Like the single barley sheaf waved by a priest before the Lord, Christ’s resurrection on the Feast of Firstfruits is a pledge or guarantee that a much larger harvest of resurrected souls will be realized at the end of history.

Seven Ways Jesus Christ is the Pre-eminent One

“The nation of Israel was familiar with the concept of the firstfruits, or the firstborn. Both taught the same truth. The firstfruits were always the choicest, the foremost, the first, the best, the pre-eminent of all that was to follow. The firstfruits were holy to the Lord. The same truths were also applicable to the firstborn of both man and beast.

Thus the firstfruits belonged exclusively to Jehovah. They were holy, sanctified and presented to Him. The New Testament shows beautifully how the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all that truth symbolized in the firstfruits and especially as the Sheaf of firstfruits.”—Kevin J. Conner

1. He is the firstborn of Mary (Matt 1:23-25).
2. He is the first-begotten of the Father (Heb 1:6).
3. He is the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18).
4. In all things He is the pre-eminent One (Col 1:18).
5. He is the Ruler of the creation of God (Rev 3:14).
6. He is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29).
7. He is the firstfruits of the resurrected ones (I Cor 15:20-23).

For further study, I highly recommend The Feasts of the Lord by Howard and Rosenthal and The Feasts of Israel by Kevin J. Conner.

Related: Book Review: Heaven by Randy Alcorn. Visit Courtney's Women of the Word Wednesdays for more great Bible inspiration.

Photos: delayed gratification & karen horton (Flickr)



Up Next—Culture: Why Art Matters

What do you know about first things as a theme in Scripture?

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Welcome to Marriage Monday

Our Sacred Commitment
A Promise that Provides Security in Times of Crisis

What do circus high wire acts and marriage have in common?
(Besides extreme trust, interlaced body parts, and shiny red suits...)



A safety net! Both marriage and high wire acts require a very strong safety net below the surface to provide security and protection against missteps, sudden mishaps, and mistakes.

In marriage, the safety net is good old-fashioned commitment. Commitment is the critical undergirding that keeps couples safe from disaster. When communication fails, disease strikes, or economic hardships arrive, our commitment to one another allows our marriage to temporarily off the high wire of happiness. Commitment keeps it from shattering to pieces on the ground.

God intended for married couples to experience happiness within their exclusive union. But isn’t marriage intended to make us holy? Yes. Of course. But should we gain the knowledge and skills to achieve happiness in marriage? Again, the answer is absolutely—Yes.

We know that life is cyclical. Happiness in marriage comes and goes. Sometimes we’re able traverse the high wire of daily life in perfect harmony, laughing, and enjoying each other from end to end. Unfortunately, because of sin, our marriages face difficulties and hardships too. During those crisis periods, we’re out of balance. Bailing out and starting over with someone else might seem like an attractive idea.

Both marriage and high wire acts require a very strong safety net below the surface to provide security and protection against missteps, sudden mishaps, and mistakes.

However, like a circus safety net, it's our strength of commitment that allows us to stay together through the difficult days, while working toward a better tomorrow. And just as the sun sets in the evening, morning always arrives on schedule. When we fall off the high wire of marital happiness and down into the safety net of commitment, we can be assured that God will help us find a way to climb up the ladder of happiness once again.

Christian marriage counselor, Willard Harley PhD observed that couples who are in love, never divorce. His clinical work has focused on helping distressed couples fill each others’ “emotional love tanks” in order to fall in love again.

In light of Dr. Harley’s counseling success, we can think of commitment as both the safety net and the high wire itself. Commitment acts like a bridge between two opposite extremes: angry divorce and long-term marital satisfaction. Commitment gives us the necessary time after a crisis to traverse the wire. Commitment empowers couples to carefully proceed away from a state of conflict and toward the balanced state of relational happiness that they both long for.

Commitment acts like faith; it fuels hope. And hope can lead you to love,
if you let it.

Related

• Marriage: What Makes Women Happy?
• Is Marriage for Happiness or Holiness?
• Does Divorce Make People Happy?

Up Next—Bible Study: First-Fruits of the Lord
Photos: gynti_46 (Flickr)




Today is Marriage Monday. Join Us!

If you would like to link a post for Marriage Monday today, take a minute to read the overview of our topic, “Our Sacred Commitment.” Choose one of the four titles listed and then tell us what you've learned about commitment in marriage. Remember, you're the expert!

You’re welcome to add your link any time up until eleven PM on Wednesday. Please include a text link back to Chrysalis, or you can use one of these graphic buttons if you prefer.

Plan to meet here again for Marriage Monday on November 1, 2010. Next month's group topic is, "Financial Contentment in Marriage." Four title choices will be posted in approximately two weeks.

If you're new at Chrysalis today, please accept my invitation to join our Marriage Monday community. I'm e-Mom your hostess. Welcome! You might want to read an introduction to this meme and find out how to join the Marriage Monday Blog List.

Thanks for contributing your wise thoughts to Marriage Monday today, sweet sister!

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