AWANA Closing Progam

I am SUCH a bad mommy for not posting these pictures about the closing AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) ceremonies last Sunday!

So, in honor of trying to be a nice, responsible mommy, and not a slacker, I present to you lots of picture of Cathryn, plus a couple of other kids who do not belong to me or Richie:

This is Cathryn and Beth's son Carson entering the church sanctuary with the other Sparks (kindergarten through second grade). Cathryn is obviously engaged in her second favorite activity, talking.

I don't know why Cathryn looks so incredibly disgusted at having to recite The Pledge of Allegiance.

Now she looks like she's saying, "See? I'm totally saying it. Happy now?" Why, yes, Cathryn, we are.

Also, I do not know why Cathryn kept her hand shoved in her pockets. I'm kind of glad she did, because otherwise her hands would have been flailing wildly all over the place. Talks and sings with her hands, you know. Much like her mother.

Gee, Cathryn. Being in front of the sanctuary and singing for the entire congregation just not exciting enough for you?

Cathryn engaging in her very favorite activity, singing and dancing.

Beth's daughter Elizabeth doing her best Saturday Night Fever impression.

And finally, Cathryn Thames, JC Penny catalog model. Tell me I'm not right.

Toodles!

"I Love You, Lord"

I love you, Lord And I lift my voice To worship you, oh my soul, rejoice Take joy my King In what you hear Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear

This chorus is, by far, my favorite song in the entire Baptist Hymnal. I sing it to myself all the time, and have often thought about the way I'd love for a praise and worship team to sing it.

I'd love to start it off acapella, and in the same tune as it is in the hymnal. Then, as the final three words are sung, the tempo picks up and moves into this fast, pop sound. I'd love to hear it with clear bright vocals and harmonies.

Maybe someday...

Singing

My girls in children's choir paid me the biggest compliment yesterday. I was singing as I was writing the night's agenda on the board, and they told me that I sang just like Ariel, The Little Mermaid.

Now, those of you who have known me for a while know that The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie ever. And that for the longest time, I really identified with Ariel (spunky girl longing for adventure, held down by her overbearing, overprotective, stick-in-the-mud parents). These people also know that I have had "Part of That World" memorized since I was about 13. It's the ringtone on my phone, for Pete's sake. So when those girls asked me to sing "Part of That World", well...I might as well say it. I almost cried, and I was more than happy to oblige.

Also, I went to adult choir practice last night. Actually, I went last week, but my voice was completely gone, so I was mostly there for looks. I sat between Lisa and Beth, and I have to be honest, it felt so good to sing again. Sure, you can say that I sing every Wednesday night when I'm directing the children's choir, but I really missed singing adult music, and with other adults. It was comforting to hear our voices singing in unison.

It took me awhile to work up to going back to choir. I felt so bitter and hurt about the things that had gone on, but as I was so gently reminded, the choir didn't orchestrate the events. We were merely helpless bystanders. In times of tension, the choir needs to band together and be a unit. I thought to myself, "Who am I trying to punish?" Leslie and I were talking a few weeks ago, and she told me that the choir missed me, and I couldn't just leave it. "Music's in your blood, Josie. And you have to remember who you're really singing for." She was right.

Another thing I began to think was the kind of example I was setting for my kids in the children's choir. How could I expect them to show up to choir and rehearsals when I didn't go, either? Those kids need to see me sitting in that choir loft.

A new choir director has been hired, and I've decided to give him a fair chance, just the way I did with Lil. After all, none of this is his fault. For all I know, he just wants to go where God directs him, and he wants to worship God and help others lead worship. Isn't that what God has called us all to do?

I'm Just A Girl, Part Two

In my last post, I wrote about conservatism and feminism. Today, I'm going to talk about two opinions even more widely set-- feminism and being a born-again Christian. Traditionally, the Church has had staunch views on the roles of women. However, I believe that God loves women ('cause we all kw that God don't make no junk!), has a special purpose for women, and believes that women should be respected. Yes, Virginia, you can reconcile feminism and Christianity.

Today, women are not allowed leadership roles in the Baptist Church. I want us to take a look at Judges 4 and 5, and read about a woman named Deborah. Notice that there is no hooplah or fanfare about Deborah being appointed a judge. That's because, according to Mosaic Law, there was nothing prohibiting a woman from taking responsibilities ordinarily reserved for men. She was a prophetess, and was also married. People came from far and wide to have Deborah settle their disputes. Kinda reminds me of a less mouthy Judge Judy.

God gave Deborah a message for Barak to take an army to Mount Tabor, where God would deliver the Canaanites into his hands. This is what I find funny--Barak wouldn't go without Deborah. This in a culture where women weren't given any sort of consideration outside of childbearing. Hello! You have ten thousand men AND God on your side! Because of his fear, God had Deborah tell Barak that the victory would go to a woman.

God chose Deborah for her wisdom. We, as women, have wisdom gained from our past experiences that we can share. God called us to minister to others--not to gossip or catfight or tear one another down behind our backs. The world does that for us--Christian sisters need to build one another up.

In the New Testament, there's a change of attitude. I've been doing a lot of reading in the New Testament about women's role, and I'm very confused. Confused to a point to where I might have a problem with Paul. Not with God, mind you, but with Paul. Sometimes I feel like Paul is pressing his opinion onto the reader. For instance, you look at 1 Corinthians 7, where he tirades on marriage. Didn't God create marriage? Isn't is supposed to be an example of our relationship with God? We're often referred to as "the bride" and Jesus as "the bridegroom". Paul even admits that his thoughts against marriage are his own opinions.

How, then, am I supposed to know where Paul's opinion ends and God's Word begins? 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2, for example. Paul talks about a woman covering her head--Ok, I can chalk that one up to cultural custom of the time. However, he also goes on to say that woman is the glory of man. Funny, I thought I was created to glorify God. Certainly, I don't want to bring shame to my husband, but I don't think cutting my hair is going to do that. I also don't believe that God created me just so I could glorify a man. I have a brain, a heart, a voice that God gave me to use towards His glory.

What really confuses me, though, is 1 Timothy 2. Paul makes a lot of "I" statements, and I began to wonder again if this passage is another case of Paul stating his opinion. Paul says:
"I want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes..."
"I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent...But women will be save through childbearing..."

What am I supposed to think about this? That my salvation at age 17 meant nothing until I gave birth to Cathryn at age 25? That I'm not supposed to style my hair? That I should throw out my wedding rings? That I should wear a sack from my chin to my fingers to my toes? I don't think that I'm dishonoring God by looking nice. Didn't 1 Samuel 16:7 teach us that God doesn't look at the outward appearance, but at the heart?

I understand that God created Adam first, and that Eve was created as a helper for him. Like I said before, I don't want to hinder my husband. However, I don't think that it makes women second-class citizens. I have every right to a successful life that honors God.

In Luke 8:3, it clearly says that Mary Magdalene, Joanna (the wife of the manager of Herod's household)and Susanna among others were helping to support Jesus out of their own means. They were supporting Jesus' ministry financially! If that's not indepence, well, I'm just stumped.

Jesus' message while He was here on earth was simple: God loves you, and He wants you to love Him and one another. He came to die for men, women, and children. He did not make distinctions between the sexes.

So how do you reconcile feminism with Christianity? I believe you do it by knowing that God created you with a purpose, and that you are beautifully and wonderfully made. He gave us gifts and talents for us to use to glorify His name. The Bible is full of stories of women who lived their lives to honor God, not man.

Most importantly, God sent His Son to die for each of us.

How appropriate.

I just got an email from my Sunday School class leader about the topic for this Sunday's lesson:

Our Sunday School lesson this week comes from Psalm 7 and is about injustice. Read this Psalm from several interpretations. One of the Biblical truths of this lesson is that we should place our trust in God to help us through difficult times, Another is that a day will come when God will make everything right. In the meantime, we are to examine our own hearts and make sure our lifestyles, habits, actions, and words honor the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I read it, I just couldn't but think to myself--how appropriate.

It amazes me, the way God works. He knew, in His infinite wisdom that I (and I'm sure a few others) would be going through this crisis of faith, and He laid this lesson on someone's heart way, way, way back when this book was being written.

Sometimes, you can just feel God hugging you. I think I've moved on from denial, anger and depression, and moved into peaceful acceptance.

Did you ever get news so unexpected that it feels like someone told you about a death in the family?

That's the kind of news I got last night. It disturbed me to a point that I couldn't concentrate on pleasant diversions like American Idol and Project Runway. I really felt for Richie, because he knew what kind of funk it put me in, and I was certainly no fun to be around last night. It upset me so badly that I woke up at 3:30 this morning with a migraine.

I don't understand the people in my church. I love them, each and every one of them. But sometimes they do the most ridiculous things. Aren't Christians supposed to open their arms and hearts up to people in our church? Why, when someone comes in, do they strive to tear them down, oppose everything they try to do in our church? Especially someone with such an obvious love for God, someone who wants to worship God with all their heart, soul, and mind and life. It makes me glad that my faith is in God, and not in other Christians, because I'm beginning to wonder how many Christians we actually have in our church.

One of the stages of grieving is anger. And boy, I'm so angry I could spit.